Set in the Old west, you could read this as a fan of historical fiction, but you will come away a little disappointed. It is not the old West we have come to know in previous storytelling. Instead of a futuristic dystopian, we are thrown into a past of what-could-of-been. A mix of the Salem Witch Trials, The Handmaid's Tale, and the wild west, we meet Ada who has to leave her great life because of current in place norms. But how far will she go? Enter the Hole In the Wall Gang. This where the story falls from its great potential. The many characters that enter Ada's life are not explored fully, let alone the storytelling that could have been between Ada and her new 'sisters' as we all know certain people are in our life for a reason, this is true for Literary characters too. I do look forward to this author's future fiction writing as her background and talent are great launching pads.

(I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.)

In the spirit of reading books close to when they come out, I picked up Anna North's Outlawed, about which I knew nearly nothing except alternate history and midwives, both of which are a hell-yeah for me. Turns out I also get a ragtag band of queer women and nonbinary folks living as outlaws in the Old West. Have you ever heard such a tempting description?

The alternate history premise is pretty great; just after the United States won their independence, a devastating flu killed more than half of the people. The fledgling U.S. didn't make it, but of course the survivors carried on, and by the time of our story the middle of North American is full of small city-states that are basically just Old West towns without the federal government behind them.

Because of the huge population loss, motherhood has taken a particularly revered, religious, magical overtone. A married woman who doesn't have a child before too long might be a witch, and might end up hanged. When Ada, who's spent her whole life learning to be a midwife from her mother, finds herself childless and getting the side-eye from her neighbors, she has to run.

Her journey over the first half of the book goes to all kinds of places where humanity, knowledge, and superstition live in various combinations. From a convent to a cattle town, to Hole in the Wall, where in real life the notorious Butch Cassidy led his famous gang. Ada's medical skills and thirst for the scientific knowledge that is so thin on the ground in her world is just the kind of detailed worldbuilding fun that I love to read.

The real meat of the book is around the Hole in the Wall Gang, notorious outlaws who are secretly women on the run. Led by the Kid, a visionary whose enormous personality is sometimes all that holds their band together against a world that's out to get them.

While the book is plotted like an adventure, what I love about it is what a careful examination it is of this world--in many ways like our own historical world and even our own current one--and also of what it means to be a person living in it. Ada's is at various points a happy wife, an accused witch, a novice nun, an aspiring scientist, a medic, and an outlaw, and she observes each of these experiences is a way that has me hooked.

Race is a rising issue in her world, as well, both because of her new friends, but also because of political movements that are spreading through the country. Ada's scientific clarity on the subject is refreshing; her un-outlawlike tendency to say what she's thinking is anxiety-making in a book like this!

I'm at the point where we are engaging in The Big Heist, and I'm so nervous about it that I'm having trouble reading. Pretty much everything that's been at stake at any point in the book is at stake now: Ada's awkwardness as an outlaw, the risk of living disguised as a man, her friend's race, the gang's entire future. But the biggest question mark is the Kid's vision--can a bank heist really create the world they want to live in?

I honestly don't know the answer. I'm not sure yet if this is the kind of book where we get a happy ending, where alternate history goes the way you want and big ideas and good people can win in the end, or if it's the kind of book where it all falls apart as we're faced with the inevitable fact that we can only shine our little light in the darkness.

Or is it a book where you can win the day and find reality waiting on the other side of your dreams? I have no idea! Hopefully I've just made myself brave enough to read on and find out.

I’m not generally a fan of Western’s, the premise intrigued me...A band of outlaws, women (some dressed as men), queer, living outside societal norms. Heck ya! Intense, emotional, poignant, and enough action to accelerate the pace and intensity of this novel. I highly recommend this book.

**i received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book.

An enjoyable, quick read that upturns the Western story. Women who have been scorned by society find their strength in each other.

This book was a lot of everything I did not know I needed. This is definitely not your typical western - a group of Outlaws form together after not being able to conceive, whether that was on them or not they are taking the blame. Ada, the newest Outlaw, has a calling to to be a Midwife and is not going to let her fate lie in the hands of people who do not understand. In her new life, she is taught to ride horses, shoot guns, rob and do many other "outlaw" things. This was such an adventure and I was rooting for these women the entire time.

I can't thank NetGalley, Edelweiss Books, and author Anna North for my newest Western addiction.

“in the year of our lord 1894, i became an outlaw.”

thank you to bloomsbury and netgalley for my gifted arc of “outlawed” by anna north!

17-year-old ada has a loving husband and is the daughter of a respected midwife, but is plagued by barrenness. and when you live in a town where barren women are hanged as witches, the only thing ada can do is escape to survive. she joins the notorious hole in the wall gang, a group of outlaws dedicated to creating a utopia for outcast women. there’s a dangerous plan in place to achieve this, but is this new future worth ada risking her life?

i read “outlawed” because it sounded like the perfect original story that a sociologist like myself would enjoy. a queer, feminist western filled with adventure and pivotal social values? yes, please! gunfights, gender-bending cowgirls, bank robberies, suppressed feminine medical knowledge...as fun as the wild west action was, i was never satiated by the more important aspects of the story.

gender norms were reinforced rather than halted, specifically in the institution of marriage. queerness was mentioned but either over- or under-sexualized. issues of race and identity were briefly touched on, but the opportunity fo explore them was never taken. the gender-bending became something that seemed playful and flirty rather than something that people in our society often must do to protect themselves. i think there were so many missed opportunities to fully explore and integrate these aspects, but ultimately, they were left as buzzwords.

and the main character… i wanted to like ada, but at some point, i realized she was a bit selfish and always took away from other, more interesting characters in story. i would much rather read more about the leader of the gang, named the kid, or one of the other outlaws, instead of ada who often reinforces heteronormative ideals.

overall, “outlawed” was a fun romp through an alternate 1800s wild west. there was lots of adventure and it’s a very original story, but one that never fully hit the mark for me. maybe it’s because of my sociological mind that i can’t stop thinking about the need to dive deeper into feminism, queerness, race, identity, and social control. i still recommend this book to anyone looking for a different take on westerns, but go into it with an open mind and don’t think of it as a powerful social commentary.

This book has a great premise and promise, with unique, fascinating characters. I was initially drawn in by the modern, feminist twist on the traditional western, but unfortunately it proved not to be for me. The book tries just a bit too hard to be modern and feminist, and I eventually felt like I was being hit over the head with it rather than having those elements subtly and beautifully blended in with the story like I've seen other authors do more skillfully. I'm sure someone else will thoroughly enjoy this book, though.

I have been wanting to read a western for quite awhile, and loved that this one was so fresh and quirky! It was an interesting kind of alternative history, where women must bear children before they can pursue their callings in life. A very feminine take on a classic genre. I really loved the character of Ada, as she was very intelligent and inquisitive.

Women of the Wild West!
In 1894, after a massive pandemic (how appropriate), society begins to rely on reproduction. Infertile women are cast out or hanged. A year into her marriage, 17-year-old Ada finds herself in this predicament and flees. She joins a band of outcasts in the Wild West who are searching for a new life of peace and inclusion. This, of course, is a dangerous, life-threatening quest.

Outlawed is a unique, exciting read. Topics such as gender, sexuality, feminism, crime, etc are incorporated in such an intriguing way. I wish that there was more Indigenous representation. I personally was also expecting/ hoping for more lgbtq2s content, which turned out to only be a secondary theme. Still, a fun spin on the old west none the less.

(3.5 stars)

{Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for my gifted copy.}

Reading outside of my "comfort zone" is one of my goals for 2021, and Outlawed seemed like a great way to start it off. I would not normally be drawn to the "western" and "alternative history" sub-genres, but when it was picked by Reese's book club I thought I would give it a shot.

I so appreciated the originality and you can tell author Anna North did her research. Outlawed is set in the late 1800s, and the provocative and progressive premises mixed in with superstitions and witchcraft made for a truly unique plotline. North did a wonderful job intertwining the discrepancies women had to deal with during this time, especially women who were not able to have children.

I did end up struggling with this story at times. There were parts that were fascinating but I also found certain sections to just drag on. I also found myself wishing that the supporting characters were more well developed because at times I felt like they were hard to keep track of. While this wasn't a total reading win for me, I am glad I read it, and I think this would make for a very unique and layered book club discussion!

What a fascinating premise for a book! It’s a queer feminist Western with dystopian flair. It’s no wonder that Anna North’s Outlawed is a book club darling. It’s a book about societal expectations set in the late 1800s and what happens when a woman deviates from those expectations by choice or circumstance.

When midwife-in-training Ada cannot conceive (irony intended I’m sure), she’s spurned by those she loves. She must flee and join a group of outlaws for her survival.

It’s a book with uneven execution, but the good outweighs that. I’ll look forward to more from North.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

While I enjoy the idea of this story and “The Kid” and gang being all women, I found this to be boring most of the time I was reading with only a couple of interesting points. Maybe Westerns just aren’t for me but I can see why some may enjoy it.

Based on the description of this book I thought I would love it. It was ok...but not great. And I think b/c I went into it with such high expectations, I was disappointed with much of the book.

In 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.

While the writing started off strong, the characters felt a bit flat and not as developed as I would have liked. The descriptions of most of the women in the gang were vague so it was hard to keep track of who was who.

An interesting idea but not well executed.

I got an ARC of this book.

So I see a book about outlaws and it is labeled queer and I need it. There is no thinking, just need. The first third of the book or so is pretty much my dream book. It is The Handmaid’s Tale set in the wild west. This is something I never knew I needed in my life, but I so glad I found it.

The book was not as queer as I was hoping. I kept looking for more and more queer, but it was just in the background. The MC was not queer, nor had ever really considered that queerness could exist. Part of that is the way that the world was built, which I can appreciate. I just got sad that she didn’t have a romance with one of the women around her. I wanted her to have that romance so badly. Between that and the ending, the book last a star. I did love the nod to female husbands and the way that queerness did present itself in the time period. I could have done without the transphobia, even if it did fit the story.

The ending was very anti-climatic. It wasn’t what I was expecting and it didn’t feel like it made all that much sense. Some of it did, but the last few pages just didn’t. Why would the MC do that? I can’t see it working out well for long.

The characters were so fun. The Kid was both charming and scary. The nuns who saved barren women secretly were my heroes. I loved that the characters were who they were. I loved how hard they were and how scared at the same time. The characters were allowed to have these complex lives, despite how simple their backstories started out as.

It was a wonderful read and I am glad I got to read it. It is great for fans of dystopian novels that focus around controlling women.

So many times religion is the basis for the way societies function and this account of barren women in the 1890s in the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Colorado speaks truth to that. Young women who don’t get pregnant within a year of marriage are usually accused of witchcraft and are banished from their homes, jailed, or killed. What follows is an interesting story of strength, caring, and the struggle to be true to self. It has great characters and a memorable story line.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

I loved the premise of this book, but it just fell a bit flat for me. I didn't really connect to the characters. The writing was strong enough for me to keep reading ( I did want to know what happened) but it was just a meh read for me.

Ada,is a midwife in trading but married she can't have children! As her family disowned her she ends up not a midwife but a outlaw! Read the life she leads with "The Hole In The Wall Gang" and how so many things didn't and did turn out different! I love western and this was a exciting one for me! This is Ada's story as she sees her way through being rejected,disown and barren. Who would want her? The characters in this story are so believable and colorful. Anna Northshe did her research for sure. Received from Net Gallery!

Feminist queer dystopian westerns are my new jam. The worldbuilding and characters in this story were awesome. The queer rep is great--the majority of characters are women or nonbinary and queer in some way.

As someone who has consciously chosen to not have children, this was a very interesting and disturbing world to read about. I wish that our MC had thought more about the women who were stuck in the situation where they HAD to have children. The MC's focus was always on "but why can't I have children" instead of "why am I forced to have children." Given the religious patriarchy she was raised in, that makes sense, but I wanted more growth in that aspect than I received.

The story didn't go the way I expected it to, and it felt a little abrupt and unsatisfying. I wanted either more or less of The Hole in the Wall Gang, and I'm not sure which! I had a hard time keeping the individual gang members straight, and I wanted our MC to either be all in and follow through with their plans or strike off on her own sooner to follow her driving passion for learning more about infertility from the doctor in Pagosa Springs.

There are quite a few content warnings for this one: mental illness, homophobia, infertility, rape, misogyny, religion, sex

Such a phenomenal read. Ada is a young woman who marries and finds her life dictated by if she can have a child or not. Once her husbands family decides she is barren and casts her out she tells the tale of the life she leads - of how she became an Outlaw. This book is full of action, adventure, growing up, learning who you are.

The characters are captivating and you find them coming alive on the pages of this book. This is definitely a top 5 book for 2021 (and it’s only January!). I cannot give this book enough stars!!

Thank you NetGalley, Anna North and Bloomsbury Publishing for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

A thank you to NetGalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 As soon as I heard this book was forthcoming, I knew that I had to read it - it just sounded so unique and I had to know how it would pan out. What genre is this? Hmm...hard to pin down because it's mish-mash of many: queer, feminist, speculative, alternative history and western! Can't say I've read one of those before, in fact, my western exposure is pretty much limited to my dad's movie collection. What I loved - the gender blending feminism and depiction of strong and determined women, the midwifery, and the bad a** nuns. This is one of those rare (for me) books that could've been a little long, a little more meat to the story, and if the author had delved a little deeper into the members of the gang. All in all, a most interesting read and I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it.