From the phone screen to the bookshelf
If you’ve noticed your kid scrolling vertically through comics instead of flipping pages, you’re seeing the WEBTOON effect in real time. Cursed Princess Club started as a digital juggernaut with over 285 million views before LambCat brought it to print. This isn't just a "webcomic" anymore; it’s a full-blown phenomenon that bridges the gap for kids who find traditional prose a bit dry.
Understanding why kids prefer webtoons over traditional books helps explain the appeal here. The pacing is designed to keep you hooked, with every "episode" (or chapter in this volume) ending on a beat that makes it impossible to put down. For a reluctant reader, the vibrant art and snappy dialogue are the perfect gateway.
Subverting the "ugly duckling" trope
Most princess stories follow a predictable path: the "plain" girl undergoes a makeover and suddenly finds her worth because she’s now conventionally beautiful. Cursed Princess Club rejects that entirely. Gwendolyn doesn't get a magical glow-up. Instead, she finds a community of people who are "cursed" in ways that make them social outcasts—whether it’s being green-skinned, having a bird head, or just not fitting the Pastel Kingdom’s exhausting beauty standards.
In Volume 5, the stakes shift from Gwendolyn just trying to survive her own self-doubt to her actively trying to integrate her two worlds. The dinner party is a classic "clash of cultures" moment. It’s a relatable metaphor for any middle schooler who feels like they have to hide their "weird" friends from their "normal" family. The book handles this with a warmth that never feels like it’s lecturing the reader.
The redemption of Prince Frederick
One of the trickiest parts of this series is Prince Frederick. He starts the series as the guy who calls Gwendolyn "really ugly," which is a brutal starting point for a romantic interest. However, LambCat doesn't let him stay a one-dimensional jerk. By this volume, his growth is a major draw.
We see him struggling with his own family’s toxic expectations, which adds a layer of complexity to the story. It’s a good lesson for readers that people can unlearn shitty behavior, provided they actually do the work. If your kid enjoyed the character-driven growth in our guide to Hooky and other safe Webtoon graphic novels for kids, they’ll find a similar level of emotional depth here.
Why this volume hits different
While the series is known for its humor and pastel aesthetics, Volume 5 starts digging into the mystery of Gwendolyn’s mother. This adds a "page-turner" element that balances the slice-of-life dinner party drama. It moves the series from being just a body-positivity manifesto into a genuine fantasy epic with secrets worth uncovering.
It’s also worth noting the humor. It’s genuinely funny in a way that appeals to both 10-year-olds and older teens. There are visual gags involving the various curses and sharp dialogue that pokes fun at fairy tale tropes without being cynical. It’s a rare book that manages to be sweet without being saccharine.
