With love in the air, Tokyopop has spotlighted four new romance and fantasy adventure manga series set to launch during Q1 under its LoveLove imprint.
MY CONTRACT WITH THE APOTHECARY MONSTER Vol. 1
by Ayaka Sakuraze, art by Ino Manmaru · Print SRP: 13.99 · 160 pages · ISBN: 9781427880574 · For Readers 13+ ·
Available Now!
In this world, monsters consume a person’s lifespan in exchange for granting their every wish. However, Nea’s mysterious “apothecary” monster seems uninterested in consuming hers.
After wandering into the land of Weem, Nea is offered the illustrious position of Songbearer and forms a contract with Dino – a monster as beautiful as he is powerful. While Nea adjusts to her role (and Dino’s peculiar brand of companionship) she is tasked with the search for the Grimmdoll Chain: an artifact in possession of the elusive Masked Monster. If not her lifespan, what will Dino require of her in exchange for her wishes…?
THE MARGRAVE’S DAUGHTER AND THE ENEMY PRINCE Vol. 1
by An Ogura · Print SRP: 13.99 · 192 pages ·ISBN: 9781427880604 · For Readers 16+ · Available Now!
Anna, daughter of the Margrave of Halmich, is tired of the expectations placed on women in court. She has no interest in marrying a nobleman because society expects it of her. Instead, she works hard on her swordsmanship and dreams of joining her father on the battlefield someday. Unfortunately, fate deals her a heavy blow: when the hostile forces of the Kingdom of Albion invade and take the Halmich heir prisoner, she is given to the enemy prince in exchange for her brother’s life.
But even in the face of these tragic circumstances, Anna still has plans of her own: “I’ll infiltrate their ranks as a tribute, and then… I’ll defeat the man who killed my father.”
THE INCONVENIENT LIFE OF AN AROUSING PRIESTESS Vol. 1
by Makino Maebaru, art by Yamato Fujimine · Print SRP: 13.99 · 208 pages · ISBN: 9781427880581 · For Readers 13+ · Available February 25th
Monster-fighting priestess Monica’s impressive powers earned her an engagement with the crown prince, but… those powers come with a downside, arousing anyone affected, including herself! When the prince finds out, their engagement doesn’t last long.
While news of the “indecent” holy woman spreads throughout the land, an unexpected connection from her past approaches Monica for help: he needs her powers, and the rumors don’t seem to bother him. His name is Richard, and unbeknownst to Monica, he is also a prince…
TRAPPED BY HIS LOVE: THE DUKE’S UNEXPECTED BRIDE Vol. 1
by Kotoko, art by Nimo Kakunimoto · Print SRP: 13.99 · 164 pages · ISBN: 9781427880567 · For Readers 13+ · Available March 25th
When her engagement to her childhood bully is announced, Alice Coleman — he gentle-hearted and serious daughter of an impoverished noble family – is utterly aghast. In a desperate bid to find someone to stand in as an alternate fiancé, she blurts out a proposal… to the wealthy, high ranking son of a Duke, Arthur Grindelbard. And to her shock, he accepts.
Despite the strange beginning of their engagement, Arthur is an adoring fiancé to Alice, eager to spoil her with luxurious gifts and earn her affection. But behind his charming smile and solicitous attention lies a deeper intent and focus, hints of a man who has had his eye upon Alice for far longer than he cares to admit…
Yen Press has announced the acquisition of ten new titles, including seven manga (The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess Short Story Collection; Rejected by the Hero’s Party, a Princess Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside; Riviere and the Land of Prayer; In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name; Strategic Lovers; The Hachioji Specialty: Tengu’s Love; The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies) and three light novels (Sword Art Online Alternative Clover’s Regret; Hell Is Dark with No Flowers; My First Love’s Kiss).
The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess Short Story Collection
By Akiharu Touka
In a world of her own creation, the lives of Konoha’s many characters are filled with the kind of cringey doom and gloom that only an adolescent mind can produce. But where’s the fun in that? Throwing in a pinch of crossdressing, a dabble of sickfics, and oh—a date with a fellow bookworm—really spices up the story! From ninjas to assassin butlers and yanderes, there’s never a dull moment in the many alternate universes Konoha Satou lives through as the most despicable villainess, Iana Magnolia!
Sword Art Online Alternative Clover’s Regret
Story by Soitiro Watase Illustration by Ginta Supervised by Reki Kawahara
Sword Art Online, as reimagined by famed fantasy author Soitiro Watase!
Asuka Empire. A Japanese-style VRMMO created by Akihiko Kayaba from a VR engine entitled “The Seed”—a game once played by Yuuki, Ran, and Merida of the Sleeping Knights that hides many stories. Two young women—warrior priestess Nayuta and ninja Koyomi, who became friends in-game—come across a mysterious priest named Yanagi. The elderly man tells them that he’s looking for a detective to solve a riddle with a one-million-yen reward. The girls are shocked by the outlandish sum for this peculiar request, and then they meet an equally peculiar young man, who claims to be able to do this job as well as any other detective. With all his stat points invested in Luck, the man is useless in battle, but he does still seem to have some tricks up his sleeve, like that unbeatable drop rate for rare items… The mystery unfolds as two young girls and their dubious detective partner try to solve the case in this cutting-edge VRMMO world!
Rejected by the Hero’s Party, a Princess Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside
Story by Zappon Art by Mutsuki Higashioji Character Design by Yasumo
Before she reunited with Red in the frontier town of Zoltan, Rit was renowned as the brave warrior who helped the Hero’s party save her country from the demon king’s forces and the second princess of the Duchy of Loggervia, Rizlet. But after being suddenly exiled, Rit must embrace her new, untethered life as an adventurer traveling wherever the wind blows…though who knows where that journey will take her?! This is the story of Rit’s exploits across the continent of Avalon prior to finding Red!!
Riviere and the Land of Prayer
Story by Jougi Shiraishi Art by Neriume Character Design by Azure
After Riviere saved her from dying on the street, MacMillia chose to start working as her new assistant! The enigmatic Riviere runs an antique shop, where she specializes in dispelling troublesome (and sometimes dangerous) curses. Magic, witches, prayers (and the curses they turn into) mean there’s never a dull day for these two!
In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name
Story by Kotoko Art by NiKrome
Through a handheld mirror connected to another world, college student Ichika befriends a boy named Cecil. But when the mirror disappears one day along with her older sister, Karen, Ichika thinks she’ll never see the two of them again…until a year later, when the mirror suddenly turns up and sends Ichika to the world on the other side! There, she finds a grown-up Cecil and her sister, who, for some reason, has become a saint named Ichika—?! After Karen has stolen her name and life, Ichika must forge her own destiny in this otherworldly, doting fantasy!
Strategic Lovers
By Sanshokuamido
Kouta Higashiyama’s father is the enormously wealthy founder of a corporate behemoth—but his mother was the man’s twenty-third mistress! He thought the issue of succession and inheritance had nothing to do with him. And it didn’t—until he was suddenly kidnapped as a candidate to be the next chairman and dropped in front of five beautiful girls, who are all in contention to become his lover…But is his whole life really about choosing whatever and whoever he wants? Or will Kouta himself be the one to be chosen…?
The Hachioji Specialty: Tengu’s Love
By Tomo Nanao
Upon his return to his hometown near Mt. Takao, the lonely youth Kotarou reunites with a tengu girl he used to know, Hime. To his shock, Hime decrees that they must wed! Intent on marrying Kotarou, will Hime be able to break down his walls and build a happily-ever-after with him?!
Hell Is Dark with No Flowers
Story by Yoru Michio Illustration by Ruka Todo
Seiji Tohno sometimes sees the people around him as monsters. It is a curse that had driven him to a life of despair, living out of internet cafés with nowhere to call home…but all that changes one twilit evening when he stumbles across a huge European mansion. There, Seiji meets a bewitchingly beautiful boy dressed in a kimono with a white peony motif on the shoulder, who introduces himself as Shiroshi Saijou. This mysterious young man seems to know more about Seiji than he does himself, and before he knows it, Seiji has agreed to become Shiroshi’s assistant in exchange for room and board. Little does he know, however, this “proxy service,”’ as Shiroshi puts it, is none other than outsourced death! Sending monster-possessed sinners to Hell, will bring Seiji face-to-face with terrifying new creatures each and every day!
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies
By Cocoa Fujiwara
She’s a magical girl, sworn to fight for peace, love, and justice. He’s a lieutenant, born into a military family that serves an evil empire. And yet, it was love at first sight…From Inu x Boku SS creator Cocoa Fujiwara comes a four-panel comic about hostile enemies who won’t kill (and love) each other!
My First Love’s Kiss
Story by Hitoma Iruma Illustration by Fly
Takasora Hoshi’s life is upended when a girl from her class named Umi Mizuike and her mother temporarily move into her family’s cramped apartment. From the outset of this arrangement, Takasora finds herself annoyed by Umi’s behavior…and her good looks. And though the two girls initially agree to avoid interfering with each other’s lives, Takasora can’t help but start to wonder where Umi keeps wandering off to at night…
From the author of Adachi and Shimamura comes the bittersweet tale of two high school girls whose lives are thrust together under the same roof.
