REVIEW: ‘Love of Kill,’ Volume 6

Love of Kill is now a hit anime this season and the series meets the animation’s mystery and danger. However, in Love of Kill Volume 6, the mystery begins to clear itself up, at least as far as the past is concerned. Last volume, Ryang-Ha found himself back with the people who trained him and set him on his life of assassination. Having turned himself over to save Chateau, the latter refuses to allow him go down and rushes to save Ryang-Ha. Of course, this leaves her with some mess of her own. Now, in Love of Kill Volume 6, Chateau and Ryang-Ha find themselves on the run, together and completely reliant on each other.

Love of Kill 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. Although Chateau and Ryang-Ha have escaped from Donny’s mansion, Chateau is determined to hunt down the man who threatens her family and coworkers. That is, however, one wish Ryang- Ha absolutely won’t grant.

Aware of the danger that this path leads towards, he can’t help but stand in her way. Desperate to stop her, he gives her the final shove needed to crack open the memories she has of their shared past. That said, the Ryang-Ha she remembers is not the one who stands before her and Fe details the past and how he got here.

Love of Kill Volume 6 has a lot of story stuffed into it, and while that isn’t a bad thing, it does leave a bit to be desired. The volume answers questions you weren’t sure you needed to ask and expands on one of the manga’s best characters. But in that, Love of Kill Volume 6 belongs to Ryang-Ha. While that isn’t inherently a problem, the amount of work gone into leaving Chateau, a capable assassin, in a position to be saved and pitied just doesn’t land.

Ryang-Ha becomes more interesting, more damaged, and more active in this volume. On the other hand, Chateau is a thing to be kept, someone to be saved, and seems to have lost all agency she had in the series’ beginning. That said, Fe’s art remains extremely strong. The action in the series continues to be dynamic, and the darkness is perfectly balanced with the humor in the series. Fe’s ability to weave emotion into the action is a great addition to the story and gives it strength. This is especially true when it comes building out Ryang-Ha’s past.

To put it simply, Love of Kill Volume 6 gives us answers on the mysterious Ryang-Ha, his connection to Chateau, and how their fates have to be intertwined. While I’m frustrated with how slow the romance is burning, the dynamic between the two characters and the way they oscillate between adorable moments and dark ones can’t be beaten. While I love this series and what it promises to bring to fruition, I’m exhausted seeing Chateau sidelined, and, even with my love Ryang-Ha, I’m starting to question continuing the series.

Love of Kill Volume 6 is available wherever books are sold digitally online and physically now.