Girls Kingdom, Volume 3 is a remarkable book. I am not lying to you about this. You will absolutely agree with me when you read it that it was, indeed, remarkable.

We pick up Volume 3 after Misaki, our normal girl in an abnormal and absurd environment, has undergone a series of trials that has pushed her skills as a detective and diplomat to their limits and, in the end, increased her skill points as maid to the Vice-Chairman of the Amanotsuka Academy, Amanotsuka Himeko.

Please do not worry too much that her being a detective and diplomat making her a better maid makes basically no sense. The entire premise of this series and the school it exists within, makes no sense. It doesn’t matter, however, because this book is so remarkable that nothing, not even semi-ootsey-cutesy sexy bathing scenes, sexual harassment by girls on other girls that is just as absurd and offensive as one might expect, idiotic plot complications, and the entire premise of the school setting, will change the fact that this book is remarkable.

There is no question, either, that Misaki makes this book work. This despite her showing up to a school that has an endlessly long list of written rules and even longer list of unwritten ones, none of which with she’s bothered familiarizing herself, despite the fact that she is the highly visible maid to the Vice-Chairman of Amanotsuka Academy, Amanotsuka Himeko. Entirely unremarkable, the relationship between Misaki and Himeko is actually quite sweet and I find myself rooting for them as a couple, even though it’s a stupid idea given the setup of the story. The first scenario leapfrogs pleasantly through the absurdities of this set-up for a genuinely human moment.

Ratings:

Art – 8 I’m losing my mind, I think, because the Societal Arts uniform is starting to appeal
Story – 7 Blows Volume 1 and Volume 2 out of the water on “What did I just read?”
Characters – 8 Likeable and loopy
Service – 7 Underwear, baths, groping are endlessly exhausting
Yuri – 4.25 Misaki admits to finding Himeko’s body appealing

Overall – 7

Volume 4 is in process now, with an August release date and oh boy, I just can’t wait to find out which Salon the new girl joins! Yes, I am kidding. I couldn’t care less. ^_^

Amanotsuka Academy, you see,
is for young women both rich and lovely
With salons on the line
for those the most divine
Won’t you please join them for tea?

Thanks very much to J-Novel Club for the review copy. ^_^