Wolfull Moon

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I decided to start my reading list off with Yu Tomofuji’s Wolfull Moon ( 2012 ), since it felt like the safest option to me. Only one volume and I really liked Yu Tomofuji’s Hoshi Furu Makiba! ( 2013 ), which is also one of my favorite stand-alone mangas, so I guess I also had high hopes for Wolfull Moon. To my disappointment, the manga had barely any impact and if someone asked my opinion right after reading it, I would just answer “Meh”.

My main issue with the manga is the pacing and length. It really does feel like a story demo, rather than a ... short story that is supposed to work as it is. With other stand-alone shoujo mangas, they sometimes do leave a sort of “I need more! I want to know what happens to them next!” but that is more excited and/or bittersweet, not a disappointed “Oh? It just ends? Like that?”. Something is clearly missing. I had to wonder for a while what made it so abrupt and unsatisfactory for me, and I think I figured that out.

As I mentioned, the story doesn’t feel concluded, it feels like a demo, like a draft. And even if that was the purpose, I really think the manga would have been much better as a longer series. I know many shoujo stand-alones don’t really expand on the main couples relationship, but they often end with some sort of confession or a feeling that there is mutual feelings between the characters. With Wolfull Moon, and it’s ending, I could honestly just imagine it ending with Fenrir eating Yaya, because I did not see a lot of ANYTHING developing between them. Sure, they shared a hug and Fenrir does protect and help Yaya, but that’s about it. Fenrir needs Yaya, because he needs her powers. Nothing more.

Of course, I know that is not the intention, but if Wolfull Moon was a series instead of only one volume, we could have seen a lot of the plot points expand and get explained. What happens when Yaya’s powers do awaken fully? What happens when Fenrir is finally free? Will Fenrir develop feelings for Yaya eventually and not eat her? Will Yaya ever find genuine friends? Will Fenrir and Yaya find a way to stop the constant monster attacks?
But again, this is just my own opinion. It could also have worked as a stand-alone if the writing was a little bit different, I guess.

Even if the story is lacking, I did find the characters nice to read about and follow along with the story, and I wish I did get to know them better. Fenrir isn’t really my favorite type of character when it comes to the way he speaks to Yaya, but it’s fine, considering how short the story was.
I do want to mention that I enjoyed the “chapter four”/Wolf’s Familia side story a lot more. It worked, and it was even shorter than Wolfull Moon! It was a cute little story :3

The art was great, I really like Tomofuji’s art, it’s always great to look at. I especially like the way they draw Fenrir’s beautiful white eyelashes, and just facial expressions in general are amazing. Tomofuji’s art is one of the main reasons I found their work appealing to me in the first place!

Overall, I don’t think I would recommend this if someone asked me for stand-alone shoujo romance mangas to read. But, I wouldn’t be against the idea either, and tell anyone not to read it. And if someone honestly really likes this, as much as I like Hoshi Furu Makiba!, I am willing to hear out their opinion and change my own view, if they make good arguments. For now however, I am quite indifferent.