“Komari has finally earned a vacation, and she's soaking it all in at a beach resort. That's when Nelia Cunningham, a commander from the Gerra-Aruka Republic, appears before her with an outrageous proposal: Together, they'll take over the world. At the same time, a commander from the Heavenly Paradise named Karla Amatsu shows up and offers Komari the exact opposite proposition: Together, they'll usher in world peace. Before long, the two nations' clashing agendas drag the whole world into war! Rudely pulled from her summer holiday, Komari holds the key to the conflict in her hands. Without it, the war may never end.” (Yen Press)
Kotei Kobayashi's “Vexations of a Shut-in Vampire Princess”, proved to be the ideal light-comedic series, complimented by expressive characters, over-the-top action, and a helping of fan service. The first two volumes were a joyful and chaotic read, marking expectations leading into volume 3. However, the third entry marks a stumble in the series, albeit it is a cute one that manages to resonate a modicum of the eccentric charms of Kobayashi's writing. So, what went wrong–was opening with a ‘beach episode' a premonition of a dip in quality–and is it worth fans to continue on with the series?
The main issue of “The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess” at this point in the story, is the introduction of too many characters sparking a war between several nations. It is here that Kotei Kobayashi struggles with both making the story simple to follow and in constantly switching between a first and third-person perspective. Consequently, the series, defined by charming frantic energy, begins to become slightly incoherent, as Kobayashi tries to jam an exorbitant amount of content where it is not complimentary to the style of writing that made the first two books enjoyable. Adding to the frustration, several new characters with the potential to improve the series become lost by lack of time on the page.
Thankfully, there are elements that consistently deliver, and Kobayashi's ability to land a comedic sting in the midst of chaos still results in a lot of uproarious moments. Komari stays the focus of the bulk of the story and still charms with her expressive behavior, awkward boasting, and constant fight against perverted fans. Furthermore, the art of riichu remains complimentary to the story which helps give favor to reading the physical edition over the digital.
The positive elements are apparent enough to warrant continued interest in the series leading into the next book. Moments such as Komari waking to find herself transported to a meeting while still in pajamas, to only have war break out during the meeting, highlights the absurdist mix of comedy and action that makes the series alluring. Thankfully, there are enough moments that leave a glimmer of hope that Kotei Kobayashi will be able to navigate through this rough patch and, hopefully, tone down the number of happenings to bring the title back to its former glory.
Personally, volume 3 proved to be a slog to read compared to previous entries, and while my enthusiasm faded slightly, I left the book hopeful for a return to form in the next entry. That said, those following along will likely be equally committed, and the lacking elements should not be enough to dissuade them entirely from appreciating the continued hijinks of “The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess”.
