The
V Girl
Mya
Robarts
Genre: Mature YA dystopia,
Dystopian romance, NA dystopia,
Coming of age
Publisher: V press
Date of Publication: June 2015
ASIN: B00L6MFXWG
Number of pages:370
Word Count: 106500
Cover Artist: Kitfoster
Book Description:
In post-apocalyptic North America,
rape and sexual slavery are legal. Lila Velez, desperately wants to lose her
virginity before the troops visit her town, and can take it away by force. She
makes plans to seduce her only friend, Rey, the most attractive man in her
town. Lila does not love him, but he is the only man who has shown her true
affection, an affection she is willing to take as a substitute of love.
Lila’s coping mechanism to her
mother’s violent attack is her secret. A secret that will bring her closer to
Aleksey Fürst, a foreign, broody man that she distrusts because his links to
the troops and his rough, yet irresistible appearance. He offers Lila an
alternative to her plans, a possibility that terrifies her…and tempts her in
spite of herself.
All the while Lila will have to
find a way to live in the constant company of death, slavery, starvation,
sexual abuse and the danger of losing the people she loves the most.
Due to strong language, violent scenes and
sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Excerpt
Just then I hear
sounds above the current noise. Steps on the river beach. I’m barely armed not
to mention undressed and unprepared. My razors might keep Starville peeping
toms at bay, but they’ll be useless against soldiers.
I hear steps
approaching and I wade away. In no time I find myself far from where I left my
clothes. My best chance to safely get out of this situation is to avoid a
fight. I can remain hidden if I move to the other side of the river behind the
rocks. If soldiers see me so vulnerable and naked, I’m doomed.
I need to hurry. I
have to head home soon and make sure my dad and siblings are safe.
The steps sound
like they come from only one person but I can’t be sure. As they sound closer,
I notice they come from my right.
I don’t know what
I’m more afraid of: the intruder being an armed soldier or the fact of being
caught so exposed.
Trying to not
splash attract attention, I put distance between me and the steps. Hiding
behind some bushes and rocks, I submerge myself, leaving only my head above the
water line.
I stand still.
Several minutes pass and I hear nothing. When I consider it safe to leave my
hiding place, I swim, splashing as little as I can.
Then I notice
something that makes my heart skip a beat.
I’m not the only
person here. There’s someone else
treading the water. I can’t see how many
people are around, but I can hear as someone else splashes.
A feel of panic
rushes hot through my veins.
I’m surprised no
one’s attacked me yet. Haven’t they seen
me? Does the splashing come from Starvillers hiding from the shots as well?
For a moment
there’s only silence. Then another shot startles me and I fight my body to keep
calm. I swim as fast as I can, not caring about silence anymore. Better to put
distance between myself and my possible enemies. The water and the current make my escape
slow. I reach a point where the water is only at my knees and I’m hiding behind
a trunk.
Then I see him.
A young man, so
tall and built that for a moment, I think he’s Sasquatch minus the fur. The
water only covers him around the thighs. No one in Starville, not even Rey, is
so big or built. His strong muscles reveal years of military training and hint
at the drug use that makes Patriot soldiers so inhumanly tall and big. Wet
strands of sandy blond hair run down his broad shoulders. A tattoo on his back
tells me he has been in combat and is to be respected. A soldier! Something
tells me he’s alone.
My stomach
clenches in panic. I’m terrified of Patriot soldiers. They are sadistic giants
and killing machines. The tonics they take to build their muscles and stature
make them extremely dangerous and violent. And horny.
I lose sight of
him for a moment. He emerges in a different spot where the water is deeper. He
is so tall, the water covers only up his waist while he’s standing. He must be
at least seven feet tall. When he moves I can see his most private areas. Every
part of him is enormous.
He’s in the very
spot I left my clothes. I could wait for him to go, but what if others come to
join him? What if they plan to camp here? I want to go home to check on my dad
and the twins. The possibility of being discovered with no one to witness when
he rapes me makes the hairs on the back of my neck prick. I won’t wait for the
coast to be clear, risking discovery and gang rape.
He doesn’t seem to
be in attack mode. The soldier is inclined and rubbing foam around his huge
torso. He is bathing! I suspect he has a good reason to be unbothered by the
shots. If he’s not startled, it’s likely whoever’s making the racket will take
his side.
Suppressing the
fear that runs through my veins, I force my mind to remain focused. For a
moment, I consider attacking him while he’s so naked and defenseless. I’ve been
practicing knife throwing with my rebel group. But I’m still learning and suck
at it. I rarely hit the target. Besides, Sasquatch’s nakedness and apparent
relaxed behavior are deceiving. I’m
armed while bathing, so he probably is too. What if he alerts his companions?
I don’t stand a
chance fighting against a trained unit of steroid-injected soldiers. At this
moment my only advantage is my knowledge of the hiding places of this river.
And stealth. I can do stealth.
He’s blocking the
only way to get my clothes and the safer spot to get out of the river. There’s a gargantuan rock behind him that reaches
not far from where I’m hiding. If I could climb it unseen, I could get back my
clothes and escape. The only other option is to swim to the other side, where
the current is too strong.
The soldier
submerges frequently and emerges several minutes after. I pay attention to the
soldier’s face. He looks extremely
sad. Sadness isn’t an emotion I
associate with soldiers.
When he rubs his
face with foam and closes his eyes, I silently approach the low part of the
current and climb the rock. I’m still naked and holding a knife awkwardly. If I
can pass him, I’ll hide on the other side and then dress completely unnoticed.
I put my foot on
the base of the rock. The water has made it smooth and slippery. There are few
places to put my fingers and climb on. But I manage to climb my way up.
When I’m almost at
the top, I toss my knife over the rock to free my hands. From here I can
confirm the soldier is by himself.
Sasquatch is back
under the water now and hasn’t resurfaced for a while. In spite of the danger,
I’m impressed. He has lung capacity.
The higher I
climb, the less visible I become to him. He finally emerges to take air, but I
hide until he goes back under.
I’m close to my
goal when my feet become slippery traitors.
I fall to the
water below me.
Butt first.
Straight toward the soldier’s head.
Just then I hear
sounds above the current noise. Steps on the river beach. I’m barely armed not
to mention undressed and unprepared. My razors might keep Starville peeping
toms at bay, but they’ll be useless against soldiers.
I hear steps
approaching and I wade away. In no time I find myself far from where I left my
clothes. My best chance to safely get out of this situation is to avoid a
fight. I can remain hidden if I move to the other side of the river behind the
rocks. If soldiers see me so vulnerable and naked, I’m doomed.
I need to hurry. I
have to head home soon and make sure my dad and siblings are safe.
The steps sound
like they come from only one person but I can’t be sure. As they sound closer,
I notice they come from my right.
I don’t know what
I’m more afraid of: the intruder being an armed soldier or the fact of being
caught so exposed.
Trying to not
splash attract attention, I put distance between me and the steps. Hiding
behind some bushes and rocks, I submerge myself, leaving only my head above the
water line.
I stand still.
Several minutes pass and I hear nothing. When I consider it safe to leave my
hiding place, I swim, splashing as little as I can.
Then I notice
something that makes my heart skip a beat.
I’m not the only
person here. There’s someone else
treading the water. I can’t see how many
people are around, but I can hear as someone else splashes.
A feel of panic
rushes hot through my veins.
I’m surprised no
one’s attacked me yet. Haven’t they seen
me? Does the splashing come from Starvillers hiding from the shots as well?
For a moment
there’s only silence. Then another shot startles me and I fight my body to keep
calm. I swim as fast as I can, not caring about silence anymore. Better to put
distance between myself and my possible enemies. The water and the current make my escape
slow. I reach a point where the water is only at my knees and I’m hiding behind
a trunk.
Then I see him.
A young man, so
tall and built that for a moment, I think he’s Sasquatch minus the fur. The
water only covers him around the thighs. No one in Starville, not even Rey, is
so big or built. His strong muscles reveal years of military training and hint
at the drug use that makes Patriot soldiers so inhumanly tall and big. Wet
strands of sandy blond hair run down his broad shoulders. A tattoo on his back
tells me he has been in combat and is to be respected. A soldier! Something
tells me he’s alone.
My stomach
clenches in panic. I’m terrified of Patriot soldiers. They are sadistic giants
and killing machines. The tonics they take to build their muscles and stature
make them extremely dangerous and violent. And horny.
I lose sight of
him for a moment. He emerges in a different spot where the water is deeper. He
is so tall, the water covers only up his waist while he’s standing. He must be
at least seven feet tall. When he moves I can see his most private areas. Every
part of him is enormous.
He’s in the very
spot I left my clothes. I could wait for him to go, but what if others come to
join him? What if they plan to camp here? I want to go home to check on my dad
and the twins. The possibility of being discovered with no one to witness when
he rapes me makes the hairs on the back of my neck prick. I won’t wait for the
coast to be clear, risking discovery and gang rape.
He doesn’t seem to
be in attack mode. The soldier is inclined and rubbing foam around his huge
torso. He is bathing! I suspect he has a good reason to be unbothered by the
shots. If he’s not startled, it’s likely whoever’s making the racket will take
his side.
Suppressing the
fear that runs through my veins, I force my mind to remain focused. For a
moment, I consider attacking him while he’s so naked and defenseless. I’ve been
practicing knife throwing with my rebel group. But I’m still learning and suck
at it. I rarely hit the target. Besides, Sasquatch’s nakedness and apparent
relaxed behavior are deceiving. I’m
armed while bathing, so he probably is too. What if he alerts his companions?
I don’t stand a
chance fighting against a trained unit of steroid-injected soldiers. At this
moment my only advantage is my knowledge of the hiding places of this river.
And stealth. I can do stealth.
He’s blocking the
only way to get my clothes and the safer spot to get out of the river. There’s a gargantuan rock behind him that reaches
not far from where I’m hiding. If I could climb it unseen, I could get back my
clothes and escape. The only other option is to swim to the other side, where
the current is too strong.
The soldier
submerges frequently and emerges several minutes after. I pay attention to the
soldier’s face. He looks extremely
sad. Sadness isn’t an emotion I
associate with soldiers.
When he rubs his
face with foam and closes his eyes, I silently approach the low part of the
current and climb the rock. I’m still naked and holding a knife awkwardly. If I
can pass him, I’ll hide on the other side and then dress completely unnoticed.
I put my foot on
the base of the rock. The water has made it smooth and slippery. There are few
places to put my fingers and climb on. But I manage to climb my way up.
When I’m almost at
the top, I toss my knife over the rock to free my hands. From here I can
confirm the soldier is by himself.
Sasquatch is back
under the water now and hasn’t resurfaced for a while. In spite of the danger,
I’m impressed. He has lung capacity.
The higher I
climb, the less visible I become to him. He finally emerges to take air, but I
hide until he goes back under.
I’m close to my
goal when my feet become slippery traitors.
I fall to the
water below me.
Butt first.
Straight toward the soldier’s head.
Author Bio
Mya Robarts is a bookaholic who
regrets nothing.
She spent years trying to become a
contemporary dance choreographer. Eventually she realized that she enjoyed
writing her stories rather than dancing to them.
Robarts is obsessed with books that
present damaged characters, swoon-worthy guys, controversial topics and happy
endings.
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Interview
Please welcome The V Girl author Mya Robarts to Diane’s Book Blog.
What is your favorite part of the story, The V Girl?
The romance! The sense of hope! I
usually prefer dark books and I wrote a couple of scenes like the air raid and
the public execution that are my favorites because of their brutality, but Lila
and Aleksey fighting not to fall in love (failing miserably) was very fun to
write.
How long did it take you to write The V Girl?
More than a year.
If you were stranded on a desert island which of your characters
do you want by your side?
Aleksey Fürst hands down; I have an
unhealthy crush on this man. He has the treats that I love in an alpha male.
He’s dominant, skillful in bed, possessive, handsome, masculine and strong.
Yet, has a gentle side in spite of his height and build. He’s never mean to his
woman and yet he manages to have certain control over her without abusing his
power. I love that he fell for Lila hard and for life.
If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who
would it be?
Lila and her family. Most Starvillers
don’t want to befriend them and when they do, they don’t return their
friendship as they should. The Velez family is always so loyal to people who
don’t deserve it. I wish I could give them a little bit of the human touch they
crave so much and that they don’t receive in enough quantities.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I read dozens of war rape testimonies.
The story of, a mother and her daughter making preparations to avoid rape, (shaving
their heads, pressing their chests, making the girl look sick) affected me on
an emotional level. The soldiers spared them, but they attacked other girls and
the girl described their screams. What really perturbed me was the fact that
the mother knew this was unavoidable and that she wasn’t expecting the danger
to come from foreign soldiers; she was afraid of the soldiers of her own
country. I thought that the girl, without telling her mother, would try to lose
her virginity with a guy of her choice. I have heard “I don’t want to die a virgin” in movies and TV, but I haven’t ever
heard “I don’t want to lose my virginity
to rape.” It was a powerful premise that I thought deserved to be written
in a book.
Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
I’ve been a writer for most of my
life, I have always written short stories and plays, but finishing a full-length
novel seemed an impossible task. In 2010, after finishing the Twilight series
in record time, I visited Stephanie Meyer’s blog. She wrote a blog entry about
her publishing process and I thought “If she could do it, I can, too.” I didn’t
have a novel written back then, only a dozen of unfinished projects and I
couldn’t focus enough to end a full-length novel to send to the agents. 3 years
later, I finally found the idea that would become The V Girl and then I
realized that I couldn’t approach agents like Meyer did. How many agents would admit
a 106000 words NA book about mass rape? I almost gave up on the idea of
publishing, but my early readers kept encouraging me and here I am.
What books have most influenced your life?
I love a non-fiction book: The demon haunted world by Carl Sagan. It
really changed the way I saw the world till then; it helped me to question
everything and I found that very useful in my writing process. Developing a
taste for science and a skeptical mind helped me to increase my creativity.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
In
the upcoming years, I hope to publish novels and novellas set in The V Girl
world, so I’m trying (and mostly failing as I have ADD) to stick to a rigorous
writing schedule. “The beast” is a novel about a soldier and how the drugs
affect him; “The V warrior” is about a virgin guy, “The honeymoon period” is an
erotic romance. The novel that I’m writing right now is a NA dystopia: “V of
Vassal” about a girl who is recruited to serve the troops sexually. I also have
a contemporary romance named provisionally “My BFF’s brother” that I hope will
see the light soon.
What do you prefer paperback, hardcover, or e-books?
I love books in all formats, colors,
shapes, scents and flavors. I usually get my favorite books in more than one
format. I buy a copy to read (e-book or paperback) and if the book captivates
me, I get the hardcover edition.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your
readers?
Yes. If you bought your copy on
Amazon, you can update the book using the option ‘managing my devices’. You’ll
get the updated version that includes a discussion guide.
Giveaway
Thank you for hosting the blogtour. I hope you have merry Christmas and a happy new year.
ReplyDeleteAny time, thanks for the interview. Happy Holidays!
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