“Once upon a time, there was a sweet young princess who endured harsh and grueling tutelage for many years…until the fearsome queen came to her rescue! When a suspicious King Sabrian puts the seemingly reformed Queen Abigail in charge of Princess Blanche's education, he expects political schemes and tantrums, not a request that he have regular dinners with his daughter. Though Sabrian may be clueless about how to be a father, Abigail is determined to strengthen his relationship with his only child, one awkward interaction at a time!” (Ize Press)
Leading up to the second volume's release, the inaugural entry left a strong impression but left some open questions about the overall direction of “Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom.” Notably, while entertaining, the series seemed slightly aimless in its approach and the story less critical than crafting adorable scenarios for Queen Abigail to dote over Princess Blanche. This soft approach to storytelling stays consistent, but the second volume makes it apparent that it will have a willing audience regardless of how Mo9Rang moves the historical-themed comedy forward.
Keeping its consistent focus on Queen Abigail and Princess Blanche's relationship, the series successfully builds on the duo's interactions that range from adorable to humorous. Where the first volume sets up the lore, the second allows the characters to be more indulgent in their eccentricities. One aspect that notably improves in this release is the use of comedic elements, which are used sparingly but to significant effect. Pages of drama and discussion of formalities and the finer intricacies of the royal lifestyle are often punctuated with witty visual and narrative comedic stings.
“Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom” maintains its already established, strong, visual presence, focused on fashion and the lavish lifestyle afforded by the upper echelons of society. The physical release also allows the complimentary color scheme to pop on the pages. Consequently, those looking to approach the most visually appealing titles in the romance genre, where one can swoon over fashion and the flourishes that come with a decadent lifestyle, will find the series one of the better currently in print.
Admittedly, the continued stagnation of the book's story will deter some, but the second volume still shows promise of greater progression and more engaging conflicts. The relationship between King Sabrian and Queen Abigail, in particular, sees significant developments in this release, with the two sharing a few pivotal and endearing moments. The overall direction still seems single-mindedly focused on loading up on as much adorable content as possible, with Abigail's continued goal to make everyone fawn over the princess. Still, there is hope for those who do require more than surface-level cuteness to stick around for a long-running story.
It is difficult to say if the casual nature of “Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom” will keep the series exciting enough for the long run, but to many, that won't matter as long as Mo9Rang stays consistent in quality. If, as a reader, you feel this might fit into your content niche, you should not hesitate to check it out.
