Sleepy Princess in Demon Castle volume 1
This story comes recommended by Tvtropes, which called it a funny fantasy parody. I agree. This story has a familiar set-up, the princess of the Human Country has been kidnapped by the Demon King and held captive in his castle, so a human hero sets off to rescue her. However, this story is not about the hero's journey but the princess's attempt to get a good night's sleep.
As a captive, Princess Syalis doesn't have much to do other than sleep and, as it turns out, her cell in Demon Castle serves as a poor bedroom. So she sets out to improve it by gathering materials for sleeping aids around the castle. This is the source of the manga's humor.
Every chapter has the same set-up: Princess Syalis has a sleeping problem, so she devises a solution and then works towards that solution. It is amazing how many different scenarios Kagiji Kumanomata can devise out of this framework, and how many different kinds of comedy can result. Some of it is fantasy parody (seeking a magic shield to use as an air mattress), some of it is comedic sociopathy (ghost shrouds make for great fabric) and some of it is based on sustained misunderstandings or dramatic irony. As a result, I never found this set-up to be boring.
Indeed, I looked forward to each chapter to see the new scenario because I was at a loss for what would come next after the pillow and bed sheet quests were complete. It is a slice-of-life series, so don't expect too much change from chapter to chapter, yet there are still signs of continuity. The reader is occasionally shown all previous sleep aids that the princess has collected so far, and the demons become progressively less alarmed when they see her out of her cell. One of them even escorts her to another area of the castle, because she asked nicely, as if she were the princess of "this" castle instead of is captive.
The artwork is cute. The princess, of course, is adorable, but so are the teddy demons and some of the others, like the Poison Apple Men. The Demon Castle itself looks good, as well. It is definitely NOT cute, and this serves the purpose of the series's humor in a Comically-Serious sort of way, given the parody tone and the events that take place in it.
I am definitely interested in volume 2
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Sleepy Princess in Demon Castle volume 1" an A+
Click here for my next book review: The Royal Tutor volume 1
Click here for my previous book review: Ah! My Goddess - omnibus #1
Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.
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