Manga Review | In the Clear Moonlit Dusk Volume 1

This is a tale of two princes.

On one hand, we have Yoi … who’s actually a girl. She got her nickname because she looks a bishounen prince and has a habit of stepping up to help others. However, guys never ask her out and it’s typically girls who fawn after her.

Then, on the other hand, we also have Ichimura, who is also nicknamed “Prince” because he comes from a wealthy family, yet he's a bit of a rebel. He wears piercings and constantly has unkempt hair.

However, once Ichimura starts showing interest in her, she becomes flustered. She doesn’t quite know how to respond because, for once, she kind of feels like a princess.

Now, I think what makes In the Clear Moonlit Dusk Volume 1 by Mika Yamamori so interesting is that it plays around with and questions social expectations. It’s about not judging a book by its cover. People are complex and more than they appear.

It’s also really cool to see an androgynous female lead who can hold her own. The two are equals and it’s entertaining to see the tension and dynamics between the two of them.
On top of that, the artwork is absolutely gorgeous, and it’s a nice extra touch seeing the characters drawn in different everyday casual outfits.

All in all, I would recommend this manga if you’re looking for an introspective, fun, and unconventional romance somewhere along the lines of Horimiya.

Thank you, Netgalley and Kodansha, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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