The Gender Game by Bella Forrest

"A toxic river divides nineteen-year-old Violet Bates's world by gender.
Women rule the East. Men rule the West.
Welcome to the lands of Matrus and Patrus.
Ever since the disappearance of her beloved younger brother, Violet's life has been consumed by an anger she struggles to control. Already a prisoner to her own nation, now she has been sentenced to death for her crimes.
But one decision could save her life.
To enter the kingdom of Patrus, where men rule and women submit.
Everything about the patriarchy is dangerous for a rebellious girl like Violet. She cannot break the rules if she wishes to stay alive. But abiding by rules has never been her strong suit, and when she is thrust into more danger than she could have ever predicted, Violet is forced to sacrifice many things in the forbidden kingdom ... including forbidden love.

In a world divided by gender, only the strongest survive..."

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Opening this book, (well tapping it open) I was really excited to jump right in it. On top of it being the first book I've read for pleasure since school has started up, it was also the first book I got with my Kindle Unlimited subscription, so it had double the hype to live up to; and let me tell you, it did not fail. I finished this thing in 2 days, and am writing this within the hour of finishing because it is that good. 

Now this series has been out for a bit, (this first book originally releasing in September of 2016, with the last in the series releasing July 2017) so some of you may have already read it, but if you haven't then you should! (The whole series is out so no waiting on a book release! ) It is dystopian, being set in the future where, after having to start over, the men and women had different ideas on how to run things...

Our main character here is Violet Bates, a 19 year old women who has been fortunate (???) enough to be born in Matrus, the peace loving city state ran by women. Men here are submissive and if they aren't, then they don't get to stay. The opposite being true for its counterpart, Patrus, where violence isn't necessarily looked down on. 

Its a fair paced book, each important character is unique with their own quirks and ideas. Violet herself is very true to herself, even when her life could be on the line, and while that gets her into trouble, it also helps her out. 

This first installment (out of 7!!!) gives us the basic background we need to understand some of the choices that our heroine and her companions make throughout the book. While she isn't set out to save the world, I have a feeling she may just change it!

It is rated Teen/YA, and contains kidnapping and violence in detail, and implied violence and rape. That being said, I would still be ok with my 13 and 16 year old sisters reading this, as it is all done in a very structured and careful way. 

Pages : 418

You can find the whole series HERE on Amazon.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

"As an orphaned child, Jane Eyre is first cruelly abused by her aunt, then cast out and sent to a charity school. Though she meets with further abuse, she receives an education, and eventually takes a job as a governess at the estate of Edward Rochester. Jane and Rochester begin to bond, but his dark moods trouble her. When Jane uncovers the terrible secret Rochester has been hiding, she flees and finds temporary refuge at the home of St. John Rivers. Charlotte Bronte’s classic tale of morality and social criticism takes on an entirely new life in this Manga Classic adaptation of Jane Eyre."

The tale of Jane Eyre as told by Charlotte Bronte and illustrated by UDON entertainment. Part of the Manga Classics series, this novel brings Jane Eyre to life. Closely following the original book, ( but missing our Mr Rochesters favorite descriptor of dear Jane) it does a wonderful job at showcasing this truly beautiful work in a new light, making this long ( and for some, hard to read) novel accessible to those of us who enjoy some pictures, and maybe not 500 pages of words. This version hits on all the major scenes and themes from the original book. It keeps Jane's personality, independence, and strong will and let's it shine through.

Personally I found it a little fast, but I understand that they are trying to fit a large novel into the size of a manga; and that's not easy! Having read Les Miserables and The Scarlet Letter in this same format, you kind of get a feel for how the structure of the book has to change only so slightly to accommodate.

This novel is great for any reader. If this is your first time or your 20th time reading Jane Eyre, this adaptation is a great choice.

Page Count: 329 ( But it's mostly pictures I promise <3 )

Your can find it HERE on Amazon for Kindle, Paperback, or Hardcover!

Good Morning! So I know i just posted the other day about being back, YAY! And in that post I mentioned having just started a kindle unlimited account to keep books on my phone ALL THE TIME. Well I love this idea and will totally be using it, but I highly enjoy reviewing ARCs. Something about being able to read a book before its released is so exciting! So I am now on Booksprout too!

I will be adding all relevent info to the main page.  I'm still new to it but it doesn't seem to have profile pages that are accessible to readers, but that's ok! Ill be posting all my reviews here and on my bookbub and goodreads pages. I would love to add my reviews to Amazon, buy unfortunately I don't buy enough stuff from them to qualify?? So that's a thing.

Anyways!!!! If you are wanting me to review any upcoming book, shoot me a comment, message or other and let me know! I'm sure i'll be able to find a copy somewhere! <3

Draw Manga: Step-by-Steps, Character Construction, and Projects from the Masters by Sweatdrop Studios

Inside Draw Manga, 140 color illustrations and easy-to-follow directions are divided into three sections: basic tutorials; how to turn raw ideas into finished comics; and projects from the masters, with exhaustive detail on producing professional-grade artwork.

Draw Manga covers not only traditional media such as colored markers, pencils, and watercolors, but also computer-generated manga. And there's advice on special techniques for drawing the distinctive eyes and hairstyles that are the genre's hallmark, as well as on character creation, developing a first sketch, using color and motion, sequencing, pacing, and more.

In Draw Manga, professional manga artists reveal their secrets for drawing individual character elements and creating an effective manga character!

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Draw Manga is divided into three parts. 1.) Basic tutorials 2.) Creations and 3.) Projects.

Part 1 Is a very quick descriptions on how to draw heads, eyes and other body parts. It is not kidding when it says BASIC tutorials. They are quick, and definitely not for the beginner as the book describes. Part 2 is supposed to be step by step creations. This part of the book is to put what you learned in part 1 into action. But its not step by step. In fact it is mostly talking about what is implied by the drawing vs how to draw it (how confident the character looks because of where his head is tilted). Once again this part is not for beginners.
Part 3 the projects. They seem like more complete version of part 2. Having backgrounds added in and shading. Very much not beginner friendly.

i would guess that it is maybe in the "Advanced Beginner" category, because it does expect you to know some stuff already, and it doesn't take the time I would have liked to explain everything. Me being a Non-Artist, I was hoping to gain something from this book, but I mostly got frustrated. The first sketch they expect you to do after Part 1 is a full body and face.

This Isn't to say this book is bad, as I don't believe it is, but, it isn't one I would have picked up had I known its contents ahead of time, and it probably would have been that book that sat on my shelf forever not being read, or being given to a little cousin who can draw better than me..... >.>

It is something I could see as useful for those who have some general skills in art and who have some previous knowledge with drawing Manga. I like this book as it is, if it wasn't marketed as a beginners book.

Pages : 128

Can check it out on Amazon Here 

Hello! And So sorry!

Hello everyone, I'm back! I know I took quite the hiatus recently and would like to apologize for that. With school starting up for both me and my biggest little, it has been crazy! The only books I've had time to read have been some that I don't recommend (unless you are majoring in Business and Accounting then they could be useful! XD).

Anyways, up until now I've been using Netgalley as my primary source for books to review. I will continue to use them as long as they let me( hopefully none of my ARC publishers are mad at me for taking so long.) But I just got Kindle Unlimited! So I will be reviewing books found there as well to fill up this blog!

So if there is anything you would like me to read PLEASE don't hesitate.

Love you all!💙💗💚💛💜❤

Knights Club:The Bands of Bravery by Shuky

"Introducing a new series of interactive, pick-your-panel graphic novels for middle grade readers, full of adventure, magic, and fun! Knights Club is a hilarious, medieval-themed quest for bravery and glory.

The year is 1012 in the kingdom of the good king Louilepou. Three brothers dream of joining the Royal Order of Knights: fearless adventurers, able to travel long distances, slay the most dangerous theives, and defend the valorous peasants. And one of these brothers is you!

But the road to knighthood is long. You must journey through snowy mountains, haunted lakes, and dark forests in search of the bracelets of bravery. During your expedition you will come face-to-face with a troll, an old wizard, or a warrior. You must solve riddles, discover hidden compartments, learn combat techniques, and gather magical objects. Your success depends on your choices alone, because the hero is you!"

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Originally published in 2012 in France as Chevaliers: Journal D'un Heros , this book feels like a throw back to the build-your-own adventure goosebumps books I read as a child. Couple this with me being an avid Dungeons and Dragons player and DM, I had a blast following this adventure! It has a few "game overs" and some surprises that break the 4th wall.... but all of this will keep kids coming back to this story. 

Its full color pages are engaging, and knowing where to go is easy with a quick three page "how-to" at the front. The digital copy I received had 6 character trackers that were dotted (unsure if they will be perforated or simply dotted and need cutting out) but could easily be copied onto lined paper, or in a machine if this book is bought for a classroom.

This story is set apart from other "choose your story books" by having you keep track of what you have done/earned and makes reading feel like a game. The puzzles in it add an extra layer of problem solving that isn't always there in a book, let alone a game.

I cant suggest this book for a Kindle read, as the way you read this book is difficult on a computer (how I received my ARC copy) and I imagine would be slightly frustrating on a small screen as well.

This book is set to release on September 4th 2018 on Amazon here And is now available for preorder!

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Here are a few of the pages from the book to give you an example of the artwork and how this choose your own story flows! (I purposely didn't get the frame # in that second picture as to not ruin the story! And please excuse the grainy quality, that is my phone not the comic!)

   

   

As you can see, your decisions have numbers attached, and you follow the numbers to whatever panel is next in the story progression. This means that sometimes you will visit the same page several times, and that each read through can be different than all the previous ones! You can also see how vibrant and colorful this comic is, and wonderfully detailed in ways it doesn't have to be but it is!

Shields Down, The House of Baric Part One by Jillian Bald

"Long before the time of the Frasers, Poldarks or Crawleys, lived the Barics—Mauro and Resi. Theirs was not an obvious love story, nor set in a place given a lot of attention in history. Croatia was a playground for the decadent Venetians in the lavish baroque era, and Mauro had just reluctantly inherited his father’s noble title of Baron Baric. Mauro’s impending marriage was arranged as a child by his father to settle a debt. Neither he nor his bride cared if the day ever came when Resi would be sent to Baric Castle in the Venetian Empire. When the summons finally arrived in Thessaloniki, it was met with dread. The saga begins as Resi leaves her Ottoman home to an unknown land to marry a stranger: Mauro. Her story—and those of the Barics, their friends, servants, and soldiers—is told in three parts, spanning a continent across empires, bringing together a group of unlikely friends and lovers in the eventful summer of 1649."

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A tentative love story set in the mid 1600's in Croatia. This story brings about a whole new world for those of us who have heard little in our lives of the history behind the country of Croatia. We get to follow the newly weds in this "slice-of-life" like saga, that follows Baron Mauro Baric, and his young bride, Teresa (Resi), as they navigate their (semi) newly found world of aristocracy. From grand balls to everyday life, Shields Down is a beautiful way to introduce a new up and coming indie author.


The first installment is well written, full of vivid description, and transports you to 17th century Croatia with its wordplay. While still being fiction, Jillian makes sure to add a history lesson at the beginning, so you can better understand what is at stake for our main couple, and put yourself into their shoes as far as the backdrop for the story.


In this first novel, you not only get to meet the Baron and Resi, but a whole castle worth of characters that help set up what is sure to be some big plots points in the next two books. While not so much an emotional ride, this series definitely intrigues and is not short on pages! With 612,146  words between the 3 books, you have plenty to read, and with the last book releasing just this past week(!!!) you have no reason not to jump in and read up on the Barics!

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Jillian Bald is an Indie author, new to the scene with her first book (TRILOGY!!!). You can read all about her, and even get a hold of her, through her website jillianbald.com . 
She is already working on her next novel and has some more ideas for 2 other books! So if she has become your favorite up and coming author, then you are in luck, and wont have to wait long to read more by Jillian Bald.

Happy Reading! <3