Book Reviews: Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Vols. 5 & 6 by T. Kagami et al.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Volume 5 story by Takaya Kagami and art by Yamato Yamamoto

During his recovery from the battle for Shinjuku, Yuichiro researches how to turn a vampire back into a human. He's interested because his best friend from four years ago, Mika, has been turned. Yui wants his friend back. The other project during his recovery is learning more about his cursed weapon, i.e. a weapon that is inhabited by a demon. He finds out the demon can either manifest, showing itself outside the weapon and fighting alongside the wielder, or possess, enhancing the physical abilities of the wielder in a fight. Before he figures that out, he has a meeting with higher-ups in the Imperial Demon Army. They want to sus out Yui's loyalty to humanity. A lot of political drama is built into the situation since two powerful families vie for dominance of the army.

Even though this volume is mostly focused on plot exposition and world building, it's still a very interesting read. The vampires have almost no presence or development, but Yui's situation has so much going on that I didn't mind.

Recommended.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Volume 6 story by Takaya Kagami and art by Yamato Yamamoto

The action returns as both Yuichiro and Kimizuki train to control their cursed weapons. The training's focus is on getting more control over the demons imprisoned in the weapons. The easiest way to confront the demon is while asleep. The demons have more sway in the dream state and can delve into the dark secrets of the two young men, resulting in some character development and flashbacks that develop their characters. While that is going on, higher ups in both the vampire world and the Imperial Demon Army are plotting to advance their causes.

The personal dramas of Yuichiro and Kimizuki are more interesting than the bigger story, though their development plays into the ambitions of a human faction not only to defeat the vampires but also to establish their own control over the rest of the humanity. It's very hard to sympathize with either side in the bigger war; paradoxically, the pawns of the schemers (like Yuichiro and Kimizuki) are more noble and more interesting.

Recommended.