Firefly Wedding is a manga written by Oreco Tachibana and published initially on Jan. 1, 2023. The series is ongoing and is set to be updated in January of 2026. 

This is the first in our series of underrated/unknown manga. We wanted to start with something with heavier themes for October. Firefly Wedding is recommended for 16 and up and is typically for teenagers due to its themes of mild gore and mentions of assault in the first chapter. 

The genre is a historical dark romance just in time for our October series. The story is set in the Meiji era (1868-1912) and follows noblewoman Satoko, who is kidnapped to a different island and tries to save herself by offering her hand in marriage to her would-be assassin, Shinpei Goto. 

The manga currently has 6 english volumes, 9 volumes in the original Japanese version. Reasons to read the manga include the love story aspect, which is paced nicely, and the main character’s enjoyment in watching their relationship grow from predator and prey. The story is unique and unlike anything I’ve personally read. The rest of our recommendations will stray away from the darker themes. 

You should not read this manga if you have a strong aversion to gore or assault (assault is not a recurring theme), don’t enjoy darker romance themes, or enjoy a fast-feeling love story. This is a 16 and up manga, so tread lightly if you plan to read it. Another warning to consider is that this manga is currently ongoing, so don’t pick it up if you don’t want an unfinished read. 

The manga includes organic dialogue in the later chapters and a beautiful art style, too. I would personally recommend this if you’re looking for a shorter series for October. 

Hattie Huffman, vice president of the Japanese Anime Research society says, “It’s relieving to see a protagonist hold her own and show some strength in a story. The art style is beautiful and the main characters are easy to love.”

This manga is a nice read if you enjoy the themes of dark romance and historical fiction with a twist, but I would definitely recommend avoiding it if you have issues with the trigger warnings above. Thank you for joining us for the first edition of manga recommendations. 

The manga is currently available to buy on Amazon or Simon & Schuster if you’re interested in giving it a read or found online for free, if you’re willing to look for it.

Grade: 8/10