5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Troubled Times, June 24, 2008
This review is from: xxxHOLiC, Vol. 12 (Paperback)
This volume of Holic focuses on Watanuki's relationships with three females in his life - Yuko, Kohane and a new friend - as the series' crossover with Tsubasa deepens.
First, both we and Watanuki get a sense of how difficult Yuko's life really is when April First arrives and her pain at not being able to even give Watanuki a birthday gift because of the equivalent exchange clause of her position is palpable as she, Domeki and Himawari celebrate the day with him.
Watanuki and Domeki also become alarmed for Kohane when they find her in a shocking condition after getting in trouble for not having it in her to lie by omission about what she sees to appease some lesser psychics and the general public.
And last, but not least, after a now-routine chat with Haruka Watanuki finally has a proper meeting with Sakura of Clow, and offers support and comfort to the Princess, whose adoptive family is still dogged by imminent tragedy, as she endangers herself beyond what she has already done and enters the dreamworld without the knowledge of her companions in a further effort to save the man she loves as if he were her mother after a terrifying nightmare indicates to her that the Syaoran clone is not yet finished with Fai...
The new friendship between Watanuki and Sakura - in addition to drawing their respective groups closer together - allows them both to discuss their problems with a sympathetic party who has some more objectivity than the people in their respective inner circles. Sakura's explanation to Watanuki of who Fai is to her is deeply moving and eloquent in it's simplicity, the expression on her face when she talks about him almost speaking for itself. It's a moment that might just be an epiphany for Watanuki, as seeing Sakura's agony over the fact that Fai doesn't accept how much he means to the Tsubasa gang leads him to reflect on his relationships with the people in his own life. A final scene between Watanuki and Yuko is likewise touching, as we see the wish granter's reaction to having someone show concern for her rather than wanting something from her for a change.
Ending with a shocker involving Watanuki himself that it's probably better not to disclose, this volume keeps up the high level of the series in general and the last few volumes in particular.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating!, July 9, 2008
This review is from: xxxHOLiC, Vol. 12 (Paperback)
I just love this series. I am dying to find out if Wantanubi is becoming like Sakura and going into a dream like state forever. Does he need to choose reality over dreams? I'm dying to find out. I starting to read Tsubasha too, but it is very confusing to me. I have read 3 volumes so far. XXXholic beats all Manga for me right now. I love it!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally building to surprise and fear, November 21, 2008
This review is from: xxxHOLiC, Vol. 12 (Paperback)
Watanuki has been falling more and more into a dream state where Dômeki's grandfather is attempting to help him. But as Yuko knows, he'll need more help than that when Sakura, a princess from a world without magic, starts showing up in his dreams as well. This is a cross-over with Tsubasa which I have not read so I'm a bit lost but I think this story is solid enough to be understood alone in terms of our main characters. We even see a decent amount of maturity from Watanuki where Dômeki is concerned for a nice change.
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