This is not my usual genre, but I was intrigued by the premise enough to give it a shot. I've not read much historical fiction that reimagines the past, but I really liked how the author pulled it off in this book! The main character Ada is relatable, and the narrative was clear from the beginning. It made it easy to understand the underlying premises of the world, and how that impacted lives.

It was action packed, feminist, and easy to read without feeling simplistic or boring. If you're into feminist, historical, or dystopian fiction set in the American West you will really enjoy this book!

Is a sort of post-apocalyptic 1890s America, Ada is the daughter and apprentice of the midwife in a small town in the Dakotas. She is branded a witch and forced to flee from her hometown because she is barren. She makes her way to a convent filled with other barren women and vows to seek out the causes of barrenness in order to help herself and others. Then, hold on to your horse, she joins up with a group of lady outlaws who dress as men. Their leader, the charismatic Kid, who envisions creating a haven for women who have been misused and cast aside, concocts a dangerous plan that threatens to tear the gang apart. The story had me riveted from the beginning to the end. It's a western, a modern day commentary on women's rights and a page-turning adventure rolled into one.

This book was Ok. I enjoyed the unique look at history, taking actual outlaws from the Hole in the Wall Gang (News, Doc, Texas, Kid) and making them women. The idea that women who were barren would be judged to be witches and cast out of society was one I’d never heard before, but was believable for the times in which the novel was set. And it was perfectly believable that these women would find each other and form a unique ‘family’ of their own. In spite of their lawlessness, which was born out of necessity, all characters were likable and I couldn’t help rooting for them. At times, however, I had a hard time suspending disbelief. There were a few places where the story twists seemed contrived and too convenient. The author utilized what I call the ‘knight in shiny white armor tactic’ whereby a character conveniently shows up to save the day. Overall, however, this was an enjoyable read.

I really like feminist Westerns--think Melissa Lenhardt's Sawbones novels and TV shows like Strange Empire and Deadwood--so I was definitely the right audience for this book! It read as more of a genre mashup than I expected based on the description (even with The Handmaid's Tale reference), and like alternate history and literary fiction in various places, which didn't diminish my reading pleasure but might make it harder to categorize when recommending to potential readers. Still, I'd be up for the challenge! I was also totally into the retro-looking cover.

Newlywed Ada’s wedded bliss, is coming to an end.

After months of not being able to conceive, Ada is labeled as barren and kicked out of her husband’s home. The whispering starts. The accusations follow. The witch hunt begins. Ada’s midwife/healer mother knows what’s coming next and sends Ada away to a convent, desperate for her daughter’s safety.

Hidden in the quiet convent life gives Ada plenty of time to realize that what she really wants to do, is learn how to help other barren women. In order for that to happen, Ada must study with a renowned researcher but needs to figure out a way to get there. That means leaving the safety of the convent walls and seeking out notorious outlaw, The Kid and gang. Having braved the perilous journey to Hole in the Wall, Ada is met with hostility and reluctance to let her stay. After Ada’s doctoring talents prove her worthy, she is soon installed as a member and discovers that she has more in common with the outcasts than she could have thought.

Anna North world-builds a traditional Western background and fuses it with dystopian literature in this unique and singular sensation.

Outlawed is simply brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Bloomsbury Publishing for the read of Anna North’s, Outlawed.

Opinions expressed are my own.

An interesting gender-flipped take on Billy the Kid. Well written and engrossing, I read it in one sitting.

I really enjoyed the premise of this novel! As soon as I read about female outlaws I was sold! The novel is fast paces and focuses both on the relationships and bonds between the characters as well as the adventures they go on. I wish that it had been a little longer and that the relationships and characters (particularly Lark, the Kid and the other members of the gang) had been fleshed out a little bit more. I really wanted to know more details about their lives and personalities and felt that sometimes we didn't get enough of this. That being said, I thought the idea was cool and done well and definitely enjoyed the story!

I was intrigued by the concept for a while, but I wasn't intrigued enough by the characters to keep going after halfway.

Really probably a 3 star, but I hesitate to go so low. I really want to give this book a higher rating, but it just never quite clicked for me. It's not bad by any stretch. What's there is terrific, and well worth a read. The author created some great characters and gave them a great story. But at the same time, it didn't feel fleshed out enough. The book ultimately felt unfinished, or a draft of what it could have been. The potential was there, it just wasn't fulfilled. But what IS there is definitely worth rounding up to four stars for.

"We may be barren in body, dear Doctor, but we shall be fathers of many nations, fathers and mothers both...I knew that we would build a nation of the dispossessed, where we would not be barren women, but kings."

In the year 1894, Ada aims to live married life in the way all women in her town do--focused on bearing many children. But when Ada's attempts to get pregnant fail month over month, she's faced with the threat of hanging for being a barren "witch." With the goal of heading West to study alongside a knowledgable midwife and doctor, Ada joins up with the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang--a group of barren women trying to find community and build a better world for women like them--and is faced with tough decisions about morality, found family and her calling.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for providing the free e-galley!
I wasn't completely sure what to think while reading this book. The story starts off slow as Ada sets the scene in her western town and its strangely Handmaids Tale-esque way of thinking. But it doesn't truly pick up until Ada is fully immersed in the Hole in the Wall Gang several chapters later, and by then, I was largely trying to keep all of the members and their backstories and relationships straight.

I liked Ada, her determination and her passion for both following in her mother's footsteps and paving a new path for herself. However, I was left confused halfway through when Ada's mission to go to Pagosa Springs was not mentioned in dialogue nor in her thoughts at all. It almost seemed like that piece of her story was pushed aside to highlight more bandit shenanigans.

It was refreshing to see a feminist tale of cowboys and adventures in the West, and there was a lot of genderqueer and LGBTQIA+ story infused in to challenge the traditional notions in the larger setting. But one aspect bothered me: Lark and Ada's relationship felt too trope-y. It seemed heavily implied Lark was gay, and while he may have been bisexual, his interest in Ada (in her feminine persona) came out of left field for me. I appreciated what the relationship did for Ada's character, but I was left feeling like the relationship was forced.

In the end, I was rooting for Ada and her new calling, as well as for the Hole in the Wall Gang and their efforts to provide a haven for women who don't fit the confines of the strict world they were born in, but I was also left wanting something more.

This title will appeal to women's literature and historical fiction lovers. Rich characters with unique plot will keep the reader reading.

The tale takes place at the end of the 19th century where the wild west was still a dangerous place especially for women that didn't conform to the norms expected by society.
Anna North grasps the conditions of that period as our hero has to make her way through lessons in life while searching for sanctuary and security making for an original coming of age saga that all should enjoy.
Racism, intermarriage, gay and lesbian issues are touched on in a positive manner and a big shout out for that.
For historians I like the nod to Butch Cassidy and the hole in the wall gang and using some of the original gang
members names, Texan, Kid, News, Elzy
An independent review thanks to NetGalley / Bloomsbury

I received a free ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I started this story on a whim and then couldn't put it down. I really love the cover and what it means in the book. I love what this book wanted to be. In the beginning, the witchy elements and barren women being banned drew me in. The young wife telling of her struggles and what she was forced to do, drew me in. I was still in deep when we got to the first leg of Ada's journey. I continued to be interested in her journey into the unknown. I loved this particular gang of outlaws. The rules they had for survival were interesting. Then it started to dull out for me. I feel like I wanted more. That there was potential for more. Idk what that could be, it's just sometimes I felt as if I were reading two different stories. I also was proud of the mental health aspect, but still I needed more. Once we started planning for the future, I feel like the characters, that it tried to do too much. It was a witch era women's story. It was an adventure story. It was a slice of outlaw life story. It was a story of acceptance and friendship. We had a very diverse cast of characters where nothing had to be explained and I enjoyed that. We had a heist story. Idk, I just think it would be better if focused on less things and fully fluffed those ideas out. I enjoyed it and what it represented.

Unique story told in a unique voice! Loved this book.. It certainly stands out from any other book I've read this year, and would be appealing to book clubs and history buffs. While the history is certainly fanciful, it's an alternate way of looking at the past that starts with "what if" and will resonate with many readers. The book begins and ends with the story of Ada, a teen-aged bride who yearns to have a child.. Early on, we are introduced to the misogyny and magical thinking that is pervasive in her town . Ada has medicinal knowledge that stems from her apprenticeship to her mother, the town's midwife. Factual knowledge, however, is no match for the folklore and mysticism that the townsfolk believe in, and she is ultimately destined to leave her home and family because of it. After that, it's a rollicking ride of a story. "Outlawed" contains shades of "The Handmaid's Tale" set in the history of America's wild west. Great book.

A feminist Western story? YES PLEASE! Anna North's Outlawed is gutsy, original, and I loved every heart-pounding page. It's "the year of our Lord 1894" and 17 year old Ada is doing just fine. She's newly (and happily) married and is following in her mother's footsteps as a midwife apprentice. However, when months go by without conceiving a child, Ada is deemed barren and considered an outlaw, a pariah and someone to be feared. Where once she was trusted for her natural gift of midwifery, now she is blamed for local ailments, misfortunes, and miscarriages. In a town where barren women are considered witches to be hanged, Ada's mother sends her to a convent, their only option for Ada's survival.

Ada meets up with the infamous Hole In The Wall Gang, a rag tag group of social outcasts, who are hell bent on creating a place for themselves and others who don't fit the narrow minded ways of those around them. This fast paced, gritty narrative will have readers hooked from beginning to end!

Thanks to Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley for my ARC of this book! This novel really surpassed my expectations! I was expecting a relatively simple cowboy story but what I read was a fascinating exploration of female worth and the power of community. We have an outlaw/cowboy story that doesn’t allow the represented world to go unchallenged. The racism, sexism and homophobia of the society depicted are not just acknowledged but actively explored to make nuanced and interesting points- although one or two needed a little further reworking I thought. The narrative follows Ada, the daughter of a midwife. She assumes her marriage is the beginning of her life but as the months drag by and she struggles to get pregnant, her plans and security come tumbling down around her. Barren women are feared of being witches, spreading their barrenness to other wives in the area, so soon Ada must flee her town. She sees how barrenness can destroy women’s lives and dedicates herself to trying to find out why it happens. Her journey takes her to the Hole in the Wall gang, made up of other outcasts; barren wives, lesbians and others that do not fit in societies’ mould. In this gang she finds a community that gives her hope for the future, but how sustainable is this gang of outlaws? I found the story very compelling and I was enchanted by the side characters in particular. Slowly finding out how each member came to be in the gang was so engaging, I almost wish there was more focus on characters other than Ada- especially News and Elzy. The novel is fast-paced, exciting and measured in its approach. I really enjoyed it and I think anyone seeking a female-centric outlaw story would too.

This book had me at female outlaws. And if I didn’t read the plot summary, it would have had me at the cover. Great cover. Once you get past the inevitable comparisons to two other well known works and actually read the book, you’ll find out its very much its own thing and an excellent thing indeed. Set in a somewhat alternate reality of the Wild Wild West of the 1894 and 1895, the book follows Ada, a young midwife in training, a young wife, who finds herself unable to get pregnant. In the world she inhabits there’s no greater crime for a woman for it is a world obsessed with reproduction. Women get married young and ought to have as many babies as possible, failure to do so results in marriage annulments, banishments, prosecutions as witches, etc. A woman barren is as good as dead, unless she finds another way of life. And Ada does, first at a nunnery and soon after with a gang of outlaws, a much nicer fit for her.
It is there she meets all the fascinating variegated characters that populate this tale led by the enigmatic charismatic Kid, an aspiring preacher turned insomniac outlaw. Kid has a plan, a plan that can make their way of life into something more permanent, something that can help more people, but implementing this plan proves to be complicated, deadly even. Is there a greater way to (pun intended) dust up an old and staid Western genre than to infuse it with a bunch of gender bending bandits? I mean, seriously, how awesome is that. To take a group of barren women that refuses to be defined by societal expectations and turn them into gun wielding legends. F yeah. That’s women’s liberation way before there was such a thing in this country, a feminist take on the classic scenario. Excellent, excellent. Plus all the other makings of a great read, good writing, terrific characters, some romance even (actually considering the plot, the entire thing is surprisingly light on sapphistry), but yeah, there’s an entire gamut of emotions and themes here, though in the end it is a book about finding oneself, finding one’s purpose and place in the world. It’s just that Ada’s journey managed to involve some crazy twists and turns. This was my first experience reading the author and what an auspicious introduction it turned out to be. I really enjoyed this book from cover to finish. Even the page count worked well, nice to have a great story told in under 300 pages. What restraint. One I should really learn from. So let’s end this on a round of applause. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.