Considering the fact historical shoujo with a strong female lead is my addiction, I am unbelievably surprised I haven't stumbled across this sooner. And I am so very glad I eventually did.

Kanata kara, or 'From Far Away' is one I couldn't put down. The story follows Izark, the tragic lead with a stormy past and even stormier future, and how him colliding with Noriko, our enthusiastic and overly cheery heroine, changes the course of his world. It's also a fantastic love letter to the idea of fate and destiny, and how they are affected by the smallest of decisions.

There is a lot that struck me about From Far Away, not least that the love that develops between Izark and Noriko is pure, and without (for the most part) any tropes you would perhaps expect to see in a shoujo. There isn't any tragic love triangles, and the few love interests that do crop up (mainly for Noriko) Noriko deals with quickly and maturely in a way that allows the story to progress without causing unnecessary 'misunderstood' drama. For being a fantastical and supernatural story that involves dragons and horses that look like insects (my one complaint with the art!), it is very real. The supporting characters are fleshed out and driven by their own character motivations that aren't spared for the two main characters stories. And the supporting characters don't come to violent ends or tragic blows for the sake of advancing the main plot. It is wildly refreshing.

I struggle often with the idea or plot device that a woman is a man's redemption (or vice versa). The Byronic hero - a man moody, mysterious and often ruthless - being redeemed from terrible things due to the love of a woman, is a plot I honestly detest for the most part. I would gladly talk at length as to my reasons for why, but that's not what this review is about. At first, I worried that this would perhaps be one of those stories. But what is great is that whilst Noriko's love for Izark plays a part in putting him on to a path towards the light, it is Izark's own growth and self awareness that allows him to step that way. His growth is not ignored, rushed or fabricated in order to further the heroine's plotline, and I loved From Far Away for that.

Speaking of the heroine's plotline, what really struck me was that Noriko was 'strong' in not the classic sense of the word (a la Crazy Shin Bia) by being fiery or overly powerful, but that she was incredibly self sufficient and self motivated. She did not allow herself to wallow, or become a constant damsel in distress incapable of doing anything without Izark. She was simply an 'ordinary' girl, but From Far Away tells us that even the most ordinary can violently change the world around them. And that 'ordinary' person can also receive love, both from friends and lovers, that is capable of incredible things. It's a very powerful message that From Far Away drills into you, and I love it.


And I hope, if nothing else, that young readers take away the fact you don't have to be some incredibly powerful or strong person to not only make a difference, but also be worthy of love.