How to Read The Girl Who Dared to Think in Order
For the best experience, readers should follow the publication and chronological order. The series is a single, continuous narrative following Liana Castell's fight against the Tower's oppressive system. Reading the books out of order is highly discouraged, as each sequel picks up directly where the previous book left off, building on established mysteries and character developments.
The Recommended Reading Order
- The Girl Who Dared to Think (2017)
- The Girl Who Dared to Stand (2017)
- The Girl Who Dared to Descend (2017)
- The Girl Who Dared to Rise (2017)
- The Girl Who Dared to Lead (2018)
- The Girl Who Dared to Endure (2018)
- The Girl Who Dared to Fight (2018)
The Lore of the Tower: What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the first page, it is helpful to understand the unique dystopian rules that govern Bella Forrest's setting. The story takes place inside the Tower, a massive, glass-walled structure that serves as the last sanctuary for humanity following a toxic global apocalypse. Within the Tower, survival isn't just about physical utility; it is entirely determined by your thoughts.
Every citizen wears a mandatory wristband displaying a rating from one to ten, powered by a chip implanted in their skull. The chip monitors their brainwaves and flags skeptical, negative, or rebellious thinking. A rating of ten signifies absolute loyalty and utility, while a rating that drops too low carries severe penalties. Citizens whose scores fall to a three are subjected to mandatory chemical treatment designed to force compliance. Those who hit two are isolated, and a rating of one means permanent removal from the Tower's society.
Governing this system is Scipio, an omnipresent artificial intelligence that controls the Tower's daily functions and decides everyone's score. The series begins with Liana Castell, a twenty-year-old squire in the Knight Department, struggling desperately to keep her score above the dreaded level three as her internal doubts about Scipio and the Tower's perfect society begin to grow.
The Shared Universe: Connection to The Gender Game
Fans of Bella Forrest's other major dystopian series, The Gender Game, will find exciting ties in The Girl Who Dared to Think. While both series function as standalone stories with their own distinct protagonists, they exist within the same fictional universe.
Readers who pay close attention will notice that the world of the Tower is first hinted at near the end of The Gender Game series, particularly in the sixth book, The Gender Plan. Reading The Gender Game first is not strictly necessary to enjoy Liana's journey, but it provides broader contextual depth and enriches the global lore of the apocalyptic setting.
Detailed Book-by-Book Breakdown
1. The Girl Who Dared to Think (2017)
The series opener introduces Liana Castell, a squire in the Tower's Knight Department whose wristband rating has slipped to a dangerous four. She is one slip-up away from chemical reprogramming. Her life takes a chaotic turn when she crosses paths with Grey Farmless, a mysterious young man marked as a 'one' who somehow manages to manipulate the system and temporarily boost his rating to a nine. Liana's determination to uncover Grey's secrets pulls her into a web of conspiracies surrounding Scipio's true nature.
2. The Girl Who Dared to Stand (2017)
Following the shocking revelations of the first book, Liana must navigate growing political intrigue inside the Tower. To protect her friends and advance her cause, she is forced to compete in a deadly tournament. The stakes rise as Liana realizes that defying Scipio requires more than just hiding her thoughts—it requires taking a public stand.
3. The Girl Who Dared to Descend (2017)
In the third volume, Liana and her allies venture into the deeper, hidden levels of the Tower. They uncover shocking truths about the structure's past, how Scipio was created, and the reality of the toxic world outside the glass walls. This installment shifts the narrative from local survival to a broader fight for historical truth.
4. The Girl Who Dared to Rise (2017)
Liana's rebellion gathers momentum as more citizens begin to question their wristband ratings. However, Scipio reacts to the growing unrest with ruthless efficiency, tightening surveillance and enforcing harsher penalties. Liana must step up as a symbol of resistance while keeping her allies safe from the AI's watchful eye.
5. The Girl Who Dared to Lead (2018)
As the conflict escalates into an all-out rebellion, Liana is forced into a leadership role she never wanted. Trust becomes a luxury, and she must make difficult compromises to coordinate the disparate factions fighting against the Tower's elite class and the AI governing them.
6. The Girl Who Dared to Endure (2018)
The penultimate chapter focuses on the physical and emotional toll of the revolution. With resources dwindling and Scipio initiating a total lockdown of the Tower, Liana and Grey are pushed to their absolute limits as they prepare for a final confrontation.
7. The Girl Who Dared to Fight (2018)
The series reaches its grand finale as the resistance launches its final assault against Scipio's core. Liana must confront the AI directly in a battle of wills that will determine the fate of the Tower and the future of human free will.
Reader Advice and Standalone Feasibility
Because the plot is heavily serialized, none of the books can be read as standalones. Reading them out of order will ruin the overarching mystery regarding Grey Farmless's identity and the true nature of Scipio. If you enjoy dystopian worlds with fast pacing, high-tech surveillance themes, and a romantic subplot, it is highly recommended to commit to the series in its entirety from book one through book seven.