The Journal of the Lincoln Heights Literary Society
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05/20/2008 Archived Entry: "Novel Review: Vampire Hunter D, Vol. 8"
Vampire Hunter D: Vol. 8.
Story by Hideyuki Kikuchi
Art by Yoshitaka Amano
Published by Digital Manga Publishing
ISBN-10: 1-59582-108-2
ISBN-13: 978-1-59582-108-9
Review by Linda Yau
Florence, a coastal town was known a long time ago as a pleasure resort spot for the Nobility. However, upon the arrival of a lone traveler who threw the vampires out, one Nobility refused to leave and for this, was thrown into the sea by the traveler. Vampiric lore mentions how creatures of the night shun the sea or any moving water source.
Yet it doesn’t explain the current recurring summer Vampire attacks. Now Vampire Hunter D is led to this town, hired as a traveling bodyguard by Su-In. This is a conclusion to Vol. 7, but can be read tentatively on its own as a standalone book.
Truthfully, this book counts as my first foray into the world of Vampire Hunter D. I have never read the manga nor saw the movies. So I read websites as background reference alongside this novel. I read quite slowly and tried not to feel as cast adrift as I was for many parts in the book. The translations is quite good, very descriptive for various mental sights and sound. Nearly every action was detailed oriented and can be read like an epic poem. I can’t help but wish for something that they often have in mangas – a cast of characters dossiers, that’s just me though.
The book ended seemingly as like an action movie with the lone hero leaving the idyllic town behind him, on his steed with his trusted companion - his left hand by his side. Quite cliché and fitting, since my recommendation for this book, is best to read the previous book and then not feel as confused as I did for this book.
There are six illustrations from Yoshitaka Amano, who is known for being designer of the Final Fantasy game series. The novel ends in 243 pages and there is an amusing post script from Hideyuki Kikuchi, who hopes for an animated version of this book. Following the postscript is prologue preview of the next novel in the Vampire Hunter D novel series: The Rose Princess.
The Wapshott Press
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Ontology on the go!
"Ontology on the Go!"
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