So you're a fan of the manga, might as well buy the illustration book. Unfortunately this is not the golden rule to live by when it comes to this particular illustration book. Don't get me wrong, I love Kanata Kara, and I absolutely adore any of Hikawa Kyoko's work at the same time, I have to say that she does have her limitations. Although she?s a wonderful writer in the sense that her plot has that rare combination of off beat humour, tender romantic moments, and in the case of Kanata Kara an absolutely gorgeous adventure spinned into the fabric of her work, she's not as good as other artist when it comes to "pure illustration".

The illustration book is basically a collection of her covers from the manga, as well as some of the coloured pages that prelude the story in magazines. Nothing new for the most part, though ofcourse you get the benefit of colour. Though the word "benefit" should be interpreted rather loosely. Maybe it's me, but Hikawa sensei's use of colour and media can sometimes drown her work. Maybe that's a little harsh, but the more you flip through the pages you get a sense that she's not very adventurous nor all that skilled when it comes to using colours. Most of the work used either pastel or watercolour. Predominant use of mud green and desert yellow gives a sense of the dry continent that is the background of most of her pictures, at the same time it doesn't convey the same sense of action or mood that her usual black and white images tends to capture best.

What comes as a pleasant surprise is the summary of the "Character and World" within Kanata Kara. Snippets about recurring character as well as a glossary on words used within that world. That in it self might be rather fun to translate someday (hint for those itching to do some translation).

All in all, a rather average illustration book unfortunately. Worth getting if you?re a fan of the series, but for those who buy to collect, you probably can give this one a miss. I would like to see what her next illustration book would look like however, in any case it should be an improvement...there goes the voice of an optimist.