Aria

On Aqua, the planet once called Mars, the town of Neo-Venezia recreates old Venice down to its canals, bridges and lantern-lit squares. Akari Mizunashi arrives from Manhome, as people now call Earth, to train as an Undine, one of the gondoliers who row visitors through the city and tell them its stories. She joins the small Aria Company, home to Alicia, one of the most admired Undines in town, and to its company president, a round, blue-eyed cat named Aria. With fellow trainees Aika and Alice, Akari practises rowing, studies the city's history and finds wonder in ordinary days: a festival at night, a hidden alley, the seasons changing on the water, a conversation with a stranger that stays with her for years. Kozue Amano's series is the definition of a gentle, healing story, unhurried and full of light. Aria the Masterpiece collects it in a larger edition, following the earlier volumes of Aqua, and invites readers to slow down, look around and notice what is beautiful.