REVIEW: ‘Love of Kill’ Volume 3

An assassin love story is the whole focus of Love of Kill and it works, especially as the mystery of our leads’ past start to bubble up to the surface. The last volume ended on a cliffhanger that left Chateau kidnapped and Ryang-Ha left to save her. Love of Kill Volume 3 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.

Last volume, Chateau is captured by Hou which leads to Ryang-Ha tracking him down and taking her back in Love of Kill volume 3. Pistol in hand, Ryang-Ha confronts Chateau’s captor, who’s more than happy to accept his challenge. But Hou’s brought a knife to a gunfight, and Ryang-Ha’s never been one to show mercy. However, with Chateau’s whereabouts yet unknown, Hou has all the leverage he needs to find her. That said, Fe avoids completely making their protagonist a damsel in distress, allowing her to save herself.

While this may seem like a spoiler, the kidnapping is honestly the least of the story. Instead, the intrigue and interest in Love of Kill Volume 3 is the moment I’ve been waiting for: Chateau and Ryang-Ha’s cooperation coming to light. Of course, Chateau has been trying to keep her target at arm’s length while watching him, and well, using him to her benefit. But when that relationship comes to light, and a mysterious past begins to bubble to the surface, everything seems to get dicier. But in classic romance tension-building fashion, the two aren’t barred from seeing each other.

The plot for Love of Kill Volume 3 hits some pacing issues and I’m still put off by just calling a character “Indian Guy,” but the way that Fe balances tension building will-they-won’t-they with dynamic action sequences is top-notch. In fact, Fe knocks the genre-blending out of the park, becoming an action josei that I’m absolutely in love with. I’m rooting for Ryang-Ha and Chateau independently as characters and together as a couple at the same time. And on top of creating characters with trajectories that I’m invested in, all of Fe’s illustrations of action are phenomenal. Whether it’s showing off the ability to show violence that’s sinister or Mission Impossible explosions, there is a lot to love about the action here, and is something that will keep me coming back even if I end up waiting for 10 volumes to see a kiss.

Overall, Love of Kill Volume 3 has some stumble in its storytelling, but its art and romantic tension more than made up for it. In fact, I want to keep picking it up and encourage you to jump in as well before the anime comes out next year.

Love of Kill Volume 3 is available now wherever books are sold.