Reviews

I like the reveal with the servants quite a lot. I think it was done very well.

I do not care for Miss Nina or the pedophilic way she acts towards Mey-rin and Ciel and Elizabeth. I would've rated the book five stars if she wasn't in it lol

I can't wait for Grell to finally come back, I miss her :( not that the soul reapers in this book aren't also cool, I just like Grell better.

directorpurry's review against another edition

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4.0

CW: gore, child death, implied pedophilia, fire, kidnapping
Actual rating: 4 stars because of some specific feelings I have about normalizing unwanted sexual advances as "funny" but just know it's 5 stars in my heart.

This definitely shows that Black Butler is more than the sum of its parts or its individual volumes.
This volume COULD have been five stars, but the last chapter kicked it down one. This volume is absolutely the most pure horror we've had yet in the series. There's some really visceral stuff here.
Also, even with the humor of the final chapter (a couple of specific jokes aside) there are some heartbreaking moments among the sweet. ❤️

Unfortunately, unwanted sexual touching are used once again as a joke. :/
In general, this volume also says, "Historical consistency whomst?!" and throws it all out the window.

Consistently one of my favorite parts of the authors notes at the end are Toboso's comments on language quirks and specific types of dialogue some of her characters have that can't quite be captured in English. I think it's super cool to learn about the dialects!

penstarling's review against another edition

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3.0

This book is really trying to do something with this cop who hates gay people and how maybe he can be turned around by the "right" gay people, and still be a good cop by hunting down murderers of gay people, even though he hates gay people. And IDK, maybe this flew better in 1987 when the book came out but whew it's a lot of shit now. I've also never loved mysteries where the "hero" is a cop, but so far I'm sticking with this series for the Seattle nostalgia, but if the garbage part of this series doesn't improve that might only be one more book.

emrysmerlyn's review against another edition

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5.0

This is by far the darkest volume yet. Decisions are made that really showcase how seriously Ciel takes his place as a directing force in the underworld. I'm not sure I can sympathize with the cold, yet surprisingly uncalculated, decision to burn the entire place down. Ciel knew he was intended to bring those kids out alive, and yet he did not even try directly speaking to them before giving them up as a lost cause. (I had a very distinct moment of dismay at his decision making, and have come to the conclusion that he probably does deserve to have his soul eaten by a demon.) Seriously, so many people whose deaths were completely avoidable... also, I have sympathy for the circus workers, really, but they attacked a house with the intention of killing the inhabitants and were angered when the inhabitants fought back.

I love Finny. He's my baby. The house staff are a delightful ensemble, but Finny has a special place in my heart. Whoever hurt him in the past should go rot.

_michelle_'s review against another edition

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4.0

I wanted to try and understand Ciel, but he really proved himself off his rocker this time around.

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