5/5 Epic anime series, Great story
  by G. Flickinger (Lubbock TX)
This series is one of the epic stories, with events covered from different parts of the world of twelve kingdoms, I suggest getting the collection(s) since you will enjoy all three short (13 ep) seasons. Do not expect each story arc to be just like the last. There is quite a bit of variety between each season.

4/5 COME TOGETHER RIGHT NOW
  by Sesho (Pasadena, TX USA)
Youko comes face to face with the problems her inexperience and ignorance have exacerbated in the kingdom of Kei in this 8th volume of The Twelve Kingdoms. She learns about the corrupt village chief, Shoukou, an evil man who commits atrocities not because he is crazy, but from some masochistic effort to prove the existence of the Gods. He WANTS to be punished. He has done all these horrible things and yet he still lives on. And Youko begins to realize just how powerless the queen is when she finds out the extent of the corruption in her own court. Meanwhile, Shoukei travels with Rakushun, receiving the same moral education and bits of wisdom from our rat faced friend that Youko got. She begins to doubt whether her quest to usurp the throne of Kei is a good one. Lastly, just as Shoukei's drive to get rid of Youko is dwindling, Suzu takes up the glove, blaming the death of her friend in the last volume on Shoukou and Queen Kei. She vows to take her revenge of both of them.

The high quality of this anime just continues on as it has for many volumes. Set up like a novel, it is probably the most elaborate story I have ever seen in this genre. No character has a simple motivation in this series. Everyone in Kingdoms has a complicated soul, including even the evil Shoukou. Highly recommended.

5/5 Thrilling and Captivating
  by Fantasychick18 (Buffalo, NY)
Each Chapter of the Twelve Kingdoms keeps surpassing its predecessor, "Alliance" is no different. Youko, Suzu, and Shoukei find themselves in the middle of a secret war being fought over the Kingdom of Kei's Wa Province. Secret rebel armies are preparing for the fight that is to stop the ruthless Provintial lord of Wa and his lackies from hurting more people.

Youko, who still is living amoungst her people, is trying to cope with her inability to stop the corrupt village chief, Shoukou. Suzu tries to take her revenge on Shoukou for the death of her dear friend. Meanwhile, Shoukei manages to enter Kei with the help of Rakushun. She also learns to respect the Queen of Kei and of the corrupt Wa government.

I believe that The Twelve Kingdoms is the best anime out there today, if not the best of all time. The characters are so dynamic and interesting that I just latched on to them immediately. In a world of magical creatures, gods, and demons, the characters still manage to keep a sense of realism about them. Each character's strengths and weaknesses are explioted. Never have any of our protagonists stopped questioning themselves and they've never found themselves to be totally right or wrong. Ignorance about themselves usually is the thing that really hurts most to the three girls.

Characters, acting, music, and animation blend together beautifully to create a story that has kept me at the edge of my seat ever since the begining. The plot never lets up and has grown even more twisted; with narrow misses, secret alliances, and Youko's risky decision to join the rebels, the story is set to explode for Chapter 9. "Alliance" continues the story of the Twelve Kingdoms with an edgy grace that keeps this humble reviewer coming back for more.


4/5 The tapestry weaves tighter
  by Terry Dawson (Appleton, WI USA)
The first of the five episodes on this disk includes a mini-recap, which is a good thing. The plot of this arc just keeps evolving and growing in depth. This also continues to be a rather dark storyline, involving deaths of innocents. All three heroines -- Youko, the Queen of Kei and the two displaced girls who are seeking her for revenge, redemption or sympathy -- are drawing together in one troubled province of Youko's kingdom.

The challenges these young women face, in dealing with a corrpt government from the inside and out, give the viewer food for thought about politics as much as personal responsibility. Each of the three protaganists wrestles in her own way with how to find the truth and determine the right course of action.

Twelve Kingdoms continues to engage and challenge the viewer. It's unfortunate that the series will end soon, but the journey is worth taking. This disk contains no extras except for a few trailers.