(having read the first two volumes)

Takamoto Chikahito is probably one of the most relatable protagonists I've seen in the manga/anime world for one reason--when you're confused, so is he. I remember reading chapter one when Sakura, Tachibana and Hana appear and random stuff just starts exploding and thinking to myself "What's going on?!" and turning the page and to find Chikahito saying "What's going on?!" Glad to know we're on the same page....

That said this manga has a habit of throwing a lot of info at you and then going back and explaining itself. However, a lot of that is due to my (and I'd wager most Western readers') lack of knowledge of Japanese history. Much of the story and characters are intertwined with what I guess is common knowledge history in Japan--but the rest of us are left flipping to the back of the volume looking for translator notes to explain what we're reading about.

Now many would say that is a serious drawback to the series, but personally I found it fun. I liked learning more of a subject I was completely unaware of. With a patient read, the translation notes DO bring everything into light and the story makes sense. This isn't a straightforward story--it takes a bit of effort on the reader's part, but it's by no means incomprehensible.

The characters main characters are rather enjoyable. The three "strange people" our hero, Chikahito, meets have very distinct and dynamic personalities, and I enjoyed how in depth they got in just two volumes. Hana is especially fun just becuase of the stark contrast between her wants-noodles mode and her serious mode (one being excessively adorable and the other being downright beautiful).

Which brings me to the art. This is the first thing I've ever read of Clamp's, and when I picked it up my friends all told me how amazing it was sure to be "because Clamp is god"

I see what they meant.

This artwork is AMAZING. At several points per chapter I literally just stopped and stared in awe at the page wondering "how do they do that....it's not fair..." The characters are all incredibly detailed, and as I mentioned above, Hana is simply stunning. The only drawback is perhaps the lack of clarity during the fights--it's sometimes hard to tell exactly what happened in each panel, but even that hardly takes away form the literally breathtaking visuals this manga has to offer.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this manga so far, and I cannot WAIT until July for volume 3 to come out in the US (I refuse to read this online--this art demands that it be seen in person).