Chibi Vampire: The Novel 1 (Review)

My friend lent me this. The same friend that lent me Gunslinger Girl and after reading this I have to admit that man has good taste. Chibi Vampire is the Americanized name of Karin, a manga/anime series and the novels take place between certain issues of the manga. Thankfully the novel explains things for those (like myself) who haven't read the manga. The series is about Karin Maaka, a teenage vampire, but whereas most vampires drink blood from their victims, she injects it into her victims. Her body produces too much blood, especially when she is under stress. Things that stress her out are negative emotions and feelings. One of her classmates, Kenta Usui, is a boy who fits that description perfectly and a new rich boy named Youichiro who also fits that description well and is also searching for Karin.

The story in the first novel progresses with some pretty funny and surprising dark situations. While there are some semi-serious notes here, the comedy is really the focus and its what makes the book much fun and engrossing. I was instantly able to sympathise with the adorable Karin, as I think we've all had overreactions that make certain situations more embarrassing than it should have been. Another standout aspect of the novel are the characters and their interactions...and the comedy that ensues from said interactions. It's surprisingly easy to laugh and cringe at Karin's antics, simply because they're so familiar to anyone who was ever embarrassed as a teenager. Overall, this is a great story about a girl who doesn't quite know who she is yet. It has a very appealing atmosphere, and I can't wait to borrow the other novels.