After a missed connection years ago, office worker Mizuho developed an irresistible craving for deep, sultry voices. With such a unique fetish, she's been on the hunt for that perfect tone to satisfy her desires. When she meets Hibino, a handsome salesman with a voice that's smooth as velvet, at a company drinking party, Mizuho can't help but melt. Captivated by his seductive timbre, she invites him back to her place, where just a single suggestive whisper sends her senses into overdrive. Is Hibino the passionate partner she's been waiting for, or will her hopes for a true connection fall on deaf ears?

His Sensual Whisper: The Voice That Sets Me On Fire has story and art by Pyoko Asahina. Translation by Jennifer Ward and lettering by Cedric Macias. Published by Seven Seas (September 9, 2025). Rated M.

Rebecca Silverman
Rating:

I've said from the beginning that the Steamship line of smutty manga for ladies has done a remarkable job of presenting a diverse lineup. His Sensual Whisper continues that trend with its voice fetish theme – voices are heroine Mizuho's kink, and not only does the book lean into that, but Mizuho herself is perfectly comfortable admitting it. There's no beating around the bush here; she's been lusting after Masaji since she first heard his voice years ago, and having the chance to not only meet the man in person but to sleep with him isn't something she's going to pass up.

And, well, neither is the manga, because fully three-quarters of this volume is made up of sex scenes. I may be overstating it a bit, but not by much; this is a pretty racy title. It's not nearly as graphic as, for example, Shindou-kun's Tight Squeeze, which goes all in on anatomically correct vulva, but this is still one of those books you read for the content rather than the plot. Which, as it turns out, is probably good, because there really isn't much plot to speak of. I know that romance as a genre has a reputation for being plotless, but that's bias rather than truth in most cases. This one? Yeah, it's all about the sex.

That's actually relatively important to the story, though, because of Mizuho's voice fetish. Just hearing Masaji's voice turns her on to the nth degree, and since readers can't hear his voice, creator Pyoko Asahina has to get the point across somehow. I'm pretty sure that most of Mizuho's dialogue is some variation of “I'm cumming,” but again, that's the point of the story. Masaji's a little more with it during their encounters, and his bemusement at how much she loves his voice is one of the better pieces of the book. He's really not sure what's so special about him, but he loves that he is in Mizuho's eyes. It does feel like he's more emotionally invested in their relationship than she is, but this is only volume one, and that, too, is a fairly standard romance trope (“he falls first”). And they're both happy, so it's fine.

If you're looking for a plot or a well-thought-out romance narrative, you're not going to find them here. But if you're in the mood for a racy romance that's pretty well drawn and really leans into the voice kink angle, give this a try. After all, that's what I like about this imprint: there really is a little something for everyone.

Jean-Karlo Lemus
Rating:

Shout-out to a manga that gives the “voice” lovers some rep! Mizuho and Hibino's hot and heavy tale of hook-ups and husky whispers is hot from the word “go.” It's easy to be jealous of Mizuho and her hunky new boyfriend—and all of the romps they enjoy. The problem is that's just about the entirety of the book: Mizuho and Hibino go somewhere or do something, and then they end up in the sack. There's no real conflict here--at least, not one that isn't resolved after some heavy-petting. It's cute that we get to see a story of two adults hitting it off and hitting home runs over and over. And courtesy of Pyoka Asahina's art, it never looks dull. But there's not much else to sink your teeth into. Hibino is hot, his voice turns Mizuho on, and the two of them bone like rabbits.

I feel like even deciding to revolve around the concept of “I love this man's voice” leaves room for plenty of audio adventures. I am, for one, astonished that there's no phone sex in the whole book. His Sensual Whisper is sweet and sugary as it is sexy, but it also feels like a lot of empty carbs. Mildly recommended, with some reservations. Bump the score up a notch or two if you just really need a quick-and-dirty read.