Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Academy’s biggest secret – the Night Class is comprised fully of Vampires! Yuki believes vampires and humans can coexist peacefully, but her partner, Zero, has different ideas…
I want to preface this by saying I’m not a big manga reader or anime watcher. I’ve only done both a few times and the majority of it has been concentrated on Fullmetal Alchemist. So when someone recommended Vampire Knight to me I was a little skeptical, especially since the vampire thing has been done a LOT and I’m tired of it. But I decided, why not? My local library carries the series so at least it’ll be free.
Ten volumes and the two seasons of the anime later, I’m OBSESSED, people. I love it like a bag of Sour Patch Kids after only eating chocolate for the past year.
Here’s why:
Yuki doesn’t remember her past. Her life just started at age 5 when a vampire, Kuran Kaname, saved her from being eaten by another vampire who had lost all sense of his humanity (they call this Level E). Kuran brought her to a friend, Headmaster Cross of the Cross Academy, to be raised and cared for. Since then Kaname has held a special place in Yuki’s life and heart. Zero came to live with the Headmaster and Yuki at age 11 when his family was killed by a vampire.
The Night Class was established a little while after that with Kaname heading the pacifist front. He has the clout to do so because he’s a rare pureblood vampire, kind of like a prince among them.
The back and forth between Kaname and Yuki and Zero are angst-ridden, tense, and hold multiple layers, and I love every one of them! Kaname obviously cares for Yuki, although you don’t learn why until volume 8 or so. Zero also cares for Yuki. And Yuki cares for them both. I think Matsuri Hino has created a great love triangle. (And I’m tired of them! But I love this one! That should tell you something.)
Now that I’ve basically given away the entire first volume, I have to tell you the twists (the TWISTS) in this story completely caught me by surprise. There are two big ones that I know of so far. One happens pretty early on and that drives the story for a while until the second one happens and it’s madness! I can’t believe I have to wait for the 11th volume (it comes out stateside in December). And after that I’ll have to wait for volume 12! The agony! The impatient clawing need for closure!
I told you, I’m obsessed.
And since it’s manga, I can’t overlook the illustrations. They’re pretty, pretty, pretty, while still maintaining a manga feel. Hino did a great job with Kaname and Zero. I do not envy Yuki in having to choose between the two. It is a little confusing when it comes to the headmaster (at least to me it is). I didn’t realize he was a guy for half of the first volume. He’s always covered in blankets, has his hair pulled back, cries at the drop of a hat and then goes on emotional tirades about Yuki calling him Father (<– that’s when I realized he was a guy). I guess it doesn’t help that since I’m a girl everyone has girl voices in my head. But it works well in the anime because it’s clearly a male saying those things, which makes it funny.
If you haven’t read this series and you enjoy reading manga, comics or graphic novels, or even want to start, read them! They’re great fun and quick reads (I usually go through a volume in 30 – 45 minutes).
To celebrate my love for Vampire Knight, and to entice someone to start reading them and then become obsessed and have to wait for volume 11 with me (misery loves company!), I’m giving away Volumes 1 & 2 to one lucky person! Just answer this question in the comment section:
Do you read manga? If so, what’s your favorite series?
Make sure to leave me some way to contact you in case you win (email, twitter, blog url, etc)! Giveaway ends Friday, October 22nd at midnight CDT.
GOOD LUCK!