Once a homeless orphan, Raul was taken in and saved by Rosé, an eternally youthful vampire with a gentle, delicate air. From that day on, Raul dreamed of becoming strong enough to protect the one who gave him a home.

Years of dedication and training shape him into a tall, muscular young man—but no matter how much he grows, Rosé still sees the small, vulnerable child he once was.

Caught between who he has become and who Rosé remembers, their days unfold in a tender, sugar-sweet life shared between a vampire and a human.

Raul and His Vampire Prince has a story by and art by Ataru Sonoguchi. English translation is done by Kat Skarbinec and lettering by Giuseppe Antonio Fusco, with an adaptation by Molly Muldoon. Published by Seven Seas Entertainment (August 25, 2026). Rated OT.

Rebecca Silverman
Rating:

Is it shota? Does it count as such if the young-looking character is actually a very old vampire? These questions have been asked before of other manga series, and I have no firm answers. All I can say is that it's a bit too shota-adjacent for my tastes, and I'm really not entirely comfortable with the blatant use of vampire Rosé for fan service, whatever his age may be – and even less comfortable with the fact that if this is a romance, it's one where Rosé has raised his potential boyfriend from toddlerhood. This is your official warning that this is one of those “definitely not for everyone” books.

That said, it's also not terrible if neither of those tropes is a dealbreaker. Primarily, this comes down to the art, which is very nice. Rosé is drawn with clear, loving care – his femme-presenting clothing and body language are carefully crafted, and he gets nearly all of the full-page or half-page spreads. These juxtapose well with Raul's beefy, sculpted masc form. Whether clothed or naked, Raul's body is meant to draw the eye and stand as an opposite form of beauty to Rosé's willowy figure. Creator Ataru Sonoguchi also pays attention to their packages, and we can clearly see that Raul's equipment matches his large body. Everyone wears tight pants in this story.

The plot doesn't fare quite as well. It's torn between Rosé parenting Raul (to his consternation) and the two of them hunting bad vampires. The vampire lore is the most interesting aspect of the plot – apparently, any animal turned gains a semi-human form along with their bloodsucking powers, and it's up to the dynamic duo to protect people from them. What would be called were-hogs and werewolves in other series are here turned animals, and I like that twist on the typical vampire story. The rest of the lore doesn't fare quite as well, feeling a bit cookie-cutter; the focus is clearly meant to be on Raul and Rosé's relationship.

Obviously, I'm very lukewarm on this title. It's for a specific group of readers I'm not a part of, but if it sounds like your thing, it is worth checking out, at the very least for the artwork.

Erica Friedman
Rating:

I cannot, in good conscience, call this a wholesome book, and yet… it is slightly wholesome. Rosé is an androgynous, leaning towards effeminate, youthful male vampire who saved a little boy named Raul. In the twelve years they have been together, Raul has grown into what looks to be an adult man, although his exact age is not mentioned. Rosé is very affectionate with his ward.

So from the get-go, we're deep into gender, age, and sexuality mushiness in Raul and His Vampire Prince, Volume 1. When we meet them, Raul looks like an adult man, and Rosé looks like 12 or so in manga years. This is exacerbated by Rosé's love of frilly clothes. But the story makes it very clear that Rosé is ancient, and while Raul can look like he's pushing 30, he's probably no more than 15, so yes, it's BL shota in both directions, with a hint of gender-bending.

The actual story is cute in that specific annoying way romances often are. Rosé is flirty and affectionate; Raul is gruff and embarrassed, but it's obvious that he does hold great respect and love for Rosé. He just feels more obligated to be strong enough to protect his savior than anything else. They need the strength, too, as they are vampire hunters as a job.

Conflict comes in the form of Rougie, Rosé's jealous older vampire brother, who ends up in a battle for Rosé and Raul. Whether he wins or loses, you just know Raul and Rosé will stay together.

This manga will probably appeal to fans of Black Butler and similar stories. It's a lighter-hearted one as Rosé is a cheerful vampire, but it's got a similar vibe.