Firefly Wedding Volume 1 Manga Review (Content Spoilers)

Satako is dying. It’s nothing new, though–she’s had a heart condition since childhood, causing her to be frail and weak. Still, as the daughter of a Count, Satako’s duty is to find a good marriage prospect, settle down, and live happily ever after. At least, that’s her father’s dearest wish for her. Satako doesn’t like the idea of deceiving someone about how much time she has left, so despite the numerous marriage offers she’s received, she’s turned them all down. This doesn’t mean she’s not still trying to find a way to be useful to her family, though.

While out shopping in town, Satako is kidnapped by a group of rough-looking men in the moments that her guard is away. Tied up and locked in a cage with no idea where she is, Satako finds herself at the whims of her kidnappers. A man covered in blood is tasked with watching her while the boss steps out with two clear instructions: no one is allowed to touch her, and the man is to kill her at a specified time if not told otherwise. Left alone with the strange assassin, Satako attempts to leverage her family name to buy her freedom, but Shinpei isn’t interested. After being saved from a sexual assault, Satako throws out her last lifeline and proposes to Shinpei. He agrees on the condition that Satako has actually fallen in love with him. With nothing left to lose, she agrees. What’s the worst that could happen? Besides, she’ll be dead sooner or later.

The Good

For a sickly young woman, Satako has a lot of life in her. From the moment she stepped onto the pages, her take-no-shit attitude came through vibrantly. She knows that she’s dying. She knows that she’s a burden on her family. She knows her stepmother and half-sister hate her and take pleasure in her weakness. But none of that keeps her from refusing to lie down and accept everything. She is vivacious, sure, and determined. When she wants it, she has the power to demand attention with the simplest of gestures or words. Satako isn’t the type to give up, even in the worst of circumstances; yet, at the same time, she’s elegant, graceful, and smart. The way she holds herself is inspiring and addictive to watch. It’s easy to fall into Satako’s orbit, and I found myself eating up the pages to see what she would do next.

The interactions between Satako and Shinpei are the highlight of this book. While Satako is hesitant and scared, Shinpei comes off as blunt and unbound. You have a woman who is dying and yet wants to live, and an assassin who kills indiscriminately and is ready to die. The juxtaposition of the two is thrilling to see. Not only are their situations completely different, but even their personalities are polar opposites. Satako is the more “normal” of the two with her wide array of emotions and logical thinking. On the other hand, Shinpei’s seemingly easygoing attitude and permanent smile hides a yandere inclination and a hollowness that isn’t obvious at a glance. The two are perfect foils in every way, and their differences fuel the story.

The Bad (Spoilers)

The following section contains spoilers concerning the mature content in Firefly Wedding.

In the first half of the story, after Satako is kidnapped, she is almost gang raped by some of the men who took her. She attempts to fight back and is beaten by the men. Just before she can be penetrated, Shinpei confronts them and slices an arm off of one of the men. Some attempt to fight while others try to run, but Shinpei maims and kills every man who touched her, as per his instructions. Shinpei flees with Satako into the woods, both to hear her out and because the rest of the group are angry at Shinpei for killing their comrades. These men track Satako and Shinpei down and attempt to kill them, only to be killed themselves. Copious amounts of blood are shown, as well as dead bodies, dismembered limbs, broken necks, swords protruding through bodies, and other violent and graphic images. At the end of the volume, Satako is forced/convinced to become a prostitute.

Due to this content, Firefly Wedding is not suitable for all readers, and I highly suggest using discretion when deciding if this manga is right for you.

The Verdict

Firefly Wedding is an incredibly unique and dark story about trauma, strength, and determination. Satako’s fierce personality and physical weakness are beautifully contrasted throughout the events and situations she finds herself in. It’s no wonder that Shinpei fell in love with her so quickly–I did, as well. This manga has quickly risen to one of my favorites of this year, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next volume.

If you liked Firefly Wedding, you may like…

• The Villainess and the Demon Knight
• Before You Discard Me, I Shall Have My Way with You
• Love and Heart

Credits

Story and Art by Oreco Tachibana
Translation by Andria McKnight
Tough-up Art and Lettering by Finn Havens
Design by Paul Padurariu
Edited by Karla Clark
Published in English by VIZ Media

Article editor: Anne Lee