The Cat Proposed is an adorable BL (Boys' Love) urban fantasy one-shot.
"Matoi Souta is an overworked office worker tired of his life. Then, on his way home from a long day of work one day, he decides to watch a traditional Japanese play. But something strange happens. He could have sworn he saw one of the actors has cat ears. It turns out that the man is actually a bakeneko — a shapeshifting cat from Japanese folklore. And then, the cat speaks: "From now on, you will be my mate." I've read a decent amount of BL one-shots. A few common things I notice with these one-shots are that they are often rushed to the point that it's difficult to enjoy the romance and characters. This wasn't the case with The Cat Proposed.
There were so many things that I enjoyed about Hayane's work. The pace of the story was steady and well planned out. The references to Japanese folklore was enough to add a magical feel to the story, but not enough to confuse those unfamiliar with Japanese culture.
The themes of the importance of storytelling and taking time to enjoy the most important story of all (one's own) were also messages I deeply appreciated. And of course, the sweet developing romance between Matoi and Kihachi (the bakeneko) was adorable to read about. I've read so many BL one-shots where the love interests are quite toxic toward each other. But the relationship between Matoi and Kihachi is one that is tender and respectful. I highly recommend The Cat Proposed for those that enjoy romance and urban fantasy. Especially for those that enjoy manga, but don't want to commit to reading a long series.
I received this advance copy from NetGalley and LOVE x LOVE in exchange for a honest review.
The Cat Proposed by Dento Hayane will release on February 23, 2021.
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