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REVIEW: Vampire Knight GN 5




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Mistypearl



Joined: 03 Oct 2008
Posts: 517
PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:45 am Reply with quote
I swear it's the eyes. They suck you in and then the book ends, and you wonder what just happened o__o
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Fronzel



Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1906
PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:40 am Reply with quote
The second through fifth paragraphs are nothing but summary. They're not very useful.
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vashfanatic



Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 3489
Location: Back stateside
PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:27 am Reply with quote
Fronzel wrote:
The second through fifth paragraphs are nothing but summary. They're not very useful.


Um, no they're not. Reread them.

Anyway... Vampire Knight is a series that has improved a lot over time. If my library hadn't had the first four volumes, letting me read them all at once, I would've given up after the first volume because it was so... bland. But seriously, while this series never turns into a masterpiece (glances at Monster on her shelf) it does get rather kinky. And let's face it, most fangirls (myself included) are probably reading this as soft-core vampire porn anyway. Embarassed And at least here (unlike Twilight) the vampires are actually sucking blood and killing things, the way vampires are supposed to.
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rinmackie



Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Posts: 1040
Location: in a van! down by the river!
PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:22 am Reply with quote
I agree, vashfanatic. Vampires should bite people and drink their blood. Even the "good" ones. Otherwise, why bother? That's why I have no interest in Twilight. A lot of these chick lit vampire stories have vampires who are too tame, in my opinion. Basically, they're just dudes with fangs.
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KrisEllieOphi



Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 111
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:05 pm Reply with quote
It is really great that they're actually truly dangerous. The only thing protecting Yuki is everyone else's fear and respect for Kaname. Otherwise there's at least 2 vampires for sure who would love to rip her to pieces (Ruka and Aido).

I think Hino really struggles to balance her comedy (which she is clearly more comfortable with) and a more serious story...but I also think she's improving.

I definitely agree that her art style fits perfectly with the subject matter. And I know it's all black and white, but where there is color (on the covers, and in the anime), it's rich and beautiful.

It's not exactly exceptional, but for what it is...it's far better than most things in the genre. Where the comedy is totally absurd (like every girl in the day class fawning obsessively all over the vampires every single night), the darker side is extremely (and appropriately) dark and serious.

Hino is definitely maturing from her earlier works.
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Kelly



Joined: 17 Nov 2003
Posts: 868
Location: New York City
PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:18 pm Reply with quote
KrisEllieOphi wrote:
The only thing protecting Yuki is everyone else's fear and respect for Kaname. Otherwise there's at least 2 vampires for sure who would love to rip her to pieces (Ruka and Aido).


Not so sure about Aido, especially after this volume. spoiler[I think at this point he's wavering between repulsion at Kaname's fascination with Yuki and some level of respect for her. He seemed to respond somewhat to Yuki's attempt to reach out to him when she realized he was very off, and he actually acted with class when he found out Yuki and Zero's secret. If he's truly turning around, he could be the best thing that's happened to Yuki and Zero in a while. They could have in him a dormmate who knows exactly what Zero is going through and could potentially be a huge help to them, as long as he's sticking to his blood tablet regime himself. Having him end up with them might turn out being for more than just comic relief. I'm very interested in seeing where that subplot goes in the next volumes. ]
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Hikari06



Joined: 10 Aug 2008
Posts: 55
PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:38 pm Reply with quote
Great review! ^^ Even though this series does have its problems, it's still very entertaining, and the art is gorgeous. And imo, the anime adaptation improves on the story told by the manga.
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JacobC
ANN Contributor


Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 3728
Location: SoCal
PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:02 am Reply with quote
^ I am now obligated to read this series because of the anime. -.-'

I can tell you, though, that at the point I've gotten currently, the anime improves specific scenes, but is a step down, overall story-wise. (Especially if you see how they "ended" it! Grrr!)

I agree that the portrayal of the vampires strikes that perfect balance between sexy Anne Rice-style vampirism (*squee*) and portraying them as scary thirst-driven monsters at the same time. (When I say thirst, boy do I mean every kind. Twisted Evil) That's the best thing about the series, and the thing it does best, story-wise.

I disagree about the gorgeous art. It's distinctive, and it's certainly not bad, but the panel layout and illustrations (in terms of facial expressions, mostly) are amateurish, and haven't made great strides for a few volumes. (Of course, they all still look WAY too womany to me. The anime spoiled me rotten with substantially masculine-looking men.)
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enurtsol



Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 14746
PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:36 am Reply with quote
I mentioned the same things about bishounen - they're just women in men's clothing. Real men should be manly and, uh, killing things. Laughing

But there'll always be gals who like bishounen, just like there'll be gals who like bling-bling vampires.
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erilot



Joined: 26 Mar 2006
Posts: 25
Location: INDIANA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:12 pm Reply with quote
I have been reading Vampire Knight and have purchased all the volumnes in English while reading the online scanlations which are further ahead. My problem is just how drawn out the plot is and how as you progress further, there seem to be plot holes. I read a chapter, then another is released and it does not seem to flow well with the previous. Hopefully as the make up the actual books from the magazine chapters, it might make more sense or the flow will be fixed.

I love vampire stuff and really wish the story was better in this because I love the drawing and characters, but maybe people are not as picky as me wanting a good plot in addition to the drawing. I am still searching for a current manga series that will satisfy my hunger for a decent plot that flows and good drawing.

I just wish they would release some figures from the series, with such good looking guys, I would buy them and add them to my collection!
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