is a Japanese

yaoi ''Yaoi'' (; ja, やおい ), also known by the ''wasei-eigo'' construction and its abbreviation , is a genre of fictional media originating in Japan that features Homoeroticism, homoerotic relationships between male characters. It is typi ...

light novel A light novel (, Hepburn: ''raito noberu'') is a style of young adult novel primarily targeting high school and middle school students. The term "light novel" is a ''wasei-eigo'', or a Japanese term formed from words in the English languag ...

series written by

Katsura Izumi Katsura or Katsuura may refer to: Architecture *The Katsura imperial villa, one of Japan's most important architectural treasures, and a World Heritage Site Botany *Katsura, the common name for Cercidiphyllum, a genus of two species of trees nativ ...

and illustrated by

Hinako Takanaga is a Japanese yaoi manga artist from Nagoya. She has also provided illustrations for several yaoi light novels by other authors, including '' The Guilty'' by Katsura Izumi. Most of her works have been translated into English and German (chiefly ...

. It is licensed in North America by

Digital Manga Publishing Digital Manga is a California-based publishing company that licenses and releases Japanese manga, anime, and related merchandise in the English language. Digital Manga also owns and operates eManga, a digital publishing site for manga and l ...

, which released all 4 books of the series through its yaoi imprint, Juné, between October 21, 2008 and July 8, 2009.

Novels

The first two novels were published by

Movic is a Japanese company which specializes in the publication of trading cards, figures, CDs, and other general media related to the anime industry. Movic is a part of the Animate group. Anime involved in *'' Ah! My Goddess: The Movie'': Producti ...

before the title was transferred to

Frontier Works is a Japanese company specializing in the creation and distribution of media related to anime, such as producing OVAs, radio dramas, drama CDs, anime soundtracks, or other related products. The company was established in August 1990. Projects i ...

. The books were re-released in 2005.

Reception

Melinda Beasi of Pop Culture Shock commends the series for "some nice characterization and real emotional depth" but criticizes it for "uncomfortably humiliating sex scenes or homophobic self-loathing of the series’ protagonist". ActiveAnime's Rachel Bentham describes the series as "torrid and wantonly graphic and at the same time manages to throw in some romantic angles" and praises the "gorgeous artwork".

Novels

Reception

References

Further reading