Book Review: Claymore 16

Title - Claymore Volume 16

Author - Norihiro Yagi

Series - Claymore #16

Genre - Horror Manga

Format - Kindle

Published - November 3rd 2009

Publisher - Viz Media LLC

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

After Miria's incredible revelations about the origins of the Yoma, the seven warriors split up to settle their affairs and say their goodbyes in preparation for the final battle against the Organization. Helen and Deneve fall in with a spirited young warrior of the current generation and soon find themselves confronting the Organization's latest, most terrible weapons.

Review

Claymore is a manga about Yoma who pretend to be human in order to kill and eat the humans. The Claymore are the hybrid of the two stronger faster but still human with the ability to slay the Yoma which they do for a price. They travel from village to village slaying Yoma with nothing but the sword on their back using the Yoma abilities but slowly turning into a monster that they hunt. When the time comes a Claymore will send a black card to another claymore to be slain before the Yoma takes over and so they die as a human.

In the 16^th installment things are getting more intense. We are learning more and more about the organization as well as what’s really going on with the yoma and abyssal running around. They have split into groups Clare has gone to hunter for Raki with two others. Helen and Deneve have gone to check on their home villages but the more south they go the more they learn. They encounter some claymores fighting an awakened being and when it looks like they won’t make it they dive in to help. However one of the claymores isn’t knocked out and knows who they are but instead of telling the organization she tags along with the girls. It’s while heading more south that they find the abyssal Isley hiding in as a human in a village. Will they make it out? What is hunting the abyssal?

I like Clare she’s a sword carrying slayer who isn’t afraid to die charging in risking her life. She's grown a lot in the last several volumes leading up to the battle in the north. After faking her death along with her fellow claymore's she's returned after seven years to battle the Organization. While she may not be the strongest she's determined and unwilling to give up. She's one of those underdog characters you can't help liking. We've seen a little of Raki but other than knowing he's traveling with Priscilla that's about it.

I’ve seen all of the episodes on Netflix a few years ago actually binge watched them over a long weekend. While it’s been a while I don’t think the anime has gone this far in the series. I don’t remember the girls taking on the organization which is where the story has turned. It’s interesting learning that the organization which has been creating claymores for a long time may not be the good guys after all. I love the concept for the Claymore the hybrids created using parts from the monsters that they have been created to fight against the Yoma that they created. The art is great it gives me just enough to create the story in my head as I read each detailed page. This is only my 2^nd manga so I don’t have a lot to base on but I’m super addicted to them. They are perfect for when I have some downtime or when I feel like reading back to back. I already know that the ending is close as I’m about halfway done. I’m anxious to see how it’s all going to play out.