Lunar Legend Tsukihime Volume 2    by Marekatsu Nakai Order:  USA  Can Dr. Master, 2005 (2005) Paperback      Reviewed by Lance Victor Eaton Shiki Tohno has discovered that he can see lines of death, pressure points within each piece of matter that can easily destroy the object or being with a mere touch. He's battled with this ability for much of his life. But no sooner has he returned home from his studies in an attempt to live a normal life than he finds himself involved in a great battle among vampire kind. Princess Arcueid Brunestud is a true ancestor vampire, which means she does not need blood to sustain life. She currently hunts dead apostles, vampires created by true ancestors that need human life to survive. Seeking to end their continual feeding on humankind, she takes Shiki under her wing to help in this endeavor. Together, they plot to destroy Nero Chaos, a dead apostle responsible for hundreds if not thousands of deaths. Intense seems like too insignificant a word to describe this tale. The epic battle by Arcueid and Shiki with Nero spans upwards of a hundred pages and remains exciting throughout each panel. The fighting avoides growing repetitive for, as battle rages, we learn more and more about the history of vampires as well as secrets about Shiki's past and his training. This series runs at a high-octane level that few can maintain. Though volume two ends on a rather slow note, it gives breathing room for both readers and characters, since the first volume and most of the second take place over the span of two or three days. The art evolves from a light mood in the open chapters to a dark and angry atmosphere during the battle, and ultimately returns to the previous lighter mood by story's end. Too many panels exist to comment on how compelling they are during the course of the story. The fight stands as one of the most sophisticated and energized sequence I have ever seen. Going beyond the typical vampire story, Lunar Legend Tsukihime proves an outstanding series for numerous reasons, including plot, action, and character. This second volume has only increased the viability and amazing content of the series, so that readers will wait with anticipation for the next edition to arrive. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Fantasy books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews