Watashi o Tabetai, Hito de Nashi, Volume 2 (私を喰べたい、ひとでなし) is a freakin’ brillant volume of a manga and I really hope someone (cough/Yen Press/cough) licenses it so you can read it. ^_^

In Volume 1, we met Hinako, a young woman crushed by PTSD from losing her family in a horrific car accident at a young age. Hinako meets, and is saved from a sea monster, by Shiori. Shiori, who is definitely not human, claims to be a mermaid and is here to eat Hinako when she, Hinako, matures.

In Volume 2, we learn that Hinako has one close friend who is always there for her, Miko. Miko appears to be jealous of Shiori, and in turn, Shiori appears to sense something from Miko. They warn each other away from Hinako, but a fight is brewing.

When the fight comes, it’s nothing we could have expected. Everything Hinako believes is thrown into question and the truth is far more complicated that she could have possibly imagined. What she will do with that truth is subject for the next volume.

The execution on this volume is outstanding. Timing, art, narrative, tension building…it all works to make one of the best final chapters in a single volume that I have read in years. We’ve all seen so many new friend/old friend jealousy scenarios in manga – and, probably, life – that it was easy to dismiss this as a slightly darker Usagi leaves Naru behind to hang with the Senshi, but….it it wasn’t. And what it was took me so completely by surprise that I had to back up and re-read the volume, to make sure I wasn’t missing any of the interactions.

Hinako now sees at least a part of the world around her much more clearly. What she will do with this knowledge compels me to get Volume 3, which hits shelves in Japan this weekend! The cover is giving nothing away. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8 Ominous and compelling
Characters – 8 The more we know, the less we know
Service – Blood. Violence. Monsters From the Deep. Secrets. More Monsters.
Yuri – Hinako’s BFF is possessive, Shiori is infatuating

Overall – 8

I cannot wait to read the next volume.