Yuto Tsukuda

The first part of the book resolves the cliffhanger from last volume as our hero works to be creative and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. His assessment following the competition captures the theme of the entire series: "I totally messed that one up, big time! But thanks to that, I gained valuable experience from my failures." Soma's positivity and competitiveness continue to make him an admirable protagonist.

The second part of the book is an entertaining return to Soma's hometown show more and an attempt to keep the local street market from losing all its customers to new stores opening at a nearby train station. Very well executed and fun.

A final interlude reveals another, welcome side of the usually shy Megumi. Great reveal. show less

Still a great series, but this volume loses a little steam for me as Soma competes against one of his least impressive foes in bento boxes. The cliffhanger lacks drama as the outcome seems easily predictable.

The side story at the end offers little beyond putting much of the female cast into swimsuits. This is disappointing as the fan service usually serves as a hot spice accenting the main story instead of being the point of the story.

The interlude in the main story of Soma and Megumi show more subbing at a cooking school is charming and helps keep the rating of this volume high. show less

A fine entry focusing mostly on the side characters. But I'm here for Soma, and the book doesn't really catch fire until the last chapter sets up his next shokugeki. I'm worried that even Soma can't save this series from the dreadful storyline where the new dean is a ham-fisted villain.

What a disappointing offering for the penultimate serving of the series. The final villain and the ultimate big bad are even worse than the one from the previous story arc.

Half or more of this book is given over to the raving of Soma's final rival, Asahi Saiba, a young man who was once an apprentice to Soma's father. All he does is talk about the knives he has taken from defeated rivals and how he likes to cross them and rub them against each other and talk about how good it feels to rub the show more knives against each other and how everyone should rub their knives together because it feels so good to cross knives and wouldn't it be good to have Soma's knife to fondle and cross with the knives he has taken from Soma's father and best friend because their knives are so good but are now Saiba's to do with as he wants just like soon Soma's pathetic little knife will be and . . . and . . . and . . . ahhhhhhhhhhh . . .

I think there's symbolism here somewhere? show less