Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the digital ARC of “A Vampire in the Bathhouse” by Niko Izuki! This was such a cute single volume manga, the cast of characters at Full Moon Baths were so fun. Basically Luka the beautiful vampire lord from the demon realm is experiencing the human realm, kinda like a foreigner on vacation in Japan, but with some magical twists. Sakura, the eldest son of the bathhouse, has a sweet deadpan personality that contrasts well with Luka’s vampire extravagance. There’s a bit of romatic flirtation, but it doesn’t go far unfortunately, since the focus of the manga is humor. The only downside is that the repeated testimonials to the power of a relaxing bath house visit left me feeling very jealous that I don’t have one to visit… If you’re looking for a funny manga with a little bit of a spooky twist I’d give this manga a go!

Thank you, NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Niko Izuki for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Final rating 3.5

I have to say that there were various parts of this manga that I found quite enjoyable. I enjoyed the characters; I found their family/friend dynamic quite adorable. There were many moments that I physically “awed” or laughed out loud to, and I found myself wanting to continue reading just to see how it would end.

To be completely honest, I found that I wasn’t very impressed by the story. That is to say, that there was no actual story present. After reading the author’s notes, I understand why, as this was never intended to be a full-length story, and it shows. I found myself disappointed with this because the synopsis states that this is a full story contained in one book. However, most of the chapters were simple one-off stories with mild connections. If you’re expecting decent world-building, you’re only going to find enough for you to say, “All right then,” and move on. If you’re expecting amazing character development, you’re not going to find that here. It ended so incredibly abruptly, that I expected there to be another volume, and felt lukewarm in the end when I realized there wasn’t one. Overall, if you enjoy slice-of-life content with mild fantasy elements and a simple story, then you will enjoy this book.

One final element of this book is the romance between Sakura and Luka. If you could call it that. It seemed more like a gag than anything and certainly like it was tacked on for fanservice. I felt like that part of the story could have been completely left out and we wouldn’t have missed it. This is unfortunate because there were various ways I saw a potential romance could have elevated the story in terms of impact.
Final verdict: if you want a quick, low-stakes read, then this story is for you. If you want something a bit deeper, then it won’t be your jam. The art is very nice though and I look forward to seeing other things the mangaka creates!

Again, thank you NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Niko Izuki for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Gave quite a few laughs, from the beginning alone. I didn't expect what happened. I'm giggling now still thinking of it. The characters were very likable. Takes place in like a small bathhouse a d the MMC is completely thrown off by the situation as I know one would be in the same situation haha it was quite a good read!

This was an enjoyable slice of life vampire story. Luka Edelmondt Finsternis is a vampire who in an attempt to cure his hangover goes to the human realm to visit the famous Full Moon Baths to attempt to restore himself. Luka ends up staying and helping the eldest son Sakura run the bathhouse and take care of his younger sibling. This was cute and a pretty contained story. I enjoyed the various adventures they went on and the different kinds of demons we were introduced to. I was expecting a little more development or discussion about the pact between Luka and Sakura though.

Overall, this was enjoyable though and if there was another volume I would probably read it.

This book had an interesting premise and an adorable art style. As was expected with a title like A Vampire in the Bathhouse it was over the top and quirky but still a solid manga.

A Vampire In The Bathhouse had a really nice art style and was a cute and funny story. It had some really sweet family moments and I enjoyed the slice of life charm that it held. It had some innuendos, but was mostly just a cute romance between a vampire and a human guy.
I recommend reading if you enjoy fantasy and cute romance stories

With such an intriguing premise, I read A Vampire in the Bathhouse in one sitting! This was such a cute and lighthearted read, with lots of funny moments throughout. I loved the location of the bathhouse because it felt so cosy.

The artwork was absolutely gorgeous, and I felt that it matched the tone of the plot really well. Obviously, there were magical moments, but this story leaned more towards being slice of life. I loved the strong found family theme and the relationships that developed between each of the characters. I had a great time with this manga.

I loved this manga. It was a very interesting storyline. I could see myself picking up the of the series when it comes out. I loved the art work and the cover just tied it all together. The ending definitely makes me want to keep going through the series.

This reads like a cute, quirky, and light manga for days in during the weekend. The character interactions were adorable and amusing to experience, I loved the art style and I liked that the story didn't take itself so seriously. Exactly what I was looking for when I picked this up.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this eARC!

This was SUCH a cute story! This is the perfect slice of life manga to lose a couple hours to. The overall story was extremely well written and the art style is beautiful. I loved seeing the relationship between Luka and Ume. I really wish though we would have gotten more scenes of Luka and Sakura as you could see there was a possible relationship there but it never really developed. The banter between characters was witty and fun and Luka is a very charming character. Hope to see more from these characters!

This was such a silly and cute story. The artwork is really well done and lovely, the story was really good, and the characters were so fun.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for letting me read this manga early!

okay this was WAY better than I expect it to be. This bizarre story was queer, cozy and entertainment. From the draw stile to ghe writing one! Can't wait to read volume 2!
I appropriate the translation note

Thank you Kodansha and Niko Izuki for the ARC.

This was a super sweet little slice of life paranormal story. I loved that the story wrapped up in one volume and made for a quick and fun little read.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you netgally and kodansha comics for letting me read this in return for an honest review.

This is a very cute manga. The artwork is just so incredibly beautiful, everyone is so pretty haha. There isn’t much romance in this book yet. I have a feeling that that’ll probably come in later books. Right now it was mostly focused on friendship/found family.
The story did go very fast. Sakura just accepted that a vampire appeared in his bath house and bit him.

This manga was a lighthearted slice of life story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. All the characters were very fun to read about and the art design was very clear and beautiful. The story was heartwarming and humorous and I would love to read a sequel to see more of these character's misadventures.

The only issue I had with the manga was that I went in to this book thinking there was going to be a more cohesive or overarching plot line that walks connect each smaller chapter. I thought there might be some underlying conflict or at least when Yomi shows up, the issue with him taking the bathhouse and wanting to take Sakura with him, this would end up being more of a plot point, but it’s solved off page in between chapters.

Overall, if you’re looking for a quick lighthearted read about demon exploring the joys of human connection, this manga is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Before I begin, I would like to thank Niko Izuki for allowing me to read a Net Galley copy of their upcoming manga volume, A Vampire in the Bathhouse, which will be available on April 29th, 2025.

Luka Edelmont Finsternis is the perfect example of a vampire. He’s handsome, regal, often really hungover, tired, and frankly bored with his routine. Deciding to pivot, he looks into the human world and discovers a Japanese bathhouse that should get rid of his hangover and make him full of energy again. He goes to the Full Moon Bathhouse, and meets the bathhouse’s eldest son, Sakura. With the bathhouse not having enough employees and caring for his little brother, Sakura doesn’t have time for a fancy and eccentric vampire. But as time passes, the two might discover that the baths aren’t necessarily the only magic present, perhaps it’s about realizing what it’s like to make people your home.

I loved this manga. You have Luka, a handsome, earnest, powerful, kind, and charming vampire that’s used to partying a lot and decides to do something to fix having hangovers once and for all. You have Sakura, a hardworking, considerate, reserved, and lovely young man that is devoted to taking care of the bathhouse and spending time with his little brother. The banter between Luka and Sakura was hilarious, and Sakura’s brother was very cute and sweet. The food looked delicious, and the overall art was stunning. I loved how kind Luka was to Sakura’s brother from the very beginning, and how the vampire interacted with other demons (supernatural beings?) that appeared throughout the story. I liked learning about the different kinds of magic the demons possess, and I enjoyed seeing the characters interacting with each other and the world around them. Overall, if you like great banter, gorgeous art, wonderful found family dynamics and wholesome vibes, then I would highly recommend this manga. Here’s the link with more information: A Vampire in the Bathhouse: Izuki, Niko: 9798888774281: Amazon.com: Books

I picked up A Vampire in the Bathhouse intrigued by its quirky premise and charming cover art. The story follows Luka Edelmondt Finsternis, a vampire lord who mysteriously manifests in the real world and chooses Full Moon Baths—a quaint bathhouse—as his new haunt. There, he meets Sakura, the bathhouse owner's son, and within mere moments, Luka marks Sakura as his partner by sharing his blood. What unfolds next is a series of short, somewhat loosely connected stories revolving around their daily lives together, occasionally joined by Sakura’s adorably mischievous baby brother.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to love this manga, it fell flat for me. While I’m not a manga expert, I do have a fair share of experience with the genre, and I couldn’t help but feel that the narrative lacked cohesion and depth. The pacing felt uneven, and the plot was hard to follow at times. I went in expecting a lighthearted yet captivating romance - maybe even some playful tension or clever humor - but instead, it ended up feeling like a random assortment of scenes centered around “some guys hanging out at a bathhouse.”

Luka’s character in particular seemed to be written with the intent of being alluring or impressive, yet his charm didn’t quite land. I kept waiting for that spark - something that would make the characters pop and the story come alive - but it never quite arrived.

That said, there were still a few aspects I enjoyed. The illustrations were clean and appealing, especially when it came to the cute little demon/vampire creature who kept popping up alongside Sakura’s baby brother. Those moments added a hint of whimsy that thankfully were consistent throughout the volume.

Overall, while the manga had a unique setup and beautiful artwork, the execution left me feeling underwhelmed. I had high hopes based on the premise and cover, but sadly, it didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with this reading opportunity!

Such a cute slice-of-life BL manga! I really enjoys it
The manga follows our vampire Luka who ventures to human world and discovers traditional japanese bath house. There, he met the eldest son of bathhouse owner Sakura. The manga follows the series of comedic yet heartwarming interactions between them.

I love Niko Izuki art! Luka is such a beauuuutifullll vampire, and he knows he’s beautiful haha. I really enjoys seeing all the food part of the manga as it does makes me hungry.

If you’re introducing yourself to BL genres and enjoys slice of life with fantasy element, i will recommend you to pick this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just cheesy, goofy fun.

The art style is very pretty and easy to look at. I didn't really see much romance in this but overall, the story was cute. This felt like it needed something more and felt like something was missing. It did feel like there was supposed to be more to the series at some point.