Genre: Romance
Rating: Teen
Price: $10.95

Najika faces tough times in the latest volume of Kitchen Princess. Her new nemesis—at least in her nemesis’ eyes—could be her Flan Prince. And when she confronts him about that, he disparages Lavender House, the place where Najika grew up.

But she doesn’t have a lot of time to be mad as the director of Seika Academy, Daichi’s dad, has a business proposition that will showcase Najika’s culinary skills. Well, maybe. But he certainly has a plan he needs to run by Najika.

In turn, Najika faces a difficult decision, one that could split her loyalties to the core. And while she’s debating her next move, Daichi is around to help lift her spirits up.

After all that excitement is over, Seiya, her nemesis, insists that he learn how all of Najika’s cooking hits her diners and makes them warm and fuzzy. To do that, he has a brilliant plan: He’ll start working at the Fujita Diner.

There Najika amazes him with the care that she puts into the kitchen, including how she prepares a glass of water for the customers.

It’s then that something spectacular happens, and it could change the lives of Najika, Seiya and Daichi.

While the plot was certainly the star of this volume, the characters faded into the background more. Seiya’s jealousy, Najika’s sadness, both didn’t add more layers to their respective characters, instead reinforcing character traits that were there already.

It would have been nice to have a better emotional connection. Still, like always, Kitchen Princess was very good.

 

7.5