Manga Review: Vampire Knight: Memories, Volume 1, by Matsuri Hino

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2017

Volumes: 3+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Immortal tales of the past and present from the world of Vampire Knight.
Vampire Knight returns with collection of stories that delve into Yuki and Zero's time as a couple in the past and explore the relationship between Yuki's children and Kaname in the present.
After a fierce battle between humans and vampires, a temporary peace was established, but Kaname continued to sleep within a coffin of ice...
Yuki gave Kaname her heart to revive him as a human being.
These are the stories of what happened during those 1,000 years of Kaname's slumber, and the start of his human life.

Review:

I guess this takes place during the time that Kaname is asleep, though parts are background and future; it's a bit mixed together.

The volume opens with Sayori, as we get to see her first impression of Yuki, and on through her life as Yuki's friend, as she grows older and they don't. Seeing her relationship with Hanabusa develop is really sweet, as he's a character I've always enjoyed, even if you know it'll be bittersweet.

We see glimpses of the other vampires, as they go on with their lives. We see Yuki and Zero as their relationship gets time to develop; they're always around each other, even if they're conflicted. And we get to see Yuki's kids as they grow older, Ai and Ren, as they wait for Kaname to wake up and tell him what's happened.

While the differences in timeline didn't really bother me, some of the story still felt a little off. I don't know if it's that Ren and Ai seemed under-developed or if I just didn't really care for them. And then Yuki and Zero's relationship... After everything with Kaname, I'm still conflicted on how I feel about them.

I'm going to read more, but I would like Hino to move onto something else, start a new story. I think I'm over this series, maybe.

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 4, by Akaza Samamiya

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2016

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

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.

Another “Mary” who resides within Mary turns out to be the one who killed Maria’s father, Yusei. In search of why his father had to die, Maria tries to get in contact with “Mary” but is unsuccessful. In the meantime, a mysterious man pays a visit to Maria and reveals how Maria’s mother first met Yusei and provides crucial information about Maria’s family lineage.

Review:

We meet Maria's uncle in this volume, and thus sets off a backstory of Maria's mother and father. We get more information on what happened, and who Yzak is and what he's doing.

We see Mary still dealing with his bloodlust, and Maria trying to understand what his family has done and what they're doing now. There are also some serious bromance moments between the two, and I could really feel the yaoi vibe. It was real in that church scene.

I'm surprised that this series is actually getting more interesting the more I read of it. I'm not in love with it, but it's not so jumbled anymore, it's actually making sense and causing me to be intrigued. I'm wondering what's going to happen with Maria's family next. I am definitely curious by Mary, though, and I want to know more about him and his backstory. 

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!

Novel Review: Stake That! (Blood Coven Vampire, #2) by Mari Mancusi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: YA Supernatural Romance

Publisher: Berkley (Penguin)

Release Date: 2006

Spoilers?: No.

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

Teaser Tuesday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

All I want is to be a vampire. But nooo-I have to be Rayne MacDonald, Vampire Slayer....

Sisters. They'll swipe your clothes, your boyfriends, your destiny. But it wasn't exactly my twin Sunny's fault. Magnus, vampire hottie and coven leader, mistook her for me last month and bit her instead. Now they're doing the inter-species dating thing.

But back to me. Turns out that for every generation, there's a Vampire Slayer-and this time around, it just happens to be yours truly. My first mission: infiltrate a seedy vamp bar downtown and expose its vampire owner for purposely spreading a blood disease he created himself. A task almost harder than passing trig.

After going it alone once, I realize I need help. So Magnus sends his hot homey Jareth to go undercover with me. And let me just say I wouldn't mind going under the covers with him. Maybe fate doesn't bite after all...

The Cover:

I don't mind this cover. It's very '90's or early '00's, I think, which I also think is a bit fitting. It works well for the book and the writing style.

Review:

This was a fun book, more than I expected.

I read the first book in this series years ago, so long I barely remember it. I think I put off reading this one because it was a different main character, but I didn’t mind when I started reading.

It’s told in journal format, as Rayne updates her blog about her vampire-wannabe new-slayer life. She’s been made to be a vampire slayer, and she’s very much a teenager as she tells the world how unfair it is when all she wants is to be a vampire.

I would have enjoyed this more in high school, but I still thought it was fun, and it went by very fast. Rayne hunts vampires, learns about her new strength, and falls for a vampire she has to work with.

It was fun, plain and simple. Not very deep, not overly intense or surprising. I liked the ending to it a lot, and enjoyed reading.

Manga Review: Bloody Mary, Volume 1, by Akaza Samamiya

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 1, 2015

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Wishlist Thursday.

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.

Mary is not your typical vampire. He can withstand sunlight, holds a reflection in mirrors, refuses to drink blood--and he wants 17-year-old high school student-slash-priest Maria to kill him. In order to do so, Maria must uncover the Power of Exorcism, which is supposed to have been passed down through his bloodline. But while searching for insight into the Power, Maria suspects someone might be sabotaging his efforts.

Review:

I expected this series to be a bit darker than it is, though there is definitely more coming.

Bloody Mary is a vampire, only all the typical rules of being a vampire don’t count on him, and he doesn’t want to want blood. All Mary wants to do is die, and he believes that Maria can do that. Maria, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with vampires, wants them to leave him alone, only to find out that he’s supposed to have some kind of special powers from an ancestor.

Maria is cold and more of a loner than anything. Mary is sulking and a bit of a wimp (in attitude, not physically), still feeling terrible over a past tragedy. Mary falls for most of the comedy relief, with his exaggerations, and I find him rather cute. There are clearly some BL undertones here, including some blood drinking, but I don’t think anything is going to come of it.

There are darker things being hinted at, violence and secrets, and I’m intrigued. The artwork is very pretty, much like the cover. I’m not sucked in yet, but I am intrigued to read more.

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