Beauties and Beasts: Monster Manga

By Amanda Pagan, Children's Librarian

May 12, 2021

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)

If you’re a fan of paranormal or supernatural romance, then this is probably the category for you. The West has always had a fascination with vampires, werewolves, and other members of the “monster” class. Some of the biggest multimedia hits of the last three decades have had to do with stories that focus on the relationships between humans and monsters. When you look at it that way, it makes sense that there is a whole genre of manga dedicated to it.

Welcome to Monster Manga! While typically romantic in nature, manga in this genre focus on the relationships between humans and monsters or monsters and other monsters regardless of whether they are platonic, romantic, or sexual. The term “Monster Girl” or “Monster Boy” is usually used to describe this genre, but we took the liberty of combining them under the umbrella of Monster Manga for simplicity. Here monster refers to any non-human creature such as a vampire, demon, mermaid, unicorn—anything really!

Thanks to the popularity of fantasy and isekai manga, this genre has recently seen a boom in popularity. So we thought we would make it easier for fans to find new titles by putting them all together into one handy list!

The manga included in this list ranges from non-sexual to sexually explicit, so please be sure to double check the rating before reading. These titles are also intended for older teens and adults.

If you're missing a volume, don't fret! Make a request through interlibrary loan or let us know what to re-order here!

Monster Romance

Black Bird story and art by Kanoko Sakurakoji

There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand… or her life!

The Demon Prince of Momochi House story and art by Aya Shouoto

On her sixteenth birthday, orphan Himari Momochi inherits her ancestral estate that she's never seen. Momochi House exists on the barrier between the human and spiritual realms, and Himari is meant to act as guardian between the two worlds. But on the day she moves in, she finds three handsome squatters already living in the house, and one seems to have already taken over her role!

The Girl without a Face by tearontaron ; translation, Caleb D. Cook ; lettering, Bianca Pistillo.

Her boyfriend thinks she’s the cutest girl around, but her expressions can be a bit hard to read...Despite the miscommunications, there’s one thing that always comes across—their love for each other.

Kaiju Girl Caramelise by Spica Aoki; translation by Taylor Engel; lettering by Lys Blakeslee

Suffering from a rare, incurable illness that causes frightening changes to her body, loner Kuroe Akaishi spends her high school days avoiding her classmates—especially class idol Arata Minami and his groupies. But when Arata starts making her heart skip a beat with irritating regularity, Kuroe discovers that her illness actually has a big—make that MONSTER —secret: Romance turns her into Love-zilla... literally!

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits art by Waco Ioka; original story by Midori Yuma; character design by Laruha; English translation and adaptation by Tomo Kimura; touch-up art and lettering by Joanna Estep

Faced with the choice of being married to a strange spirit or being made into dinner, Aoi Tsubaki decides to create a third option for herself! Aoi inherited her grandfather’s ability to see spirits—and his massive debt to them! Now she’s been kidnapped and taken to Kakuriyo, the spirit world, to make good on his bill. Her options: marry the head of the inn her grandfather trashed or get eaten by ayakashi. But Aoi isn’t the type to let spirits push her around, and she’s determined to redeem her grandfather’s IOU on her own terms!

Kamisama Kiss story and art by Julietta Suzuki; English translation and adaptation by Tomo Kimura

Nanami Momozono is alone and homeless after her dad skips town to evade his gambling debts, and the debt collectors kick her out of her apartment. So when a man she's just saved from a dog offers his home, Nanami jumps at the opportunity. But it turns out the man's place is a shrine, and Nanami has unwittingly taken over his job as a local deity. Nanami has all kinds of new responsibilities she doesn't understand, dangers she's unaware of, and a cranky ex-familiar who's… actually pretty hot. What's a new-fledged godling to do?

Merman in my Tub story and art by Itokichi; translation by Angela Liu; adaptation by T. Campbell; lettering and layout by Laura Scoville

What happens when an intruder from the sea stakes claims to your bathtub? A cool yet demure teenage boy named Tatsumi must learn to live with the self-obsessed and playful merman, Wakasa, in a small Tokyo apartment. These two dissimilar young men will learn what it takes to deal with one another in their everyday lives. Of course, impromptu visits by Wakasa’s ocean friends–an anthropomorphised octopus, jellyfish, and hermit crab–do not make things easier. Welcome to Tatsumi’s bathtub. It’s getting crowded. (note: the first volume must be ordered through interlibrary loan.)

Midnight Secretary story and art by Tomu Ohmi; touch-up art and lettering by Joanna Estep

Rating: M for Mature, 18+

Kaya Satozuka prides herself on being an excellent secretary and a consummate professional, so she doesn't bat an eye when she's reassigned to the office of the company's difficult director, Kyohei Tahoma. He's as prickly and hot as rumors paint him, but Kaya is unfazed—until she discovers that he's a vampire! Kaya quickly accustoms herself to scheduling his "dinner dates" and working odd hours, but can she handle it when Kyohei's smoldering gaze starts turning her way?

Mushroom Girls in Love by Kei Murayama; translation by Elina Ishikaw

Our story begins on an all-woman planet of intelligent fungi, where Arriala and Erriela are about to get married! But they’ve got a long road ahead of them: illness, surgery, and even a dastardly royal plot that seeks to split them apart. Is their love strong enough to weather any storm? This offbeat, adorable, and dramatic one-shot is sure to please fans of yuri, monster girls, and enduring romance!

My Monster Secret: Actually I Am story and art by Eiji Masuda; translation by Alethea and Athena Nibley; adaptation by Lianne Sentar

High school student Kuromine Asahi is the kind of guy who literally cannot tell a lie.Whether it’s trying to maintain a poker face in a simple game of cards, or keeping scurrilous gossip to himself, Asahi is a total failure when it comes to the art of deception. So what happens when he stumbles upon the most shocking secret of his life? When Asahi learns that Shiragami Youko, a beautiful girl of few words, is actually a vampire. Can Asahi possibly keep his lips sealed?

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts

Sacrificial Princess & the King of Beasts by Yu Tomofuji; translation by Paul Starr; lettering by Lys Blakeslee

A young girl has resigned herself to being the next sacrificial meal for the Beast King, but the king is no mere monster! Love is more than skin deep in this gorgeous fantasy manga.

Shed that Skin, Ryugasaki-san! by Kazutomo Ichitomo; translator, Andrew Hodgson.

Ryugasaki-san is a lizardgirl. Due to her unique biological makeup, she sheds her skin multiple times a year. This wouldn't ordinarily be an issue, but she suddenly finds herself (or rather, her skin) the target of a classmate's affections. The peculiar Yugami-kun has a particular interest in reptiles, and Ryugasaki-san's unique physiological features have caught his inquisitive eye. Thus begins the story of a budding romance between two very unusual individuals. With a bit of luck, Ryugasaki-san can show the hapless Yugami-kun that there's more to her than her reptilian anatomy!

Vampire Knight story and art by Matsuri Hino; translation and English adaptation by Tomo Kimura; touch-up art and lettering by Mark McMurray; graphic design by Amy Martin; edited by Nancy Thistlethwaite

Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the day class and the night class. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the guardians of the school, protecting the day class from the Academy's dark secret: the night class is full of vampires!

Wize Wize Beasts of the Wizarding Wizdoms story and art by Nagabe; translation by Adrienne Beck; adaptation by Ysabet MacFarlane; lettering and layout by Karis Page

Hidden away deep within the woods, far from the prying eyes of the world, lies the Wizdom's School of Wizarding. There beasts of all kinds gather to live, to learn, and to love. From everyday animals to fantastical creatures, these BL stories are told with a realistic and light-hearted touch.

Wolf Children Ame & Yuki original story byMamoru Hosoda; art by Yu; character design by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto; translation by Jocelyne Allen; lettering by Tania Biswas, Lys Blakeslee

When Hana falls in love with a young interloper she encounters in her college class, the last thing she expects to learn is that he is part wolf. Instead of rejecting her lover upon learning his secret, she accepts him with open arms. Soon, the couple is expecting their first child, and a cozy picture of family life unfolds. But after what seems like a mere moment of bliss to Hana, the father of her children is tragically taken from her. Life as a single mother is hard in any situation, but when your children walk a fine line between man and beast, the rules of parenting all but go out the window. With no one to turn to, how will Hana survive?

Slice of Life Monster Manga

Little Devils story and art by Uuumi; translation by Jennifer O'Donnell

After the defeat of the demon king, twelve adorable demons were born into the world. God orders Byron, a hero, to raise the little devils into paragons of virtue–for the sake of peace across the land. Now Byron must summon household powers and slay domestic chores in the life-or-death struggle of raising little kids!

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid story and art by coolkyousinnjya; translation by Jenny McKeon; adaptation by Shanti Whitesides

Miss Kobayashi lives in an ordinary apartment, along with her new maid, Tohura… a dragon girl! Take a peek into the daily life of a hard-working office lady and her inept dragon maid.

My Father is a Unicorn story and art by Monaka Suzuki; translation by Nova Skipper; adaptation by Jay Trust

Uno Issei is still in high school when his mother remarries. His mom’s new husband, Masaru, is a nice enough guy, he just happens to be a unicorn. Sometimes in the form of a talking horse, sometimes in the form of a beautiful man, Masaru is determined to run the household while his wife is away and win Issei over. For better or worse, now Issei is stuck teaching this unicorn man how to be a good dad in this idiosyncratic comedy about the magic of family.

Sorry for My Familiar story and art by Tekka Yaguraba; translation by Andrew Cunningham

When the demon girl Patty finds she's too weak to summon an animal familiar, she chooses a human instead. His name: Norman Volcanello—an eccentric guy with a dangerous fascination with exotic life forms. As Patty and Norman set out to find her missing father, an offbeat adventure begins!

Mysteries and Adventures

The Ancient Magus' Bride story and art by Kore Yamazaki; translated by Adrienne Beck; adaptated by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane; lettering and layout by Lys Blakeslee

Hatori Chise has lived a life full of neglect and abuse, devoid of anything resembling love. Far from the warmth of family, she has had her share of troubles and pitfalls. Just when all hope seems lost, a fateful encounter awaits her. When a man with the head of a beast, wielding strange powers, obtains her through a slave auction, Chise’s life will never be the same again. The man is a “magus,” a sorcerer of great power, who decides to free Chise from the bonds of captivity. The magus then makes a bold statement: Chise will become his apprentice–and his bride! (note: You might need to order Vol. 1 through Interlibrary Loan.)

The Girl from the Other Side: Vol. 1, Siúil, a Rún story and art by Nagabe; translated by Adrienne Beck; adaptation by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane

In a land far away, there were two kingdoms: the Outside, where twisted beasts roamed that could curse with a touch, and the Inside, where humans lived in safety and peace. The girl and the beast should never have met, but when they do, a quiet fairytale begins.

Interviews with Monster Girls by Petos; translation by Kevin Steinbach; lettering by Paige Pumphrey

Vampires, dullahans, succubi, snow women. These are just a few of those beings once known as "demi-humans," and high school Biology teacher Testsuo Takahashi has always wanted to meet them. He gets his chance when the new term starts, and there are four "demis" in his school! Join the caring, bumbling Tetsuo in his quest to get to know these adorable monster girls, while helping them navigate the highs and lows of high school!

Monster Wrestling: Interspecies Combat Girls art by Ganmarei; original story by Tyataniyou; produced by Takeo Aoki translation by Ko Ransom; lettering by Takeshi Kamura

It's claws versus tentacles as monstrous beauties grapple with one another in the global sensation that is monster wrestling! A young Cerberus girl named Tirol dreams of stardom in the squared circle, but can she stand up to all the thirsty predators ready to dominate her into submission? Winning in the ring means walking a fine line between pain and pleasure...and unleashing the beast inside!

Mythical Beast Investigator story by Keishi Ayasato; art by Koichiro Hoshino; character designs by Lack; translation by Angela Liu; adaptation by Ysabet MacFarlane; lettering and retouching by Simone Harrison

In a dangerous land where fantastical creatures exist, humans must live beside dragons and other supernatural monsters. That’s where Mythical Beast Investigators like Ferry come in. Ferry might look like a young girl, but she has extensive knowledge of magical creatures and dreams of creating peace between humankind and monsters. With her otherworldly bodyguard Kushuna by her side, Ferry will work to calm any conflict, no matter where that takes her!

12 Beast story and art by Okayado; translation by Ryan Peterson; adaptation by Shanti Whitesides

Three things you should know about Touga Eita, second-year high school student and heir to the Touga-style ninjutsu dojo: First, he really, really loves video games. Second, when given a choice between heroics and saving his own skin, he will always choose the latter. Third, he's never so much as kissed a girl. All this changes when a voluptuous girl with wings and taloned feet named Aero appears and calls on Eita to help save her people-the harpies of Re-Verse-from the merciless onslaught of giant robot monsters known as Gigas. Eita will follow his newfound harpy friend into a whole new world, filled with monster girls and fantastical creatures beyond his wildest dreams.

Monster Mayhem

Devils' Line by Ryo Hanada; translated by Jocelyne Allen

Tsukasa, a college student, is rescued from an attack by a devil, one of many vampires that can blend in among the human population. Anzai, her savior, is a half-devil who exploits his supernatural gifts as a member of a shadowy police task force that specializes in devil-related crime in Tokyo. As Anzai continues to keep guard over Tsukasa, the two quickly forge a tentative bond—one that Anzai fears will test his iron-clad rule of never drinking human blood…

Tokyo Ghoul story and art by Sui Ishida; translation by Joe Yamazaki

Ghouls live among us, the same as normal people in every way—except their craving for human flesh. Ken Kaneki is an ordinary college student until a violent encounter turns him into the first half-human half-ghoul hybrid. Trapped between two worlds, he must survive Ghoul turf wars, learn more about Ghoul society and master his new powers.

If you're missing a volume, don't fret! Make a request through interlibrary loan or let us know what to re-order here!

Discover more recommended manga titles with these blog posts:

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.