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Title:  Vampire Knight Vol 3

Author:  Matsuri Hino

Publisher:  Viz

ISBN:  9781421513249

May Contain Spoilers

The Moon Dorm is thrown into an uproar when Takuma’s grandpa, a very old, very powerful vampire, drops in for a visit. Then through a series of flashbacks, Yuki’s terrifying attack by an evil vampire is revealed, along with her first meeting with Kaname, who arrived just in time to rescue her from death.  Zero’s early encounter with a vampire is also explored, but his ends with a twist.  The vampire is still alive, and it seems that she’d like a second taste of her prey!

The story is starting to catch up with the art, and the series is finally starting to hold my attention.  Maybe because the focus wasn’t so much on Yuki and the irresistible scent of her blood.  The characters were a little more fleshed out, with glimpses into both Yuki and Zero’s childhoods.  While Yuki has the terrifying memory of the vicious vampire that tried to attack her, she also has the image of the gallant Kaname rescuing her from death to comfort her.  Zero has only the bitter vision of seeing his parents killed.  Haunted by the rampaging vampire that slaughtered his family and destroyed his childhood, he’s consumed with hatred for vampires and is trying to accept that he’s become one himself.  Can he stop himself from turning to a blood-thirsty monster?

Yuki, despite her ordeal at the hands of a murderous vampire, wasn’t left with the same revulsion that Zero was.  Perhaps being rescued by Kaname kept her fear at bay, or perhaps she is just more resilient than Zero.  I didn’t buy that she lost all of her memories, even of how to dress herself (What is this, a hat? Oh, it’s a sock!), but that’s really more of a nitpick.  I did find it interesting that after falling asleep in Kaname’s room, she awakens to find the vampire feasting on one of his subjects, which sends her fleeing in terror from the dorm.  Now, even though she’s in love with him, she’s also afraid of him and the deadly threat he represents.

Even Kaname was rendered more intriguing in this volume.  As other vampires attempt to manipulate the young pureblood, he’s shackled to his obligations after the death of his parents.  A prisoner of his own lineage, he’s become aloof and distant and not sure who to trust.  I am finding this thread of the storyline the most compelling and hope that Matsuri Hino delves more thoroughly into the structure of the vampire society.  His treatment of Yuki is a little questionable, as he purposefully terrifies her in the dorm, yet tells Zero the only reason he’s being allowed to live is to protect her.  Hmmm.

As usual, the art is phenomenal.  I love all of the pretty characters and all of their stylish clothes. 

Grade: B

Rated for Older Teen

Review copy provided by Viz