Loveless, Volume 4

LOVELESS #4

by Yun Kouga

Quali sacrifici sei disposto a fare per amore? Cosa accade quando un ragazzo si trova ad avere a che fare, sin dal suo primo giorno di scuola, con omicidi, tradimenti, sacrifici, responsabilità, ambigue relazioni amorose, combattimenti pericolosi, abusi, solitudine e tormenti? Aoyagi Ritsuka dovrà affrontare tutto ciò, ancora turbato per la morte sei fratello Seimei, avvenuta per mano di una potente organizzazione chiamata Settima Luna...

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Yaoi, Romance, Comics, LGBT

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Riki (˶˃⤙˂˶) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25💫

This series really makes me a little uncomfortable. It's like, yeah, I remember being 12 and angsty etc. But it just feels a bit bad reading this, especially with all the not-so-PG things, like self-harm and everything more or less sexual.

Yet, I still want to keep reading. The story's enticing, grabbing, and makes me want to know more. I like the magic system, it's pretty unique.

The art has it's moments. . . I guess. It's not awful, but it ain't that great either.

[Jody Mena]

Wonderful, as always - I just love Loveless! After all the angst, I think maybe Ritsuka is finally going to quit hesitating and become Soubi's sacrifice! That is, if Soubi will let him; it seems that Soubi, who wants so badly to be ruled and commanded, has found in Ritsuka someone he loves enough that he can disregard his own desires in order to protect him. I am smitten with Soubi's character, there is something sexy about a submissive with a forceful personality. I felt really very bad for all of the Zeros in this book, the younger ones are so insecure and with those dog ears, they seem like abandoned puppies. I'm not big into shoujo-ai, but the older Zero pair were so tragic. I'm glad they didn't actually kill themselves, and even though Ritsuka's indecisiveness sometimes irritates me, I'm glad he wouldn't let Soubi kill them. I was sure it couldn't end well, and I'm happy I was proved wrong, not only did Nagisa-sensei lose the wager, she lost both her Zero pairs. I wonder who Ritsuka's Loveless fighter unit is. I wonder if it could be Yuiko, since she was so doggedly determined to be his friend since the moment they met. Two fighter units both in love with the sacrifice they are devoted to - wouldn't that just be a wonderfully awkward and twisted love triangle! I can scarcely wait to get my hands on the next book!

[Siren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the zer0's. This manga is surprisingly dark for being a suburban fantasy about a 12 year old catboy.

[Amanda Hudgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: violence, self-harm

I think, it's possible, this might be the first volume of Loveless that I've read that doesn't involve a child kissing an adult, but only because it instead involves extensive amounts of violence and self-harm? The Zero series of fighters don't feel pain, so they instead feel obliged to slice themselves up with different weaponry.

The art in Loveless is quite good as well as the world building, which is probably why I continue to read it, even while I keep thinking "damn I wish this child was like 6 years older."

[Roxana Chirilă · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a small chance that we might find out how magic works in "Loveless". No worries, though, readers! It still hasn't been explained. It's all about not wavering and withstanding pain and controlling people completely, but nothing concrete. It's somewhat intuitive, and I kind of vaguely have an idea what's up with it, but that's that.

Otherwise, this volume was all about relationships - whether they're of friendship, or of romantic love. Touching, but still as messed up as always.

[Fatemeh · Rating 2 out of 5]

It feels like think are starting to get ready to become more. Nice.

[Shannon (Twilight Sleep) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bah. Despite the hype surrounding this manga/anime, I had a really hard time getting into it. It didn't hold my attention at all.

[Auburnimp Auburnimp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the anime series so had to read the manga. Finding out a lot more about the plot as I go along!

[Bradley · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a waste of a dollar. I like Gundam better than this mindless crap that makes no sense. To the garage sale with you!

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. After this volume, I'm finally starting to understand what's going on, and I'm finally starting to like it. It's a shame that it took four books to get to this point though. :/

[Kathy Wallen · Rating 1 out of 5]

August 11, 2025

I really wish that Soubi would die. He is such a creep.

It only took book four to finally explain, if only for one or two pages, how in the world the magic system works... and even then, it's very surface-level.

A battle is waged between two pairs of combatants. The fighter launches the offense, and the sacrifice receives the damage. Normally, you fight two-on-two. You know this part, right? The fighter opens the battle... then manifests his power in the form of spells...damage is accumulated in the form of restraints. When the sacrifice undergoes a complete restraint, he is unable to continue, and that's a loss. The fighter fights, but the sacrifice is in control of the battle. The fighter unit performs according to the will of the sacrifice.

That's... more than I knew before, but it only raises more questions. It makes sense for the sacrifice to take the damage, but why would the sacrifice be the one in control of the fighter? Wouldn't it be the other way around? There's also the subject of names, which is barely explained.

??

Oh, and how could I fail to mention these creepy thoughts...

When I touch him... it's warm. Skin gets in the way. This skin, that keeps me separated from you. I want to understand you from inside. I want to enter inside...

I'm pretty sure that this is coming from Soubi and directed toward Ritsuka. I wish that I could show you a picture, but the art shows Soubi making a move on Ristuka who appears to be backing off. THIS IS WEIRD, THIS IS CREEPY, THIS IS WRONG! THIS IS A GROWN MAN PREYING ON A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY!!



Honorable mention: I still couldn't distinguish most of the characters, especially the Zeroes. They all looked the same. The weird lighting choices where the characters' hair go from dark to light between panels is super confusing. I now appreciate artists who design their characters uniquely so that I can tell who is whom.

I hate this series...

[Gore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm beginning to read this book with less nostalgia lens and focusing more on the plot, which is not so clear. Yes, Ritsuka's brother killed by this organization of Septimal Moon and Soubi was his brother's fighter/slave, but it's been four volumes and we still don't know what is the purpose of Fighter/Sacrifice. And then there was the "second" Zeros. The first Zeros there can't be another set, but doesn't explain why. And I wanted to like Yamato and Koya, but they were gone as soon as they were introduce. I just feel there is more questions than answers, but it doesn't feel like a mystery. More like a messy plot.

[Dacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started this series I was a little confused and weirded out but now I totally love it!! I can't wait to read the next volumes. If you like anime with a hint of same sex couples, adventure, fighting, and mystery, this is definitely the series to choose!

[may · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why can’t Soubi be Loveless and not Beloved? I’m aching / sad existence the zeroes. Yamato and Konya were charming and courageous while Youji and Natsuo are savage babies / Osamu seems nice, is it a guy? I’m confused.

[Emily Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

i loved the first 3, but v4 was a bit slow? still good and beautiful though. my heart aches for all the fighters and sacrifices.

[Illy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I NEED SOME OF THAT GOOD YAOI SHIT. but really this series is so cute.

[Zibbernaut · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume we get an online game subplot coming in. Not sure what I think of that. I still remember this one from my childhood, not sure where I'll get to new territory.

[Angela Kocheshkova · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay
i finally made myself read up to the point where the anime stops. I'm a bit scared to read further cause I know shit is going to go down from now on but I think I'm finally ready

[Mosley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume started off a bit better but not by much and once again lost me.

[Katie Sapphire-Star · Rating 2 out of 5]

More characters introduced but still no clarity on the backstory. I'm struggling to get through this series now but will continue with the books I own at least.

[Wielbiciel Pierogów · Rating 5 out of 5]

.

[Yvensong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I know, I said I wasn't going to continue reading this series, but I was in a holding pattern last night, and needed something quick and easy to read before making a big exchange of books at the library today. I had bought this some time ago, which was why I picked up volumes 1-3 to read.

This volume surprised me a bit in that I enjoyed it more than I had enjoyed volumes 2 & 3. There were times it got a bit confusing, as characters look too similar to each other and sometimes it was difficult to figure out who the thought bubbles were actually for, but the story-line was more interesting.

Now to go put this volume up for sale at Half

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just LOVE the art in this series. I know, I know, I started reading with Vol. 4, but I had watched the anime series, and this volume happened to be where Vol. 2 of the anime left off. So of course, I had to read ahead... Also, the first 3 volumes are missing from my library, and I keep hoping they'll return, but I already ordered Vol. 1 online. Anyway, it's a really good story with amazing art!

[Luru · Rating 2 out of 5]

2½ stars.

The quality of the story hasn't changed; it's still a bit of a mess (unnoficial translation making everything a bit more difficult to follow), disjointed and filled with strange characters, and it feels like new elements are added before old ones have even been properly handled or established. Too much too fast and too much unnecessary mystery.

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here we learn a little more about the whole fighter-sacrifice. I would have liked more and earlier in the story but at least it's here. At this point it's really the drawings and the fact that it's easy to read when I'm bored that's keeping me reading. The plot is becoming clearer but the series still seems mediocre. I may continue reading here and there, maybe not. It will all depend on my mood.

[Bibliophile]

I fell in love with Yamato and Koya in the course of the volume and bawled my eyes out at the scene where they were no longer Zeroes. Granted, I thought they were going to die at first, but it was still emotional regardless.

[Sparrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is my favourite Loveless volume. The new Zero team is fascinating (after Soubi, they are my favourite characters). This volume studies Ritsuka and Soubi's relationship more deeply, while also looking at how the fighter and sacrifice relate.

[Debora M | Nasreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comunque Sobi mi fa incazzare, sappiatelo.
Mi fa fa veramente imbestialie.. non è solo un "sottomesso masochista", è anche irritante!
Se non fosse così sexy, e non sapessi che potrebbe piacergli, lo prenderei a sassate!

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh goodness... it's been a while. I owned this series up to book 8 in middle school and read them over and over again so much the binding nearly desintigrated. Might be time for a reread soon, for nostalgia's sake.