A Beast's Love is Like the Moon

by Guri Nojiro

Genres: Fantasy, Manga, Romance
Pages: 176
Rating:

Synopsis:

Tired of the fast-paced city life, Izuki has agreed to take care of his uncle's house in the mountains, which are said to be "visited by yokai."

Izuki, dismissive of the superstition, goes exploring — only to be attacked by a yokai in the woods. He's saved by a beautiful man named Haku, who claims to be the incarnation of a komainu guardian dog. He pledges himself to Izuki and begs him to be his master. Izuki refuses at first, wanting to return to the city as quickly as possible, but is swayed by Haku's lonely eyes and brings him back to the house. Gradually, he falls into a comfortable rhythm with the pushy but devoted Haku while living under the same roof, and Izuki wonders if he really wants to return to the city as he thought.

However, Haku harbors a secret that could put Izuki's life at risk. Will Izuki and Haku come together in the end, or will Haku succumb to the loneliness that he's held at bay for centuries...?

Guri Nojiro’s A Beast’s Love is Like the Moon features a komainu falling almost instantly in love with a human who stumbles across his shrine while housesitting for a family member. Calling himself Haku, he begs Izuki to be his master, and does his best to bind them together. There’s an early sex scene which comes across as pretty non-consensual, since Izuki’s still very much saying “no” most of the time and it’s not clear he even likes it — though this does seem to be mostly the Japanese m/m thing where one partner is outwardly reluctant the whole time, but does love the other.

As they live together — after all, Izuki’s supposed to be looking after the house, and he can’t let people down now, so he might as well let Haku help — Haku only loves Izuki more, and comes to realise that he can’t force Izuki to stay with him. That leads to the risk of Haku becoming a demon, which of course culminates in some dramatic scenes.

I didn’t like this as much as the other Guri Nojiro manga I read, because the relationship felt even less consensual/mutual, but it does develop into something a little heartwrenching and bittersweet, in the final chapter. Izuki stays with Haku as long as he can, but he is mortal, of course…

Not a favourite, but a fun enough light read.

Rating: 2/5 (“it was okay”)