Call of the Night, Vol. 17

よふかしのうた [Yofukashi no Uta] #17

by Kotoyama

Nazuna is a vampire.
That’s okay with human Ko. He wants to be one too.
But transformation doesn’t come that easily...

Ko’s school trip is full of surprises as he forges connections with old and new friends. Kyoko pursues a lead regarding the truth about her father. And Mahiru and Kiku take the final steps in their relationship as human and vampire…leaving Ko with a lot to process.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural, Vampires, Graphic Novels, Shonen

200 pages, Paperback

First published July 18, 2023

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Content warning: suicide?]

At long last, things are coming to a head with Mahiru and Kiku. He’s going to become a vampire and she’ll get to become human. Ko and Akira are sorting out things with Mahiru, but the end result leaves more for them to sort out than they were expecting.

I mean, the content warning is a spoiler in and of itself, but I’ll be digging down into this one pretty deep, at least as long as it takes to come to grips with my dissatisfaction over it anyway.

Mahiru and Kiku’s deaths are… not that interesting. Most of this storyline has been of variable quality, but the end result is that they die and I just wasn’t moved a lick. I realize now that Call of the Night is actually at its best when it’s a mood. Going into plot mode has never been its strong suit.

Everything interesting happens afterwards, honestly, as Ko tries to process his emotions and grief. The parts leading up to it, including a flashback that I personally found utterly unnecessary, didn’t really get me invested.

I liked the video game bit, which is a cute way for Ko to come to terms with what’s happened. I liked the way Nazuna checks up on him as well, although they spend far too much time apart this volume due to their mutual awkwardness.

Ko and Kyoko go out for sushi together, which is a very hilarious pairing, as the cook tries to figure out what this adult and teenager are doing together in the background while serving them a high-end meal. It’s also a sharp reminder of just how little experience Ko has in general.

Kyoko has most of my favourite scenes this volume - for somebody who came on so tough, she’s been shown to have a very vulnerable side and she asks Ko to help her when Kiku gives her an address before the vampire dies. The resulting scenes and visuals are very solid.

Nazuna also has a date, of sorts, that she promised to go on and that’s the funniest chapter this time out. Her shrunken look that slowly melts as she keeps getting asked over and over to do things that she loves is very funny.

I do wish we’d get more Ko and Nazuna together, but this was fun, and the guy thinks he’s doing okay until Nazuna smacks him down with a friendzoning of the highest order.

And we end with a little Ko and Nazuna cliffhanger, which isn’t so bad. I think it’s an okay volume overall, getting much stronger towards the end, that needs less high action and more brooding. Vampires brood, they’re built for it.

3 stars - not terrible, though the big emotional moment just didn’t move me in the slightest, sadly. Just one of those things, I guess, but I’m still looking forward to where it goes next.

[Remek · Rating 4 out of 5]

JESTEM TAK NIEZADOWOLONY Z ROZWIĄZANIA TEGO WĄTKU, ZE TO SIE W GLOWIE NIE MIESCI TOT

[Ray Rappisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I didn’t see that coming with Mahiru, but seeing his back story I understand why it happened. It’s not something I condone, especially since I didn’t deal with feelings he had growing up even with my parents divorcing when I was a teenager, but this volume was heavy and dark and fun all at the same time.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 5 out of 5]

The finale of the Kiku and Mahiru story arc really landed for me. It was bittersweet and tragic. The video game segment was a great way for Ko to deal with it. I really hope we get a lot of Ko and Nazuna as the series wraps up. I really enjoy them and seeing them on page together. This volume lacked that and I am ready to return to it.

[Ann Gry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. And this volume… this volume!!! As promised, the author did a leap in structure and plot quality and a lot of things happened here. It made me cry. Intense stuff. Heartbreaking stuff. A lot of warmth and love, too. I’m amazed and thankful for the story to continue so far.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is no one creeped out that an adult is preying on a middle schooler??? The yakuza guy even encourages kiku, healing her face for her big date. Kiku even groomed him years beforehand, driving a deeper wedge btw him and his family.

[Diogo Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn. This closes the main arc that has been running for most of the series, and the loose ends are geing tied. Incredible execution, can't wait to see how this will stick the landing on the next three volumes.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for this free eARC! All opinions are my own.

Mahiru becomes a vampire. Ko and friends deal with the aftermath. #Edelweiss+

[Joey's deathly tomes of death · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this volume.
If you have made it this far...
Read it.
It made me cry.
Powerful.

[Aldara★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

No puedo creer que lloré, no me esperaba las lágrimas, si más o menos lo que pasaba pero la despedida me pegó más de lo que pensé

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mild spoiler ahead:

A shocking turn of events. I didn't expect what happened in this episode. On the other hand, I thing the author may have foreshadowed the events in this book.

Loved it.

[Cathryn Küppers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mahiru you little bitch!!! that was soooo unnecessary!!!

[Sheepy · Rating 5 out of 5]

the realisation

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

mahiru 😭

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

genuinely pondered on this after i finished reading. this volume was such a punch to the gut. it had me feeling all sorts of emotions!! and the paneling was STELLAR, as per usual!