Customer Reviews

Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, Vol. 1

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ellen Schreiber's Vampire Kisses definitely translates well into Manga. I've read the first three books in her series, and reading all the meticulously described clothing gets kind of old. Not to mention how after a while it just feels like overused goth sterotypes in her written works. I was worried that the Manga wouldn't be better than the novels. I was wrong.

The Manga has a good flow, it's cute and funny. It introduces a lot of new characters, meaning it isn't necessary to have read Schreiber's Vampire Kisses novels - so far Alexander, Raven and Becky are the only characters to get lots of play in both the novels and Manga. The art is good (although that's coming from someone who's never read Manga before).

The length was the only part I could fault. It was a very quick read, and it didn't feel like it got deep enough into the story, although it did set up a good foundation and background.

Raven has an idyllic relationship with her boyfriend, Alexander. The one catch--they can only be outside at night, because he's a vampire. This fact doesn't deter the Gothic sixteen year-old Raven, in fact, she wishes she was a vampire herself! Their cemetery escapes are abruptly halted one night when they encounter four upturned graves, and Alexander finds a toy from his past...

I'm pretty new to the world of manga--even graphic novels, and this one was the first one I ever bought. It didn't leave me very disappointed, except for the size of the book. I really wish it was longer, because by the time I really got to know the characters it was nearly done [I have yet to read the series this is based on]. Also, the size of the book didn't let the story develop, and like the characters, by the time I got into the story it was nearly done. However, the art is really nice, and it added a lot to the plot.

I really liked it. I read it at a public library, having never read any of the novels, not being very interested in vampires, not caring about goth fashion ... and I liked it. So much so that I bought it later on, despite having already read it.

Over all:
-> I understand the plot with no back knowledge.
-> It was sort of cliche, but Raven is very lovable.
-> I totally loved Rem's art.
-> I am buying volume 2.

I have the series from books 1-4 in paperback. The story is great and this book is just a side stories, but its nice to see the characters instead of picturing them in my imagination.

First in the Vampire Kisses manga books.

Readers familiar with Raven and Alexander from the Vampire Kisses series will most likely enjoy the manga version as well.

Goth-girl Raven and her vampire boyfriend, Alexander, find four fresh graves in Dullsville's local cemetery. Raven discovers that the gang is lead by Alexander's half-vampire cousin, Claude Sterling. Claude holds a grudge against Alexander and he's come to town to get his revenge.

A brand new adventure and some new characters mean that you don't have to read the main series first. I'm not a huge fan of manga, but this story translates well to the medium. The story is entertaining and the art is gorgeous.

This manga makes the book come to life, the characters are great. This volumes are taking a different route than the oringal book, it has some great action. Alex's cuz is really hot and powerful, a must buy for a vampire kisses fan!

Cliche: 1. a phrase, expression, or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its intended force or novelty, especially when at some time it was considered distinctively forceful or novel.

2. most vampire-induced romance novels

Don't get me wrong, I love dark fantasy as much as the next person but vampire romance novels like Twilight and now Vampire Kisses often make me question why I enjoyed the genre in the first place. It seems now that every starting author feels the need to create a story that involves the stock characters of one sexy male vampire and one slightly emo girl and you got yourself hundreds of squealing fangirls who will buy your book and tell you "OMG! I LURVES THESE CHARA!" over and over again.

But let's move on to the actual book. Vampire Kisses is a manga version of a book in the same vein of dark fantasy wher girl meets hot creature of the night and stuff happens of that nature. The story is overdone and I think the timing for it is fairly bad considering how popular the Twilight series is right now and how every fan of that series is going to say this is a direct copy or love is to death.

On the plus side the art is actually very nice but you have to ignore the fact that you are reading the same vampire induced haze over and over again when you could be reading Twilight instead and quit beating around the bush already. Or read one of the many fancomics OF Twilight floating in the ether on deviantART or Photobucket or some other image based website.

I think my biggest problem with a cliche is that its not that hard to write a unique vampire story. Example: how about the vampire accidentically sucks on the blood of another vampire and is now changing into a horrible monster and only the human girl can help him? OR, the human girl needs to break a curse on her from a witch or something and the vampire helps and they fall in love. There. I just wrote an entire series with marketing capabilities.

But maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe I should just open up myself to Vampire Kisses and embrace it. But when I do this, I just realize what I've known before - its not horrible. But its NOT GOOD. It brings nothing to the table. It takes nothing. Its boring but if you fear change thats just fine. I say skip it and go read something worthwhile. Like Biezenghast or Serenity Rose if you want to feel perky and goth.

In short: C- Try to not look at it too hard. You may go blind.

This is one of the books off her book list. And she was happy she nearly choked me while hugging me!!!

Love this story, it's the first Manga I've read by the suggestion of a friend. Cute story, it was quick read and I liked that for a change. I can't wait for more to come out!

This is a comic book that is based on the Vampire Kisses saga and is just as cute. Here is a girl who lives in a small town and is tired of the norm. Finally someone new comes in town and it turns he's her type of guy. Here we girl meets boy and fall for the boy. The only difference is that he is a vampire. What happens next is for you to find out. This book would be great for any pre-teen or teen girl in your life.