Comics / Manga

Kitchen Princess #5

By Avi Weinryb
February 15, 2008 - 14:57

As another addition to the canon of food-obsessed Manga, this book literally takes the cake! Najika is an orphan and student at Seika Academy in Tokyo. The tragic loss of her parents has made her an introvert, which leads to her being bullied by her fellow schoolmates. The principal of the school is largely absent, leaving his older son, Sora, in charge. Najika has a mad crush on him, but Sora’s younger brother has feelings for her. After entering a prestigious cooking contest, Najika is tasked with surviving round after round of competition. She must make a confection with the ability to stimulate all five senses. She soon discovers that her entry in the competition is part of a manipulative plan hatched by the elusive school principal. Will Najika survive the competition and find love? This ongoing series has the answer.

 

As Najika’s life tailspins into utter chaos, the artwork reflects her shaky outlook. A variety of angles and perspectives make the dialogue-heavy book an enjoyable read. Characters are well defined, and emote with precision. When a humbled Sora brings Najika a cake he spent the whole night working on, his sincerity is reflected in the illustrations.

 

Kobayashi’s story is really well conceived. The plot is dynamic and unfolds at a steady pace. Surprises and unexpected behaviour make the book really enjoyable. And the included recipes are a nice touch. The back-up story, “Spring Break Special”, is a lot of fun, adding some much needed whimsy to the heart-wrenching cliffhanger in the previous chapter.

 

This is a fun Manga for the young and young at heart; just don’t read it when you are hungry. All the talk of food and pastries will set your heart racing.

 

8 / 10    

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12