Unfortunately, The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess 6 feels emotionally bereft with little tension.
The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess 6 adds surprises, a birthday, a whodunit, and some long-awaited answers about Komari’s mother. While still hilarious, the setup for the mysterious enemies does not fit the flow of the story. But Komari’s also an excellent example of how a hero should not be dull. After all, Komari’s funny, loud, ridiculous, and usually delightful.
Yet sadly, Komari’s personality dwindles by the end. She winds up feeling more akin to those dull heroes. The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess 6 shows the inescapable mayhem that follows Komari. It also opens up a greater dilemma for the princess, who wants to hide in her room. However, it falls short of reeling readers in once the mystery starts.
Written by Kotei Kobayashi with illustrations by riichu and translated by Sergio Avila, the story begins with Nelia, Villhaze, Sakuna, and Karla arguing about what to plan for Komari’s birthday. Since they all want her to themselves, tensions run high. But then an unknown newcomer offers a suggestion. After that, the Yen Press light novel cuts to a mysterious woman and a girl talking about netherscreening. While obscure, it ties in with the story and Komari’s mother.
The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess 6 Opens Up More About Other Worlds and New Addition
The idea of netherscreening showing an upside-down Netherworld above Komari’s sounds fascinating. Unfortunately, the way the story unfolds, does not do it justice. This section and the vengeful woman feel bogged down in mystery. Too little mystery and everyone, including readers, knows what’s happening. But if too much with little explanation through a driven story, it feels uninteresting. Previous volumes dealt with the Inverse Moon mystery through characters and flashbacks. That allowed it to flow much better.
One highlight is the newcomer. Esther Claire is a hilarious addition to the Seventh Unit in The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess 6. Her whole motivation is joining Komari’s squad for the sake of her ailing sister. But she truly does not realize the enormity of the task. Drama ensues when Villhaze assigns her the most violent subset of the Seventh Unit. Plus, this part in Shut-In Vampire Princess 6 allows a glimpse of Villhaze at work. She is not just being a clingy lecher. She shows strength and understanding. Plus, thanks to her and Komari, Esther rises to the occasion. However, once they arrive at the hot springs, aspects of the story feel rushed, and decisions are nonsensical.
Double the Whodunit, But It Drags
Whodunits are fun to read. Double the mystery should, in theory, elevate the fun. Unfortunately, The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess 6 feels emotionally bereft. There is little tension. As people wind up dead, Komari’s character feels more hollow. The greater danger misses the same emotional connection. The one fascinating aspect dealt with the Dark Core. Because it can fix physical ailments. However, it cannot combat mental health. This is something worth exploring more down the line.
The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess 6 is the least compelling of the series. While other volumes spent time building up the comedy in tandem with the emotional connections, it feels nonexistent here. Sure, readers already connect with many of the characters. That’s a perk from prior volumes. Still, maintenance is critical to continuing it. The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess 6 is a lopsided story with hilarious moments and new characters that make the series stand out, combined with confusing, emotionally hollow parts.
