This manga is so completely my cup of tea that I probably can't help but be a little biased in it's favor, but even so it's definitely something everyone should at least try reading.

There are two things about xxxHolic that make it special, that make it stand out in my memory and have it latched permanently into my imagination. First, it's sad. I don't mean it's melodramatic and fraught with character deaths, its just has that perfectly melancholy tone. The enjoyable kind of sad you feel when you stare out your window on rainy days or when you remember happy times gone by. Not everything has to be grimdark to make you contemplate the tragedies of life or question the meaning of existence.

Second is the stunning imagery. The story and characters are all interesting and well developed, but this manga would not even be half as good if it wasn't supported by CLAMP's beautiful art and haunting imagery. I'll just list a few of the most memorable- A sprawling red hydrangea bush whispering it's dark hidden secrets into the air. A pocket world of giant daffodils inside a well. A procession of yokai winding through the night like a river as they carry their lanterns to a great magical tree glowing in the distance. Walking down a dark street alone at night, passing a strange man with an umbrella...again, and again... and again. A boy opening a strange shop door to find a lounging woman, covered in her long black tresses and wreathed by smoke from her delicate pipe, smiling an enigmatic, slightly wicked, and slightly sad smile.

In other words, if you love the mysterious, the strange, and the darker side of fantasy you can't do better than this. Add to that great characters that change and grow over the course of the story, an ending that will break your heart, and interesting tie ins to another great manga and why aren't you reading it? Go read it!