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haseki_sultana's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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 characterforestthieves's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
kaitbreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Song Pairing: Desperado - The Eagles
Outlawed circles around Ada, who is forced to flea her hometown after a year of marriage and no children. She and other barren women are labeled as witches and are hanged when they cannot conceive. Instead of facing the town's wrath, she carves out her own path and joins up with the notorious Hole in the Wall gang, led by the Kid.
I was so excited for this book, the premise sounded SO great, but it ultimately fell flat in my opinion. I loved the setting and the book immediately transported you back into the wild west. The story is set in an alternate timeline where half the US was wiped out by the flu. Super cool and I love the world that was constructed.
Let's talk about the characters. I loved the representation, Ada finds herself in the Hole in the Wall gang, a band of queer and gender-fluid women who have formed their own community after being outcast by their town. I loved exploring how they fought against the patriarchy and did what they wanted to do. I also thought they deserved more. I honestly did not really care for many of them, and this was a very character driven story. They were fun, but I wanted more backstory and development. For awhile, I couldn't keep any of them straight because they only had a few defining characteristics.
Lastly, I am really bothered by how many loose ends there are. The book cycled through many issues (race, feminism, mental illness) but never fully fleshed them out. Overall, nothing felt truly complete, and I feel like the if the book was longer, it would have been so much better with things being more developed. I would 100% watch this if it was ever made into a show, it was a fun and entertaining read but was missing a few things for me.
Content warning: infertility, gun violence, murder, suicidal thoughts, mental illness, misogyny, sexual violence
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Racism and Suicidal thoughts
literaryelephant's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
There were a couple of things I would've liked this book to do/address that it didn't, and some of the info conveyance felt a little clumsy- the narrator asking nosy personal questions and the others just... telling her whatever she wanted to know. But even so, this was an absolute delight to read, heavy without taking itself too seriously, full of twists, and just such a fun world and cast to spend time with. I wanted it never to end, so I'm rounding my rating up for now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
fionahawkins's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was a fun alternative history western. I enjoyed learning the history of the world and how we got to where we are today. I felt that the pacing was good in the first third and the final third but found the middle a little dragging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Infertility
randeegleas's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Racism, Sexism, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Murder
sarrasegway's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Racism
jbraith's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, and Medical trauma
bitchinbookclubb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Check on my full review on instagram at @bitchinbookclub_
I was so excited when I saw this book and clearly so was everyone else. In the same month, this was a @bookofthemonth pick and @reesewitherspoon book club choice, so this book has been all over Instagram. This book was really reminiscent of a childhood story for me. I just pictured myself sitting at the feet of an older woman telling me about how she became an outlaw at the age of 18. This was unlike anything I have ever read before. This is not your momma's western tale. This had a lot of modern day issues shoved into the wild wild west. There was a woman/man named the Kid who dressed like a man but was gender neutral and this book had a lot of LQBTQIA+ characters woven throughout. Unfortunately, the ending fell short for me. I was left with a lot of questions and a little feeling of "ok but what was this all for" Overall, I see the hype and I think it would make a really interesting book club pick! There was so many topics covered that would make great discussions.
TW: pregnancy, infertility
I was so excited when I saw this book and clearly so was everyone else. In the same month, this was a @bookofthemonth pick and @reesewitherspoon book club choice, so this book has been all over Instagram. This book was really reminiscent of a childhood story for me. I just pictured myself sitting at the feet of an older woman telling me about how she became an outlaw at the age of 18. This was unlike anything I have ever read before. This is not your momma's western tale. This had a lot of modern day issues shoved into the wild wild west. There was a woman/man named the Kid who dressed like a man but was gender neutral and this book had a lot of LQBTQIA+ characters woven throughout. Unfortunately, the ending fell short for me. I was left with a lot of questions and a little feeling of "ok but what was this all for" Overall, I see the hype and I think it would make a really interesting book club pick! There was so many topics covered that would make great discussions.
TW: pregnancy, infertility
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility
Minor: Gun violence
giulia_and_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma