I enjoyed this new manga! I like that Nanao had someone swoop in and save her from the horrible situation she was in. The new clan house seems so lively and full of characters. I can wait to read more!

The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride 1 was apparently a Webtoon. I had no idea! It has been ages since I read manga. Mamenosuke Fujimaru and Midori Yuma reminded me why I loved reading manga so much! I instantly fell in love with "The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride". I loved the historical Japanese fantasy romance trope mix. Characters Yako and Nano won my heart. Reading Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride brought back so many fond memories. I didn't realize how much I missed reading manga. Fujimaru and Yuma do no wrong. I give it a million stars!

First of all, i would like to thank the publisher and the author for the copy.
The story behind this narrative was interesting, however I don’t think it had the best execution. It was too fast paced and everything was happening in a confusing way, because there were too many actions at once to follow. Also the fact that it was too fast paced makes the narrative feels rushed and misunderstood. If the next volume follows this rhythm I don’t believe there will be much story to develop.
Overall 3 stars

I absolutely loved the story. It was paced well and I really can't wait to read the 2nd volume. The character Nanao was quite interesting. I liked how even despite being treated badly for years she still went to save her cousin and ex's baby. I really like Yako. He was a well rounded character who wasn't just there to save Nanao.

The only problem I had was the bonus chapter and how it switches from comic, to text, to full on novel mode. It was very off putting and took me out of the story with the sudden random shift.

Overall the manga was great! It was a captivating story, with moments of worry, love, comedic moments, and mystery. The art style was beautiful and the characters were well rounded and had depth, especially Yako.

Publishing date: 25.03.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

TLDR: Girl gets cursed, demon hunter meets her and "falls" for her after an incident. 2 stars, vibes were off.

A young girl (15 or younger at the start of the book????) is set to marry a young lord (age unknown). She gets tricked and cursed by a demon and the lord no longer wants her. One day she meets a demon hunter who sees her face after an incident and "falls" for her.

First of all, before I get into characters or story or anything else. The age here set off alarm bells in my head. Very early in it is mentioned that the main character is set to marry someone WHEN she turns 15. I was gagged. I do not care for your justifications for setting 15 instead of 18, I am not for reading that. Not a fan. Unnecessary age to set it at, up it to 18 and we can talk again. Also I know she is older during the events of the manga, but that setup has turned me off completely for my reading experience here.

Characters. fine. None of them felt really special, it was more of a setup and introduction kind of volume. Yes, relationships get a little flavor, but in general they are flat for now. Depth to come in later volumes.

Story was actually kind of interesting, I just wish it was a little more ... Yeah, just more. Also the fascinating choice to make smell such a central theme is creative. Liked that aspect, even if it felt a little silly.

The art is gorgeous though. Beautiful work.

Audience ... Young adult again. It doesn't have the right themes for a middle grade story even if it isn't that graphic in any way.

I am sadly giving this 2 stars. The initial age thing I mentioned set a sour tone for me. This is unfortunate, but maybe you won't mind as much and find a bunch to enjoy here.

This story offers a fascinating twist on the Historical Romantic Fantasy genre. Do you enjoy manga? Are sweet romances your cup of tea? Does mythology intrigue you? If so, this might be a perfect match for you!

When reading books and manga, I love searching for hidden concepts and deeper meanings beneath the surface. Digging deeper always makes the experience more exciting. In this manga, the underlying concepts explore a fascinating balance in life. Nanao's High Spiritual Power must be balanced by Yako's Light Spiritual Power, similar to weights on a scale or the harmony of yin and yang. One intriguing question that arises is: what happens if their powers become imbalanced in this world? Could something catastrophic occur? It's something interesting to ponder and a great incentive to continue reading the series!

If you're a fan of "My Happy Marriage," this manga will be right up your alley.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Mamenosuke Fujimaru for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy!

I enjoyed this! if you enjoy My happy marriage, I feel you would like this one too. it has the same feel to it. I like the FMC and I feel bad for her. I like the MMC and how he immediately takes her away from her horrible situation. it ends abruptly but I definitely want to read more.

Set in an alternate Meiji-era Japan, where ayakashi exist alongside humans, Nanao is a pariah in the distinguished Byakurenji family of spiritual practitioners (onmyoji). After being "tainted" by an ayakashi in her youth, she has been relegated to less than a servant in her household—that is, until the head of another onmyoji clan decides to take her as his bride.

The basic premise is simple enough, a bit of a Cinderella tale where a fortuitous marriage brings our downtrodden heroine out of her dire circumstances (e.g. My Happy Marriage, Kimi no Koe, etc.). Mamenosuke's artwork is frankly gorgeous, and I've been a fan of theirs for over a decade since their work on the Quinrose Alice series. This first volume is charming and lovingly drawn, but currently has not quite distinguished itself from several other series with the same premise. It's got a solid start, though, so I look forward to following where this series takes us!

I love stories where marriage comes before love, and this one sets that up beautifully. There’s so much room for character growth, and I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops. Plus, the historical setting and folklore elements just add to the magic of it all.

Definitely hooked and already looking forward to the next volume!

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this manga!

This story is truly unique and intriguing. From the very first pages, I was completely captivated by its fascinating world, filled with mystery, supernatural elements, and an atmosphere that keeps you hooked. The characters are compelling, and I was especially drawn to Yako—there’s something about him that makes him absolutely captivating. His presence and dynamic within the story make me even more eager to see how everything unfolds. Definitely a must-read, and I can’t wait to continue this series!

I read a lot of manga in middle school and never lost my enjoyment of them. They're quick stories and are usually accompanied by stunning artwork. The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride was a whirlwind. It had a crazy story and a wackadoodle premise. Our heroine was duped by a malicious spirit, or ayakashi, and ended up smelling like a primate for her troubles. I'm not kidding. The entire village shunned her and made her wear an orangutan mask. Turns out her former fiance didn't make her wear the monkey mask simply because of her tainted demon odor, but rather because she was so beautiful that he didn't want other suitors snapping her up. Lo and behold, an ayakashi hunter finds her bathing in the river and is beguiled by her scent. Our heroine's encounter with the orangutan left her with a dark spirit and our hunter perfectly matches her with his light energy. The whole premise was rather silly, but I liked the ayakashi elements and the absurdity of the monkey mask. This was a light, easy read and had me shaking my head at the crazy scenarios. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series, but it was a barrel of laughs.

This is pure wish-fulfillment fantasy where everyone is SO MEAN to the poor virtuous heroine until a handsome hero shows up and immediately sees her innate value and rescues her… but it’s well done and the art is lovely!

While not wholly original, I really liked how this series starts. The powerful MMC finds and rescues the abused FMC, and he'll no doubt help her to grow stronger on her own. This gives "Happy Marriage" vibes for sure, but is already clearly its own story. I love the inclusion of the demons who help protect the city by serving the MMC too. Volume 1 did a good job setting up this world and I look forward to more to come.

I definitely want to read the next one of this series. The setup was good with hints of comedy ad well as more serious topics. The female lead is rather meek, but it seems she'll come into her own. Overall, not bad

I really loved this manga! The story hooked me right away, the artwork is simply beautiful, and it was a great opportunity to learn more about Ayakashi. If you enjoyed My Happy Marriage, you should definitely check this manga out.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Mamenosuke Fujimaru for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

I wasn't sure what to expect when starting this manga, but within the first few pages I found myself already wanting a volume two! The art style is really gorgeous and the story is intriguing. I have so many questions that I can't wait to have answered.

While the characters are interesting enough on their own (even if they are the typical character archetype for these types of stories), the glimpses shown of the world itself have left me curious to know more about the ayakashi and the clans rolls beyond what we've seen so far.

I will definitely be continuing this series to see where everything goes.

"The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride, Volume 1" by Mamenosuke Fujimaru has my favorite the type of storyline in a romance manga. The rejected heroine whose gifts are instinctively recognized by a person who is above her tormentors. Sure it is cliche, but when it comes to stories, it is my catnip.

Nanao was once the fiancee to the master of her clan but she is marked by an orangutan ayakashi. Her betrothal is canceled and the community rejects her cruelly. Her cousin takes her place as the wife to the master. It is all very Jane Bronte-esque with a splash of manga vampire, which is fantastic.

To their village comes the head of the top clan of their land and he is looking for a bride. He makes his presence known in a very dramatic way that reveals how awful Nanao's fiancee and her cousin truly are and he declares that Nanao will be his new bride. He doesn't pay any mind to the whole 'she is tainted and reeks of monkey' stuff. She has real spiritual energy and that's what he's after.

The artwork is clean and easy to follow. Lettering is also very well done. It is just a nice mix of sweet and saucy. I look forward to finding more of this seris.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Mamenosuke Fujimaru for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

What do you have left to live for when everything you've been promised has been ripped away? Nanao, formerly beloved of her family and betrothed to the future head of the Byakurenji family, lives masked, loathed, and unloved after she is attacked by a vengeful yokai spirit - an ayakashi. She watches from a distance as her cousin Akemi lives what should have been her life, married to Lord Reito, mother to his heir, and high-ranking wife of a powerful clan. When a rakish young lord from a different family pays a visit to the clan house, an accident reveals her face and spiritual power to him, and she is whisked away to be his bride - and the adventure is just beginning.

If you at all liked "My Happy Marriage", have I got good new for you! "The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride" has all the same vibes of that series, with more of a flair for the dramatic, a waaaay more devilish MMC, and a world where yokai can either be bad or helpful. I think the series has the potential for the MMC to be much more morally grey than he's currently letting on, and there's no way Nanao is out of the woods yet, facing plotting from both her new life and her old. I will absolutely be waiting for the next installment in this series and can't wait to see her come into her own power!

Just what I was looking for in a shojo right now. Excellent for those who like My Happy Marriage or wanted something different from the Bride of the Barrier Master. T/W for domestic abuse and obsessive behavior.

I like the historical mystery theme and the art style was also beautiful - although it didn't add up to the story in some places. For example everytime Nanao "fainted" it rather looked like she got attacked and lethally wounded or sometimes they looked really surprised without any reason and no further explanation afterwards.
I also didn't understand the purpose of the novel snippets at the back. It would have been ok for the diary entries but it was separate. Things that could have very well also been drawn so I don't know what I'm supposed to do with them.