Product Description

THE QUEEN'S CHECKMATE!

The Mafia-run world of Infinity would be a dangerous place even without the death-defying “chess” tournament that Princess Sakura and her companions have entered. But Sakura has decided to risk everything—even her friends' lives—for the contest's secret prize.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #267572 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-18
• Released on: 2008-11-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780345505798
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

A Tale of Two Kitties
By this point, Tsubasa fans will be wondering exactly how much more CLAMP can possibly do to poor, sweet Fai . The answer, as anyone familiar with what they put our universe's version of Subaru Sumeragi through in the Tokyo Babylon/X continuum knows, is unfortunately plenty, as this brutal, heartbreaking installment shows.

As it begins, Fai reacts to the news he received at the end of the last volume by mothering and fussing over Sakura for as long as he still can until Ashura catches up to him while keeping mum about his impending predicament. It turns out, however, that Fai isn't the only one who can keep secrets. The last feather the gang received has put a trump card in Sakura's hand - and to Fai's horror she uses it in a risky, complicated play to save her beloved "Mom" once and for all...

The volume answers the question of how Sakura got to where Kimihiro Watanuki found her in xxxHOLiC 12, but not at all in the way any of us reasonably would have expected. Without giving away exactly what she does, Sakura proves herself a tactician almost on Yuko and Fei Wang's level - albeit with a mobility not allowed the former and good intentions alien to the latter; and it's both thrilling and almost unbearable to watch, both for her own sake and because it involves her having to hurt Fai in the worst way possible considering what we know of his psyche to get the necessary result.

It's a breathtaking volume, and it's going to be an agonizing wait to see how it's events play out.

almost different
This book in the series provides an almost different outlook on the main characters as the others. it has a more dark feeling, compared to the lighter, happier volumes that came before. it makes you anticipate the next book that will be coming out.

Deep and intense ...
I have to admit it is getting better and better. Starting from the volume 15 or 14, when our heroes steal the enchanted book and enter the destroyed Tokyo city the story grows darker and more intense. Characters gain complexity, showing the inner depth as the murky secrets became unveiled one by one.
But, this is exactly what we can expect from CLAMP, who are, after all, creators of such a drama as X/1999!
Volume 19 continues story about the chess tournament and is, in fact, wholly dedicated to that subject. As the tournament progresses we learn more about the prize waiting for the winner. As we could expect it wasn't all about money ... there is something else, something potent and extremely desirable for our Small Kitty, who gets her foresight ability again together with another pack of memories. In volume 19 Sakura's profile especially gains complexity, and also more human face. This transformation really started earlier when she decided to undertake a quest of her own to pay the price, but here in vol. 19 it comes to a climax, when Sakura really makes her own decision, which will shape the future.

Again, one of the most potent subject, frequently and deeply exploited by CLAMP appears: destiny and changeable/unchangeable future...

I heartily recommend this volume to all fans of CLAMP!