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Loveless (Omnibus edition) #2
Loveless Vol. 2: (2-in-1 edition) (Loveless
Through a video game, Ritsuka tracks down Septimal Moon, the organization responsible for his brother's death. Meanwhile, Soubi fights against two units that both call themselves "Zero" and who claim to feel no pain.
445 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2013
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154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 22, 2018
The weirdness continues! The series keeps on using the tropes of teenage action manga, complete with magic battles that nobody else seems to notice, while in the background everything is a mindfuck.
Have I mentioned that, in this world, kids have ears and tails which they lose when they first have sex? And people without tails and ears are seen as adults, creating an odd situation for people like Ritsuka's teacher, who's obviously still a virgin at 23 and is still seen partly as a kid? Yeah. It feels... uncomfortable to think about it, to say the least.
While neither the magic system, nor the world are explained (at least, not yet), some things are hinted at. As I mentioned in the review for the first "Loveless" omnibus volume, people fight in pairs in this universe. Half of the pair is the fighter, who wields magic through words, and the other half is the sacrifice, who gives the orders and bears the brunt of the enemy's attack, feeling the pain and the restriction inflicted. People don't get to choose who they pair up with - it's destiny, and destiny writes the name that both members of the team will bear somewhere on their bodies. For example, Soubi, the main character's fighter, has the name "Beloved" written on his neck.
Ritsuka, the main character, bears the name "Loveless" - although it doesn't seem to be written on him yet. He's a sacrifice, but he has no fighter - until Soubi shows up as a sort of gift from Ritsuka's brother, Seimei.
At this point, we have no idea how fighters learn to fight - there seems to be a school of fighting somewhere, which Soubi attended, but we don't know much about it other than that his teacher was a complete psycho who whipped him in order to teach him to withstand pain (and maybe worse).
Also, there's an organization called "Septimal Moon" which is made up of people who are into this fighting thing - one of them seems to be doing genetic experiments to create stronger pairs. She's manipulated genes to create individuals who can feel neither pain, nor temperature and who can therefore fight without wavering until their bodies collapse. Their names are always "Zero", and thus half a pair can be replaced if the other dies.
In this volume, two pairs of Zeroes come to attack Soubi (and Ritsuka, perhaps) - one is a pair of young brats, one of whom loves causing pain (perhaps because he can't feel it) and who don't seem very experienced. The other is a pair of seasoned warriors, two young women in love (who no longer have their ears and tails) and who would do anything for each other, even if their creator treats them like objects, rather than people.
It's sweet and twisted and messed up and probably not everyone's cup of tea.
Have I mentioned that, in this world, kids have ears and tails which they lose when they first have sex? And people without tails and ears are seen as adults, creating an odd situation for people like Ritsuka's teacher, who's obviously still a virgin at 23 and is still seen partly as a kid? Yeah. It feels... uncomfortable to think about it, to say the least.
While neither the magic system, nor the world are explained (at least, not yet), some things are hinted at. As I mentioned in the review for the first "Loveless" omnibus volume, people fight in pairs in this universe. Half of the pair is the fighter, who wields magic through words, and the other half is the sacrifice, who gives the orders and bears the brunt of the enemy's attack, feeling the pain and the restriction inflicted. People don't get to choose who they pair up with - it's destiny, and destiny writes the name that both members of the team will bear somewhere on their bodies. For example, Soubi, the main character's fighter, has the name "Beloved" written on his neck.
Ritsuka, the main character, bears the name "Loveless" - although it doesn't seem to be written on him yet. He's a sacrifice, but he has no fighter - until Soubi shows up as a sort of gift from Ritsuka's brother, Seimei.
At this point, we have no idea how fighters learn to fight - there seems to be a school of fighting somewhere, which Soubi attended, but we don't know much about it other than that his teacher was a complete psycho who whipped him in order to teach him to withstand pain (and maybe worse).
Also, there's an organization called "Septimal Moon" which is made up of people who are into this fighting thing - one of them seems to be doing genetic experiments to create stronger pairs. She's manipulated genes to create individuals who can feel neither pain, nor temperature and who can therefore fight without wavering until their bodies collapse. Their names are always "Zero", and thus half a pair can be replaced if the other dies.
In this volume, two pairs of Zeroes come to attack Soubi (and Ritsuka, perhaps) - one is a pair of young brats, one of whom loves causing pain (perhaps because he can't feel it) and who don't seem very experienced. The other is a pair of seasoned warriors, two young women in love (who no longer have their ears and tails) and who would do anything for each other, even if their creator treats them like objects, rather than people.
It's sweet and twisted and messed up and probably not everyone's cup of tea.
September 9, 2014
~4/5
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I am really, really enjoying this series. I remembered this series being good, yaoi-like, but confusing. Now I’m reading it with a more mature mind, with more focus, so it’s a lot less confusing (although there are still some things…).
It’s also a lot better than I remember. For instance, I really like Ritsuka. I feel bad for him for certain things, like his mother, and I understand and sympathize with his confusion, his not knowing what’s happening or what he wants. I really like how he’s dealing with it, and watching him figure things out and try to take charge. I’m looking forward to seeing him grow up more, to mature.
I like Soubi, too. He’s fun, although sometimes frustrating and saddening with what he’s doing with Ritsuka, and what he’s not telling Ritsuka. I feel like there’s more to Soubi, and I want to know what it is.
Then there are other, more minor, characters, and they’re all really good, and really easy to like. I love how the relationships are building, how the plot is forming around them. It’s really enjoyable to read.
On that note, I am still unsure where the yaoi elements are going. Because they’re quite apparent between Soubi and Ritsuka, but maybe they’re not thinking of them quite like that, or something? I don’t know, I feel like I’m missing something there. Then there’s the age different, which I guess isn’t as big as it seems. Ritsuka is younger than he looks, and Soubi is a lot younger than he looks, and that just messes me up. Ritsuka looks like he should be sixteen, maybe, and Soubi like twenty-five, maybe, and yet they’re twelve and, I think, (around) seventeen. It messes me up every time I remember.
Then there’s the whole game and spell-fighting thing, which is a confusing blob that is slowly starting to make sense. A good amount was explained here, but I’m still not sure of the logistics, or the reason for why. Or how they can fight and then be amicable afterward. It’s just not clicking with me yet, but I hope it will soon.
I’m loving the buildup of everything, though. Seeing the characters develop and grow, watching the plot expand and reveal itself, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more, to figuring more out.
Also, as a sidenote: I love the nice, big, color-paged editions of this book. They’re just so pretty, the color-pages are so nice. I don’t have many big, colored editions of books, so I like looking at these ones.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I am really, really enjoying this series. I remembered this series being good, yaoi-like, but confusing. Now I’m reading it with a more mature mind, with more focus, so it’s a lot less confusing (although there are still some things…).
It’s also a lot better than I remember. For instance, I really like Ritsuka. I feel bad for him for certain things, like his mother, and I understand and sympathize with his confusion, his not knowing what’s happening or what he wants. I really like how he’s dealing with it, and watching him figure things out and try to take charge. I’m looking forward to seeing him grow up more, to mature.
I like Soubi, too. He’s fun, although sometimes frustrating and saddening with what he’s doing with Ritsuka, and what he’s not telling Ritsuka. I feel like there’s more to Soubi, and I want to know what it is.
Then there are other, more minor, characters, and they’re all really good, and really easy to like. I love how the relationships are building, how the plot is forming around them. It’s really enjoyable to read.
On that note, I am still unsure where the yaoi elements are going. Because they’re quite apparent between Soubi and Ritsuka, but maybe they’re not thinking of them quite like that, or something? I don’t know, I feel like I’m missing something there. Then there’s the age different, which I guess isn’t as big as it seems. Ritsuka is younger than he looks, and Soubi is a lot younger than he looks, and that just messes me up. Ritsuka looks like he should be sixteen, maybe, and Soubi like twenty-five, maybe, and yet they’re twelve and, I think, (around) seventeen. It messes me up every time I remember.
Then there’s the whole game and spell-fighting thing, which is a confusing blob that is slowly starting to make sense. A good amount was explained here, but I’m still not sure of the logistics, or the reason for why. Or how they can fight and then be amicable afterward. It’s just not clicking with me yet, but I hope it will soon.
I’m loving the buildup of everything, though. Seeing the characters develop and grow, watching the plot expand and reveal itself, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more, to figuring more out.
Also, as a sidenote: I love the nice, big, color-paged editions of this book. They’re just so pretty, the color-pages are so nice. I don’t have many big, colored editions of books, so I like looking at these ones.
May 23, 2019
Got this edition for a proper re-read, as my first (s...) were, as expected, via terrible scans ages ago.
Loveless is still Loveless, and that won't change no matter how long it's been. I knew what to expect from the start - what even is a plot, kinda better than it sounds, still a pile of garbage shota bs for literally no reason (what was the problem with making Ritsuka not such a /young/ child from the start??? the whole thing is forbidden and complicated even w/o adding that factor in, sigh).
I'll say these omibus editions are fantastic though - loved having all the extras in one place, the color pages, and the comfort of purchasing most of the saga in a more affordable, easy way.
Loveless is still Loveless, and that won't change no matter how long it's been. I knew what to expect from the start - what even is a plot, kinda better than it sounds, still a pile of garbage shota bs for literally no reason (what was the problem with making Ritsuka not such a /young/ child from the start??? the whole thing is forbidden and complicated even w/o adding that factor in, sigh).
I'll say these omibus editions are fantastic though - loved having all the extras in one place, the color pages, and the comfort of purchasing most of the saga in a more affordable, easy way.
September 12, 2021
After a pretty interesting first omnibus, the second omnibus volume of Loveless, containing volumes 3 & 4, gets even more interesting. The art continues to impress, and after some boring chapters at the beginning, the story continues to get better and better. By the end of the omnibus, it seems that important stuff is going to start happening. The bonuses are pretty funny as well! Sadly, due to the slow start, I’m going to give the second omnibus for Loveless a 4.5 out of 5. Pretty good stuff, and I might check out the anime (which apparently stops at the end of this omnibus), but I haven’t decided on that yet. We’ll see, and I’m excited to read more for sure!
September 9, 2021
These volumes were, very boring. They had 3 fights with basically the same villains, nothing about the overarching mystery was revealed and the author just spent filler drawing all the characters as 12 years old😷😷 Why are these people even fighting each other? I actually like the tone and aesthetic, but that’s all that carries it.
June 13, 2022
How do I put this?
The plot? Getting better, the other ships? On point!
The main ship (??) I’m still uncomfortable, but at least Soubi has said that he wont do anything to Ritsuka till he is off age, which has a little relief of my unconfortness.
Also the little snips of 12 y/o Soubi and 12 y/o Ritsuka having a crush on him got me 🥹 (childhood crushes are cute)
The plot? Getting better, the other ships? On point!
The main ship (??) I’m still uncomfortable, but at least Soubi has said that he wont do anything to Ritsuka till he is off age, which has a little relief of my unconfortness.
Also the little snips of 12 y/o Soubi and 12 y/o Ritsuka having a crush on him got me 🥹 (childhood crushes are cute)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2023
Also got this one from a charity shop not realising what it was … Maybe it’s because most people who read this were young teens and the age gap didn’t seem like such a big deal to them at the time but being a 26 year old all I can say is EW and YIKES
December 4, 2018
I love the plot of this series as well as the art.
FIVE STARS!!! (again)
FIVE STARS!!! (again)
December 16, 2012
My review for V3 can be read @ http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
My review for V4 can be read @ http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
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This omnibus volume was provided to me by VIZ Media, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in my reviews are my own.
My review for V4 can be read @ http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
-----------------
This omnibus volume was provided to me by VIZ Media, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in my reviews are my own.
March 5, 2014
Still gorgeous, and more captivating than the previous two volumes. Still, I'm not huge into yaoi so that aspect does nothing for me. I'm interested to learn more about Ritsuka's brother and his death, and that seems to be something that is taking more of the foreground, so...3.5. Not bad.
February 5, 2015
Now the story is starting to pick up! I love the fact that the omnibus ones have the little loveless limited edition booklet pages included. Osamu was funny, I think that was my favarite part. Where is Ritsukas name??? Hmmmmm
October 29, 2024
Original concept and beautiful art.
August 26, 2014
These are my favorite volumes in the series! Yun Kouga really made my heart zing.
March 4, 2018
(3.5) Soubi why must you do these things to Ritskuka??? I couldn’t put it down. It had me feeling many things for many different characters. Can’t wait to read the next volume. Hope it had as good character development and feels as this one did.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews