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desdoesbooks_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
internationalreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
kissmyash0600's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Abortion, and Death of parent
mxrumphius's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Miscarriage, and Abortion
perstephone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I give Outlawed
🌟🌟🌟✨ 3.5/5 (rounded up)
⚠️TW: abortion, miscarrying, and mainly infertility are constant themes and subject matters throughout this story as a whole. If those are sensitive subjects for you or are just things you'd rather not read, this may not be the book for you.
I give 3.5/5 because while the story is an original one, that takes inspiration from history and makes it its own; I was left at the end with loose ends unfinished.
🌻🌻🌻
- Not a particularly long story, 12 chapters total, but still full of action, adventure, and steady pacing that gives course of events a natural feel.
- This is not your typical western, nor is it a factual account of the Hole in the Wall Gang. It is inspiration, and other than some names of characters, the similarities pretty much stop there.
- Women posse, women posse, women posse!!! 😎
- year 1894-95, LGBTQA+ representation.
- women taking control of their own bodies, their own fates, proving that they are just as capable as anyone else in an era that only saw women as "good for" maybe a handful of things.
- Felt a little lacking in POC representation if I'm being honest.
- Interactions between characters and the society as a whole felt genuine and on par for how things were done or viewed, especially regarding women, and what they were valued for.
- A bit melancholy of an ending, but a suitable one all things considered.
There are enough loose ends that I still want answers for, and some things plain left unfinished, but this story is still really original and worth a gander.
Graphic: Infertility and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, and Abortion
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Blood, and Medical trauma
rstegema's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Mental illness and Medical content
Minor: Miscarriage
bookmaddie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
North mainly focuses her unravelling of the Western genre on gender and the expectations of womanhood at the time. I really enjoyed how accepting and celebratory of queer identities this story was, especially in such a male-dominated genre. I do wish North spent more time delving into ideas of race, LGBTQ+ identity, and class. I think there is a lack of clarity around gender identity within this context of cross-dressing that can be quite harmful.
I did love the Western vibes and how North tipped this genre on its head, but on further reflection, I think there are some elements of this book that need to be looked at more. This is a fun, plot-based read that will have you staying up all night to finish. It is heartwarming, and I adored it.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Abortion
haseki_sultana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
As for the plot, it takes place in an alternate reality from 1894-1895, where religion has put an even greater emphasis on women having children and being domestic - in this reality, people are so obsessed with children that there are many holidays concerning pregnancy and childbirth, Jesus is depicted as a baby, and women are routinely executed for not conceiving. The story follows Ada, a year into her marriage, when she and the people of her town realize that she is infertile. They run her out of the town and she has to find her own way in the world, at some point joining an all-female (but various gendered) outlaw gang. There's more to Ada's story and what drives her, but that's all spoilers.
I would have given this book five stars, except sometimes there were passages about events that went by rather swiftly, leaving the reader wanting more. For the most part, the fast-paced writing style of North works really well, but I personally felt that certain scenes needed to be lingered on yet were instead passed over in mere sentences.
Also, I feel it is worth mentioning: there are a number of LGBT characters; they are all treated with respect and handled well. However, one side character is killed off and technically counts as Bury Your Gays. For anyone who dislikes this trope, be aware that you'll come across it in this book.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Animal death and Murder
bury your gays trope for side characterlaurenparham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Infertility
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Abortion
forestthieves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can see myself reading this book again in the future. I will always hold all of the characters in it dear to my heart. It was a challenging, but realistic, and exciting adventure. Would recommend this to anyone.
Graphic: Infertility and Misogyny
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Abortion