Tearmoon Empire Manga — How Many Volumes Are There?
Here’s the quick answer:
- Japanese volumes: 11 (ongoing)
- English volumes: 7 (ongoing)
- Series status: Still running — not finished
The manga launched in February 2020 in Japan under the Corona Comics label, a line published by TO Books (an “imprint” is just a brand name a publisher uses for a specific category of books). The latest Japanese volume — Vol. 11 — came out on April 23, 2026. On the English side, the manga is published by J-Novel Club (under their J-Novel Heart line). Vol. 7 released on January 13, 2026, so English readers are currently four volumes behind.
The series is based on the light novel by Mochitsuki Nozomu (餅月望), with manga art by Morino Mizu (杜乃ミズ) and original character designs by Gilse. Gilse is the artist who created the original look of the characters for the light novel — and that same aesthetic carries through into the manga panels. If you’ve seen the light novel covers and thought the character designs looked gorgeous, you’ll recognize that style throughout.
An anime adaptation aired in 2023, so if you found the series through that and are now looking into the manga, you’re in the right place.
Because the manga is still ongoing in both languages, you can expect more volumes ahead. That’s good news if you’re just getting into the series — there’s plenty of story already available, with more on the way.
How the Series Is Structured — Mia’s Second Chance
If you’re brand new to Tearmoon Empire, here’s what you need to know about the premise before diving into the volume guide.
Princess Mia Luna Tearmoon is the selfish, pampered princess of the Tearmoon Empire. Through a combination of her own terrible decisions and political upheaval, she ends up executed by guillotine during a revolution. But instead of dying for good, she wakes up years earlier as her younger self — memories of her grim future completely intact.
This is a reincarnation-style story — “isekai” is the Japanese term for stories where a character is transported or reborn into a new situation, and it’s become a popular genre label in manga. Tearmoon Empire is unusual in that Mia isn’t reborn into a different world or a different body. She’s sent back into her own past, which makes it more of a “second chance” setup. The twist that makes the whole series work: Mia isn’t trying to become a better person out of the goodness of her heart. She’s desperately trying to avoid getting executed again. Every “kind” or “wise” decision she makes comes from pure self-preservation — but everyone around her interprets her panicked scheming as brilliant leadership.
That gap between Mia’s internal monologue (terrified, petty, scheming) and how others perceive her (gracious, wise, compassionate) is the core comedy engine of the entire manga. It’s genuinely funny, and it never really gets old because the author keeps finding new ways to escalate the misunderstanding.
How the Story Progresses
The manga follows a series of story arcs — stretches of chapters that focus on a particular conflict or goal before moving to the next one. Here’s the general shape:
- Early volumes focus on Mia’s school life at Saint-Noel Academy and her first attempts at political maneuvering — think court gossip, rivalries between noble families, and backroom deals. She’s still figuring out how much she can change and building her first (accidental) alliances.
- Middle volumes expand the scope significantly. Diplomacy between kingdoms becomes a central focus, and Mia’s reputation grows — ironically, because of her selfish decisions being misread as statesmanship.
- Later volumes raise the stakes with larger conspiracies and threats that go beyond what Mia faced in her original timeline. The comedy stays, but the scheming and political maneuvering get genuinely compelling.
Volume-by-Volume Release Guide
Here’s a breakdown of every manga volume with release dates and what to expect from each one. Note: to avoid spoilers, these are broad strokes rather than detailed plot summaries.
Vol. 1 (JP: February 2020)
This is where it all begins. Mia’s execution is depicted early on — it’s dramatic and sets the emotional stakes immediately. Then the clock rewinds, and Mia wakes up as a child with full knowledge of her terrible future. The first volume establishes the core premise, introduces the central cast, and shows Mia taking her first fumbling steps to rewrite her fate. If you read one volume to decide whether this series is for you, this is it. The comedic tone clicks into place fast.
Vol. 2 (JP: September 2020)
Mia enters Saint-Noel Academy, a prestigious school where young nobles from across the empire study, and the story shifts from pure survival mode into a social setting where she has to navigate relationships and school politics. This is where the supporting cast starts to fill out — Mia begins building unexpected alliances with people she wronged or ignored in her first life. The “misunderstood genius” comedy really starts cooking in this volume.
Vol. 3 (JP: June 2021)
The scheming and power plays deepen. Mia’s growing reputation catches the attention of people she’d rather avoid, and the story starts layering in more complex plotting. If you enjoyed the comedy of the first two volumes but wanted more substance, Vol. 3 delivers. The balance between humor and genuine plot development is strong here.
Vol. 4 (JP: March 2022)
Rival factions start making moves, and Mia is forced into higher-stakes situations where her usual “panic and accidentally look brilliant” approach gets tested. The threats feel more real, and the political landscape becomes more detailed. This is a solid volume that keeps momentum going through the middle stretch of the story.
Vol. 5 (JP: October 2022)
Tensions between kingdoms take center stage. Mia’s influence — built entirely on a foundation of misunderstandings — now extends beyond her own empire. The scope of the story expands noticeably, and there are genuine dramatic moments mixed in with the comedy.
Vol. 6 (JP: May 2023)
Diplomatic crises and comedic misunderstandings collide. By this point in the series, the manga has built up enough complexity that the humor hits harder because the stakes are real. Mia is in deeper than she ever wanted to be, and watching her try to wriggle out of increasingly impossible situations is a delight.
Vol. 7 (EN: January 2026)
This is the latest English-language release. The inter-kingdom conflicts from Vol. 6 continue to develop, and Mia’s web of accidental alliances and misunderstood brilliance gets stretched further. For English readers, this is your current endpoint — Japanese volumes 8 through 11 are not yet available in English translation, so there’s a gap of four volumes between the two editions.
Tearmoon Empire
Volumes 8–11 (Japanese Only)
These volumes continue the story beyond what’s currently available in English. If you can read Japanese, they’re out now — Vol. 11 released in April 2026. For English-only readers, you’ll need to wait for the translations to catch up, or jump to the light novel translations, which are further ahead in the story (more on that below).
Where the Light Novel Stands Compared to the Manga
Tearmoon Empire started as a light novel — a Japanese format that’s essentially a short prose novel, usually with a few illustrations scattered throughout. It’s a distinct product from the manga. The manga is an adaptation of that light novel, which means the light novel is further ahead in the story.
Here’s what that means in practical terms:
- If you catch up on all 7 English manga volumes and want to keep going, the light novel translations cover significantly more of the story — with more volumes available in English than the manga currently has.
- The manga and light novel tell the same story, but the experience is different. The manga is more visual (obviously), with Morino Mizu’s artwork bringing the comedy and character expressions to life. The light novel gives you more internal monologue from Mia, which is a huge part of the comedy — her panicked inner thoughts are even more detailed on the page.
- These are separate product lines. This sounds obvious, but it trips people up when shopping online. Make sure you’re buying the manga if you want the manga, and the light novel if you want the light novel. The covers can look similar, and it’s easy to accidentally grab the wrong format.
For a first-time reader, either format works as an entry point. The manga is great if you prefer visual storytelling. The light novel is great if you’re a fast reader who wants to get further into the story. There’s no wrong choice here — they complement each other well.
Which Edition Should You Buy?
Digital vs. Physical
The English manga volumes are available in both print and digital formats. Here are some things worth considering:
- Digital is convenient for an ongoing series. You don’t have to worry about a volume being out of stock, and you can buy and start reading immediately. If you’re the type who catches up on a series in a weekend, digital might be the way to go.
- Physical is great if you’re a collector or prefer reading manga on paper (and honestly, a lot of people do — there’s something about holding a manga volume that a screen doesn’t replicate). One thing to keep in mind: early printings of popular manga can sell out and become harder to find at standard retail prices. If you want a complete physical set, it’s worth checking availability of Vol. 1 sooner rather than later.
Manga vs. Light Novel
This depends on what you want out of the experience:
| Manga | Light Novel | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Visual (art + dialogue) | Prose with occasional illustrations |
| Story progress (EN) | 7 volumes | More volumes available — further ahead |
| Best for | Visual readers, comedy fans | Fast readers who want more story |
| Art | Full manga art by Morino Mizu | Occasional illustrations |
If you love the art style and want to see Mia’s ridiculous facial expressions drawn out in full comedic glory, go with the manga. If you want to read ahead and don’t mind a text-heavy format, the light novel has more content available.
A Practical Starting Point
If you’ve never read Tearmoon Empire in any format, grab manga Vol. 1 and see if the tone clicks for you. The comedy-meets-political-scheming balance is distinctive, and you’ll know within a single volume whether this series is your thing. From there, you can decide whether to continue with the manga or switch to the light novel to get ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Tearmoon Empire manga volumes are there?
There are 11 volumes in Japanese and 7 volumes in English. The series is ongoing in both languages.
Is the Tearmoon Empire manga finished?
No. The manga is still ongoing. New volumes continue to release in Japan, and the English translation is actively catching up.
Should I read the manga or the light novel?
Either works as an entry point. The manga is the way to go if you prefer visual storytelling — Morino Mizu’s artwork does a fantastic job with Mia’s comedic expressions and reactions, which are a huge part of what makes the series fun. The light novel is better if you want to experience more of the story now, since the light novel translations are further ahead than the manga. Many fans end up reading both.
How often do new volumes come out?
Based on the Japanese release history, new manga volumes have come out roughly every six to eight months. That’s not a locked-in schedule — gaps have varied — but it gives you a general idea of the pace. English translations (sometimes called “localized” editions, meaning they’ve been translated and adapted for English-speaking readers) follow later, so there’s an additional wait.
Is this a villainess manga?
Sort of! In manga and light novels, “villainess” stories are a popular subgenre where a high-status woman — usually a noble or princess — faces a terrible fate (exile, execution, social ruin) and gets a second chance to change it, often by navigating court politics and social dynamics. Mia fits that mold well, even though she’s technically a princess rather than a classic antagonist. If you enjoy series in that vein — like My Next Life as a Villainess (a comedy where a noblewoman tries to avoid her bad ending) or The Execution of the Villainess — Tearmoon Empire has a similar appeal, though it leans harder into comedy than most.
Do I need to read the light novel before the manga?
Nope. The manga stands on its own just fine. It adapts the same story, so starting with the manga is perfectly valid. You won’t be confused or feel like you’re missing context.
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Tearmoon Empire is one of those series that hooks you with a strong premise and keeps you reading because the execution is consistently fun. What sets it apart from other second-chance and reincarnation manga is Mia herself — she’s not secretly noble or quietly heroic. She’s a coward whose desperate attempts at self-preservation keep being mistaken for wisdom and generosity, and that comedic engine drives every single volume. With 7 English volumes already out and more on the way, now’s a great time to jump in.