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petr1chor's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage
Minor: Outing, Torture, and Alcohol
themissyreads's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Blood, Infertility, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Torture
Minor: Rape, Miscarriage, Death, and Sexual content
Additional TW (Moderate): genital mutilation— is tht not a tag bc body horror?(discussion/description); Character Death (not main character death); The ‘Moderate’ TWs are for like, things that Exist in the world but are (i think) handled very well. The framing is very clear for example: Racism. Racism exists and is an oppressive force to contend with but Our Characters recognize it as Bad and Wrong and won’t give the ‘race mixing’ conversation any credence. So these are topics touched on throughout.sullivc5's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
It's Billy the kid meets the handmaid's tale
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Death
Minor: Torture, Domestic abuse, Rape, Miscarriage, and Suicide
hmatt's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I love the concept of this story so much, and it had so much potential. The world-building is super well done, and I love alternate histories. Unfortunately, I came away with the feeling that the author tried to fit so much world and plot in that these got in the way of both the actual storytelling and the character-building.
Storytelling
I feel like the author was trying to fit too many events into too short of a narrative. This might have been okay, but there were so many minor events that I think we should have spent less time on, and a number of climactic events that we spent barely any time on whatsoever. A lot of these major events "fade to black" as soon as the action starts, and then we are caught up on what happened in retrospect later on - I was REALLY not a fan of this technique, and I don't think it made sense for the "western" genre.
Character-building
We do get a lot of information on most of the characters but, again, it's almost too much for how short of a book it is. What we lose out on, in my opinion, is a more profound emotional connection with the main character. We don't really dwell on her losses or feel them with her, which is extra strange given the whole novel is told in first-person.
TL;DR
The idea behind the novel is fantastic, but it tries to fit too much in. The concepts it seeks to explore are really only half-fleshed-out and the characters are hard to relate to, simply because the plot moves on too fast to hold space for these introspections.
Storytelling
I feel like the author was trying to fit too many events into too short of a narrative. This might have been okay, but there were so many minor events that I think we should have spent less time on, and a number of climactic events that we spent barely any time on whatsoever. A lot of these major events "fade to black" as soon as the action starts, and then we are caught up on what happened in retrospect later on - I was REALLY not a fan of this technique, and I don't think it made sense for the "western" genre.
Character-building
We do get a lot of information on most of the characters but, again, it's almost too much for how short of a book it is. What we lose out on, in my opinion, is a more profound emotional connection with the main character. We don't really dwell on her losses or feel them with her, which is extra strange given the whole novel is told in first-person.
TL;DR
The idea behind the novel is fantastic, but it tries to fit too much in. The concepts it seeks to explore are really only half-fleshed-out and the characters are hard to relate to, simply because the plot moves on too fast to hold space for these introspections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Medical content, Infidelity, Gun violence, Misogyny, Blood, Violence, Murder, Infertility, Sexual violence, Racism, Police brutality, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Torture, Sexism, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Gore, Miscarriage, and Mental illness
Moderate: Rape, Confinement, Transphobia, Classism, Gore, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death and Drug abuse
CWs non-exhaustivebooksnailmail's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This one left me scratching my head. The concept of it was unique and brimming with potential, but an obscene lack of character development and reliance on second wave feminism left this feeling behind the times.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The novel is about Ada, who is part of a society where teenagers are married and have babies by a young age. Having children is so valuable, that in some ways, this society is de facto matriarchal. Women with many children are revered and can be independent from their husbands. Still, town sheriffs are exclusively male. However, so-called “barren women” are blamed for miscarriages and hanged as witches. After a year of unproductively “lying with her husband”, Ada’s mother, a midwife, sends her to safety in a convent. Ada longs to study medical textbooks rather than Bible verses, and so she runs away to find the Hole in the Wall gang, who may help her reach this nirvana.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It’s shocking how this cast of characters manages to be wholly one dimensional and white, given how much this author gave herself to work with. The main flaw to me was the lack of intersectional interrogation. The characters of color and non-binary/lgbtq characters seem like afterthoughts, introduced too little too late. I wish the author set up the this book on the premise that this society doesn’t just outlaw barren women, but deviancy in any way. I think to redefine and feminize a Western, we need to understand the history of these towns. It is semi-insulting that the author sprinkled in one biracial character, but never allowed her to interrogate her identity, seek out other Outlaws of color, or acknowledge the history if chattel slavery. Along the same lines, there are one or two Indigenous characters who are wholly unexplained. How do they interact with White, Christian outlaws and townspeople? It was inauthentic and a disservice to not give these characters any humanity.
As for the “feminism” in the book, it felt so outdated. The author could have expanded on why Ada’s mother is a midwife but not a doctor. She could have explored systemic barriers to her training, and how religion dangerously discredits science in this town. The author also mentions some evangelicals who preach racial purity, and I would have been curious to know if there are barriers for women of color in becoming midwives or if there is organized resistance among midwives to push back on accusations of witchcraft. Also, there are non-binary characters and LGBTQ characters introduced, and even Ada at one point questions her sexuality, but the lack of discussion here was a loud silence. I wonder why the author would choose to include them in the outlaws but then not explain their histories? Ada is unexposed in her hometown because a lot of discourse is hush hush, but once she joins a ragtag outlaw gang, I think it interrogation of privilege and inclusion of histories would have served this novel better.
As you can tell, I found the journey through this novel overwhelmingly underbaked, and the ending was just as such. Abrupt. However I am not surprised this book was chosen for multiple BOTMs and celebrity book clubs. In the novel, there is a point that white women were the most violent upholders of racial purity, and the most violent to women who were thought to be witches. Perhaps the applause and lauding of this book as a stereotype-breaking novel is a small example of such.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The novel is about Ada, who is part of a society where teenagers are married and have babies by a young age. Having children is so valuable, that in some ways, this society is de facto matriarchal. Women with many children are revered and can be independent from their husbands. Still, town sheriffs are exclusively male. However, so-called “barren women” are blamed for miscarriages and hanged as witches. After a year of unproductively “lying with her husband”, Ada’s mother, a midwife, sends her to safety in a convent. Ada longs to study medical textbooks rather than Bible verses, and so she runs away to find the Hole in the Wall gang, who may help her reach this nirvana.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It’s shocking how this cast of characters manages to be wholly one dimensional and white, given how much this author gave herself to work with. The main flaw to me was the lack of intersectional interrogation. The characters of color and non-binary/lgbtq characters seem like afterthoughts, introduced too little too late. I wish the author set up the this book on the premise that this society doesn’t just outlaw barren women, but deviancy in any way. I think to redefine and feminize a Western, we need to understand the history of these towns. It is semi-insulting that the author sprinkled in one biracial character, but never allowed her to interrogate her identity, seek out other Outlaws of color, or acknowledge the history if chattel slavery. Along the same lines, there are one or two Indigenous characters who are wholly unexplained. How do they interact with White, Christian outlaws and townspeople? It was inauthentic and a disservice to not give these characters any humanity.
As for the “feminism” in the book, it felt so outdated. The author could have expanded on why Ada’s mother is a midwife but not a doctor. She could have explored systemic barriers to her training, and how religion dangerously discredits science in this town. The author also mentions some evangelicals who preach racial purity, and I would have been curious to know if there are barriers for women of color in becoming midwives or if there is organized resistance among midwives to push back on accusations of witchcraft. Also, there are non-binary characters and LGBTQ characters introduced, and even Ada at one point questions her sexuality, but the lack of discussion here was a loud silence. I wonder why the author would choose to include them in the outlaws but then not explain their histories? Ada is unexposed in her hometown because a lot of discourse is hush hush, but once she joins a ragtag outlaw gang, I think it interrogation of privilege and inclusion of histories would have served this novel better.
As you can tell, I found the journey through this novel overwhelmingly underbaked, and the ending was just as such. Abrupt. However I am not surprised this book was chosen for multiple BOTMs and celebrity book clubs. In the novel, there is a point that white women were the most violent upholders of racial purity, and the most violent to women who were thought to be witches. Perhaps the applause and lauding of this book as a stereotype-breaking novel is a small example of such.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Torture
Moderate: Abortion
tiredcath's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Whoever told me this was about lesbian cowgirls is a liar. (Kinda.)
I really, really wanted to love this book. The premise and cover are absolutely stunning and hooked me in right away. Especially with the opening line. Unfortunately, it was just okay.
I give North credit for writing a very diverse book, but what are diversity points worth if you don't connect? Because I didn’t connect or care for any character and I wasn’t invested in Ada at all.
Most of the characters felt very flat to me, which is so sad because I really wanted to fall in love with them. Some backstories I found unnecessary, but I can see the argument on why they were needed for the story. Showing how gruesome and cruel the world is. I liked the conversation I think North was trying to start, but again, it fell short.
There’s nothing I disliked about the book, perhaps the last few pages, but it didn’t deter my reading experience.
Wasn’t the worst, wasn’t the bad. So just okay.
I really, really wanted to love this book. The premise and cover are absolutely stunning and hooked me in right away. Especially with the opening line. Unfortunately, it was just okay.
I give North credit for writing a very diverse book, but what are diversity points worth if you don't connect? Because I didn’t connect or care for any character and I wasn’t invested in Ada at all.
Most of the characters felt very flat to me, which is so sad because I really wanted to fall in love with them. Some backstories I found unnecessary, but I can see the argument on why they were needed for the story. Showing how gruesome and cruel the world is. I liked the conversation I think North was trying to start, but again, it fell short.
There’s nothing I disliked about the book, perhaps the last few pages, but it didn’t deter my reading experience.
Wasn’t the worst, wasn’t the bad. So just okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Hate crime
Moderate: Gun violence and Torture
womanwill's review
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Fun and adventurous to read--I will certainly be keeping an eye out for other feminist westerns. However, the story lacked depth in both character development and world-building. The backstories of the fellow outlaws were lacking. I understand the need to let pieces on information come in slowly, but for some reason the characters all felt like they were at an arm's distance. North also piqued my interest by mentioning a "Flu" that devastated the U.S. but never fully investigated this and its effects on the outlaws, the U.S. and the story. Lastly, for how this novel was pitched in marketing, the idea of queerness, gender-bending, and found family was not nearly investigated well enough. North does nothing but scratch the surface of these topics, potentially causing harm in the process.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Torture
Minor: Abortion, Rape, and Transphobia
bgoodbookclub's review
adventurous
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
4.5 rounded down to a 4.
I saw many reviews about how this book was a let down and I completely disagree! It is not a fast paced book that sucks you in and you can't put it down. Instead, it has a lot of character development which makes you deeply care for each character. I grew up watching westerns with my dad so I loved the outlaw nature of this story. What I loved even more is how it touched on gender fluidity and barrenness. This book has a ton of girl power which is a fresh take on a western. I will definitely come back to this story to read in the future.
I saw many reviews about how this book was a let down and I completely disagree! It is not a fast paced book that sucks you in and you can't put it down. Instead, it has a lot of character development which makes you deeply care for each character. I grew up watching westerns with my dad so I loved the outlaw nature of this story. What I loved even more is how it touched on gender fluidity and barrenness. This book has a ton of girl power which is a fresh take on a western. I will definitely come back to this story to read in the future.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility, Torture, and Sexism
adriennne's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Religious bigotry, Torture, Sexism, Racism, Mental illness, and Gun violence
Moderate: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Slavery
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