Devils' Line 1

3 1/2 stars* Okay, there is a lot more to the story than that headline, but if that's what gets you to reading this, great! Anzai, half-blooded vampire, fully licensed vampire hunter, rescues Tsukasa, a sweet and naïve college student, before her supposed friend and serial killer feasted on her. A chance meeting that led to a friendship, with something more hiding under a kotatsu, (a heated table with a blanket.) The side characters are interesting folks that I'd like to learn more about, and Anzai is a brooding gentleman that I have some ideas about and overall like. However, Tsukasa, I'm that fond of. She's smart girl who genuinely cares for Anzai, but she is more emotional than calls for in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, in this volume she did grow as a person/character, she also stands up for herself and fights when the need arises even if she doesn't know how. So that shows she is a strong woman, yet she doesn't portray (or believe in) that strength to anyone, including herself. Making her seem unnecessarily weak, which I don't like in a character. The story is also a bit jumpy, it goes from Anzai and Tsukasa meeting, to then him spending the night at her place under her Kotatsu (heated table.) And from there they act like they have been friends for months even years, which feels rushed. Even the, what I'd call, side plots to the chapters felt rushed and doesn't give the reader enough time to fully get involved with the high emotions of the chapter and characters within. One thing that helped the story not feel as rushed was the art. It is very pretty, drawn in a sketchy shojo style, making the intensity of the character's feelings leap off the page, and the gentle snowfall of winter in Tokyo seem cold and dark, yet comforting. Overall, I did enjoy Devil's Line, and while I hope the future volumes slow down the pace, I do intend to read more to see where Anzai and Tsukasa's feelings go and what it takes for them to get there. I think both action and romance fans would be intrigued by the series, as would those who enjoy mysterious elements to a seemingly straightforward story.