Cailin Riley Books

I’ve only recently within the last year or so gotten more into manga and anime, but boy, are there some good ones out there!

In particular, I have a soft spot for manga that combines romance with elements of fantasy. The following recommendations are all primarily romance manga, with an element of fantasy or other genre, such as historical fiction, mystery or action.

Marriage Toxin

A relatively new manga put out by Shonen Jump, Marriage Toxin showcases a world where assassins are grouped into powerful families, which are led by a single master. Our hero is Poison Master Gero, a young assassin who is the best of the best at what he does but for convoluted reasons, finds out that he must get married. Early in the series, he enlists the help of “marriage swindler” Mei to find some eligible ladies. But he must do so while also fighting crime and other assassin masters. It’s a great blend of humor, light romance and action. Since it’s new and there are only about 7 issues released, this is a great one to start if you want something you can follow for awhile.

The Remarried Empress

The Remarried Empress originally started as a Korean webtoon and has since been published as manhwa in several editions. This story follows the dramatic life of a empress who falls out of love with her husband, the emperor. The series goes through the process of divorcing her husband, starting to find new love, and ultimately, finding her own power. Part of why I loved this series was because the content and characters feel more adult-like. There is still plenty of humor and romance, but it’s of a more mature sort. The story really explores the more mature aspects of love, especially love that is complicated or potentially toxic. This series was completed so you can read the entire thing from start to finish either on webtoons or through the books.

The Apothecary Diaries

Chances are good that you’ve heard of The Apothecary Diaries. This manga, with a REALLY good anime adaptation, follows the life of Maomao, a young servant girl who is soon employed as a poison taster by the imperial court’s concubines. Each issue and episode tends to focus on a poison-related mystery of some sort, which of course, Maomao usually solves with the help of friends or the enigmatic manager of the inner court, Jinshi. The series has humor, a clever romance, mystery and intrigue…everything you could want.