Sheep Princess in Wolf's Clothing Review
A Top-shelf Princess X Butler Romance to Brighten Your Day
Hello Yuri Enjoyers!
I hope you’ve been doing well in my absence! As you know, my reviews have been getting thrown off as of late. I’ve been spending a lot more time going out, seeing friends, and generally staying busy. I also got to write a review for Okazu, run by Erica Friedman, so that threw off one of my reviews for a hot second.
For most of this year, reading and writing has been my crutch to lean on during difficult times, and now that most of that difficulty is clearing up and the weather is better, my priorities are starting to shift. With that said, I think it’s clear that sticking to weekly reviews here on my page isn’t the play I want to make right now. The purpose of this project was to document my thoughts and feelings about various Yuri manga in a way that can help others know if a series fits their tastes, and so I can transfer my thoughts and feelings on stories into a somewhat tangible place for my own reference. Ultimately, trying to stick to my weekly schedule (which was entirely arbitrary) is going to make this feel too much like a job. This page was, and will continue to be for quite some time, a hobby for me.
I am going to keep writing reviews and sharing my thoughts as the time and energy comes. I want to review every single Yuri I own, and that hasn’t changed. I want to write in detail about other things that I love on my secondary Substack too, though those posts are still a ways off and will be more sparse. I want to keep this hobby alive because it has been a huge benefit to me in so many ways. You can expect to see reviews completely at random from now on, and I’ll try to post more on my Bluesky with updates and such.
In case you missed the review for Alter Ego 2: Noel and June, please check it out on Okazu.yuricon.com! I also have to admit that this review just needs to be thrown into the world, cause if I sit on it any longer, I’ll never get it out! That’s enough updating, let’s get on with the Yuri!
Sheep Princess in Wolf's Clothing
There is something inherently alluring about romance that breaks through class barriers. So many classic romance novels depict the story of a noble falling for a commoner, or vice versa, and the emotional beats to their tales can be powerful. Nothing quite compares to the hurdles that characters in this dynamic have to jump over and the payoff that results.
Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing is no exception to this age-old setup, but it spins itself in a few different directions that make it feel fun, fresh, and very fitting to the Yuri genre. While some classic tales of love breaking class boundaries may portray themselves with hopelessness, frustration, and brooding darkness, Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing charts an entirely different path with optimism and hope at its core, leading to a comfy and wholesome story with lots of fun to be had. While it may not be the most compelling in its ever-present class struggles, this story is an easy choice for anyone who likes cute animal girls, gentle power dynamics, lots of sweet Yuri moments, and lovely art.
Background
Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing was written and illustrated by Mito. Volume one of the series was originally published in 2021 by Takeshobo and ran for five volumes until 2023. The English translation was then published by Seven Seas Entertainment between 2023 and 2025. The translation was handled very well, with no notable issues that I remember spotting. The series is not shy with its Yuri elements either, and incorporates elements of classic romance tropes and Anthropomorphism, aka, giving animal characteristics to human characters.
Plot
Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing follows the titular sheep princess, Momo Shiudafaris, who quickly falls in love with a butler at the castle she calls home. The butler, Aki Rikujo, is quickly promoted to Momo’s personal tutor after saving her from a large wolf that appears on the castle grounds. Soon after, Momo sneaks off to Aki’s room during the full moon with the intention of professing her love to Aki. The encounter takes a reckless turn and we get to see the aftermath and Aki’s struggle between letting Momo’s feminine wiles get to her and risk overstepping the class boundaries, or breaking the princess’s heart by pushing her away..
The narrative of this series is far from being a serious romance that faces class issues in real ways. The setting is very comfortable and soft, the characters are all lovely and kind at their cores, and for every darker moment, there are a dozen cheerful and delightful moments. For a manga of this comfort level, the plot beats are well paced and leave little room for boredom. For a modern audience looking for comfort among a familiar relationship dynamic of a noblewoman and her personal aid, it’s hard to go wrong with this story.
Themes
Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing doesn’t do much in the way of weaving deeper themes into the plot. Obviously, there is the constant pressure of class divide between Aki and Momo, and while it's not handled with a lot of depth or tact, it does remain relevant in each volume.
One aspect of the series that sets it apart is the anthropomorphic characters and how they are used in relation to common tropes around animals. Aki is a wolf girl, but she is generally hesitant, timid, and seeks control over herself and her environment to avoid conflict. Momo is a sheep girl, but she pushes for the things she wants, she is willing to throw herself out heart-first and risk being hurt by doing so, and she has moments of intense confidence and recklessness. They break from stereotypes quite often, but they also fall into their stereotypical roles to an intense degree during the full moon, where Aki can be overwhelmed by her instincts, flipping their wholesome dynamic into a primal and sexual dynamic. While the theming may not be too strong, I did find the little bits they threw in to be interesting and somewhat compelling.
Characters
The characters in Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing are one of the stronger points, with many of the character arcs given time to stretch their legs and have some fun. Aki and Momo get the most attention, and they even get time to be together as a couple after overcoming some obstacles. Kiku and Sakaki are two other butlers at the castle, and they get a prominent arc with each other, with lots of backstory, a fun dynamic, and great payoff. Other side characters have smaller arcs they follow, with many pairings being hinted at, mentioned, or shown in a small way. The only side character without much dynamic change is Bluebell, Momo’s personal maid, but her nature as a support for Momo is invaluable to pushing other characters together and facilitating dates and major moments. If you are a fan of characters who act as Yuri enjoyer stand-ins, then this series is definitely for you!
Illustration
The art in Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing is very high quality, with plenty of details to soak in with character expressions, outfits, and designs. The backgrounds are lovely and impressive, everything is readable and doesn’t feel cluttered or messy, and I was really impressed by the quality of the entire visual composition. For once, I genuinely have little to say about the art other than to say it’s top notch!
How to Approach
Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing is very easy to recommend, with a few obvious things to point out in case they are deal breakers for some. Of course, there are anthropomorphic characters in the story, but they are done quite well and play into the themes decently. If anyone is looking for serious drama or stakes, they might not find this story very compelling, but if anyone appreciates cute and wholesome characters with lovely romance, comfy vibes, and some subversion, this is the story for you.
Another thing to note is that the final volume is bumped up from an age rating of 13+ to 15+, so there is some nudity to note, and depending on the person, could make things better or much worse. While no ages for characters are mentioned, and I generally found the story to treat characters like adults, the sheep princess is definitely coded on the younger side visually.
Content Warnings (Minor Spoilers)
This section will have some minor spoilers, but I will keep it to the necessary details some readers will need to know.
Nudity in the final volume.
Anthropomorphic characters?
Discrimination and childhood bullying.
Depictions of abandonment and possible trauma.
Conclusion and Overall Ratings
Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing is a wonderfully adorable Yuri that leans on a class divide conflict for structure but provides a story that is entertaining, a bit silly, really cute, and has some minor subversions to keep things interesting. The story has good payoff, but might not be someone’s cup of tea if they feel uncomfortable with any tiny hint of underage subtext. Mito’s wonderful art and character work really shines in this story, and I am really looking forward to seeing what they might do next.
My overall ratings (Check Notes for category clarity)
Recommended Age: 15+ due to the final volume’s rating.
Absurdity: Can be very idealistic and is clearly disconnected from reality.
Depth: There is not much depth, but characters get some nice attention and growth.
Drama: The drama comes around often, but there is rarely anything to worry about.
Romance: Absolutely overflowing!
Political: An idealistic world where political implication isn’t even a thought.