“All pureblood vampire Hayan Park wanted was a normal life. But the emergence of murderous vampire-human hybrids ten years ago transformed the world into a dangerous place—forcing her to lie low, desperate to keep her secret hidden. When a beloved professor of hers is murdered, though, and a local police captain aims his suspicion at Hayan, things start getting personal. Using her true powers may be the only way to protect those around her…and her own life!” (Ize Press)
There will always be an undeniable desire for more horror titles among genre fans, and with the recent move to publish more manhwa in English, it is a sorely lacking genre. For that reason, Lina Lim's “Unholy Blood” is a welcome addition to the Ize library. At the same time, WebToon has many similarities to its manga counterpart regarding horror, often creating a story more apt for the shonen crowd than genre fans. This does push the question of whether the series has a severe bite or is just a bump in the night.
There is a lot to admire in the writing of Lina Lim, with the protagonist Hayan being an immensely complex character whose extreme power as a vampire is in contrast to her persona, made meek through years of hiding. She is instantly alluring and stands out despite treading familiar ground in the vampire genre. Her struggles to find humanity, in particular, help push a more humane narrative that grounds the sensational elements in a simple realism: the desire to feel a sense of belonging. Conversely, when Hayan bears her fangs, her powerful presence is a welcome shift into the ‘bad-a**ery' you would want in an action title.
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The balance between horror and action is certainly more geared towards explosive fights. While this may disappoint some looking for a more straightforward horror experience, compared to ‘shonen-horror,' the manhwa fits into this niche quite nicely. The fights are explosive, and the book's tone constantly pushes forward to that next challenge Hayan must face. There is also enough ‘edge' to push into the mature territory while still keeping it suitable for a teenage audience, landing in that perfect spot that should appease both younger and older readers.
On a rather peculiar note, the series is also noted as a romance title, though the inaugural volume is entirely devoid of that element. There is a potential introduction for a partner, and it is feasible the series could lean more heavily into this relationship as the story continues. Still, for those looking for a romance-centric title, it would be advised to wait for the second volume release or check what people reading the Webtoon are saying.
The visuals behind “Unholy Blood” are impressive for a single-person project, with Lim injecting a lot of personality into her character. This is particularly true of Hayan, whose balance between shy beauty and vengeful warrior is perfectly handled, sleek, and seamlessly transitioning between the two. One of the constant shortcomings of Webtoon, the lack of backgrounds, is addressed here as Lim does an impressive job of showing the urban landscape. The few longer fights in the inaugural volume also flow seamlessly, and, more importantly, they come across as ‘cool.'
“Unholy Blood” has many positive aspects, but one glaring negative element could harm the series' longevity. The antagonists have all the charm of an edgy Redditor, with much of their dialogue feeling dull and one-dimensional with the sole purpose of establishing how ‘evil' or ‘bad' they are. The most egregious example of this comes from a vampire pissing on the face of a victim for no apparent reason, yet there are examples throughout. The first significant villain introduced is completely dull in his aimless desire for power, driven by base desires and lacking intellect. It is a very odd and uncomplimentary contrast between the complex and emotional Hayan and a mindless, violence-loving thug.
The juvenile nature of the antagonists is a glaring shortcoming of the inaugural volume, yet the strengths in visuals and the building up of Hayan make it a minor annoyance. “Unholy Blood” still packs that intense bite one would want in a vampire-driven horror/action title but has that one element that keeps it short of greatness. The book can only go up from here if Lim's villains become more impactful.
