REVIEW: ‘Love of Kill,’ Volume 2

Looking for an assassin romance? Well, Love of Kill is here to scratch that action-romance itch. And Love of Kill Volume 2 couldn’t come soon enough with the new information around released about the anime adaptation, which will release in 2022. The last volume ended on a stellar cliffhanger with our heroin Chateau left for dead after being accosted by a mysterious man with a scar on his face—and a connection to her mark and potential suitor Ryang-Ha.

 Love of Kill Volume 2 is created, written, and illustrated by mangaka Fe. This volume is localized and published in English by Yen Press, features translation by Eleanor Ruth Summers, and lettering by Chiho Christie. In this volume, Chateau is left with more questions after coming back from the brink of death with help from Ryang-Ha. But when she faces her assailant again, he tells her that the attack is to be blamed on the man who saved her, which pushes her to question her fellow hitman’s past.  Most importantly though, readers get a look into Ryang-Ha’s past as he recalls the betrayal that has set the story so far in motion.

This volume improves on the first by filling in plot holes along the way. We learn a lot about both Ryang-Ha and Chateau both individually and how they may intersect beyond the contract on Ryang-Ha’s head. Additionally, it seems that Ryang-Ha’s feelings for Chateau are real, or at the very least come from a genuine place. While Chateau’s silence and apologies could be read as indifference, her refusal to turn him in shows that there is at least some reciprocity.

 Love of Kill Volume 2 though, isn’t necessarily about the romance, but instead, about unraveling the mystery that was left on our plates at the end of Volume 1. And that isn’t a bad thing. Volume 2 manages to surpass the last volume and, in the last chapters, we see violence both enacted by our leads and that touched them in their past.

That said,  Love of Kill Volume 2 offers stellar action moments with Fe really showcasing their talent, capturing the impact of bullets and the spray from them well. Unfortunately, though, I’m still stunned by how easily Chateau is subdued, especially given her status as an assassin. To have her easily overpowered by men is frustrating and I’m not sure how much more of her getting beat up and injured I can take.

Ultimately though, Love of Kill Volume 2 is good, so much so that I can’t wait for the anime to debut. While I have my issues with how Fe characterizes Chateau, more damsel than badass, I am open to where the story will go. Volume 2 sheds light on a lot of questions, but it also ends on a cliffhanger that makes me need to read Volume 3.With strong opening and closing chapters, the past is just as powerful as the present to Love of Kill, and I need to see more.

 Love of Kill Volume 2 is available now wherever books are sold.