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The Snake Who Loved a Sparrow
A controversial courtship between a sparrow and the lonely snake who saved his life...
Komazu is a sparrow, and as a sparrow, there’s one thing he knows about they eat small birds. When he encounters Shiratō, the white snake, of course he expects the worst — but instead of trying to eat him, Shiratō saves him from a boar stampede and flees, teary-eyed, when Komazu lashes out in fear. When the sparrow realizes he's perhaps misjudged snakes and decides to learn more about Shiratō, the two grow closer, first as friends and then as something more.
They are predator and natural prey, coming from different species and social castes; can love overcome the laws of nature, despite the differences in their way?
This book contains nudity, explicit sexual content and nonhuman physiology. It is intended for mature audiences only.
Komazu is a sparrow, and as a sparrow, there’s one thing he knows about they eat small birds. When he encounters Shiratō, the white snake, of course he expects the worst — but instead of trying to eat him, Shiratō saves him from a boar stampede and flees, teary-eyed, when Komazu lashes out in fear. When the sparrow realizes he's perhaps misjudged snakes and decides to learn more about Shiratō, the two grow closer, first as friends and then as something more.
They are predator and natural prey, coming from different species and social castes; can love overcome the laws of nature, despite the differences in their way?
This book contains nudity, explicit sexual content and nonhuman physiology. It is intended for mature audiences only.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2023
22 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
December 14, 2022
*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
This was really sweet and cute!
Shirato was such a quiet, gentle character. Komazu was rash and enthusiastic. Both were sweethearts. And their romance was very cute. A bit fast perhaps, but still very cute. A bit angsty too, because of the difficulties of a sparrow and a snake being together. Speaking of which…
This was an interesting fantasy world. It seemed to be full of animal people who were also shifters, essentially, since they had humans forms and animal forms but they thought of themselves as just the animal, and there were no regular animals. So they, well, ate each other, as animals do (but you don’t see any of that, it’s just talked about). And that’s where the premise comes in. I felt so bad for poor Shirato. A snake who didn’t want to kill, who felt terrible any time he did, who planted flowers for all the lives he took, but had to do it in order to survive. Anyway, they also had characteristics of their animals, both physical and mental, while in human form (e.g. the sparrows had wings, the snakes had fangs). *SPOILER (for cute moments)* *END SPOILER* Also, the sparrows lived in giant bird houses with circle window openings and perches, which was adorable!
There is explicit sex in here, and if you like, ah, let’s say… interesting anatomy? Then you’re gonna enjoy this, because there is indeed some interesting non-human anatomy. (Snake dick. It’s snake dick.) But don’t worry, all the sex was in their human forms. And it wasn’t all about the sex, there was more to their relationship than that.
Trigger/content warning for sort of accidental sexual assault. (Komazu didn’t know what Shirato’s genitals were because he didn’t have the same kind, so he didn’t know it was weird to touch them. But Shirato liked it, and it eventually turned into a sexy thing.)
The art was black and white, and the human drawings and scenery were lovely, but the animal drawings were especially adorable. Truly the epitome of a birb and a snek. ❤️
Overall, this was a cute and sexy graphic novel about lovable characters with adorable little animal forms and a sweet romance!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Ebook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes BL manga, adorable little animals, animal people, characters who are sweethearts, and adorable romance.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
This was really sweet and cute!
Shirato was such a quiet, gentle character. Komazu was rash and enthusiastic. Both were sweethearts. And their romance was very cute. A bit fast perhaps, but still very cute. A bit angsty too, because of the difficulties of a sparrow and a snake being together. Speaking of which…
This was an interesting fantasy world. It seemed to be full of animal people who were also shifters, essentially, since they had humans forms and animal forms but they thought of themselves as just the animal, and there were no regular animals. So they, well, ate each other, as animals do (but you don’t see any of that, it’s just talked about). And that’s where the premise comes in. I felt so bad for poor Shirato. A snake who didn’t want to kill, who felt terrible any time he did, who planted flowers for all the lives he took, but had to do it in order to survive. Anyway, they also had characteristics of their animals, both physical and mental, while in human form (e.g. the sparrows had wings, the snakes had fangs). *SPOILER (for cute moments)* *END SPOILER* Also, the sparrows lived in giant bird houses with circle window openings and perches, which was adorable!
There is explicit sex in here, and if you like, ah, let’s say… interesting anatomy? Then you’re gonna enjoy this, because there is indeed some interesting non-human anatomy. (Snake dick. It’s snake dick.) But don’t worry, all the sex was in their human forms. And it wasn’t all about the sex, there was more to their relationship than that.
Trigger/content warning for sort of accidental sexual assault. (Komazu didn’t know what Shirato’s genitals were because he didn’t have the same kind, so he didn’t know it was weird to touch them. But Shirato liked it, and it eventually turned into a sexy thing.)
The art was black and white, and the human drawings and scenery were lovely, but the animal drawings were especially adorable. Truly the epitome of a birb and a snek. ❤️
Overall, this was a cute and sexy graphic novel about lovable characters with adorable little animal forms and a sweet romance!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Ebook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes BL manga, adorable little animals, animal people, characters who are sweethearts, and adorable romance.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
March 3, 2024
4/5stars
honestly this was really cute, i'm always a sucker for "unlikely pairs" - and the art was so unique!
honestly this was really cute, i'm always a sucker for "unlikely pairs" - and the art was so unique!
October 5, 2025
cute, wholesome and soft
January 1, 2023
Props to the author for putting so much research into the anatomy (and for writing an entire afterword about snake and sparrow genitalia). Despite that though, the characters are so innocent and inexperienced but definitely not naive. As they meet and grow closer and explore...stuff... It was all too much.
Normally, I like dark humor and erotica and death (so much death), but this wholesome work of art was a pleasant reprieve. I kind of want to read it again. The way the characters grow and develop, their beliefs changing as they challenge the source of those beliefs and grow accordingly. It's definitely worth the read (and the money). Plus, the artwork is so beautiful ~
Take a look. Buy a copy. You (probably) won't regret it (after all, I don't know your tastes).
Normally, I like dark humor and erotica and death (so much death), but this wholesome work of art was a pleasant reprieve. I kind of want to read it again. The way the characters grow and develop, their beliefs changing as they challenge the source of those beliefs and grow accordingly. It's definitely worth the read (and the money). Plus, the artwork is so beautiful ~
Take a look. Buy a copy. You (probably) won't regret it (after all, I don't know your tastes).
March 15, 2023
2.5 stars
Totally fine, and it did what it set out to do, but also totally forgettable in the long run.
Totally fine, and it did what it set out to do, but also totally forgettable in the long run.
September 24, 2025
2025 reads: 266/300
komazu, a sparrow, only knows one thing about snakes: they eat small birds such as himself. so when his life is saved by shiratō, a white snake, he lashes out in fear and confusion. as he gets to know shiratō, though, he starts to realize that maybe he’s been taught wrong about snakes.
this manga was so cute. i loved komazu and shiratō’s animal forms and how some of their animal features carried over into their human forms. of course, a snake and a sparrow sounds like an unlikely pairing, but that’s part of what made them such a great couple! i liked how they worked out their differences throughout the story. the art style was also lovely! i’ll be on the lookout for more from nna natsuo.
komazu, a sparrow, only knows one thing about snakes: they eat small birds such as himself. so when his life is saved by shiratō, a white snake, he lashes out in fear and confusion. as he gets to know shiratō, though, he starts to realize that maybe he’s been taught wrong about snakes.
this manga was so cute. i loved komazu and shiratō’s animal forms and how some of their animal features carried over into their human forms. of course, a snake and a sparrow sounds like an unlikely pairing, but that’s part of what made them such a great couple! i liked how they worked out their differences throughout the story. the art style was also lovely! i’ll be on the lookout for more from nna natsuo.
May 10, 2023
This manga was adorable. Not anything I haven't read before or anything like that. It was just a sweet story, and I enjoyed my time with it.
July 26, 2023
Despite the weirdness of the ...uh... species accurate body parts 😌...this was a surprisingly sweet story.
June 5, 2024
What a fun - but also very… strange… story. Interspecies erotic romance. Be prepared!
The main characters came across as super immature, which magnified the… strangeness.
The main characters came across as super immature, which magnified the… strangeness.
December 29, 2025
Honestly, I'm glad I finally got the chance to read this. It was a cute, heartwarming BL, and it does feel at first like "idiot and crybaby to lovers", but there genuinely is some thought and depth put into the relationship here that really helped me to enjoy it and made the payoff of them getting together and mutually agreeing to try to overcome their differences worthwhile.
April 30, 2024
"Snakes show their love by squeezing each other so when you hug me I feel... loved."
Adorable and heartwarming! Lots of wholesome moments and kinda sad ones too... The fact Shirato plants a flower seed for every creature he eats kinda broke my heart..? 🤗
Also the scene when Komazu finds Shirato dead in a coffin and has a meltdown only for Shirato to walk in like wtf be careful, that's expemsive and poor Komazu is confused af bc arem't you dead?! And Shirato is like umm that's my shed skin and shrugs like it's not a big deal 😂
side note: the most realistic depiction of snake dick ever (komazu is obsessed)
Adorable and heartwarming! Lots of wholesome moments and kinda sad ones too... The fact Shirato plants a flower seed for every creature he eats kinda broke my heart..? 🤗
Also the scene when Komazu finds Shirato dead in a coffin and has a meltdown only for Shirato to walk in like wtf be careful, that's expemsive and poor Komazu is confused af bc arem't you dead?! And Shirato is like umm that's my shed skin and shrugs like it's not a big deal 😂
side note: the most realistic depiction of snake dick ever (komazu is obsessed)
August 27, 2024
Un BL curiosíssim protagonitzat per un pardal i una serp blanca antropomòrfics amb tocs mitològics i de fantasia molt ben enllaçats amb la trama. Una història d'amor impossible entre dues espècies explicada amb grans dosis d'originalitat, tendresa i rigor científic (pel que fa al sistema reproductor ^^'). Els chibis són una cucada ❤️
March 31, 2023
ya this shit is right up my alley and I ain’t even ashamed to admit. I LOVE LOVE LOVE unconventional relationships like this and a sweet relationship. lost a star for the unneeded technically dubious consent at the start (even if it wasn’t intentional) but alas, cute!
December 24, 2025
El romance interespecie ha sido cute, pero creo que es una historia olvidable en el tiempo.
El tema de la anatomía en estos animales ha sido una cosa... Nunca te vas a dormir sin aprender algo nuevo supongo.
El tema de la anatomía en estos animales ha sido una cosa... Nunca te vas a dormir sin aprender algo nuevo supongo.
November 13, 2023
you know i knew he had two dicks but i wasnt expecting the sparrow to fuck his cock pocket
June 24, 2025
I loved all of this. The characters, the setting, the storyline, all of it. I love that we get a cute little sparrow and a pretty white snake as the love interests. For it being one volume I think the author did a good job developing their relationship and I liked the pacing (: and also I’m in loooove with the cover! That’s the main reason I bought the book and I’m super glad I ended up enjoying it.
March 18, 2024
I've been putting off reading this one for a while, likely due to the unfortunate fact that several animal/human manga I've read before have disappointed me. And, unfortunately, the trend has continued with The Snake Who Loved a Sparrow.
There were some parts I really liked. I liked how the author embedded animal courtship, lifestyles, mythology, and biology into the story. I really liked how Komazu and Shiratō, and seemingly all characters, have a biased cultural understanding of other animals that is sometimes justified but also sometimes bigoted; it was interesting, and an more fleshed out take on animal-animal relationships than I was expecting.
Unfortunately, I couldn't like too much else. The overall story, and, as a result, Komazu and Shiratō's relationship, felt really jumpy and rushed. It didn't feel like they were really given enough time to get over preconceptions and slowly, especially with the seemingly random addition of the nsfw scenes... which just overall rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe the mangaka was trying to go for a more "animalistic" vibe, but having one character just spontaneously and non-consensually start groping the other was a major turn off for me. And I don't even feel like this could be an issue of me being asexual and not understanding sexual attraction, because they don't seem like they are sexually attracted at that point -- it was just pure curiosity and ignorance, which can make sense, but it feels like a lame cop-out. Similarly, the undercurrent idea of needing to mate as an expression of love makes sense from an animal perspective, but, again, it only makes sense near the end of the story and not before they've realized they love the other.
Overall, it just didn't impress me all that much. It's not bad, but it's just solidly mediocre.
There were some parts I really liked. I liked how the author embedded animal courtship, lifestyles, mythology, and biology into the story. I really liked how Komazu and Shiratō, and seemingly all characters, have a biased cultural understanding of other animals that is sometimes justified but also sometimes bigoted; it was interesting, and an more fleshed out take on animal-animal relationships than I was expecting.
Unfortunately, I couldn't like too much else. The overall story, and, as a result, Komazu and Shiratō's relationship, felt really jumpy and rushed. It didn't feel like they were really given enough time to get over preconceptions and slowly, especially with the seemingly random addition of the nsfw scenes... which just overall rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe the mangaka was trying to go for a more "animalistic" vibe, but having one character just spontaneously and non-consensually start groping the other was a major turn off for me. And I don't even feel like this could be an issue of me being asexual and not understanding sexual attraction, because they don't seem like they are sexually attracted at that point -- it was just pure curiosity and ignorance, which can make sense, but it feels like a lame cop-out. Similarly, the undercurrent idea of needing to mate as an expression of love makes sense from an animal perspective, but, again, it only makes sense near the end of the story and not before they've realized they love the other.
Overall, it just didn't impress me all that much. It's not bad, but it's just solidly mediocre.
January 18, 2024
3☆ Review:
This was cute in a weird way?
The predator x prey trope was the main focus of the story & was done fairly well.
Though, I would have loved to learn how their futures played out since I’m sure their relationship coming out to their families can’t have gone too well. Cause like…snakes eat sparrows. But, I’d like to think they worked through the obvious issues.
P.S. I unwillingly was informed by this story that many male bird species do not have penises. You learn something new everyday, I guess.
This was cute in a weird way?
The predator x prey trope was the main focus of the story & was done fairly well.
Though, I would have loved to learn how their futures played out since I’m sure their relationship coming out to their families can’t have gone too well. Cause like…snakes eat sparrows. But, I’d like to think they worked through the obvious issues.
P.S. I unwillingly was informed by this story that many male bird species do not have penises. You learn something new everyday, I guess.
November 16, 2022
Una historia tierna y con una dosis ligera de picante, pero bastante creativa, con un arte precioso, un guión sencillo que te atrapa desde el primer momento, y personajes que se ganan la simpatía del lector con facilidad.
A tender story with a light dose of spice, but quite creative, with beautiful art, a simple script that catches you from the first moment, and characters that win the reader's sympathy easily.
A tender story with a light dose of spice, but quite creative, with beautiful art, a simple script that catches you from the first moment, and characters that win the reader's sympathy easily.
September 13, 2023
This was super cute, but also the spicy scenes kinda weirded me out because of the anatomy involved. Komazu is fun and upbeat while Shirato is shy and hesitant to act. Their love was so sweet and wholesome. Not to mention I’m a sucker for a forbidden romance. Definitely pick this up if you have the chance.
July 29, 2023
Okay relationship and artwork,but the subject matter was too weird for me.
Predator and prey romance,I could have handled it.
But there was too much focus on their different genitalia for me to like finishing it.
Better skip this one.
Not recommended.
🐦 🐍👎🏻💩🥱😵🚫
Predator and prey romance,I could have handled it.
But there was too much focus on their different genitalia for me to like finishing it.
Better skip this one.
Not recommended.
🐦 🐍👎🏻💩🥱😵🚫
November 5, 2023
This was so weird...
I neither wanted nor needed to know that much about their genitalia 😳
But other than that, it was really cute.
I neither wanted nor needed to know that much about their genitalia 😳
But other than that, it was really cute.
April 5, 2023
Bought the book on a whim; didn't realize that so many of its elements would overlap with things I enjoy writing and reading about.
The Snake Who Loved a Sparrow is a fairly unconventional entry in the BL/Yaoi genre in that it explicitly goes against the established tropes. In nearly every other work in the genre that features a predator and prey, the relationship's power dynamic is explicitly lopsided with the predator being dominant - Nna Natsuo (and their editor) explicitly choosing to go against this is something I applaud, and I feel that it works quite well.
That being said, an overarching theme of this book is that of the predator-prey relationship, and unlike typical genre pieces that feature kemonomimi, the relationship here focuses heavily on the aspect of killing, death, and regret. This story is dark, and does not shy away from making the reality of the characters' predicament clear to the reader.
Note that some world building elements (e.g. transformation between humanoid and animal forms) were not fully developed and open gaping holes into the plot (), and in some locations, the plot feels a bit contrived. Occasionally, the background blends in with the characters (especially Komazu in sparrow form), which is unfortunate. However, the artists' focus on *ahem* and using that combined with Shiratō's abilities as a means by which his relationship with Komazu could grow was quite interesting and put them on a more level playing field in terms of their relationship. Again, this breaks from Yaoi tradition, with its focus on explicitly dominant and submissive character roles.
Overall, I quite liked this work. It's unique, and Natsuo clearly put far more time into research than may have been necessary - the result being that the work went to a depth with the characters and their species that would have otherwise not been possible. The work blends mythology, animal anatomy & physiology, the natural cycles of nature, and so much more in a way that I can only highly recommend despite the work's flaws.
Oh, but if you're not OK with the idea of de-facto kemonomimi with non-human bits, maybe stay away. Or take a plunge anyways - it's handled and executed quite well.
The Snake Who Loved a Sparrow is a fairly unconventional entry in the BL/Yaoi genre in that it explicitly goes against the established tropes. In nearly every other work in the genre that features a predator and prey, the relationship's power dynamic is explicitly lopsided with the predator being dominant - Nna Natsuo (and their editor) explicitly choosing to go against this is something I applaud, and I feel that it works quite well.
That being said, an overarching theme of this book is that of the predator-prey relationship, and unlike typical genre pieces that feature kemonomimi, the relationship here focuses heavily on the aspect of killing, death, and regret. This story is dark, and does not shy away from making the reality of the characters' predicament clear to the reader.
Note that some world building elements (e.g. transformation between humanoid and animal forms) were not fully developed and open gaping holes into the plot (), and in some locations, the plot feels a bit contrived. Occasionally, the background blends in with the characters (especially Komazu in sparrow form), which is unfortunate. However, the artists' focus on *ahem* and using that combined with Shiratō's abilities as a means by which his relationship with Komazu could grow was quite interesting and put them on a more level playing field in terms of their relationship. Again, this breaks from Yaoi tradition, with its focus on explicitly dominant and submissive character roles.
Overall, I quite liked this work. It's unique, and Natsuo clearly put far more time into research than may have been necessary - the result being that the work went to a depth with the characters and their species that would have otherwise not been possible. The work blends mythology, animal anatomy & physiology, the natural cycles of nature, and so much more in a way that I can only highly recommend despite the work's flaws.
Oh, but if you're not OK with the idea of de-facto kemonomimi with non-human bits, maybe stay away. Or take a plunge anyways - it's handled and executed quite well.
February 22, 2025
Plot: Snakeman saves sparrowman from boars, but sparrowman calls snakeman evil and they part ways. Upon meeting again, they accidentally lose their clothes, sparrowman sees snakeman's genitalia and is so mesmerized by it that he cannot help himself but grope him. Snakeman has never been touched in that way, but it felt kinda good, so now he wants to see sparrowman again.
~
I don't care if you don't have the same genitalia and may have never seen the genitalia of another species, but you do not just touch and keep touching it when the person tells you "no" multiple times!
That was absolutely cringe and uncomfortable. "Falling in love after rape" type of trope. Additionally, sparrow guy is very immature and childlike (I already found him annoying in the first chapter), so it basically felt like a child is molesting a young man, and that's even more uncomfortable.
Also, the last chapter?
Unlike some other reviewers, I did like the anatomical correct genitalia. Makes it unique. Well, except for the last chapter.
It could've been a cute story without the sexual assaults, cause the other scenes do feel like the author was onto something sweet. But WITH them, it's just off-putting.
3 stars for the art and 1 star for the concept, but … minus 5 stars for the execution and plus 3 stars for achieving utter uncomfortableness in me. Do not recommend, unless you're into this rapey trope.
-21.02.25
~
I don't care if you don't have the same genitalia and may have never seen the genitalia of another species, but you do not just touch and keep touching it when the person tells you "no" multiple times!
That was absolutely cringe and uncomfortable. "Falling in love after rape" type of trope. Additionally, sparrow guy is very immature and childlike (I already found him annoying in the first chapter), so it basically felt like a child is molesting a young man, and that's even more uncomfortable.
Also, the last chapter?
Unlike some other reviewers, I did like the anatomical correct genitalia. Makes it unique. Well, except for the last chapter.
It could've been a cute story without the sexual assaults, cause the other scenes do feel like the author was onto something sweet. But WITH them, it's just off-putting.
3 stars for the art and 1 star for the concept, but … minus 5 stars for the execution and plus 3 stars for achieving utter uncomfortableness in me. Do not recommend, unless you're into this rapey trope.
-21.02.25
March 7, 2023
A nice little xeno m/m manga with gorgeous art and a lovely cast, and a really neat worldbuilding set-up. The story was very sweet, and at times I kind of felt like I was reading Ayame-centric fanfic from "Fruits Basket". The porn was also pretty good for folks looking for good xeno stuff. I've always loved the idea of "a bird may love a fish, but where would they live together", so this really worked quite well for me (even though it's a snake, not a fish, but well...).
This is a story about a snake and a bird who can transform into human form, but they are still those animals, and it's got porn in it, so if that's not your cup of tea, I would give this a pass. The summary notes it has nudity, explicit sexual content and nonhuman physiology, so it's very weird to me that people are complaining that this stuff is in there. There's plenty of non-xeno m/m out there. Go read that. And maybe check for warnings before reading m/m? A lot of publishers and authors are including those now.
Shirato was so sweet and I loved all the scenes of him being a cute snake, which is funny coming from someone who's not that into snakes, but I also loved Ayame's snake form so that's not surprising. The story itself wasn't perfect, but the art was beautiful and the characters were fun, and I loved the concept, and it was cute enough and angsty enough for me that it overcame other things.
This is a story about a snake and a bird who can transform into human form, but they are still those animals, and it's got porn in it, so if that's not your cup of tea, I would give this a pass. The summary notes it has nudity, explicit sexual content and nonhuman physiology, so it's very weird to me that people are complaining that this stuff is in there. There's plenty of non-xeno m/m out there. Go read that. And maybe check for warnings before reading m/m? A lot of publishers and authors are including those now.
Shirato was so sweet and I loved all the scenes of him being a cute snake, which is funny coming from someone who's not that into snakes, but I also loved Ayame's snake form so that's not surprising. The story itself wasn't perfect, but the art was beautiful and the characters were fun, and I loved the concept, and it was cute enough and angsty enough for me that it overcame other things.
July 7, 2025
This was a really odd read. I thought the title would be a bit more metaphorical, but it's super literal. I was expecting the usual manga animism where people are essentially human just with bits and bobs like tails and ears. But no. These characters are fully snakes and sparrows- including their genitalia, which makes for a weird few pages.
The actual story is cute but difficult to get invested in. So much of the conflict is about how unrealistic it is for a snake to love a sparrow, which is its natural prey. And the conclusion doesn't super address that- they're both just going to 'try hard' and somehow that will fix everything. But the characters are sweet, and there's a surprising amount of emotion in Shirato's subplot and the way his kindness is at odds with his need to kill to sustain himself.
The art was a little inconsistent with some incredibly detailed panels and others that looked like sketches that were never filled in and never given backgrounds. Mostly good though.
Overall, I've never read anything like this. The premise alone is super weird, and yet if you want to read a love story between a snake and a sparrow, then the story does what it says on the tin.
The actual story is cute but difficult to get invested in. So much of the conflict is about how unrealistic it is for a snake to love a sparrow, which is its natural prey. And the conclusion doesn't super address that- they're both just going to 'try hard' and somehow that will fix everything. But the characters are sweet, and there's a surprising amount of emotion in Shirato's subplot and the way his kindness is at odds with his need to kill to sustain himself.
The art was a little inconsistent with some incredibly detailed panels and others that looked like sketches that were never filled in and never given backgrounds. Mostly good though.
Overall, I've never read anything like this. The premise alone is super weird, and yet if you want to read a love story between a snake and a sparrow, then the story does what it says on the tin.
December 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐
This was so nice, I really liked it. Sometimes I feel like BL manga really jumps the gun to get to the smutty part which can kind of be a story-killer imo, but in this manga I felt like it made sense since they're both animals -- they're not really thinking that hard about it. It gave everything sort of a very innocent, exploratory feel, and I liked that a lot! Plus, these two are adorable and have great chemistry anyways.
Overall, this is a manga about completely accepting each other's differences. Shirato couldn't change the part of him that preys on smaller animals -- and Komazu doesn't want him to starve, plain and simple, nor to be ashamed of himself for needing to eat. I love that level of understanding and straightforward love & acceptance for each other like that.
I think my biggest complaint about this manga though is that sometimes, the panels are so filled with detail, screentones, hatching/crosshatching, etc., that sometimes I genuinely could not figure out what was going on for the life of me in the panels. It had a very lovely style that fit the story, but sometimes my eyes just could not follow.
This was so nice, I really liked it. Sometimes I feel like BL manga really jumps the gun to get to the smutty part which can kind of be a story-killer imo, but in this manga I felt like it made sense since they're both animals -- they're not really thinking that hard about it. It gave everything sort of a very innocent, exploratory feel, and I liked that a lot! Plus, these two are adorable and have great chemistry anyways.
Overall, this is a manga about completely accepting each other's differences. Shirato couldn't change the part of him that preys on smaller animals -- and Komazu doesn't want him to starve, plain and simple, nor to be ashamed of himself for needing to eat. I love that level of understanding and straightforward love & acceptance for each other like that.
I think my biggest complaint about this manga though is that sometimes, the panels are so filled with detail, screentones, hatching/crosshatching, etc., that sometimes I genuinely could not figure out what was going on for the life of me in the panels. It had a very lovely style that fit the story, but sometimes my eyes just could not follow.
May 6, 2024
The way I screamed WHAT and then ran to the webs to look up animal genitalia because *are you for real*?? LOL. Yes, I was today years old when I learned about bird and snake reproductive organs and just, my mind is So Blown right now!! Aside from this revelation that has changed my brain chemistry, I really enjoyed this little story about two different species falling for each other. The art is very beautiful and while there is conflict, I felt it was pretty minimal and focused more on the two mains rather than introducing outside factors. I really enjoy simple stories like that, where both characters are obviously pining ✨ I am curious to know tho if the snake thing is accurate (about how frequently or not they have to eat and what that can cause)
And perhaps without meaning to, it made me think about where our food comes from and what type of feelings those creatures may have. Obviously they're not like these characters that are so human, but there is a process and oftentimes animals are cruelly kept and slaughtered. How often do we truly need to consume meat?
And perhaps without meaning to, it made me think about where our food comes from and what type of feelings those creatures may have. Obviously they're not like these characters that are so human, but there is a process and oftentimes animals are cruelly kept and slaughtered. How often do we truly need to consume meat?
February 26, 2023
Really cute and wholesome!! I give the author prompts for really researching the species bodily autonomy! I already knew that snakes penises were barbed and have two members (don't ask me how I knew that) but I didn't know that sparrows have nothing! So hey, I learned something!
I would say, I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't learn more about the world that this manga is set in. I wished we learned more about snake culture, or even about sparrow culture! And how snakes get their prey, is he the only one that feels so guilty eating living things? Or does other snakes feel the same way? I would've loved to learn more. But!
I really liked this story and it's characters! I do not regret reading this one bit! It was so cute that I finished it with a smile on my face! So cute, adorable, and wholesome story! I'm looking forward to what this author can produce next!
I would say, I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't learn more about the world that this manga is set in. I wished we learned more about snake culture, or even about sparrow culture! And how snakes get their prey, is he the only one that feels so guilty eating living things? Or does other snakes feel the same way? I would've loved to learn more. But!
I really liked this story and it's characters! I do not regret reading this one bit! It was so cute that I finished it with a smile on my face! So cute, adorable, and wholesome story! I'm looking forward to what this author can produce next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2024
This manga reminds me of a fairy tale. One you might read to your child from a colorful picture book right before bed. It’s a whimsical story about animals who can shape-shift into human forms and each have their own culture and way of life… and are inevitably drawn to each other in spite of their differences.
Komazu is our sunshine boy who also happens to be a cute little sparrow and just the right amount of silly with a little naivety mixed in. Meanwhile Shirato is our white snake, full of guilt at having to eat other creatures and mostly content to be alone in his own sorrow. Of course Komazu can’t let that stand - someone so pretty should never be sad. Not if he has anything to say about it...
Read the full review at Well, Are They? A Queer Review Blog:
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2023...
Komazu is our sunshine boy who also happens to be a cute little sparrow and just the right amount of silly with a little naivety mixed in. Meanwhile Shirato is our white snake, full of guilt at having to eat other creatures and mostly content to be alone in his own sorrow. Of course Komazu can’t let that stand - someone so pretty should never be sad. Not if he has anything to say about it...
Read the full review at Well, Are They? A Queer Review Blog:
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2023...
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