sadslime's Manga

Kazunori has the ability to read people's "inner voices," and he uses this skill to make a name for himself as a shrewd businessman. When a possible marriage comes up to a mute noblewoman that would further his business, Kazunori is eager to go through with it, especially since he'll be able to read her mind anyway. But when he meets his arranged marriage partner, Nana, not only is she not what he expected, he can't read her mind! When he realizes she's abused, he gets her out of there, but he determines that if he can't find a way to help her speak and read her mind within a year, they can't get married since he can't fully trust her. But meanwhile, Nana has a secret of her own: she's able to read people's inner voices as text! The only problem is, she's illiterate, but now it's time for her to learn. I like this story and find the characters interesting, but it does feel like it maybe went on too long when it should have ended. Trigger warnings: abuse, child abuse, violence, psychological manipulation.

Bernard is a fifth son of a minor noble family who he felt he had no choice but to become a knight to make a name for himself, and Lady Agnes is the flower of high society who should have nothing to do with a low ranked noble like him. Still, when he tries to introduce himself to her at her debut only to get glared at, he holds a grudge against her for looking down on him for years, which is why when she ends up with nothing after her father commits treason and comes to see Bernard at the knight's hall, he impulsively offers to take her in as a maid, intending to crush her pride. To his surprise, she's delighted and thanks him profusely, and now he gets to deal with housing a traitor's daughter who acts nothing like the haughty lady he was expecting. Still, a knight's oath is to protect those who can't protect themselves, so he can't turn Agnes away now! I like this one so far, especially the interesting touch of having it told form the ML's point of view, but it felt a little cliche once they introduced his mother and the "fiance" plot. Trigger warning: stalker.

Tono Asako is known as a spinster, but she doesn't mind as long as she can take care of her frail younger sister. But when the soldier Shintaro Kido requests her sister as a bride, Asako can't let someone with his reputation take her sister, especially when she hears he only wants a bride to give birth to an heir. Asako begs him to take her instead, and Kido agrees, beginning their relationship as husband and wife in which Asako believes herself to be a replacement bride, but Kido seems to have wanted her all along. Asako starts off seeming like a very strong character, but once married it feels like she immediately loses any strength to her actions and just becomes your basic FL and dutiful bride. It's fine, but not a standout story. Trigger warnings: Sexism, attempted rape, threat of suicide.

Chika is an ordinary woman who lived a life of constant abuse by her parents until she nearly died and was transported to the world of heteromorphic heads! (Meaning heads all have different shapes.) She was found by professionals trained to take care of such displaced humans and ended up living with Raz, a man with the head of a daft punk member if their head was all black and they had a venom smile for a mouth. Even though humans are treated as "pets" in this world, the scary-looking Raz has fallen head over heels for his Chika and she loves him too, though she can't express it as trauma has left her unable to speak. With the help of Raz and his friends, Chika slowly begins to heal from her trauma and bridge the gap between her and Raz so they can truly be in love. A very bizarre setup, but it's fun world building. The story does feel a bit rushed though.
Trigger warnings: abuse, attempted suicide, violence.

Nanao was supposed to marry the lord of her clan due to her strong spiritual power, but when she was taken and marked by an ayakashi, she became an outcast in her home and lost everything. When the famous Lord Benitsubaki, head of the highest onmyo family, comes seeking a wife, Nanao is told to stay out of his way. But when he saves her after she was misunderstood, he doesn't seem to fear her curse at all and tastes her blood before declaring boldly that she's the one he's been looking for! The abused girl getting taken out of her bad situation by a new husband trope has been done before, but I don't mind seeing it again, and the setting is interesting. Trigger warnings: abuse, implied rape, implied bestiality, attempted suicide.

Esora is an unwanted child being passed from family to family until she ends up with no place to go and nothing to eat but leftovers she found at a shrine. She falls asleep there and wakes up in another world where she's sold as a human slave to Yahiro, a masked (yokai?) brothel owner who encourages the feisty Esora to take control of her own future by becoming the best courtesan in his brothel who can pick and choose who she sleeps with. While Esora is initially resistant, as time passes she begins to see the many sides to the people around her and their ways of life, and she comes to want to know more about Yahiro and his hidden face. He promises to show her his face when she becomes the top courtesan, but that isn't the only secret Yahiro is keeping as he also seems to have known Esora's mother. An interesting premise with a nuanced look at courtesan life and sex work. So far, I like it a lot. Trigger warnings: child neglect, child trafficking, sex work.

Liliangé was married off in a political marriage at the age of eight to an eighteen-year-old husband, Alekseid. But despite the ten year age gap, Alekseid is kind to her and his mother takes her in and raises her as her own, leading to some of the happiest times in her life. Liliangé falls for Alekseid's kindness and does her best to become a wife worthy of him, but on her sixteenth birthday, she overhears him tell a friend that he could never actually see her as a woman, crushing her hopes. So when she turns eighteen, she decides to end this one sided romance, and asks for a divorce! The age gap is troubling for some, especially since she was so young when they met, but I don't consider it grooming since it seems Alekseid was rarely around during her upbringing and treated her perfectly amicably. No trigger warnings

Isabella isekaied into a dating sim as the villainess, and despite her best efforts, the story followed the villainess exile route...wop wop. While attempting to go into hiding until her dad can figure things out, Isabella is kidnapped and sold into sex slavery, and soon her first night is purchased by a masked man looking to get some experience in before his wedding. But what Isabella doesn't realize is that the masked man is obviously her ex, the prince (Samuel) who jilted her, and for some reason, he doesn't recognize Isabella either, leading the two of them to start a relationship again, just a little too late and a lot more risque. A tired trope with nothing in particular to distinguish it, but read if that's what you're looking for. Trigger warnings: cheating (implied), sex trafficking, sex work.

Aoi and Ryouta are childhood friends who do everything together, so it only seemed natural to live together when they started college. But when Ryouta finds Aoi sleeping in a compromising position one night he touches Aoi's lips, and when Aoi wakes up and demands to know why, Ryouta says he couldn't control himself because he likes Aoi! Aoi never thought about their relationship that way, but their gay neighbors are here to help them figure all this out. Very cute and sweet. Trigger warnings: forced outing, somnophilia (in a relationship).

Mizuki has a bad breakup and the handsome Takuma finds her crying in the rain. He takes her home, comforts her, and they sleep together, after which they end up becoming friends with benefits. Mizuki finally realizes she wants more at the same time she figures out Takuma is in love with someone he can't have, so his heart seems truly out of reach. Takuma is dang smooth. Fun enough read with good consent. Trigger warnings: cheating (mentioned), incest themes (stepparent attraction).