Blood Stain, Volume 4

Blood Stain #4

by Linda Šejić

Elliot Torres finally found a job she can keep and Vlad Stein finally found an assistant worth keeping. Turns out, things are looking up for both of them. However, on the crossroads where overactive imagination meets sleep deprivation, the mundane life turns unpredictable. Vlad finds himself in desperate need of assistance, luckily assistance is in Elly's job description. Together, they are about to face their first great hurdle in this new volume of Blood Stain.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Ebooks

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 7, 2023

About the author

Linda Šejić is a Croatian artist and illustrator.

Reviews

[Anne]

I liked it more than I thought I would.



We learn more about Elliot and her boyfriend, which is sweet. But Elliot is still spinning and spiraling waaay too much over just nonsense when it comes to her job. Just overthinking every little thing in a way that seems almost impossible to fathom.
If there are truly people out there like her, then I'm not sure how they function in society.
I can't relate to her up-her-own-ass neurosis because it seems as though it's trying to be portrayed as being almost cute. There's nothing funny here, and Elliot is apparently nothing more than some twee girl who needs to stop worrying what everyone thinks.



The title is misleading, too. It makes you think that this is somehow a funny horror comic.
It's not.
In fact, I don't know what this is supposed to be. I don't even know what the hell Vlad Stein does in his lab besides sleep and supposedly say creepy things on accident.
Is this what webcomics are?
However.
The last few pages of this all of a sudden started to bring the story together. Elliot has to help Vlad in his classroom, and they sort of bond. Like, all of a sudden, we start to see a little bit of an actual story emerge.

Huh. I think I may just continue with this one.

[Andrew✌️]

I’ve waited a long time for the new volume of this exciting series and it didn’t disappoint me. The story continues by expanding the sceneries, no longer limited to just the house, but also to the academic sphere of Dr. Stain and new characters.

Once the characters, their background and their small and big flaws have been described in the previous volumes, the story develops further, without ever being repetitive, nor losing that sense of humor that has accompanied it up to here. A little slow at first, now it seems to finally take off.

Great story and beautiful artwork, as always!

[Fefyy Antela]

I LOVE THESE PEOPLE SO MUUUUUUUUUUCH!!!

[Matt]

Elliot ‘Elly’ Torres has been hired officially as Vlad Stein’s assistant, she finally has a steady job but now both she and Vlad need to figure out how to communicate and work together. Blood Stain Volume Four begins the second arc in Linda Sejic’s webcomic series as Elly and Vlad not only figure out how to work together but also figure out how to get their own lives figured out as well.

The book focuses on the next stage of Elly and Vlad working relationship—something Serge stresses needs to be done before leaving with his girlfriend—which basically means communicating each other’s insecurities with the other. Sejic moves away from the comedic misunderstandings phase into grown-ups working together phase very well and allows the story to branch out, namely how Elly’s job is affecting her relationship with her boyfriend and family while we begin to see what Vlad’s professional life is like and keeping his primary job becomes the focus so Elly can keep being his assistant. As always Sejic’s art is amazing and while the focus of the humor shifts, there are still nice little gags like the Vlad-dragon that appear but in a new frame of reference.

Blood Stain Volume Four basically sees Linda Sejic showing the fallout from the previous story arc and shifting to the new one doing so very well.

[Val]

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT VOLUME

def gonna be reading this on webtoon so I get a notif everytime the author posts
READ THIS IS SO FUN ISTG

[Chris]

This is a series that's taking it's time to build up a setting and interesting story. It feels like from volume to volume that not a lot happens until you look back at where it started. A lot of seeds have been visibly planted and more have been hinted at. I'm very interested in seeing where this goes and the beautiful artwork just makes the story that much more enjoyable

[Kati]

I enjoyed this volume of Blood Stain and Elly and Vlad are making a professional connection finally. The timeframe as always seems off, but I like their relationship as they figure out how to work together.

[Jay]

I'm glad I continued. They finally talk to each other! No more miscommunications! This volume was great.

[Brooke]

4.75 stars!

NOOOOOOOOOO I NEED VOLUME 5 NOW. ASAP. PLEASEEEEEEE!!!!! This one was soooooo good too and that ending?! Precious!! Although I really do hope Vlad will take Elly's offer and let her help him out more in the next volumes 🤞

[Tamara]

A good continuation of the other volumes
we are finally starting to see more of the story, instead of just characters introduction.
There was a lot of Stein and Elly interactions which was nice to see

This story is definitely a slice of life story , with fun characters and great art work

I look forward to seeing Stein and Elly grow in their work relationship.

[47Time]

Elliot can't catch a break. She is happy for her first partial paycheck, but a new challenge arrives. Serge leaves the house with his girlfriend Patrice, so now Elliot is alone with Stain. Their conversation soon devolves into shouting, but they are a great deal more honest about their impressions of one another. It helps them understand each other's fears and hopes. In the end they reach common ground. It's off to the shops for some essentials.

Stain drives a souped up jalopy that should not be as fast as it is. Elliot finds the trip enjoyable. She still worries about her new job and wants to keep certain details from her sister and family.

The Stain household celebrates Serge's birthday with food and drinks. Elliot then talks with her boyfriend Daniel who mentions he got promoted. He hopes the two of them can soon move in together and start a family. Unfortunately, Elliot isn't prepared for such an impactful move.

Her first real challenge comes when Stain is at his college workplace and needs some notes he forgot at home. She must use Serge's car to drive to the college, while it's raining. Stain himself is concerned he will lose the respect of another class of students if he doesn't do a good job. Elliot arrives just as Stain's students leave. The real problem is that the college dean is appaled at Stain's failing performance. It has reached even the Department of Education that is sending someone to attend his classes and decide if he gets to keep teaching or not.

Stain explains to Elliot that his accusors tell the truth. He has been performing badly because of having to split his time between teaching and researching. Elliot is more than eager to help out. She doesn't want to go job hunting again.

[Sofia Boquist]

Was I the only one thinking there would’ve some sort of romance between Vlad and Elliot? It seemed like it will be but in that case it must be incredibly slow burn because four volumes in and we still haven’t gotten anywhere and Elliot is still together with Daniel… so either something will happen between them or this wasn’t a romance to begin with.

[BookBoo]

⭐ 3/5

I wouldn't say it was worth it to get to this book, but this book felt more well-rounded than the last three combined. I enjoyed the setup, the issue, and the resolution factor of this book. Even though doctor Vlad and the FMC, Elliot, were annoying at first, they got to a sound ending in their communication towards each other and I enjoyed seeing growth in stories, and its narrative.

[Jester, King's Favorite Fool]

It's been years since I read the previous volume, but I still remember what happened. This volume is great. Three days have passed since Eliot moved, and she has finally found a stable job. There are more Eliot/Vlad moments. He doesn't threaten to fire her as much this time, and Eliot becomes less intimidated by him as the days pass.

The book is not tagged as a romance, but I'm still unsure if it is. The author has Eliot and Vlad set in a fantasy universe in her other series called Punderworld. If Blood Stain is a romance, I would have enjoyed it more if Eliot didn't already have a boyfriend—one she had known since childhood. If Eliot and Vlad are going to be endgame, I'm not rooting for them as much.

Note: Using new rating system starting 2025.

[Katka Olajcová]

Ďalšie skvelé pokračovanie (aj keď som to čítala priebežne, ako to vychádzalo na webtoons).
Takže Elly je prijatá, vyhodená a znova prijatá. S Vladom sa od srdca pohádaj- ehm, porozprávajú a všetko je skvelé. Konečne sa nám začína niečo diať. Vlad má toho na svojich pleciach priveľa a hrozí mu vyhadzov. Takže teraz môže Elly konečne ukázať, čo v nej je.
Ako obyčajne, skvelé. Dialógy - super, ilustrácie - super, dejová linka - super, vtipy - super. Už, aby bolo pokračovanie!

[Amanda]

I love the potential that this story has. The pace at which this is going though… talk about slow. Will I keep reading? Yes, I’m hooked. I just would love for something to happen with these two. The comic is ongoing on Webtoon if you’d like to read it there and support the creator before this volume comes out.

[KV]

Honestly heading towards a 4.5 now that it's finally picking up.

I really enjoy this series. It's sweet, I relate to the struggles the characters have (I have autism and adhd and I see some of those traits in them), the creator seems to have gotten settled into a pace, the art is beautiful. I think this is one of my favorite slice of life comics in a bit.

[Emily]

Elly and Vlad finally start communicating in this one and there's more detail about Vlad's life outside of the lab, as well as a glimpse into his past. I checked to see if the web comics continue past the volume 4 ending, but alas, no. Looks like Sejic is taking a break from the series to work on a different one, but has more planned for the fall. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[Dan Slaughter]

These books have grown on me. I wish that Elliot was not so helpless and the BF is abusive and controlling. As someone who people hate because I am different it has a special place in my heart. I hope they get to finish the series.

[Julia Norge]

The fourth volume of this amazing story is still ongoing on Webtoon, and I cannot wait for the next episode.

[Mari]

3.5⭐
AL FIN, este estuvo mucho mejor, me gusta que ahora Elly entro un poco más en confianza con el doctor; character development lol

[Barbara]

Idk i was lowkey bored...

[Bookheart.Dreams]

3.50

[Andrea]

4.5

[Courtney]

This series is growing on me the more I read it.

[Lex]

the pace slows down this volume... I'm looking forward to the next one that's hopefully a little more exciting!

[Mayar Mahdy]

I read this 4 years ago, so I went back to reread it when this volume came out. I love how the story is finally moving along and we're seeing more of the characters' lives.

[Erica]

3.5 stars. This series is incredibly slow moving and has yet to deliver in the promise of its premise, but it's fun

[Latoya Harrell]

Great

I was wondering how this would work out. I'm glad she got the job and he now has a great assistant.

[KJ]

*3.5?