Reviews

Outlawed by Anna North

sunnyknits's review against another edition

2.0

I didn't care for this book. At only 250 pages it was a struggle to read. I found there were kernels of a story that could have been good but it needed another 200 pages to really explore things. The one interesting relationship in the book lasted maybe 2 pages and then

Spoiler

he dies off screen, you're just presented with a dead body

Spoiler

This was just a disappointment and a waste of time.

stygianvixen's review against another edition

1.0

DNF for many reasons the final straw being when Ada, News and Agnes Rose have gone to Veronica’s and they’re discussing gay men and taking advantage of them by explaining that if you tell them you were gored by a bull it explains anything they feel or don’t feel. Get them drunk and men are gullible and stupid and believe what you tell them. Not my cup of tea and not okay.

mjs_18's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Really unique dystopian feminist alternative Western. Complex and interesting characters.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Outing, Racism, Violence, and Infertility

solhibou's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

2.0

ozziemarie's review against another edition

3.0

I did the audiobook and the narration was not good. I may try re-reading the physical book as the story really had potential.

m_k_busslag's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Gun violence

avalydia's review against another edition

2.5

This book started off promising, with a great opener:

In the year of our Lord 1894, I became an outlaw. Like a lot of things, it didn't happen all at once.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book didn't live up to that promise. My two main issues were:

1) The alternate timeline was poorly explained (and not even mentioned in the book summary); the author dropped some vague details about what had happened where and there, but didn't really provide any clarity, and at the end I was left wondering why an alternate timeline was even needed - patriarchy was probably just as bad in the real Old West, so why make something up?

2) With the exception of the Kid, the Hole in the Wall gang members were so underdeveloped, they were practically indistinguishable from one another. Several of them were hinted at being trans, but because I couldn't remember who any of them were, it was hard to tell which comments about clothing choices were significant and which weren't (the characters dress up as men or women depending on the situation, so clothes are mentioned repeatedly).

I had been excited about this book but wound up forcing myself to finish it. Luckily it was pretty short.

efruitsnack's review against another edition

4.0

I really liked Ada as a character but I felt that as the book went on there was less and less substance to the plot. I would have liked to see more experimentation with Ada’s gender and sexuality. It felt almost queer-bait-ish to have all of these gender-fluid/queer characters and then have the main character be straight and cis. Furthermore, Lark was such an interesting character but it felt like we as the audience didn’t get enough substance to his character, and then we’re supposed to care that he died?
I did like this book, I just wish there had been more to it.

jd_jinkies's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

jhfish's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0