The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices Volume 2 starts with Octavia and her bodyguard and Adjutant, Klifford, on their way to the junior ball, where Octavia hopes to find her fake boyfriend. While still entertaining, this volume has less humor. Sections go on too long, feeling unnecessary for the story. Octavia’s inner thoughts are less entertaining this time, and the explanations about past events are more for the reader’s sake than a natural offshoot of the light novel’s progression. However, The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices Volume 2 does drop a huge answer into readers’ laps about what happened in her previous life.
Written by Mamecyoro with illustration by Mitsuya Fuji and translated by Sarah Moon, the story starts on the way to the junior ball with Octavia struggling not to doze off. The Yen Press light novel keeps this section interesting as the situation spins out of control thanks to a runaway carriage. Most of the story takes before and during the ball, but there’s too much exposition between actual action that it feels less like traveling with Octavia. Instead, it feels like readers are outsiders receiving information dumps, but more is needed to be on the same page.
The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices Volume 2 Is a Bit of a Drag
Most of what occurs in this light novel is explaining connections between different characters and the backstory on how those relations came about. It’s challenging to maintain interest as it goes on far too long. While I loved the first volume’s look into Octavia’s thoughts and interactions with those around her, particularly Klifford, because I’m shipping them already, there’s far less here. Octavia’s trying to balance a tricky life. She doesn’t want to be evil, but at the same time, she feels forced into underhanded methods to avoid a bleak future.
A Questionable, Controlling Relationship
In this volume, Octavia’s brother, Sirius, and his partner, Sil, seem less like the breathtaking BL romance. Though the pair is not front and center, their dynamics stand out in an unflattering light. Sil has to sneak away from Sirius to attend the junior ball. The fact that Sirius is so controlling and protective of Sil that he does not take the time to talk about attending on his own speaks volumes about their pairing. Protecting loved ones is understandable. But Sirius stifles Sil’s ability to live.
Rust Byrne, a God, or Both
Octavia’s goal at the junior ball in The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices Volume 2 is to meet Rust Byrne, her potential fake boyfriend. It does an outstanding job of tying in their encounter and Octavia’s past that you do not anticipate. But there’s too much complexity talked about rather than shown, which diminishes it. There are the overarching complexities of the world and someone framing Octavia for attempts on Sil’s life. With the addition of someone who is a god, one of many, creating the world and possibly existing in it, there are too many questions raised that it becomes challenging to keep track.
The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices Volume 2 has a massive part of the mystery of Octavia’s death unraveled. Yet, how much information readers receive prior, and not enough human connection until close to the end, overshadows it. Still, hopefully, the next volume will have more, ensuring we connect with characters before giving snippets of backstory. As entertainment goes, The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices Volume 2 trudges along in a stuttered gait rather than an even pace.
