The Small-Animallike Lady Is Adored by the Ice Prince Volume 2
Original Story: Hisui
Original Character Design: Agu Ao
Artist: Mugi Sawai
Letterer: Olivia Osanz
Translator: Emma Shumacker
Publisher: Yen Press
Publication Date: Mar 25, 2025
Rating: Teen
Genre: Manga (JPN), Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
The Small-Animallike Lady is Adored by the Ice Prince is a romance manga from Yen Press. Adapted from the light novel of the same name written by Hisui and with characters designed by Agu Ao, the manga is drawn and retold by Mugi Sawai. The second volume takes William and Liliana’s relationship a bit further where the family members and confidants get involved, and the two take some necessary steps towards each other! Here’s our coverage of the first volume on The Beat in case you’ve missed it!
©Yen Press, 2025Even though the Ice Prince William has decided on Liliana as the candidate for his future wife with a brusque “She’ll do,” and Liliana has started to take lessons, she’s still considering a way to get the crown prince to annul this decision. She enjoys learning but is sure that the prince feels nothing for her, and due to her class, she cannot refuse the royal family. Little does she know that the royal family, the queen Sophia specifically, is on a different wavelength altogether.
What awaits Liliana is her first meeting with the queen, who’s just as infatuated with cuteness as William. On the one hand, Liliana has to play along nicely, but on the other, the more she goes along, the narrower her escape route becomes. Meanwhile, William is tasked to handle the next formal ball for the upper class. This party will function to establish his position as the crown prince and for the king to assess how William will fare when it comes to managing the subordinates and servants. Not to mention, the prince’s lack of rizz when it comes to dating brings tears to his right-hand man Daniel’s eyes.
©Yen Press, 2025The second volume of The Small-Animallike Lady Is Adored by the Ice Prince continues to be the perfect cozy romantic read. I praised this series for avoiding the abusive family trope that has almost become the staple in romantasy. While there are (or will be, as hinted at the end of the volume) third parties that try their hand at disrupting Liliana and William’s peace, both of their families are considerate of their children’s expectations and feelings. They don’t scheme elaborate plans to try and test William and Liliana’s feelings for each other. Instead, they offer sound advice and let them make their own decisions while testing the capabilities that’ll be required of them in their roles as crown prince and princess. It’s such a joy to read!
That said, Marquess Nokriss’ daughter Isabella’s approach to William feels out of place. She asks to have the next dance with William and he turns her down by saying he has no intention to dance with someone other than Liliana. William’s tone is already elevated for some reason, but Isabella quickly escalates the situation. Then she’s abruptly taken away, followed by everyone continuing as if nothing has happened before their eyes. I understand the purpose this scene serves, but it was unnecessarily intense for an event that needed to be resolved in a handful of panels.
From 0 to 100 at 0.3 seconds ©Yen Press, 2025Other than this instance, the rest of the volume is extremely sweet and fun! William tries to create occasions where he can spend time with Liliana, sending desserts her way when he can’t because he knows they are Liliana’s favorite. Liliana herself is slowly making progress in delving deeper into her feelings and circumstances as the future crown princess. With the help of her parents, her father specifically, she occasionally turns inward with the hopes of figuring out just what she wants out of this marriage and William.
The highlight of this volume for me was the part where William agonized over planning an outing with Liliana and the day they eventually get to spend together. Prior to this, Liliana has been kindly turning William down whenever he approaches, not out of aversion towards William or spending time together, but out of suspicion of his feelings. She never expects him to be this determined but doesn’t want to appear disrespectful either, so she decides to accept the offer this time.
And of course, William responds with excitement and slight anxiety due to wanting Liliana to have fun, with lots of asking around and planning. He combines what Liliana told him she does on her day in the city with recommendations from Daniel and Kevin, one of the knights. It was adorable to see the completed plan wasn’t solely to cater to Liliana, but they had plenty of alone time, shared their taste and got matching accessories, walked around, and simply enjoyed each other’s company.
©Yen Press, 2025It was also pleasant we got to see more of William in his natural element. Normally, he dons an indifferent expression. However, whenever Liliana is involved, whether she’s personally there or the topic is her, he visibly melts into the softest smile. His interactions with Daniel and Kevin are hilarious, but adorable as well.
A gorgeous full-color illustration of William and Liliana dancing under the bright night sky and crescent moon, immersed in each other greets us inside. Liliana’s bright smile and William’s delight at seeing Liliana happy paint a beautiful and heartwarming picture. The print version comes with a matte paper cover that’s very smooth to the touch. I also appreciate how soft the bound makes reading comfortable. Emma Schumaker’s translation and Olivia Osanz’s lettering, just like the first volume, flow smoothly.
©Yen Press, 2025I had a good time reading the first volume of The Small-Animallike Lady Is Adored by the Ice Prince but as I have mentioned in my previous review, the series was only taking its first steps and I wanted to see how the plot would follow. I’m delighted to let you know that it’s as pleasant to read as the first and I’m looking forward to how the cliffhanger will resolve or progress in the following chapters! Volume 3 is set to be released on July 22nd, and the summer can’t come fast enough!
The Small-Animallike Lady is Adored by the Ice Prince Volume 2 will be available digitally and in print on March 25th, 2025, out from Yen Press.
English (US) · 