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Cucumber Quest #4
The Flower Kingdom
What's in a name?
In order to defeat the Nightmare Knight, legend dictates that the Dream Sword must be autographed by seven princesses. But things get a bit complicated when our heroes discover that the Flower Kingdom has no royalty! Luckily, the "king" of fashion, Mr. R is on the hunt for the new face of his style empire, and whoever catches his eye will be named... (wait for it...) "Princess R"!
Who will claim the coveted title? And why does it feel like we're forgetting something important...?
Adapted from the popular webcomic series, Cucumber The Flower Kingdom is the fourth graphic novel in a clever, adorable, and hilarious four-volume heroic adventure series from Gigi D.G. that is sure to make you hungry for sweets and action.
In order to defeat the Nightmare Knight, legend dictates that the Dream Sword must be autographed by seven princesses. But things get a bit complicated when our heroes discover that the Flower Kingdom has no royalty! Luckily, the "king" of fashion, Mr. R is on the hunt for the new face of his style empire, and whoever catches his eye will be named... (wait for it...) "Princess R"!
Who will claim the coveted title? And why does it feel like we're forgetting something important...?
Adapted from the popular webcomic series, Cucumber The Flower Kingdom is the fourth graphic novel in a clever, adorable, and hilarious four-volume heroic adventure series from Gigi D.G. that is sure to make you hungry for sweets and action.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 24, 2019
3.5 STARS
November 12, 2022
2022 EDIT: From my 'Cucumber Quest: The Doughnut Kingdom' review:
I'm clearing out some of my books, and I'm afraid I've decided to give this series away, especially since I've read in the author's blog posts that they won't be finishing 'Cucumber Quest', at least not for a while. No plans seem to have been made yet. No more paperback volumes are being published either. Oh well, 'Cucumber Quest' remains a funny, cute, subversive and heartwarming cartoony webcomic series, but I will no longer be continuing it.
Original Review:
The latest and most divisive of the 'Cucumber Quest' comic volumes. Don't let the title and the pink cover fool you - 'The Flower Kingdom' is certainly the darkest instalment, and the most convoluted in plotting.
I still enjoyed it, and I loved a lot of its character and story developments. But overall its narrative structure and content can get confusing and overwhelming, particularly for a child audience. Some of the great humour is lost at the expense of the tonal whiplash as well.
There's the new minion Rosemaster, the most complex of the lot so far, who is like a darker, more sophisticated Poison Ivy; the return of Lord Cabbage, working various jobs; Peridot is given many, many chances to shine in this volume - and she is becoming my favourite character; Carrot also shines, quite literally, in his brave development as a knight. Sadly Cucumber hardly does anything here.
Next up there's Boltergeist the guardian spirit of doors, who hates door haters; the salad duo become a trio again by picking a random postman for their group; let us not forget the kingdom with two kings who are married!; and Saturday and her butler return in an ending plot twist. Among other features that would take too long to list. There is more than meets the eye, concerning the Nightmare Knight and his minions, is all I'll say.
Like I said, the story is rather complicated.
Was there any real point to the beauty contest, the main plot?
Oh Peridot, she is one of the saving graces in 'The Flower Kingdom'. She interacts with a bunch of characters, is fiercely proactive, and she slowly but surely grows to have feelings for her opponent Almond; even dreaming of their wedding day! The LBGTQ content is strong in this comic - another saving grace. Peridot also bonds with the Nightmare Knight - over baking! and a Magical Girl TV show! (which Almond also loves).
Plus, more of Princess Parfait and the Nightmare Knight being friends (reluctantly on his part), and it is still sweet and beautiful. Siblings Almond and Cucumber share a nice, heartbreaking moment or two together. Cordelia, little that she actually appears in the series, is funny and interesting, and her relationship with Peridot is very adorable and touching, for a master and her minion.
The artwork is stronger and more vibrant than ever. It fits the dramatic story exceedingly well.
I don't know. A dark tone is fine when executed carefully, with the subversion theme. That's not the problem here. But I think the series is just becoming too perplexing. All those subplots and characters. 'The Flower Kingdom' doesn't even contain a bonus issue at the end.
'Cucumber Quest' needs to develop slowly, introducing plot and character elements a bit simpler, in my opinion. I don't think I'll be continuing the series, however; I'm not even sure when the next volume will be published. I'm very picky about what I read, especially graphic novels and their sequels.
Well, that's all folks.
For now.
Final Score: 3.5/5
I'm clearing out some of my books, and I'm afraid I've decided to give this series away, especially since I've read in the author's blog posts that they won't be finishing 'Cucumber Quest', at least not for a while. No plans seem to have been made yet. No more paperback volumes are being published either. Oh well, 'Cucumber Quest' remains a funny, cute, subversive and heartwarming cartoony webcomic series, but I will no longer be continuing it.
Original Review:
The latest and most divisive of the 'Cucumber Quest' comic volumes. Don't let the title and the pink cover fool you - 'The Flower Kingdom' is certainly the darkest instalment, and the most convoluted in plotting.
I still enjoyed it, and I loved a lot of its character and story developments. But overall its narrative structure and content can get confusing and overwhelming, particularly for a child audience. Some of the great humour is lost at the expense of the tonal whiplash as well.
There's the new minion Rosemaster, the most complex of the lot so far, who is like a darker, more sophisticated Poison Ivy; the return of Lord Cabbage, working various jobs; Peridot is given many, many chances to shine in this volume - and she is becoming my favourite character; Carrot also shines, quite literally, in his brave development as a knight. Sadly Cucumber hardly does anything here.
Next up there's Boltergeist the guardian spirit of doors, who hates door haters; the salad duo become a trio again by picking a random postman for their group; let us not forget the kingdom with two kings who are married!; and Saturday and her butler return in an ending plot twist. Among other features that would take too long to list. There is more than meets the eye, concerning the Nightmare Knight and his minions, is all I'll say.
Like I said, the story is rather complicated.
Was there any real point to the beauty contest, the main plot?
Oh Peridot, she is one of the saving graces in 'The Flower Kingdom'. She interacts with a bunch of characters, is fiercely proactive, and she slowly but surely grows to have feelings for her opponent Almond; even dreaming of their wedding day! The LBGTQ content is strong in this comic - another saving grace. Peridot also bonds with the Nightmare Knight - over baking! and a Magical Girl TV show! (which Almond also loves).
Plus, more of Princess Parfait and the Nightmare Knight being friends (reluctantly on his part), and it is still sweet and beautiful. Siblings Almond and Cucumber share a nice, heartbreaking moment or two together. Cordelia, little that she actually appears in the series, is funny and interesting, and her relationship with Peridot is very adorable and touching, for a master and her minion.
The artwork is stronger and more vibrant than ever. It fits the dramatic story exceedingly well.
I don't know. A dark tone is fine when executed carefully, with the subversion theme. That's not the problem here. But I think the series is just becoming too perplexing. All those subplots and characters. 'The Flower Kingdom' doesn't even contain a bonus issue at the end.
'Cucumber Quest' needs to develop slowly, introducing plot and character elements a bit simpler, in my opinion. I don't think I'll be continuing the series, however; I'm not even sure when the next volume will be published. I'm very picky about what I read, especially graphic novels and their sequels.
Well, that's all folks.
For now.
Final Score: 3.5/5
October 21, 2018
An incredibly sloppy installment to this series. The story was so jumpy and confusing I had to flip back several times to see if pages were missing from my copy. Characters will be together on one page and alone the next, with no transition. It's sort of explained at the end, but not well, enough to justify feeling lost for the entire story.
November 9, 2024
3.75 stars round it up to 4!
I think the number one thing that stood out to me with this book is that there were some outrageously funny moments. Like super funny, like I was busting out WHEEZING, so that was definitely a great factor. I also noticed that this book packs a lot more plot. Like I feel like the plot is a lot more rushed and so there's just a lot more packed into this book as opposed to the other books in the series. There was also a trans character (I'm pretty sure) in this installment and there were way more hints to another character female character having feelings for one of the fmc's, so seeing that kind of rep is honestly always just great to see, especially in a middle grade series like this.
Otherwise there were some fun twists, the art style was great and totally adorable as always, and I CAN'T BELIEVE WE GET LEFT ON A CLIFFHANGER. I MEAN NGL JUST THINKING ABOUT IT MAKES ME MISS THIS SERIES ALREADY. GIGI, YOU BETTER SIGN FOR SOME NEW INSTALLMENTS BECAUSE I NEED MORE OF THIS, IT CAN'T STOP NOW. But yeah I guess since this is the most recent and possibly final release in this series I do wanna sum it up as a whole. Because my general or ig summarized opinion on this series is that it was really fun.
The humor has consistently been my favorite part of all these books and is honestly the best humor I've ever read in a book just because it's so close to mine, and just because of that I would recommend it to kids and adults alike. The art is consistently very good as well, giving us a very cute aesthetic that also works its so that when the book needs to be more intense or have some serious moments it also adjusts to that aspect as well. The characters are all pretty fun and charismatic and have strong personalities, even the ones we don't get to see that often. And I would say that I'm thoroughly impressed with the plot, as well as this series as a whole, given it's middle grade and I'm an adult. I would honestly recommend for everyone to atleast check this out so they can see how charming this series is and although I'm sad the journey may be over, I'm really really glad for what this series had to offer me
I think the number one thing that stood out to me with this book is that there were some outrageously funny moments. Like super funny, like I was busting out WHEEZING, so that was definitely a great factor. I also noticed that this book packs a lot more plot. Like I feel like the plot is a lot more rushed and so there's just a lot more packed into this book as opposed to the other books in the series. There was also a trans character (I'm pretty sure) in this installment and there were way more hints to another character female character having feelings for one of the fmc's, so seeing that kind of rep is honestly always just great to see, especially in a middle grade series like this.
Otherwise there were some fun twists, the art style was great and totally adorable as always, and I CAN'T BELIEVE WE GET LEFT ON A CLIFFHANGER. I MEAN NGL JUST THINKING ABOUT IT MAKES ME MISS THIS SERIES ALREADY. GIGI, YOU BETTER SIGN FOR SOME NEW INSTALLMENTS BECAUSE I NEED MORE OF THIS, IT CAN'T STOP NOW. But yeah I guess since this is the most recent and possibly final release in this series I do wanna sum it up as a whole. Because my general or ig summarized opinion on this series is that it was really fun.
The humor has consistently been my favorite part of all these books and is honestly the best humor I've ever read in a book just because it's so close to mine, and just because of that I would recommend it to kids and adults alike. The art is consistently very good as well, giving us a very cute aesthetic that also works its so that when the book needs to be more intense or have some serious moments it also adjusts to that aspect as well. The characters are all pretty fun and charismatic and have strong personalities, even the ones we don't get to see that often. And I would say that I'm thoroughly impressed with the plot, as well as this series as a whole, given it's middle grade and I'm an adult. I would honestly recommend for everyone to atleast check this out so they can see how charming this series is and although I'm sad the journey may be over, I'm really really glad for what this series had to offer me
November 13, 2018
As this series' stalwart heroes continue on their quest to collect the autographs of seven different princesses, they run into some problems. There are some surprises here as the Nightmare Knight turns out to be more complicated that readers had expected, and the Rosemaster has some more tricks up her sleeve. Carrot is able to draw on his inner strength for some courage, and the team moves on through the Flower Kingdom. Although I'm starting to care more about these characters, I still felt quite confused as they moved through various scenes. It sometimes seemed as though folks were popping up out of nowhere, and the links between the scenes were confusing to me, perhaps because some of this was a dream world, but it would have been nice to have had some indications of time and travel between the panels. The colors used in this graphic series are lovely, though.
November 8, 2018
I love this series a lot but I felt that this story was a bit disjointed and I got confused a few times. I feel like things abruptly happened or dream sequences popped up without making the start and finish of them very clear. Still, I really enjoyed this volume and look forward to the next.
July 5, 2019
I’m loving the art more and more - this artist has an amazing style. But is it just me? The stories seem more and more non sequitur - they seem to jump around and I can’t follow them. But the art? Wow!
June 12, 2021
So bizarre. So good. I can’t believe there’s no plan to publish more. I weep.
December 13, 2022
This might be on me since it's been a while since I read the previous installments, but this book felt so sloppy and I was confused the whole time.
March 20, 2021
So so good! I really enjoyed this fourth instalment of cucumber quest. I liked finding out a little more about the Nightmare Knight and following the group on there next adventure. And once again loving the illustrations. Can’t wait for the rest of the books to be written to find out more.
January 17, 2019
These are just the freaking cutest. Still loving the art and how the story line mocks the traditional "quest" story, and has a cast of diverse characters and villains.
Read
August 30, 2020Fun. It's neat to see some of the characters develop, on both the good and "evil" ends of the spectrum. Queer romance in children's books is also a plus, especially when they're such adorable dorks about it.
March 2, 2022
I liked it a little bit and since I didn't know this was the 4th one it was confusing but if you want to read this read the 1st one first.
July 19, 2025
The best one of the series, but I'm sad I have to wait for chapter 5 of another series now :(
September 16, 2022
Absolutely torn I just finished the last published cucumber quest. I will not be able to know true happiness again
March 24, 2024
3.5 stars! My personal favorite out of the series. Very unfortunate the story ends here forever.
August 19, 2020
This review may contain mild spoilers for the book. Please read with caution.
I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I read a hardcover version after publication.
Before I start this review, I want to acknowledge Gigi D.G.'s hiatus and plans for the series going forward. I read this volume knowing there likely won't be any physical continuation of the series. I was afraid I would go into the book and dread reading the contents. Whatever Gigi D.G. decides to do with the series (I know the most recent announcement mentions an illustrated script format), I look forward to seeing a conclusion.
This volume is dark. We finally start to see things going wrong for our heroes. The story has been very humorous and full of jokes with a darker theme lurking underneath. This volume finally takes us down the darker path readers have been waiting for. But, it feels off. A lot of events happen for seemingly no reason. Transitions between scenes are almost nonexistent. Our Disaster Master for this volume is incredibly alluring, yet I can't help feeling like her part of the story meant nothing. Sometimes the story just feels a little too ridiculous. The narrative in this volume is all over the place, making it hard to follow who's where and what's happening.
I've enjoyed Cucumber Quest. From the beautiful art to the characters, there is a reason I keep coming back. But this is by far the weakest volume, one that feels somewhat rushed and disconnected from the rest of the series. I will try reading what's available of volume 5 online. I hope Cucumber Quest has a successful readership once Gigi returns!
I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I read a hardcover version after publication.
Before I start this review, I want to acknowledge Gigi D.G.'s hiatus and plans for the series going forward. I read this volume knowing there likely won't be any physical continuation of the series. I was afraid I would go into the book and dread reading the contents. Whatever Gigi D.G. decides to do with the series (I know the most recent announcement mentions an illustrated script format), I look forward to seeing a conclusion.
This volume is dark. We finally start to see things going wrong for our heroes. The story has been very humorous and full of jokes with a darker theme lurking underneath. This volume finally takes us down the darker path readers have been waiting for. But, it feels off. A lot of events happen for seemingly no reason. Transitions between scenes are almost nonexistent. Our Disaster Master for this volume is incredibly alluring, yet I can't help feeling like her part of the story meant nothing. Sometimes the story just feels a little too ridiculous. The narrative in this volume is all over the place, making it hard to follow who's where and what's happening.
I've enjoyed Cucumber Quest. From the beautiful art to the characters, there is a reason I keep coming back. But this is by far the weakest volume, one that feels somewhat rushed and disconnected from the rest of the series. I will try reading what's available of volume 5 online. I hope Cucumber Quest has a successful readership once Gigi returns!
December 2, 2018
Okay, okay, let's be clear: Cucumber Question is beautiful and amazing and I love it even when it doesn't make sense. And boy, does it not make sense here. Did I completely forget the third volume? We start off in media res (I think) with Princess Nautilus trapped in a garden. The Rosemaster has a lengthy, rambling discussion with the Nightmare Knight. Cucumber and crew discover that the Flower Kingdom lacks a princess. Carrot is redeemed. The Rosemaster has yet another lengthy, rambling discussion.
I don't know. So much happens but it all feels totally disjointed and not moving the plot forward. I get that things are unraveling for the Nightmare Knight as his cold heart fractures, but I have zero idea what's going on with the Rosemaster or Cucumber and all of his pals. And then, at the end, we're off to the next destination! Whoosh nothing matters!
The Flower Kingdom is perhaps the most beautiful volume yet, but it's also somber and strange and really hard to follow. I love it, but I don't get it.
I don't know. So much happens but it all feels totally disjointed and not moving the plot forward. I get that things are unraveling for the Nightmare Knight as his cold heart fractures, but I have zero idea what's going on with the Rosemaster or Cucumber and all of his pals. And then, at the end, we're off to the next destination! Whoosh nothing matters!
The Flower Kingdom is perhaps the most beautiful volume yet, but it's also somber and strange and really hard to follow. I love it, but I don't get it.
December 1, 2025
I was sad this was the end of an unfinished series BUT THEN I discovered the rest of the story online 🥳 https://cucumber.gigidigi.com/cq/page... (even though the last bit is as an illustrated script rather than a full comic).
Admittedly, this volume was a little bit jumpy like the last one 🙁 but there are some interesting things happening with the bad guys and the good guys are super cute 💕
----
Re-read thoughts:
This series had so much potential, but sadly I think this volume was just trying to do too much and not quite doing it all. I'm sad that the series isn't properly properly finished.
Admittedly, this volume was a little bit jumpy like the last one 🙁 but there are some interesting things happening with the bad guys and the good guys are super cute 💕
----
Re-read thoughts:
This series had so much potential, but sadly I think this volume was just trying to do too much and not quite doing it all. I'm sad that the series isn't properly properly finished.
October 9, 2020
I'm disappointed. This had as much as substance as a wisp of smoke. The story has progressed about two inches of a mile, the characters are bland now, and the gags are a little less funny without the backbone of a solid plot and world. The fact that the author got bored and suddenly decided to stop writing this makes my teeth grind. Ugh. And here I had high hopes for the series.
November 17, 2018
Eh, it felt like the plot jumped around a lot, and it was hard for me to follow. Maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I read the last one.
Note- There are homosexual characters in this one
Note- There are homosexual characters in this one
October 15, 2018
http://openbooksociety.com/article/cu...
Cucumber Quest: The Flower Kingdom
Cucumber Quest, Vol. #4
By Gigi D.G.
ISBN: 9781626728356
Author Website: cucumber(.)gigidigi(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
Synopsis:
What’s in a name?
In order to defeat the Nightmare Knight, legend dictates that the DreamSword must be autographed by seven princesses. But things get a bit complicated when our heroes discover that the Flower Kingdom has no royalty! Luckily, the “king” of fashion, Mr. R is on the hunt for the new face of his style empire, and whoever catches his eye will be named… (wait for it…) “Princess R”!
Who will claim the coveted title? And why does it feel like we’re forgetting something important…? (Goodreads)
Review:
Loved the design of this comic! The comic design and characters are really cute. I love the color palette, and although I’m still not sure what the technique or medium of the illustration is, I like that it almost looks like pastel, with watercolor or gouache, it has a nice texture.
The story was really fun to follow. Sir Carrot, Nautilus, Cucumber, and Almond get themselves involved in a, sort of, fashion contest. They get separated, reunited, and then find themselves in trouble against Rosemaster. My favorite part was seeing Rosemaster’s story unfold. She goes through different phases and her story becomes really intriguing. I hope we get to see more of her at some point in the future. Then there’s this pretty moment between Sir Carrot and princess Parfait, which has a beautiful illustrated flashback. And finally, there is very interesting scene between Peridot and Sir Nightmare that you can’t miss..
Cucumber Quest: The Flower Kingdom is a fun volume for all ages and the artwork is something to appreciate. There are several interesting moments within the story that leave you wanting more and trying to figure out what will happen next. As a comic reader, I recommend Cucumber Quest: The Flower Kingdom!
Memorable Quotes:
“Cut the monologue!”
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Cucumber Quest: The Flower Kingdom
Cucumber Quest, Vol. #4
By Gigi D.G.
ISBN: 9781626728356
Author Website: cucumber(.)gigidigi(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
Synopsis:
What’s in a name?
In order to defeat the Nightmare Knight, legend dictates that the DreamSword must be autographed by seven princesses. But things get a bit complicated when our heroes discover that the Flower Kingdom has no royalty! Luckily, the “king” of fashion, Mr. R is on the hunt for the new face of his style empire, and whoever catches his eye will be named… (wait for it…) “Princess R”!
Who will claim the coveted title? And why does it feel like we’re forgetting something important…? (Goodreads)
Review:
Loved the design of this comic! The comic design and characters are really cute. I love the color palette, and although I’m still not sure what the technique or medium of the illustration is, I like that it almost looks like pastel, with watercolor or gouache, it has a nice texture.
The story was really fun to follow. Sir Carrot, Nautilus, Cucumber, and Almond get themselves involved in a, sort of, fashion contest. They get separated, reunited, and then find themselves in trouble against Rosemaster. My favorite part was seeing Rosemaster’s story unfold. She goes through different phases and her story becomes really intriguing. I hope we get to see more of her at some point in the future. Then there’s this pretty moment between Sir Carrot and princess Parfait, which has a beautiful illustrated flashback. And finally, there is very interesting scene between Peridot and Sir Nightmare that you can’t miss..
Cucumber Quest: The Flower Kingdom is a fun volume for all ages and the artwork is something to appreciate. There are several interesting moments within the story that leave you wanting more and trying to figure out what will happen next. As a comic reader, I recommend Cucumber Quest: The Flower Kingdom!
Memorable Quotes:
“Cut the monologue!”
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
October 7, 2018
Our heroes head on to the Flower Kingdom to find the princess so she can sign the sword and they can continue in their quest to defeat the Nightmare Knight. But things in the Flower Kingdom don’t go quite like normal. For one thing, the royal family disappeared ages ago. For another thing, the disaster master in the Flower Kingdom is tired of going by the script. Meanwhile, Peridot is confused about which side she should be on and the Knightmare Knight shares some of his deeper secrets with friends he trusts.
The plotline in this series veers from the normal in this book to explore some of the deeper motivations and backstory of how the whole quest cycle got started. It definitely adds depth to the overarching story if not being quite as adrenaline-driven as some of the other books. (There’s still some action, but there’s more chunks of dialogue and introspection than normal.) I think this series needs a character guide in the front or back of the book for readers. It is hard to keep ALL of the various side characters (there are over a dozen now) straight from book to book. That will be less of an issue when all the books are out and you can devour them one right after another, but when you have to wait several months between books it is a little challenging. I’m waffling between 3 and 4 stars for this one. I really liked the plot developments (and the scenes with the Knightmare Knight and Peridot were hilarious), but the flow of the book felt a little disjointed. So consider it 3.5. Overall, this series is a good choice for middle graders who like fantasy quests and cutesy graphic novels.
Notes on content [Based on ARC]: No language issues. There are a few couples among the characters (both heterosexual and homosexual) but no kissing or anything. There are some fight scenes, but no one gets seriously hurt.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The plotline in this series veers from the normal in this book to explore some of the deeper motivations and backstory of how the whole quest cycle got started. It definitely adds depth to the overarching story if not being quite as adrenaline-driven as some of the other books. (There’s still some action, but there’s more chunks of dialogue and introspection than normal.) I think this series needs a character guide in the front or back of the book for readers. It is hard to keep ALL of the various side characters (there are over a dozen now) straight from book to book. That will be less of an issue when all the books are out and you can devour them one right after another, but when you have to wait several months between books it is a little challenging. I’m waffling between 3 and 4 stars for this one. I really liked the plot developments (and the scenes with the Knightmare Knight and Peridot were hilarious), but the flow of the book felt a little disjointed. So consider it 3.5. Overall, this series is a good choice for middle graders who like fantasy quests and cutesy graphic novels.
Notes on content [Based on ARC]: No language issues. There are a few couples among the characters (both heterosexual and homosexual) but no kissing or anything. There are some fight scenes, but no one gets seriously hurt.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2024
I really enjoyed this installment of the cucumber quest series! While I agree that this book definitely has less humor than earlier installments, I thought the plot was really interesting. Introducing a not so subtly transgender character and confirming a romantic queer sub plot between characters really made this one special for me.
for me, this could’ve easily been a five star read that I would love to suggest to middle grade/young readers, but knowing that this is the final installment in the author has no intention of finishing the series, at least anytime soon, especially considering this book was published in 2018, knocks it down a star. I understand the author felt creatively burnt out, but to create a story that has a pretty clear outline, and leave your readers hanging on volume 4 of 7 or potentially 8-10, is just really disappointing. for that reason, I couldn’t suggest this series to anybody because we will most likely, never get any sort of conclusion to the story.
for me, this could’ve easily been a five star read that I would love to suggest to middle grade/young readers, but knowing that this is the final installment in the author has no intention of finishing the series, at least anytime soon, especially considering this book was published in 2018, knocks it down a star. I understand the author felt creatively burnt out, but to create a story that has a pretty clear outline, and leave your readers hanging on volume 4 of 7 or potentially 8-10, is just really disappointing. for that reason, I couldn’t suggest this series to anybody because we will most likely, never get any sort of conclusion to the story.
September 11, 2025
I had thought this was the concluding book in the series. I did not know the author had placed it on hiatus…
Well, my initial thoughts were that things felt rushed, as I assumed this was the final book. Now that I know it isn't, I have to throw that thought out the window.
I did not find this as entertaining as the previous books. Trying to get to the princess and navigating the Flower Kingdom wasn't as exciting as the others—but it wasn’t dull either! I did like that I learned more about the Nightmare Knight and the other bad guys.
I don't think there are any characters in this book or series that I dislike. Even the bad guys are entertaining. That's what happens when writers make them fun and give them heart.
Note: Using new rating system starting 2025.
December 13, 2025
I’ve loved Cucumber Quest up until this point - I think you can really start to tell by book 4 that the author was burning out. A lot of the story seems to jump around, or is missing context so it’s just confusing at times. It seems as though the immediate story regarding this book’s Disaster Master was rushed, while at the same time the overall story arc came to somewhat of a halt. I think the author may have worked themself into a corner by adding too many additional elements instead of focusing on the main story arc and then maybe 1-2 extra side arcs. Sometimes, simpler is better.
I’m also disappointed that this was the last book to be published, despite the story not being completed. I understand burn out, especially creative burn out, but I would be so excited if one day the author returned to writing and drawing up more comics for Cucumber and Almond’s story.
I’m also disappointed that this was the last book to be published, despite the story not being completed. I understand burn out, especially creative burn out, but I would be so excited if one day the author returned to writing and drawing up more comics for Cucumber and Almond’s story.
May 31, 2018
Ooo this one is really full of intrigue! The lines of good and evil might be blurring slightly, there might be more factions than we knew, and the Disaster Masters are not as happy as they may seem! I am thoroughly enjoying this series, though my only complaint would be that it can be hard to tell characters apart and those we haven't seen in a while pop back up but I can't remember what they did before...and this one had quite the cliffhanger ending! Can't wait for the next installment!
Also, I love the little Q&As with the characters at the end - they are hilarious!
Also, I love the little Q&As with the characters at the end - they are hilarious!
November 7, 2018
Yes! So many different revelations in this volume. Finally, Periodot's feelings for Almond are brought to the foreground, we learn the Nightmare Knight's true motivations, Cucumber and Carrot both come into their own a bit, and we finally get to see Princess Nautilus' Pizza Delivery whenever you don't want a pizza in action.
This volume seems a little jumpier than the other three, but that might be a side affect of the creator trying to reveal certain portions of the plot without spoiling others.
Still highly recommended and I am looking forward to the next bit.
This volume seems a little jumpier than the other three, but that might be a side affect of the creator trying to reveal certain portions of the plot without spoiling others.
Still highly recommended and I am looking forward to the next bit.
September 2, 2019
This series follows Cucumber, the chosen hero who doesn’t want anything to do with heroic stuff, and Almond, the little sister whose only desire is to be a hero. They and their friends, knight Sir Carrot and princess Nautilus, are set to travel around their seven kingdoms and protect their world from the Nightmare Knight. The story sounds very simple, maybe fun, but it’s actually quite clever and ingenious. There are many sarcastic remarks and commentary about expectations. Not every hero is really a hero and not every self-proclaim villain is that bad. The story has a very great sibling relationship and a theme of friendship that it’s great. Plus a rival to lovers sapphic romance that it’s freaking amazing. The characters are great but the world-building is wonderful. Every kingdom is so different and special, every small detail thought out. Now, what makes me hesitant to recommend this story is the amount of fatphobia. Unnecessary, ridiculous and just awful. Please be aware and take care of yourself.
June 1, 2020
I love some of the moments in this volume--the opening, Dahlia's "evil curse" being the lyrics to Wake Me Up Inside, Peridot and Almond, and more--but the contest and confrontation with Rosemaster feel rushed to me. I feel like Almond's sections should've been longer, but instead we watch Nautilus and Cucumber as they get separated from the group and do their own thing. It's entertaining, but the final battle lacks oomph, I feel.
Also, there's two kings for the Flower Kingdom and Rosemaster is trans. That's pretty cool.
Also, there's two kings for the Flower Kingdom and Rosemaster is trans. That's pretty cool.
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