Reviews with content warning for Death - Outlawed

I'm so split on this book - I liked the story, but I felt like it developed too slow and for too long. The climax was in the last 75 pages of the book, it seemed, and then it ended. It's quite a commentary on how women end up being blamed for so many things and shoulder the burden of the gender stereotype. Even today, when a woman fails to get pregnant, their fertility is looked at with such scrutiny. Our reproductive system and various issues that we have are barely understood and instead of a real effort to better understand these issues, we instead have to see several doctors and sometimes wait years to get a true diagnosis. This book is empowering to those who face gender stereotypes head on, as well as those who have been made to felt less than for not being able to fulfill expectations.

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mxrumphius's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

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perstephone's review against another edition

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adventurous sad fast-paced

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

"Knowledge can be very valuable...but only if people want it."

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.

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rstegema's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This was not at all what I expected but I was pleasantly surprised. Even though this takes place in the 1880s the themes are still relevant in today's times.

Throughout the story we follow a group of women who are outcasts and vastly misunderstood in their hometowns and watch as they band together in their new found family. Our main character comes to the gang a bit later in her story, but eventually she finds a home and her calling, helping others who have been misunderstood just like her.

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bookmaddie's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

This is such a fun story, yet North also smartly tackles ideas of resistance, belief/superstition, and finding your family (and yourself). At once an exciting Western adventure story, North weaves a beautiful story of a community of womxn who have been rejected from their homes and have worked hard to create a safe haven for themselves and any others like them. Through the experience of this community, and through the eyes of our main character, Ada, we come to a full understanding of how hard it can be to make people see the world differently—but the joy and fulfillment that can come from the hard work of trying to do so.

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.

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haseki_sultana's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

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

This book is a pretty quick read, with engaging descriptions and an interesting plot. The plot focuses almost fully on the main character; she goes through the most growth and the most focus is placed on her. The side characters get some focus which helps to explain their personalities and make them distinct, but there is no growth for them - they remain static in the narrative (which is absolutely fine; it suits the story being told - these are not the type of people to change much anyway).

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.

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laurenparham's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

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forestthieves's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

Cannot stop thinking about this book. It's been a while since I read a book with, what I felt, was accurate representation of a queer cast of characters, as well as an exploration on feminism and oppression. I fell in love with Ada, and her stoic and practical point of view, while also getting those break of emotions from her. I was fully invested in her story, needing to know what every day held for her, and the gang.

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.

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