The Recommended Reading Order for The Gender Game
Unlike some sprawling fantasy series with prequels, spin-offs, and companion novels, Bella Forrest's The Gender Game follows a strictly linear, serialized path. Because each book picks up right where the previous one left off—often ending on major cliffhangers—you must read them in the exact order they were published.
Here is the chronological and publication order to follow Violet Bates' journey:
- The Gender Game (2016)
- The Gender Secret (2016)
- The Gender Lie (2016)
- The Gender War (2017)
- The Gender Fall (2017)
- The Gender Plan (2017)
- The Gender End (2017)
Book-by-Book Breakdown
1. The Gender Game (2016)
The series introduces us to nineteen-year-old Violet Bates, a resident of Matrus. In this matriarchal society, men are second-class citizens, and Violet is currently serving a sentence for committing 'womanslaughter' after defending her younger brother, Timothy. Faced with execution, Violet is offered a dangerous lifeline: infiltrate the patriarchal nation of Patrus across the toxic river boundary. Her mission is to retrieve a mysterious biological egg. However, her mission gets complicated when she meets Viggo Croft, a tough and duty-bound Warden of Patrus.
2. The Gender Secret (2016)
Continuing immediately from the first book's cliffhanger, Violet is on the run in the tech-heavy, male-dominated lands of Patrus. The mysteries surrounding the stolen biological egg deepen, and Violet must navigate the dangerous power structures of Patrus while keeping her true identity hidden. Her complex dynamic with Viggo grows as trust and deception clash, and Violet uncovers clues that her long-lost brother might still be alive.
3. The Gender Lie (2016)
With conspiracies mounting on both sides of the toxic river, Violet finds herself trapped in a web of lies. As the secrets of both Matrus and Patrus begin to unravel, Violet is forced to make difficult alliances. The romance and tension between Violet and Viggo reach a boiling point as truths are revealed, forcing them to decide where their true loyalties lie in a world that demands conformity.
4. The Gender War (2017)
The quiet cold war between Matrus and Patrus escalates into open conflict. Violet's role changes from a stealthy infiltrator to an active combatant in a war that threatens to consume both societies. The stakes are higher than ever as Violet fights not just for her brother's survival, but for the freedom of all citizens crushed by the binary oppression of both nations.
5. The Gender Fall (2017)
As the structures of power start to collapse, the series enters its endgame phase. Violet and Viggo must work together to survive the chaotic power vacuums created by the war. With old rulers falling and new threats emerging, the pair must navigate survival in a rapidly destabilizing landscape where no one can be trusted.
6. The Gender Plan (2017)
With the final battle looming, Violet and her allies formulate a desperate plan to bring lasting peace and dismantle the walls dividing their world. This installment is highly action-packed and sets the stage for the grand finale. Note for eagle-eyed Bella Forrest fans: Keep an eye out for a brief, clever nod to Forrest's other popular series, The Girl Who Dared to Think, which serves as a fun easter egg for readers.
7. The Gender End (2017)
The epic conclusion to Violet's journey. The fate of Matrus, Patrus, and the toxic river boundary is finally decided. Violet's quest to save her brother Timothy and build a world where she and Viggo can exist together without societal division reaches its emotional and high-stakes climax.
Key Characters to Watch
The series is anchored by a small but memorable cast of characters whose shifting loyalties keep the reader guessing:
- Violet Bates: The fierce and stubborn protagonist. Raised in Matrus, her love for her brother Timothy drives her to risk execution and cross borders. She is highly resilient, skilled in combat, but emotionally guarded.
- Viggo Croft: A warden from Patrus who is initially tasked with catching rebels like Violet. He is quiet, intensely loyal, and harbors a tragic past that makes him question the harsh patriarchy he serves.
- Timothy Bates: Violet’s younger brother, whose separation from Violet in childhood set the entire plot in motion. Finding and protecting him is Violet's ultimate goal.
- Queen Elena: The calculating ruler of Matrus, who holds Violet's life in her hands and pulls the strings behind the dangerous espionage missions.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into this dystopian series, there are a few practical elements to keep in mind to enhance your reading experience:
- Continuous Narrative: You cannot read these books as standalones. Plot threads, romantic tension, and world-building mysteries carry over directly from one book to the next.
- Fast-Paced Cliffhangers: Bella Forrest is known for writing rapid-fire, action-packed chapters that frequently end in major suspense. It is highly recommended to have the next book ready to go before you finish the current one.
- Crossover Connections: While The Gender Game is a completely self-contained story, author Bella Forrest has left small easter eggs linking to her other sci-fi works, particularly in the later books. However, you do not need to read her other series to fully understand and enjoy Violet's story.
Matrus vs. Patrus: The Dystopian Setting
The backdrop of the series is a fascinating study of extreme societal structures. Matrus is a matriarchy where women hold all political, social, and economic power, and male behavior is heavily regulated and monitored. Across the toxic river lies Patrus, a technological patriarchy where men rule and women are treated as property with virtually no rights. The series uses this extreme divide to explore themes of power, empathy, gender roles, and the dangers of absolute authority on either side of the spectrum.
Who Will Enjoy The Gender Game?
If you are a fan of mid-2010s young adult dystopian blockbusters, this series will feel right at home. It shares the survivalist grit and rebellion themes of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the faction-based societal divisions of Veronica Roth's Divergent, and the fast pacing of James Dashner's The Maze Runner. Forrest's writing style is highly accessible, focusing on immediate action and romantic tension, making it an excellent weekend binge-read.