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The Gender Game #3
The Gender Lie
"I'd want you to help me win a war..." After discovering the shocking secret buried deep within The Green, Violet has a grave decision to make. Trust the woman who saved her, or not? So far, everything about the woman has taken Violet by surprise. Her behavior has been honest and upfront - a refreshing change for Violet. Besides, with one of her loved ones hanging on life support, and the other close to falling completely out of reach, Violet doesn't exactly have a lot of choice. Her only way forward is to embark on a dicey excursion. For this, she knows she needs the Liberators' help - and must be prepared to take whatever risks that comes with. But what neither she, nor any of her new Liberator comrades can prepare for, is just how deep the lies of their homelands run... Continue Violet and Viggo's journey in the EXPLOSIVE third book of the bestselling The Gender Game series. Buy now! *Beware of spoilers in the reviews below that are without spoiler alerts*
399 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2016
About the author
Bella Forrest
175 books8,547 followersUPDATE MARCH 11, 2024:
BELLA IS BACK!
*** New, updated online store at https://BellaForrest.com
*** New books coming soon
*** Possible Film/TV series coming soon
*** Stay up to date by joining our e-mail list at https://BellaForrest.com/join
###
Bella Forrest is a lover of fantasy, romance, action, and mystery infused stories with twists you don’t see coming. She has sold over fifteen million books since her first novel was published in 2012.
Check out her website for a full list of her books: https://BellaForrest.com
Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BellaForrest...
Here's a list of some of Bella's books:
DARKLIGHT
Darklight (Book 1)
Darkthirst (Book 2)
Darkworld (Book 3)
Darkblood (Book 4)
Darktide (Book 5)
Darkbirth (Book 6)
Darkfall (Book 7)
Darkwilds (Book 8)
Darkhunt (Book 9)
A LOVE THAT ENDURES (Trilogy)
A Love that Endures 1
A Love that Endures 2
A Love that Endures 3
HARLEY MERLIN AND THE SECRET COVEN
Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1)
Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins (Book 2)
Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals (Book 3)
Harley Merlin and the First Ritual (Book 4)
Harley Merlin and the Broken Spell (Book 5)
Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Book 6)
Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix (Book 7)
Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos (Book 8)
Harley Merlin and the Mortal Pact (Book 9)
Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth (Book 10)
Finch Merlin and the Lost Map (Book 11)
Finch Merlin and the Djinn's Curse (Book 12)
Finch Merlin and the Locked Gateway (Book 13)
Finch Merlin and the Forgotten Kingdom (Book 14)
Finch Merlin and the Everlasting Vow (Book 15)
Finch Merlin and the Blood Tie (Book 16)
Finch Merlin and the Legend of the Luminary
Persie Merlin and Leviathan's Gift (Book 18)
Persie Merlin and the Door to Nowhere (Book 19)
Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters (Book 20)
Persie Merlin and the Dying Song (Book 21)
THE CHILD THIEF
The Child Thief (Book 1)
Deep Shadows (Book 2)
Thin Lines (Book 3)
Little Lies (Book 4)
Ghost Towns (Book 5)
Zero Hour (Book 6)
HOTBLOODS
Hotbloods (Book 1)
Hotbloods (Book 2): Coldbloods
Hotbloods (Book 3): Renegades
Hotbloods (Book 4): Venturers
Hotbloods (Book 5): Traitors
Hotbloods (Book 6): Allies
Hotbloods (Book 7): Invaders
Hotbloods (Book 8): Stargazers
THE GENDER GAME
The Gender Game (Book 1)
The Gender Secret (Book 2)
The Gender Lie (Book 3)
The Gender War (Book 4)
The Gender Fall (Book 5)
The Gender Plan (Book 6)
The Gender End (Book 7)
THE GIRL WHO DARED TO THINK
The Girl Who Dared to Think (Book 1)
The Girl Who Dared to Stand (Book 2)
The Girl Who Dared to Descend (Book 3)
The Girl Who Dared to Rise (Book 4)
The Girl Who Dared to Lead (Book 5)
The Girl Who Dared to Endure (Book 6
The Girl Who Dared to Fight (Book 7)
A SHADE OF VAMPIRE
Season 1: Derek & Sofia’s story
Books 1 to 7
Season 2: Rose & Caleb’s story
Books 8 to 16
Season 3: The Shade continues with a new hero...
Books 17 to 24
Season 4: A Clan of Novaks
Books 25 to 32
Season 5: A Dawn of Guardians
Books 33 to 41
Season 6: A Gift of Three
Books 42 to 50
Season 7: A Call of Vampires
Books 51 to 59
Season 8: A Voyage of Founders
Books 60 to 68
Season 9: A Birth of Fire
Books 69 to 77
Season 10: An Origin of Vampires
An Origin of Vampires (Book 78)
A Game of Death (Book 79)
A Veil of Dark (Book 80)
A Bringer of Night (Book 81)
A Circle of Nine (Book 82)
A Bender of Spirit (Book 83)
A Memory of Time (Book 84)
A Shard of Soul (Book 85)
A Break of Seals (Book 86)
Season 11: A Shade of Mystery
A Shade of Mystery (Book 87)
An Isle of Mirrors (Book 88)
A Sanctuary of Foes (Book 89)
A Ruler of Clones (Book 90)
A Gate of Light (Book 91)
A Dawn of Worlds (Book 92) ➜ Coming soon!
BELLA IS BACK!
*** New, updated online store at https://BellaForrest.com
*** New books coming soon
*** Possible Film/TV series coming soon
*** Stay up to date by joining our e-mail list at https://BellaForrest.com/join
###
Bella Forrest is a lover of fantasy, romance, action, and mystery infused stories with twists you don’t see coming. She has sold over fifteen million books since her first novel was published in 2012.
Check out her website for a full list of her books: https://BellaForrest.com
Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BellaForrest...
Here's a list of some of Bella's books:
DARKLIGHT
Darklight (Book 1)
Darkthirst (Book 2)
Darkworld (Book 3)
Darkblood (Book 4)
Darktide (Book 5)
Darkbirth (Book 6)
Darkfall (Book 7)
Darkwilds (Book 8)
Darkhunt (Book 9)
A LOVE THAT ENDURES (Trilogy)
A Love that Endures 1
A Love that Endures 2
A Love that Endures 3
HARLEY MERLIN AND THE SECRET COVEN
Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1)
Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins (Book 2)
Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals (Book 3)
Harley Merlin and the First Ritual (Book 4)
Harley Merlin and the Broken Spell (Book 5)
Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Book 6)
Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix (Book 7)
Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos (Book 8)
Harley Merlin and the Mortal Pact (Book 9)
Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth (Book 10)
Finch Merlin and the Lost Map (Book 11)
Finch Merlin and the Djinn's Curse (Book 12)
Finch Merlin and the Locked Gateway (Book 13)
Finch Merlin and the Forgotten Kingdom (Book 14)
Finch Merlin and the Everlasting Vow (Book 15)
Finch Merlin and the Blood Tie (Book 16)
Finch Merlin and the Legend of the Luminary
Persie Merlin and Leviathan's Gift (Book 18)
Persie Merlin and the Door to Nowhere (Book 19)
Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters (Book 20)
Persie Merlin and the Dying Song (Book 21)
THE CHILD THIEF
The Child Thief (Book 1)
Deep Shadows (Book 2)
Thin Lines (Book 3)
Little Lies (Book 4)
Ghost Towns (Book 5)
Zero Hour (Book 6)
HOTBLOODS
Hotbloods (Book 1)
Hotbloods (Book 2): Coldbloods
Hotbloods (Book 3): Renegades
Hotbloods (Book 4): Venturers
Hotbloods (Book 5): Traitors
Hotbloods (Book 6): Allies
Hotbloods (Book 7): Invaders
Hotbloods (Book 8): Stargazers
THE GENDER GAME
The Gender Game (Book 1)
The Gender Secret (Book 2)
The Gender Lie (Book 3)
The Gender War (Book 4)
The Gender Fall (Book 5)
The Gender Plan (Book 6)
The Gender End (Book 7)
THE GIRL WHO DARED TO THINK
The Girl Who Dared to Think (Book 1)
The Girl Who Dared to Stand (Book 2)
The Girl Who Dared to Descend (Book 3)
The Girl Who Dared to Rise (Book 4)
The Girl Who Dared to Lead (Book 5)
The Girl Who Dared to Endure (Book 6
The Girl Who Dared to Fight (Book 7)
A SHADE OF VAMPIRE
Season 1: Derek & Sofia’s story
Books 1 to 7
Season 2: Rose & Caleb’s story
Books 8 to 16
Season 3: The Shade continues with a new hero...
Books 17 to 24
Season 4: A Clan of Novaks
Books 25 to 32
Season 5: A Dawn of Guardians
Books 33 to 41
Season 6: A Gift of Three
Books 42 to 50
Season 7: A Call of Vampires
Books 51 to 59
Season 8: A Voyage of Founders
Books 60 to 68
Season 9: A Birth of Fire
Books 69 to 77
Season 10: An Origin of Vampires
An Origin of Vampires (Book 78)
A Game of Death (Book 79)
A Veil of Dark (Book 80)
A Bringer of Night (Book 81)
A Circle of Nine (Book 82)
A Bender of Spirit (Book 83)
A Memory of Time (Book 84)
A Shard of Soul (Book 85)
A Break of Seals (Book 86)
Season 11: A Shade of Mystery
A Shade of Mystery (Book 87)
An Isle of Mirrors (Book 88)
A Sanctuary of Foes (Book 89)
A Ruler of Clones (Book 90)
A Gate of Light (Book 91)
A Dawn of Worlds (Book 92) ➜ Coming soon!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 696 reviews
July 17, 2017
I'm frustrated that I'm giving this book such a low rating because I truly did enjoy it, but it wasn't entertaining enough to make up for the poor writing.
The amount of times my 'fictive bubble' was popped by the writer herself is unforgivable. I rolled my eyes every page at a cliche, overused or repeated word, out of character dialogue, unbelievable turn of events, or convenient fixes to the character's problems. Ever heard of 'when in doubt, kill someone'? Bella Forrest does this. Ever heard of 'Never save your characters through divine intervention'? She also does this.
Over explaining things to the point that the readers can't picture it? Does this.
Overly uses adverbs? Check.
Leans on the love story to keep reader's attention? EYEROLL.
Forgets about a character till they're needed? Why even assume she wouldn't?
Stating the obvious/Repetitive explanations? Forrest patronizes the readers and doesn't trust in our wisdom and ability to follow along with her stories.
Having your characters act OOC to fit a scene? I didn't even recognize some of the main characters.
I could go on but my point is this: Every mistake a writer could make while self editing or writing, Forrest makes. A couple I can forgive if the story is strong enough to overlook or if the mistakes are few and far between. But Forrest did it so often and so badly in an already poor plot-driven novel, that I ended giving her two stars.
I did give her two, however, instead of a measly one she may have earned and here is why:
I still found myself hooked to the end. I was annoyed and frustrated, but I still longed to know what happened next. I didn't recognize the characters, but I still cared about them and wanted to know what would happen with them. Unlike in 'The Gender Secret' there was little character growth, something that a novel NEEDS to be transformational, but the plot was still intriguing. It was juvenile and lazy, but still exciting and adventurous. I cared because of the first two books of the novel. I'm holding out hope for the next one, but if this novel was standalone, I would be angry I spent my time on it.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
To go into detail about some of my issues I'll have to talk freely, so if you don't want spoilers, stop reading now.
The boys of Matrus, including Violet Bates' younger brother, Tim, were discovered in the end of the second book. This book was set up to deal with these hundreds of boys as a major plot point, but does so poorly. Found in dangerous cells after being experimented on for years and years, these boys are broken and scarred, though Forrest conveniently only reminds us of that and shows us once in a very calm outrage Tim has. We only see the boys as an accessory to the plot, not being true to the trauma they must be dealing with. Laziness takes over and Forrest fixes the boys quickly to move the plot forward. She uses them as a tool, just like the characters in the novel.
It's almost as if she forgot about them halfway through the book and went 'oh, yeah... I guess I should incorporate them somehow'. They were not given the page time they earned, and instead had a few scenes of 'training' before the boys were immediately being used by the rebel faction leader (who plot twist, was actually lying to Violet about using the boys, who plot twist, uses them to start a war between Patrus and Matrus, who, plot twist, is actually working for the Matrus queen, who plot twist, had planned on being queen and her mom dying all along, who plot twist STOP.), Desmond.
Speaking of, the entire first half of the book was Violet going on a mission to retrieve a laser to fix Viggo's heart. This is all well and good, but, WHY? Why did this deserve so much time whereas these boys, whom Violet has been wanting to find for YEARS, got a measly few chapters?
Along with the boys, apparently Desmond has a second son who was one of the boys named Jay. Do you know when we hear about them? When our heroes need a miraculous save after being thrusted in the Green to die. OH YEAH JAY EXISTS AND HES HEAR TO BRING YOU SUPPLIES AND HELP. Thanks a lot.
Also, the love story. After two books of 'will they or won't they' all of the sudden Viggo and Violet are basically married. (Viggo literally has the thought that he wants to marry Violet... to sleep with her). This was not earned or warranted. YES, they care for each other, but there relationship jumped forward two years with no explainable reason how.
Finally, who the F**K is Viggo in this book? I LOVED HIM. In the first book, I fell in love with Viggo with Violet. He was a wonderful character with rough edges and a warm heart. The second book shied away from that slightly, but this is because we got an insight into his mind, so I forgave Forrest. But now? Viggo is not Viggo, he is whoever he needs to be to aid the plot in moving forward. I don't care about this Viggo. At all.
I have more complaints, but this seems enough for now. I WILL continue reading because as I've said, I'm already invested, but I pray the next book is significantly better because this one left me sorely disappointed.
The amount of times my 'fictive bubble' was popped by the writer herself is unforgivable. I rolled my eyes every page at a cliche, overused or repeated word, out of character dialogue, unbelievable turn of events, or convenient fixes to the character's problems. Ever heard of 'when in doubt, kill someone'? Bella Forrest does this. Ever heard of 'Never save your characters through divine intervention'? She also does this.
Over explaining things to the point that the readers can't picture it? Does this.
Overly uses adverbs? Check.
Leans on the love story to keep reader's attention? EYEROLL.
Forgets about a character till they're needed? Why even assume she wouldn't?
Stating the obvious/Repetitive explanations? Forrest patronizes the readers and doesn't trust in our wisdom and ability to follow along with her stories.
Having your characters act OOC to fit a scene? I didn't even recognize some of the main characters.
I could go on but my point is this: Every mistake a writer could make while self editing or writing, Forrest makes. A couple I can forgive if the story is strong enough to overlook or if the mistakes are few and far between. But Forrest did it so often and so badly in an already poor plot-driven novel, that I ended giving her two stars.
I did give her two, however, instead of a measly one she may have earned and here is why:
I still found myself hooked to the end. I was annoyed and frustrated, but I still longed to know what happened next. I didn't recognize the characters, but I still cared about them and wanted to know what would happen with them. Unlike in 'The Gender Secret' there was little character growth, something that a novel NEEDS to be transformational, but the plot was still intriguing. It was juvenile and lazy, but still exciting and adventurous. I cared because of the first two books of the novel. I'm holding out hope for the next one, but if this novel was standalone, I would be angry I spent my time on it.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
To go into detail about some of my issues I'll have to talk freely, so if you don't want spoilers, stop reading now.
The boys of Matrus, including Violet Bates' younger brother, Tim, were discovered in the end of the second book. This book was set up to deal with these hundreds of boys as a major plot point, but does so poorly. Found in dangerous cells after being experimented on for years and years, these boys are broken and scarred, though Forrest conveniently only reminds us of that and shows us once in a very calm outrage Tim has. We only see the boys as an accessory to the plot, not being true to the trauma they must be dealing with. Laziness takes over and Forrest fixes the boys quickly to move the plot forward. She uses them as a tool, just like the characters in the novel.
It's almost as if she forgot about them halfway through the book and went 'oh, yeah... I guess I should incorporate them somehow'. They were not given the page time they earned, and instead had a few scenes of 'training' before the boys were immediately being used by the rebel faction leader (who plot twist, was actually lying to Violet about using the boys, who plot twist, uses them to start a war between Patrus and Matrus, who, plot twist, is actually working for the Matrus queen, who plot twist, had planned on being queen and her mom dying all along, who plot twist STOP.), Desmond.
Speaking of, the entire first half of the book was Violet going on a mission to retrieve a laser to fix Viggo's heart. This is all well and good, but, WHY? Why did this deserve so much time whereas these boys, whom Violet has been wanting to find for YEARS, got a measly few chapters?
Along with the boys, apparently Desmond has a second son who was one of the boys named Jay. Do you know when we hear about them? When our heroes need a miraculous save after being thrusted in the Green to die. OH YEAH JAY EXISTS AND HES HEAR TO BRING YOU SUPPLIES AND HELP. Thanks a lot.
Also, the love story. After two books of 'will they or won't they' all of the sudden Viggo and Violet are basically married. (Viggo literally has the thought that he wants to marry Violet... to sleep with her). This was not earned or warranted. YES, they care for each other, but there relationship jumped forward two years with no explainable reason how.
Finally, who the F**K is Viggo in this book? I LOVED HIM. In the first book, I fell in love with Viggo with Violet. He was a wonderful character with rough edges and a warm heart. The second book shied away from that slightly, but this is because we got an insight into his mind, so I forgave Forrest. But now? Viggo is not Viggo, he is whoever he needs to be to aid the plot in moving forward. I don't care about this Viggo. At all.
I have more complaints, but this seems enough for now. I WILL continue reading because as I've said, I'm already invested, but I pray the next book is significantly better because this one left me sorely disappointed.
February 22, 2017
My thoughts in this series so far...
Book #1 Wow, awesome, so entertaining... how is it going to end?!
Book #2 bored, moment of interest, meh...oh that explains it, the author is dragging it out to a trilogy.
Book #3 finally, the conclusion! Nope just kidding, blah blah blah blah, blah blah... AND another author turns a great plot into dragged out monotony to make more money.
Don't care what happens to the characters in Book #4, #5...#whatever; because I'm sure it will be a break up squabble, an almost death, or any other constantly repeated theme that was in Book #2 and #3.
Book #1 Wow, awesome, so entertaining... how is it going to end?!
Book #2 bored, moment of interest, meh...oh that explains it, the author is dragging it out to a trilogy.
Book #3 finally, the conclusion! Nope just kidding, blah blah blah blah, blah blah... AND another author turns a great plot into dragged out monotony to make more money.
Don't care what happens to the characters in Book #4, #5...#whatever; because I'm sure it will be a break up squabble, an almost death, or any other constantly repeated theme that was in Book #2 and #3.
May 16, 2021
✅ Original concept
🆗❌ Plot
🆗❌ Characters
❌ Romance
❌ Pace
DNF at 15%
I just couldn't take it anymore. The second book was so long and monotonous, and this one seems to be the same according to the first 4 chapters I read.
I just don't care about the characters anymore, and I have no many more interesting books that I want to read... That's it for me.
The Gender Game ⭐⭐.5
The Gender Secret ⭐⭐
🆗❌ Plot
🆗❌ Characters
❌ Romance
❌ Pace
DNF at 15%
I just couldn't take it anymore. The second book was so long and monotonous, and this one seems to be the same according to the first 4 chapters I read.
I just don't care about the characters anymore, and I have no many more interesting books that I want to read... That's it for me.
The Gender Game ⭐⭐.5
The Gender Secret ⭐⭐
January 26, 2018
so far na bad series,but books 1&2 were better than 3. If you can heavily suspend disbelief and don't mind the main characters being at deaths door every 10 pages, the plot is not bad it's fast and there were some twists I didn't expect, which have kept me reading this through the night. but i think that if the characters would have been developed and some scenes had been explained in as much detail as some of the fight scenes, it would've been more compelling. but i'm hoping book 4 is better.
January 4, 2019
Very good book
Much fighting, rescuing, manipulation and surprises. Worth the read. Now I'm off to read the last book in this series, looking forward to finding out how it ends.
Much fighting, rescuing, manipulation and surprises. Worth the read. Now I'm off to read the last book in this series, looking forward to finding out how it ends.
February 10, 2017
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!
Wow! One of the best things I like about this series is that the books are months apart. I don't have to wait an entire year for the next book, thank goodness. I read this on the day it came out and was super excited. This book did not disappoint. There were so many plot twists that I found it refreshing. It wasn't predictable at all and I found myself just as confused as Violet when she found out some revelations about Desmond and her faction. I also enjoyed reading about the Matrian boys and how they were also a part of the plot instead of just being set aside. I was really curious about them to see how they would fit into the story but now I can see Bella Forrest setting it up for the next book. Lastly, OMG I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF VIGGO AND VIOLET. Their relationship is very mature and well written. There is no unfaithfulness in both of the and I admired the fact that theirs was a healthy one. They communicated their problems and they would forgive each other after their fights, they also leaned on one another for support and ask for advice. This book and their relationship is really refreshing because the maturity and thoughtfulness is not seen in most YA books. In other YA books, you would have angsty main characters who would make the most idiotic decisions that made you pull your hair out and cry out in frustration. With this book, you can see that the characters use their common sense and try to make the best decision that is reasonable. They react the way you would react if you were in their situation.
Wow! One of the best things I like about this series is that the books are months apart. I don't have to wait an entire year for the next book, thank goodness. I read this on the day it came out and was super excited. This book did not disappoint. There were so many plot twists that I found it refreshing. It wasn't predictable at all and I found myself just as confused as Violet when she found out some revelations about Desmond and her faction. I also enjoyed reading about the Matrian boys and how they were also a part of the plot instead of just being set aside. I was really curious about them to see how they would fit into the story but now I can see Bella Forrest setting it up for the next book. Lastly, OMG I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF VIGGO AND VIOLET. Their relationship is very mature and well written. There is no unfaithfulness in both of the and I admired the fact that theirs was a healthy one. They communicated their problems and they would forgive each other after their fights, they also leaned on one another for support and ask for advice. This book and their relationship is really refreshing because the maturity and thoughtfulness is not seen in most YA books. In other YA books, you would have angsty main characters who would make the most idiotic decisions that made you pull your hair out and cry out in frustration. With this book, you can see that the characters use their common sense and try to make the best decision that is reasonable. They react the way you would react if you were in their situation.
April 5, 2018
I liked this book. The first half was definitely very slow to me, I felt like the entire "mission" could have been done in 2-3 chapters instead of the entire first half. But the second half was better. I liked Violet and Viggo's relationship and how more about some of the underground operations. I don't really want to give away more than that. The ending was satisfying, the last few chapters really had me excited to read more than the entire rest of the book, so that made it worth it. I'm curious to know where it will go from here based on where it left off. My only complaint is that sometimes the writing feels a bit choppy and sometimes the phrasing didn't feel like it flowed quite right. But that's a pretty minor thing and overall I thought the book was good!
February 7, 2017
RIVETING AND WILDLY ENTERTAINING !!!
Title: The Gender Lie
Series: The Gender Game
Designation: Book Three of Series, Full-Length Novel (App 408 Pages), Not A Standalone, Cliffhanger Ahead
Author: Bella Forrest
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction/Action/Adventure/Young Adult Romance
Reading Platform: Kindle Unlimited
My Rating: Five Divinely Entertaining Stars*****
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! I love, love, love this series! I've been a diehard Bella Forrest fan for several years and have read (and reread) every single release in her international bestselling A Shade of Vampire Series. When I learned Forrest was debuting a new series, one vastly dissimilar to anything she has published to date, I immediately raced to Amazon to preorder my copy. I could hardly wait to get it in my hot little hands and Forrest did not disappoint. She not only met all my expectations, she surpassed them. After reading the first book of the series, The Gender Game, I thought I had a fairly good grasp of the series but once again Forrest did what she does best; she upped the ante, kicked up the heat, surprised me with a completed unexpected curve ball, and totally blew me away - AGAIN! I'm addicted to romance, adore fantasy, completely smitten with action/adventure and obsessed with mystery, intrigue, and suspense, but give me the perfect combination of these elements in one great read and I'm in heaven! And that's exactly what Forrest has delivered in The Gender Game Series. Forrest is a truly gifted storyteller and has once again demonstrated her incredible talent, exceptional skill and unparalleled imagination with the creation of a vividly depicted and beautifully detailed world, populated with complex, well-developed characters and masterfully layered with mystery, suspense, and unexpected plot twists. If asked to describe this book in one sentence, I would simply say, imagine the melding of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner into one extraordinary story and you would have The Gender Game. But make no mistake, the obstacles, adversity, and misfortune suffered by the characters in this story is no game as the title implies. It's a life and death struggle for not only their very existence but also for the fate of the nations of Matrus and Patrus, two societies divided by much more than a toxic river and a tragic history. The narrative was beautifully written with a first-person perspective primarily from the female protagonist, Violet Bates of Matrus. In Book Two, Forrest expands the points of view to include a perspective from the male protagonist, Viggo Croft along with an additional brief insight from the newly crowned Queen Elena of Matrus. In Book Three, the perspectives revert back solely to Violet and Viggo. This is one of my favorite aspects of Forest's style of writing. I love knowing the motivations of all the different characters in a book. It helps me to connect with them and the story. The dialogue is smart, natural, well executed and flows effortlessly. But without a doubt, my favorite component is the cast of intriguing and engaging characters. They are captivating, realistic and relatable, literally exploding from the pages to capture my imagination as well as my heart. I fell in love with the heroine, nineteen-year-old Violet Bates, who has been branded by the Matrus legal system as a dangerous criminal. In reality, Violet is simply a victim of her own fate, forced into an untenable existence and desperately trying to survive despite the tragic circumstances of her life. I was in awe of Violet's strength, tenacity, and sheer will to live. But despite the adversity, she remains innocent and naive in matters of the heart and the opposite sex. The fact that she has never known any men other than her younger brother combined with the tragic events of her life has caused Violet to harden her heart, not only to men but to everyone and as a result has become uncharacteristically jaded for someone her age. It quickly becomes apparent that Violet is an incredibly complex character with multiple layers of emotion and feelings she discovers and explores for the very first time throughout the story. Violet is a remarkable young woman and truly a worthy heroine. This story came to life for me. I felt as if I were there with Violet through every step of her perilous journey. I cried for her, sympathized and empathized with her; my heart even broke for her. I desperately wanted to wrap her in my arms and console her. I have such high hopes for Violet, wanting so badly for her to find happiness. I can hardly wait to continue the heart-wrenching coming of age adventure with this brave young heroine in the next book of the series.
When reviewing and rating a book, there are several questions I ask myself. First, did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! Once I started reading this story, I simply could not stop. I was completely enthralled, glued to my seat, white knuckling my ereader with my heart fluttering wildly in my chest as the hours passed as quickly as the pages, and loved every single minute. It was magnificent! Second, would I recommend this book? You bet and I am, for a wide variety of ages. Although there is some violence included, it's not gory or graphic, and there's no profanity. There is a sweet blossoming coming of age romance but no explicit sex. I would probably give this book a PG rating, ages thirteen to one hundred. Third, will I read this author again? Abso-freaking-lutely! Just as soon as she releases her next book! And finally, was I entertained? Good gracious, YES! Completely and totally entertained. I was completely enthralled! No spoilers from me, but I will say, if you're looking for an intriguing, riveting and well-crafted somewhat dystopian fantasy/science fiction saga featuring a gutsy, troubled but compassionate kick-butt underdog heroine perfectly paired with an intense, gruff yet surprisingly sensitive, ruggedly handsome unlikely hero, and filled to the brim with danger, drama, action, adventure, fantasy, hardship, angst, bravery, loyalty, betrayal, mystery, suspense, intrigue, espionage, mind-blowing plot twists and the hopeful promise of forbidden love, then this book is definitely for you! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
In the premise for this story, the two neighboring sovereign states of Matrus and Patrus are the only remaining survivors of the once great country of America whose land was devastated and population very nearly destroyed during The Last War centuries earlier. Originally they were one group, but as the result of political discord between genders, the two factions became divided into two very different nations, Matrus with a matriarchal government ruled by a queen, and Patrus with opposing patriarchal beliefs and governed by a king. The female party was convinced the political viewpoints of men combined with their aggressive behavior were directly responsible for the war, blaming them for the annihilation of the once great America. They believed women should be allowed to govern society using a peaceful doctrine as the basis for their new civilization with the national motto of 'Freedom In Peace'. The men refused to address or even acknowledge the concerns of the female party giving the women only two options: remain and keep silent...or leave to form their own society. Quite obviously they chose the latter. Thus, the two opposing nations of Matrus and Patrus were born. Both now attempt to exist on a small strip of territory located in Appalachia separated by the toxic Veil River but with very little interaction between the two. As you can imagine, there's extreme prejudice and gender discrimination against the few males residing in Matrus and in turn, the same holds true for females in Patrus. Men have no rights in Matrus, but neither do women living in Patrus. A woman cannot live in Patrus unless she is owned by a male citizen, and must have a male guardian with her at all times. I found the concept and premise for this story to be new, unique, original, fresh, imaginative, exciting, fascinating, and actually quite realistic. With the current political climate in our country, I can truly envision this happening in our society today.
The Gender Game: Book One
Violet Bates has never had an easy life and, consequently, has found herself always battling her anger. Growing up as an orphan, she was constantly taunted by others and called Violent instead of Violet. At only nineteen, she has already been marked as a criminal in Matrus. Sadly, she lived the majority of her life in orphanages after her mother died giving birth to her brother Timothy when she was only three. At eleven, she was caught trying to help her then eight-year-old brother, Tim, escape to Patrus, and charged with obstruction of justice. Then at fourteen, she was convicted of womanslaughter when she tried to defend herself against a young woman who was accidentally killed by a fork during the struggle. She was sentenced to seven years of confinement along with hard labor and bounced from one horrible detention center to another. Now at nineteen, with only two years remaining before she can claim her freedom and reenter Matrian society, another tragic turn of events results in Violet having to once again defend herself, and in doing so, another young woman has been accidentally killed. This would be her third and final conviction, for in Matrus, three strikes and you're out...permanently...as in dead. The death of this bully, no matter that it was unintentional, would cost her everything, including her life. There would be no more second chances. Fortunately for our young heroine, fate intervenes and she is offered an opportunity to serve her country by accepting an undercover mission in Patrus where she is expected to recover a mysterious object stolen from a Matrian lab in an act of espionage by a Patrian sympathizer. If she can successfully complete her assignment, she will be granted her life, her freedom, and finally allowed to see her brother with whom she's had no contact at all for eight long years. But women residing in Patrus have no rights and must be owned by a male citizen. They must submit to men and are only allowed out of the home when accompanied by a male guardian. A woman in Patrus is in constant danger with perils at every turn, especially a Matrian woman like Violet who is unfamiliar with the laws and customs of Patrus. No self-respecting woman of Matrus would ever allow themselves to be owned, subjugated and treated as chattel by any man. Yet, if she is to complete her mission, she must acquiesce and submit. It seems either way, Violet is at risk of losing her life; so clearly, her only choice is to accept the assignment and become a pawn in the centuries-old struggle between Matrus and Patrus. Violet quickly realizes she must use her keen intelligence along with every skill she possesses if she is to complete her mission and survive. But never having known a man other than her brother, the one thing Violet could never have anticipated is the effect of meeting the ruggedly handsome Viggo Croft, a natural born male citizen of Patrus who stirs her blood and clouds her senses with emotions unlike anything she's ever experienced. And even worse, Viggo is a warden of Patrus, an enforcer of the law, and should be her enemy. Despite the risks, Violet finds herself with conflicting emotions regarding the handsome Viggo. But whom can Violet trust? What does the future hold for Violet, Viggo and the two opposing nations of Matrus and Patrus?
The Gender Secret: Book Two
Our story resumes with Violet once again running for her life and struggling to survive. She is wanted for crimes against Patrus which resulted in dozens of Patrian deaths but even worse, she has been betrayed not only by Lee Bertrand in his attempt to frame her for the murder of Queen Rina and Professor Alistair Jenks but also by her own mother nation of Matrus. Violet finally realizes that she has been manipulated by the very people she trusted and used as a pawn in an elaborate conspiracy. Now both nations want her dead. Knowing her betrayal has probably resulted in Viggo's imprisonment or, even worse, his death, Violet battles her inner turmoil as well as her conscience and struggles to find the strength to continue. Every step of Violet's journey brings more secrets to light which unfortunately results in even more perplexing questions. With nowhere to go and no one to trust, Violet battles to persevere, vowing to find her brother Tim and somehow rescue him. But will Violet be prepared for what she finds? Facing unimaginable perils, harrowing danger and insurmountable odds, can Violet defy fate and once again find a way to survive??? We'll see!
The Gender Lie: Book Three
Not only did Viggo survive, he has now been tasked with the job of capturing Violet and returning her to Patrus to answer for her crimes. Thanks to Lee Bertrand's implanted tracking device, Viggo tracks Violet to The Green but once again must save her life. Despite his anger at being used as a scapegoat by Violet and Lee in their plan to steal the egg, Viggo quickly realizes he still has feelings for the lovely brave Violet and after hearing her story, knows there's no way he can return her to Patrus which would most likely result in certain death. Violet is now a wanted fugitive by Matrus and Patrus so where will they go? What will they do? That question is soon answered when they discover an abandoned underground secret facility located deep within The Green. They take refuge inside only to discover Viggo was not the only one searching for Violet. Elena, the new Queen of Matrus has sent Violet's former mentor, Melissa Dale, to capture Violet and return her Matrus to face the charge of murdering the former queen. Oddly, Queen Elena is not content with sending only Ms Dale; she also enlists the help of her genetically enhanced twin sisters in capturing Violet. Viggo and Melissa Dale find themselves in a precarious unexpected alliance. They must work together to eliminate the twins but Viggo makes a critical sacrifice that may cost him his life. This time, it's Violet's turn to save Viggo but Violet quickly discovers in order to save his life, she must accept help from a new player in this perilous game of life and death. A new rebel faction calling themselves The Liberators has suddenly appeared and Violet quickly learns that the Desmond to whom Lee Bertrand's letter was addressed, is so much more than Lee's middle name. Desmond is not a dual personality of Lee as Violet originally suspected but is, in fact, a real person.... and he is a she. Not only is she a woman, Desmond is Desmond Bertrand, Lee Bertrand's mother. Huh? Oh yes, and that's not all. She's also the leader of rebel faction The Liberators! What? Yes, she's the mother of the same Lee Bertrand Violet killed in self-defense. Oh my! And without Desmond's help, Viggo will die. Oh dear? With limited options and no other viable choice, Violet must choose to trust Desmond but as even more secrets are revealed including the fate of the missing boys of Matrus, Violet begins to recognize the true complexity of her situation. Both nations have perpetuated a tenuous web of lies and the loyal citizens of Matrus and Patrus are nothing more than innocent victims to be used as pawns in an evil cabal. Regrettably, Violet learns too late that Desmond is more than she portrays herself to be and so much more than Violet ever suspected. With Viggo, Tim and Melissa Dale's life in jeopardy as well as her own....again... it appears the time has finally come to pay the piper, and the price may be their lives. Is Desmond Bertrand the Pied Piper or is she merely a puppet being controlled by another puppet master in a much more sinister 'game'? Will Violet, Viggo, Tim and Ms Dale once again find a way to survive? We'll see! Oh my! This story continues to get even darker and more convoluted... and I can't get enough! Buckle up, my lovelies! It's a wild ride! Yee-Haw!
**Although this review is not shown as an Amazon verified purchase, it really is. I read this book using the Amazon Kindle Unlimited which is a program where I pay Amazon a monthly fee to borrow and read an unlimited number of books available in the program. The only catch is I can't keep the books in my permanent library; I have to return them when I finish but I can always borrow them again or buy them if I wish. Love Kindle Unlimited!
Title: The Gender Lie
Series: The Gender Game
Designation: Book Three of Series, Full-Length Novel (App 408 Pages), Not A Standalone, Cliffhanger Ahead
Author: Bella Forrest
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction/Action/Adventure/Young Adult Romance
Reading Platform: Kindle Unlimited
My Rating: Five Divinely Entertaining Stars*****
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! I love, love, love this series! I've been a diehard Bella Forrest fan for several years and have read (and reread) every single release in her international bestselling A Shade of Vampire Series. When I learned Forrest was debuting a new series, one vastly dissimilar to anything she has published to date, I immediately raced to Amazon to preorder my copy. I could hardly wait to get it in my hot little hands and Forrest did not disappoint. She not only met all my expectations, she surpassed them. After reading the first book of the series, The Gender Game, I thought I had a fairly good grasp of the series but once again Forrest did what she does best; she upped the ante, kicked up the heat, surprised me with a completed unexpected curve ball, and totally blew me away - AGAIN! I'm addicted to romance, adore fantasy, completely smitten with action/adventure and obsessed with mystery, intrigue, and suspense, but give me the perfect combination of these elements in one great read and I'm in heaven! And that's exactly what Forrest has delivered in The Gender Game Series. Forrest is a truly gifted storyteller and has once again demonstrated her incredible talent, exceptional skill and unparalleled imagination with the creation of a vividly depicted and beautifully detailed world, populated with complex, well-developed characters and masterfully layered with mystery, suspense, and unexpected plot twists. If asked to describe this book in one sentence, I would simply say, imagine the melding of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner into one extraordinary story and you would have The Gender Game. But make no mistake, the obstacles, adversity, and misfortune suffered by the characters in this story is no game as the title implies. It's a life and death struggle for not only their very existence but also for the fate of the nations of Matrus and Patrus, two societies divided by much more than a toxic river and a tragic history. The narrative was beautifully written with a first-person perspective primarily from the female protagonist, Violet Bates of Matrus. In Book Two, Forrest expands the points of view to include a perspective from the male protagonist, Viggo Croft along with an additional brief insight from the newly crowned Queen Elena of Matrus. In Book Three, the perspectives revert back solely to Violet and Viggo. This is one of my favorite aspects of Forest's style of writing. I love knowing the motivations of all the different characters in a book. It helps me to connect with them and the story. The dialogue is smart, natural, well executed and flows effortlessly. But without a doubt, my favorite component is the cast of intriguing and engaging characters. They are captivating, realistic and relatable, literally exploding from the pages to capture my imagination as well as my heart. I fell in love with the heroine, nineteen-year-old Violet Bates, who has been branded by the Matrus legal system as a dangerous criminal. In reality, Violet is simply a victim of her own fate, forced into an untenable existence and desperately trying to survive despite the tragic circumstances of her life. I was in awe of Violet's strength, tenacity, and sheer will to live. But despite the adversity, she remains innocent and naive in matters of the heart and the opposite sex. The fact that she has never known any men other than her younger brother combined with the tragic events of her life has caused Violet to harden her heart, not only to men but to everyone and as a result has become uncharacteristically jaded for someone her age. It quickly becomes apparent that Violet is an incredibly complex character with multiple layers of emotion and feelings she discovers and explores for the very first time throughout the story. Violet is a remarkable young woman and truly a worthy heroine. This story came to life for me. I felt as if I were there with Violet through every step of her perilous journey. I cried for her, sympathized and empathized with her; my heart even broke for her. I desperately wanted to wrap her in my arms and console her. I have such high hopes for Violet, wanting so badly for her to find happiness. I can hardly wait to continue the heart-wrenching coming of age adventure with this brave young heroine in the next book of the series.
When reviewing and rating a book, there are several questions I ask myself. First, did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! Once I started reading this story, I simply could not stop. I was completely enthralled, glued to my seat, white knuckling my ereader with my heart fluttering wildly in my chest as the hours passed as quickly as the pages, and loved every single minute. It was magnificent! Second, would I recommend this book? You bet and I am, for a wide variety of ages. Although there is some violence included, it's not gory or graphic, and there's no profanity. There is a sweet blossoming coming of age romance but no explicit sex. I would probably give this book a PG rating, ages thirteen to one hundred. Third, will I read this author again? Abso-freaking-lutely! Just as soon as she releases her next book! And finally, was I entertained? Good gracious, YES! Completely and totally entertained. I was completely enthralled! No spoilers from me, but I will say, if you're looking for an intriguing, riveting and well-crafted somewhat dystopian fantasy/science fiction saga featuring a gutsy, troubled but compassionate kick-butt underdog heroine perfectly paired with an intense, gruff yet surprisingly sensitive, ruggedly handsome unlikely hero, and filled to the brim with danger, drama, action, adventure, fantasy, hardship, angst, bravery, loyalty, betrayal, mystery, suspense, intrigue, espionage, mind-blowing plot twists and the hopeful promise of forbidden love, then this book is definitely for you! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
In the premise for this story, the two neighboring sovereign states of Matrus and Patrus are the only remaining survivors of the once great country of America whose land was devastated and population very nearly destroyed during The Last War centuries earlier. Originally they were one group, but as the result of political discord between genders, the two factions became divided into two very different nations, Matrus with a matriarchal government ruled by a queen, and Patrus with opposing patriarchal beliefs and governed by a king. The female party was convinced the political viewpoints of men combined with their aggressive behavior were directly responsible for the war, blaming them for the annihilation of the once great America. They believed women should be allowed to govern society using a peaceful doctrine as the basis for their new civilization with the national motto of 'Freedom In Peace'. The men refused to address or even acknowledge the concerns of the female party giving the women only two options: remain and keep silent...or leave to form their own society. Quite obviously they chose the latter. Thus, the two opposing nations of Matrus and Patrus were born. Both now attempt to exist on a small strip of territory located in Appalachia separated by the toxic Veil River but with very little interaction between the two. As you can imagine, there's extreme prejudice and gender discrimination against the few males residing in Matrus and in turn, the same holds true for females in Patrus. Men have no rights in Matrus, but neither do women living in Patrus. A woman cannot live in Patrus unless she is owned by a male citizen, and must have a male guardian with her at all times. I found the concept and premise for this story to be new, unique, original, fresh, imaginative, exciting, fascinating, and actually quite realistic. With the current political climate in our country, I can truly envision this happening in our society today.
The Gender Game: Book One
Violet Bates has never had an easy life and, consequently, has found herself always battling her anger. Growing up as an orphan, she was constantly taunted by others and called Violent instead of Violet. At only nineteen, she has already been marked as a criminal in Matrus. Sadly, she lived the majority of her life in orphanages after her mother died giving birth to her brother Timothy when she was only three. At eleven, she was caught trying to help her then eight-year-old brother, Tim, escape to Patrus, and charged with obstruction of justice. Then at fourteen, she was convicted of womanslaughter when she tried to defend herself against a young woman who was accidentally killed by a fork during the struggle. She was sentenced to seven years of confinement along with hard labor and bounced from one horrible detention center to another. Now at nineteen, with only two years remaining before she can claim her freedom and reenter Matrian society, another tragic turn of events results in Violet having to once again defend herself, and in doing so, another young woman has been accidentally killed. This would be her third and final conviction, for in Matrus, three strikes and you're out...permanently...as in dead. The death of this bully, no matter that it was unintentional, would cost her everything, including her life. There would be no more second chances. Fortunately for our young heroine, fate intervenes and she is offered an opportunity to serve her country by accepting an undercover mission in Patrus where she is expected to recover a mysterious object stolen from a Matrian lab in an act of espionage by a Patrian sympathizer. If she can successfully complete her assignment, she will be granted her life, her freedom, and finally allowed to see her brother with whom she's had no contact at all for eight long years. But women residing in Patrus have no rights and must be owned by a male citizen. They must submit to men and are only allowed out of the home when accompanied by a male guardian. A woman in Patrus is in constant danger with perils at every turn, especially a Matrian woman like Violet who is unfamiliar with the laws and customs of Patrus. No self-respecting woman of Matrus would ever allow themselves to be owned, subjugated and treated as chattel by any man. Yet, if she is to complete her mission, she must acquiesce and submit. It seems either way, Violet is at risk of losing her life; so clearly, her only choice is to accept the assignment and become a pawn in the centuries-old struggle between Matrus and Patrus. Violet quickly realizes she must use her keen intelligence along with every skill she possesses if she is to complete her mission and survive. But never having known a man other than her brother, the one thing Violet could never have anticipated is the effect of meeting the ruggedly handsome Viggo Croft, a natural born male citizen of Patrus who stirs her blood and clouds her senses with emotions unlike anything she's ever experienced. And even worse, Viggo is a warden of Patrus, an enforcer of the law, and should be her enemy. Despite the risks, Violet finds herself with conflicting emotions regarding the handsome Viggo. But whom can Violet trust? What does the future hold for Violet, Viggo and the two opposing nations of Matrus and Patrus?
The Gender Secret: Book Two
Our story resumes with Violet once again running for her life and struggling to survive. She is wanted for crimes against Patrus which resulted in dozens of Patrian deaths but even worse, she has been betrayed not only by Lee Bertrand in his attempt to frame her for the murder of Queen Rina and Professor Alistair Jenks but also by her own mother nation of Matrus. Violet finally realizes that she has been manipulated by the very people she trusted and used as a pawn in an elaborate conspiracy. Now both nations want her dead. Knowing her betrayal has probably resulted in Viggo's imprisonment or, even worse, his death, Violet battles her inner turmoil as well as her conscience and struggles to find the strength to continue. Every step of Violet's journey brings more secrets to light which unfortunately results in even more perplexing questions. With nowhere to go and no one to trust, Violet battles to persevere, vowing to find her brother Tim and somehow rescue him. But will Violet be prepared for what she finds? Facing unimaginable perils, harrowing danger and insurmountable odds, can Violet defy fate and once again find a way to survive??? We'll see!
The Gender Lie: Book Three
Not only did Viggo survive, he has now been tasked with the job of capturing Violet and returning her to Patrus to answer for her crimes. Thanks to Lee Bertrand's implanted tracking device, Viggo tracks Violet to The Green but once again must save her life. Despite his anger at being used as a scapegoat by Violet and Lee in their plan to steal the egg, Viggo quickly realizes he still has feelings for the lovely brave Violet and after hearing her story, knows there's no way he can return her to Patrus which would most likely result in certain death. Violet is now a wanted fugitive by Matrus and Patrus so where will they go? What will they do? That question is soon answered when they discover an abandoned underground secret facility located deep within The Green. They take refuge inside only to discover Viggo was not the only one searching for Violet. Elena, the new Queen of Matrus has sent Violet's former mentor, Melissa Dale, to capture Violet and return her Matrus to face the charge of murdering the former queen. Oddly, Queen Elena is not content with sending only Ms Dale; she also enlists the help of her genetically enhanced twin sisters in capturing Violet. Viggo and Melissa Dale find themselves in a precarious unexpected alliance. They must work together to eliminate the twins but Viggo makes a critical sacrifice that may cost him his life. This time, it's Violet's turn to save Viggo but Violet quickly discovers in order to save his life, she must accept help from a new player in this perilous game of life and death. A new rebel faction calling themselves The Liberators has suddenly appeared and Violet quickly learns that the Desmond to whom Lee Bertrand's letter was addressed, is so much more than Lee's middle name. Desmond is not a dual personality of Lee as Violet originally suspected but is, in fact, a real person.... and he is a she. Not only is she a woman, Desmond is Desmond Bertrand, Lee Bertrand's mother. Huh? Oh yes, and that's not all. She's also the leader of rebel faction The Liberators! What? Yes, she's the mother of the same Lee Bertrand Violet killed in self-defense. Oh my! And without Desmond's help, Viggo will die. Oh dear? With limited options and no other viable choice, Violet must choose to trust Desmond but as even more secrets are revealed including the fate of the missing boys of Matrus, Violet begins to recognize the true complexity of her situation. Both nations have perpetuated a tenuous web of lies and the loyal citizens of Matrus and Patrus are nothing more than innocent victims to be used as pawns in an evil cabal. Regrettably, Violet learns too late that Desmond is more than she portrays herself to be and so much more than Violet ever suspected. With Viggo, Tim and Melissa Dale's life in jeopardy as well as her own....again... it appears the time has finally come to pay the piper, and the price may be their lives. Is Desmond Bertrand the Pied Piper or is she merely a puppet being controlled by another puppet master in a much more sinister 'game'? Will Violet, Viggo, Tim and Ms Dale once again find a way to survive? We'll see! Oh my! This story continues to get even darker and more convoluted... and I can't get enough! Buckle up, my lovelies! It's a wild ride! Yee-Haw!
**Although this review is not shown as an Amazon verified purchase, it really is. I read this book using the Amazon Kindle Unlimited which is a program where I pay Amazon a monthly fee to borrow and read an unlimited number of books available in the program. The only catch is I can't keep the books in my permanent library; I have to return them when I finish but I can always borrow them again or buy them if I wish. Love Kindle Unlimited!
September 16, 2019
I'm done with these books. I am bored by it and I'm about 15% of the way in. I have been trying to push through it for 3 months now and it just ain't happen-in'.
The first two books earned 3 stars from me because they at least made me interested to read the next, but this one is a no. I am not interested.
The main character is a moron. I still cannot comprehend a) how she has made it this far in life and b) why she was chosen for that "mission" in the first book?
She is childishly angry ALL THE TIME! For no reason. She is just angry and that is that.
Before she went on her little "mission" in the first book she killed two people. Both on "accident". Except, the second time she went looking for trouble then acted all, "Oh, it was self defense", to try and justify it to herself. Now in this book, she is all high and mighty about not killing people while they are practically AT WAR. And her brother makes zero sense. He has been tortured for like 9 years and somehow is still a human. I find that impossible.
I'm checked out of this one.
The first two books earned 3 stars from me because they at least made me interested to read the next, but this one is a no. I am not interested.
The main character is a moron. I still cannot comprehend a) how she has made it this far in life and b) why she was chosen for that "mission" in the first book?
She is childishly angry ALL THE TIME! For no reason. She is just angry and that is that.
Before she went on her little "mission" in the first book she killed two people. Both on "accident". Except, the second time she went looking for trouble then acted all, "Oh, it was self defense", to try and justify it to herself. Now in this book, she is all high and mighty about not killing people while they are practically AT WAR. And her brother makes zero sense. He has been tortured for like 9 years and somehow is still a human. I find that impossible.
I'm checked out of this one.
April 21, 2017
Trust and betrayal. When you can't see the big picture.....trust no one. Not even yourself. :)
July 4, 2018
Why is this series so long? Like they're already starting to run out of plot.
March 27, 2018
OMG!!! I FINISHED THE BOOK!!! AND IT WAS SO GOOD!!!
The beginning was a little hard to get into and every little tiny tiny twist added to the book and just made it all perfect. I loved the ending! I loved all the confidence in all the characters and every little character trait change that happened in certain characters really made a positive impact in this book.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!
The beginning was a little hard to get into and every little tiny tiny twist added to the book and just made it all perfect. I loved the ending! I loved all the confidence in all the characters and every little character trait change that happened in certain characters really made a positive impact in this book.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!
June 27, 2017
The first book was great, the second was pretty good too, but this book was super disappointing in comparison to the first 2 - it feels kind of dragged out and honestly the execution of the story has got worse, I feel. I also feel like the fact all the sides are ""wrong"" view is really overdone. Personally aside from what is being done to the boys (which is EXTREMELY messed up, I get that) Bella tries to portray both Patrus and Matrus as equally bad, which is obviously supposed to parallel misogyny/misandry, but it from what we've been told about Matrus and and Patrus, Matrus definitely is nowhere near as bad as Patrus. Both monarchy's are equally awful, definitely, but in regards to the actual people there (and Violet says herself early on that it isn't the publics fault for the actions of the Monarchs, and the public don't even know about a lot of the crappy things their leaders are doing), Matrus' women don't have anywhere near as negative attitude towards males as the males of Patrus have towards women.
I really like the concept of this series, and I honestly hope it gets better with the next book.
Despite this I really love Violet, her character is so mature and consistent and well written. She's just so strong and I'm glad her feelings for Viggo don't take away from her being amazing! Same with Viggo and his relationship with Violet, great character and relationship development! Sometimes I feel like Viggo does things that seem out of character for him or are inconsistent, but for the most part I really enjoy him and his attitude towards Violet and Owens friendship. I love that Bella introduced another character that Violet could potentially be interested in (but isn't, and their relationship is platonic) and Viggo, though jealous at first, realised that bis feelings were out of place and reacted in a healthy, non jealous/possessive/toxic manner. Love when relationships in YA Books have relationships that aren't heavily based on manipulation and toxicity!!
I really like the concept of this series, and I honestly hope it gets better with the next book.
Despite this I really love Violet, her character is so mature and consistent and well written. She's just so strong and I'm glad her feelings for Viggo don't take away from her being amazing! Same with Viggo and his relationship with Violet, great character and relationship development! Sometimes I feel like Viggo does things that seem out of character for him or are inconsistent, but for the most part I really enjoy him and his attitude towards Violet and Owens friendship. I love that Bella introduced another character that Violet could potentially be interested in (but isn't, and their relationship is platonic) and Viggo, though jealous at first, realised that bis feelings were out of place and reacted in a healthy, non jealous/possessive/toxic manner. Love when relationships in YA Books have relationships that aren't heavily based on manipulation and toxicity!!
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February 9, 2017
Can't wait for The Gender War
February 10, 2017
My brain feels like mush. This book has torn me apart and it isn't even sorry about it. I can't even begin to wrap my head around everything that happened in this book. Like...brain so mushy. That isn't even a coherent thought. Boy, am I a wreck. I will try to pull it together to give a coherent review. So strap yourselves in because this review will be a long one.
So we continue where we left off in the second book. I don't quite know how much to say because it could be considered spoilers. I'll just talk about the characters for now. Violet is still just as amazing as ever. The best thing about her is she is growing up. She was kind of bratty and rude. But she has realized that people love her and she needs to start thinking about other people besides herself. Well, I suppose she has always thought about others but it was in a selfish kind of way, if that makes any sense. She searches people out because she wants to not because she needs too. She doesn't use people anymore.
Then we have Viggo. He really pissed me off in the beginning but turned it around very quickly. He is very Patrian, which explains his ego, but I'm starting to realize that he is so much more than that. He is so kind and generous. He is patient with Violet and her brother. He only wants to protect those that he loves. And I love the relationship he has with Violet. He loves her for who she is. He doesn't try to change her. I can swoon about them for days.
Imma recommend that you don't read past this point. Spoilers for days after this. I'm not going to tag it because it'll be a lot. So I'm letting you know now. So don't get mad if you read it and get the story spoiled. I warned you.
Desmond is the leader of the Liberators. At first I was like okay, she is decent so far. Seems to be an honest person. Well about halfway or a little more through, I realized that is soooo not good. She reminds me of Coin from The Hunger Games . Desmond is honest when she sees it as a good reason to be. She is a manipulator and a psychopath. There were several parts in the book where I couldn't even read. I just sat there like a fool, my mouth opened with shock. In fact one of my notes simply reads this: Desmond is a bitch . I'm quite clever really.
Poor poor Tim. He is trying so hard to be a person instead of the monster he thinks he is. He is Violet's brother and was one of the thousands of boys that were experimented on. He has cat like reflexes but it messed up his nervous system. So touch of any kind is painful to him. Even wearing clothes bothers him. I love the relationship between him and Violet. She cares so deeply for him and he cares just as deeply for her. He felt so bad when he hit her in his rage of being touched. My heart just ached and ached.
The last 20% of this book was INSANE. I couldn't read fast enough. I'm just at a loss for words at how crazy this story has gotten. And that ending. Cliffhanger for days. February, please hurry! Also, if you stuck around for this long, thank you! I know that long reviews can be a bit tedious to get through but I am just so excited about this book and this series as a whole. I can't help but write a crazy amount. Maybe it would help if I learned how to put GIFs in.
So we continue where we left off in the second book. I don't quite know how much to say because it could be considered spoilers. I'll just talk about the characters for now. Violet is still just as amazing as ever. The best thing about her is she is growing up. She was kind of bratty and rude. But she has realized that people love her and she needs to start thinking about other people besides herself. Well, I suppose she has always thought about others but it was in a selfish kind of way, if that makes any sense. She searches people out because she wants to not because she needs too. She doesn't use people anymore.
Then we have Viggo. He really pissed me off in the beginning but turned it around very quickly. He is very Patrian, which explains his ego, but I'm starting to realize that he is so much more than that. He is so kind and generous. He is patient with Violet and her brother. He only wants to protect those that he loves. And I love the relationship he has with Violet. He loves her for who she is. He doesn't try to change her. I can swoon about them for days.
Imma recommend that you don't read past this point. Spoilers for days after this. I'm not going to tag it because it'll be a lot. So I'm letting you know now. So don't get mad if you read it and get the story spoiled. I warned you.
Desmond is the leader of the Liberators. At first I was like okay, she is decent so far. Seems to be an honest person. Well about halfway or a little more through, I realized that is soooo not good. She reminds me of Coin from The Hunger Games . Desmond is honest when she sees it as a good reason to be. She is a manipulator and a psychopath. There were several parts in the book where I couldn't even read. I just sat there like a fool, my mouth opened with shock. In fact one of my notes simply reads this: Desmond is a bitch . I'm quite clever really.
Poor poor Tim. He is trying so hard to be a person instead of the monster he thinks he is. He is Violet's brother and was one of the thousands of boys that were experimented on. He has cat like reflexes but it messed up his nervous system. So touch of any kind is painful to him. Even wearing clothes bothers him. I love the relationship between him and Violet. She cares so deeply for him and he cares just as deeply for her. He felt so bad when he hit her in his rage of being touched. My heart just ached and ached.
The last 20% of this book was INSANE. I couldn't read fast enough. I'm just at a loss for words at how crazy this story has gotten. And that ending. Cliffhanger for days. February, please hurry! Also, if you stuck around for this long, thank you! I know that long reviews can be a bit tedious to get through but I am just so excited about this book and this series as a whole. I can't help but write a crazy amount. Maybe it would help if I learned how to put GIFs in.
February 16, 2017
The first half was a little slow. What happened in the whole first half of the book could have happened in just a few chapters. I felt a little bored with it to be honest. It picked up at times though with certain scenes which kept my interest. There were some nice twists that I didn't see coming. The big twist at the end I felt like I totally should have seen coming BUT I didn't! Good job Bella Forrest...good job...! I never really know what to predict with these books. I don't really know where the story is going, which is something I like. Maybe I'm getting more rusty with my predictions the older I get. All in all it was very good and enjoyable. I will be reading the next one!
January 21, 2017
This book took me much too long to read. I had a hard time wanting to read it at all. It started out great and ended great but the middle was just boring. We wait for Viggo to recover, we wait for Tim to improve from his years of captivity and we wait for Violet to wise up and realize that her current situation is detrimental to all of the protagonists. It seemed to me like a filler book, with one unimportant thing after another. I'm hoping the next book picks up the pace. I assume it will because now we're entering a war!
January 1, 2020
Well what can I say life isn't going to be easy for Violet and Viggo. You never know who to trust or where to go. Viggo has been healed and Violet has her brother back. There is an army of enhanced boys who could be used by anyone and now Violet and Viggo have been captured again. I wonder how they will get out of this one?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2018
Oh. My. Gosh.
This book was freaking amazing!!!! The writing improved tremendously, the characters had actual growth, and that ending! Holy crap THAT ENDING!!!! Violet had better slay in the next book after an ending like that!!! 😱😱😱
This book was freaking amazing!!!! The writing improved tremendously, the characters had actual growth, and that ending! Holy crap THAT ENDING!!!! Violet had better slay in the next book after an ending like that!!! 😱😱😱
August 26, 2019
Sadly, not as good as the first 2 but still enjoyed! Also left on a massive cliff hanger so have to read the next one. It's almost as if it was done on purpose...
March 4, 2019
This series just keeps getting better!!!
December 31, 2016
Bella, Bella, Bella! How could you? I cannot believe you have left us on such a nail biting cliff-hanger! What a fandabidozi journey you have taken us on. I can’t wait to find out what is in store for us next.
I truly believe the Gender Game series is an innovative breakthrough into this popular and
imaginative genre. I really don’t want to say too much about the detail of the plot because it’s too good to not find out first hand, so I will keep this brief and to the point.
With fast paced action, suspense, twists, turns and life or death missions, this story is not one you want to miss out on. Be sure to trust no one whilst reading through this epic adventure because all is not how it seems...
We see Violet’s struggle and determination to ensure Viggo’s survival and I for one couldn’t wait for him to wake up. His quick witted humour and smarty-pants comments are the perfect addition to this already addictive story. By the way things start to heat up between the ‘unofficial couple’ I’m pretty sure Violet missed him just as much as I did!
More information is revealed about the boys and the facility they are in. We get to know the new group residing in the facility since Mr Jenks was murdered. Or at least, we think we get to know them...
Get cosy, sit back and enjoy the newest addition to Violet’s exciting and suspenseful adventures!!!
June 20, 2018
I'll be honest, this one lagged quite a lot and was not anywhere near as good as the first two. Not a lot happened for about two-thirds of the book, and it almost made up for it in the last third, but it wasn't nearly as action-packed as book two and the plot didn't gain a whole lot of momentum. I understood the need for a lot of time to pass in this book in order for Viggo to heal and the boys to get better, but it sort of felt like nothing was happening. There was no mention of what was happening in the wider world during the, like, two months of this book, but surely everything else wasn't on pause the whole time, right? Also, the book spent entirely way too much time focusing on Viggo's recovery and entirely too little time focusing on the boys' recovery.
I just found some other aspects completely unrealistic. I hated the back and forth, hot/cold of Violet and Viggo's relationship in this one. And what in the world has Forrest done to the Viggo I fell in love with in book one?! He was unrecognizable in this one, and in book two for that matter. But there were some parts that I really did enjoy. And ultimately I will keep reading because I've already invested so much in this story and I want to see how it ends. I just hope that the next one is a bit more satisfying and makes up for this one's slack.
I just found some other aspects completely unrealistic. I hated the back and forth, hot/cold of Violet and Viggo's relationship in this one. And what in the world has Forrest done to the Viggo I fell in love with in book one?! He was unrecognizable in this one, and in book two for that matter. But there were some parts that I really did enjoy. And ultimately I will keep reading because I've already invested so much in this story and I want to see how it ends. I just hope that the next one is a bit more satisfying and makes up for this one's slack.
January 2, 2017
Another 5 star
Every one of Bella Forrest's books is packed with strong characters, fast-paced action, romance, and the pursuit of love and freedom to live in happiness. While most of her stories have a supernatural background, this book series is less supernatural although there is still a part that has a supernatural spin to it.
This book series tells about Violet, a girl who has done everything she could to protect her younger brother from a fate far worse than death and she has been met with political opposition at every turn and extreme danger towards those she loves.
This book reads so fast that I find myself upset to be at the end so soon. However I can say this, Bella is one of those authors that is almost a machine- with the rate that she puts out new full length books for her readers! It is amazing and never a very long wait. So thank you for that!
I also want to thank her for placing many of her books on the Kindle unlimited plan where I get to read many awesome titles as much as my heart desires for free!!! Great job!!! Can't wait for the story to continue!!!
Every one of Bella Forrest's books is packed with strong characters, fast-paced action, romance, and the pursuit of love and freedom to live in happiness. While most of her stories have a supernatural background, this book series is less supernatural although there is still a part that has a supernatural spin to it.
This book series tells about Violet, a girl who has done everything she could to protect her younger brother from a fate far worse than death and she has been met with political opposition at every turn and extreme danger towards those she loves.
This book reads so fast that I find myself upset to be at the end so soon. However I can say this, Bella is one of those authors that is almost a machine- with the rate that she puts out new full length books for her readers! It is amazing and never a very long wait. So thank you for that!
I also want to thank her for placing many of her books on the Kindle unlimited plan where I get to read many awesome titles as much as my heart desires for free!!! Great job!!! Can't wait for the story to continue!!!
May 21, 2017
Fortunately these are on kindle unlimited, otherwise I would have stopped reading them. I despise cliff hanger reads that make you buy book after book to get a conclusion to a story. Heads up Bella Forrest or whoever you are.
January 22, 2017
Oh noo. I thought this was the last book. I hope the author doesn't make this as long as her A Shade of Vampire series.
3.5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 12, 2017
The first 2 books aren't great but this one is just terrible. It's like it was written for 8-12 year olds.
January 19, 2018
Was okay. Love Bella Forrest's work but this wasn't my favorite series by far.
December 15, 2018
The story still has me hooked so I guess I will continue with the series
February 22, 2021
Sadly I see why I gave this one a 3. This is my second time round with this series and this one felt like a filler....the whole thing felt like a filler. Oh well, I still enjoy it lol
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