Well, this was delightful.

I’ve heard it described as feminist lit and queer lit, and it is, but it’s also just an adventure! One that despite touching on so many social issues, is a story that’s pure fun.

It did take me a moment to understand our world. It’s sort of an alt-history western and it has all those wonderful elements against a backdrop of witchcraft and horrors against women, queer folks, and people of color. The style is down to earth and the adventure itself is riveting.

There’s only one thing I think I would have changed. I say I *think* because I can see why the author took this route, but a big part of me wishes they would have left it alone. I’m talking about the reveal moment for a non-binary character. I’ll leave it at that without going into detail – I just wish the author had pulled back on that part of the story, leaving the character as we knew them. While it added to the character’s backstory, I felt a bit like that character would have liked their backstory untold. Silly, right? That I felt it a little disrespectful to the character? But I guess that shows just how much I was feeling the author’s story and characters!

Honestly, I enjoyed this so much and would very happily read more from the author!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

When I embarked on reading this book, I was not sold. It’s billed as an alternative history Western with LGBTQIA themes. But wow...it won me over completely. This is a book that I would NOT have picked up a year ago. Today though I’m working at stretching myself and reading outside of my comfortable wheelhouse. I loved following Ada’s adventures with the Hole in the Wall gang. Read this if any of the following interest you:
Westerns
Dystopian
Non- binary main characters
Alternate history
Badass feminism
Bonnie and Clyde
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Crucible
Seriously I don’t know how this all works in one book, but it does for me!

Outlawed is not a book I would normally read but I really enjoyed this book. It's set in the old west during the time of outlaws but it's also after an epidemic wipes out a large percent of the population of America. The outlaws are barren women who have banded together to survive.
The premise is interesting and having Cassidy and Doc as barren women rather than the men we know as part of Western folklore was a fun twist. The ending was rather abrupt, perhaps for a sequel but overall it was a fun, quick read.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book.

I'm assuming the details are accurate for the time (the persons are fictionalized). This goes back to a time when women were ostracized for being barren.. Many were simply killed but some ran away as Ada, the main character, does in this book. Such a pity for Ada because her mom is a midwife and she's learning some crucial facts about the biological process for having children. Nonetheless, she escapes to a nunnery but it's a bit oppressive so she heads for the Hole In The Wall gang and lives a number of years with them. These are barren women like Ada and they have banded together to make a life. But Ada's struggle to rob and kill conflict with her conscious. You'll see this played out in several experiences, in particular, the last one. Her goal for her life is never achieved - or is it?

I adored this book. Outlawed is alternate history/historical fiction queer western set in 1894. Our heroine Ada is shunned and run out of town when she doesn't get pregnant in her first year of marriage. She joins the Hole in the Wall gang, who are just perfect and my new favorite gang of all time. Outlawed is fun and fast-paced, but also extremely thoughtful and nuanced. Really excellent, definitely recommend.

This novel is a lot of things. Intriguing at first, including a setting filled a community in the 1800s so focused on conception that a woman would be expelled as a witch if unable to give birth to a healthy baby. The main character is the daughter of a midwife who flees her fate of being cast out. She joins a group of people who are outlaws in a gang on the run.

The book had touched of non-binary realness which I thought was a fascinating character arc. The plot added so many elements that made the focus lose sight and, for me, lose some interest.

The subject of conception and what that means to a person and to a community was thought-provoking and I look forward to discussing it with my fellow book-reading pals when they have the opportunity to read this interesting novel.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Outlawed by Anna North was such a unique read! I mean, y'all, it's a feminist spin on a western! Admittedly, I don't read a lot of westerns, AND I really dug this one! The Hole in the Wall Gang is a group of women who have been fled and/or been shunned by their communities. For some of these women, it's because they can't bear children which is an expectation of them as wives and/or allegations of witchcraft. The story focuses on Ada who finds her way to this gang led by The Kid, and the story is then told from her point of view. With her story, Ada explores the dynamics of the gang and the stories she's able to learn about some of its members. It's sad to hear how they've had to leave their homes, and it's also about how they were able to find a community. With this gang, there is a risky plan that develops to gain some power, and it creates some divisions. Again, this was such a different way to experience the west, and it also had the added dynamics of identity and relationships to add more layer and depth to the story being told. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this January 2021 release!

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.

**Release Date is January 5, 2021**

“I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one.” ~Calamity Jane

As a frequent traveler of the ‘Wild West’, when the opportunity came to check out this book, I took the chance. Westerns are not my genre of choice, but I was excited to try something different.

In an alternate American timeline, a flu epidemic has wiped out a chunk of the population in the late 19th century. Communities are obsessed with women’s fertility and reproduction. If a woman happens to be barren, witchcraft is surely at work.

This story follows Ada, a young midwife-in-training, barren wife and outlaw. Rather than die at the hands of men in her town, she leaves behind the life and family she loves. She eventually finds refuge with a group of feminist outcasts, led by non-binary character "The Kid".

It took me a little longer than normal to get through this book. Westerns can be a difficult read for me, but overall I enjoyed this story. While there was some excitement, I think I expected a little more action? There were also some pieces in the story that were lengthy and hard to follow. I felt like there were too many characters and I got lost in who was who.

I loved Ada's character. She was a strong female lead and heroine.

Thank you, Netgalley, Bloomsbury Publishing and Anna North for suggesting this read in my ARC list. All opinions included in this review are mine.

**I've ordered a copy of this book for my collection. I'd love to re-read the hard copy!**

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.