If you're looking for an exciting, action packed book this will not be the book choice for you. How would I describe it? My description would be contradictory at best: somewhat sad but uplifting. While others might describe it as "depressing" I disagree with them because I think the integrity and strength of the characters far outweighs the melancholic areas of this story. As this is only my second of Tsukiyama's books it is refreshing to find stories with honorable characters