What do you think?
Rate this book
Girl Divided
They think she's a monster, but she's their only hope…
In a divided nation, 14-year-old Jetta belongs nowhere. Her face is split right down the middle: half-black and half-white. The non-white residents of her New Orleans camp call her a demon. The white oppressors who took over during the 2nd American Civil War have called her much worse…
After years as an outcast, Jetta uncovers her true heritage as the daughter of an African storm god and a Finnish death goddess. As she attempts to harness her terrible new abilities to turn the tide in the war, trouble comes to those she tries to help. Only Jetta has the power to heal her divided homeland… or destroy everything in her path…
Girl Divided is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel infused with magical forces. If you like immersive worlds, strong characters, and a tale that reads like Neil Gaiman and Stephen King combined, then you'll love Willow Rose's provocative story.
Buy Girl Divided now to destroy a divided dystopia today!293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2017
918 people are currently reading
732 people want to read
About the author
Willow Rose
236 books2,733 followersWillow Rose is a multi-million-copy best-selling Author and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 100 novels.
Several of her books have reached the top 10 of ALL books on Amazon in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three million books all over the world.
She writes Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy.
Willow's books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won't see coming. That's why her fans call her The Queen of Scream.
Willow lives on Florida's Space Coast. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Connect with Willow online:
http://www.facebook.com/willowredrose
https://twitter.com/madamwillowrose
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/willo...
Sign up for Willow's VIP email list, and you'll automatically be notified as soon as her next book is released: www.willow-rose.net
Inbox already stuffed? Send the word: “ebooks” to 31996 to get a text alert with news about new releases, giveaways, and bargains from Willow.
Several of her books have reached the top 10 of ALL books on Amazon in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three million books all over the world.
She writes Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy.
Willow's books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won't see coming. That's why her fans call her The Queen of Scream.
Willow lives on Florida's Space Coast. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Connect with Willow online:
http://www.facebook.com/willowredrose
https://twitter.com/madamwillowrose
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/willo...
Sign up for Willow's VIP email list, and you'll automatically be notified as soon as her next book is released: www.willow-rose.net
Inbox already stuffed? Send the word: “ebooks” to 31996 to get a text alert with news about new releases, giveaways, and bargains from Willow.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
August 9, 2023
So I have read Willow Rose for years and generally enjoy her work, but this I believe is the best I have ever read by her. Despite the cynical concept or thought of a second American Civil War, (human beings refuse to learn from their previous mistakes) this horrifying look at division, which is admittedly relevant today, suggests an alternative to such an apocalyptic event.
Into this milieu, a child is born that is a physical embodiment of the dichotomy of half-black and half-white. There is a literal line that divides her face. Despite what is her overt uniqueness, she is treated poorly and when she learns that she is more than just an oddity, she begins to accept that there is power in what she represents.
What follows is an allegorical story of gods and goddesses, of the power to create and the power to destroy, with the very real possibility of hubris causing humanity to close its existence. The story is uniquely mythological, well-written, and though it has horrific parts, it celebrates difference in a way that is special. I love Rose's horror, and there is horror here, but there is hope, too. Girl Divided is damned fine writing!
Into this milieu, a child is born that is a physical embodiment of the dichotomy of half-black and half-white. There is a literal line that divides her face. Despite what is her overt uniqueness, she is treated poorly and when she learns that she is more than just an oddity, she begins to accept that there is power in what she represents.
What follows is an allegorical story of gods and goddesses, of the power to create and the power to destroy, with the very real possibility of hubris causing humanity to close its existence. The story is uniquely mythological, well-written, and though it has horrific parts, it celebrates difference in a way that is special. I love Rose's horror, and there is horror here, but there is hope, too. Girl Divided is damned fine writing!
January 10, 2018
So, this is bad…
I’ve tried to think of ways to a) be kind in this review and b) avoid spoilers, but I can’t figure out a way to do those things and remain honest. So, be warned that this review may be spoilery.
First, though I don’t mention my background in my reviews because it’s rarely important, I think in this case it may be important to know that I’m reading this while brown-skinned. It’s possible that my read on this book may be impacted by my own life experiences.
Now, to the book…
Leaving race aside for a moment, the book itself was clunky and disjointed. I’ve enjoyed the author’s books in the past and will in the future, but she does much better on mysteries than she does on post-apoc / god & goddess things. The world building is abysmal. While she does explain the spike in hate and violence that assaults the world, she falls down on some sort of fever/pandemic killing people and much of what happens when it comes to walls and cities and gas chambers….just couldn’t happen with the fall of the world as she describes it. (We’re going to leave aside the fact that a hoodie doesn’t keep a half ethnically black - with practically a line down the middle - half ethnically white girl hidden.)
The book tells rather than shows, the characters are one -dimensional, and much of the story doesn’t make sense. Okay, she spurs violence and anger…what’s the radius? Why does it seem to effect only the US? Does her hoodoo recognize the lines on a map? The head aches…
And now, to race…
I’d like to give the author the benefit of the doubt. While a large part of me thinks this book is trying to cash in on the current cultural morass which has resulted in this particular administration, I’m willing to accept that she’s trying to write a novel of some social relevance.
Unfortunately, it fails.
Almost every white person in the book is evil. Almost every one. She eventually pulls away from this and blames Jetta’s wacky hoodoo for this, but really, it’s bad.
Black people are awesome at first…until the hoodoo gets to them (and why does it get to them slower than it does the white people? Are white people extremely susceptible to hoodoo? Enquiring minds want to know…)
We have a very nominal admission that the US contains more than white people and black people. People of other races are mentioned twice that I recall. First, all the white people decide that anyone who isn’t white is black and thus must be assaulted, arrested, and excluded from white cities. Later, after the hoodoo reaches the black people, the blacks decide that non-black people aren’t really black and must be excluded. We never find out what happens to the 17% of the US that is Latino (forget about Asians, Native Americans, Middle Eastern folks, East Asians, and all the myriad ethnicities that make up our country). The author seems to think America is Black and White.
So, while not well written, I was at least interested in our pandemic…at least until we meet our stereotypical African characters (hey that god has rhythm!) and our cold as ice Finnish goddess. Then things go even further south than they already were as Jetta has to decide between her black side (they’re the good guys) and her white side (totally evil).
I finished this book wondering why it was even written.
*ARC provided via Net Galley…and I’m sorry I read it.
I’ve tried to think of ways to a) be kind in this review and b) avoid spoilers, but I can’t figure out a way to do those things and remain honest. So, be warned that this review may be spoilery.
First, though I don’t mention my background in my reviews because it’s rarely important, I think in this case it may be important to know that I’m reading this while brown-skinned. It’s possible that my read on this book may be impacted by my own life experiences.
Now, to the book…
Leaving race aside for a moment, the book itself was clunky and disjointed. I’ve enjoyed the author’s books in the past and will in the future, but she does much better on mysteries than she does on post-apoc / god & goddess things. The world building is abysmal. While she does explain the spike in hate and violence that assaults the world, she falls down on some sort of fever/pandemic killing people and much of what happens when it comes to walls and cities and gas chambers….just couldn’t happen with the fall of the world as she describes it. (We’re going to leave aside the fact that a hoodie doesn’t keep a half ethnically black - with practically a line down the middle - half ethnically white girl hidden.)
The book tells rather than shows, the characters are one -dimensional, and much of the story doesn’t make sense. Okay, she spurs violence and anger…what’s the radius? Why does it seem to effect only the US? Does her hoodoo recognize the lines on a map? The head aches…
And now, to race…
I’d like to give the author the benefit of the doubt. While a large part of me thinks this book is trying to cash in on the current cultural morass which has resulted in this particular administration, I’m willing to accept that she’s trying to write a novel of some social relevance.
Unfortunately, it fails.
Almost every white person in the book is evil. Almost every one. She eventually pulls away from this and blames Jetta’s wacky hoodoo for this, but really, it’s bad.
Black people are awesome at first…until the hoodoo gets to them (and why does it get to them slower than it does the white people? Are white people extremely susceptible to hoodoo? Enquiring minds want to know…)
We have a very nominal admission that the US contains more than white people and black people. People of other races are mentioned twice that I recall. First, all the white people decide that anyone who isn’t white is black and thus must be assaulted, arrested, and excluded from white cities. Later, after the hoodoo reaches the black people, the blacks decide that non-black people aren’t really black and must be excluded. We never find out what happens to the 17% of the US that is Latino (forget about Asians, Native Americans, Middle Eastern folks, East Asians, and all the myriad ethnicities that make up our country). The author seems to think America is Black and White.
So, while not well written, I was at least interested in our pandemic…at least until we meet our stereotypical African characters (hey that god has rhythm!) and our cold as ice Finnish goddess. Then things go even further south than they already were as Jetta has to decide between her black side (they’re the good guys) and her white side (totally evil).
I finished this book wondering why it was even written.
*ARC provided via Net Galley…and I’m sorry I read it.
January 7, 2019
Um...
The premise wasn't bad. I started and was like okay maybe.
I think it started out good and everything was downhill from there.
The premise wasn't bad. I started and was like okay maybe.
I think it started out good and everything was downhill from there.
December 21, 2018
I have read several books by Willow Rose and have always enjoyed. As much as i enjoyed reading this book, i do love to read Willow Rose's horror stories so much more. Nonetheless, i do thank Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy and this is my honest review.
April 27, 2020
America has finally done it again. The country has been divided by the 2nd American Civil War. The white people have taken over and are now putting black people in concentration camps.
A fourteen year old girl, Jetta and her Nanna are both taken to one of these camps. While they are being rounded up and herded on a bus Jetta becomes separated from her Nanna and is then left all alone. But Jetta is used to being alone as she has never had a friend.
Everyone looks upon Jetta as being a freak a monster because of her color. Jetta is divided she is half black and half white. Jetta is divided right down the middle with her one side being black and the other side white. The world has made Jetta feel as if she doesn't belong anywhere. She has no idea who she is or where she belongs.
But she does meet another teenager in the camp who vows to always take care of her and keep her safe. Tyler finds a way to help them escape with help from a woman and her husband who help them hide out for a while in their attic along with another family.
Tyler wants to find his brother he thinks he may be in Chicago. He knows if they can find him then he will give them a place to stay and take care of them. But Jetta is not so sure.
I read fiction books for a reason and that is because they are not real. They are made of stories sometimes with a smidge of truth in them. Although Girl Divided is fiction and not real it has a whole lot of truth in it with a good possibility of it coming true and if we don't try and change what is going on around us then we may find ourselves in another civil war but maybe that is exactly what we need to help bring us altogether again and put a stop to all the hate. I say this but then I think how do you get love out of hate or war.
People believe what they are taught and most of the time never questions it. They never stop to think for themselves. They are taught that if someone looks different than you then you hate them. They are not taught to look at what is inside of someone or to look into their heart to see what kind of person they are. They are not taught to look for good or evil or how a person talks the words they use if they are negative or positive or their outlooks on life.
There is too much bad energy in the world that is filled with hate and evil. All the hate and evil needs to be let go so that good energy with lots of love and joy sent out. I think it is time to lay that b*tch down. But no one wants to do that. No all they want is to keep holding that b*tch up higher and higher hoping to a gain a little power and to be in control to be on top. No one needs to be on top. Everyone should be on the same level. That is the only way they can ever see that WE ARE ONE. I agree with the author and as my husband has taught me there is only one race and that is the human race.
I think the author did an excellent job of describing all the hate in the world and the outcome of that hate if it is left on its own to escalate. I loved learning about the Africa God of Storm and the Finnish Goddess of Death and her children of diseases. I can't wait to read more of Jetta and Tyler's journeys and where they may take them next.
I would recommend Girl Divided to anyone who likes reading post-apocalyptic stories with Gods and Goddess along with a little magic thrown in.
A fourteen year old girl, Jetta and her Nanna are both taken to one of these camps. While they are being rounded up and herded on a bus Jetta becomes separated from her Nanna and is then left all alone. But Jetta is used to being alone as she has never had a friend.
Everyone looks upon Jetta as being a freak a monster because of her color. Jetta is divided she is half black and half white. Jetta is divided right down the middle with her one side being black and the other side white. The world has made Jetta feel as if she doesn't belong anywhere. She has no idea who she is or where she belongs.
But she does meet another teenager in the camp who vows to always take care of her and keep her safe. Tyler finds a way to help them escape with help from a woman and her husband who help them hide out for a while in their attic along with another family.
Tyler wants to find his brother he thinks he may be in Chicago. He knows if they can find him then he will give them a place to stay and take care of them. But Jetta is not so sure.
I read fiction books for a reason and that is because they are not real. They are made of stories sometimes with a smidge of truth in them. Although Girl Divided is fiction and not real it has a whole lot of truth in it with a good possibility of it coming true and if we don't try and change what is going on around us then we may find ourselves in another civil war but maybe that is exactly what we need to help bring us altogether again and put a stop to all the hate. I say this but then I think how do you get love out of hate or war.
People believe what they are taught and most of the time never questions it. They never stop to think for themselves. They are taught that if someone looks different than you then you hate them. They are not taught to look at what is inside of someone or to look into their heart to see what kind of person they are. They are not taught to look for good or evil or how a person talks the words they use if they are negative or positive or their outlooks on life.
There is too much bad energy in the world that is filled with hate and evil. All the hate and evil needs to be let go so that good energy with lots of love and joy sent out. I think it is time to lay that b*tch down. But no one wants to do that. No all they want is to keep holding that b*tch up higher and higher hoping to a gain a little power and to be in control to be on top. No one needs to be on top. Everyone should be on the same level. That is the only way they can ever see that WE ARE ONE. I agree with the author and as my husband has taught me there is only one race and that is the human race.
I think the author did an excellent job of describing all the hate in the world and the outcome of that hate if it is left on its own to escalate. I loved learning about the Africa God of Storm and the Finnish Goddess of Death and her children of diseases. I can't wait to read more of Jetta and Tyler's journeys and where they may take them next.
I would recommend Girl Divided to anyone who likes reading post-apocalyptic stories with Gods and Goddess along with a little magic thrown in.
January 5, 2018
This was an amazingly wonderful book! Jetta is born a freak, with half of her body white and half black. When the country is thrown into a civil war with whites putting blacks in (basically) concentration camps, what is a girl divided supposed to do?
Jetta finds out that she is actually the offspring of two deities, Shango and Loviatar. Jetta soon learns that not only is she divided, her whole existence is meant to bring divisiveness to the world. How will she cope with the fact that wherever she goes, people will fight to the death because of this.
I enjoyed learning the mythology of Jetta's parents. It is always refreshing when an author adds in a new element to their books.
The concept of this book is very disturbing in light of the state of the world today. The early parts are reminiscent of the Nazi concentration camps, with the weak, old and sick being killed without a second thought. The whole book is very well-written and very thought provoking. I think that everybody could learn something by reading this book.
Well done, Ms. Rose! I will definitely be reading more of your books!
Jetta finds out that she is actually the offspring of two deities, Shango and Loviatar. Jetta soon learns that not only is she divided, her whole existence is meant to bring divisiveness to the world. How will she cope with the fact that wherever she goes, people will fight to the death because of this.
I enjoyed learning the mythology of Jetta's parents. It is always refreshing when an author adds in a new element to their books.
The concept of this book is very disturbing in light of the state of the world today. The early parts are reminiscent of the Nazi concentration camps, with the weak, old and sick being killed without a second thought. The whole book is very well-written and very thought provoking. I think that everybody could learn something by reading this book.
Well done, Ms. Rose! I will definitely be reading more of your books!
January 4, 2018
Great read
I loved this book. Was very different than some of her others but very good. I feel like this could happen here.
I loved this book. Was very different than some of her others but very good. I feel like this could happen here.
February 23, 2018
An entertaining but shallow reading, "Girl Divided" is a book that you will be able to read in a couple of warm afternoons, right by your window, while you enjoy the peace and the singing of the birds.
Something, Jetta, the hero of the story, won't be able to.
Jetta was born the daughter of a couple of black parents in the USA. But, to the surprise of everyone, her body was half-black, half-white, a line in the middle separating both halves. And pretty soon both her parents are killed by white supremacists. Jetta is taken care by her grandmother, who protects and hides Jetta, believing her to be possessed or a demon. And when Jetta starts her teenage years, a war between white and the rest start, with concentration camps, killings, betrayals...
It all sounds interesting enough (and more than difficult to tackle). And Willow Rose does a great job in setting the premise of the story, of creating a world and in creating interesting characters. It is easy to see she knows how to write and she writes well, with an easy to read and engaging style. However, the same cannot be say about the plot, where we encounter a story that sometimes moves a little bit slowly and sometimes it advances brusquely. Because of that, the world that Rose has created suffers, and it is difficult to believe some of the situations. The book starts quite nicely but around midway decides to take an unnecessary turn for the Gaiman-esque that does zero favor to the story. Maybe is this, a little bit sudden, change of pace, which took me out of the story a little bit. It does not make the book bad, but it makes it feel a little bit of a disappointment.
It is also difficult to have a clear opinion on the author's decision to pit a world between white and the rest, but where the rest are called black and all the other persons of color disappear and become invisible. It is a decision which I cannot agree with, however it may be helpful for the author to simplify things; it is lazy and, in my opinion, a mistake. It would be better to create a more varied world, more like a rainbow. Also, because of all of that, the characters don't have a very clear arc, and some of their personal characteristics become diluted in the overall plot.
Entertaining reading, but it could have been way more.
6/10
(Original English Version)
Something, Jetta, the hero of the story, won't be able to.
Jetta was born the daughter of a couple of black parents in the USA. But, to the surprise of everyone, her body was half-black, half-white, a line in the middle separating both halves. And pretty soon both her parents are killed by white supremacists. Jetta is taken care by her grandmother, who protects and hides Jetta, believing her to be possessed or a demon. And when Jetta starts her teenage years, a war between white and the rest start, with concentration camps, killings, betrayals...
It all sounds interesting enough (and more than difficult to tackle). And Willow Rose does a great job in setting the premise of the story, of creating a world and in creating interesting characters. It is easy to see she knows how to write and she writes well, with an easy to read and engaging style. However, the same cannot be say about the plot, where we encounter a story that sometimes moves a little bit slowly and sometimes it advances brusquely. Because of that, the world that Rose has created suffers, and it is difficult to believe some of the situations. The book starts quite nicely but around midway decides to take an unnecessary turn for the Gaiman-esque that does zero favor to the story. Maybe is this, a little bit sudden, change of pace, which took me out of the story a little bit. It does not make the book bad, but it makes it feel a little bit of a disappointment.
It is also difficult to have a clear opinion on the author's decision to pit a world between white and the rest, but where the rest are called black and all the other persons of color disappear and become invisible. It is a decision which I cannot agree with, however it may be helpful for the author to simplify things; it is lazy and, in my opinion, a mistake. It would be better to create a more varied world, more like a rainbow. Also, because of all of that, the characters don't have a very clear arc, and some of their personal characteristics become diluted in the overall plot.
Entertaining reading, but it could have been way more.
6/10
(Original English Version)
August 21, 2019
Good Story!
WARNING: This review may contain Spoilers! I'm going to try not to give away plot. Girl Divided is a very interesting story about a teen girl named, "Jetta" who's not only biracial, but looks physically White like her mother on one side of her body, & Black like her Father on the other. Her mother, Loviatar is goddess of agony, death and disease (Finnish Myth), and her father, Shango is powerful orisha of fire, lightening, thunder, and war, but he is also the patron of music, drumming, and dancing (Yoruba Myth). So, she not only looks like them, but inherits their powers too. Also, the story isn't just about racism. Everything at the end, as well as, the author's Afterword will make sense, & gives you deeper. It's a thought-provoking story, which what I really liked about. It reminds me of Stephen King's books. However, I gave it 4 stars because I did not see how where "Jetta has the power to heal her divided homeland… or destroy everything in her path…" She definitely caused havoc when she finally had enough, but she didn't heal her divided homeland. Although the Black & White Americans formed a truce, they were still divided. They split the nation - They built a huge wall like China where Black Americans live & run their own government on one side of the wall (west), & White Americans live & run their own on the other (east). I didn't like that part. It made zero sense to that they'd still feel the need to separate. At what point in the story did she heal the nation? The war may have ended, but America is still divided. Plus, I didn't like how all the non-white people were all referred to as, "Black". Their president who they call, "Mother" in the book put every American who wasn't Caucasian into concentration camps a.k.a Ghettos. The issue I have with this part is that the author only tells us that all people of color were labeled as "Black" (Asians, Hispanics, etc). She doesn't actually show us in the story. So, it didn't feel like a war between White vs People of Color. It was more of a war between White vs Black (African Americans only). There weren't any other characters of different ethnicities mentioned in the book. Even if the government chose to label all minorities as "Black", ethincities would still exist. And there are non-whites who can pass for white, & non-blacks who can pass for black. For instance, Jetta can pass for both, & Frederika “Fredi” Washington, Merle Oberon, Meagan Markle can pass for White people (and let's be honest, most people can't tell who's what just by looking at them except maybe those who are more observant and familiar with mixed race people). Miscegenation of different racial groups is extremely common even before emancipation. So, I don't see every Black or White person hopping the 'racial segregation' bandwagon. It's just weird how Black people in this book are now African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Middle Eastern, etc. I don't see that happening, lol!
Moreover, people tend to think that once the president is elected into office they can change whatever policy they want in order to push their agenda. However, the president, while he does have some power, doesn’t have all the power to do what he wants. Our governmental system has been very thought out in order to prevent one single person or body to become too powerful. It forces all of the executive bodies to compromise and do what is in the best interest in the country. While the president may seem like the highest political power, that’s pretty far from the truth. So, I don't understand how the president a.k.a "Mother" in Girl Divided was able to push such policies when the president has limited powers, and are shared with Congress. The author doesn't go into details about how Mother was able to enforce such rules and regulations. There's a reason why Checks and Balances exist, so one couldn't have more power over the other.
Furthermore, I didn't like how the African deities, such as, Oya didn't put up a fight. Oya was a war goddess, and is similar to the Hindu goddess Kali, and Hawaiian goddess Pele. Loviatar and Jetta were shown to be powerful while the author only told us how powerful Shango and Oya were. But I loved Shango. He was a funny character. I particularly enjoyed the part where he tells to Jetta how he met her mother.
Overall, I enjoyed the story despite the flaws. I wish there was a part 2 to story because the way it ended seems like Jetta's adventure is just getting started. I love the friendship formed between Jetta and Tyler. However, don't take my word for it, read the story yourself and you judge for yourself.
WARNING: This review may contain Spoilers! I'm going to try not to give away plot. Girl Divided is a very interesting story about a teen girl named, "Jetta" who's not only biracial, but looks physically White like her mother on one side of her body, & Black like her Father on the other. Her mother, Loviatar is goddess of agony, death and disease (Finnish Myth), and her father, Shango is powerful orisha of fire, lightening, thunder, and war, but he is also the patron of music, drumming, and dancing (Yoruba Myth). So, she not only looks like them, but inherits their powers too. Also, the story isn't just about racism. Everything at the end, as well as, the author's Afterword will make sense, & gives you deeper. It's a thought-provoking story, which what I really liked about. It reminds me of Stephen King's books. However, I gave it 4 stars because I did not see how where "Jetta has the power to heal her divided homeland… or destroy everything in her path…" She definitely caused havoc when she finally had enough, but she didn't heal her divided homeland. Although the Black & White Americans formed a truce, they were still divided. They split the nation - They built a huge wall like China where Black Americans live & run their own government on one side of the wall (west), & White Americans live & run their own on the other (east). I didn't like that part. It made zero sense to that they'd still feel the need to separate. At what point in the story did she heal the nation? The war may have ended, but America is still divided. Plus, I didn't like how all the non-white people were all referred to as, "Black". Their president who they call, "Mother" in the book put every American who wasn't Caucasian into concentration camps a.k.a Ghettos. The issue I have with this part is that the author only tells us that all people of color were labeled as "Black" (Asians, Hispanics, etc). She doesn't actually show us in the story. So, it didn't feel like a war between White vs People of Color. It was more of a war between White vs Black (African Americans only). There weren't any other characters of different ethnicities mentioned in the book. Even if the government chose to label all minorities as "Black", ethincities would still exist. And there are non-whites who can pass for white, & non-blacks who can pass for black. For instance, Jetta can pass for both, & Frederika “Fredi” Washington, Merle Oberon, Meagan Markle can pass for White people (and let's be honest, most people can't tell who's what just by looking at them except maybe those who are more observant and familiar with mixed race people). Miscegenation of different racial groups is extremely common even before emancipation. So, I don't see every Black or White person hopping the 'racial segregation' bandwagon. It's just weird how Black people in this book are now African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Middle Eastern, etc. I don't see that happening, lol!
Moreover, people tend to think that once the president is elected into office they can change whatever policy they want in order to push their agenda. However, the president, while he does have some power, doesn’t have all the power to do what he wants. Our governmental system has been very thought out in order to prevent one single person or body to become too powerful. It forces all of the executive bodies to compromise and do what is in the best interest in the country. While the president may seem like the highest political power, that’s pretty far from the truth. So, I don't understand how the president a.k.a "Mother" in Girl Divided was able to push such policies when the president has limited powers, and are shared with Congress. The author doesn't go into details about how Mother was able to enforce such rules and regulations. There's a reason why Checks and Balances exist, so one couldn't have more power over the other.
Furthermore, I didn't like how the African deities, such as, Oya didn't put up a fight. Oya was a war goddess, and is similar to the Hindu goddess Kali, and Hawaiian goddess Pele. Loviatar and Jetta were shown to be powerful while the author only told us how powerful Shango and Oya were. But I loved Shango. He was a funny character. I particularly enjoyed the part where he tells to Jetta how he met her mother.
Overall, I enjoyed the story despite the flaws. I wish there was a part 2 to story because the way it ended seems like Jetta's adventure is just getting started. I love the friendship formed between Jetta and Tyler. However, don't take my word for it, read the story yourself and you judge for yourself.
January 18, 2018
Well. I wanted to like this one, and from the blurb and the cover, I was sure that I would, and the opening chapter was good. New Orleans, voodoo, something vaguely supernatural...sounds like my cup of tea.
Within a few more pages, I found myself thinking "well, that escalated quickly" as suddenly we're in the second civil war and blacks are being dragged out of their homes and taken to concentration camps. All non-White races are classed as black (hmm). In the midst of this, we discover our main character likes the smell of death and disease, and feels no sadness about loved ones dying. Not because she's an unemotional sociopath, but because she's special. She also heals like Wolverine and sees the dead.
Throw in some gods and then a whole new point of view a third through the book, but only until they meet up with the important people, then some more race wars, joining up with the bad guys going back to the good guys, doing this some more, and eventually our heroine making her mind up who she is.
Basically I didn't really care. None of the characters had different personalities (aside from a few extremes of Good Guys and Bad Guys!) and that includes our heroine Jetta and her friend Tyler. The chapters from other people povs read exactly the same as Jetta's, and despite the character stating she was 14 at one point, it had all been so simplified and naive I had been certain she was... Maybe 10? It turned out to not be the voice of a young girl once I realised Tyler sounded the same. The book basically struck me as a continuous description of he said, she said, he did this, then this. They did this, and then she thought that, and I was really pretty distracted from the storyline by noticing that.
I wanted to like it. I like stories where the gods come to earth, I like young adult books with female leads, and I like what the author said at the back about why she wrote it and what she feels the worlds needs to fix (I'm trying not to spoiler, so sorry for vagueness). I just needed less of a scrambled up plot, and characterisation. I felt very little for the people no matter which side they were on, I'm not sure about the white=bad black =good that came through, and just as I was on board with one thing, it became something else. (Right, so civil war, camps, bids for freedom, gotcha! Oh no I see, gods and creepy silent dead army and living in a graveyard. Okay.).
This is my first book by Willow Rose and so far I'm not leaping to read another, though I do usually like to try a couple of books before I make up my mind on an author.
I received this epub from NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Within a few more pages, I found myself thinking "well, that escalated quickly" as suddenly we're in the second civil war and blacks are being dragged out of their homes and taken to concentration camps. All non-White races are classed as black (hmm). In the midst of this, we discover our main character likes the smell of death and disease, and feels no sadness about loved ones dying. Not because she's an unemotional sociopath, but because she's special. She also heals like Wolverine and sees the dead.
Throw in some gods and then a whole new point of view a third through the book, but only until they meet up with the important people, then some more race wars, joining up with the bad guys going back to the good guys, doing this some more, and eventually our heroine making her mind up who she is.
Basically I didn't really care. None of the characters had different personalities (aside from a few extremes of Good Guys and Bad Guys!) and that includes our heroine Jetta and her friend Tyler. The chapters from other people povs read exactly the same as Jetta's, and despite the character stating she was 14 at one point, it had all been so simplified and naive I had been certain she was... Maybe 10? It turned out to not be the voice of a young girl once I realised Tyler sounded the same. The book basically struck me as a continuous description of he said, she said, he did this, then this. They did this, and then she thought that, and I was really pretty distracted from the storyline by noticing that.
I wanted to like it. I like stories where the gods come to earth, I like young adult books with female leads, and I like what the author said at the back about why she wrote it and what she feels the worlds needs to fix (I'm trying not to spoiler, so sorry for vagueness). I just needed less of a scrambled up plot, and characterisation. I felt very little for the people no matter which side they were on, I'm not sure about the white=bad black =good that came through, and just as I was on board with one thing, it became something else. (Right, so civil war, camps, bids for freedom, gotcha! Oh no I see, gods and creepy silent dead army and living in a graveyard. Okay.).
This is my first book by Willow Rose and so far I'm not leaping to read another, though I do usually like to try a couple of books before I make up my mind on an author.
I received this epub from NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
January 26, 2018
Racism goes beyond even what we have today (which is bad enough) into the realm of mass murders, concentration camps and a second civil war.
The President is assassinated by a black man and this sets in motion a full-out race war. Blacks are hauled out of their homes and sent to ghettos or concentration camps. Massive riots break out and the country becomes divided into a white East and a black West.
(Which does bring up two questions I have about his book. First, how did the military react? There are blacks, whites and other races in the military. Would they have ended up fighting each other? Also, since the new president was a rock-solid racist, would she have given the orders to nuke the cities that were taken over by blacks, including Chicago?)
Anyhow, early in the book a black Baptist church is burned to the ground by whites and Jetta is the only survivor. At the time shes a baby. What makes her unusual is that half of her body is white and the other half is black. Considering the soaring racial tensions, it means that she is due to be hated by both whites and blacks alike.
Then we get introduced to a man named Shango who is black and lives in Africa. He also drinks massive amounts of rum. Later we learn just how important he really is.
We also find out that Jetta is basically a supernatural being with a white Queen of the Dead for a mother and Shango for her father. He mother wants her to become a new Queen of the Dead.
The fighting then involves both the physical world and the supernatural world. Jetta wants to end the fighting but whether or not she can stop the wishes of her own mother is another question all together.
It's a very unusual book, a very wild book with loads of action and a book that shows us what the hatred in our country for people who are not the same color as "we" are (whether we is black, white, Asian or Native American) can eventually lead to.
The President is assassinated by a black man and this sets in motion a full-out race war. Blacks are hauled out of their homes and sent to ghettos or concentration camps. Massive riots break out and the country becomes divided into a white East and a black West.
(Which does bring up two questions I have about his book. First, how did the military react? There are blacks, whites and other races in the military. Would they have ended up fighting each other? Also, since the new president was a rock-solid racist, would she have given the orders to nuke the cities that were taken over by blacks, including Chicago?)
Anyhow, early in the book a black Baptist church is burned to the ground by whites and Jetta is the only survivor. At the time shes a baby. What makes her unusual is that half of her body is white and the other half is black. Considering the soaring racial tensions, it means that she is due to be hated by both whites and blacks alike.
Then we get introduced to a man named Shango who is black and lives in Africa. He also drinks massive amounts of rum. Later we learn just how important he really is.
We also find out that Jetta is basically a supernatural being with a white Queen of the Dead for a mother and Shango for her father. He mother wants her to become a new Queen of the Dead.
The fighting then involves both the physical world and the supernatural world. Jetta wants to end the fighting but whether or not she can stop the wishes of her own mother is another question all together.
It's a very unusual book, a very wild book with loads of action and a book that shows us what the hatred in our country for people who are not the same color as "we" are (whether we is black, white, Asian or Native American) can eventually lead to.
April 22, 2019
Girl Divided is a standalone novel and creates a story about old Gods in legends and their influence in present-day life. There are some spoilers ahead but if you were reading the story you would have figured them out already anyway.
Jetta was born with unique markings on her face. A line right down the middle divides her into half-black and half-white. The second American civil war breaks out where any black person is believed to be evil and placed in camps or killed. Jetta finds herself in a unique situation in that she doesn’t really fit into either side. She meets Tyler in a camp and together they are able to break out to try and find freedom elsewhere. On the journey, Jetta discovers that she is the daughter of Shango, an African God of fire and lightning, and Lovitar, a Finnish Goddess of death. With these genes running through her will she be able to end the divisive conflict and save mankind?
I have read a number of this author’s books and again she is such a hit and miss. This was a miss for me. Firstly the fact that pretty much every single white person in the book suddenly turned against every other race and was willing to kill them was a bit abrupt. It was confusing as to who was actually in the black population as originally it was everyone who was not white and then other races were brought in and then they were not black enough. The fact that Jetta could hide either side of her face from others merely by pulling her hoodie down did not sit well – how does a hoodie hide a vertical side perfectly? I think the thing that nearly stopped me reading (and I generally read a book all the way through as I owe the author an honest opinion) was when all of a sudden Jetta could command armies of the dead (as she is now in charge of black and white)and she summons them all to a battle. The number described, however, is hundreds of millions. How on earth do hundreds of millions of dead people all get together in one spot? Jetta also has an unfortunate influence on others where if there is peace, conflict will emerge. Since she is two living in one you would think that she would be able to do the opposite.
The book suddenly ended at 87%, which was a bit annoying as I tend to keep an eye on the space left as you can gauge what could be coming up. But actually, I was quite glad. I much prefer some of the fantasy and thriller books that the author has published and just feel that this one missed the mark in so many ways. The basic idea was very interesting but the execution was not for me. I will say that I looked up more info on the characters mentioned in the book and learnt of the mythology so that was one good thing to take away. The actual story, not so much...
Jetta was born with unique markings on her face. A line right down the middle divides her into half-black and half-white. The second American civil war breaks out where any black person is believed to be evil and placed in camps or killed. Jetta finds herself in a unique situation in that she doesn’t really fit into either side. She meets Tyler in a camp and together they are able to break out to try and find freedom elsewhere. On the journey, Jetta discovers that she is the daughter of Shango, an African God of fire and lightning, and Lovitar, a Finnish Goddess of death. With these genes running through her will she be able to end the divisive conflict and save mankind?
I have read a number of this author’s books and again she is such a hit and miss. This was a miss for me. Firstly the fact that pretty much every single white person in the book suddenly turned against every other race and was willing to kill them was a bit abrupt. It was confusing as to who was actually in the black population as originally it was everyone who was not white and then other races were brought in and then they were not black enough. The fact that Jetta could hide either side of her face from others merely by pulling her hoodie down did not sit well – how does a hoodie hide a vertical side perfectly? I think the thing that nearly stopped me reading (and I generally read a book all the way through as I owe the author an honest opinion) was when all of a sudden Jetta could command armies of the dead (as she is now in charge of black and white)and she summons them all to a battle. The number described, however, is hundreds of millions. How on earth do hundreds of millions of dead people all get together in one spot? Jetta also has an unfortunate influence on others where if there is peace, conflict will emerge. Since she is two living in one you would think that she would be able to do the opposite.
The book suddenly ended at 87%, which was a bit annoying as I tend to keep an eye on the space left as you can gauge what could be coming up. But actually, I was quite glad. I much prefer some of the fantasy and thriller books that the author has published and just feel that this one missed the mark in so many ways. The basic idea was very interesting but the execution was not for me. I will say that I looked up more info on the characters mentioned in the book and learnt of the mythology so that was one good thing to take away. The actual story, not so much...
December 7, 2021
Do you like books with misleading descriptions that portray absolutely nothing that happens in the book?
Do you like books that make no sense and leave you questioning what the heck you just read?
Do you like books with terribly horrible endings that leave you wishing you'd never read it?
Do you hate white people and think every last one of them are racist evil trash even those in interracial relationships with mixed children?
If you answered yes to the questions above, Then this book is for you!
(May be slightly spoilery)
I wanted to be nice in this review, I really did, Ive never read a book that I didn't end up enjoying or liking at least something about it. But honestly, this was just so bad. So so, terribly bad. The description lead me to believe this was going to be a very interesting dystopian novel and I believe it could have been a great book. But quite frankly, it's not. It's fantasy, meets mythology, gods, and powers in a second civil war in America and the more you read the more confused you become. I feel it completely lost focus on being about racial divide and instead of creating a story about reuniting and coming together it ends with more turmoil. Like splitting the nation into two, blacks on one side and whites on the other was supposed to be a problem solved moment?? And forget about all other races, they don't matter, if you're not white, you're black. How obsurd is that?? I just don't know where the author was trying to go with this. I believe it was a weak attempt to draw attention to the racial division we still sadly see today, but what could have been a wonderful dystopian novel was ransacked by mythological magic nonsense. I dont mean to offend anyone who may believe in different gods, I don't bash anyone's religious views. I'm only speaking on this book in particular. The focus is supposed to be the racial division. But hey, anyone smell rain? Oh look, an army of dead people on motorcycles in the forest. Makes since. And a drunk that whistles fire? Naturally. What were we talking about again? Oh oh right, just a serious topic of racial division. This book was just SO bad. And I'm still confused why the front of the book states "they think shes a monster....but she's their only hope" when in the end she does absolutely nothing for humanity but high key IS the "monster" causing everything bad going on. I know this review is harsh, The whole book just made no sense and for lack of better words was just really dumb.
Do you like books that make no sense and leave you questioning what the heck you just read?
Do you like books with terribly horrible endings that leave you wishing you'd never read it?
Do you hate white people and think every last one of them are racist evil trash even those in interracial relationships with mixed children?
If you answered yes to the questions above, Then this book is for you!
(May be slightly spoilery)
I wanted to be nice in this review, I really did, Ive never read a book that I didn't end up enjoying or liking at least something about it. But honestly, this was just so bad. So so, terribly bad. The description lead me to believe this was going to be a very interesting dystopian novel and I believe it could have been a great book. But quite frankly, it's not. It's fantasy, meets mythology, gods, and powers in a second civil war in America and the more you read the more confused you become. I feel it completely lost focus on being about racial divide and instead of creating a story about reuniting and coming together it ends with more turmoil. Like splitting the nation into two, blacks on one side and whites on the other was supposed to be a problem solved moment?? And forget about all other races, they don't matter, if you're not white, you're black. How obsurd is that?? I just don't know where the author was trying to go with this. I believe it was a weak attempt to draw attention to the racial division we still sadly see today, but what could have been a wonderful dystopian novel was ransacked by mythological magic nonsense. I dont mean to offend anyone who may believe in different gods, I don't bash anyone's religious views. I'm only speaking on this book in particular. The focus is supposed to be the racial division. But hey, anyone smell rain? Oh look, an army of dead people on motorcycles in the forest. Makes since. And a drunk that whistles fire? Naturally. What were we talking about again? Oh oh right, just a serious topic of racial division. This book was just SO bad. And I'm still confused why the front of the book states "they think shes a monster....but she's their only hope" when in the end she does absolutely nothing for humanity but high key IS the "monster" causing everything bad going on. I know this review is harsh, The whole book just made no sense and for lack of better words was just really dumb.
October 31, 2018
They thought she was a monster, but they had no idea that she was their only hope. In a nation divided by race, Jetta doesn't really belong anywhere. Her face is split straight down the middle: half black and half white. The non-white residents of her New Orleans camp think she's a demon and want nothing to do with her. The white residents of the surrounding areas who have taken over during this second civil war, call her much worse. In her teens, having spent her entire life as an outcast, Jetta learns that she is actually the daughter of an African storm god and a Finnish death goddess. She tries to learn how to harness the abilities she's gained from each of her parents but she seems to only bring trouble to those she's trying to help as she struggles to understand her place in the world. Jetta is the only one who has the power to unite and heal her homeland or to destroy everything in her path.
While there are a number of things I did enjoy about this book, I wasn't able to enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would. I did like the character, mostly. I thought that the main characters were all well written and interesting, even the villains. You can definitely tell how much research the author has put into the various mythologies that are incorporated and that did make the story more interesting. That said, I just felt like the story was very disjointed and didn't flow as smoothly as it could have. And it seemed like all of the white people in the story were evil and villainous. It feels like the author is trying to incorporate the social divisions that unfortunately exist but the story falls short. While there is an explanation for the division that spreads through the country, it isn't really clear how close people have to get to Jetta to be affected. Are her powers going to divide the world? Or are they limited to the continent she's on, unable to cross the oceans? There were a lot of questions that could have been answered but weren't. I really wanted to enjoy this because the premise seemed so interesting and I've heard a lot of good things about the author. I just found myself disappointed. I'll have to try some more of her work to see if this one was an anomaly.
I'd like to thank Willow Rose, Buoy Media, and Netgalley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book. I understand that receiving the book in this manner doesn't obligate me to leave a positive review and all opinions expressed within the review are entirely my own.
While there are a number of things I did enjoy about this book, I wasn't able to enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would. I did like the character, mostly. I thought that the main characters were all well written and interesting, even the villains. You can definitely tell how much research the author has put into the various mythologies that are incorporated and that did make the story more interesting. That said, I just felt like the story was very disjointed and didn't flow as smoothly as it could have. And it seemed like all of the white people in the story were evil and villainous. It feels like the author is trying to incorporate the social divisions that unfortunately exist but the story falls short. While there is an explanation for the division that spreads through the country, it isn't really clear how close people have to get to Jetta to be affected. Are her powers going to divide the world? Or are they limited to the continent she's on, unable to cross the oceans? There were a lot of questions that could have been answered but weren't. I really wanted to enjoy this because the premise seemed so interesting and I've heard a lot of good things about the author. I just found myself disappointed. I'll have to try some more of her work to see if this one was an anomaly.
I'd like to thank Willow Rose, Buoy Media, and Netgalley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book. I understand that receiving the book in this manner doesn't obligate me to leave a positive review and all opinions expressed within the review are entirely my own.
January 3, 2018
Who is Jetta?
This is the question Jetta, is asking throughout the book. She was literally born divided — from head to toe, one side of her is a blue-eyed blonde white girl, while the other half is brown-eyed, black-haired African-American. And America is in the middle of a violent race war, with whites and blacks killing each other and claiming cities and regions for their own kind. At age 14: Jetta and her grandmother, are imprisoned in a black ghetto near New Orleans with little food and no real shelter. She befriends Tyler, a teenager who helps her escape. The two begin to make their way to Chicago, which has become a walled stronghold of the Black Liberty army, which Tyler wants to join.
Jetta’s journey becomes one of self-discovery. She meets Lo, a powerful white woman who claims to be her real mother. Lo has great plans for Jetta and her growing powers. Later, Jetta is reunited with Tyler and a black stranger named Strango and his wife Oya, who have powers of their own.
Jetta’s story is really the story of the destructive power of divisiveness and the never-ending battles of good vs. evil and destiny vs. free will. What will Jetta become and will she even have a choice? This is a very timely, thought-provoking novel that is reminiscent of “The Shack” with echoes of Stephen King’s “The Stand.” It was hard to read on an emotional level because current reality could be a harbinger of these events happening here. But “Girl Divided” is not easily put down and forgotten. It could be the “1984” of this time and should be read by politicians, students and anyone who is concerned with world affairs. Very good, but scary.
This is the question Jetta, is asking throughout the book. She was literally born divided — from head to toe, one side of her is a blue-eyed blonde white girl, while the other half is brown-eyed, black-haired African-American. And America is in the middle of a violent race war, with whites and blacks killing each other and claiming cities and regions for their own kind. At age 14: Jetta and her grandmother, are imprisoned in a black ghetto near New Orleans with little food and no real shelter. She befriends Tyler, a teenager who helps her escape. The two begin to make their way to Chicago, which has become a walled stronghold of the Black Liberty army, which Tyler wants to join.
Jetta’s journey becomes one of self-discovery. She meets Lo, a powerful white woman who claims to be her real mother. Lo has great plans for Jetta and her growing powers. Later, Jetta is reunited with Tyler and a black stranger named Strango and his wife Oya, who have powers of their own.
Jetta’s story is really the story of the destructive power of divisiveness and the never-ending battles of good vs. evil and destiny vs. free will. What will Jetta become and will she even have a choice? This is a very timely, thought-provoking novel that is reminiscent of “The Shack” with echoes of Stephen King’s “The Stand.” It was hard to read on an emotional level because current reality could be a harbinger of these events happening here. But “Girl Divided” is not easily put down and forgotten. It could be the “1984” of this time and should be read by politicians, students and anyone who is concerned with world affairs. Very good, but scary.
February 4, 2018
It’s taken me a few days to write this review because I’m still unsure how I feel. In some senses I loved the book and others I felt it was a bit meh.
Well firstly the book follows Jetta who lives in an dystopian future that’s set in a second civil war of the “blacks” vs “whites”
You find through the books that Jetta is special not just from her appearance which is literally half white half black.
Now the author uses cases from history in a show that history will repeat itself and for the most part this seems realistic. There were some things that were far fetched and could easily have been changed to make it more realistic but overall it was good and mostly believable for that part. I also loved the use of alternative mythologies that you rarely see on literature (the book Incorporates Finnish and African mythology) and I found this really interesting however there isn’t really much explanation into the characters and since I had no previous knowledge of the mythology o found at parts it was just confusing.
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters even Jetta who kept making the same mistakes over and over and didn’t really grow much in the book. The book didn’t feel conclusive and maybe this is because there will be a second book who knows.
Now the next bit is a tiny spoiler so *spoiler alert*
My other issue with the book was the ghosts with the rattling bones ...like ..what? Are they ghosts or are they skeletons because this makes no sense and it isn’t clear the whole death thing and the rules surrounding this. Like is the afterlife racist? What?
I found myself getting bored at parts and just overall confused as the story definitely lacked clarity.
Overall a good idea and great use of alternative mythology but it needs a lot of refining and clarity.
Well firstly the book follows Jetta who lives in an dystopian future that’s set in a second civil war of the “blacks” vs “whites”
You find through the books that Jetta is special not just from her appearance which is literally half white half black.
Now the author uses cases from history in a show that history will repeat itself and for the most part this seems realistic. There were some things that were far fetched and could easily have been changed to make it more realistic but overall it was good and mostly believable for that part. I also loved the use of alternative mythologies that you rarely see on literature (the book Incorporates Finnish and African mythology) and I found this really interesting however there isn’t really much explanation into the characters and since I had no previous knowledge of the mythology o found at parts it was just confusing.
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters even Jetta who kept making the same mistakes over and over and didn’t really grow much in the book. The book didn’t feel conclusive and maybe this is because there will be a second book who knows.
Now the next bit is a tiny spoiler so *spoiler alert*
My other issue with the book was the ghosts with the rattling bones ...like ..what? Are they ghosts or are they skeletons because this makes no sense and it isn’t clear the whole death thing and the rules surrounding this. Like is the afterlife racist? What?
I found myself getting bored at parts and just overall confused as the story definitely lacked clarity.
Overall a good idea and great use of alternative mythology but it needs a lot of refining and clarity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2018
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. The cover, while really pretty, made me curious, but it also brought on the question of how is this going to work? So I started with caution. But, what can I say.... I was hooked from the very first chapter. The story is written with so much detail and care, that I couldn't stop reading. I liked Jetta from the start and even when she was at her worst, I still wouldn't couldn't get up on her. And when she finally realized who, what, she is I just wanted to cry. The most horrific thing with this book is, that it could happen. Well, the part with all the fighting and killing and dividing the world. It was hard, in some parts, to read about the things people do to each other. I don't know if I want for Jetta to find the rest of her family or for her to be an only child. She sure could need someone by her side. And I honestly don't know how to fix the problem with her creation war and diversion. It will be interesting to see, where the author goes with this story and Jetta. I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial!
March 30, 2020
It's an alternate universe, so it's not like the America we know today because it'd be extremely difficult for a president to enforce such a rule as long as we have Congress. You'll understand when you read this book. Anyway, I really enjoyed reading this book. The only con I have is: the way it ended. The main character was still a curse somehow. I didn't like she was still the reason black and white people were so divided. If anything, she should've been the reason they came together. So, I guess she's suppose to be an antihero, but I still feel like her being biracial shouldn't have caused so much destruction. But I guess it's because her mother was an EVIL goddess instead of a good/neutral goddess. I just felt like her problem was still unresolved, and she could've found a way to break that curse. I wish we could find out if she found her other siblings, but there's no part 2 😭 And I'm kind glad there isn't because this book by itself gave me a bit of the creeps and anxiety 😂 But her father was funny, especially when he tells her about "How I met your mom" story!!!! It's a very unique and insightful story! I just hate how it ended though.
January 4, 2018
This excellent book was a thrilling read, yet terrifyingly plausible in parts too. The potential for the war and division described in the book is unfortunately high today, especially somewhere like the USA under President Trump, and as the author says in the story, it only takes one high-profile incident to turn the tide of humanity and start the actions seen in the story. Whilst Jetta herself is not real, nor her family, humans alone can cause a huge amount of devastation - just look at what the Nazis did in World War Two, for example.
Anyway, the book itself is an excellent read, and will keep you hooked through all the twists and turns of Jetta's life. It's a compelling story and I'd definitely recommend it to all Willow Rose fans, to thriller lovers, or to anyone who's looking for something a bit different. I'd love to know what happens to Jetta and Tyler next though!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
Anyway, the book itself is an excellent read, and will keep you hooked through all the twists and turns of Jetta's life. It's a compelling story and I'd definitely recommend it to all Willow Rose fans, to thriller lovers, or to anyone who's looking for something a bit different. I'd love to know what happens to Jetta and Tyler next though!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
February 9, 2018
Hate and dissension, pain and anguish, fear and anger, ignorance, betrayal, and the worse offenders. . . . those that sit back and do nothing. Because this can never happen here. . .
This is a horror story made worse by the knowledge that it can happen anywhere especially since we as a people are doomed to repeat the past. This is an amazing read, I wanted to stop reading at different points because it isn’t a unicorn and rainbows type of read. . . at all. They had no idea who or what she was and what her purpose was. She was a girl divided in more ways than one and both sides wanted her. She couldn’t give into her basic instincts, “You are more than her daughter”. It played over and over in her head until it became true.
Amazing read and so not what I thought but I do love this author and what she brings to the table. Her books make you think. Her characters have you shaking your head because they are never what they are presented as. I love that her stories are always. . . more.
This is a horror story made worse by the knowledge that it can happen anywhere especially since we as a people are doomed to repeat the past. This is an amazing read, I wanted to stop reading at different points because it isn’t a unicorn and rainbows type of read. . . at all. They had no idea who or what she was and what her purpose was. She was a girl divided in more ways than one and both sides wanted her. She couldn’t give into her basic instincts, “You are more than her daughter”. It played over and over in her head until it became true.
Amazing read and so not what I thought but I do love this author and what she brings to the table. Her books make you think. Her characters have you shaking your head because they are never what they are presented as. I love that her stories are always. . . more.
February 24, 2018
Girl Divided is YA dystopia with a twist!
Jetta is a born in a divided world with a divided face. Jetta was born with one side of her face white and the other side black which is extremely dangerous because the world is at war with black against white. As Jetta most live like the Jews of World War II, death seems to follow her. It is not until she learns her roots that things make sense in her life.
I really like the mythological twist to this story. While there are references to more well-known mythology (Norse first comes to mind), I learned mythology from other areas such as Africa and Finland. I love learning these stories and I took time after reading the novel to look up more about the tales portrayed in the book.
While the story was dealt less with social commentary than I expected this isn't a bad thing. As the story focuses on the mythological side, there was no need to add an extra heaviness to it. It was an enjoyable adventure that I would continue.
I received an ARC from NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
Jetta is a born in a divided world with a divided face. Jetta was born with one side of her face white and the other side black which is extremely dangerous because the world is at war with black against white. As Jetta most live like the Jews of World War II, death seems to follow her. It is not until she learns her roots that things make sense in her life.
I really like the mythological twist to this story. While there are references to more well-known mythology (Norse first comes to mind), I learned mythology from other areas such as Africa and Finland. I love learning these stories and I took time after reading the novel to look up more about the tales portrayed in the book.
While the story was dealt less with social commentary than I expected this isn't a bad thing. As the story focuses on the mythological side, there was no need to add an extra heaviness to it. It was an enjoyable adventure that I would continue.
I received an ARC from NetGalley; all opinions are my own.
July 14, 2019
Myth, allegory or cautionary tale
From the first page to the last I was hooked. This story of might happen is scary on a moral and human level. Jetta being raised by her black grandmother has been protected all her life due to her appearance. Seeming like a normal novel about everyday human life about a girl unfortunate to be born half black and half white. One side totally black the other white, divided right down the middle of her body. Nothing like our mixed children. A Civil War breaks out putting black against white, anyone of color against white. A definite could, might, and maybe will happen. Too frightening in today's atmosphere. Vestiges of West African folklore come into play, as one realizes that division is a disease much like plague, cancer, gout etc. Skillfully entwining both human tragedy and angst with the hubris of the gods and goddesses Willow makes us question where we are headed. Will peace or war prevail? You will have to read this intrigueing tale. Great job Willow.
From the first page to the last I was hooked. This story of might happen is scary on a moral and human level. Jetta being raised by her black grandmother has been protected all her life due to her appearance. Seeming like a normal novel about everyday human life about a girl unfortunate to be born half black and half white. One side totally black the other white, divided right down the middle of her body. Nothing like our mixed children. A Civil War breaks out putting black against white, anyone of color against white. A definite could, might, and maybe will happen. Too frightening in today's atmosphere. Vestiges of West African folklore come into play, as one realizes that division is a disease much like plague, cancer, gout etc. Skillfully entwining both human tragedy and angst with the hubris of the gods and goddesses Willow makes us question where we are headed. Will peace or war prevail? You will have to read this intrigueing tale. Great job Willow.
April 14, 2018
In post apocalyptic time, a baby is born with a half black face and half white. The black say the baby is evil - a demon and the white say worse. She has a destiny and doesn't realize it. What is her destiny? What will she do when she knows what it is? She has questions about herself including who were her parents? Why didn't they raise her? Will she find her answers?
Bigotry is still in existence --sadly it hasn't disappeared. I was surprised to find bigotry such a major issue as I always have hope that it wouldn't be. I thought Jetta to be a strong woman as she dwelt with issues that I thought were difficult. I liked this novel but at times, I would get confused as I didn't really understand the society she lived in. It's a thought provoking story.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own
Bigotry is still in existence --sadly it hasn't disappeared. I was surprised to find bigotry such a major issue as I always have hope that it wouldn't be. I thought Jetta to be a strong woman as she dwelt with issues that I thought were difficult. I liked this novel but at times, I would get confused as I didn't really understand the society she lived in. It's a thought provoking story.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own
January 14, 2019
Although Willow Rose is known as the Queen of Scream, this book scared me way more profoundly than any of her other books. Imagine a world where the colour of your skin is literally dividing the world and the only way to fix it would be to build a wall to separate races. Wait - why does that sound just a tad familiar???
Jetta was born half white and half black and I mean that literally. One half of her was black and the other white, right down the middle. Hah! So in this world of if you're not black you're white and if you're not white, you're black, where in the darnation does she fit in? When she eventually discovers who she is, she loses herself completely,
I love this book because in this day and age, this scenario is not entirely impossible and I hate this book because in this day and age, this scenario is not entirely impossible.
Jetta was born half white and half black and I mean that literally. One half of her was black and the other white, right down the middle. Hah! So in this world of if you're not black you're white and if you're not white, you're black, where in the darnation does she fit in? When she eventually discovers who she is, she loses herself completely,
I love this book because in this day and age, this scenario is not entirely impossible and I hate this book because in this day and age, this scenario is not entirely impossible.
September 28, 2023
I have read a lot of Willow Rose books and usually enjoy them. This one was a little different. I quite like the idea behind it. The ongoing battle between good and evil. The whole black and white theme. I think it was just a bit too "fantasy" for me. All the mythical stuff isn't really my thing. 2 stars.
*********************************
They think she's a monster, but she's their only hope…
In a divided nation, 14-year-old Jetta belongs nowhere. Her face is split right down the middle: half-black and half-white. The non-white residents of her New Orleans camp call her a demon. The white oppressors who took over during the 2nd American Civil War have called her much worse…
After years as an outcast, Jetta uncovers her true heritage as the daughter of an African storm god and a Finnish death goddess. As she attempts to harness her terrible new abilities to turn the tide in the war, trouble comes to those she tries to help. Only Jetta has the power to heal her divided homeland… or destroy everything in her path…
Girl Divided is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel infused with magical forces.
*********************************
They think she's a monster, but she's their only hope…
In a divided nation, 14-year-old Jetta belongs nowhere. Her face is split right down the middle: half-black and half-white. The non-white residents of her New Orleans camp call her a demon. The white oppressors who took over during the 2nd American Civil War have called her much worse…
After years as an outcast, Jetta uncovers her true heritage as the daughter of an African storm god and a Finnish death goddess. As she attempts to harness her terrible new abilities to turn the tide in the war, trouble comes to those she tries to help. Only Jetta has the power to heal her divided homeland… or destroy everything in her path…
Girl Divided is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel infused with magical forces.
January 26, 2020
Absolutely loved this...
Punchy, short chapters ... exploring the division of human kind... black and white... and a girl who is not one or the other but both.
"Humans are stupid... they are stronger together" not the exact quote but it was along these lines. Though provoking :)
I loved following Jetta on her journey into discovering who she really is and the choices she has to make along the way. With mythology from different cultures which has intrigued me into researching a bit further.
Characters who are developed and easy to connect with. A story that's not always easy to digest, given the subject material it looks into but a great read.
Will be looking into further work by this author for sure.
Punchy, short chapters ... exploring the division of human kind... black and white... and a girl who is not one or the other but both.
"Humans are stupid... they are stronger together" not the exact quote but it was along these lines. Though provoking :)
I loved following Jetta on her journey into discovering who she really is and the choices she has to make along the way. With mythology from different cultures which has intrigued me into researching a bit further.
Characters who are developed and easy to connect with. A story that's not always easy to digest, given the subject material it looks into but a great read.
Will be looking into further work by this author for sure.
December 25, 2017
Girl Divided by Willow Rose is a thought-provoking and intriguing look at what the world would and could be like if we allowed ourselves to be divided. Girl Divided is a post-apocalypic sci-fi thriller with a mix of mythology. Willow Rose does an exceptional job of developing the characters in this book. The book takes the reader on a page-turning thrill ride of anger, despair, frustration, and hope. We watch as the name character, Jetta, grows from an innocent little girl into a warrior. I hope there is more to come. I have read other books by Willow Rose and have not been disappointed. I also look forward to reading more of her work.
April 26, 2018
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
This is a story with many different levels. The first one deals with racism, the second one is a love story, and the third and finally one is a story of redemption. The author ties all of these levels together, in my opinion, in a superior fashion. The situations can be used to demonstrate some of the incidents in today's headlines in which people are judged for their outward appearances. The author kept it light and interesting, but as I stated earlier, this story had several layers. The characters were interesting, dynamic, and humorous and the author achieved her purpose by writing an interesting story.
This is a story with many different levels. The first one deals with racism, the second one is a love story, and the third and finally one is a story of redemption. The author ties all of these levels together, in my opinion, in a superior fashion. The situations can be used to demonstrate some of the incidents in today's headlines in which people are judged for their outward appearances. The author kept it light and interesting, but as I stated earlier, this story had several layers. The characters were interesting, dynamic, and humorous and the author achieved her purpose by writing an interesting story.
January 23, 2019
This my first reading of this author. I was aware of her and knew that she is prolific, with many works to her name, so I expected better editing. There were far more errors than I anticipated, plus the general editing seemed weak for an author of this caliber. Despite this, the book really pulled me in. It had a surreal feeling all the way through, almost cartoonish, and almost felt like it was being told orally by a tribal storyteller. The Protagonist is a very atypical character and there were a lot of irrational leaps in the narrative, but they fit in with the storytelling style. I then read the excerpt of another book by the author included in the back matter, and the editing on those chapters was stellar. It made me wonder if the errors in Girl Divided were intentional. In the end, I didn't care. Better editing would have lifted this story to five stars. I've never read this author until now because most of her stories are billed as horror and that's not a genre I favor. However, I'll have to try a few more to see how I like them.
August 16, 2020
Sounds like 2020
In reading this book it made me think of what is going on in the world today. Killings, rioting , and people hating each other because the color of their skin. I thought how can this be happening. I agree with the author on something she wrote that we are a human beings no matter if you are black, brown or white this needs to stop. People need to be accepting of each other. Didn't want to go political but reading this book made me want to reach out and say this and I will say I am a 67 year old white woman and it's just my opinion but we as a nation in the the United States need to do better. I really think everyone needs to read this book.
In reading this book it made me think of what is going on in the world today. Killings, rioting , and people hating each other because the color of their skin. I thought how can this be happening. I agree with the author on something she wrote that we are a human beings no matter if you are black, brown or white this needs to stop. People need to be accepting of each other. Didn't want to go political but reading this book made me want to reach out and say this and I will say I am a 67 year old white woman and it's just my opinion but we as a nation in the the United States need to do better. I really think everyone needs to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews