MANGA REVIEW | "Call of the Night" - Volume Nineteen
It’s hard to believe that within the in-story timeframe of Call of the Night, only three months have gone by. And yet, I’ve spent the last four years reviewing this series! So it feels bittersweet that it’s soon coming to an end, as we’ve got only two volumes left to cover of Nazuna & Ko’s tale. Volume Nineteen of Call of the Night sets the stage for the grand finale, one filled with realizations, growths, and goodbyes.
Let’s get into the thick of it with the big reveal: Nazuna is in love with Ko, and Ko believes he loves her back. That should be good news, but we all know that’s not the case. Vampires can’t drink the blood of those they’re in love with, as death will come to both parties. So what should Nazuna and Ko do? Well, for now, the two will simply enjoy each other’s company.
Watching these two hang out, talk, and open their hearts brings Call of the Night back to its more laid-back roots. How interesting it was for this lo-fi manga to suddenly turn into a battle series, with Kotoyama’s art demonstrating how great they are at showcasing fights. But now that the biggest issues have been resolved, readers can go back to enjoying the quieter aspects of this series, as a strong chapter involving a blackout shows just how much love & care Kotoyama puts into drawing Ko & Nazuna’s world.
There are some touch-and-go moments that occur before this big reveal. Nazuna’s fear of Ko growing closer to a female classmate, Anko taking Ko out on a late-night date to a certain famous theme park, and even Akira having to deal with her and Ko’s paths finally coming apart, maybe for good. These moments show how much everyone has grown since this series first started, as they’re becoming more okay with the situations that they are placed in. It sucks when people drift apart, but that’s just a part of life.
Even though there’s still one more volume to go after this, we’ve also got some goodbyes to deal with. At first, it’s a couple of secondary characters that played a role in the previous arc. But when Anko reveals she’s heading to Vietnam to continue her vampiric studies, it feels like this series is actually reaching its end. Perhaps it’s good that we’re already dealing with some farewells now, as I’m certain you couldn’t fit every single goodbye into one singular volume.
However, even with the finale in sight, there are still some strings left to untangle. Nazuna’s craving for blood is almost getting out of control, with her even trying to find outside sources to get her fill. It even reaches a point where she puts her life in danger, as she gets super close to biting on Ko’s neck during a moment of weakness. Then there’s Nazuna’s “brother”, who makes an appearance close to the end of this volume.
The clock is ticking on Call of the Night, and with just one volume to go, who knows what fate will bring to Nazuna and Ko. But as the nineteenth volume shows, the two are ready to dive into whatever life throws at them. Will Ko ever become a full vampire? Can Nazuna and Ko live happily ever after for all eternity? We’re very close to seeing just how this whole thing wraps up, and if Volume Nineteen is anything to go by, Call of the Night is bound to make it both complicated and — at the very least — entertaining for all to read.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
