Chibi Vampire: The Novel 5

I read this one almost immediately after I read the fourth novel, but for whatever reason I forgot to cover it. It's probably because the fifth novel is somewhat similar to fourth. The only difference being that last one featured a guy falling for Karin and this one has a girl falling for Kenta. Once again, as with all of these novels, drama and comedy ensues and it all culminates in life threatening situation that involves all of the story's major players. It's all incredibly addictive and engrossing and though these novels started blending together towards the end, I really enjoyed them. The sixth novel came out a little over a month ago and my friend bought it, so it shouldn't be long before I get my hands on it.

Chibi Vampire: The Novel 4

So the fourth novel is really just more of the same, so there's not much new to say. I'm not going to go into the plot this time except to say that the romance angle is played up for the first time since the first novel. A big plus to this story is there's more of an expanded role for Karin's family, mainly her sister Anju and her Father Henry. Anju has to be my favorite character, with her sarcastic attitude and that supposedly serial killer possessed doll of hers. As with all of these novels, drama and comedy ensues and it all culminates in life threatening situation that involves all of the story's major players. It's all incredibly addictive and engrossing and I'm glad my friend let me read these.

Chibi Vampire: The Novel 3

So, I finally got around to borrowing the other Chibi Vampire novels to enjoy. This time, Karin and Kenta are working at the Julian Family Restaurant when Kira Matsumiya, a rich junior high girl, and her butler Shougo Tachikake, come in so Kira can make take an emergency bathroom break. While there, Kira shows an odd attraction to Karin. Kira then offers her and Kenta a job, to spend the weekend with Kira on her family's private island as a maid and as Kira's playmate. There are two other girls who have been hired as maids-Mayumi Oosaki, a young woman who Karin bit the night before leaving, who is quite a flirt and takes an interest in Kenta Usui, and Shouko Seki, another girl just a few years older than Karin. At the island things seem fine at first,until sweet Kira starts displaying a dark personality from time to time and soon Mayumi ends up missing. Soon Karin begins to wonder if Tachikake or Kira has Mayumi locked up, or had her murdered. This actually has to be my favorite of the novels I've read so far. The mystery angle is played off very well and although there isn't a moment in the story that matches the intensity of the climax of the first novel, the suspense is still pretty gripping. This is also the funniest storyline yet with all of the characters introduced here having some funny quirk about them, most notably Kira's breast obsession. Other than that everything I like about the series is intact here and I can't wait to dig into more.

Chibi Vampire: The Novel 2 (Review)

Okay, more Chibi Vampire. This time around a series of mysterious fires have broken out in various parts of town. The police suspect arson. Kenta is on his way to the Julian one day when he comes across China Oriska, a novice nun who is being harassed by a lecherous business man which Kenta chases off, and to which China thanks him and starts watching him adoringly. Karin watches the scene across the street and the events bothers her considerably, even though she still refuses to think of Kenta as anything more than a friend. China seems to be attracted to Kenta, even though her status as a novice nun forbids such a thing. From there the characters have a freakishly high number of misunderstandings and eventually wind up entangled in the arsonist's schemes.

This second novel was an engaging read, though I felt it wasn't as strong as the first. It has some comedy reminiscent of the first novel, especially with all of Karin’s ‘embarrassing’ moments and the story also has a dark side. For a comedy, so far these novels have touched on some somewhat serious subject matters and its a shame that the volume two doesn't go as far as the first one did. The first novel's plot entailed the kidnappings of young girls, molestation, sexual assault and murder and it all played out more like a suspenseful detective story at times. The second novel features some kidnappings and attempted murders but it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat in suspense like the first one did.

What amazes me about both of the novels I've read so far is that the trouble Karin finds herself in is dead serious and somehow this manages to mesh fairly well with the lighter and quirky vampire/romance comedy this series depends more heavily on. The mystery and adventure and the new love triangle that brews between Karin, China and Kenta all have their intriguing and enjoyable aspects and manage to keep thing from getting stale. My only major gripe with this book is that much like the first novel, this book takes place between volumes of the manga. Apparently, a pretty big event occurred in manga that changed a bit of the relationship between Karin and Kenta. It's only passingly mentioned here and some of the misunderstandings from Kenta's prospective stem from this and all it managed to do was make me wish they would have covered this event in depth in the novel in well, but I guess I'll just have read the manga. Anyway, the second volume of the Chibi Vampire is enjoyable and it will be intriguing to see what the future novels develop.

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.