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A review by dorinlazar
Claymore, Vol. 11 by Norihiro Yagi
5.0
I think this is where the animated series ended - the last stand of the band of half-awakened Claymores against the abyss creature's underlings. They don't stand a chance. The fight scenes are complicated, they might really take a lot to understand completely - luckily, it's not necessary - the point goes across. This is where the black and white and the lack of distinctive identification marks on the Claymores works against the series.
Second reading - the fights are definitely clearer, especially if you took the time to bond a bit with the characters. Seeing them lose, one by one, doesn't offer much space for emotional involvement - however, there are a few moments that hit hard. Undine dying (previous book), and Deneve picking up her extra-sword is one moment. Clare, overexerting herself, again, unforgettable. Miria, again. And feeling them lost in a sea of awakened ones... it feels hard. It feels unfair.
The choice of having Priscilla - a very affected Priscilla - count them out one by one, again, strikes hard. Raki, beside her, not knowing what she talks about, again. Us, the readers, dreading the death of the Claymores... again. This really was a lot better during a second, more attentive reading.
Second reading - the fights are definitely clearer, especially if you took the time to bond a bit with the characters. Seeing them lose, one by one, doesn't offer much space for emotional involvement - however, there are a few moments that hit hard. Undine dying (previous book), and Deneve picking up her extra-sword is one moment. Clare, overexerting herself, again, unforgettable. Miria, again. And feeling them lost in a sea of awakened ones... it feels hard. It feels unfair.
The choice of having Priscilla - a very affected Priscilla - count them out one by one, again, strikes hard. Raki, beside her, not knowing what she talks about, again. Us, the readers, dreading the death of the Claymores... again. This really was a lot better during a second, more attentive reading.