Scan barcode
kyleechris's review against another edition
5.0
After seeing a friend of mine on Goodreads add this to her TBR I had to check it out. Right after that I found out that she got it from Netgalley so I immediately requested it and impatiently waited for an email response. Thankfully Diversion Books accepted my request and I downloaded the book right after, diving into this angel story.
"Sixth year, I shot an angel in the face."
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Riley Carver. The badass angel shooting girl we get to take this awesome adventure with. Now reading the description I had a feeling I'd fall in love with Riley but oh my gosh. Adrienne managed to create this awesome heroine but make her feel so real and human as well. She was strong and kick ass, I mean who shoots an angel in the face, but she could be vulnerable too. I loved seeing her character grow, she made mistakes but when she realized it she would try to fix it. For example, her relationship with Lacy, the snobby cheerleader. We watch Riley go from not liking Lacy at all to becoming best friends. Her growth and maturity throughout this book was amazing and I loved it. Whenever stuff needed to get done for the sake of her safety and the others she would get it done. Chris, Riley's first love and best friend, got taken by an angel and that's what starts this entire thing. Riley misses him and after shooting an angel in the face, why not use him to find Chris? Turns out this angels name is Gabe. At first he comes off as this smart ass guy, who by the way is hilarious. To say Gabe turns out to be swoon worthy is an understatement. I loved him, so hard. He was sweet and helpful, even though sometimes he acted like a perverted teenage boy, the relationship building between Riley and Gabe was beautiful. I'm Team Gabe all the way.
An angel book is nothing without action and some unique spin on it. Half the time you pick up an angel book and it can feel like you've read it before because a lot of the time authors fail to make it something new or unique. Adrienne definitely didn't fail on making Outcast unique, her own, and action packed. The mythology behind the angels was sort of a mystery for awhile, all we got to know was what Pastor Warren had told the town. Pastor Warren is batshit crazy to say the least and I didn't like him from the start. Slowly we began to learn what the angels were and where they came from and I loved that. I loved not knowing and I loved being surprised with something I didn't expect at all. I loved how Adrienne included so many action scenes and didn't just focus on the love story aspect of Outcast. We get to see Riley and the Gang kick some major angel/villain ass and it was awesome. It kept me hooked and entertained throughout the entire book, not one time did I feel bored or ready to put Outcast down.
The ending just about killed me. Have you scene that gif that says "I'm in a glass case of emotion."? That's me. I don't even know how to feel, it was so bittersweet, heartbreaking, and just WAH. I wanted it to happen the way it did because the other way would have just been too predictable and dumb but I didn't all at once because I didn't get everything I wanted and it sucked. It was so emotional, I still feel emotional about it and it's been two weeks since I finished the book!
If you haven't already picked up on it, I absolutely loved Outcast and I can not wait for the next book. If you're looking for a sweet love story and action packed book, Outcast is perfect for you. As a lover of angel books, when they're done right, I can tell you that Adrienne Kress has blessed this world with an amazing story and I highly recommend everyone to read this. Go get yourself a copy, right now, and read it. No, I'm not kidding.
"Sixth year, I shot an angel in the face."
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Riley Carver. The badass angel shooting girl we get to take this awesome adventure with. Now reading the description I had a feeling I'd fall in love with Riley but oh my gosh. Adrienne managed to create this awesome heroine but make her feel so real and human as well. She was strong and kick ass, I mean who shoots an angel in the face, but she could be vulnerable too. I loved seeing her character grow, she made mistakes but when she realized it she would try to fix it. For example, her relationship with Lacy, the snobby cheerleader. We watch Riley go from not liking Lacy at all to becoming best friends. Her growth and maturity throughout this book was amazing and I loved it. Whenever stuff needed to get done for the sake of her safety and the others she would get it done. Chris, Riley's first love and best friend, got taken by an angel and that's what starts this entire thing. Riley misses him and after shooting an angel in the face, why not use him to find Chris? Turns out this angels name is Gabe. At first he comes off as this smart ass guy, who by the way is hilarious. To say Gabe turns out to be swoon worthy is an understatement. I loved him, so hard. He was sweet and helpful, even though sometimes he acted like a perverted teenage boy, the relationship building between Riley and Gabe was beautiful. I'm Team Gabe all the way.
An angel book is nothing without action and some unique spin on it. Half the time you pick up an angel book and it can feel like you've read it before because a lot of the time authors fail to make it something new or unique. Adrienne definitely didn't fail on making Outcast unique, her own, and action packed. The mythology behind the angels was sort of a mystery for awhile, all we got to know was what Pastor Warren had told the town. Pastor Warren is batshit crazy to say the least and I didn't like him from the start. Slowly we began to learn what the angels were and where they came from and I loved that. I loved not knowing and I loved being surprised with something I didn't expect at all. I loved how Adrienne included so many action scenes and didn't just focus on the love story aspect of Outcast. We get to see Riley and the Gang kick some major angel/villain ass and it was awesome. It kept me hooked and entertained throughout the entire book, not one time did I feel bored or ready to put Outcast down.
The ending just about killed me. Have you scene that gif that says "I'm in a glass case of emotion."? That's me. I don't even know how to feel, it was so bittersweet, heartbreaking, and just WAH. I wanted it to happen the way it did because the other way would have just been too predictable and dumb but I didn't all at once because I didn't get everything I wanted and it sucked. It was so emotional, I still feel emotional about it and it's been two weeks since I finished the book!
If you haven't already picked up on it, I absolutely loved Outcast and I can not wait for the next book. If you're looking for a sweet love story and action packed book, Outcast is perfect for you. As a lover of angel books, when they're done right, I can tell you that Adrienne Kress has blessed this world with an amazing story and I highly recommend everyone to read this. Go get yourself a copy, right now, and read it. No, I'm not kidding.
galexiscollective's review against another edition
3.0
So I (finally!) finished reading the story, and well, it was ok. In terms of how interesting it was, it went along like this: ok, ooo this is cool, ok, ok ok, omg, ok here we go, WHAT.tf. It dragged along a lot towards the middle, and while it got better towards the end, I'm not satisfied with the ending. I didn't want Gabe to gloriously return (which I expected, I won't lie), but so much is missing. What do the circle of seven do? Was there any purpose to creating thralls other than slavery? Why was Gabe chosen to lead the recruitment, and why were his memories and the thralls so separated? I honestly would've liked to see the thralls and archangels go to war, see that develop. Also, Chris as a character could have been more developed within Riley's memories. Being her best friend is pretty much all we know of him. I have so many questions. But to conclude, I thought it was ok: dragged a little bit, needed a little more story, Gabe was great and deserved better, a few other characters were a bit too flat, perhaps a little cliche, but it wasn't bad.
jenacidebybibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
I LOVE a good adolescent fantasy story, as I am sure a lot of you can relate with. This story centers around angelic creatures, an angel-crazed town, a young man with a lost memory, and a young girl who wants to find the truth behind it all. This is another one of those books that just hooks you in, and one you can’t put down until you have read the last word.
It has been one year since Riley Carver lost her best friend and almost boyfriend, Chris, to the Taking. It has been six years since the first angels came from the sky and took people from her town, and this year it’s about to happen again. One day per year, everyone in Riley’s town gathers for a celebration called the Taking; which is when angelic creatures come down from above and take whom they please. But this year, Riley decides to stay home and not partake in the town’s delusional festivities; in which they think being taken by the angels is a good thing. Unfortunately for Riley, an angel comes for her. So naturally, she shoots the angel in the face with a shotgun. Now, all that is left of the angel is a naked boy, Gabe, with no recollection of being an angel. But to make matters worse, he thinks it’s 1956 still. Now Riley must get to the bottom of what is really going on in her town, and why so many people are being taken and never returned.
I highly enjoyed this read, and wish there was about fifteen more to accompany it! The story-line does spin off of the typical good/bad angel vibe, and the Nephilim idea works into it as well, but I really liked what the author did with those ideas to make this read creative and different. The character of Riley is living in a town that has, over the years, become crazed worshipers of the angels that come and basically kidnap their loved ones. Of course, Riley and her family don’t think the angels are something to worship or to love. The character of Riley is very interesting. She is just sixteen, and has only been kissed once in her life. She is the epitome of innocence and awkward adolescence, but this girl has spunk! After a year of her best friend and almost boyfriend being taken, Riley starts to get back into the life she had put on hold. But when Gabe comes into the picture, it changes everything, and she finds out about a lot more than what the angels are there for. Speaking of Gabe. GOODNESS GRACIOUS! Ladies, we have a James Dean clone on our hands! Gabe is one of those male characters that you can just imagine as being dreamy and making your knees weak. I was constantly smirking at his wit and sarcasm, this character is AWESOME! If you can’t get into the character of Riley, you will definitely be obsessing over Gabe and his charming yet eye roll worthy self.
There were a few things about the writing style that got on my nerves though. Though, as most books go, I stopped noticing it as I continued to read and got sucked into the story. This author took on a style where she was speaking through the character, but not giving complete sentences. Sort of like a train of thought, because as we know, sometimes they just aren’t complete. However, in a book I am NOT too keen on reading that. It was just bugging me to no end! Here is an example:
"We still looked at the angels like they were a bad thing, like those that were taken had died opposed to being chosen. Didn’t like the media taking advantage of that.”
I figured maybe this was a typo, as there are a few tiny mistakes throughout the story. But this happens quite a few times, so I came to the conclusion that it was quite on purpose. For me, I NEED complete sentences. Unless the entire story is going to be random thoughts and discombobulation, DO NOT give me uncompleted sentences. Please. ;)
Overall, I really really LOVED this book. The romance isn’t completely in your face the entire story, so it really focuses on the plot. I thought the characters were well-developed, and the idea was executed perfectly. I think this author could totally through in another few books (PLEASE) because I am addicted!
It has been one year since Riley Carver lost her best friend and almost boyfriend, Chris, to the Taking. It has been six years since the first angels came from the sky and took people from her town, and this year it’s about to happen again. One day per year, everyone in Riley’s town gathers for a celebration called the Taking; which is when angelic creatures come down from above and take whom they please. But this year, Riley decides to stay home and not partake in the town’s delusional festivities; in which they think being taken by the angels is a good thing. Unfortunately for Riley, an angel comes for her. So naturally, she shoots the angel in the face with a shotgun. Now, all that is left of the angel is a naked boy, Gabe, with no recollection of being an angel. But to make matters worse, he thinks it’s 1956 still. Now Riley must get to the bottom of what is really going on in her town, and why so many people are being taken and never returned.
I highly enjoyed this read, and wish there was about fifteen more to accompany it! The story-line does spin off of the typical good/bad angel vibe, and the Nephilim idea works into it as well, but I really liked what the author did with those ideas to make this read creative and different. The character of Riley is living in a town that has, over the years, become crazed worshipers of the angels that come and basically kidnap their loved ones. Of course, Riley and her family don’t think the angels are something to worship or to love. The character of Riley is very interesting. She is just sixteen, and has only been kissed once in her life. She is the epitome of innocence and awkward adolescence, but this girl has spunk! After a year of her best friend and almost boyfriend being taken, Riley starts to get back into the life she had put on hold. But when Gabe comes into the picture, it changes everything, and she finds out about a lot more than what the angels are there for. Speaking of Gabe. GOODNESS GRACIOUS! Ladies, we have a James Dean clone on our hands! Gabe is one of those male characters that you can just imagine as being dreamy and making your knees weak. I was constantly smirking at his wit and sarcasm, this character is AWESOME! If you can’t get into the character of Riley, you will definitely be obsessing over Gabe and his charming yet eye roll worthy self.
There were a few things about the writing style that got on my nerves though. Though, as most books go, I stopped noticing it as I continued to read and got sucked into the story. This author took on a style where she was speaking through the character, but not giving complete sentences. Sort of like a train of thought, because as we know, sometimes they just aren’t complete. However, in a book I am NOT too keen on reading that. It was just bugging me to no end! Here is an example:
"We still looked at the angels like they were a bad thing, like those that were taken had died opposed to being chosen. Didn’t like the media taking advantage of that.”
I figured maybe this was a typo, as there are a few tiny mistakes throughout the story. But this happens quite a few times, so I came to the conclusion that it was quite on purpose. For me, I NEED complete sentences. Unless the entire story is going to be random thoughts and discombobulation, DO NOT give me uncompleted sentences. Please. ;)
Overall, I really really LOVED this book. The romance isn’t completely in your face the entire story, so it really focuses on the plot. I thought the characters were well-developed, and the idea was executed perfectly. I think this author could totally through in another few books (PLEASE) because I am addicted!
pbarnes's review against another edition
3.0
That was one of THE worst endings I have ever read in my whole entire life! If I would have known it was like that I so wouldn't have read it. The ending took a four star book and turned it into 3 stars. I am so heavily disappointed right now I can't even deal. I was thinking to myself, the author wouldn't end a book that way. And I was looking for book number two, just to find out there wasn't one. Which led to me ranting to my mother for about fifteen minutes about how pissed I was. Another problem I had was, how are you going a bomb like that about Riley( main character) , then end the story like three chapters after. It was unnecessary. The author was just like , hey your not human and your a warrior but then Riley doesn't even do anything epic at the ending :(
mjguerrero's review
4.0
Fue un libro entretenido con muchos giros y una mitología interesante y no tan explotada, no tan cursi, pero no tiene ese "wow factor". No es nada fuera de lo común, sin embargo lo disfruté bastante.
La protagonista es una heroína fuerte, que nunca es la damisela en peligros, más bien es ella la que rescata a los demás, se defiende, ataca y es inteligente. Algo que me gustó mucho del libro es que cuando la protagonista pierde a los hombres a los que quiere, se deprime y deja de hacer las cosas que se se supone que debe hacer es reprendida y se aborda el hecho de que no es normal y no está bien, que no es sano, algo que no había visto en ningún otro YA libro.
Creo que a muchas personas puede no gustarle el final, pero aún tengo la esperanza de que haya un segundo libro.
La protagonista es una heroína fuerte, que nunca es la damisela en peligros, más bien es ella la que rescata a los demás, se defiende, ataca y es inteligente. Algo que me gustó mucho del libro es que cuando la protagonista pierde a los hombres a los que quiere, se deprime y deja de hacer las cosas que se se supone que debe hacer es reprendida y se aborda el hecho de que no es normal y no está bien, que no es sano, algo que no había visto en ningún otro YA libro.
Creo que a muchas personas puede no gustarle el final, pero aún tengo la esperanza de que haya un segundo libro.
booksherlocked's review
5.0
I cried with this book. No, not just a tear, a full cry on. And believe me... not every book makes me cry. But-
GABE DESERVED A SECOND CHANCE BUT NO! HE WAS PERFECT UNTIL THE END WHEN HE GAVE UP HIS CHANCE TO SAVE THOSE PEOPLE TO WHOM HE DID NOT OWE A THING.
Ooh, sorry. Got caught. But for real.. read this book. It's so great.
GABE DESERVED A SECOND CHANCE BUT NO! HE WAS PERFECT UNTIL THE END WHEN HE GAVE UP HIS CHANCE TO SAVE THOSE PEOPLE TO WHOM HE DID NOT OWE A THING.
Ooh, sorry. Got caught. But for real.. read this book. It's so great.
kblincoln's review
4.0
I've read the Friday Society Steampunk YA novel by Kress and liked it, but felt the somewhat cliched flavor of the characters weren't as appetizing to my seasoned palate.
However, I'm liking Outcast a lot more. It's still a bit unbelievable in terms of what the YA characters can get away with (not to mention the wholly evil villain, etc) but in this book the mystery of the who and what the Angels are; as well as what Gabe might turn into, totally keep the book's pacing alive.
Riley Carver is a loner. She's not exactly a nerd, but she sure isn't one of the cheerleader popular kids, either. She's had her best friend, Chris, the only one who got her weird sense of humor and she felt comfortable with. But last year that all changed. He kissed her...and then he was Taken.
Riley's town has a conspiracy, keeping secret that for the past few years "angels" descend upon their town and take people up into the sky never to be seen again. They've kept this from the media and from the outside world.
But Riley's never gotten over Chris. So when one of the "angels" comes for her, she shoots it in the face and discovers they're not at all what the adults think they are.
I found it a struggle with my willingness to suspend disbelief about how effortlessly Gabe fit into school and Riley's home life-- but other than that I guess nothing else bothered me. Watching Riley try to "get over" Chris at the same time as risk her heart liking a popular guy like Gabe was fun; the whole mystery of the angels and the white apparition kept me going to the end (when things got a bit expositiony, but oh well) and the slow push-and-pull of Riley's friendship with cheerleader Lucy was great as well.
This is a fun, completely appropriate for younger YA (just kissing) audience Paranormal Romance flavored a bit more with conspiracy-mystery and a completely self-centered villain in control of an entire town.
This Book's Snack Rating: Cheddar Kettle Chips for the crunchable nomminess of Gabe and Riley with a creamy-smooth Angel mystery in a small town
However, I'm liking Outcast a lot more. It's still a bit unbelievable in terms of what the YA characters can get away with (not to mention the wholly evil villain, etc) but in this book the mystery of the who and what the Angels are; as well as what Gabe might turn into, totally keep the book's pacing alive.
Riley Carver is a loner. She's not exactly a nerd, but she sure isn't one of the cheerleader popular kids, either. She's had her best friend, Chris, the only one who got her weird sense of humor and she felt comfortable with. But last year that all changed. He kissed her...and then he was Taken.
Riley's town has a conspiracy, keeping secret that for the past few years "angels" descend upon their town and take people up into the sky never to be seen again. They've kept this from the media and from the outside world.
But Riley's never gotten over Chris. So when one of the "angels" comes for her, she shoots it in the face and discovers they're not at all what the adults think they are.
I found it a struggle with my willingness to suspend disbelief about how effortlessly Gabe fit into school and Riley's home life-- but other than that I guess nothing else bothered me. Watching Riley try to "get over" Chris at the same time as risk her heart liking a popular guy like Gabe was fun; the whole mystery of the angels and the white apparition kept me going to the end (when things got a bit expositiony, but oh well) and the slow push-and-pull of Riley's friendship with cheerleader Lucy was great as well.
This is a fun, completely appropriate for younger YA (just kissing) audience Paranormal Romance flavored a bit more with conspiracy-mystery and a completely self-centered villain in control of an entire town.
This Book's Snack Rating: Cheddar Kettle Chips for the crunchable nomminess of Gabe and Riley with a creamy-smooth Angel mystery in a small town
threeseagrass's review
4.0
Before I begin this review, I’d like to note the extreme distinctions between [b:Outcast|7998|Outcast of Redwall (Redwall, #8)|Brian Jacques|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1311702164s/7998.jpg|1178237] and [b:Angelfall|11500217|Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)|Susan Ee|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1319887835s/11500217.jpg|16435765]. If you think you will like this book because you liked [b:Angelfall|11500217|Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)|Susan Ee|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1319887835s/11500217.jpg|16435765], you might be a little off base. [b:Outcast|7998|Outcast of Redwall (Redwall, #8)|Brian Jacques|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1311702164s/7998.jpg|1178237] is entirely its own story. It is not set in a post-apocalyptic setting, and is more like urban fantasy. Gabe and Riley are very different from Raffe and Penryn, but no less kick ass. And [b:Outcast|7998|Outcast of Redwall (Redwall, #8)|Brian Jacques|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1311702164s/7998.jpg|1178237] brings something new and unique (for me, anyway) to the angel paranormal genre.
The beginning of this book earns a riveting 4-5 stars. The middle, 2.5-3 stars, and the ending 4-5 stars again. We lost the plot a little in the middle, with more focus on the relationship between Gabe and Riley. But the plot picked right back up and resulted in a bittersweet ending.
To describe how much respect I have for [a:Adrienne Kress|777907|Adrienne Kress|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1325978138p2/777907.jpg], I’d like to tell a story. I attended university across the country, which is saying something when you live in Canada. I didn’t know anybody, and I was really nervous to be on my own for the first time. So naturally, the first person I befriended was my neighbour in residence, who just happens to be named after the male lead in this novel. Now, this neighbour had the unfortunate habit of never cleaning his room or showering, to the point where I could smell him when I opened my door. Honestly, his odour, coupled with his attention-seeking behaviour turned me off of the name ‘Gabe’ forever. When I realized that was the name of the male protagonist in this story, I almost stopped reading. After all, no one could make me attracted to a guy named ‘Gabe’, when all I could picture was my old neighbour.
So I was pleasantly surprised when [a:Adrienne Kress|777907|Adrienne Kress|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1325978138p2/777907.jpg] did just that. At first I found Gabe kind of annoying, especially when he dated every girl in the school and called Riley ‘sweetheart’ and ‘babe’ constantly. But then he really grew on me, and the author really managed to overcome my prejudice for the name so I could enjoy the sexiness that is Gabe. Anyway, I quite liked him as a character once I got over my initial quips. He was complex, not portrayed as a selfless gentleman nor as a selfish jerk. And he was just so darn cute!
I also found Riley’s character to be interesting and refreshing. She wasn’t your stereotypical Mary Sue that has been plaguing YA and paranormal novels. Instead, she doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her, and doesn’t focus on how pretty she is/isn’t. Her narrating style is very blunt and matter-of fact, which took me a while to get used to. But she was very cool and kick-ass, especially when she’s shooting ‘angels’ in the face. She doesn’t take shit from anybody, and I really enjoyed that about her.
How cruel of [a:Adrienne Kress|777907|Adrienne Kress|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1325978138p2/777907.jpg] to leave us with such a bittersweet ending. There had better be a second novel, or I may just end up going crazy.
The beginning of this book earns a riveting 4-5 stars. The middle, 2.5-3 stars, and the ending 4-5 stars again. We lost the plot a little in the middle, with more focus on the relationship between Gabe and Riley. But the plot picked right back up and resulted in a bittersweet ending.
To describe how much respect I have for [a:Adrienne Kress|777907|Adrienne Kress|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1325978138p2/777907.jpg], I’d like to tell a story. I attended university across the country, which is saying something when you live in Canada. I didn’t know anybody, and I was really nervous to be on my own for the first time. So naturally, the first person I befriended was my neighbour in residence, who just happens to be named after the male lead in this novel. Now, this neighbour had the unfortunate habit of never cleaning his room or showering, to the point where I could smell him when I opened my door. Honestly, his odour, coupled with his attention-seeking behaviour turned me off of the name ‘Gabe’ forever. When I realized that was the name of the male protagonist in this story, I almost stopped reading. After all, no one could make me attracted to a guy named ‘Gabe’, when all I could picture was my old neighbour.
So I was pleasantly surprised when [a:Adrienne Kress|777907|Adrienne Kress|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1325978138p2/777907.jpg] did just that. At first I found Gabe kind of annoying, especially when he dated every girl in the school and called Riley ‘sweetheart’ and ‘babe’ constantly. But then he really grew on me, and the author really managed to overcome my prejudice for the name so I could enjoy the sexiness that is Gabe. Anyway, I quite liked him as a character once I got over my initial quips. He was complex, not portrayed as a selfless gentleman nor as a selfish jerk. And he was just so darn cute!
I also found Riley’s character to be interesting and refreshing. She wasn’t your stereotypical Mary Sue that has been plaguing YA and paranormal novels. Instead, she doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her, and doesn’t focus on how pretty she is/isn’t. Her narrating style is very blunt and matter-of fact, which took me a while to get used to. But she was very cool and kick-ass, especially when she’s shooting ‘angels’ in the face. She doesn’t take shit from anybody, and I really enjoyed that about her.
How cruel of [a:Adrienne Kress|777907|Adrienne Kress|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1325978138p2/777907.jpg] to leave us with such a bittersweet ending. There had better be a second novel, or I may just end up going crazy.