宝石の国 [Houseki no Kuni] #12

A shimmering, ethereal cover greets readers of this twelfth volume of Haruko Ichikawa's Houseki no Kuni, with a solitary white-robed figure standing small against a vast, hazy landscape as iridescent crystal fragments drift and scatter through the air around them. The image is quietly breathtaking — all soft light and fragile beauty, perfectly capturing the series' signature mood of wonder tinged with melancholy. Fans of Ichikawa's gem-world saga will find this installment's presentation every bit as carefully considered as the story within.