Extremely underwhelming. I expected something like Meguru Hinohara’s The Dragon's Betrothed, but this is nowhere as funny or satisfying. The leads are generic. They have little chemistry with each other and the romance gets no buildup. I never felt like Ozaki has genuine feelings for Kiyo.

A quick and easy read that’s light and fun. This wasn’t really deep in terms of the story. It brushes on this backstory that could have gone a little deeper — really just surface level. The art is pretty, as is most manga artwork. I wish we could have gotten more about the fox character and how/why he is how he is beyond the relationship

This is a short story set in the 1920s Japan. A student called Kiyo stayed with a mysterious man Ozaki who is actually a fox spirit. And Ozaki used to know Kiyo's grandfather Seshirou. And of course they got closer as they stayed together.
It's a quick read and very cute story. The author apparently did quite a bit of research to accurately portray the Taisho Period. And love the fluffy fox tails!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a sweet supernatural romance in a historical setting. Not a whole lot happens and it's fairly slice-of-life, but the art is lovely and while there were definitely parts I would've liked to see fleshed out, for a one volume story it was cute, if a little sparse in terms of story. There's not much more to it than the synopsis, so on that front it was maybe a tad underwhelming and could've afforded to be longer. Still, it's a quick read and I liked it well enough.

This was a quick, easy to read one shot. I casually enjoyed it, and I liked the characterization of our protagonist, but I wanted more development of the relationship to see why/how they fell for each other. I was interested in the history with the grandfather, but it never got fully explained. I’d definitely read another volume if one were to come out, but it didn’t seem like it was leading up to one.

The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait is a nice quick read that I enjoyed. It’s a supernatural historical standalone manga, about a university student and a fox spirit who get more than they bargained for when they end up living together.

Student Kiyo is a good character, full of innocent wonder for the world and everything it has to offer. Ozaki is a quiet, mysterious broody man who’s hard to get to know, but once you do, he’s very likeable (despite his brief phase of possessiveness!). Together these two form a lovely friendship, which slowly turns into more once they start to trust each other and learn about each other’s lives.

I really like the art in this book, particularly the depiction of Ozaki and his fox characteristics. His big bushy tail and pointy ears really suit him, and I wish we could have learnt more about fox spirits. I thought the story ended a little abruptly, and it’s a shame there won’t be a sequel to expand on Kiyo’s and Ozaki’s feelings and new life together. Still, I’m glad I read this and I look forward to dipping more of my toes into the world of Manga.

I enjoyed this title! I liked the premise of this boy love manga, and it's slight Beauty and the Beast theme. I thought that the romance between Kiyo and Ozaki was very sweet, and the last bonus chapter was especially satisfying to read. I am always on the lookout for more queer manga for teens, and I liked that this one was appropriate in terms of content to purchase for a teen collection. I think the story was laid out well for a standalone manga, and I am eager to read more works by this author!

Review to come in a few days on my blog (and other places).

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

I just LOVE the title and the cover was also so cute! Well, I have to say that for most of the manga there is not much happening between them. You can see things blooming between them, but it is very slow slow slow. So be warned. If you want to read something sexier I would recommend something else. This is very slice of life, calm. And yes, I would have liked some more spice, haha.

In this one we meet a man named Kiyo who is about to start his first year at Tokyo University, a big big honour, but on this first day in the city he gets lost. And that is how he starts to live with someone named Ozaki. He has a big house (seriously, such a big house for Tokyo standards) and he feels lonely (logical, especially as we learn more about his past and how he is connected with Kiyo). I just loved seeing the two together, first mostly it is quite stiff. But as secrets come out and Kiyo learns the truth, plus learns more about his family, you could see the two get closer. Well, OK, there are some hiccups because Ozaki is clearly not happy with humans (but is he really?). At times I really wanted to shake Ozaki and that he would just be freaking honest about things, because at this point Kiyo just doesn't get what is going on and it can be quite frustrating. I am glad though that the author showed hints aplenty so we know that there is more to his attitude. If those hints weren't there, well I wouldn't just want to shake Ozaki, I would want to yeet him. XD

I loved how the story progressed. It is slow going, but I didn't mind it that much!

The ending made me smile so much and I was just throwing confetti (not real, I am not in the mood to clean my house now) around in celebration.

Bonus points for the bonus chapter! I just ADORE it when manga add a little extra often set a few months (or longer) in the future so that we can see how our couple is doing! And it was just so cute! Haha, poor Ozaki, he has had a difficult time it seems. XD Just a few more months! You can do it!

The art was really pretty, I love Ozaki's design especially! Both his human and his fox self.

All in all, a bit slow, but still a really fun and sweet manga about loss, finding new love, and two people finding each other.

The art was cute, and I liked the historical aspects of the manga. It didn't quite hook me, but that's possibly because it was a one-volume story. I enjoyed the read, but it's not something I would recommend over another series.

The cover caught my attention with it's pretty and soft-colored art and the artwork inside was also nice. This manga is contained in a five-chapter one-shot volume, with a bonus chapter. The plot is set in 1920s Tokyo, which was interesting and allowed me to learn some fun facts from back then in the afterword and translation notes, and the story is sweet with student Kiyo staying in fox spirit Ozaki's home while studying in university.

-- 4/5 Stars -- ★★★★☆

Trigger Warnings for The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait: Stranger-danger, debt, quid pro quo, age gap

The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait is a stand-alone manga novel by Nmura. In this manga we follow Kiyo on his journey to start at the Imperial University in Tokyo, Japan. Along the way he gets lost and runs into Ozaki, a young-appearing man that allows Kiyo to stay in his mansion while attending college.

This manga was so fluffy and cute. I loved how Nmura was able to show character growth even in a short manga. All of this being said, this feels like a manga that would have benefited from being at least a duology. I would have loved to see more exploration of Kiyo's grandfather and the relationship mirroring.

All of this in mind, The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait is a precious snippet of BL. I enjoyed the storyline, though would have loved something a little deeper. I would be fully in favor of Nmura crafting this into a more fleshed out story! Special thanks to NetGalley, Nmura, and Kodansha Comics for access to a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

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I really enjoyed reading the book. It was something comforting and sweet.

The characters have a slow-burn romance, in which they get used to each other by living in the same house. Because they live in the same house, I think it would have been good for them to have spent more time together and shown the reader the evolution of their relationship. Because I didn't feel it.
The drawings are beautiful, I really appreciated the art, and how it reflected the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

The art is done perfectly; I enjoyed all the panels. The story felt super short, and I hope there’s another one for after graduation. While I liked it, it moved way too fast. Probably because it was so short. We didn’t get to see any of the feelings build up and actually become love. They literally did nothing together. It would’ve been nice to at least see them go out once. Like the festival the main human was talking about. I don’t know. It just didn’t feel authentic. And I’m assuming the fox guy was in love with the grandpa at some point before the grandpa found someone to marry. But that was touched on and glossed over too. This could’ve been a lot more had it been double the length or multi volume.

In "The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait" by Nmura, readers are drawn into a charming world where love and mystique collide. As a fan of cute love stories, I found myself captivated by the tender romance between the characters. However, my enjoyment was somewhat tempered by a desire for more depth in the exploration of their relationship.

One aspect that left me yearning for more was the swift revelation of the protagonist's discovery of Ozaki being a fox spirit. I felt that this pivotal moment could have been more impactful with a gradual build-up, adding layers of anticipation leading to the revelation.

Additionally, the sudden departure of Ozaki caught me off guard. The lack of foreshadowing or tension preceding this event left me feeling a bit disconnected from the characters' emotional journey. A more gradual development of their relationship and subtle hints towards Ozaki's decision could have added complexity and depth to the storyline.

Despite these critiques, "The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait" offered a cozy and heartwarming reading experience. The underlying reason behind the fox spirit's animosity towards humans added a touch of realism to the fantastical elements of the plot. While I wished for more nuanced character dynamics and a slower pacing in certain plot points, the overall sweetness of the story prevailed.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I would lean towards a rating of 4 for this manga. While it fell slightly short of my expectations in terms of pacing and character development, the touching narrative and endearing themes ultimately won me over.

Also... who does not want to be in love with a fox spirit? Always makes for a good read in my regard.

A massive thankyou to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book with my honest thoughts and opinion. I would like to see this plot in a series where the pacing can be slowed and we can have the time to fall in love alongside the characters.

Also a big thank-you to Nmura, we need more fox spirit love stories. Thank you for giving this one to the world.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

I am a bit disappointed. I really like kitsune and seeing how this story 'developed' is very disappointing. Shortly said: The pacing is too slow. Nothing crucial happens. More telling than showing. Relationship is not very good built. I felt no bond between them and still they kissed and hugged. It felt just weird. Too much repetition. At some point I think we all get it that the story is about a grandfather which the kitsune wants to pay back by letting the grandson live in his mansion. And unfortunately, that's all the plot is about. Nothing exciting or full of action happens. Really thought this read would have been better.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy of The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait by Nmura.

Started the book: 21. May 2024
Finished the book: 21. May 2024
Wrote the review: 21. May 2024

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

I really like ‘The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait’ it was a fun quick read and had wonderful illustrations and I can’t wait to pick up my own copy’

Stars 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a very sweet stand-alone romance. It’s 1921 and Kiyo has arrived from the countryside to Tokyo to attend the Imperial University, but he gets lost on his way to the boarding house. Ozaki, a kind, beautiful man invites him to live in his mansion instead, and he accepts. Ozaki claims he’s returning a favour. It turns out it’s a favour to Kiyo’s grandfather who has been dead for forty years.

Kiyo discovers that Ozaki is a fox spirit who has lived a long time. He claims to hate people, but Kiyo knows it’s because losing them makes him sad. So he wows to stay with Ozaki for the rest of his life. A romance ensues.

This wasn’t a very long story. In a few chapters, several years go by, though I only noticed in the bonus chapter, where things get slightly heated. Ozaki mostly broods, while Kiyo goes about his life. They are an odd pair, but both seem sure of their feelings. I wish there was a follow up to see how things turn out between them. There are some glimpses of the historical Tokyo, but apart from that, this could’ve been set in any time, as the setting doesn’t really play any role in the story.

This is a historical BL that handles the romance delicately (it feels more like shōnen-ai). The drawing style is beautiful, and the historical references aren't overwhelming. I usually shy away from historical fiction, but I'm so glad I decided to give this manga a try! The translator notes at the end were also interesting to read.

My only complaint is that it's a stand-alone manga :( I wish there was a second part! I would've liked seeing more of the characters. But I absolutely adored the main character's personality, he balanced out the “fox” so well. They complement each other, heh.

The romance in this had me kicking my feet, it was so cute and swoon-worthy. There was an equal balance of angst and fluff that made it easy to fly through. The art style was beautiful and it fit the story well. I love stories that are simply about queer love and joy so this was a lovely and quick read.

I did appreciate how the author made sure to address the complications that may occur between Ozaki and Kiyo because of Ozaki's past relationship with Seishiro. And the bonus chapter? Wow.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kodansha Comics, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank the author Nmura and Kodansha Comics for an advanced reader copy on Net Galley. I enjoyed this manga as someone who has recently started reading Danmei (Chinese BL) and Baihe (Chinese GL) and already excited for volume two. I haven’t tried BL mangas due to loving historical aspects that presents in some of my favorites danmei. I want to thank this author and publisher to introducing the world of BL through the historical lenses of the Taisho era. I have read contemporary manga prior to this such as Library Wars, but I have not been able to recommend nor introduced to historical BL manga and I enjoyed it.

I do want to note that in some of the quote bubbles especially the scene with Kiyo discovers that Ozaki is a fox from Japanese mythology that some of the sentences were enlarged and out of the bubbles. I hope this can be a quick fix prior to the publication or just a glitch in my epub copy of the advanced reader copy. I also appreciated through the end of the manga that the end of the manga has put explanations of historical events in Japan through the 1920’s. While reading this manga, my thought process was “I wish I was educated on Japanese history as an American with an International Relations degree! I am disappointed that I did learn about Japan in the 1920’s”. This ending timeline was such a huge help in understanding the times in Japan during the Taisho era which I just learned about also.

I wanted to say congratulations to Nmura who mentioned at the end of the manga that it’s their first published work! As marketing for a western fan base, I can recommend that marketing towards western audiences and fans of danmei and baihe may bring a huge fandom as majority of the content in these Chinese genres are similar with historical, fantasy, and BL/GL stories in China! I am really interested to see how the story develops and progress!