I feel like my watching the anime the day before left the manga to be much desired. It does not get across all of the same themes as the anime and almost feels like it misses the point sometimes because it wanted to diverge from it. Ultimately, in forging its own path it made for an OK manga, whereas the anime is a master class.

It got a lot better about halfway in. There is some definite slut shaming, which was weird because I assumed that would maybe become a source of empowerment for Alina but it didn’t. Mal was annoying, the magic system is interesting but not explained. I don’t know anything about Russian culture but I think I could have taken or left then inclusion of the Russian things in the fiction, usually it’s set dressing stuff.

I thought the banter was usually good and in general liked the warnings about powerful men like the darkling (aside from the weird ass slut shaming). Enjoyed seeing Alina find herself some more and do some badass stuff, the ending was pretty good. Overall, I liked it.

While the run is still the most interesting hulk story I’ve read, it gets a bit weird in this volume. The first two volumes especially are pretty amazing, only natural it would switch it up. But it shifts gears into a weird kind of, almost b level horror thing. Not my thing as much. Still enjoyed it though.