Vampire Knight Review

With everything that's been happening lately... I've been swirling out of control trying to keep on top of everything. Like seriously last week I was all depressed and constantly down on my luck. That changed literally in one or two days. From Fashion shows, to College to employment to blogging. It'll only be a day or two before my bad luck returns again. But I'm not going to bother you guys with all this excitement. I'm going to do what you guys have been asking for (well my tumblr following that is) I'm gonna give you a manga review.

Last year I incoherently touched up on the subject of Vampire Knight and rabbled some fangirling thoughts. Despite the ending, Vampire Knight hits home as one of my favorite mangas of all time (that list includes Tokyo Crazy Paradise, XxxHolic, Gokinjo Monogatari and other completed mangas that I will gladly review if you request it in the comment box). When I really like a manga, I read it a million times and if it's that good, you know I'm the person to come to make a review on it.

Despite my enthusiasm for the manga, according to mangaupdates (a database for manga readers worldwide),  out of 2589 votes, only 35% of readers would give Vampire Knight a 10/10. Majority of reader vote at a slightly lower range.  Its rating dropped to 7.89 when the manga ended (formerly 8.53 at the manga's peak). This makes Vampire Knight the second to lowest rated manga in my favorite (completed) reads and at the time of conclusion it was the lowest rated manga in my current reads (which is compiled of Naruto, Fairy Tail, Dengeki Daisy, Kaichou wa Maid-Sama etc).

My own personal rating of the manga would be an 8/10.00

Why?

Vampire Knight had a strong beginning. It began publication towards the end of Merupuri's serialization (another manga by the author). Merupuri was a strong story (averagely rated at 8.46, a considerably high rating for mangas) which also had a strong fanbase. That fanbase followed over to Vampire Knight expecting another compelling and charming story. The author in turn, tried to step away from the cute and charming world of Merupuri and give a dark edge to those readers. We fell for it.

Vampire Knight begins actually slow with the first few chapters, repetitive and the art wasn't too charming. I will admit it: The manga was flat. However it showed promise so I and thousands of fans worldwide read more. The author quickly changed things up. The art improved, the storyline became less "typical shoujo" and more detailed. By Chapter 3, majority of that charming and cute crap was cut out and evolved into sinister plot with the only thing with even a reminder to Matsuri Hino's usual writing is simply the heroine. Her heroines tend to be outspoken, dense in matters of love, somewhat submissive, rash... Rather typical shoujo writing in my head.

Most of the fanbase are more interested in how sexy every male character is drawn. I look at the actual writing and art. Vampire Knight storyline kept a really nice fast tempo at first. It constantly gave plot twister which was nice for the average reader. However as Miss AP, I had to delve a little further. Those twisters may satify the average reader but not me. Otherwise this manga would only rate a 6 or 7.Matsuri-sensei incorporated many literary device into the manga. It's so hard to find a literary device in a manga besides a flashback these days. Vampire Knight adeptly uses symbolism, foreshadowing, red herring, and even poetic justice.


But what stops this story from being a 9 or a 10?

To be honest, mangas rarely ever score a 9 or higher. The best ratings tend to be in range of 8.80. Vampire Knight remained strong as a a manga for long ride. As the plot focuses on Zero (one of the protagonists) it has a filling that keeps readers loving the story.  However a major plot twist makes the story reach its climax and it took about 30 to 40 chapters for the manga to complete. The manga was drawn out for too long. The pace drastically slowed and no longer had the zest the readers wanted. Everyone was simply anticipating the end. Towards the end Matsuri successfully revive's everyones interest in the story but several chapters too late. It could of been a resurgence, the story could've went places. Instead she lamely ends the series with a very pathetic and confusing chapter. The intention may of been to leave a cliffhanger but instead we are left with confusion and un-fulfillment.

Overall the story is great. The addition of literary devices, dark imagery, solid plotline, and generous amount of bishies makes the story such a win. I will re-read it a hundred times and I will hope that you guys might be persuaded to read the manga as well. So leave your opinions in the comments. I will definitely being give my commentary of Say I Love You soon and tell me what else you want to hear from me.

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Vampire Knight

So I'm (codename: Angel) and I'm addicted to manga and comics.

"Hi Angel."

I've been thinking I'll unload all my fangirling here. Trying to think of a nice name for it. Like Angel's Reads, Useless Thoughts, Angel's Book Club. Whatever. Not so much important.

According to mangaupdates.com I've read over 90 mangas and I'm in the process of reading 100... Idk how accurate that is because I have a ton of mangas that I've lost interest in or no longer being scanlated.

My current obssession right now is Vampire Knight. Omg, it's awesome. I've been following since the beginning and now it's about to end. *sad face*

For those of you who don't know about Vampire Knight here a summary from wikipedia.

 Yuki's earliest memory is of a stormy night in winter, where she was attacked by a vampire... And then rescued by another. Now 10 years later, Yuki Cross, the adopted daughter of the headmaster of Cross Academy, Kaien Cross, has grown up and become a guardian of the vampire race, protecting her childhood crush, Kaname, from discovery as he leads a group of vampires at the elite boarding school. But also at her side is Zero Kiryu, a childhood friend whose hatred for the creatures that destroyed everything he held dear leaves him determined never to trust them. This coexisting arrangement seems all well and good, but have the vampires truly renounced their murderous ways, or is there a darker truth behind their actions? Because in this world of secrets, nothing is as it seems. And the price of misplaced trust may even be worse than death. 

 It actually develops very well and this is without a doubt the best work Hino Matsuri has ever wrote (and I've read all her mangas).

Vampire Knight vs, Twilight

A lot of Twilight-haters always are the first people who are against this manga because people tend to relate this with the Twilight Saga. It does have their similarities at first because they are both written in a typical shoujo format --->Two guys who want one girl. But I can assure you, Vampire Knight is so much better and it doesn't have any awkward acting lol. The main herorine in Vampire Knight (Yuuki) unlike Bella (from Twilight) is a very strong headed character. She doesn't make ridculously stupid decisions (Yuuki decisions can be stupid, but they are often very well thought out) and she has some type of defense against vampires. Also the lead vampire (Kaname in VK) isn't as creepy as Edward (twilight). I also want to add, as the stories go on the plots get significantly different. Twilight is more realistic to teens, I guess. Whereas Vampire Knight is full of dark and twisted romanticsm. Also writing technique for Vampire Knight is on a whole different level. Every chapter has symbolism, foreshadowing, and suspense. Every chapter I keep screaming NOOO when Matsuri Hino throws another curve ball. Twilight's plot is very straight forward and lack much use of literary devices.

Symbolism in Vampire Knight:
Warning Spoilers below. I can't explain them very well but I want to put these open to discussion.

• Masks.
• White and Black Uniforms
• The length of Yuki's hair
• Heels
• Artemis (moon goddess)
• The name Yuki (snow/ princess)
• Roses

I can't really explain masks well  but I've noticed that they have a meaning. Ichiru wears a mask, the masquerade ball, the mask falling off Zero's face.  Little things.

I did take a lot of notice about the black and white uniforms. Notice this photo above? This was the promo art for Vampire Knight before it's actual release. I always wondered why did Hino draw them all in white when Yuki and Zero should be wearing black. This is actually foreshadowing future events. That they all turn into vampires O.o. Surprising enough, Zero is the only one who never actually wore a white uniform. He might in the future. Another big question is why Yuki and Kaname are on the same side of the fence while the rest are not. Probably a nod to their blood ties.

Yuki's hair represents who she belongs to. When her hair is long, she belongs to Kaname. When her hair is short, she belongs to Zero.
I guess heels and artemis are both a given because they are both explained in the book. Yuuki's name is actually a symbol itself. It could mean snow or princess. Yuki was found in the middle of snowy field by Kaname. and later she is the Princess of the Kuran House. Nice play on words, Hino.
The only symbolism I can't come to understand is Roses. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. Zero's tattoo, Yuuki's bracelet, Kaname's gift to Yuki, Kaname wilters a rose in the first chapter, Ichiru slashes the rose on Zero's jacket. I can't make sense of it.

Sighhhh enough "reading to deep into it". Here's some pretty art.

 Another mask! I never noticed it before.

 I spy three roses in this picture!