Manga: Compulsive Gambler 6

Compulsive Gambler Vol 6
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

The gambling games continue...and this next game has truly lethal consequences. Will Yumeko be able to figure out its secrets in time to keep from losing her life?

Sayaka has had just about enough of Yumeko Jabami! The student council secretary wants to rid the school of Yumeko's poisonous influence once and for all, so the president sets the stage for the craziest gamble yet-the enigmatic Tower of Doors! Will Sayaka's cold logic triumph over Yumeko's chaos? 

This volume really steps up the crazy, we're gambling again this volume, obviously, but we're not playing a card game or a regular kind of gambling game. This one's a race in a tower of doors and the loser has to throw themselves off the top. Lovely. I actually felt quite proud of myself for figuring out how it worked before Yumeko did for once! 

I still can't figure out the Student Council President, she seems to be loving all of this. It's her secretary Sayaka that's had enough and she's the one playing against Yumeko...for their lies. The President seems to actually be getting on quite well with Yumeko, they seem to get each other and I'm not sure if we're about to see a blossoming friendship between the two or not. 

Interestingly this volume mixes things up a bit, and we get mostly Sayaka's POV, which made it all the more tense because we can't see how Yumeko's doing except for in very brief flashes, and it didn't look good at any point. I was actually thinking, "Okay. This is it. This is where she comes unstuck. RIP Yumeko." We've all learned at this point that Yumeko isn't necessarily going to win. 

Sayaka was a pretty good POV, she provided plenty of interesting information as we follow her solving the puzzles. She really is quite intelligent and we get to see her background and her past with the President some more which explains a lot about her character. Let's be real though, she's a bit creepy. She has some serious feelings for the President but she's just a tad creepy with them. 

Volume 6 is pretty tense, but at the same time it feels like the calm before the storm. Especially as end with a bomb drop from the President that's going to send things crazy in the next volume! But of course Yumeko's going to love it! I am curious as to how far this series will go, and I'm waiting for Yumeko to take down the President.

Manga: Compulsive Gambler 5

Compulsive Gambler Vol 5
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

The Battle of the Stars may be finished, but the event is far from over! And what better way to tie up loose ends than...another gamble?! Choosing to go against Manyuda in her Public Match, Yumeko is now faced with a game called Choice Poker. But if the advantage lies with whoever has the bigger pot, can Yumeko manage to come out victorious against a student council member with near limitless pockets?! 

The battle of the stars is over but it all gets a bit Sherlock and Yumeko goes about revealing the anonymous person who interfered. It's safe to say the Student Council members are definitely having a crisis. Which you know...I had no problems with because Kaede is the shadiest mofo. I really don't like Kaede, I think he's a ****, and I haven't really liked him since the start, I've actually been waiting for him to get his. I was so ready for he and Yumeko to go head to head, and the volume picks up from where we left off...and it doesn't slow down at all. The Vice President is even thrown in to the mix. I was so on edge you guys! 

Yumeko...she really is insane isn't she? The art shows that whenever it comes to the gambling, but taking part in this game...this gamble...she's so insane. I had my hand over my face at one point like "why Yumeko? Why?!". Interestingly we get some insight in to Sumeragi and I actually quite felt for her. She's becoming quite the interesting character and I actually look forward to more of her! 

This volume is so tense, and we spend the whole volume like "what's the deal with the Student Council President?!" because after the reveals in this volume...there's definitely something going on and then there's the cliffhanger...this volume is certainly full of surprises and the plot seems to be heading in a certain direction. Nothing makes me quite as tense as a volume of Compulsive Gambler....

Manga: Compulsive Gambler 4

Compulsive Gambler Vol 4
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

The Student Council President is away, and the rest of the council will play...

Yumemi Yumemite is a super popular idol who's a big hit in the indie scene. Not only is she a student at the Hyakkaou academy, but she's also a member of the student council?! How will Yumeko do in a gamble with an idol?

This volume provides an interesting turn, as everyone seems pretty convinced that Yumeko is starting off a revolution against the President. I mean...she only really cares about gambling and playing games, but let's go with that! There's an interesting question at the end of the volume as well thanks to the preview! 

Yumemi is the latest Student Council member gunning for Yumeko, she's an idol as well, and she and Manyuda organise a rather public showdown with Yumeko. None of the council are happy about Yumeko beating two of their members and their trying to work out what to do next without the Presidents input because she's off on an "errand" to do with Yumeko. She's pretty much left them in charge. Yumemi is kind of deceptively normal but every bit as psych as the others, although probably down a peg or two from some of the others. She goes from cute to ugly/scary in seconds both personality wise and in how she's drawn. To be honest, she probably isn't the worst Council member, I could get where she was coming from with her dream, but she was kind of an a-hole. 

Itsuki makes an appearance again, remember her? She wants to join Yumeko and her squad to take down the President, and so begins an interesting storyline. She could be a funny addition, one of the slightly less psycho Council members, and Mary is hilariously not impressed with her. Throughout this volume Yumeko's squad do have some humorous banter amongst themselves. 

The gambling and gaming took an interesting turn this volume, Yumeko's opponent is an Idol and she's made the battle between the two quite public, so the games in this volume are twisted towards that. There's none of the usual card games, except for Old Maid. There's basically a giant game of tic tac toe and singing other idol related activities, which made for an interesting change and stopped the plot line from getting repetitive. 

The tension leads in to a deceptively happyish and kind of funny ending, with plenty of humour throughout the volume, but I don't think it's really over yet as someone appears to have had a hand in how things turned out, someone worked against Yumemi...and it could be someone shocking. 

I'm 99% sure the Student Council President is up to something, and it has me on edge, plus I'm still trying to work out what Yumeko's deal is. What exactly is she planning? Is she really only in it for the gambling or is this all part of her plan? This is another brilliant volume as we take down another member of the Council, people are definitely choosing sides, and it would appear a revolution is going to happen. But first Yumeko is going to have to deal with the President! 

Manga: Compulsive Gambler 3

Compulsive Gambler Vol 3
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Enduring the "Big Debt Settlement Meeting" together may have deepened the bond between Yumeko and Mary, but in this academy, friendships tend to be fragile. Having tasted victory, the pair suddenly find themselves prime targets. In the case of Yumeko, that would be the eyepatch-wearing Midari Ikishima. And just who's got Mary in the crosshairs...? In this third volume of the story about an academy filled with beautiful women, the concepts of good and evil are turned on their heads!

So, the Big Debt Settlement Meeting is over and Mary has her status back, will she hold a grudge against her bullies? You bet your ass she will. But that's just how the academy works really, isn't it? I've actually ended up really liking Mary and I was kind of hoping she and Yumeko would team up together but I'm out of luck it seems! 

This volume we get some interesting tidbits about Yumeko and she is definitely coming for the Student Council President....unfortunately on her way she gets cornered by the crazy Student Council Beautification chair woman. Ikishima. Which means it's time to play, and explain a new card game....but with a deadly twist. I genuinely feel like I could become quite the card shark thanks to this series. This is a seriously high stakes volume, and Suzui ends up featuring a lot which was interesting. 

Meanwhile Mary has a cosy chat with the Student Council President, and refuses an interesting offer. I'm so intrigued by Mary, like I was prepared to hate her but now I'm rooting for her and I'm really curious to know more about her and see if she teams up with the others and see what her end game is! 

Yumeko pulls off another brilliant and intelligent move. I love having the games and the cheats and strategy to each game explained. It's done so well and is a nice addition. The art is detailed and gorgeous and the characters get so ugly when they gamble, it's a brilliant touch. 

The story is moving forward at a steady pace, we know the characters. We know how the academy works, and we're seeing some unrest from Mary. One might even say rebellion. Yumeko is quite determined to go up against the Student Council President and she's still a bit of a mystery. The volume builds up the tension and switches between the two scenes that while both incredibly tense, are tense for different reasons. 

Will she accept the offer? Won't she? What happens if she doesn't? Will she win? Will she lose? Is she really going to die? The last volume proved that anything can happen and even our favourite won't always win, which set up a nice tension for this volume in particular. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat. 

Manga: Compulsive Gambler Vol 2

Compulsive Gambler Vol 2
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Losing big to a member of the student council, Yumeko finds herself deeply in debt and cast down to the rank of "house pet" in the Hyakkaou Academy hierarchy. With her future hanging in the balance, the student council tournament may be Yumeko's only shot at redemption. Teaming up with former rival Mary, currently suffering the same sub-human indignity, Yumeko and her new partner are prepared to go all in for another shot at the high life. But will luck favor these ladies...? 

I'm totally loving this series, it's brilliantly done and it really hooks you in! This volume kicks off with a nice, concise recap to remind us what happened and that Jabami is you know...completely crazy! She now has a huge debt and his a house-pet, she and Mary are sent sinister and quite frankly creepy, life plans that they have to follow if they don't pay off their debt. So you could say that things reaaallly took a turn for the sinister, more so than before. 

Suzui bless him, is trying to help her but he's not in this volume as much as the first. The main focus is very much on Jabami and her other unlikely friendship...or in this case comrade. Mary and Jabami team up for the tournament, their one chance to get rid of some of their debt and it is glorious. It's like the best team up ever and I was going "yaaaass" way too much as I was reading! 

Mary and Jabami make such an epic team, and I loved their interactions with each other and how they kicked Kiwatari's ass. They're both evil little geniuses. I'm hoping to see more of their new friendship in the coming volumes, and I'm envisioning a Three Musketeers type thing with the two of them and Suzui! 

I have to say, the thought that goes in to this manga is insane. Not only are the rules for each game explained clearly and concisely so you understand, but the characters play the game and often cheat and their methods of cheating or winning the game are explained too, so you know...I'm learning a lot about gambling and the ways that you can play each game....watch out Casino's, I'm coming for you! I'm joking. I'm totally joking. There's no way I'd be able to play the games like these girls do. I wouldn't last five minutes in that school! But my point is, the author has had to create all of the characters methods, and actions and planned it all out and written it so certain characters can win..and I'm in awe of the work that's gone in to this series so far! 

I genuinely get so sucked in to this manga, I'm on the edge of my seat to see who wins! Especially as last volume proved that our MC's aren't always going to come out on top, so I can't relax, safe in the knowledge they're going to win and save the day. It really could go any way. 

Compulsive Gambler is such a genius manga, and it's also very well drawn. I love how the characters are drawn all cute and normal and everything, but as soon as the gambling gets serious, the art morphs and the characters faces become more realistic and kinda, a little bit ugly. I'm having so much fun reading this series, it's such an interesting and sinister setting, and it's just a very smart series, as well as fun to read! 

Manga: Compulsive Gambler Vol 1

Compulsive Gambler Vol 1
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Hyakkaou Private Academy. An institution for the privileged with a very peculiar curriculum. You see, when you're the sons and daughters of the wealthiest of the wealthy, it's not athletic prowess or book smarts that keep you ahead. It's reading your opponent-the art of the deal. What better way to hone those skills than with a rigorous curriculum of gambling?At Hyakkaou Private Academy, the winners live like kings, and the losers are put through the wringer. But when Yumeko Jabami enrolls, she's gonna teach these kids what a high roller really looks like!

The premise for Compulsive Gambler sounded amazing, a school for gamblers?! I eagerly dived in to this and I wasn't disappointed! This is one of my favourite manga of the year so far, it's brilliant. The atmosphere of this book is so creepy and puts you a little bit on edge, and then each game has tension that you can feel building. The art is completely brilliant too, right from the start with its colour pages, and all the way throughout the volume.

I really liked how the characters where drawn looking all cute and pretty the majority of the time but when it came to the uglier aspects of the school and the games, the desire to win, the need to win, the money and the nastiness, the characters expressions would be drawn a lot differently and definitely uglier. It was a nice touch especially as this manga portrays the darkness of society throughout. Not to mention the unfairness. 

As soon as we start reading, we meet Mary Saotome, one of the nastier characters. I instantly hoped Yumeko would take her down but by the end of the volume I couldn't help but feel a little bit sorry for her. As we read, we get a building sense of dread about the student council and their president until they finally make their appearances. They're pretty much a corrupt dictatorship in charge of everyone. Things get very interesting when they make their entrance and I'm intrigued to see how things are going to play out with them. 

I love Yumeko! She's such an interesting character, she appears at first to be a nice, 'gentle' girl, but it quickly becomes apparent that she's a little bot sociopathic you could say, when it comes to gambling. She's quite a badass to be honest, and she's a little bit scary. She's incredibly intelligent and uses that to win and uncover everyones cheating methods. I got some Sherlock vibes in the way she uncovered and talked through each of the cheating methods and how it was done and so on. 

Suzui, Yumeko's unlikely friend and our POV, would be the Watson to her Holmes. I really felt for him, the poor guys the most normal kid there from what I can see and he's experienced the full crappiness of what can happen at his school. I'm interested to see where this friendship is going to be honest, they seem to me like quite an unlikely pair. 

I got so on edge and tense during the first gambling match, it was so cleverly done with the tension building and the way Mary played it and then the reveal happened and I got so excited for this series. I quickly became addicted to this, reading it as fast as I could. The tension is built up for each game, you think Yumeko's gonna figure it all out and win...but does she always? There's moments when you think she's done for, but she mostly pulls it back...sort of. I loved reading about the different games and how they're played, and the cheating methods being used. It was so interesting and Yumeko would be such a badass with the reveals. She's a bit crazy but I really, really root for her! 

I'm so excited for the next volume to see her face off with the student council president and see what she's going to do after the results of her last match, not to mention see how Suzui fits in to everything, is he just there to be our view point or is he just there to be her sidekick or is there more to it? This is going to be such a brilliant series, and I'm going to be eagerly awaiting each new volume!