Review by Holly Ellingwood
May 29, 2007

Based on the popular manga by Yuna Kagesaki, this novel is an involving blend of mystery, supernatural comedy, and a love triangle all in one. The manga which inspired the anime Karin (just now being released in the US), Chibi Vampire is about Karin, a vampire unlike any other, whose day to day life leads to many comedic mishaps. In this novel, it also leads her into some serious trouble when she gets mixed up in a fiendish plot to do away with a rich heir.

Karin is a vampire who isn’t like the rest of her vampire family. She can walk in daylight, lacks the grace of the supernatural species (she’s always tripping over anything and everything) and instead of needing to drink blood, she needs to inject it into her victims. She has the unique condition of producing too much blood. If she doesn’t find her type, those victims that call to her particular condition, or if she gets overexcited, she bursts out with a nose bleed that can soak the floor with excess blood. She finds it all extremely embarrassing. Blushing is a state she’s often in. For Karin and her kind (vampires) they each have a preferred type. For example, her mother drinks the blood of liars. Karin however, isn’t attracted to the dishonest, she’s attracted to the unlucky. And fewer people are as unlucky as her classmate Kenta. So whenever he’s around, her blood pressure skyrockets and a nose bleed threatens. He actually guesses part of her secret, at least she’s explained the blood problem, sort of. He doesn’t know she’s a vampire though. This is the least of Karin’s worries at the moment however, when an all new unlucky fellow enters her life and threatens to make her gush – literally.

Youichiro is rich, he’s cool and all the girls want him. He only has eyes for Karin. The problem? He has the same effect as Kenta does. The other problem? Girls are disappearing and he may be tied into the crimes. Could Karin’s new love interest be a villain? Will either Kenta or Karin clue into the fact that they actually like each other, you know, that way? With a murderer on the loose, will any of them ever live long enough to find out?

This first novel was an engaging read. It has some comedy reminiscent of the manga and anime series, especially with all of Karin’s ‘embarrassing’ moments. But it also has a darker side. For a comedy, it touches on some disturbing subject matter in this first novel such as kidnappings of young girls, molestation, sexual assault and murder. When it hits this more serious subject matter, the story plays out more like a suspenseful detective story, with Kenta and Youichiro playing the detectives. It’s a bit like the Hardy Boys meet a cute vampire girl who gets them into all sorts of trouble. But the trouble is dead serious and didn’t quite mesh well with the lighter and quirky vampire comedy this series depends on. Taken on its own account and not in conjunction with the manga or anime, the mystery and adventure with the love triangle brewing between Karin, Youichiro and Kenta on the side, along with Karin’s embarrassing secret, all have their intriguing and enjoyable aspects. They just don’t necessarily gel as well together. As a light romantic comedy with a quirky twist or a more serious suspense novel, either would stand well on its own, but together makes for a bit of an uneven ride for the reader. It will be intriguing to see what vein the future novels develop.

The novel is punctuated with lovely artwork by Yuna Kagesaki. The book begins with rich illustrations that depict sneak peeks at what the story will hold. They’re almost like teaser trailers before the book begins. There’s also a detailed postscript from the author as well.

IN SUMMARY:
Chibi Vampire the novel is an intriguing first book that on one hand is a suspenseful mystery, and on the other hand, is a quirky supernatural romantic comedy about a cute and unique vampire trying to find her way in the world.