Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Manga » REVIEW: ‘Rosen Blood,’ Volume 1

REVIEW: ‘Rosen Blood,’ Volume 1

Kate SánchezBy Kate Sánchez12/02/20213 Mins ReadUpdated:02/25/2022
Vampire romances are a fan favorite in any medium, and in manga, it's had a great uptick. With FANGS, The Vampire and His Pleasant Companions, and Call of the Night, vampire manga has been one of my favorite moments of my monthly reading and now I can add Rosen Blood to the list. Rosen Blood Volume 1 is written and illustrated by mangaka Kachiru Ishizue, published and localized in English by VIZ Media's shojo/josei imprint Shojo Beat. The English translation is provided by JN Productions, and the English adaptation is done by Ysabet Reinhardt MaFarlane. Additionally, the volume features touch-up art and lettering by Joanna Estep, design by Alice Lewis, and is edited Jennifer Sherman.  After a horrific carriage accident, Stella Violetta awakens in a Gothic mansion to find that her saviors are gorgeous young men that really want to drink her blood. Instead of tossing the helpless Stella out, the manor’s residents let her stay as a maid, but Stella soon realizes there is more to the arrangement than she was originally told.  Now, I'm not usually a fan of haram manga in any form, but there is something about adding vampires to the mix that I can't help but become engrossed –I blame that 2000s Queen of the Damned film if I'm honest. That said, the trope of the vampire boyfriend haram only gets Rosen Blood so far. Instead, it's the elements of gothic horror, gorgeous art, and just a hint of camp that make the volume worth picking up.  Levi is the leader of the vampires, in control of his bloodlust and the house. Friedrich is a flirty florist existing to push a sexual boundary. Yoel is the androgynous, childlike and coy. And finally, Gilbert is the dangerous one, driven by his thirst but an artist all the same. These young vampires are all unique and beyond that, the ominous life-like sculptures cast a dangerous shadow on Stella's life in the home. For her part, Stella avoids the common naive damsel trope for the most part, mainly in her relationship with Levi. She refuses to treat him with respect when he treats her like an object and that small assertion of agency puts he worlds above other female protagonists in these vampire reverse harem stories. Additionally, what begins as a reverse harem morphs into a singular romance that settles into itself as a mystery begins to surface connecting Levi and Stella beyond the present.  Rosen Blood Volume 1 serves as a solid foundation for a vampire romance and mystery that embraces gothic elements, traditional tropes, and ultimately a sleeping beauty concept that Ishizue executes well. All of this makes Rosen Blood a series to pick up for vampire fans.  Rosen Blood Volume 1 is available now from booksellers both digitally and physically. 
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Rosen Blood

Vampire romances are a fan favorite in any medium, and in manga, it’s had a great uptick. With FANGS, The Vampire and His Pleasant Companions, and Call of the Night, vampire manga has been one of my favorite moments of my monthly reading, and now I can add Rosen Blood to the list. Rosen Blood Volume 1 is written and illustrated by mangaka Kachiru Ishizue, published and localized in English by VIZ Media’s shojo/josei imprint Shojo Beat. The English translation is provided by JN Productions, and the English adaptation is done by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane. Additionally, the volume features touch-up art and lettering by Joanna Estep, design by Alice Lewis, and is edited by Jennifer Sherman.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

After a horrific carriage accident, Stella Violetta awakens in a Gothic mansion to find that her saviors are gorgeous young men that really want to drink her blood. Instead of tossing the helpless Stella out, the manor’s residents let her stay as a maid, but Stella soon realizes there is more to the arrangement than she was originally told.

Now, I’m not usually a fan of haram manga in any form, but there is something about adding vampires to the mix that I can’t help but become engrossed –I blame that 2000s Queen of the Damned film if I’m honest. That said, the trope of the vampire boyfriend haram only gets Rosen Blood so far. Instead, it’s the elements of gothic horror, gorgeous art, and just a hint of camp that make the volume worth picking up.

Levi is the leader of the vampires, in control of his bloodlust and the house. Friedrich is a flirty florist existing to push a sexual boundary. Yoel is androgynous, childlike, and coy. And finally, Gilbert is the dangerous one, driven by his thirst but an artist all the same. These young vampires are all unique and beyond that, the ominous life-like sculptures cast a dangerous shadow on Stella’s life in the home.

For her part, Stella avoids the common naive damsel trope for the most part, mainly in her relationship with Levi. She refuses to treat him with respect when he treats her like an object and that small assertion of agency puts the worlds above other female protagonists in these vampire reverse harem stories. Additionally, what begins as a reverse harem morph into a singular romance that settles into itself as a mystery begins to surface connecting Levi and Stella beyond the present.

Rosen Blood Volume 1 serves as a solid foundation for a vampire romance and mystery that embraces gothic elements, traditional tropes, and ultimately a sleeping beauty concept that Ishizue executes well. All of this makes Rosen Blood a series to pick up for vampire fans.

Rosen Blood Volume 1 is available now from booksellers both digitally and physically. 

Rosen Blood Volume 1
4.5

TL;DR

Rosen Blood Volume 1 serves as a solid foundation for a vampire romance and mystery that embraces gothic elements, traditional tropes, and ultimately a sleeping beauty concept that Ishizue executes well. All of this makes Rosen Blood a series to pick up for vampire fans.

  • Buy Now With Our Amazon Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘West Side Story’ Captures Magic in a Mixed Bag
Next Article Action-Packed Shooter ANVIL Launches Today
Kate Sánchez
  • Website
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles. Find her on Bluesky @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social

Related Posts

Wolf Girl and Black Prince — But Why Tho

REVIEW: Wolf Girl and Black Prince Volume 1

05/16/2023
hirano and kagura volume 2

REVIEW: ‘Hirano and Kagiura,’ Volume 2

04/25/2023
K-On Shuffle — But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘K-On! Shuffle’ Volume 1

04/24/2023
Skybeams in the Sky — But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Sunbeams in the Sky’ Volume 1

04/24/2023
The Boxer Volume 2 — But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘The Boxer,’ Volume 2

04/24/2023
Run On Your New Legs Volume 4 — But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Run On Your New Legs’ Volume 4

04/24/2023

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11
8.5
Anime

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 11 – “Hey, It’s a Kaiju”

By Allyson Johnson09/11/2025

The ragtag group faces down the mysterious kaiju in the thrilling and beautifully animated DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here