The school interlude is fine, though I love the character designs. It's hard to avoid the kind of uncomfortable "Harry Potter" connections, not because JKR invented the concepts on display, but because Toboso makes them herself in the extra comics, noting that in research, she and her team were surprised that things are really to some degree like how they are described in HP.

I disliked the way Maurice's make-up routine was used against him. In a way it works because Ciel and other members of English society mock make-up and effeminate men, and the story never lets you forget the patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and heavy veneer of sexism throughout English society (in this arc, Ciel mocks gossip as being too womanly or whatever, and the prefects snigger over getting their way with women, and focus on the purity of certain women). In a way it's a nice acknowledgement that even pretty men have to put in effort to appear as beautiful as they do, and that make-up and beautification are not limited to women. On the other hand... the way Ciel uses it is gross. That he compliments Maurice for his make-up skills is good, but it doesn't quite make-up for the fact that he still uses the knowledge cruelly. You could argue well, Maurice called a group of other students to assault Ciel and was prepared to use scissors on him for something and then use pictures of THAT for foul purposes, on top of all the other things Maurice has done... but the plot is just overall not great, regardless of anything else.

I continue to think that Toboso's little author notes and side comics are the best part of the tankobon, though. She's very funny and her adventures with her team are charming. I've always wondered if this series is written from the perspective of an otaku or someone at least sometimes criticizing England and nobility there in particular, and I think the end author's note makes it clear that it's at least a mix. ( )

This series just keeps getting better and better. ( )

This series just keeps getting better and better. ( )

This just gets better every volume. So glad Yana Toboso is great at this. I'm addicted to her characters. ( )

This is the fifteenth volume in the Black Butler series. This continues to be an incredibly engaging and entertaining manga series. Some parts are laugh out loud funny and the mystery is incredibly engaging.

Ciel has enrolled at an English boarding school at the request of her Majesty. Students have been disappearing from the school and Ciel and Sebastian are supposed to figure out what is going on. However, competition between the school’s houses is fierce and Ciel will have to use all his wits (and lots of manual labor from Sebastian) to win enough favor to finally speak to the Headmaster. Sebastian has an incredibly busy go of it as he is not only posing as a teacher, but also spying on students for Ciel, and doing all of Ciel’s chores as well.

This volume reminds a bit of Harry Potter without the magic but with all the house to house competition. It was wonderful fun and incredibly entertaining.

Ciel was a bit of a brat throughout (and a bit hypocritical). However just when I started to get annoyed about how he takes advantage of Sebastian, we are reminded that Ciel is on a mission from the Queen herself and leads a life of much more danger and importance than his rival petty students…

There is a lot of focus on the four prefects of the school, who seem to rule the roost. All of these characters are beautifully drawn and painfully intriguing; especially the prefect of the Violet Wolf house. I really enjoyed the new characters and am enjoying the new story line.

Overall an absolutely wonderful continuation of this series. Toboso continues to do an excellent job of keeping both the plot and the characters fresh and interesting. The illustration remains top notch and is a pleasure to look. This is one of my favorite manga series. I would recommend to those who enjoy paranormal manga as well as mysteries and historical fantasies. ( )