From Far Away, Vol. 1

It’s easy to like Noriko because she’s just your typical high school girl. Her father writes science fiction, which probably explains her overactive imagination. She is adorable, loves to daydream, and has an overactive imagination. It turned her life upside down when a terrorist bomb blows up and transports her to a new world. Unfortunately, a monster appears and attacks her. Thankfully, a guy named Izark saves her! Despite Noriko’s immediate realization that she is a burden to him, there is no love between them.

You would expect a language barrier in a foreign country, yet few books discuss it. Fortunately, this is not the case. Noriko must adapt to this world and learn its language without slowing down Izark. Noriko's native tongue is highlight twice, and it highlights once the new language, illustrating the way it works. They are struggling to understand each other, leaving Izark unsure of what to do with her. She might be the Awakening, the one who awakens the evil Sky Demon. Noriko is the awakening.

Not only does this first volume introduce and cover topics that most books avoid, but it also introduces us to a very sympathetic and relatable protagonist. Her success is something you can’t help but want, and that’s what makes it so special. Right now, Noriko and Izark’s interactions are too cute, and she catches him off guard so many times, but thank goodness this sticks to the plot without forcing rom-com into your throat.

Hopefully, there will be more adorable moments between these two in future volumes. I’m also excited to see how their story progresses and how they will overcome their obstacles. I’m really looking forward to reading the next volume!