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Vampire Game #2
Vampire Game, Vol. 2
The vampire game unfolds as Ishtar and Duzell journey to La Naan, accompanied by Ishtar's increasingly frustrated protector Darres. It's festival time in La Naan, as the kingdom's famous martial arts competition kicks off. Among the competitors are three strong possibilities for carrying the soul of Phelios, the three princes of La Naan. As the competition is know for being extremely brutal and violent, a lot of blood will be spilled, including the blood of the princes. A lot of blood that may reveal - after Duzell has tasted it - the identity of Phelios's reincarnation. As Duzell attempts to find his nemesis, Ishtar manages to complicate matters by promissing to wed whichever prince wins the tournament. With the Queen's loutish son Vord the expected winner, it will be up to Darres to save Ishtar from a true marriage of inconvenience.
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 29, 2019
the relationships and pedegree is difficult to keep up with. why can't anyone have their feelings returned in this series? really! i mean, i don't think i have ever read this many one-sided loves, ever. i mean, i don't think it's statisically possible to have so many unrequieted loves. plus, isthar makes such a big deal about no one asking her about who she wants to marry, but no one asks darres how he feels about isthar. does it cross their minds? nope.
2019: At this point, we are nowhere near complicated. But yeah, 2009 review is spot on for the series.
2019: At this point, we are nowhere near complicated. But yeah, 2009 review is spot on for the series.
December 25, 2017
I can't be sure, but I suspect that this is not a very good translation. That's just a guess on my part, since this Japanese fantasy world is full of American pop culture references and modern (for 2003) day slang. Some of the stranger ones include "Jolly blonde giant" (like Jolly Green Giant), "Hottie", and "Pretty Boys" (which sounded odd in the scene and I'm convinced it was probably originally "girly men" or possibly even "women").
The story itself is okay at best, and the meh translation from Tokyopop does it no favors. As much as I want to like this one, it just doesn't do it for me.
The story itself is okay at best, and the meh translation from Tokyopop does it no favors. As much as I want to like this one, it just doesn't do it for me.
August 4, 2018
I'm loving this!
December 9, 2017
Much as I loved Book 1, Book 2 managed to surpass it, building upon what had already been established.
This is exactly what a sequel in an excellent manga series should do, although it doesn’t always happen. It did with Vampire Game, Volume 2.
Ishtar continues to be impulsive and mischievous, moving the plot forward with her schemes and careless honesty, driving Darres, Jill, and Krai nearly mad, making me laugh my head off. The one who knows the princess’s mind best is her vampire cat, Duzzel.
After all, he spends a great deal of time posing as her, getting into no end of amourous mishaps with her eager suitors. Not that he’s exactly unwilling. After all, getting closer to them means getting closer to Phelios and revenge.
With this in mind, he faces the three princes of La Naan, all intent on marrying him, err, Ishtar, not that Ishtar is doing anything to clear up the gender confusion and mistaken identity. If anything, she’s enjoying it entirely too much.
The youngest prince is Vord. The manga begins with a gorgeous image of him with Ishtar (unless it’s Duzzell) tangles up in an embrace with mythological along with romantic overtones. Vord is the Lady Ramia of La Naan’s favorite son, enjoying a good fight and big goals of world domination. He’s curiously bluff and straight forward about his scheming. It’s hard to say whom Vord desires more, Ishtar or Duzzell, since it’s Duzzell he ends up kissing.
The second prince Ishar meets is the oldest, Seliez, more beautiful than any princess and much better looking in a dress. Seliez causes even more gender confusion than Ishtar and Duzzell does, making Ishtar’s guards and vampire cat alike drool over him.
Seliez is his mother’s least favorite and far more vulnerable than his bold, cross dressing stance reveals. This makes him far too pliable when facing Ishtar’s cheerful companionship and a mysterious vampire’s kiss.
No, it’s not Duzzell. The shapeshifting cat isn’t the only vampire playing a game and they’re not necessarily on the same side. It’s a game that hard to distinguish while dealing with princes and their plots.
The third suitor Ishtar has to deal with is the middle brother, Laphiji, mysterious, spooky, and exotically beautiful. In truth, he cares more about making Seliez happy than Ishtar or the throne of Pheliostra.
Behind the three princes is the haughty Lady Ramia, determined to see one of her sons married to Ishtar and on the throne, although she’s hoping it will be Vord.
The royalty of La Naan pit themselves against Ishtar and Duzzell, not realizing that they’re pawns themselves. The vampire remains a mysterious presence, claiming to serve this or that member, although he ends up favoring Seliez in more ways than one.
Poor Darres is quite outclassed, trying to protect Ishtar in the middle of this. He’s manipulated by Ishtar into facing her suitors in a single combat, with his princess and her throne at stake. Fortunately, he’s got Yujinn at his side via magic mirror. Yujinn is as canny as any of the schemers, plus he’s one step ahead of most of them. He can’t be too careful what he says to Darres via their mystical communications. They never know whom might be listening in.
Overall, this manga was another delightful blend of fantasy, vampires, heroes, and queerness, surprassing the first book in many ways. Vampire Game remains one of my favorite reads for all of these reasons.
This is exactly what a sequel in an excellent manga series should do, although it doesn’t always happen. It did with Vampire Game, Volume 2.
Ishtar continues to be impulsive and mischievous, moving the plot forward with her schemes and careless honesty, driving Darres, Jill, and Krai nearly mad, making me laugh my head off. The one who knows the princess’s mind best is her vampire cat, Duzzel.
After all, he spends a great deal of time posing as her, getting into no end of amourous mishaps with her eager suitors. Not that he’s exactly unwilling. After all, getting closer to them means getting closer to Phelios and revenge.
With this in mind, he faces the three princes of La Naan, all intent on marrying him, err, Ishtar, not that Ishtar is doing anything to clear up the gender confusion and mistaken identity. If anything, she’s enjoying it entirely too much.
The youngest prince is Vord. The manga begins with a gorgeous image of him with Ishtar (unless it’s Duzzell) tangles up in an embrace with mythological along with romantic overtones. Vord is the Lady Ramia of La Naan’s favorite son, enjoying a good fight and big goals of world domination. He’s curiously bluff and straight forward about his scheming. It’s hard to say whom Vord desires more, Ishtar or Duzzell, since it’s Duzzell he ends up kissing.
The second prince Ishar meets is the oldest, Seliez, more beautiful than any princess and much better looking in a dress. Seliez causes even more gender confusion than Ishtar and Duzzell does, making Ishtar’s guards and vampire cat alike drool over him.
Seliez is his mother’s least favorite and far more vulnerable than his bold, cross dressing stance reveals. This makes him far too pliable when facing Ishtar’s cheerful companionship and a mysterious vampire’s kiss.
No, it’s not Duzzell. The shapeshifting cat isn’t the only vampire playing a game and they’re not necessarily on the same side. It’s a game that hard to distinguish while dealing with princes and their plots.
The third suitor Ishtar has to deal with is the middle brother, Laphiji, mysterious, spooky, and exotically beautiful. In truth, he cares more about making Seliez happy than Ishtar or the throne of Pheliostra.
Behind the three princes is the haughty Lady Ramia, determined to see one of her sons married to Ishtar and on the throne, although she’s hoping it will be Vord.
The royalty of La Naan pit themselves against Ishtar and Duzzell, not realizing that they’re pawns themselves. The vampire remains a mysterious presence, claiming to serve this or that member, although he ends up favoring Seliez in more ways than one.
Poor Darres is quite outclassed, trying to protect Ishtar in the middle of this. He’s manipulated by Ishtar into facing her suitors in a single combat, with his princess and her throne at stake. Fortunately, he’s got Yujinn at his side via magic mirror. Yujinn is as canny as any of the schemers, plus he’s one step ahead of most of them. He can’t be too careful what he says to Darres via their mystical communications. They never know whom might be listening in.
Overall, this manga was another delightful blend of fantasy, vampires, heroes, and queerness, surprassing the first book in many ways. Vampire Game remains one of my favorite reads for all of these reasons.
July 26, 2025
I definitely enjoyed this volume more than the first one. I do feel that it bears saying that while this volume does seem to be taking the actual plot somewhere and adding additional layers to it for Ishtar's side of things, it still very much has slow-burn qualities to the pacing. I'm curious to see how much more layered it might get by the end of the series.
Furthermore, I do love the way the political intrigue is being set up. It would be very easy to simply keep this to the plot line of Duzell and his quest for revenge against Phelios, but JUDAL does clearly understand the importance here of building beyond that initial plot hook. And with the way that the focus does seem to stay on the political intrigue Ishtar is caught up in, I think it'll make things more satisfying when we finally reach the point of discovering Phelios's reincarnation. It's all tied together, so I appreciate the richness this has even this early on.
Furthermore, I do love the way the political intrigue is being set up. It would be very easy to simply keep this to the plot line of Duzell and his quest for revenge against Phelios, but JUDAL does clearly understand the importance here of building beyond that initial plot hook. And with the way that the focus does seem to stay on the political intrigue Ishtar is caught up in, I think it'll make things more satisfying when we finally reach the point of discovering Phelios's reincarnation. It's all tied together, so I appreciate the richness this has even this early on.
June 6, 2017
More interesting than the first. The plot thickens.
June 9, 2017
Another good volume.
February 5, 2022
Ah royal families, so messy.
November 12, 2025
Ishtar, omg she gonna be the death of Darres at this rate... I would agree with him she needs a royal spanking 😂
February 17, 2016
Princess Ishtar takes Duzell and Darres to her Aunt in La Naan. Her three cousins wish to marry her and Istar has declared that she will marry whichever of the three wins a martial arts tournament, fully confident that Darres will win and she won't have to marry any of them. Secrets abound as it turns out that at least one of the princes isn't even of the royal bloodline... Duzell is still on the hunt for Phelios' re-incarnation.
Court intrigue, wizards, princesses, forbidden love, cats, vampires and more cross-dressing than a gay pride convention, this series is a guilty pleasure from start to finish.
Court intrigue, wizards, princesses, forbidden love, cats, vampires and more cross-dressing than a gay pride convention, this series is a guilty pleasure from start to finish.
June 20, 2015
I was the saddest person ever when I accidentally misplaced this volume in my car. The way the car's location and my extremely particular schedule lined up, I had to be separated from this manga for several days on end.
BUT NOW WE'RE BACK TOGETHER!! I really enjoyed this volume, and obviously I can't judge the entirety of everything based on only two volumes, but I'm really liking this series too. I've become used to the art, and can now appreciate it.
Basically I just want to say that the plot is forming uniquely and interestingly, and I can't wait to read the next volume!
BUT NOW WE'RE BACK TOGETHER!! I really enjoyed this volume, and obviously I can't judge the entirety of everything based on only two volumes, but I'm really liking this series too. I've become used to the art, and can now appreciate it.
Basically I just want to say that the plot is forming uniquely and interestingly, and I can't wait to read the next volume!
Read
August 5, 2011The series as a whole was good in the beginning. Very funny and intriguing. I love romances where the characters have loved each other forever but have never told each other or something like that. lol The series declines in quality, I think towards the end. There are too many characters in too many places and things get a little confusing.
April 5, 2014
Ngakak abis2an liat kesalahpahaman bawahannya Darres yg mengira Darres itu gay! Ekspresi muka para bawahannya Darres itu...sooo priceless!! LOL XD
Dan pasangan yg dimaksud itu adalah si Yujinn yg cantik itu! Serasi juga sih mereka, lol...
Dan pasangan yg dimaksud itu adalah si Yujinn yg cantik itu! Serasi juga sih mereka, lol...
Read
June 9, 2010F JUD vg bk.1
January 21, 2016
Read prior to joining Goodreads.
Currently reading
May 7, 2012havnt read it yet. the first book was amazing though and Duzzell is so cute!!
April 7, 2014
getting better
October 28, 2011
to start off i think ill give it 4 stars
its pretty good!
its pretty good!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews