A Brutal Justice

Nedé Rising #2

by Jess Corban

Protect the weak. Safety for all. Power without virtue is tyranny.

Nedé has a new Apprentice, and now Reina Pierce must come to grips with what she sacrificed to secure Matriarch Teera’s favor. As secrets unfold and danger mounts, Reina will test the bounds of trust and be forced to answer the question that has haunted her since her first night in the jungle: Which is better―Gentle or Brute? And how far will she go to ensure tyranny is eradicated from Nedé?

In this fast-paced conclusion to the Nedé Rising series, A Brutal Justice weaves action, romance, and provocative questions into a finale that readers won’t be able to put down.

Genres: Fiction, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2021

About the author

Jess Corban graduated college with a degree in Communications and, perhaps more instructive, thirteen stamps in her passport. After college, a chance interview at a small publisher for an even smaller position sparked a love for writing that turned into twelve nonfiction books (under various pseudonyms). Now Jess lives with her husband and two daughters in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, where she finds inspiration in a sky full of stars and hiking the Canyon of the Kings. A Gentle Tyranny is her debut novel.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is an appropriate and satisfying conclusion to a unique series.

and one thing i do appreciate is how intentional the plot progression feels. sometimes series give off the vibe that the author is writing as they go, just seeing where their story happens to end up. nothing is wrong with that, but this particular plot had a direction right from the beginning and it was nice seeing that through to the end. it helps this conclusion feel like it does the story justice and gives a sense of consistency.

not to mention the writing is easy to read, the pacing is quick, the characters are worth rooting for, and the ending is one you want to see happen. i also like the commentary made about how feminism is never about hating men, its not about women being better than men, but about seeing men and women as equals.

overall, a fitting and enjoyable end to this series!

a grateful thanks to the author for a copy!!

↠ 3.5 stars

[Reads With Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

UPDATE: the author recently accused me in a magazine article of “cancelling” and “silencing” her. Here is my response: Brio magazine, "cancel culture" & christian "persecution"
https://youtu.be/QxRkPKSAnYg

Video review here: https://youtu.be/PSbP8dtwjOw

I’m finally done reading this book. Finally.

I’ve already picked apart the other one for all of the issues it has and I might do a video review talking about fundie cultures confusion of biological sex with culturally-enforced gender essentialism. But for now all I will say is this:
This book hammers you nonstop with ideas the author has about testosterone that are simply not rooted in fact or what we know about the science of biology, ie that testosterone is responsible for a lot of things that it’s simply not responsible for. I would encourage the author to, next time she plans to write a book, use Google at a minimum. But more so I would encourage her to actually talk to some biologists.

As far as plot and writing, it was not as bad as JM Buckler which is how I measure books now. At least there was a plot. The writing isn’t bad it’s just too repetitive in that the author desperately wants to convey how much she loves Belize. I get it, you love Belize. She would’ve done well to work less on her environment descriptions and instead work on her plot. I have kids so I watch a lot of blues clues and this books reveals are like watching Josh on Blues Clues pick up the clues and YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER and you’re just dying for him to get to the end already. Way too obvious. Hammers you over the head with preaching, hammers you over the head with clues. It’s exhausting reading a book like this.

The ending, being predictable, was incredibly anticlimactic. That’s really all I have to say for now.

Next time you want to preach about James Dobson’s ideas on gender essentialism and your misunderstood takes on feminism, please just label your books christian fiction and don’t do subterfuge. Thanks.

[Jess Corban · Rating 5 out of 5]

True confession: I don't like to start reading a book series unless I know the ending is going to be worth the journey. Call me jaded, but I've had one too many let-downs. I suppose that's why it was really important to me that I know where the Nedé Series was going to land well before A Gentle Tyranny hit shelves. And what I dreamed up has had me SO ANXIOUS to share this conclusion with you!

A Brutal Justice delivers more romance, more twists, more luscious scenery, and leaves no question unanswered. While I adore A Gentle Tyranny, I'm told I've saved the proverbial best for last. I hope you'll agree!

[Pristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

To all the haters on Nedé Rising and Jess Corban (or Jessie Minassian) I'd like to say something to you.

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

Sincerely, and with a heartfelt wish of "Merry Christmas",
Pristine ☺️


{Full review to come}

[Jess Lemus · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jess Corban is a pseudonym for Jessie Minassian who is a fundamentalist evangelical Christian who is homophobic to the point of supporting what is essentially conversion therapy. There's more which you can look up yourself. I am not wasting my time by reading a book that is trying to sell me her disgusting views.

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

To do this book justice in a review would be to fill it with spoilers. The things I can't share are the things that make it brilliant, poignant, and filled with hope--all at the same time.

Often when an author wants to expose a fallacy, the story devolves into preachy drivel that hurts to plow through, but you won't find any of that here. I think, perhaps, because like an excellent journalist who wants you to see the flaws and virtues on all sides of an issue, Corban does not have an agenda to perpetuate. In that sense, this is more of an expose... a warning.

But it's so much more than that, because without any cultural parallels and cautionary moments, it stands alone as a fabulous story of faith, strength, frailty, determination, and the deep desire for justice... FOR ALL.

For those who enjoy books with little to no romance, you'll love this duology. The final third of this second book has just enough to show you where things could go... without taking away from the true story within.

We want more, Jess Corban. Much more. Soon.

[Tessa Dysart · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading A Gentle Tyranny, I was eager to see how the story of Reina and Nede would end. I was intrigued by the premise that Jess Corban set up in her book, and she certainly posed some deep difficult questions.

I was not disappointed by A Brutal Justice. Once again, Ms. Corban is not afraid to tackle difficult issues of gender, justice, abuse, and power. The questions are tough to answer in the context of the book, but nearly impossible to answer outside of it.

I don't want to give the story away, so I will say just a few things. First, if you haven't read A Gentle Tyranny, read that first. Second, read with an open mind and prepare to want to challenge the author (I think that she wants you to question things). Third, I liked hearing more about Leda's story, but I don't really care for flashbacks. I wonder if Leda needed her own book. Finally, I was surprised at times with how things were resolved. Although the story concluded in a sense, and the author says it is the last book in the series, I am left wanting more. I hope she will reconsider.

[Kristen Parnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This much-awaited sequel delivers a satisfying finale to A Gentle Tyranny. Reina grapples with her mistakes and grows into a character who accepts the truth: that both Brutes and the women of Nedé are equally capable of tyranny. Their only hope for the future is to work together. This dystopian story beautifully weaves together themes of redemption, sacrifice, and love. I was holding my breath to the very end, wondering how justice would be served. Corban did not disappoint!

[Jessica Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shout to Tyndale/Wander for allowing me to be one of the first to get to read this great title.

If you haven’t read “A Gentle Tyranny”, I suggest that you do, and as soon as you're done with that, pick up “A Brutal Justice”. The second book in her Nede Rising series really showcases Jess Corban’s wonderful writing abilities.
When reading “A Gentle Tyranny” I was hesitant with how the second book would go. So, if you had/have those same feelings, don’t worry. “A Brutal Justice” is worth the read.
Jess Corban integrates a deeper plotline that really holds your attention. The humor that is laced throughout had me giggling a few times as well. She really does an excellent job of getting her reader to think about how men and women view each other. We often voice our differences and try to blame the other for things we ourselves are easily at blame for.
Corban invites us to see that everyone has a choice, and it doesn’t matter what gender you are, those choices still must be made. We all choose to follow God and fight for justice, or not. We all have to choose if we are going to live with love and selflessness, or not. We all must choose between good and evil, even if those choices aren’t always as black and white as we’d like.
I really enjoyed the relationships that took place and the uncertainties around them. It was a God-timing for me, as I’m struggling with my own doubts in my relationships. Through her words, the Lord spoke to me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
Enough about me, back to the wonderful book “A Brutal Justice”. Although there were a couple of times that the plot was predictable, it didn’t take away from the joy of reading it, or the thought-provoking power of it.
“Power without virtue is tyranny.”

[Karen Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the first volume (A Gentle Tyranny) ended leaving many questions unanswered, I was eager to read this to learn what happens to Reina Pierce, and Corban didn't disappoint. The book opens as Rei begins her training with the elite Alexia soldiers, which she had hoped to do before vying to become Apprentice to Nede's Matriarch. She is still recovering from her time competing in the Succession, what she learned then, and the consequences of her choices, when things begin changing quickly. The action is nonstop as Reina and former adversary Bri join forces with the Brutes in the jungle to right the wrongs in Nede: the motto of "protect the weak; safety for all; power without virtue is tyranny" had been twisted and misused by Matriarch Teera. Rei grapples with loss and struggles to make wise decisions as she learns about strength, trust, and love.
The worldbuilding in these books is well done, and the characters are compelling. Readers should definitely have read the first book before starting this one. Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

[Ton Naborcssej · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel did not disappoint!’
My favorite things about it were the many themes, how it didn’t focus solely on the romance, and the lush, unique setting.
I know some people are slamming this series because of its “homophobic” author. But a good book is a good book, and I personally saw absolutely nothing wrong with it or its author.

[Angel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author is still a homophobic racist.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, loved the book not the author. I don't truly feel like writing a review right now but I'll write a bit. The book was an amazing ending to the series though I would enjoy seeing a third instalment into what happens next in the kingdom of nede! Anyways, please don't attack me for any reason I will ignore you.

[Emily Weimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the second book in a series is disappointing, but that is not the case here. In fact, I liked the sequel in this series as much or better than the first book! You can see the author’s growth as a writer, and you can really feel and smell the jungle of Nede, which becomes like another character in the book. This book was faster paced and had more action than the first, and continued to develop the most memorable women from the first book in some surprising ways.

[Eliana H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t let the negative reviews fool you. Corban is an amazing writer, and the story she tells is enticing and completely worth your time.

[BigBlueSea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice conclusion to a series. It amazes me that people can’t just judge a book in and of itself rather than bringing in political or religious views. I don’t subscribe to all of what Marx or Jung believe but I can see the value of a different perspective to help me know what I like and dislike. That’s what makes books dangerous. Banning books is a weak answer. I’d rather debate and shine bright lights rather than chase views underground.

[Shannon Guerra]

Quick backstory: I found this book through an online readers group when someone mentioned a hate-fest of people leaving 1-star reviews for its Christian author because one reviewer said her books were full of homophobic content. So I bought the books (it’s a series of two) to see for myself, and lo and behold…the haters were wrong, as they often are. Here’s my review of the first one, which will also tell you a little about the second one:

This book both was and wasn’t what I expected, but it was nothing like what all the angry, misinformed 1-star reviews tout it as (most of whom admit they never even read the book, which is obvious to those of us who have…and ironically meshes well with the point of the story).

That point of the story is that women, acting in fear and anger and hatred, can be overbearing and cruel. Attempting to fix one huge problem by going in the extreme opposite direction is foolish and leads to serious consequences. Those consequences need to be faced and acknowledged, not ignored out of fear, insecurity, or narcissism.

I don’t usually like young adult books or dystopian novels, and the writing in this book is definitely not my style. (The writing in the second book improves by several notches, in my opinion.) But the storyline is fascinating, and the way both men and women are honored for their distinctness is something that I’ve thought about for days, and will continue to do so.

So, back to my review of the second book in the series, which is the one I loved: I don't usually like modern fiction, but this was another exception that has me rethinking my prejudice. The concepts, characters, and setting were fascinating, and the turns of the story were super satisfying. The first book sets the stage for the story, but this is the one that I didn’t want to end.

[Michelle Kaderly Welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel starts out intense and stays that way through to the end. Of course, there are scenes to give the reader breathing space, gentle scenes that illustrate that men are human not monsters. This second book in the Nede Rising Series picks up where the first left off. Reina must prove that the Nede ruler isn't following the Nedean motto to "protect the weak. Safety for all. Power without virtue is tyranny." In Nede, the only "safe" man is an altered man, one who is expendable. Troubling thoughts, indeed.

It's well written. Those who love The Hunger Games will like this series too. I appreciate the examples shown and the restraint of the men had when they are unfairly judged. You'll be rooting for Reina all the way to the satisfying conclusion.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picking up in the aftermath of the previous book, this book continues to follow Reina Pearce as she discovers more of the history between the Matriarchy and the Brutes.

I liked how this book told Reina's mother's story, as well as showed us a little more of the Brute's world. I think that this book as an interesting premise, I liked that they mentioned exploring the world beyond the Brutes and Matriarchy, because the world in which this book is set felt smaller somehow in this book.

Overall this is was a good sequel, though I personally felt some of the twists were predictable. There was good growth and progression of the characters, with a powerful message of how we need each other as was intended.

I received a complimentary ecopy of this book. Opinions are my own.

[Challice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this second book had a lot of things that didn't get answered. I am surprised because I expected this to wrap up a lot more. In so far as dystopian, I think it did well, but I feel like this was more of an action book rather than dystopian.
I think it did make a valid point and that is "virtue" is not stronger from a gender's point of view. Women aren't more virtuous than men, and visa versa. It is a coming together and living as God has intended.
I am looking forward to seeing more from this author.

[Josh Olds · Rating 2 out of 5]

I put some big shoes on A Brutal Justice when I effusively praised its predecessor, A Gentle Tyranny. The two books comprise the Nede Rising duology and tells the story of Raina Pierce, granddaughter of the Matriarch, who discovers that their utopia is not everything it seems to be. But to the story: For generations now, the matriarchy of Nedé has ruled. Men have been safely “gentled” in a worldwide movement of liberation. In A Gentle Tyranny, Jess Corban fashioned a prototypical YA dystopian novel that explored some important themes about inequality—rural and urban, poor and rich, commoner and elite—and how the elite, Raina’s grandmother in particular, is no less cruel than the male leaders of the past that proved the need for male “gentling.”

At the end of A Gentle Tyranny, we see Raina discover that a contingent of men have escaped “ungentled” and live as Brutes in the wilderness. A contingent of these Brutes are intent on overthrowing the Matriarchy and freeing the Gentles from their oppression. I wrote in my initial review that my major fear was that the book would self-correct toward male headship, but that fortunately that didn’t happen. Corban’s view was closer to a blessed alliance where men and women share leadership and exist as equals.

My initial assumption was that this would be a three-book series. That’s pretty common in YA dystopian fiction and seemed to fit the setup. When I learned that it would only be two books, I was concerned that Corban would struggle to fit everything in and resolve everything properly. The setup had been a masterpiece. Corban created the drama well. But now, how would she resolve it?

A Brutal Justice is that resolution…and it’s devastatingly underwhelming. More than half the book is a journey into the Brute encampment in the jungles. The pacing is slow. What action there is does not contribute toward furthering the plot or creating character depth. The intention seems to be to really get Raina to experience the world of the Brutes and develop a backstory of how they came to be. It’s this backstory, involving Raina’s mother, that proves of be the only interesting part of this section.

The question that’s being explored is how men and women should work together. Up to this point, the Brutes have lived alone, adding to their clan only when a baby boy can be secreted away to them. They have had little interaction with the outside world and no interactions with women. Raina has had no interactions with Brute men. The way in which the group of men learn to interact with Raina and her company of followers is what’s going to prove to the group that collaboration and equality is attainable. For story purposes, Raina and the Brutes must become archetypal of a new society.

And instead we get a saccharine-sweet, sloppily-written, Tarzan-meet-Jane romance. (You’d think I was a perfect sunset for the way he looks at me, I can feel our hearts fusing together, like we were made to love each other.) Look, I can get behind a sappy romance. The problem is that this romance is what becomes the archetypal expression for male-female relationships. While A Gentle Tyranny pointed toward the need for men and women to work together as equals united in their humanity, A Brutal Justice diminishes that relationship to a stereotypical, teenage romance.

Further, the way in which Raina and the Brutes revolutionize their culture is through the brutal violence by men that led to men to be gentled in the first place. After an interminable journey to the Brute colony, the company then quickly finds themselves ambushed and in the middle of a war. They decide to attack the capital city and destroy the serum that results in the gentling of men. This is something they do very quickly and very easily. There’s little in the way of drama or tension.

This lack of tension follows into the final battle, which ends (of course) in victory, but a pyrrhic victory of sorts. Raina and her friends are imprisoned and held on trial, all of the purposes one final expositional soliloquy. This final speech is good, at least in terms of its thematic value, but it doesn’t fit what we’ve seen in the story. Instead, it comes across as Corban mashing the message right into the end to make sure her readers get it. Raina testifies in the Arena: Without virtue, whoever holds the power—Brutes or women—will eventually default to tyranny…But what if we combined our strengths to fight injustice—called each other to a higher virtue? It’s a compelling enough speech that all the rulers of Nede change their mind, and their entire style of governance, and allow men to be born naturally once again. It’s a sweeping, sudden conclusion that Corban cannot write with nuance because of the constriction of a two-book series.

In A Gentle Tyranny, Corban developed a stunning world unlike any other YA dystopia that we’ve seen, particularly within Christian fiction. She asked some great questions and developed thought-provoking thematic imagery amid a story that hit upon all the typical twists of the genre while still making them unique. With A Brutal Justice, Corban faced the dilemma of how to bring her beautifully-stated problem to a satisfactory conclusion. Unfortunately, speaking as someone who loved the first book, she fails in her endeavor.

The problems are both in the storytelling and in how the message is told through the story. Corban simply isn’t able thematically to develop a relationship between a man and woman that exemplifies the equal relationship she’s promoting. And, in terms of story, the movement to resolution is so singular and simplistic that there’s no real depth to either the characters or the storytelling. It’s altogether too easy of an ending, one that might make sense as an allegory but not as a story.

This is one of the hardest reviews I’ve had to write in a long time. If anything, take this review as proof that I’m always fairly and brutally honest, even to stories and authors I’ve previously enjoyed. It’s frustrating because I see simple ways in which I feel the story could be made stronger—remove the romance, speed up the first half pacing, add a third book to enable time for the nuance necessary to pull it all together structurally. (Okay, that last one isn’t so simple.) But my critique isn’t for the author in the planning stages. This thing is in print. It’s done. And I just have to be okay with that.

Ultimately, even with my love of A Gentle Tyranny, would I suggest that someone read this duology knowing how the story ends? Honestly…probably not. Maybe I hyped it too much, but A Brutal Justice was almost crushingly disappointing.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Brutal Justice,” Jess Corban’s follow-up to “A Gentle Tyranny,” picks up right where readers last saw Reina Pierce. Following the shocking events of the succession ceremony and the revelation of who her grandmother chose as her Apprentice as Matriarch of Nede, Reina is more determined than ever to help the Gentles. When labeled a traitor, Reina is forced to flee to the jungle into the Tree Camp of the Brutes. Together, with her eldest sister, Jonalyn, Gentle Neechi, and fellow Alexia fugitive, Bri, they learn tough lessons about the world they thought they knew. Is there truly a better version of a man: Gentle or Brute? And is it wrong to make the choice for them, by forcing all male children born in Nede to become Gentles because of a vaccine? Forced to choose between blood and love, Reina must decide just how far she will go to protect the voiceless, the Gentles. She wants safety and justice for all, but how far will she have to stoop to get it?

“A Brutal Justice” once again showcases the raw talent of author Jess Corban’s writing abilities. The fast-moving plot is filled with danger, startling detail, and perfectly timed comedic interludes. Most importantly, though, is her continued ability to lace such important themes throughout the story. In “A Brutal Justice,” we see a figurehead, Teera Pierce, as a Matriarch of a powerful, well-advanced female society. She is a woman who has put the rule of her realm above everything, even her own flesh and blood. But how much power is too much power? And what happens when it is left unchecked for too long? This book forces readers to ask themselves tough questions as they get further through the story that are relevant to the political and social issues we face today. In order to secure safety for one group of people, is it necessary to alter or endanger another? Are the actions of a select few enough to brand an entire population as dangerous? Again and again, the audience faces questions about human nature.

I think one of the things I particularly liked in this book was the portrayal of how, little by little, it is possible to effect change in those around us, and that starts with our own inner circles. “A Brutal Justice” gives us a poignant example of this in the character of Bri. Despite the fact that she and Reina are far from best friends at the start of the book, they have started their way into a tolerant relationship. As we get farther along in the pages, we see Bri’s views open up crack by crack. She did not know exactly what Reina’s plans were when she begged off into the Jungle with her, but she was sure enough of Reina’s genuine honesty and intentions to know that it was probably a better choice than staying behind in Nede and wait for the inevitable war that seemed to be coming. At first horrified at the prospect of interacting and, God forbid, fighting alongside the Brutes, as the days grow more dangerous and the future more uncertain, we see her slowly come around. Her opinions are formed not by the persuasion of others, but her own experiences among these people whom she had been told her whole life were nothing but dangerous and ruthless.

“A Brutal Justice” teaches us that taking the words of our leaders at face-value can blind us to what’s actually happening around us. We need to ask questions, and work toward obtaining transparency with our ruling classes. Peace and equality can only be obtained by understanding the plights of others. In college, when taking my anthropology classes, one of the first things that stuck with me was this: when evaluating other cultures and foreign practices, we don’t necessarily have to accept them, we just need to understand that there are ways of life shared among foreign cultures that are different—and different does not have to mean wrong. Yes, there are dangerous people in the world, and people with impure motives, but would it make us any better if we tried to take away a population’s free will before they made up their own minds about who they wanted to be?

The story of the Gentling in “A Brutal Justice” is a poignant reminder that suppressing one group for the implied benefit of another is not justice, but tyranny.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Brutal Justice (sequel to A Gentle Tyranny) follows Reina, former succession candidate of Nedé's Matriarch. After discovering the dark secret of Nedé's gentled men, Reina vows to put an end to this cruel practice and overthrow her corrupt Matriarch.
I had a difficult time rating this book. I must have typed up and deleted a review several times. I just feel so uncomfortable every time I give a book a score under 4 stars. I wish I could have given it a 3.5
I loved the premise of a Brutal Justice.
I think the concept of a female-dominated dystopia is fresh and exciting, if not a little controversial. I love controversial books.
So, I gobbled up A Gentle Tyranny despite some of my complaints about the characters and prose.
A Brutal Justice was great at some moments and tough to get through at others. Ironically, the author fixed many of the complaints I had about the first book (Reina was much more likeable and strong. I also didn't detect a hint of "preaching.")
Exploring the Brute camp and Reina and Rohan's romance was very satisfying. I also loved that the characters (the ones still alive, that is) were still able to find a happy-ending.
But.
I wasn't a huge fan of the interludes. I enjoyed Leda's story, but the interlude threw me off and out of the story.
Where A Gentle Tyranny explored Nedé's corrupt political system, A Brutal Justice explores the jungle. While the author's description of the lush jungle was beautiful, there was so much traveling that I skimmed through many pages.
I also felt like there were many plot holes and character behaviors that just didn't make sense.
Would I Recommend?
If you're in to Christian science fiction I think you should check out a Brutal Justice. The premise and characters are great and it's definitely worth reading. Jess brings up a lot of good questions and creates a stunning backdrop for a dystopian novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for letting me read this eARC

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal. This book and its predecessor are two of the best books I have read in recent memory. As far as the writing is concerned, it is literary excellence. The vivid descriptions of the setting, the development of the characters, the romantic tension, and the overall plot are nothing short of spectacular. It is hard to discuss the nuances of this story without revealing too much of the plot. I loved the first book, and although I don't think I liked this one quite as much, I still found it deeply appealing. It really felt like the two books were intended to be one much larger novel, but the division into two makes sense. The only part that gave me pause was an event at the climax of the story. The final battle ends in a way that, although written without too much detail, is kind of gross when you really think about it (you'll have to read it to see what I'm talking about). This book also has powerful themes regarding the relationships between men and women. It's about a dystopian society where men are subjugated and chemically castrated, so this messaging is a main ingredient. If you don't think men and women need each other and should respect and care for one another, you will probably find this book offensive. The book uses an intriguing story to discuss how men and women are naturally different but also both capable of violence and evil. "Power without virtue is tyranny."

[Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some books don’t fit every reader. This is one that did not fit this reader. The author has created a dystopian story that leaves a world where women dominate, and men are demasculated at birth when they receive a “vaccine” that will turn them into “Gentles” that are essentially slaves. Not a pretty picture.

Much of the story focuses on saving the male population so they are allowed to grow into “Brutes”, their natural state. I found the story boring and slow moving - determined at several points to put the book down without finishing it. I would pick it up again to give it another try only to give up again. Eventually, I did not finish the book and moved onto my next book. I give “Brutal Justice” 2-½ stars.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This duology is exactly why every once in a while I step out of my usual genre to try something different.
This series is one that makes you think. Makes you question a narrative that is flooding our entertainment and news.
At the same time, it is a book I would have really enjoyed when I was a young adult.
The second book is fast paced and takes a direction that I didn't think it would at the end of book one.
I loved the setting of the South American jungles. So unique for a dystopian novel. The book is full of twists and perils. It never lagged and ended in a way that leaves you satisfied and curious at the same time.
I had hoped that there was a bit more obvious faith message in the setting. But the story felt consistant and a tale I will not soon forget.

[G. Salter · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writer seems to be aiming for a "Hunger Games" style story about a future dystopian society. Like the Hunger Games, Divergent, etc, there has to be a big gimmick the society revolves around. In this case it's that women have subjugated men from birth and forgotten (or supressed) the idea of love and gender coexistence. It's an interesting idea... but it's basically the Greek myth of Amazon warrior women with the twist from the original "Planet of the Apes" ("What? The slave class was in charge once? How can this be...")
Fun idea, but it never gets past the cliches.

[GraceAnna Damm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay but like, it’s better than the first book? GOSH DARN IT THESE BOOKS ARE FANTABULOUS. Go get it right now. If you’re looking for a book that has a great plot, worldbuilding, villain, friendships, and romance. Look no further. The dystopian genre was not ready for this series. An imaginative commentary on what our world would look like if women were the stronger sex. If they didn’t have to fear men. Why we need masculinity told by loveable first person female narrative.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love conquers all

The story of blindly following the way things have always been va following your heart. Is the family you are born into more important than the family you choose? Can one person change the mindset of a large group of people before it’s too late?

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[whataboutpadfoot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the first book was. There was a love story that kind of grossed me out, there was a scene where it showed the grandmother at fault (not a good scene). There were times where I felt the author just dumped a bunch of information into the book.
I just didn't like this one as much as I was hoping.