Manga Review: Demon From Afar, Volume 5, by Kaori Yuki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: December 2015
Volumes: 6.
Spoilers?: Some.
Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.
Volume: 1. 3. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

With Nonoha spirited away by demons, Sorath infiltrates their territory only to find himself bearing witness to a horrific public execution dubbed the "Divine Judgment." Surrounded by countless sacrifices, reeling from Leice's betrayal, and faced with his beloved Nonoha having been taken hostage, Sorath's memory is rekindled, and the night when he lost his dearest friend comes rushing back to him. Will Sorath clash once more with the fearsome being who preys on human lives, the Lord of Terror?!

Review:

This series is just so messy. It’s dark and cruel and makes me want more but is also a little hard to follow and remember. It’s messy, but hard to stop.

Now that Garan is back, things are not looking good for Sorath. He’s framed for kidnapping, and on the run to right things without getting caught. There are some messy deaths and Sorath has a hard time finding out the truth and saving the people he wants to.

He just wants Nonoha back, and honestly I think he deserves to live in peace with her.

There’s a sad scene involving Kiyora at the end, and since the next volume is the last, I’m sure there will be some bad things happening with Sorath and Garan. There’ll be deaths and twists. It’ll be bad. I’m not sure whether to expect a terrible or a good ending, though. 

I do hope to get my hands on the next one soon.

Manga Review: Demon From Afar, Volume 3, by Kaori Yuki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: June 2015

Volumes: 6

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

With Nonoha spirited away by demons, Sorath infiltrates their territory only to find himself bearing witness to a horrific public execution dubbed the "Divine Judgment." Surrounded by countless sacrifices, reeling from Leice's betrayal, and faced with his beloved Nonoha having been taken hostage, Sorath's memory is rekindled, and the night when he lost his dearest friend comes rushing back to him. Will Sorath clash once more with the fearsome being who preys on human lives, the Lord of Terror?!

Review:

Demons are infecting modern day Japan, and the biggest one is after Sorath. And all he wants is to take care of his adopted daughter Nonoha.

He does what he can to take care of the Lord of Terror, being summoned by the sacrifices this stupid kid has made, being led by a devil in disguise. And then Leice tries turning on him. It’s dark, of course, and there’s death, as is understandable. But it turns out surprisingly well, so far at least. After that, we get a chapter to review what happened to Sorath and Nonoha when they first arrived in modern day Japan.

I’m most interested in Nonoha. She’s a sweet little girl, with a pure heart. She’s shown some magic in her as well, and I’m interested to see what all she can do. I like that Sorath is trying to take care of her well, keep her as normal as he can. That’s sweet. And even if Leice definitely has bad intentions, I like her relationship with them when it’s going good.

The humor between them all, when they’re having a normal day, is good. It’s humor in moments of peace, in moments that it works, as Kaori Yuki does it.

This series is confusing and messy and violent, as Kaori Yuki stories always are. And I’m really enjoying it. I’m actually preferring this one to Alice in Murderland so far, surprisingly enough.

Manga Review: Demon From Afar, Volume 2, by Kaori Yuki

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: March 2015

Volumes: 6.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the ultimate nightmare that is Walpurgis, Sorath escapes to modern Japan. There, he lives in an unconventional household that includes Nonoha, the daughter of his dearest friend, and Mephistopheles, the Lord of Hell, who bides his time for a chance to kill his master.
This time, these hands will protect my loved ones!
That's Sorath's wish, but somehow Nonoha is slipping through his fingers. Will Sorath's hands once again be stained by the blood of the person he most cherishes?

Review:

This series is good and gorgeous. And violent.

The first arch ends in this volume, and then the new main characters are time skipped to the present day. I think this is the first time I’ve read a Kaori Yuki book that was set in the present, digital age. The digital, internet part is definitely being taken advantage of, but it’s just neat seeing all the current-day clothing and electronics and settings in her art style. Very pretty, to be sure.

Now, Sorath, Leice, and Nonoha are living as a family. And then deaths start happening in town, and a demon is running loose. And Sorath and Leice is getting pulled in.

This series is so good. It’s messy, and death-ridden, and bad, as it should be. I’m liking the banter and relationship between the three characters, but there’s also some underlying problems between Sorath and Leice. Nonoha is a sweet girl, who’s going to be pulled into all the dark happenings. 

I’m loving it. These hardbacks are a bit spendy, but gorgeous.

Manga Review: Demon From Afar, Volume 1, by Kaori Yuki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: December 16, 2014

Volumes: 6

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An imperial capital in an era of splendor and romanticism...Orphaned in an earthquake, Sorath is taken in by Baron Kamichika, the lord of "Blood Blossom Manor." There, he pledges eternal friendship with Garan, the Baron's heir, and Kiyora, Garan's fiancée. But their friendship turns grisly by events none of them could foresee. The tender feelings each secretly harbors, the machinations of Baron Kamichika, and his strange and seductive female companion, and a fateful encounter with a young girl with bizarre powers...all draw them to the Walpurgis Night and the nightmare's climax!

Review:

I know that this isn’t a selling point for Kaori Yuki, but I always find her storylines a little confusing. They are messy and complicated and gothic, and they get confusing to me, almost always. But I still say, unashamed and completely honestly, that I love them, and will always come back to them.

This series is being released in hardback, with a color page, and thick pages, and I love it. It’s a beautiful book, and definitely worth picking up.

This series stars three childhood friends; the rich one (Garan), his betrothed (Kiyora), and the friend he saved (Sorath). We meet them, see how close they are, see some hinted darker things going on. And then things turn real dark, real fast, with demons. Sorath is the main character here, with a possibly surprising heritage, and some serious betrayals happening. There’s also a doll made to life that I’m really intrigued by. 

I don’t even know what else to say about this. It’s surprising and messy and dark; the art style is beautiful and gothic. I really enjoyed it, and am really looking forward to the next one.

Wishlist Thursday[87]: He's My Only Vampire by Aya Shouoto and Demon From Afar by Kaori Yuki

He’s My Only Vampire 1 by Aya Shouoto

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: December 16, 2014

Volumes: 9+

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Goodreads Synopsis:

You are my "thrall"--mine and mine alone...
When Kana, a student at St. Agatha Academy, lays eyes on her long-lost childhood friend Aki amid the throng of the metropolis, the gears of destiny begin to turn!
Meeting with an unfortunate accident not long after, Kana finds herself pulled from the arms of death by a vampire--Aki. Now Kana must give herself over to Aki, body and soul, as his "thrall," and soon she is trust into a dangerous game to obtain demonic powers known as "STIGMA," which could very well spell the end for her all over again!

Why?:

After hearing about this series, it was already on my list, because it sounded really cute. But after reading Kiss of the Rose Princess, which is by the same author, I immediately added this to my list. That was a very cute first volume, and I’m already excited to read this series of hers as well.

&

Demon From Afar 1 by Kaori Yuki

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: December 16, 2014

Volumes: 6

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An imperial capital in an era of splendor and romanticism...Orphaned in an earthquake, Sorath is taken in by Baron Kamichika, the lord of "Blood Blossom Manor." There, he pledges eternal friendship with Garan, the Baron's heir, and Kiyora, Garan's fiancée. But their friendship turns grisly by events none of them could foresee. The tender feelings each secretly harbors, the machinations of Baron Kamichika, and his strange and seductive female companion, and a fateful encounter with a young girl with bizarre powers...all draw them to the Walpurgis Night and the nightmare's climax!

Why?:

I am very excited for this series. What I’ve read of Yuki’s I’ve really enjoyed, and I am definitely a fan of hers. This is a newer series of hers I believe, and it’s being released in hardback. That alone has me super excited, because I know it’s going to be gorgeous.

What are you looking forward to?