(Contains minor spoilers for this volume)

This was all about building tension, with the introduction of some more angels. I’d forgotten just how many angels there were.

Kurai learns from the dragon sister who can see into the future that without Alexiel, the “evils” (demons) will lose the war with heaven. However, the resurrection of Alexiel will kill Setsuna and incidentally the land the evils live on. So that’s a dilemma. But possibly unlike her trusted follower, Arachne, she is serious about the war with heaven.

Setsuna gets bullied at school, and just when he felt understood by his best friend, he learns some of that friend’s secret, casting him back into worse despair (and Alexiel makes an appearance in the spirit).

Sara has a moment where her mother and Catholic school gives her the big talk about sin and she reasons that then she should rip her heart out. Teenage Sara is being dramatic, but not as much as her surroundings. Her friendship with her best friend Ruri also wraps up and is disturbing.

And evil angel Rosiel wants to punish his henchman Katan by hiring another henchwoman, Kirie. And I laughed a bunch when she was introduced as top of her class and candidate to the archangel think tank.I think she’ll stay in the story, but I don’t remember if there are actual think tank meetings. I sure hope, though.

ok, this one is more tedious. the only fun parts r rly the horror and gay stuff, which is still here and there, but a little less prominent. its getting more into boring world building & plot, and introducing new and more boring characters ( )

Angel Sanctuary is a series I wanted very much to love. The art is breathtaking: gothic and detailed.

Kaori Yuki has a way, both artistically and narratively, of inverting our expectations. She makes the beautiful grotesque and the saintly evil. But the story is too complex, has too many layers. At every volume, I felt as though I had to reread all the rest or be hopelessly lost.

I can't capture the plots in one paragraph but let me try. Setsuna is in love with his sister (a little incest is a requirement of all Yuki's work). Their mother, oddly objects. They run off but after a brief happiness, Sara is killed. In his grief, Setsuna destroys the world. Kind of. Because it turns out that Setsuna is the reincarnation of an angel. After that it gets complicated. There are trips to hell, heavenly rebellions, hopeless romances, insane creatures of every allegiance.... The series questions the authority of god and heavenly order. Each character (and there were countless characters) is more twisted and complex than the last. Most fascinated me, none more than Kira, Setsuna's mysterious friend.

Like I said, by all rights I should have loved this series. I love the macabre and I think developed characters make a story. And I did enjoy it but if it had been 3 manga, it might have worked better. Yuki has done much better. ( )

It's getting a little easier to keep track of some of the characters... at least I know Rosiel is male. (I think.)

Storyline is growing more interesting... definitely a series I want to continue following. ( )