Rasetsu Review: A Spirit Exorcist with a Curse That Will Kill Her at 20 Searches for True Love to Break It
by Chika Shiomi
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Quick Take
- A supernatural romance with a built-in urgency mechanism — the curse deadline gives every volume's romantic development real stakes
- Shiomi's spirit-world content is more detailed here than in Yurara, giving the series more world-building alongside the romance
- 9 volumes complete; compact complete supernatural romance with effective tension management
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who want supernatural romance with a ticking clock urgency
- Anyone who read Yurara and wants the continuation series
- Fans of curse-breaking romance where the curse has genuine stakes
- Readers looking for complete supernatural romance in a short format
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Curse with real death consequence; supernatural exorcism content; romantic tension with urgency; spirits and supernatural threats
T rating — supernatural romance within teen standards.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★★☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★★ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
Rasetsu Hyō was cursed at fifteen by a demon who had fallen in love with her. The curse: find someone who truly loves you before you turn twenty, or the demon will take her. She is now eighteen and working at a spirit consultation agency alongside Yako Hoshino (from Yurara) and others.
The spirit consultation work provides the series' episodic content — cases involving troubled spirits and the exorcism thereof. The countdown provides the structure: two years, with someone who truly loves her as the only exit.
Aoi Kurei joins the agency as a researcher. His relationship with Rasetsu develops against the countdown, with the curse's specific mechanism making every development more urgent.
Characters
Rasetsu Hyō — A protagonist whose curse-deadline means her relationship to romance is different from standard — she needs it to be real, not just present, which makes the romance's development requirements more specific.
Aoi Kurei — The new researcher whose feelings for Rasetsu and what "truly loves her" means in the context of the curse's requirements are the series' central romantic development.
The demon — The curse's originator who wants Rasetsu; his persistence creates the series' ongoing supernatural threat.
Art Style
Shiomi's art has grown from Yurara — more detailed supernatural elements, better pacing on the emotional sequences, character designs that carry more history. The spirit designs are distinctive and the exorcism sequences are well-choreographed.
Cultural Context
Rasetsu ran from 2007 to 2010 in Bessatsu Hana to Yume, a direct continuation series to Yurara using Yako from that series as a supporting character. The curse-with-deadline structure gives the series genre urgency that Yurara's transformation-based premise didn't use.
What I Love About It
The specificity of the curse requirement. "True love" is not just mutual affection — the curse requires something that can be distinguished from the circumstances. Rasetsu's awareness that she cannot simply accept any romantic feeling as sufficient — that the curse's requirement is specific — makes the romantic development more careful and more affecting.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Rasetsu as a stronger series than Yurara despite being a direct continuation — specifically noted for the curse deadline creating genuine urgency, for Rasetsu being a more defined protagonist than Yurara's lead, and for the spirit-world content being more developed. Recommended for supernatural romance readers and Yurara fans.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The sequence where what "true love" actually means in the context of the curse becomes clear — and what Rasetsu has to accept and what Aoi has to do — is the series' most emotionally complete moment.
Similar Manga
- Yurara — Predecessor series; reading Yurara first is recommended
- Kamisama Kiss — Supernatural romance with similar urgency
- Her Majesty's Dog — Supernatural romance with spirit-world obligations
- Midnight Secretary — Supernatural romance with deadline-adjacent pressure
Reading Order / Where to Start
Read Yurara first. Then Volume 1 of Rasetsu.
Official English Translation Status
VIZ Media has published the complete English series. All 9 volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Curse deadline creates genuine romantic urgency
- Rasetsu is a well-defined protagonist
- Complete in 9 volumes
- Spirit-world content more developed than Yurara
Cons
- Requires Yurara knowledge for full context
- Some spirit cases less interesting than main romance
- Curse resolution may not satisfy all readers
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | VIZ Media; complete series available |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Rasetsu Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.