Crossed Hearts, a new English-language global publisher based in California (with operations in Los Angeles and Bengaluru, India), has officially announced its entry into the market with the acquisition of three Korean manhwa licenses and the highly anticipated novels for Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion. The announcement, made around early October 2025 following a social media debut in August, signifies a significant expansion in the availability of popular Asian digital content in print for English-speaking audiences worldwide.
The publisher aims to localize and distribute Japanese manga, Korean webcomics, and Asian light novels across a broad international network.
A Robust Initial Lineup of Manhwa Titles
Crossed Hearts’ inaugural print catalog will feature three prominent Korean manhwa titles, all launching in premium full-color editions. These titles are:
Baroness Goes on Strike
This manhwa is set to be one of the first releases from Crossed Hearts. The print edition for the UK is slated for October 26, with the US and Canadian release following on November 25.
From a Knight to a Lady
Another highly anticipated title, From a Knight to a Lady, will see its UK print debut in December 2025, with other regions expected around the same time. This series is noted for its substantial online readership, boasting over 130 million reads worldwide.
The Archduke’s Adopted Saint
Rounding out the initial manhwa offerings, The Archduke’s Adopted Saint is scheduled for a Spring 2026 release in the UK, with a March 2026 target for US and Canadian readers. The webcomic originally launched digitally in November 2023.
Licensing the Popular Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Novels
In addition to its manhwa slate, Crossed Hearts has also secured the English-language print license for the popular Korean web novels of Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion. This series, originally written by Milcha, gained significant traction as a webtoon and an anime adaptation, making its novel release a highly anticipated event for fans.
Crossed Hearts’ Vision and Distribution
Founded by Niharika Puthamakula, also known by her pen name Aurora Aurealis, Crossed Hearts is committed to delivering “emotionally rich, visually captivating narratives.” The publisher differentiates itself by focusing on printing ongoing series, signing contracts that cover the duration of the webcomic series rather than waiting for their completion.
The new publisher has ambitious plans, aiming to release over 30 series in 2026 and 30 titles spanning 20 different series by 2027. Each print volume for webcomics will be full-color, exceeding 300 pages, and will include exclusive interactive features such as “pop-up spreads, extendable pages, and never-seen-before bonus content” to provide a unique collector’s experience.
Crossed Hearts boasts a wide distribution network covering the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and India, with future plans to expand into Southeast Asia, South Africa, and the Middle East.
Future Expansion: New Imprints
Looking ahead, Crossed Hearts intends to launch four new imprints in mid-2026. Two of these will be format-based, dedicated to light novels and anthologies of completed series, respectively. The other two imprints will focus on the popular queer romance genres of Boys’ Love (BL) and Girls’ Love (GL) stories, further diversifying their catalog. This strategic expansion demonstrates Crossed Hearts’ commitment to becoming a major player in the English-language market for Asian comics and novels.
