AS WHISPERS OF LOVE COIL AROUND SUBARU, THE “GREATEST CALAMITY” SHOWS HERSELF. Through a combination of Return by Death and a second tea party with Echidna, Subaru is back in the Sanctuary and armed with his memories in tact. But just as he tries to make his first move, a notoriously envious being appears before Subaru, softly expressing her loveas she lures him into the pitch-black darkness. To escape her clutches, does Subaru only have one option left…?
After learning not only of other witches but also the dangerous swarm of vorpal bunnies whom he met in one of his previous incarnations Subaru returns from Echidna's tea party to an obsessive and dangerous black presence. Satella being the witch of greed has had an influence on poor Subaru's life in this strange world and it shows just how powerful she can be early on even though she is not trully alive anymore. Even more interesting is the information mill does not stop from the last volume as Subaru discovers the secret origin of cover girl, Miss Ryuzu as well as new things about Betty and the burden she has been forced to bear for so long. While there is plenty of action in this volume I have a feeling it is only going to get crazier when Elsa comes calling once more and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next as Subaru and Beatrice face off against their dangerous foe.
I waffle in between loving and being completely confused by this series, as convoluted as it's gotten. I can't even find the books in order; I've had to rely on the fact that the anime has covered everything I've been able to find so far, and even THAT got hard to follow toward the story arc this covers.
Four stars at least for the art, which has been consistently lovely, even if I'm still SUPER confused by the significance of a lot of smaller plot threads. Like, what was the Sanctuary even FOR, again? I'm going to have to find a wiki to look it up, because heck if I'm finding the BOOKS again (and it's actually getting harder to carve out time to watch shows a FIRST time, much less re-watch anything).
ABSOLUTELY NOT recommended for anyone who missed the earlier books (see first paragraph).