“Having freed the legendary vampire slayer known as Baroque, Isuzu teams up with her to prepare a curse on a massive scale. However, while assessing Shibuya as a potential site to cast the curse, the two are ambushed by a pair of vampire girls having a night on the town—and one of them takes a special liking to the taste of Isuzu's blood. Can Isuzu stay focused on his mission when he's now being pursued in more ways than one?” (Yen Press)
The first volume of “My Dear, Curse-Casting Vampiress” offered a complimentary blend of horror, romance, and action under the sharp artistic direction of Chisaki Kanai. Still, the inaugural volume also left a degree of openness about how the series would progress and whether it would lean more heavily into one genre and push aside the explosive opening that made it so exciting.
Thankfully, the second volume seems to cement the book's tone in the future as the relationship between Baroque and Isuzu continues to develop charmingly but does not push aside the sensational elements of action and horror for the romantic angle. This includes the highlight of the second volume, which continues the confrontation between Baroque, Isuzu, and an eccentric duo of sister vampires. Explosive and chocked full of witty dialogue between the four, Chisaki Kanai establishes a playful tone to the book that allows character development to flow naturally between blows.
Check also this article
Comparatively, the closing half of the book leans more into the ‘kawaii', presenting Baroque and Isuzu blossoming relationship through an awkward back-and-forth of trying to adapt and live together. This is, admittedly, less engaging than the more action-oriented opening sequences. Still, it highlights Kanai's ability to create humorous scenarios between the two and capture these sweet interactions–small moments like Isuzu teaching Baroque to cook will endear the readers to the coupling.
Visually, Chisaki Kanai excels regardless of the tone and themes the book explores. The action and horror elements flow smoothly in a way that is easy to follow, while sincere moments shared between the two protagonists radiate the kind of awkwardness you would want in a budding romance. The fashion is also sharp, with agents having a sleek, clean fashion sense, while vampires are more expressive and gothic chic in their design.
At this junction, if you are uncertain whether “My Dear, Curse-Casting Vampiress” is a series worth reading after some hesitancy with the inaugural release, the second volume gives reason to be confident in the book's direction. Alternatively, those new to the series will either be drawn to the blending of various genres or be put off by not getting a more straightforward horror or romance series. Regardless, the series is proving to be a delightful read and a refreshing take on the vampire romance genre worthy of a wider audience.
