Spooky Season is in full swing, and we’re making the most of it here at Renta! HQ. Ames and I secured our copies of Inuno Mageyuishi’s latest doujinshi, featuring sexy cosplay time (where BOTH the uke and seme are dressed up!!), among many others at J.GARDEN60, treats have been shared among the team to the point our already unhinged workplace conversations are growing even more sus than usual thanks to the added sugar rush, and our localization team group chat name (the tradition of which we infamously expounded upon at our Citrus Con Q&A panel earlier this year) is now the seasonally appropriate EJACULANTERN š — another brainchild of the sickeningly creative Takochan. So, yeah. We’re having a good time over here.
Costumes and candy are great and all, but an equally worthwhile Halloween pastime is devouring as much yaoi that can be classified as “spoopy” as humanly possible. What better way to focus your time and energy while those pesky gremlins knock at your door all night? Sorry trick-or-treaters, NOTHING gets in the way of Yaoi Time š.
There’s a plethora of BL manga centered around monsters, vampires, and things that go bump in the night (š) if you’re in the mood for something hauntingly thrilling — from established fan favorites such as Monster and Ghost and FANGS to newer hits like I Wanna Savor You and Vampires Don’t Go For Party Boys. In fact, there’s so much of it that it can be overwhelming — that’s why I thought I’d write up a list of some particularly ~spooky~ releases from the past year or so, just as a starting point for your Halloween reading! Maybe you’ll find a new favorite, or discover a trope that resonates with you and sends you down a whole new rabbit hole of BL discovery.
š§ VAMPIRE THIRST NOTICE š§ I do wanna preface this list with a note that the world is just too horny for vampires, and as such, there were about a billion vampire stories that would also definitely belong here… but the list would simply go on forever, and I wanted to make space for other spooky beings as well! So if you’re in the mood for some bloodsucking goodness, I recommend exploring our Vampire BL tag, which is growing by the day. I still included a few vampire recs here, though. As a treat š¬.
Without further ado, let’s get into some spooky recs!! š¦
Rec 1: Yotsuya Ghost Knight by Choco Shiroi
Getting Freaky to Exorcise Evil Spirits
What if malevolent spirits could be purified through the power of SQUIRT? Would the world be a more peaceful place? Would the streets be covered in a whole new sort of “ectoplasm”? In any case, it’d probably mean the profession of exorcism would get a whole lot hornier, which is the premise of this story! Okuru is an exorcist who uses the tears he sheds during “solo play” to vanquish demons and ghouls, as bodily fluids infused with “life force” get the job done quickest. It’s said that squirt fluid is even more potent than horny tears, but perpetually single Okuru’s never had the opportunity to try it. That is, until he encounters an especially powerful spirit one day and at the same time meets Naito, a porn star known to be an expert at making his partners gush like a fountain! It looks like Okuru and Naito will have to team up to take down this evil spirit, but are Okuru’s body and heart up to the task…?
The basis for the plot is extremely silly, and the story starts out comedic as much as it is serious, but it becomes remarkably poignant as the main duo’s relationship grows deeper. It’s a silly yet heartwarming story that I recommend adding to anyone’s spooky season reading rotation. And who doesn’t love a road-to-squirting journey??
Rec 2: Hell x Heaven by kurosaki
I Can Be Your Angle š… Or Yuor Devil š
The contrast between a pure, innocent angel and a mischievous, hedonistic demon has lent itself to BL beautifully, and this next series is a perfect example of that. In a world where angels and demons are (understandably) constantly at odds, flirty demon Nakia has his sights set on Ell, an angel. To be more precise, his goal is to seduce Ell with his demonic charm and make him fall from heavenly grace, winning another victory for demonkind. However, Ell’s managed to hold out against Nakia’s efforts for hundreds of years, refusing to accept love from a demon. That being said, he seems to have difficulty rejecting Nakia’s advances entirely, having grown a strange tolerance — perhaps even fondness — for him… bringing to question whether he’s truly immune to Nakia’s charm. On the other hand, Nakia’s occupation with getting Ell to fall for him hints that maybe he’s gotten more invested in his target than is strictly necessary for a demon….
The push and pull between Nakia and Ell had me hooked from the start, and they’re both adorable idiots who clearly just need a push to abandon their pride and acknowledge their feelings. At of the time of this writing, there are still a couple chapters yet to be released on Renta!, but I’d say it’s worth picking up now and looking forward to the updates — especially if you can’t get enough of that exciting “will they, won’t they” dynamic (though you can probably guess the outcome š).
Rec 3: Garnet in the Rough by Inuno Mageyuishi
My Half-Vampire Malewife Can’t Be This Cute
This is a series I just can’t get enough of (it’s the main series to the sexy cosplay doujinshi I mentioned in the intro!) thanks to its beautiful story, gorgeous art, and the precious relationship dynamic between the half-vampire, half-human and stoic hitman. Their story begins when Sara, a half-vampire who’s been shunned by his family, runs into Kanae, a human and hitman-for-hire. Without so much as an introduction, he begins feeding on Kanae’s blood, and… comes home with him without any protest the man who just got vamped on. It turns out that Kanae’s so detached from his own life that a beautiful young man who claims to be a vampire in his house doesn’t faze him, and he even agrees to Sara’s proposal that they begin living together for each other’s benefit, simply because he can’t be asked to care either way about it. What begins as a purely transactional relationship becomes something more intimate as the two experience the warmth of not being alone for the first time, and come to fulfill each other in ways they never thought possible.
The unique premise of a half-vampire and a hitman happening to find each other is unique, and it works so well as we get to learn about Sara and Kanae’s respective backgrounds that have made them the emotionally stunted but pure of heart people they are. This is a story of how sometimes home can be a person rather than a place, and how love can heal even the most damaged people. Sentimentality aside, this series doesn’t skimp on the eroticism either — it makes excellent use of the bloodsuckingāsexytime trope, and the fact that it’s UNCENSORED just makes everything *chef’s kiss*. I very much appreciate Sara’s horny little ass and Kanae’s slutty, slutty boobstrap…
Rec 4: My Fluffy Moody Crush by Nayuta Nago
From Childhood Friends to Coworkers, and Then…?
Keeping with the half-vampire theme — see, I told you I’d limit the amount of (full) vampires on this list!! — we also have this lovely story centered around a half-vampire, half-werewolf young man and his fully human childhood friend. In a world where humans and demihumans (people descended from fantastical beings) coexist, Kou is just trying to live a peaceful life working at his mom’s cafĆ© and steering clear of humans, whom he detests. His life is shaken when Itsuki, the boy he used to play with as a kid — and then lost contact with for 15 years — suddenly comes back into his life and gets hired at the cafĆ©. Itsuki seems desperate to reconnect with his old buddy, but Kou isn’t interested in entertaining a human, and gives him the cold shoulder. He can’t keep ignoring him, though, when his vampire instincts take over in Itsuki’s presence and he feels an overwhelming desire to drink blood for the first time. He’s afraid to act on his urges due to past trauma, but Itsuki volunteers to help him satisfy his cravings and reassures him that they can have a consensual arrangement. As their relationship evolves, they must reconcile their feelings while navigating their interspecies struggles.
This one’s not too heavy on the drama, but there’s enough emotional weight to make you feel for both sides of this couple, who clearly care for each other but don’t want to risk hurting one another by going too far. The fantasy elements are incorporated nicely, making the world feel rich, and Itsuki and Kou’s contrasting personalities make them a great duo. As the title of this book suggests, it’s a fluffy read that’s sure to fill you up.
Next, I have a couple doujinshi recs for when you want a quick, fun read to satisfy your cravings before heading out to monster mash or whatever it is you get up to around this time of year š„“!
Rec 5: Vampire VS Incubus: Fxxkin’ Orgasm Wars by Yamito
Suckin’ and Fuckin’ Your Way to Victory
You can already tell from the title of this work that it’s gonna be full of naughty goodness, and boy does it deliver. When Bloodberry the vampire’s turf gets taken over by “B,” a shameless incubus, he demands B take his shit and get out. B’s not going without a fight, though — he challenges Bloodberry to a duel in the sheets, promising that he’ll fuck off only if Bloodberry can withstand a night of pleasure together. What ensues next includes but is not limited to rimming, squirting, piss play, biting, and a whole lot of plapping for our good friend Bloodberry. It’s every bit as sexy as you’d hope for a doujinshi about a sex demon and a vampire competing in bed, and the twist at the end brings it all together nicely. Right now, the reviews on this series are all to the tune of “MORE??” and I’d have to agree — I’d love to enjoy more of these two going at it (in more ways than one), any time of the year.
Rec 6: Cherry Doll Egoist: The Femboy I Slept with Fell Hard Then Turned the Tables and Made Me Lose to Pleasure by Shino Nihonmatsu
Oh, No š©… A Femboyš„“ … Someone Save Me š¦….
This last one is a bit of a self-indulgent pick on my part, as there’s nothing particularly scary about it and no supernatural creatures are involved, but it does feature dressing up and the phrase “monster cock,” so I’m counting it. Plus, there can never be enough femboy content IMO, and when a BL with a cute boy dressed up in frills drops, you know I’m gonna promote it. This story begins with Ryuya, a playboy, on the prowl for a hookup. He spots and approaches Shion, a beautiful girl, who turns out to be a guy dressed up for the evening. The two hit it off, and Ryuya ends up taking Shion home with him. It was supposed to be a one-night stand, but Shion gets attached QUICK, meaning Ryuya won’t be getting away that easily! Now you may be wondering, “Does the femboy top or bottom tho??” and the answer is… BOTH! That’s right — this is one of those rare but delightful stories where both halves of the couple get to enjoy either side of the sex coin, and they both look damn good doing it. Story-wise, if you enjoy lowkey yanderes and the playboyābottom character development trope, this is for you. Plus it has a hung femboy, so what’s not to love??
So, are you feeling sufficiently spooky yet? š» I hope this handful of BL treats will offer a taste of all the Halloween-appropriate yaoi there is out there. Enjoy, and have a bone-tastic autumn! ā ļøš (I’ll see myself out.)
