Karin
Chibi Vampire

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I think there's two things that make me love this series. First of all, while vampire stories have been done so many times, as have romantic comedies, Karin is one of the few cases where the author tried to put a new spin on both genres, and actually succeeded in doing so. Second is the characters. Particularly Kenta. Usually the leading female role of these series falls for a whiney, brooding little brat. Karin's love interest goes completely against this archetype, with an upbeat attitude and a great work ethic (sort of like a male Tohru Honda, but tougher). Karin herself does have some of ... the usual traits of the lead female of a romance series (clumsy, no experience with boys, a victim of fate), but she manages to differentiate herself from the others. Many other characters are not so original, but still manage to be entertaining. It's a great series to read and watch, especially if you don't typically like romantic comedies.

**NOTE**First off this is my first time writing a review and the only reason I am doing so now is cause of the lack of reviews for this manga so if this review sucks you now know why. Also this is my favorite manga and one of my favorite animes so this review may be a little biased though it still is a great manga biased or not.


Karin is a romance manga with a vampire theme but what makes it so good is in my opinion how the author always seems to be able to add a little twist to the series ... at exactly the right time. I also love the relationship between Karin and Kenta, they did it perfectly. At first co conspirators trying to keep Karin's secret from getting out, then as friends helping each other out, then as love interests to shy to tell the other there feelings then finally(?)(don't know if they ever become married in the manga or not or got betrothed so there might be another step in the relationship though I doubt the next step will be as something like each others ex's) as boyfriend and girl friend. And sorry if I spoiled the relationship there by saying that Karin and Kenta would get together but I thought it was pretty obvious that it was going to happen I mean this is a part romance manga and the two main characters are a guy and a girl so something is probably gonna happen. Back to the review: as I have been saying this is a great manga and I love how the comedy always has some humor in it instead ob just being dumb and how the art always works perfectly for every scene. If you are looking for a rom/com with a big twist then this is a must read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

P.S. If you want to read it you can find it all at manga fox even the last volume that haven't been released in english yet (someone translated it... thank you for translating it zonnikku)

The vampire genre on a whole is just down right over used and over served to the point that it now has it's own genre, but that doesn't mean there's no creativity left in it.

STORY: The basic set up is of the school life/romance set ups, girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, happy ending, the end.
Though, as over used as this set up is, a lot of us still keep coming back to it.

Why?

Cause coming back over and over again may end us up with precious worth while gems.

I consider Karin (Chibi Vampire in the US) one of these gems.
...
While following the set in stone way of romantic comedies, it also throws in an original spin on the vampire genre.
The heroin, Karin Maaka, is a typical manga highschool girl, she's well endowned, pretty clumsy, yep, normal every where you look at her.
But, she has quite a secret, she's a vampire (Surprise!) but that part of her anything but normal.
You'll see her walk around during the day time, just like a human, she's unaffected by the typical vampire banes like garlic and water, and she doesn't even need to drink blood.

But instead, she gives blood once a month by biting people's necks and injecting it through her fangs that appear only during that time.

The male lead, Kenta Usui, is the new scary looking class member at the school Karin attends. Despite the fierce look on his face, which isn't on purpose, he's quite the nice, hard working guy who's working towards a normal life, though he and his mother are quite poor.
In fact his life is really unfortunate, and that in itself is the catayst of the events in the manga.
Because their paths cross instantly (By instantly I mean as soon as Karin lays her eyes on him) and one of Karin's only normal traits as a vampire in this manga makes him her "blood type" (Horrible pun).

But their eventually soon to be romance isn't brought together by that nearly alone, the plot setups, character development, and nearly everything is written very well, and not much of it is lacking in most aspects.

The romance does not begin immediately though, as the beginning is more focused on comedy that ranges from hilarious to amusing, especially if clumsy characters is your type of humor, if they are, you're in for a hoot.

The pacing of the story is very comfortable, with each event coming very naturally. Good story twists, and even extremely powerful cliff hangers depending on your pacing on reading this series. At times the story can be quite addicting, making one eager to continue onwards, and kinda makes you realize it may be too short (Almost sixty chapters, but with pletly of bonus chapters that explore and expand the world of the manga).

The supporting cast consists of the titular characters friends and family members: Anju Maaka, Karin's solemnly spoken little gothic lolita sister, Ren Maaka, their cool older gigolo brother {And bully to Karin), Karin's parent's Henry Marker and Calera Marker, and Fumio Usui, Kenta's mother, whom looks too young to be his mother.
Though, of all of them, Karin's best friend Maki Tokito, may come across to a lot of people of being rather annoying, but overrall, a very strong cast of characters each getting their adequate spot light.
And their relations are full of strong chemistry as each of the main characters families act just like families would, making their relations a little more realistic and believable.

But even with my high praise of this manga, there is one obvious flaw from the get go; at times it can be very generic and predictable, especially to those who fancy themselves to be fans of the comedy romance genre, it really offers nothing new to that genre.

Instead adding more to romance comedies, it honestly makes other vampire stories look very uncreative by comparison.

ART: While this is comedy romance for the male audience, the art work has very strong shojo over tones.
The character designs are very diverse and not many look alikes are found (Aside from the ones that are on purpose).
However, the style is very artsy, and can be obnoxious at times.
So the look overall is potentially hit and miss, but it doesn't look bad it all.

OVERALL:
The Good:
+ Offers a much needed twist on the over served vampire genre.
+ Progression of the story feels natural and hardly rushed.
+ A cast of strong and likable characters, great support characters that are not ignored.
+ Has a good balance of comedy and romance.

The Bad:
- As a comedy romance story, it really adds nothing new, and can be generic and boring.
- Aimed at male audiences, yet it feels more like a shojo story for female audiences.
- Art can be a bit over obnoxious at times.

Of course this manga will never appeal to the Hellsing crowd, you want badass vampires? Karin is completely out in that department.

Karin isn't your typical romantic comedy nor is it your typical vampire story.
(my first review! Yay!)

~Story~

The "story" of Karin isn't exactly anything special.

In fact, this type of story of forbidden love is common in manga.

What makes it "good", or I should say, "sets it apart from other manga" is the fact that it doesn't take itself seriously.
...
Sure, there are serious moments, but the comedy always manages to shine through. There's never a dull moment in Karin, and you'll always be wanting to read more.

~Art~

The first volume's character designs are vastly different from the latter volumes.
That's not a bad thing, but the earlier volumes seemed to have more individuality in the artwork, such as the thick lines, a heavy usage of black, and the varied facial expressions.

The latter volumes seem to change to thinner lines, more usage of screen tone, and a much, much heavier use of filters.

One of the things that really annoyed me was how the artwork seemed getting consecutively worse around volume 11 or so. Not sure if the author was rushing on the drawings because of deadlines, but it's very noticeable.

~Character~

Karin is what made vampires interesting to me again. Never in any other manga will you read about a daywalker vampire that is unable to suck blood and only injects blood.

Another great thing about the two main characters in Karin is that they don't act like the typical shonen romcom couple. Usually, couples in shonen romcom get embarrassed because they're thrown into crazy sexual situations involving panty shots, groping, and what have you.

These scenes rarely happen in Karin (and really don't ever happen again after volume 4). Instead, the two characters are embarrassed just from being around each other.

This sense of awkwardness of neither of the two ever have been in a relationship before in addition to both being extremely naive and inexperienced makes for a much more realistic portrayal of a teenage relationship, one you won't see in most manga, and most especially not in shonen.

~Enjoyment~

Karin will definitely entertain anyone who's into vampires, romance, or comedy.
For those wanting something serious and thought-provoking, look elsewhere.

A good read for anyone, regardless of age or gender because of the universal themes.

~Overall~

Great manga. One of the better romcom shonen out there.
One of the few you'll want to reread over and over and will leave you wanting for more after you've finished it.

Karin Maaka is constructed of 95% pure embarrassment. If you have a low tolerance for that most defining of traits of the shy high-schooler, you won't like this. If you don't mind it, and you like romantic comedies with a supernatural theme, this is a good series to read.

I also like that neither female lead (Karin) nor male lead (Kenta) is a loser or an idiot (although both are capable of a lot of idiocy nonetheless, being teenagers in love). They're both responsible young people; Karin is made to pay her own way by her parents, while Kenta keeps a ... roof over his mother and himself by working extremely hard. No, the difficulties between them are the consequences of crossing between two worlds, of the nature of Karin's physical needs as a vampire, albeit a weird one, and both characters' feeling that they're not good enough for the other and trying to "do the right thing" on a regular basis.

Stories like this live or die on the characters and the reader's ability to empathize with their situations and feel for them, and in this Karin succeeds remarkably well, while the comedy is joyful and keeps the overall feel lighter despite the bittersweet nature of it all.

its a cool manga very cool and better than anime

it has : romance,action,vampire

like i said its story is different than anime so u must read it couse its better.in manga there isnt a vampire hunter (will),instead there is a half breed(half vamp half human)tachibana.so its story is different.our guy kenta usui learns maaka karin is a vamp but she doesnt suck blood she spills it out so its very interesting we always see vamps sucking blood but this one spills it out and blood is life to a vamp so its interesting.so kenta learns karin is a vamp and promise to keep it a ... secret between him her and her family.

Basically I recommend the manga here 1000% The story of Karin is actually quite moving and quirky from beginning to end. I actually dislike the anime because it is so much filler and the characters don't really grow as much.

In the manga you actually learn about Kenta Usui and his mother. You see the struggles and the romance that builds between him and Karin. You actually learn some history of the Maaka Vampires and even meet other families. You learn about Karin's condition of releasing blood and what it means to the vampires as well as to her future among them. It's a much ... more solid story and leads you through the roller coaster of the developing relationship and eventual sacrifices that must be made. I loved the whole of it.

The anime was weak in comparison stripping a lot of the dramatic and familial tensions for cheap filler and stripping some characters and plots out entirely. I feel that the characters don't really grow at all there.

So if you engage with this wonderful vampire story please just read the manga. You'll be glad you did.

I LOVED this manga! however the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. I think the mangaka didnt know how to end the manga and I really hated the ending. it actually ruined the whole manga for me.

((SPOILERS ))

When they just erased Maaka's memories like that? That actually hurt reading her say "I don't have a family.". I think that was a stupid thing to do and so I gave the story a low rating....

i got into the vampires series this year but i never though i would find one that could actually make me change my way of thinking as this manga did it. It was so fun to read that i couldn't stop until i finished it. If you love drama, comedy and romance this one can be a good choice. For me it is the best manga i have read. The characters are all so fun and engaging. the story it so well made that it gets to a point of full enjoyment. The art well i just wish my wife could have Karin haircut. The ... scenarios where cool and detailed and the chars well drawn.

Objectively:

Story: Fun and different.
Art: Great and well made.
Characters: Every one has something to do with the series and give their flavor to it.
Enjoyment: Well as said before: Life changing.

This is a good funny manga and I was shocked to see it listed as a shonen because it felt very shoujo to me. The storyline starts out really strong and you nearly crack a rib laughing but then I got a little bored. It stepped away from the comedy for some more serious storylines and it felt like it had an aburpt ending. It left me wanting a bit more but if you need a little pick me up I'd grab one of the first 7 volumes. The light comedy will perk you right up, if you really want to die from laughter watch ... the anime. I think this is another case of started out strong and then fizzeled out series.

"A message for anyone who plans to read this manga..."

This manga is worth reading if you finish it till its short stories...

Don't expect to feel good if you plan to just read until its canon ending.

Some people may say the canon ending sucks blablabla...

That is why i said till short stories!!!

... Trust me and see for yourself...

Try to finish this anime till its short stories you will understand why I do not mind recommending this manga for a free time chill read.

Well that's about it, enjoy and have fun hehe

My Review:
Story 8/10
Characters 7/10
Art 7/10
Romance 9/10

I'm going to be honest. Vampire stories usually aren't my cup of tea, and taking into account that I found this series in my school's library around the same time Twilight was a hit, I was reluctant to read it at first. However, I set aside my hatred for aforementioned books and decided to sign out the first volume. Easy to say, I loved it and eventually read through all of it in a week or two.

Story: 10/10
A vampire with constant nosebleeds injects blood into her victims instead of drinking it. Immediately I knew this wasn't your average vampire story. At first I was in ... a state of "What? ...No, what?", but after a few minutes of reading, I found myself flipping through pages in seconds, curious to see how this would advance and unfold.

Art: 9/10
It wasn't the best artwork ever, but it was still amazingly done. There are many styles when it comes to anime and manga, and Karin's was one that could not ever, ever dislike. It wasn't cutesy all the time, it didn't overdo any detail, and there was just the right amount of subtle fanservice.

Character: 10/10
Everyone. Was so. Freaking. Quirky. And I loved it. I love stories where everyone has some sort of quirk; that's what makes them so fun to watch and read about. Even the characters who seem 'normal' have something that makes them unique, makes them just that little bit different from everyone else.

Enjoyment: 10/10
I'm almost sorry to say, I enjoyed this a little too much. I remember, when I finally got to the end of volume 14, it was almost midnight, and I just plopped backwards on my bed, finally relieved that I was done. About five seconds later, I felt empty, as if a piece of my soul had died when I'd finished it. It was just that beautiful an ending.

Overall: 10/10

In any story telling medium, what you need to have in order for a fun story to happy is a really good set of characters. This manga definitely excels in having those! There are moments where you really laugh at these people, others where you wanna hug, and comfort them.

The really expressive characters help to always increase the emotional empathy of the situation. It's a roller coaster ride of emotions following the lives of Vampires and one who's in love with a human. If you like romantic comedies you'll probably skip out school for a whole day just to read this (Star bucks with ... working electrical sockets are the ones you wanna go to).

If there is one gripe that I have it is literally the ending.
[SPOLIERS]
_________________________________________________________________

If you don't wanna be spoiled just look away or some sh*t. That is literally the worst ending as a writer I could have possibly imagined. A good ending for any story has to come through the characters, their motivations, and their hopes. Whether through they succeed them or fail them, and follow through.

However this ending was very poorly written, as there could have been several ways to achieve the direction that Kagesaki wanted. For example they could have told Karin that they needed to maintain a certain distance with each other. But that she was always be welcome to come back, and visit. There was no need to wipe her memory. This is a very contradictory to their character. Although there were moments where they kept each other out of the loop, they never did anything this drastic without consulting one another, i.e. when Cerera went to visit her parents, and letting her husband know what was up. It seems very paradoxal to me, and I believe this ending to be from some of the negative effects of Japanese Culture. Almost as if to justify it. Where people push each other away in order to "protect" them, (of course not all of it is bad, don't even bother strawmanning my argument).

Aside from that really poorly though out ending, it's an amazing read with lots of fun moments. I definitely suggest reading this with your crush/BF/GF, as a fun a little activity!

Warning this review may contain spoilers.


First Impressions,
So I first found out about this manga by watching it anime adaptation,
Which wasn't bad per say but I wanted to see the source material for the more compeled story and Also I think of the idea of a vampire who doesn't exactly fit in with the normal vampire society in a way and shares a bit more of a connection with humans.
I think is sorta interesting.



... Story, 6/10

The story is about a vampire named karin who lives with her family.
But unlike most vampires she can walk in the day light with out problem,
Eat human food with not much hassle and the biggest thing is that she gives blood to people instead of takeing it, Thing go pretty well in till she meets Kenta Usui who has just transferred to her school.
Being in his presence triggers a increase in her blood at rapid rate which becomes massive nose bleeds with blood everywhere.
It turns out that usui has her blood affinity,
Which is basically a certain personality trait or feeling That each vampire has a likening to just by instinct.
So Karin try's to stay away of usui which doesn't work because there also next door neighbors.
Eventually he finds out her vampire nature and he decides to keep her secret and promises her family that he will look after her in the day time and they start becoming fast friends.


The first half is mostly about usui and Karin developing friend ship together which is slowly becoming love but we haven't got to that point yet and the issues that go with it.
Which is for the most part was the usual shit,
Like for example the problems that could come up with a vampire and a human in very close proximity with each other.
Like I am monster kind of thing or that karin at times can't control her vampire urges.
If you seen stuff like vampire knight or twilight it's that kind of thing.
But take away the emo mallow drama.
Because there one part where see actually nearly dies because usui going though a famliy issue with his father which triggers a reaction which nearly kills her.
Her family try's to keep them apart doesn't work and they solve the problem and they realize there feelings for one another and start becoming a couple.

Other than that there not much else to talk about expected a few back ground plot things like usui mother trying to find work, Karin older brother being an asshole and over bearing father and having to lie about your true nature to your grandma.

But it quite nice having that slow build up to there relationship,
Even if it isn't the most interesting or original in any way.
It actually mangers to get the feels aspect right which I will give credit where credit is due,
But they could have tried to make it more interesting.
And the background plots some times felt like every unnecessary filler at times.

But I did like the inclusion of how vampires can actually have a positive impact on humans depending on what emotion or felling that gets there interest.

The second half is them being a cute little couple together, getting along and building a future together. While Karin family trying to find out if there have been other vampires like her at all in history.
Things go quite well Intill a half human half vampire moves into town and gives a slightly cynical prediction of the future of there relationship because human and vampire relationships generally don't end the most happy,
Especially because mostly children that are born from those relationships are stile and most of the time they especially hate their vampire parent or the whole race in general.
Which isn't exactly good for a young couple to hear about.

Eventually this leads to Karin getting kidnapped by sied half vampire family because we find out that Karin is a rare breed of vampire which pops up every now and then and has the power to save the vampire race from it's almost certain demise as vampire birth rates are very low.
How is that Karin will be forced to give blood to vampires in till she can't any more without killing her and then will be raped in till she gives birth so there be another one so they can repeat the cycle a new.
Even though they technically don't have to go that far with it to get the results they want.

Just before I continue I was quite impressed with this concept,
The idea of how far you're willing to go in order to save your race from out was quite interesting and ingenious actually when I look back on it.
I mean you could write an entire novel based on this concept alone,
probably now over thinking this part more than i originally intended to.
But I just wanted to state for the record that putting this in was a good idea and should be given a pat on the back for effort.

But sadly it came to little to late and it was around 10-15 chapters intill the manga ended.
So it kinda phones it In.

So after these slightly fucked up events Karin is put in a state where she isn't exactly a vampire any more she actually more human than ever now because of reasons I don't want to spoil.

So her family comes to a very painful choice to removes karin memories of them so she can live happily as a human with usui and not have to be dragged down by vampire society and the things that come with it.
With usui being the only one who knows the truth.

Which is quite the bitter sweet ending,
Because the happiness that was made for them was done at a great personal cost.
Which did for some reason spark a reaction out of me.
So I guess it did it job in that respect.


But there was a few problems I did have,

Like for example and I don't like being at anime adaptation in manga reviews
But in the anime there quite a few episodes where they where hanging out doing school stuff and Karin vampire issues come out is pubic and hi jix follow.

What I am trying to say is that in the anime they gave more detail in the beginning of there relationship together and i feel for the manga that was I missed opportunity.

Also I wished they went into more depth about the vampire world and some of it's history.
Because from what we know the reason why quite a few vampires are in Japan in because a half breed outed most of the vampires in Europe to the local religious institutions.
And I would like to know the reason why that half breed did it.
Because those actions nearly put vampires in the grave for good.

Characters, 6/10

Karin as a character is ok.
She has a simple personally which is done well.
She basically very lively and some times a little clumsy at time.
But nothing to deep or out there as far as personally goes.

But I did like her whole trying to find a place to fit in and be happy which was nice to see.

Usui at first glance he kinda looks like a thug at time.

But is actually quite smart also quite a friendly person,
Although he may be at times rough around at times.
But what made me slightly interested in him is that,
He this person who is livening almost on the bottom rung and who dream is to work hard and get himself in a better place economically.
Which I feel is very relatable to most people out there today and I myself personally can relate to this as well.


The side characters.

Most of them are kind of forgettable and kinda basic.
Which is fine.

But the only characters that stood out to me was usui mother or Karin brother or little sister.

Because they where probably on page more but also because they had I bit more to do with the story.

Like Karin younger sister Anju for example.
Who keeps an eye on her sister but also takes part in some of the more human activities that Karin dose.
And you kinda feel bad when her vampire powers become fully developed that she can no longer take part in any of those things with her sister or hang out with any of the human friends she has made.
But what I really liked about is that it basically says that no matter how much you like the human world as a vampire one day you will have to walk away from it and leave it behind for good.
Which I thought was very interesting even though they didn't go much in depth about it.

Art, 5/10

The art is fine it's manageable to say the less.
There are a few planels that do look nice when compared to the rest of the manga.
The backgrounds could use a lot of work because some of the back grounds need more focus.

It has quite the cartoony cute style to it,
It a bit to flashy for my taste.
But at the same time it's very good that showing the emotions of the characters.
So it that regard I actually quite like it.

The character designs I am not the biggest fan of.

It's just the design make it kinda hard to take these characters seriously when something actually serious is going on.





Enjoyment, 6/10

I guess I enjoyed it for what it was.
Because it's very basic and to the point.

Plus I found it quite relaxing at times and I thought some of the elements the manga had where slightly interesting.

Also after re reading this I felt that my enjoyment is a lot more lesser than the first time I read this or watched the anime version which isn't exactly perfect.
But I had more fun with it back then.
But at the time I was getting into anime and manga.
So maybe it just the effect of getting more experience into the medium as a whole.




Overall,6/10

After thinking about it I do feel that this is probably a good recommendation for those who don't really have much experience with the anime or manga in general.
So it's a very good entry level manga.
If you want to chill out and watch a basic romance play out.

But for those who are quite a bit of experience you are going to be slightly bored with it and probably won't waste you time watching it.
Unless you just want something very basic.

I'm so glad I found out what happened in the end and it didn't disappoint. The thrill, the drama, the danger, the suspense, all there and executed flawlessly. The other vampires were just oblivious to the pain they were causing and some hinted at regretting it rather than they just be flatout heartless. And given how bad things got, the ending, though regrettable, was just as it should be. LUV'D IT!!!

To be honest, I thought this would be another supernatural romance, but it surprisingly exceeded my expectations. This manga not only transforms the commonly used vampire genre but also firmly grasps the concept of first love in such a way that is innocent, endearing, and wishful. Vampires aren't the simple bloodsucking creatures that lurk in the night; Kagesaki gives them a curious history and gives them extraordinary powers and characteristics. Of course, blending in within the human world is not an original concept, but the type of vampire that Karin is makes it a unique story yet again.

The young first love sprouting between high school ... students, one vampire and a human, is the central focus of the manga. If you're not a romantic person, it may be a bit much. However, I find it quite sweet rather than sappy, and it's interesting to observe two characters that are so bashful with their feelings yet very in love.

Grudges between vampires and humans aren't special, either, but a lot of anger due to this problem is present in the story. The vampires always have a problem trusting humans, they are reminded of history, trust is nonexistent, etc. It isn't quite boring, but it's been done.

The transgression of the plot worked well for me. It wasn't so great that I absolutely had to read one chapter after another, but I did look forward to doing so. The ending was bittersweet with one particular aspect unexplained, but otherwise it was wholesome enough.

The artwork was not super great. I found the character's faces to be simply drawn at times and they weren't always very detailed. However, everyone was distinguishable and otherwise unique in appearance. The backgrounds and scenery were all right, nothing too fancy.

I do wish the characters were a bit more complex. A few were worth looking into, but didn't have much revealed about them. Others didn't stand out too much and had their quirks.

Karin is the protagonist, the vampire that spouts blood, cooks well, and is bad at math. Though she is a likable character, but she doesn't seem to develop much emotionally. Her romance with Kenta assists in that, but otherwise she cries a lot and depends on others multiple times to save her when she needs it. While her condition renders her a bit helpless, I wished she could find better ways to cope with it.

Kenta is a little more impressive. He's a good kid with a sad past and a curious mind, thus his wondering about Karin. He is thoughtful to take care of the people he loves.

This was a cute read for me and worth my time. I smiled a few moments and felt sad during others. It was entertaining enough for me to finish it and I liked the extras. I loved the spin on the classic vampire story and found it refreshing.

I probably say this in many of my reviews, but I will say it anyway. I honestly loved this series, and it is one of my many top manga's of all time. It's certainly not your typical vampire story, as I have previously read not only manga, but also actual books about vampire stories, and I have to admit this is a one of it's kind. It is one of a kind, with a day walking vampire, which in fact injects blood instead of feeding on others. I have to say that, it's even better than the anime, which I have watched a few years ... back, as it gives more emphasis on the overall storyline, and there is simply just so much more going on. I feel like with the manga, there was more space to expand on Kenta's and Karin's relationship, and unlike the anime I feel like it captured it not only in a different way, but also in a much better context. I also like the fact, that even thought Karin is a vampire, jut like the rest of her family, but she acts just like any school girl her age would, which I just love about in her character. Highly, highly recommend by me, not only if you seen the anime, but if you like romance and vampires, then you should give this manga a try.

Spoiler free review!!

I didn't really expect much from Karin when I started reading it. The cover seemed generic and I wasn't sold by the art style or the summary of the plot. A few months ago I remembered the series when I saw it on sale, since I had read the first few books as a child in a local library. I had liked Karin, though back then thought every manga I read was good because I hadn't read that many. Since I never finished it as a kid, I thought to give the series another chance. I'm glad I did!

Karin is a very relationship-heavy ... manga. It's definitely not a slice of life though, there is a plot that unravels through the story and there are many twists that genuinely surprised me. What I mean is that it's clearly the characters who are driving the story, not the other way around. The worldbuilding isn't heavy, but I honestly think that it adds to the charm of the show. The author could have done in-depth explanations about the vampires and their history, but I doubt it would have made this manga any better. it's refreshing to read a vampire story like this: not just pure romance with fangs, but not a history lesson either.

The main character is Karin Maaka, a vampire who gives blood instead of sucking it. She can go out in daylight without any problems and lives a somewhat normal life because of that. She is abnormal compared to her family, who are regular vampires. The main relationship in the show is between Karin and her classmate, Uzui Kenta. Karin and Uzui's relationship is interesting from the start. Uzui isn't your typical anime boy, at least in my opinion. He isn't attractive- his eyes are actually said to be creepy on multiple occasions- and he is poor. His money-issues are a central part of his character and often lead to interactions with Karin if they end up taking the same job. Uzui's personality can be described as honest, ambitious and hardworking. I think Uzui and Karin's relationship feels real, because they often act like teenagers do. I found their relationship more symbiotic than many others: they both give and take something to and from each other. Karin makes Uzui lunch every day and Uzui helps Karin with math after school etc.

The Maaka family is also entertaining and they are central to the plot. His mother dominates the household, since his father is a bit of a worm. The parents have their fights every now and then, but are actually deeply in love, despite having been married for ages. Karin's big brother is a complete playboy who charms every woman he meets and always sleeps at a different woman's apartment. Her little sister has't had her vampire blood awaken in her yet, but she is good at controlling bats and keeps an eye out for her big sister with them. I found the family dynamic interesting. Even though the characters have features associated with generic archetypes, they have enough of their own spice to stand out. The manga also balanced comedic and serious moments with the characters well: I cared about the family members but could also laugh at them.

I don't think the art is outstanding in any way, it is very much a product of its time. It clearly looks like its from the early 2000s and I personally do not like the art style of that era. Every now and then the quality drops a lot, but I'm pretty sure it's because the artist was rushed so much. In the extra pages she often complains about how little sleep she gets and how busy she is with this manga. Mangakas are known for not having much rest and I feel sympathy towards her for that, but I'll have to lower the score anyways because the mistakes are quite noticeable in some chapters.

The plot wasn't anything impeccable, but in my opinion it was good. There are some questionable parts and twists, but nothing that actually bothered me or that I feel I need to mention. The only minus I would give is about the ending, which I didn't like at all for various reasons. It's only the ending though and I liked all other parts of the manga, so it doesn't affect my review of the plot heavily.

Overall, I just enjoyed this manga and I recommend reading it if this review piqued your interest! The series isn't long, I'm sure it could be read in one day but I enjoy having a longer timeframe between starting and completing a manga, so I spent about a week reading it.