The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess

The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess (Japanese: ひきこまり吸血姫の悶々, Hepburn: Hikikomari Kyūketsuki no Monmon)^[b] is a Japanese light novel series written by Kotei Kobayashi and illustrated by Riichu. SB Creative began publishing the series in January 2020, with 14 volumes having been released as of December 2025. A manga adaptation by the novel's illustrator was serialized in Monthly Big Gangan from December 2021 to April 2025. As of November 2023, the series' individual chapters have been collected in three tankōbon volumes. This series follows a female vampire who awakens after three years to find she's been appointed as a military commander in the Mulnite Imperial Army.

The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess
First light novel volume cover, featuring Terakomari Gandesblood
ひきこまり吸血姫の悶々 (Hikikomari Kyūketsuki no Monmon)
Genre	Adventure[1] Fantasy comedy[1] Yuri[1]
Light novel
Written by	Kotei Kobayashi
Illustrated by	Riichu
Published by	SB Creative
English publisher	NA: Yen Press
Imprint	GA Bunko
Original run	January 11, 2020 – present
Volumes	14
Manga
Written by	Kotei Kobayashi
Illustrated by	Riichu
Published by	Square Enix
English publisher	NA: Square Enix
Imprint	Big Gangan Comics
Magazine	Monthly Big Gangan
Original run	December 25, 2021 – April 25, 2025
Volumes	3
Anime television series
Directed by	Tatsuma Minamikawa
Written by	Keiichirō Ōchi
Music by	Go Shiina
Studio	Project No.9
Licensed by	NA: Sentai Filmworks[a] SEA: Remow
Original network	Tokyo MX, BS NTV, MBS, AT-X
English network	SEA: Animax Asia[2]
Original run	October 7, 2023 – December 30, 2023
Episodes	12

An anime television series adaptation produced by Project No.9 aired from October to December 2023. Outside of Japan, it is licensed by Sentai Filmworks through Section23 Films in North America for home video distribution, and is streaming on Hidive.

Characters

Terakomari Gandesblood (テラコマリ・ガンデスブラッド, Terakomari Gandesuburaddo)

Voiced by: Tomori Kusunoki^[3] (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski^[4] (English)

The protagonist of the series, she is a fifteen-year-old vampire who previously lived a shut-in life. Despite being a vampire, she is not fond of consuming blood, leading to her powers being weaker than that of other vampires.

Villhaze (ヴィルヘイズ, Viruheizu)

Voiced by: Sayumi Suzushiro^[3] (Japanese); Donna Bella Litton^[4] (English)

A girl who was hired to work as Komari's personal maid. She has a big crush on Komari and constantly tries to seduce her, much to Komari's annoyance and disgust.

Karen Helvetius (カレン・エルヴェシアス, Karen Eruveshiasu)

Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa^[3] (Japanese); Kira Vincent-Davis^[4] (English)

Nelia Cunningham (ネリア・カニンガム, Neria Kaningamu)

Voiced by: Fairouz Ai^[5]

Karla Amatsu (アマツ・カルラ, Amatsu Karura)

Voiced by: Miyuri Shimabukuro^[5]

Sakuna Memoir (サクナ・メモワール, Sakuna Memowāru)

Voiced by: Manaka Iwami^[5]

Millicent Bluenight (ミリセント・ブルーナイト, Mirisento Burūnaito)

Voiced by: Sora Amamiya^[6] (Japanese); Natalie Rial^[4] (English)

Melca Tiano (メルカ・ティアーノ, Meruka Tiāno)

Voiced by: Reina Ueda^[6] (Japanese); Annie Wild^[4] (English)

Tio Flat (ティオ・フラット, Tio Furatto)

Voiced by: Saku Mizuno^[6]

Gertrude (ガートルード, Gātorūdo)

Voiced by: Rina Hidaka^[7]

Koharu Minenaga (峰永 こはる, Minenaga Koharu)

Voiced by: Hina Kino^[7]

Chaostel Conte (カオステル・コント, Kaosuteru Konto)

Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae^[7] (Japanese); Scott Gibbs^[4] (English)

Belius Innu Cerberus (ベリウス・イッヌ・ケルベロ, Beriusu Innu Kerubero)

Voiced by: Masaaki Mizunaka^[7] (Japanese); Andrew Love^[4] (English)

Melakonsi (メラコンシー, Merakonshī)

Voiced by: Tasuku Hatanaka^[7] (Japanese); Greg Ayres^[4] (English)

Johan Helders (ヨハン・ヘルダース, Yohan Herudāsu)

Voiced by: Yūsuke Kobayashi^[7] (Japanese); Jack Stansbury^[4] (English)

Arman Gandesblood (アルマン・ガンデスブラッド, Aruman Gandesuburaddo)

Voiced by: Jun Fukushima^[7] (Japanese); Brandon Hearnsberger^[4] (English)

Flöte Mascarail (フレーテ・マスカレール, Furēte Masukarēru)

Voiced by: Riho Sugiyama^[8]

Prohelia Zutazutsky (プロヘリヤ・ズタズタスキー, Puroheriya Zutazutasukī)

Voiced by: Aoi Yūki^[9]

Media

Light novel

Written by Kotei Kobayashi and illustrated by Riichu, SB Creative began publishing the series on January 11, 2020.^[10] As of December 2025, 14 volumes have been released.^[11]

In August 2021, Yen Press announced that they licensed the series for English publication.^[12]

Volumes

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	January 11, 2020[10]	978-4-81-560465-3	April 19, 2022[1]	978-1-97-533949-4
Chapter 0: Prologue Chapter 1: The Shut-In Vampire Princess Goes Out Chapter 2: Komari's Charming Comrades Chapter 2.5: A Fox Face in the Dead of Night Chapter 3: A Mutinous Uprising Chapter 3.5: Inverse Moon Chapter 4: Party Crasher Chapter 5: The Darkness of the Shut-In Vampire Princess Chapter 6: Millicent Bluenight Chapter 7: Blood Curse Chapter 0: Epilogue
2	May 14, 2020[13]	978-4-81-560551-3	September 20, 2022[14]	978-1-97-533951-7
Chapter 0: Prologue Chapter 1: Sakuna Memoir and the Seven Crimson Lords Chapter 1.5: A Hundred Komaris Chapter 2: A Round Table Full of Weirdos Chapter 2.5: Suspicion Befalls the Sixth Unit Chapter 3: Web of Memories in a Sea of Stars Chapter 3.5: Before the Match Chapter 4: Scarlet Stage Chapter 5: The Wheels of Asterism Chapter 0: Epilogue
3	September 11, 2020[15]	978-4-81-560743-2	December 13, 2022[16]	978-1-97-533953-1
Chapter 0: Prologue Chapter 1: Warblade Tea Party Chapter 2: Peace Spirit Tea Party Chapter 2.5: Nelia Cunningham's Ambitions Chapter 3: Behold, World! Chapter 4: The Aruka Kingdom Princess Chapter 4.5: Lurking in the Shadows Chapter 5: The Paradise Where Dreams Collapse Chapter 6: Diverse Divide Chapter 7: Golden World Chapter 0: Epilogue
4	January 14, 2021[17]	978-4-81-560890-3	April 18, 2023[18]	978-1-97-533955-5
Chapter 0: Prologue Chapter 1: The Six Valkyries Chapter 2: The Cherry-Tinted City Under the Clear Moon Chapter 3: Amatsu versus Reigetsu Chapter 4: Endless Night at the Fall Festival Chapter 5: Mayhem at the Eastern Capital Chapter 6: Waving Moment Chapter 0: Epilogue Chapter ∞: Epilogue - Backstage
5	May 13, 2021[19]	978-4-81-560985-6	September 19, 2023[20]	978-1-97-537260-6
Chapter 0: Prologue Chapter 1: The Vampire Princess of the Holy Paradise Chapter 1.5: Predators Against the Imperial Capital Chapter 2: The Day the Maid Vanished Chapter 2.5: The Wanderer from the Netherworld Chapter 3: God's Territory Chapter 3.5: The Sun Sets on the Empire Chapter 4: A Voice Echoes in the Land of Night Chapter 5: The Shut-In Vampire Princess Stands on the Battlefield Chapter 6: Pandora's Poison Chapter 0: Epilogue
6	September 14, 2021[21]	978-4-81-561203-0	February 20, 2024[22]	978-1-97-537964-3
Chapter 0: Prologue Chapter 0.5: The Shadow of a Star and a Piece of the Moon Chapter 1: The Seventh Unit's Biggest Fan Chapter 1.5: Distant Memories Chapter 2: Relaxing at the Hot Springs Chapter 2.5: Lingzi Ailan and the Vampires Chapter 3: Serial Murder Mystery Chapter 4: The Black Assassin and the Gift from the Netherworld Chapter 4.5: Death Master Chapter 0: Epilogue
7	January 14, 2022[23]	978-4-81-561378-5	June 18, 2024[24]	978-1-97-537966-7
Chapter 0: Prologue Chapter 1: Is This Love? Chapter 2: War and Wedding Bells Chapter 3: To Be a Tianzi Chapter 4: The Late Monarch's Guidance Chapter 0: Epilogue
8	May 13, 2022[25]	978-4-81-561642-7	October 15, 2024[26]	978-1-97-537968-1
Chapter 0: Prologue Chapter 1: The Unwonted Principles of the World Chapter 1.5: Polemic on the Other Side Chapter 2: The Maid and the Shrine Maiden Chapter 2.5: The Whereabouts of the Upended Moon Chapter 3: Journey into the Unknown Chapter 4: Homeland Chapter 5: Ever Since the Day of Thunder Chapter 5.5: Bolt
9	October 14, 2022[27]	978-4-81-561643-4	July 15, 2025[28]	978-1-97-537970-4
Chapter 6: The Terrorists' Endgame Chapter 6.5: To the South Chapter 7: Gold Rush! Chapter 8: Star Cave Beasts Chapter 9: Behind the Wickedness Chapter 10: The Great Spelunking Chapter 11: The Euphony of Corpses Chapter 12: Sunny World Chapter 12.5: Moon, Stars, and Blood
10	January 14, 2023[29]	978-4-81-561910-7	February 10, 2026[30]	978-1-97-537972-8
11	May 15, 2023[31]	978-4-81-562137-7	—	—
12	October 14, 2023[32]	978-4-81-562138-4	—	—
13	March 15, 2024[33]	978-4-81-562139-1	—	—
14	December 13, 2025[11]	978-4-8156-3811-5	—	—

Manga

A manga adaptation, illustrated by the novel's illustrator Riichu, was serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan magazine from December 25, 2021, to April 25, 2025.^[34][35] As of November 2023, the series' individual chapters have been collected in three tankōbon volumes.^[36]

The manga adaptation is published in English on Square Enix's Manga Up! app.^[37]

Volumes

No.	Japanese release date	Japanese ISBN
1	June 23, 2022[38]	978-4-75-757986-6
2	January 25, 2023[39]	978-4-75-758363-4
3	November 25, 2023[36]	978-4-75-758919-3
4	December 25, 2025[40]	978-4-30-100023-5

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced at the "GA Fes 2023" livestream on January 5, 2023. It is produced by Project No.9 and directed by Tatsuma Minamikawa, with scripts supervised by Keiichirō Ōchi, characters designed by Tomoyuki Shitaya, and music composed by Go Shiina.^[3] The series aired from October 7 to December 30, 2023, on Tokyo MX and other networks.^[5][6] The opening theme is "Red Liberation" by fripSide, while the ending theme is "Nemurenai" (眠れない) by Miminari feat. Tomori Kusunoki.^[41]

Sentai Filmworks has licensed the series outside of Asia.^[42] Nada Holdings / Remow licensed the series in Asia-Pacific.^[43] In March 2024, Hidive announced an English dub for the series, which will premiere its first two episodes at Anime Boston on March 29 before releasing on the platform starting on April 15.^[44][4]

Episodes

No.	Title [45][46]	Directed by [45]	Written by [45]	Storyboarded by [45]	Original release date [47]
1	"The Shut-in Vampire Goes Outside" Transliteration: "Hikikomori Kyūketsuki, Soto ni Deru" (Japanese: 引きこもり吸血鬼、外に出る)	Kazuo Nogami	Keiichirō Ōchi	Tatsuma Minamikawa	October 7, 2023 (2023-10-07)
2	"A Sudden Insurrection" Transliteration: "Gekokujō, Boppatsu" (Japanese: 下剋上、勃発)	Kiyotaka Takezawa	Keiichirō Ōchi	Hiroaki Takagi	October 14, 2023 (2023-10-14)
3	"The Darkness of the Shut-in Vampire Princess" Transliteration: "Hikikomori Kyūketsuki no Yami" (Japanese: ひきこもり吸血姫の闇)	Kōsuke Shimotori	Keiichirō Ōchi	Tatsuma Minamikawa	October 21, 2023 (2023-10-21)
4	"The Mercy of the Lonely Crimson" Transliteration: "Kokō no Tomurai" (Japanese: 孤紅の恤)	Kentarō Tanaka	Keiichirō Ōchi	Hiroaki Takagi	October 28, 2023 (2023-10-28)
5	"Sakuna Memoir and the Seven Crimson Lords" Transliteration: "Sakuna Memowāru to Shichiguten-tachi" (Japanese: サクナ・メモワールと七紅天たち)	Kazuo Nogami	Satoru Sugizawa	Hitomi Ezoe	November 4, 2023 (2023-11-04)
6	"A Roundtable of Lowlives" Transliteration: "Kusemono Zoroi no Entaku Kaigi" (Japanese: 曲者ぞろいの円卓会議)	Ayumi Takagi	Keiichirō Ōchi	Hidetoshi Takahashi	November 11, 2023 (2023-11-11)
7	"The Scarlet Stage" Transliteration: "Sukāretto Sutēji" (Japanese: スカーレット・ステージ)	Kentarō Tanaka	Satoru Sugizawa	Noriaki Saitō	November 18, 2023 (2023-11-18)
8	"Wheels of Asterism" Transliteration: "Asuterizumu no Kaiten" (Japanese: アステリズムの廻転)	Kiyotaka Takezawa	Keiichirō Ōchi	Tsutomu Miyazawa	November 25, 2023 (2023-11-25)
9	"A Warblade Tea Party" Transliteration: "Senryū Chakai" (Japanese: 翦劉茶会)	Kazuo Nogami	Keiichirō Ōchi	Noriaki Saitō	December 9, 2023 (2023-12-09)
10	"The Princess of Aruka Kingdom" Transliteration: "Aruka Okoku no Ohimesama" (Japanese: アルカ王国のお姫様)	Ayumi Takagi	Satoru Sugizawa	Noriaki Saitō	December 16, 2023 (2023-12-16)
11	"The Dream-Crushing Paradise" Transliteration: "Yume no Tsuieru Rakuen" (Japanese: 夢の潰える楽園)	Akari Ranzaki	Keiichirō Ōchi	Akari Ranzaki	December 23, 2023 (2023-12-23)
12	"A Golden World" Transliteration: "Ōgon no Sekai" (Japanese: 黄金の世界)	Kentarō Tanaka	Keiichirō Ōchi	Tatsuma Minamikawa	December 30, 2023 (2023-12-30)

Reception

In the 2021 edition of Takarajimasha's annual light novel guide book Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!, the novel series ranked 17th in the new work category.^[48]

Both the manga and anime have received generally mixed to negative reviews from critics. Demelza from Anime UK News liked the illustrations, while harshly criticizing the story and characters.^[49] Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network liked the illustrations and thought the writing was "solid", while also criticizing the characters, especially Vill and Komari.^[50]

See also

• Killed Again, Mr. Detective?, another light novel series illustrated by Riichu

Notes

1. Home video rights through Section23 Films and streaming rights through Hidive (also in Australia and British Isles.)
2. Hikikomari is a pun on the Japanese word hikikomori and the main protagonist named Terakomari.