Bloody Kiss: Volume 1    by Kazuko Furumiya Order:  USA  Can TOKYOPOP, 2009 (2009) Paperback     Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto Vampires are all the rage these days. While vampire manga is nothing new, a plethora of vampire shojo titles have shown up in North America in the last few years, including Kazuko Furumiya's Bloody Kiss. When Kiyo Katsuragi's grandmother dies, she inherits a big, scary, overgrown, crumbling mansion. At first thinking it would be a good flip to get money for law school, she soon learns that there are two inhabitants that, as their new landlady, she cannot kick out easily. It seems that the two dashing men, Kurobashi and Alshu, are vampires. Kurobashi, who is actually half-human/half-vampire, has claimed Kiyo as his bride, although she constantly refuses his advances. Realizing she is stuck, Kiyo must find a way to balance school, the crumbling house, and two horny and hungry vampires. Bloody Kiss is not a bad addition to the shojo vampire genre, but there is nothing to really make it stand out. Kiyo is a strong-willed heroine, but her dreams of law school are never mentioned after the first chapter, so that her driving force seems lost. Furumiya's artwork definitely sets the mood for vampire fun, but at times the characters seem a little flat. The best part of Bloody Kiss is actually the short manga at the end, Angel Love Song. This tale about two lost teens trying to win a music contest is touching, with well-rounded characters and a feel-good ending. The art is also much more cohesive. Vampire fans will like Bloody Kiss by Kazuko Furumiya as it is a fun story that definitely captures the genre's style. Since the manga became more cohesive as it developed, future volumes should bring out the story and Furumiya's style more. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews