What I find interesting about this series is that there is usually a female lead who is very smart/brilliant or has some sort of magical or supernatural power that helps them buck the system.
This female leas is not brilliant [she intelligent but not brilliant] and she doesn't have any magical/supernatural powers [that we know of] to help.
All she has is stubborness and an indomitable will.
I'm glad the series acknowledges the emotional toll abuse has on someone, no matter how strong they are.