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Book Review of Black Bird, Vol 1

Black Bird, Vol 1
Mardlion avatar reviewed on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


"If a demon drinks her blood, he is granted a long life. If he eats her flesh, he gains eternal youth. And if he makes her his bride, his clan will prosper."

The main character Misao doesn't just see demons, she's bullied by them. On her sixteenth birthday, it's open season on her and the attacks on her life begin. Luckily, that's when her first love Kyo comes back to town to protect her and claim her as his bride. No, wait. He's a demon, too, and the head of his clan, no less. Didn't see that coming, did you?

It's a darker romance, what with all these demons who want to kill her, marry her or both. Misao has absolutely no interest in marrying a demon who just wants her because she's the bride of prophecy, which only makes it harder on her to discover she still loves Kyo. Kyo's advances are transparent and often result in an injury at Misao's hands. There is plenty of slapstick and low comedy to offset the serious nature of the plot. The art is beautiful though not the most detailed. I can't say enough for Black Bird, but that it won the 2009 Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo manga.

Viz rated Black Bird for older teens, and with good reason. Sexual tension and references abound and there's more blood than your average teen romance not involving vampires.