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!