After a flu epidemic killed one out of three people, America disbanded. People were married at 16, 17 - with the intention of repolulating. A wife was given a year or two, sometimes less, sometimes more - to become pregnant and give birth. If not, they were kicked out of the marriage; mostly accused of witchcraft when women had miscarriages, still births. Either jail, convents or death by hanging awaited these women.
Ada is the daughter of Fairchild's well respected midwife. At 17, Ada marries. After a year, no pregnancy and Ada returns home only to be accused of witchcraft by her closest friends.
Her mother sends her to a convent. Ada finds her purpose by copying books to exchange with the bookseller. Medical books. Midwife - women's medical care. Asa decides the convent life is not for her, and seeks The Hole in the Wall Gang.
Not only does this book yet again remind us women are valued for reproduction, not their contributions to life/society/etc., but also how do we find our place in this world. This book provides an interesting world of women dressing as men to survive, escape notice. Women who build their own families. Love who they choose, not comform but fight for their right to be themselves.

Holy smokes. I feel both satisfied and completely heartbroken by this book. What an emotionally turbulent journey I just went on!
For this book, we venture into the alternate timeline of the North American West, in which women are accused of witchcraft for being barren and, sometimes even for the barrenness of others. When Ada Magnussen is accused of such by her meddling in-laws and spineless neighbors after her own failure to conceive, she flees for fear of her life, ultimately joining up with a band of similar outcasts, led by an infamous, beguiling and gender neutral outlaw known merely as The Kid. This book has so much of what I’m looking for in a story, adventure or otherwise; The plot is engaging, the characters are well rounded and, what’s that? Did you say realistic representation of marginalized communities!?!?! And served on a bed of prose that is just beyond devour-able. Be still my beating heart. I am genuinely enamored with how much was pulled off (and pulled off well, no less) within this singular volume. That being said, my one complaint for the story is that the relative absence of Native Americans (save for one brief and otherwise forgettable encounter with an Indigenous trader) is a glaring and unfortunate oversight. Especially since veins of the plot are flagrant perpetuations of Manifest Destiny and of the idea that North America was virgin before colonization. Oof. I didn’t care for that. At all. Especially since the story is otherwise so genuinely inclusive without ever feeling tokenizing or compromised by the need to appeal to less “progressive” audiences. I would still give the thing a wholehearted four stars, though. And I will probably be replaying this book on a loop in my brain for the next six months. Yee-haw!!

Content warnings for this book: homophobia, racism, genital mutilation, death of a child, death of a friend, death of a partner, death of a spouse, general violence, starvation, mental illness, bombings, time in prison, wrongful accusations, disowning, drug use, eugenics, hate crimes, delusions, trauma, gun violence

This story was so interesting to read, and I felt swept up into this adventure. It reminds me of a good Western, with elements that make it different. The story wrestles with what is right, what is truth, and who someone is. Women in this story are defined by their ability to give birth, but the Hole in the Wall gang prove otherwise - a story of strong female leads for sure. I appreciate the author's writing, everything flowed really well and action was well-paced throughout. I enjoyed this story, and hope you do too!

A fiercely captivating read that reimagines the Wild Wild West crossed with <i>The Handmaiden's Tale</i> in the 1890s, as told through the eyes of our outlaw-cum-doctor, Ada.

In a world post-Great Flu, barren women are considered witches and hanged. After a year of being childless - and causing a bit of scandal in the process - Ada flees to a convent to escape the noose and a town thirsty for bloodshed, vowing to live a life of anonymity to keep her family safe.
While at the Sisters of the Holy Child, Ada discovers books in the nunnery's library that prove barrenness is not witchcraft, as the populace believes, but a medical condition heavily misunderstood and unknown.
Desiring to learn more, Ada heads on a journey west to meet up with the Hole in the Wall gang, led by the enigmatic 'the Kid'. Here, she discovers the hidden strength within herself, the meaning of family - whether by blood or the one you make, the dark power of racial prejudice, and how sometimes necessary risks must be taken if you want the experience the most out of life.

My Thoughts:
An interesting and engaging twist on traditionally male roles in Westerns, but a little lacking in plot and characterization. Most of the focus lies heavily on our protagonist, Ada, with barely enough distinctions between gang members to make them memorable. Outlawed reminded me more of a commentary on reproduction and gender roles than a true Western, and Ada never fully grew as the book's ending suggested she did. Perhaps this is because the ending cut off somewhat abruptly, leaving the reader to wonder about the threads of some of the characters. However, this is highly imaginative work that almost immediately snares your attention from the first page and I found myself compelled to finish this book in one sitting! I will definitely check out Anna North's other works, just to see if the same imagination and absorbing writing carries through.

By the description, I thought the book would be different.
I had imagined an adventure with women being in a gang of robbers on the Wild West.

Quite honestly the only feminist queer western I’ve read this year... or ever! And y’know what? I blooming LOVED it!

I don’t want to give anything away but Outlaw ticks a lot of boxes!

Realistic Historical fiction - check
Witch trial vibe - check
Action and adventure Wild West Style- check
Romance - check
Strong, independent women - check
BAME and LGBTQIA+ representation - check

I picked Outlaw up because I wanted to stretch my reading to westerns and I think what I’ve done is find one of my favourite books of the year. I think there’s something for all readers in this novel and I recommend you pick it up ASAP. I could easily imagine this transferring to the big screen or a Netflix series - fingers crossed!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of Outlaw, which I received for free in return for a fair review.

It's the late 1800s and there aren't a lot of opportunities for young women beyond that of marriage and child-rearing. In this alt-history world, the uncertainties of fertility combined with high infant and maternal mortality rates have led to a highly superstitious society in which barren women are regularly named witches and hanged. So when young Ada finds herself STILL childless after a year of marriage, her life and her future crash down around her.

Rejected by her husband and his family, she is sent home in shame to live with her midwife mother and accused of witchcraft. Ada takes off into the unknown to draw the ire of the community away from her mother and younger sisters. She eventually finds her way in with a group of outlaws called the Hole In The Wall Gang and begins a life of self-discovery, independence, and adventure.

I loved every minute of this. Westerns usually aren't my bag, but the Hole In The Wall Gang is full of fantastic, norm-busting female and non-binary renegades that flip the classic Western tropes on their butt.

I'm so grateful for the chance to read this book. Stories of the near future that shake up my ideas of our relative safety in the present are always a good thing for this reader. I'll be watching for Anna North!

This was a story that to me seems a little unrealistic. The story is about Ada /Doc and growing up in a time when if you were barren, you would be kicked out of the house. Sent to a convent or even consider a witch. Ada had to grow up quick, her mother was a midwife and she was learning the trade. She was good at it and loved helping her mom’s patients. Married young as was the the custom in those times, she and her husband lived with his parents till they saved enough to build their own home. After a year and not pregnant, Ada follows her mom’s advice and sleeps with another man. Which ended badly for her....she was forced to enter a convent. This was not want she wanted,, still wanting to become a midwife and to find out what is wrong with her. Why she was barren. The Mother Supreme gave her a option to join the Hole In the Wall Gang. The is where it gets interesting, but to me a little unbelievable.
 I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story.

I usually don’t read this genre of book, but this was well written. The premise of a group of barren women in the Old West was overemphasized at times, but overall a quick entertaining read. It was a great book to read outside of my comfort zone. I would have liked a less abrupt ending, but overall a well written book.

Thanks to #netgalley for the advance copy.

I'm not really a Western reader, but this one was worth finishing. It's an alternate American West where "the flu" has killed off 90% of the U.S. population, and therefore women having as many children as possible has because even more important -- enough so that married women who don't produce children are nearly guaranteed to be kicked out by their husbands, and often accused of witchcraft and executed. What a fascinating setting, right?

The protagonist, Ada, is reasonably well-developed, but really none of the other characters are, and while the plot moves along quickly, the events of the big outlaw heist are pretty farfetched. A quick, fun, read, but it isn't one that will leave me thinking about it later.

In the late 19th century the old West is still very much a man’s world….but not the West from old movies. Young Ada, the daughter of a midwife /herbalist, is a newlywed unable to conceive. Nothing is working and the townsfolk are beginning to talk. They do not take kindly to a barren woman when so many children are needed to keep the homestead going. And why can’t she get pregnant? Rumors become more dangerous as time passes – witchcraft? Think Margaret Atwood goes West – in a more speculative yet downhome fashion.

Ada flees to a nunnery but it’s not a good fit for her. She believes in science not religion. She believes in feminism and an obligation to help others who have endured her trials. She soon joins up with an outlaw bunch – The Hole in the Wall Gang. The members are unique, and their charismatic leader seeks to build a safe haven for women, which may require the occasional robbery or worse. So, will Ada fit it? Is she tough enough? Will her doctoring/herbalist skills suit their needs? And will they give her what she wants; the scientific knowledge and experience to make a difference for women in this very new western warped landscape?

This rousing read makes up in plot for the sameness of some of the characterizations. It’s a wild ride that is unexpected, challenging and open to discussions. Book clubs should be brave and try it. Recommended with 3.5 stars.

This is not the Hole in the Wall gang you’re familiar with. While the time setting is the same as the one we know, this story has an interesting twist. This gang of outlaws are all women. Women have one function, producing babies. If they can’t they are cast aside, replaced or worse, accused of witchery and killed because of that label. Some are lucky enough to escape their fates by joining a convent but not all wanted to be part of the religious community.  The nuns often directed them to this gang of discards. There is often dissension in the group despite the similar backgrounds that brought them together to live in this community. Trust and their place in the group must be earned, not automatically assured. This tale covers so many topics: misogyny, LGBTQ, women’s rights, religion, racism……..it’s all here. Stir in a heavy dose of life in the wild west and you have a captivating novel that you can't put down.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this read. Queer feminist Western that is well written and engrossing. I recommended it.

As many of the reviewers have indicated, this book is unexpected. A dystopia set in the past, 1894. A world where women are breeders, Eugenics and discrimination rules, science is buried, and barren women are pariahs. The story is about a community of women (mostly barren) who become outlaws in the wild west. Let's just say that Anna North is a good storyteller, describing the world through the eyes of Ada, a barren woman interested in science, who joins the band of woman outlaws as a doctor.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book! Outlawed is an amazing speculative Western that really shakes up the Western genre by tackling the patriarchy, gender roles/identity, race, religion, fertility, and medicine in a unique way. The protagonist is irresistible: a no-nonsense, determined heroine, who has the gumption to teach herself medicine from old textbooks. I was so involved in the book I read it in one evening.

Set in an alternate America, a massive flu has wiped out much of the population leading to a return to a strict patriarchy and a return to witch hunts. With the need to replace the population, fertility becomes a major issue in women’s lives as does keeping children alive. Miscarriages, stillbirths, and the deaths of infants are considered to be caused by witches. Women with fertility issues are cast out, and witches become victims of horrible violence.

Newly-wed seventeen year old Ada loves her husband, and she loves being her mother’s midwifery apprentice. A year later, she remains childless. After she’s denounced as a witch, she’s sent to a convent, where the mother superior determines that Ada is not nun material. She leaves the convent hoping to reach Pagosa Springs, Colorado, to study with a midwife there.

Instead, en route to Pagosa Springs, she joins the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, a band of outlaws. The gang seems to be a rough, hard-scrapple group of nonbinary women with no one bound by the gender they were assigned at birth. The Gang is led by a preacher-turned-robber known as the Kid. Charismatic (and probably bipolar), the Kid wants to create a safe haven for outcast women, but the Kid’s plans soon become grandiose and threaten the safety of the Gang.

What is most refreshing about Outlawed, is the refreshing amount of LGBTQ+ representation.

I really enjoyed this quick read. The characters were continually surprising me. While I felt there could have been more development of characters, it did a good job of giving you a feeling of them, which I think was all that was needed. It was also a timely read. Many in the book had died from the flu, which had left entire towns deserted and, I felt, had lead others into the "old" ways - looking for answers from others, following thought processes that deem those not like you as witches.

I would love to see this made into either a series or movie. I think it would work well in either format and would allow for the development that I felt was needed to flesh people out a bit. It's one of those things that can be harder to do succinctly in book format.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read - a bit of a diversion from my normal choices and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read this!

Interesting idea with implementation that wasn't the greatest. Don't get me wrong, this book has tons of positives, but there's a few things that really drug down the book for me.

There's a lot to love in this book. It's an alternate History with a twist on Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid and their Hole in the Wall Gang. (Yay wild west influence!) There's a ton of strong female characters (Ada, the lead being one of them). There's some LGBTQ+ Rep. One of the secondary character leads is a POC. There's a decent outlaw plot. There's some societal commentary apparent in discussions of women's roles and race in the new society.

The latter really drags the book down. There's quite a few areas in which the societal critiques about women's' places in this new world take over the plot. You see, there was this plague that wiped out a lot of the world's population. The U.S. isn't the U.S. we know. There's collections of towns spread out like the wild west. These towns value fertile women and brand the ones that don't fit as witches, and get rid of them through death or jail. The whole book focuses on those women that society has deemed not worthy. Then proceeds to tackle more social issues. All these important issues and the tackling of them, overshadow the outlaw plotline, and disregard (for the most part) those that were forced to conform to societal expectations.

Additionally, a character directory would be really helpful. There's a lot of prolific (in this world) writers that a thrown around and it would be helpful to have a guide that distinguishes them. Also, we are introduced to the Hole in the Wall Gang in one scene. All of them at once. I found myself struggling telling them apart at times. There were 7 members before Ada joined and only a couple members of the gang stand out.

Overall, I think this book has a lot going for it. I was just expecting a little more outlaw and a little less societal critiques. If you want a book that steps away from the cis white male narrative of the old west and fuses it with some strong women and LGBTQ+ leads, read this. I'm just not the biggest fan of books that contain too much societal critique (I normally prefer it interwoven with the plot like Jane Austen or Charles Dickens or Mark Twain style).

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to review. I really appreciated to opportunity to step out of my typical reading zone with this New Adult/Adult alternative history retelling!

A queer western handmaid's tale with a focus on infertility that was a nice easy enjoyable read. Recommended.

If you're like me and obsessed with 19th century midwifery, this is the book for you. Even if you aren't like me (which I suspect you aren't), this novel will captivate you. It is simultaneous historical and speculative. There are so many small details that make the setting so convincing and intricate. Ada is a wonderful character. I felt her pain and her triumphs.

It would be easy to say this is a book about womanhood and fertility, but I would contend it's far more. Outlawed is the story of patriarchy, local politics, disability, medicine, sexuality, love, found family, nature, escape, friendship, and more.

What particularly struck me about this novel is the amount of LGBTQ+ representation. Outlawed balances discussion of homophobia (it is set in the 1890s) and love. Every book should be about gay cowboys!