Nakajo Hisaya - Sugar Princess, vol. 02 (Eng. trans.)

[oyceter]

More shoujo fluff! I read volume 1 of this nearly a year ago, so I don't remember much, save that Nakajo had awesome sketches of figure skaters in the chapter breaks.

I'm also a little confused as to the status of the series. I thought it was a 2-volume series, and I'm fairly sure the Taiwan version has a "fin" character on volume 2, but Wikipedia hints otherwise.

So, Shun and Maya are working to save their rink! There is, of course, a nefarious plot against them, plus obstacles such as Maya's lack of money for a new skating outfit to surmount. Overall, nothing surprising happens, but I was still charmed by Maya's youth (she's 13, younger than most shoujo heroines I read) and Nakajo's knowledge of the sport. There isn't a ton of figure skating in here, but I enjoyed what I saw.

I think I mentioned it in my write up of volume 1, but I very much appreciate that the scope of this is so small, that it's not Maya turning into a figure skating prodigy and going to the Olympics or something. My impression is that Nakajo's figure skating fannishness works for her in that respect; she knows what's more within the realm of possibility. Although I still laughed when we find out Maya's Sekrit Power, because it wouldn't be a sports series without one!

I also found the lack of romance refreshing.

Cute but probably not interesting to people who don't care about figure skating, although it's possibly suitable for a much younger audience than some of the shoujo I read.

Comments

[torachan]

Hmm, Japanese Wikipedia says 全2巻, and I just checked a scan of the cover and it also says 全2巻. Since it's published as complete, it's definitely not "on hiatus" as English Wikipedia says, so I guess it's complete as-is, but she might write a sequel (that's assuming that E. Wikipedia's assertion that she might come back to it is at all factual).

[oyceter]

Yeah, the Taiwan version has the 全 character as well, so I was confused by Wiki! Then again, it's not like Wiki is an authoritative resource...

[furikku.livejournal.com]

I also found the lack of romance refreshing.

Ooh, I'd picked up the first book and liked it, but was kind of iffy on what looked like romancey bits. That there's a lack of it is DEFINITELY a point in this one's favor for me! :D

[oyceter]

Yes! I mean, there are a few hints about romance and romantic attraction, but it felt much more like an adolescent crush or hero worship to me, as opposed to "Shun and Maya will get together!"