Manga Review: Bloody Mary, Volume 8, by Akaza Samamiya

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 5, 2017

Volumes: 10.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A blood-pounding tale of an unorthodox alliance between a vampire and an exorcist!
"Bloody" Mary, a vampire with a death wish, has spent the past 400 years chasing down a modern-day exorcist named Maria who is thought to have inherited "The Blood of Maria" and is the only one who can kill Mary. To Mary's dismay, Maria doesn't know how to kill vampires. Desperate to die, Mary agrees to become Maria's bodyguard until Maria can find a way to kill him.
Unable to bear the shocking truth that Maria reveals to him, Mary loses consciousness and locks himself inside while "Mary" comes to the surface to take his place. "Mary" heads out alone while Maria, along with Shinobu and Hydra, confront a trio of vampires. Bathed in blood, "Mary" gradually succumbs to madness...

Review:

We're slowly getting clues as to who exactly “Mary” is. We know that they were twins, but I still feel like there's something more here. I feel like there's some twist as to which one is the real Mary, and I'm wondering where that's going.

Of course, once Maria tries to shake some truth into Mary, he releases “Mary” for real.

During the Mary reveals, we also get to learn what happened with Hydra. And by this, I mean what happened with Hydra and Bloody Eye, the chick we haven't officially met in real time yet. It's an interesting revelation, and I'm intrigued by where that is going, by what happened after that flashback.

I'm also surprised by the new mix of yuri undertones with these yaoi ones. Though I'm seriously feeling the MariaxMary relationship. Especially in the extras after the story. They're so mean sometimes with how cute they are.

This series is messy and complicated and dark, and I rather love it. I can't wait for the next one.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Bloody Mary, Volume 7, by Akaza Amamiya

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 6, 2017

Volumes: 10.

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

 A blood-pounding tale of an unorthodox alliance between a vampire and an exorcist!

“Bloody” Mary, a vampire with a death wish, has spent the past 400 years chasing down a modern-day exorcist named Maria who is thought to have inherited “The Blood of Maria” and is the only one who can kill Mary. To Mary’s dismay, Maria doesn’t know how to kill vampires. Desperate to die, Mary agrees to become Maria’s bodyguard until Maria can find a way to kill him.

At the Sakuraba Estate, Maria and Shin discover the estate has been attacked by vampires. Meanwhile, hoping to rouse the immortal Yzak from his coma, Mary imbibes his blood, but the exorcist does not awaken. Weak and unstable, Mary stumbles back to find Maria but suffers from a bout of amnesia that leaves Maria shaken.

Review:

Things go down at the Sakuraba household; Takumi and Hasegawa are hurt, and Yzak is taken. Mary runs into the kidnappers, and we see that they have a history. Mary even snaps at one point, and becomes a Mary from before Maria. While we get to meet a few new vampires—Di, Dila, and Ves—there's also hints of this other bad vampire, who they're just calling Bloody Eye. It should be interesting to meet her, and find out why they're all so put off by her.

Meanwhile, I love the way that Mary runs after Maria and attacks him. It's adorable. Seriously, it will probably be actually disappointing when nothing comes of all this sexual chemistry.

So much happens in each volume, and it's so dark and twisty that I don't want to give any of it away, and I don't know what to say. I'm really loving each volume of this series, and am looking forward to the next one.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Bloody Mary, Volume 6, by Akaza Samamiya

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 7, 2017

Volumes: 10.

Spoilers?: No/Light.

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

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A blood-pounding tale of an unorthodox alliance between a vampire and an exorcist!

“Bloody” Mary, a vampire with a death wish, has spent the past 400 years chasing down a modern-day exorcist named Maria who is thought to have inherited “The Blood of Maria” and is the only one who can kill Mary. To Mary’s dismay, Maria doesn’t know how to kill vampires. Desperate to die, Mary agrees to become Maria’s bodyguard until Maria can find a way to kill him.

“Mary” finally appears before Maria, who can't bring himself to ask about what happened on the night his father died. While Maria is unable to face the truth, “Mary” offers him a deal: if Maria can get Mary to recall the forgotten memories of Mary’s past, “Mary” will reveal what happened the night his father died. Meanwhile, Hydra, who has also come to England, has a reunion with the skeleton of “Mary” in an old castle…

Review:

This series is definitely getting darker, the further we go. We're learning more about who “Mary” is, and even Mary gets some of his memories back regarding that. This also means that Mary and Maria being around each other is growing more dangerous, when we find out that vampires like him are destined to kill Maria. We also get glimpses of what Lady Hydra is doing, and her words are rather unsettling. And finally, the cliffhanger.

I am quite enjoying this series so far, and it's getting more and more interesting. I must also comment on the intensifying sexual moments between Mary and Maria. There are a few here that... they're getting more intimate, and it's weird, but I'm definitely not against it. Especially that extra chapter at the end? Oh man.

I'm excited for the next one.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Bloody Mary, Volume 2, by Akaza Samamiya

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 1, 2016

Volumes: 7+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

“Bloody” Mary, a vampire with a death wish, has spent the past 400 years chasing down a modern-day exorcist named Maria who is thought to have inherited “The Blood of Maria” and is the only one who can kill Mary. To Mary’s dismay, Maria doesn’t know how to kill vampires. Desperate to die, Mary agrees to become Maria’s bodyguard until Maria can find a way to kill him.

Maria never knew he possessed the Power of Exorcism, which can kill vampires, but with Mary’s help, his research unearths the “Red Memories” that he has suppressed for so long. At the same time, the door to Mary’s own missing memories is thrust forcefully open. Where do Maria’s Red Memories and Mary’s past intersect…and what truths await them?

Review:

This series isn’t really sticking out in my memory, but I am enjoying it.

This volume, we found out more about who Mary might be and what is being kept secret from Maria. There’s still a lot of questions regarding Mary’s past, since he doesn’t even remember it, and some people in Maria’s family blame Mary for a death that Mary doesn’t have any memory of committing. And while Mary is dealing with the accusation of that, Maria is trying to figure out what his family is hiding, what his ancestors did, and figuring out who he can trust.

I like the artwork in this series, and I think that Mary is quite adorable. I like his growing relationship with Maria, too, how they have formed a pact of sorts. I also find the side characters interesting, like the vampires that Maria has formed odd relationships with, and Takumi.

I am enjoying this series, and will continue reading, I just hope that it gets better soon.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!