Tsuki to Laika to Nosferatu (Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut)

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Alternative Titles

Japanese: 月とライカと吸血姫〈ノスフェラトゥ〉

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Information

Type: Light Novel

Volumes: 7

Chapters: 58

Status: Finished

Published: Dec 20, 2016 to Oct 19, 2021

Genre: Sci-Fi

Themes: Space, Vampire

Serialization: None

Authors: Karei (Art), Makino, Keisuke (Story)

Statistics

Score: 7.43¹ (scored by 180 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #3495²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #9786

Members: 1,944

Favorites: 30

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Wikipedia

7.43

Ranked #3495Popularity #9786Members 1,944

Light NovelKarei (Art), Makino, Keisuke (Story)

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Volumes: /7

Chapters: /58

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Synopsis

In an alternate version of the 1960s, two global superpowers have emerged after a savage war: the Zirnitra Union and the United Kingdom of Arnack. East and West are locked in a fierce race to send the first crewed flight into outer space, leading the Union to develop a secret agenda: the Nosferatu Project, which aims to use vampires as spaceflight test subjects. Similar to humans but feared and reviled, vampires are assumed to make the perfect "guinea pigs" for such a dangerous task. Lev Leps, a Union soldier and aspiring cosmonaut, is tasked with overseeing vampire Irina Luminesk aka N44, who has been chosen for the operation–and he can't quite detach his feelings from the vampire girl as planned. Faced with pressure and peril, will either of them manage to fly into the cosmos?

(Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)

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Background

Tsuki to Laika to Nosferatu was published in English as Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut by Seven Seas Entertainment under the Airship imprint from August 9, 2022 to January 30, 2024.

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Characters

Luminesk, Irina

Main

Leps, Lev

Main

Simonyan, Anya

Supporting

Plevitskaya, Rosa

Supporting

Sagalevich

Supporting

Rimsky, Zhores

Supporting

Yashin, Mikhail

Supporting

Reviews

Jan 24, 2025

BStrifeSword114

Recommended

A "Cosmonaut" is what Russia calls those who go to space to carry out professional work. In the west, they are called "astronauts."

The story is historical fiction, based loosely on the events of the cold war. You have two superpowers in the 1960s- the UZSR (Soviet Union equivalent) and the UK (basically a combination of the US and UK) competing in a space race; to be the first to land a man on the moon. You have *mostly* real technology with *mostly* real scenarios based on history, but this is still fiction, at the end of the day- enter Irina Luminesk, a vampire living in ... the UZSR. In a desperate bid to reach the stars, she agrees to become a test subject for the UZSR, to make sure the spacecraft is safe for humans. Because she is a vampire, which the world considers to be an inferior "cursed species," using her as a test subject to send to space is viewed as OK. Thus, Irina becomes the world's first cosmonaut.

Let me just start off by saying Irina is a wonderful character. She comes across as just a tsundere at first but manages to be much more than that. Headstrong, brave, strong, a bit bashful at times, but with her own insecurities and worries, there are a lot of reasons to root for her. As you might expect from a series that takes place in the '60s, the world is rife with discrimination (both from humans and vampires alike), and you can't help but pump your fist cheering for her to succeed.

The characters as a whole are standouts. Lev Leps is Irina's mentor, and the chemistry between him and Irina is great, as is their slowly growing romantic bond. Lev's sense of righteousness clashes with Irina's blunt, determined nature, yet the duo are always there to reassure and help one another. Then you have Bart and Kaye, the nerdy computer engineers in the UK and the bond they share, and even the side characters like the scientist Korovin, cosmonauts Roza and Mikhail, division chief Damon, astronaut Nathan, data analyst Anya...talking about them all in detail would take several paragraphs, but make no mistake, the sympathetic and realistic characters this story presents, paired with the historical setting, are what make the series shine.

The setting itself as well as the circumstances are surprisingly accurate to what actually happened in the 50s-60s space race between the US and the Soviet Union, even with regards to domestic affairs such as civil rights marches in the US. Of course, the author takes liberties too and changes things up for the sake of additional stakes and drama (see: vampires existing and going to space), but if a historical cold war space setting sounds appealing, this'll be right up your ally.

That said, there's a lot of technical jargon covering large sections of the books. If you don't like reading about the science behind early computers and spacecraft, your eyes may go cloudy at these sections of the books. I think the series would have been better served to cut some of that down in favor of more character interactions and drama, which were the highlight of the series. I would have also liked an epilogue of some kind in the final novel to tie up some minor loose ends...but the ending does manage to instill a warm feeling in your chest nonetheless.

Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut is overall an excellent historical fiction title that is well worth your time. Some issues with pacing and heavy science exposition can be mundane at times, but it's overshadowed by the strong interpersonal relationships between characters, a setting and circumstances that are easy to sympathize with, and a satisfying, slow-burn romance. It doesn't overstay it's welcome either, telling a complete story in just 7 volumes. Above all, it's got a ton of heart.

Thanks Irina. Enjoy the stars.

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Sep 29, 2022

Tjerbor

Mixed Feelings

Preliminary (5/58 eps)

Review based on volume 1 (will update in the future):

This is fluff.
Even pretty good fluff, with a tinge of underdeveloped themes.

This story is not meant to depicture the varying facets of human empathy or the lack of it, nor is it about how a human is shaped by their domestic environment and it also isn't about the life of the people dealing with the post-war situation.
This story is simply about cute Irina and "the ol' reliable" Lev who found themselves in a tragic situation, destined to share the same road to make their dreams come true.

Romanticizing the stars, cosmos, and especially the moon is common ...

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using vampires and their abilities for space travel? seems like blindsight. Neostorm-X - Jun 10, 2023	1 replies	by Deane »» Jan 25, 2024 9:38 AM
For the ones who read the LN, how does it end ? (Spoilers obviously) Elma_fer - May 21, 2023	0 replies	by Elma_fer »» May 21, 2023 12:14 AM
Poll: Tsuki to Laika to Nosferatu Chapter 1 Discussion Fortress_Maximus - Aug 27, 2022	1 replies	by NedKellyWaifu »» Sep 22, 2022 2:31 AM
how do i buy the LN in digital format on amazon ? YeetDabMcFapDab - Jun 25, 2022	3 replies	by Tjerbor »» Sep 12, 2022 3:03 AM
The LN has been nominated for the 2022 Seiun Award Koshi_Inaba - May 27, 2022	4 replies	by Dignity »» Jun 7, 2022 7:56 AM

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