Kitchen Princess Book 2
- Posted by Johanna on May 22, 2007 at 7:00 am
- Category: Manga Reviews
- CREDITS: by Natsumi Ando; story by Miyuki Kobayashi; adaptation by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir
- PUBLISHER: Del Rey Manga, $10.95 US
This volume opens with a sequence that makes clear Najika’s dream, to be the world’s best pastry chef in memory of her parents, and reveals a previously unsuspected connection between her and the two brothers most popular at her school. Class has gotten worse, with her rival ramping up the hazing, until the result is a cooking contest challenge.
If Najika wins, she’ll be accepted and her talent respected; if she loses, out she goes. It’s Iron Wok Jan with a decidedly girly overlay. Her cooking, out of love and a desire to see people happy from her food, must be shown to have value.
As in the previous volume, the recipes were my favorite part of the book. The world needs comic cookbooks! Also amusing was a short sequence where Najika demonstrates her other unusual talent, the ability to eat a lot without consequence: she wipes out an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant.
The second half of the book becomes more serious, with model Akane revealed to have the unhealthy attitudes about food typical of her profession. That’s a valuable subject for a food series aimed at teen girls to explore. For me, Akane is a more interesting personality than the lead character, and she has more depth and nuances to explore. She’s also a fun villain to hate, since her meanness toward Najika is so blatant.
I’m not sure I’ll continue with this series. It’s entertaining enough, but it’s fluffy and forgettable (like so many of the mousse items and drinks Najika makes). The volumes already feel familiar, even as I’m reading them for the first time.
(A complimentary copy for this review was provided by the publisher.)
May 23, 2007 at 5:36 am
[…] Johanna Draper Carlson reviews the second volume of Natsumi Ando and Miyuki Kobayashi’s Kitchen Princess. […]
July 26, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I read these series recently, but I read only volume 1 and volume 3. I really really want to know what happens in volume 2 and who that prince is. What number does this series end?
July 26, 2007 at 9:00 pm
There’s at least four books, I think, but it’s still running in Japan, so I don’t know if that’s final. There may be more.
July 30, 2007 at 12:26 am
Thanks. :] I hope there’s more.
September 9, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Accutaly theres 5 so far, I love this series I hope she finds her prince…
September 9, 2007 at 9:02 pm
i know! i really do hope she does. This series is just too cute.
October 9, 2007 at 7:21 am
[…] by Natsumi Ando, story by Miyuki Kobayashi Publisher description Previous review of Book 2 […]
November 4, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I am really looking forward to the second book. I just got the first book and finished it.=^.^=
November 6, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I just finished the 4th
November 9, 2007 at 12:12 am
The series has 6 books and I kinda know how it ends…
November 20, 2007 at 7:24 pm
no, so far the series has 7 books…. i`m not sure if there`ll be more though.
November 20, 2007 at 7:33 pm
yeah, 7. I’m pretty sure.
November 20, 2007 at 9:00 pm
7 books?! ehh, i’m only on 2, cuz i can’t find it anywhere. -O-;;
December 8, 2007 at 11:22 pm
What 7 I am only on 3. Man i wish our book store had them. I only own one right now i hope to own them all though.
December 10, 2007 at 10:57 pm
i just finished reading five, because a new Barnes & Noble opened up. The series is getting really good. :D
December 18, 2007 at 10:07 pm
I’m only on 4 and awaiting 5. i really wanna know what happens!
December 18, 2007 at 10:29 pm
there are only 4 books right now
March 27, 2008 at 5:37 am
i am on book 5… i cant find book 6 any where…
March 27, 2008 at 7:10 am
Book 6 is due out in early May.
May 5, 2008 at 7:29 pm
no there are 8 books as far as i am concerned