Brutal- the first word that comes to mind after each re-reading of this series. This is not by any means your light story of developing emotions, climax, minor fall, and happy ending. Happiness is an indefinite point in the story, but you are able to relish the emotions, regardless of the mild BL aspect, but the environment surrounding the characters. Every detail impacts the reader, one after the other- and before you can get back up you're struck agin. A theme of the trials in youth, coming of age, rippled with the violence and ugliness they're exposed to.