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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5. While I thought the premise was interesting, I couldn't connect to the characters as much as I wanted to. Some of the writing including the fight scenes and romantic scenes seemed a bit awkward at times. Still, it held my attention enough to want to know how it ended!
This book was really good! It was very well writing and probably my favorite thing about Bella Forrest writing in this book is that there is little to no cursing in the book. I just don't like a bunch of cursing it teen novels.
Spoiler Alert Ahead!
Violet Bates is awesome. She loves her brother so much that she is will it go to a foreign country where men rule and women submit, just so she can see her little brother again. She is incredibly brave and I personally would not want to be on her bad side.
Lee Bertrand... Wow is he good at keeping secrets. I was completely surprised that he killed the queen and Alastair but then willingly jumped off his ship after Violet tried to get back to him. How was she supposed to know she was played by him from the beginning. I liked him until I found out he was working for no nation and lied to Violet about it and he went behind her back. I don't agree on the fact that he used Violet but the whole tracker thing saved her life.
Viggo Croft, gosh, I thought Violet was going to get herself caught by Viggo. When Viggo started "babysitting" Violet I started to like the guy more. When it became obvious that they were attracted to each other, I was like "Oh My Gosh I Love This Guy!!!" Especially when he saved her which he couldn't do for he diseased wife... I don't know I just love Viggo.
I'm excited to the next book and the rest of them! It definitely something I will read again!
Happy Reading :)
Spoiler Alert Ahead!
Violet Bates is awesome. She loves her brother so much that she is will it go to a foreign country where men rule and women submit, just so she can see her little brother again. She is incredibly brave and I personally would not want to be on her bad side.
Lee Bertrand... Wow is he good at keeping secrets. I was completely surprised that he killed the queen and Alastair but then willingly jumped off his ship after Violet tried to get back to him. How was she supposed to know she was played by him from the beginning. I liked him until I found out he was working for no nation and lied to Violet about it and he went behind her back. I don't agree on the fact that he used Violet but the whole tracker thing saved her life.
Viggo Croft, gosh, I thought Violet was going to get herself caught by Viggo. When Viggo started "babysitting" Violet I started to like the guy more. When it became obvious that they were attracted to each other, I was like "Oh My Gosh I Love This Guy!!!" Especially when he saved her which he couldn't do for he diseased wife... I don't know I just love Viggo.
I'm excited to the next book and the rest of them! It definitely something I will read again!
Happy Reading :)
Review published at Love Literature Art and Reason> book review blog.
Bella Forrest is the author of the Shade of Vampire series that is a major Kindle bestselling series. I’ve been fortunate enough to read a lot of those books and obtain some of ARCs as new books released until I just couldn’t keep up with the series. It’s a great series, but I was glad to get a request to read something outside of the Shade of Vampire world for a chance. The Gender Game is the author’s venture into YA dystopian.
Let me start by saying that I don’t like the title. I think the title combined with the synopsis comes across like the author is only acknowledging two genders, which alienates a lot of people, especially in the YA age group who are experiencing something else and are being exposed and introduced to the concept of non-binary people. Regardless of how anyone feels about the issue, that’s not really what the book is about overall, so it’s a misleading title that turns people off when those same people would probably enjoy the conflict and premise of the world.
The book explores the differences between a matriarchal society and a patriarchal society. Each society created rigid rules based on what they deem important. We all know that people don’t always fit neatly into categories and it’s obvious that some people are not cut out for either one of the societies and wish for something better. Violence was frowned upon and had steep consequences in Matrus and the punishment was much harsher for men. In Patrus, women couldn’t be alone or speak up or really do anything. Men in Matrus were limited to hard labor and prohibited from learning. In Patrus, women were limited to domestic duties and prohibited from learning.
Violet found herself in a juvenile facility for violence. While she was allowed to train in basic defense, she was limited in her training and she was prone to lashing out. However, she found herself chosen for an important task on behalf of the Queen of Matrus and was sent to Patrus as a spy. She would marry another Matrus spy, Lee, and the two of them would carry out the task and smuggle the item back into Matrus. If she succeeded, she would be able to see her brother who was sentenced to the mines of Matrus.
I liked the book and I enjoyed the plot. I felt like both societies were stifling in different ways. It was generally believed that women flourished in Matrus and men flourished in Patrus, but Violet experienced something else. She didn’t flourish in either society because of her violent tendencies. After watching a cage fight, she realized if she could just be allowed to fight, perhaps she could blow off some steam and be a regular citizen, but fighting wasn’t an option in either society.
I think the title may throw some people off, but the book was really interesting and it was a fun YA dystopian novel that kept me guessing. I recommend it if you’re looking for something short, different, and fun.
Bella Forrest is the author of the Shade of Vampire series that is a major Kindle bestselling series. I’ve been fortunate enough to read a lot of those books and obtain some of ARCs as new books released until I just couldn’t keep up with the series. It’s a great series, but I was glad to get a request to read something outside of the Shade of Vampire world for a chance. The Gender Game is the author’s venture into YA dystopian.
Let me start by saying that I don’t like the title. I think the title combined with the synopsis comes across like the author is only acknowledging two genders, which alienates a lot of people, especially in the YA age group who are experiencing something else and are being exposed and introduced to the concept of non-binary people. Regardless of how anyone feels about the issue, that’s not really what the book is about overall, so it’s a misleading title that turns people off when those same people would probably enjoy the conflict and premise of the world.
The book explores the differences between a matriarchal society and a patriarchal society. Each society created rigid rules based on what they deem important. We all know that people don’t always fit neatly into categories and it’s obvious that some people are not cut out for either one of the societies and wish for something better. Violence was frowned upon and had steep consequences in Matrus and the punishment was much harsher for men. In Patrus, women couldn’t be alone or speak up or really do anything. Men in Matrus were limited to hard labor and prohibited from learning. In Patrus, women were limited to domestic duties and prohibited from learning.
Violet found herself in a juvenile facility for violence. While she was allowed to train in basic defense, she was limited in her training and she was prone to lashing out. However, she found herself chosen for an important task on behalf of the Queen of Matrus and was sent to Patrus as a spy. She would marry another Matrus spy, Lee, and the two of them would carry out the task and smuggle the item back into Matrus. If she succeeded, she would be able to see her brother who was sentenced to the mines of Matrus.
I liked the book and I enjoyed the plot. I felt like both societies were stifling in different ways. It was generally believed that women flourished in Matrus and men flourished in Patrus, but Violet experienced something else. She didn’t flourish in either society because of her violent tendencies. After watching a cage fight, she realized if she could just be allowed to fight, perhaps she could blow off some steam and be a regular citizen, but fighting wasn’t an option in either society.
I think the title may throw some people off, but the book was really interesting and it was a fun YA dystopian novel that kept me guessing. I recommend it if you’re looking for something short, different, and fun.
I honestly wasn't sure what I was expecting when I read this. I almost put it down after a couple chapters, but I decided to read a little further.
The story definitely picks up after chapter 5, and it tries to keep up the momentum. There were times I had trouble figuring out where Violet's mind led her to do what she does. I had trouble relating to her, although I could see how she kept her mind on seeing her brother again.
I still am having trouble undstanding Lee's motivations, the romance with Viggo (though I did enjoy him as a character) and THAT ENDING! However, I will try to read the sequel, and maybe this series will grow on me. The concept is still interesting, and I would like to find out more about the history between the two nations.
The story definitely picks up after chapter 5, and it tries to keep up the momentum. There were times I had trouble figuring out where Violet's mind led her to do what she does. I had trouble relating to her, although I could see how she kept her mind on seeing her brother again.
I still am having trouble undstanding Lee's motivations, the romance with Viggo (though I did enjoy him as a character) and THAT ENDING! However, I will try to read the sequel, and maybe this series will grow on me. The concept is still interesting, and I would like to find out more about the history between the two nations.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really loved this book! Great idea for a story, and I loved her character development.
https://thecaffeinatednovelhunter.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/the-gender-game-the-gender-game-1-by-bella-forrest/
Good read
I glanced at the reviews for this book. SO many people did not like it. They criticized Violet’s character. I actually found it rather intriguing. As soon as it was finished I bought all 6 of the other books. It’s a little slow paced, the reason for the 4 stars, but it’s fresh and different than anything else I’ve read. I can’t wait to read to rest. I’m hoping for a Violet/Viggo reunion.
I glanced at the reviews for this book. SO many people did not like it. They criticized Violet’s character. I actually found it rather intriguing. As soon as it was finished I bought all 6 of the other books. It’s a little slow paced, the reason for the 4 stars, but it’s fresh and different than anything else I’ve read. I can’t wait to read to rest. I’m hoping for a Violet/Viggo reunion.
Omg
I have been a fan of Bella and her Shade series from the beginning. I couldn't wait to read The Gender Game and it didn't disappoint. Violet has had a hard life and it's only getting harder. A great must read. I am counting the days till book 2.
I have been a fan of Bella and her Shade series from the beginning. I couldn't wait to read The Gender Game and it didn't disappoint. Violet has had a hard life and it's only getting harder. A great must read. I am counting the days till book 2.