I love this series. It works so well because of how uncanonical it is. Yukari as we all know and love is the sage of Gensokyo. She's awesome, calculating, mystrious, mischievous, and heartless sometimes. Yukari here is a shonen protagonist. She is earnest, cute, fluttering, and kind. She cares for her friends and fights for whom she loves. And it's not like we can't see all these qualities reflected in our usual Yukari.
My only complaint is the author skipping Yukari-Yuyuko meeting. Understandable since that episode is already so famous. But I like how Yuyuko is drawn here, so more of her would have been appreciated.