In the first printed installment of the popular Webtoon, Cursed Princess Club Volume One transports readers to the colorful world of Pastel Kingdom. Written and drawn by LambCat with art assistants Shei Magallanes, Catburgerhelper, ShiHwi, Kyorin, Alex Scott, and Meesh Gruenfeld — the graphic novel published by Webtoon Unscrolled both compliments and enhances the digital Cursed Princess Club series that debuted on the Webtoon platform in February 2019. This printed edition also contains bonus content, including early concept art and character design sheets, followed by a special sneak preview of True Beauty Vol. 1.
As a princess of the Pastel Kingdom, Gwendolyn lives in a beautiful palace with her happy and loving family. Her two older sisters are portrayed as charming and beautiful, but Gwendolyn has an unconventional appearance that challenges the pretty and graceful stereotypes that are typically associated with princess heroines. After learning about her and her sisters’ engagements to the princes of the Plaid Kingdom, she stumbles upon the mysterious and secretive Cursed Princess Club full of members who break social norms and beauty standards.
LambCat’s comedic voice and steady pace make this first volume easily accessible. The fun and whimsical dialogue between the characters in Cursed Princess Club makes it hard to put the book down. Farcical humor and a hilarious string of misunderstandings emphasize the many quirks of the book’s entertaining characters. Gwendolyn is blissfully unaware that others mistake her for a witch, an evil spirit, or cursed due to her unconventional appearance. This humor helps lighten the heavy themes and messages regarding beauty standards and societal expectations LambCat explores. While the series is appropriately labeled a comedy, its pronounced fantasy and romance elements could easily attract fans of those genres as well.
The stunning artwork created by LambCat and the art assistants creates a magical fantasy world that is easy to get lost in. The art style creates a joyful atmosphere that highlights the thriving Pastel Kingdom and its residents. Gwendolyn’s unique character design and facial structure help her stand out among the beautiful royals who surround her. Some of the most impressive character designs come from the members of the Cursed Princess Club, where a lobster princess is now a human with claws, and another princess has empty eye sockets. Exaggerated facial expressions are also frequently used to comedic effect in over-the-top situations.
The coloring throughout Cursed Princess Club Volume One delivers a vivid world for readers to dive into. With the story set in the Pastel Kingdom, the consistent use of pastel colors perfectly complements the book’s theme. The extensive and elaborate coloring enhances the story’s world-building by establishing a cute and magical tone that is visually appealing. Gwendolyn’s siblings also have detailed pastel coloring in their character designs that suit their royal station, but her coloring is cleverly subdued with green and gray hues to emphasize her unconventional appearance. However, the plaid pattern on the Plaid Kingdom princes’ attire could have been more pronounced with the use of neutral colors for the stripes to offer better contrast to make the plaid design more visible.
Lettering and layout play significant roles in the graphic novel’s readability. The use of capital letters to represent yelling and bold lettering for emphasis properly indicates the tone of each character’s words. The clear and direct panel layout makes the story easy to follow.
Cursed Princess Club Volume One is an addictive and lighthearted read that can be enjoyed by a large demographic. The overarching theme of challenging stereotypes and finding beauty within resonates with a universal audience. With a second printed installment on the way, the future of the series holds boundless promise.
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