Original: Hisui
Character draft: Aguao
Artist: Mugi Sawai
Author: Olivia Osands Gonzalez
Translator: Emma Schumacher
Publisher: Yenpress
Publication date: October 15, 2024
Rating: Teen
Genre: Manga (JPN), Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
“The Little Animal-like Lady is Loved by the Ice Prince” is a new romance manga from Yen Press. Based on the light novel of the same name written by Hisui and with character designs by Agu Ao, this manga is drawn and retold by Mugi Sawai. This first volume depicts a familiar setting, involving a royal marriage of convenience and the melting of frozen hearts in the process.
©Yen Press, 2024
Liliana is the Count’s precious daughter, and now she’s 16 years old, she’s scheduled to attend the royal ball. Liliana is happy with his carefree life in the comfort of her home, and her family is similarly reluctant to let her go to this secret matchmaking event. But why does she want to work so hard to become queen?
First Prince William, nicknamed the Ice Prince, is set to ascend the throne and will soon need a Crown Princess to stand by his side. Liliana dresses as plainly as possible and makes no attempt to converse with the prince other than to greet him at the ball. So why did William choose her as his fiancée? And what can she do to break the engagement?
With its brightly colored and warm cover, “The Little Animal Lady Is Loved by the Ice Prince” looks like it will be a charming first volume in a casual and heartwarming series. As readers familiar with light novels will know, these novels and their manga adaptations have long, descriptive titles. And often what you read in the title is exactly what you get.
Additionally, the first volumes or chapters of stories in which a sassy, cute, and smart female protagonist melts down a cold, aloof male protagonist usually feel similar to each other. This familiarity is inevitable, as the stories are still being set up and the basic bones of the plots are more or less similar. The story becomes more diverse as it progresses.
In that sense, I can say that the first volume of “The Little Animal Princess is Loved by the Ice Prince” is the same, but there were some small details that I liked, which doubled my enjoyment.
©Yen Press, 2024
One aspect that worked well for me was the way the female protagonist, Liliana, was written. She is raised by loving parents and two doting brothers who support her in her decisions, and it is clear that Liliana’s desire to marry the person she loves comes from her parents’ healthy relationship. . I can’t predict how the rest will hold out, but this was a breath of fresh air from all the abusive families who do the unthinkable to their children and are rampant in the romance and romantic genre.
Liliana is a fun and easy-going young woman who loves food and likes to live her life as hassle-free as possible. But she also doesn’t have the typical simple mindset. I loved that she loved learning new things and was playful. Her adorable face, like that of a small animal, and her mischievous side capture the prince’s heart.
In this volume too, we discover bits and pieces about William’s character and find out the reason behind his slight mistrust of women. The series doesn’t drag its feet when setting up the plot and introducing the central characters’ motivations. Liliana’s busy demeanor and expressive face give it that vibe, but the pace isn’t all that fast. It’s a nice change for Reed to start falling into a comfortable rhythm early on.
The character designs are great. The lines are clean and the letters are mostly easy to distinguish. Although there are plenty of close-up panels containing only facial reactions, this volume is not lacking in detailed backgrounds, food, or objects if you need some setting. Three full-color pages greet the reader, and in the print edition, these pages feature glossy paper. Thanks to Olivia Osans Gonzalez’s lettering and Emma Schumacher’s translation, this book is an easy read.
©Yen Press, 2024
Overall, I really enjoyed reading the first volume of The Little Animal-like Lady Loved by the Ice Prince. I think I need to read at least one or two more books to get a clearer verdict, but this introduction is enticing enough to make me want to check out the next volume.
I easily recommend this title to readers who are already fans of the romance genre. But it will also do the trick for anyone looking for a cozy, sweet, and charming book to warm the heart now that fall is upon us. At least for people in the northern hemisphere.
The Little Animal-like Lady Beloved by the Ice Prince will be released in digital and print editions by Yeen Press on October 15, 2024.
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