“Levi-Ruin and the mysterious men who took Stella in have a bare kitchen…and a moaning box in the storehouse. After discovering mansion dweller Gilbert's lifelike sculptures, the new maid faces a sinister reality. Can she survive the bloodlust? Stella must distinguish danger from passion as fear begins to feed on her!” (Viz Media)
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Romantic tales told around the charming undead is certainly a common theme since the early days of shojo manga – the founding mother herself, Moto Haigo, setting the groundwork with her title “The Poe Clan”. Furthermore, the decadence of Victorian fashion among the upper classes has played equal influence in framing young love. Consequently, a title like “Rosen Blood” exists as one of many that treads familiar ground – influences and intended fan base overtly apparent. Thankfully, Kachiru Ishizue imbues her series with an abundance of style to make it a standout, a title that readers will truly love to chomp down on.
Notably, the art of Ishizue captures the gothic beauty, decadence and fragility of Stella with a stunning elegance. The fashion of the era is captured to the most minute detail, utterly gorgeous in single page panel works that introduce each chapter. Furthermore, the listless expressions of her subjects capture the despair of the vampires' confined existence – a vague melancholia fashioned to be overcome by romance. Utterly captivating, the visuals flow in dreamlike manner, perfectly capturing the aesthetic of romance laced with inherit tragedy. Essentially, the series will appeal to fans on aesthetic alone with its stunning and detail oriented approach.
Admittedly, the first volume does not shed too much light on the overall narrative, focusing on introducing the characters with little time to establish deeper conflict. However, the main cast make a strong first impression and it seems inevitable that their development will bring further intrigue. Stella, in particular, already presents the perfect balance of naivety and determination to upset the traditions of the secluded vampire clan. Regardless, later volumes will prove the true prowess of Kachiru Ishizue as a storyteller, but the inaugural release gives plenty reason to be optimistic.
The elements of romance are more pronounced in volume, with Stella falling for Levi-Ruin in quick fashion. Never cut and dry, the two yearn for each other but are held back by the difficulties inherent in vampire/human relationships. The focus rests largely with Stella and her own experiences, yet, Levi-Ruin is given a lot of personality to make the building relationship seem realistic in its progression. Essentially, “Rosen Blood” appears to be taking a traditional narrative in matters of the heart but understanding the importance of fully realized, believable characters to suck the reader in. On the other hand, the series brushes over elements of horror – though there is an intriguing plot around lifelike statues that gives the title a macabre mystery for Stella to solve. Ultimately, the focus is not on terror, yet, there are enough unsettling scenarios to keep the title enjoyably grim for horror fans.
The first volume of “Rosen Blood” makes quite the impact thanks to its awe-inspiring visual direction. Understandably, the story still needs time to develop to see if it can evoke the same deep sense of romance from its aesthetic, but there is plenty reason to believe this to be inevitable. Fans of romance (particularly Shojo), should not hesitate to check this one out. Conversely, if you are looking to try a romance series with a sharp aesthetic there is an abundance of potential in the series to be enjoyed by a broader audience. “Rosen Blood” is sure to charm you long enough to sink its teeth in – If you are looking for some dark romance in your life, give this one a shot.
