A sparkling tale of an adventurous and intelligent young woman

OUTLAWED is the story of how an adventurous and intelligent young woman copes with life on the western frontier in 1890's America. She starts life as a curious daughter of the town's midwife who accompanies her mother on her rounds, and learns much from the experiences.. However, at a young age, she endures some tragic setbacks that allow her, and us, to discover and explore much broader horizons than she ever dreamed. That includes tapping into some characters and themes -- including feminism and LGBTQ life -- that Westerns have traditionally overlooked.

It would be a disservice to the author, and her readers, to reveal the plot any further. Suffice to say, you will not be disappointed. The author has done her homework and uses her skillful imagination to present an authentic, revealing and intriguing story with much appeal. The characters are compelling, the descriptions and dialogue are delightful, and the reader will finish the book with a greater appreciation for life during this turbulent time, warts and all.

A wonderful, powerful slow-paced-quick-read, set in an alternate Wild West that would not seem too far-fetched in modern times.

For the first quarter or so of the book, I was getting strong vibes from the way the women's role in society is placed almost solely in their purpose to have babies. Women who had fertility issues and/or were unable to have children (the men of course were never blamed for any issues they had) were seen as witches and plagues on the small towns. Of course, this was no where near as extreme as Handmaid's Tale, as the women still had many freedoms and were not simply objects, but the general extremism (based in religious fanaticism brought on by, oh hey look, a plague!) was on par with Atwood's masterpiece in my mind.

Ada is an assistant to her mother, who's the town midwife, and has seen a lot, certainly enough to know that fertility issues are definitely not the result of witchcraft. And enough to know that once she gets married and is unable to get pregnant, attending births becomes more and more risky. Indeed, she ends up being labelled as a witch and forced to escape from the town for it, after a a few women she knew or attended to had miscarriages or babies with birth defects.

What follows for the rest of the book is Ada going on a quest for knowledge, planning to travel to a clinic she heard about in her research into infertility. Her quest brings her West (to Wyoming, from what I gleaned from locations mentioned), where she ends up falling in with The Hole in the Wall gang, a legendary group of outcast women and nonbinary folks, who make their living conducting robberies and doing their own damn thing. Ada is reluctant to join, and the gang members are even more reluctant to accept her, but as time goes on she becomes an valuable member of the gang.

The majority of this book, once it got out West, was EXACTLY what I had hoped Upright Women Wanted would have been, but lacked. While Outlawed isn't a sprawling novel, it has much more characterization of everyone sprinkled throughout the story, has a clearer alternate history built and explained, and was much more engrossing to read. Ada was a great mixture of a strong-yet-doubting character, The Kid was amazing and needs a spin off novella, and while I still never got a clear idea of who else did exactly what, they were all still likable and enjoyable to read. While I would have loved more fleshed out backstories, I also didn't feel like I didn't have ANY backstory for them--a good balance in my book.

The final shootout sequence was very well done, just enough suspense to keep me binge reading the last quarter of the book over an afternoon--something I rarely ever do. I did feel the ending was a bit lackluster for a few reasons (I feel like it also could have been drawn out into another chapter almost, or an epilogue), but it was a happy one, for both Ada and for the gang.

HIGHLY recommend for anyone who loves feminist fiction, modern westerns, queer representation, alternate history, and adventure times in general.

This was an interesting book for its time period. Hard to believe some of the beliefs back in those days. The characters were different. The story was interesting enough to make me want to know what happened.
It’s not my usual type of book but I still enjoyed it
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

This book is exactly what it says it is; a cross between “The Crucible” and “True Grit.” “Outlawed” follows Ada as she transitions from housewife to fugitive. As a barren woman, Ada is threatened to either be placed into the stocks and left to the mercy of the townsfolk who believe her to be a witch or enter a convent. One thing leads to another, and she becomes a member of a band of outlaws.

This book thrives with the character of Ada. I enjoyed her tenacity and her courage throughout the book. There are parts that I question her choices, but it only serves to make her a more believable character. She is flawed, she is tough, but she is also studious and observant.

Anna North does a beautiful job describing the lay of the land, and each location is unique and memorable. I love the cast of characters and would have loved to know more about The Kid and more history about the Hole in the Wall Gang. There are plenty of feminist themes that I love while also intertwining LGBTQ+ themes and historical elements.

I loved this book and thought that the story was well-written. The plot was easy to follow, and was always entertaining. I would recommend this book to someone who is a casual reader. The book is not light or “easy,” but the writing style is easy to read, the plot is impressive, and the characters are easy to love. Thank you, NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing, for the advanced copy.

I will post my review on Instagram (www.instagram.com/lyatslibrary) and Amazon upon publication.

Ada lives in western United States in 1894 and is in an unfortunate situation for a woman of her age: she is unable to have children. Her husband, therefore, wants nothing to do with her, and rather than have her face the wrath of the sheriff (who would have her hanged for witchcraft), Ada's mother sends her away. Ada joins a band of outlaws in her quest to find out what makes women barren, as she absolutely does not believe it is witchcraft.

This book reads like an adventure or western novel with a feminist undertone. Readers will be rooting for Ada to succeed. In some ways, the barriers she faces as a woman in the 1890s still echo true in 2020.

Queer feminist dystopian western isn't a genre that's been on my radar, but once I started reading this, I couldn't put it down! The book takes the reader on an emotional, wild ride in an alternate American West in the late 19th century, and makes sure you're thoroughly wrung out before it ends. I was fascinated by the characters and setting, and enjoyed the story that the author wove. I think fans of Alix Harrow would enjoy this. Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the advance digital copy!

Anna Smith is a skilled wordsmith who has created a dystopian Wild West world for us. In an alternative history, there was a Flu epidemic in 1894. Many people died, and following that, it was crucial that women would provide their husbands with children. Those who did not, and quickly, were deemed barren, ostracized, and were either killed as witches or driven out of their towns. Our heroine Ada travels a meandering path when she is unable to conceive; from her small town where she was a midwife-in-training, to a convent, to becoming a member of the infamous Hole in the Wall gang. Beautiful imagery in this first person account of her trials and tribulations. Warm characterizations. LGBTQ issues are treated in a calm and matter of fact manner. I thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Shelved as: read, westerns, diversity, dystopian

Brilliant tale of a constructed alternate world set in 1894 of a conclave of barren and lesbian women driven out of a patriarchal society as witches. A flu pandemic has robbed the world of medical knowledge and fear mongering conspiracy theories have taken over. An entirely new Hole in the Wall gang arises, having nothing to do with Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid. Enjoyable and riveting from start to finish.

I feel like the best way to describe Outlawed by Anna North is Handmaid’s Tale meets the Wild West!! You’ve got your obsession with fertility, you’ve got what might be best described as a gender non-conforming outlaw gang, you’ve got horseback riding, you’ve got shootouts and looting, this book has it all.

I was rooting for all the characters throughout, and was heartbroken with each new discovery about every person and their past. We get a little backstory on everyone, but don’t go extremely in-depth with anyone which was slightly disappointing because I selfishly wanted to know SO much about each person!!

The narration of the book lends itself to a sort of “oral history” feel, especially at the end and when Ada recounts any high-pressure situation. Because of this, I really think Outlawed would be good on audio as well!!

I really, really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a primarily plot-based Western with a modern feel, Outlawed would be the way to go!!! Plus the cover is easily the coolest illustration I’ve ever seen. I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 🤠

TW/CW: infertility, genital mutilation, mental illness, gun violence, medical procedures, homophobia, death of a child and friend, miscarriage, eugenics, racism

I want thank Netgalley and Bloomsbury for providing a copy of Outlawed by Anna North in exchange for an honest review.

As 17 year old Ada gets married she becomes extremely happy to part of this group. But as her marriage goes further and further into the months she realizes she isn't getting pregnant. Which Barren women are usually at fault. They are accused of witchcraft and usually imprisoned or hung. Adas husbands family finally kicks her out and she runs away with the Kid and the Hole in the Wall Gang when she is accused of witchcraft.

I liked the beginning but towards the middle and the end was a little hard to hold my focus. Liked the idea of the story but wanted more action.

Dystopian societies involving the oppression of women and their bodies are always hard to read about just because it reflects on how far we have to go in reality. But this book balanced that heaviness out with a cast of characters who are fierce and loyal and strong. I loved them all, even when they were grumpy and being jerks.

My only complaint is that the climax and ending of the story were pretty rushed and could have used more fleshing out. However, I was reading an advanced copy so possibly some of that will be ironed out in the final product.

DRC provided by Bloomsbury USA via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation: Black queer deuteragonist, queer deuteragonists.

Content Warnings: queerphobia, racism, violence, castration, misogyny, death, suicide attempt, postpartum depression/psychosis.

Outlawed by Anna North is a western-themed novel starring a gang of outcast infertile women.

Ada’s life changes after a year into her marriage. She loves her husband but she cannot get pregnant. Ada has worked with her mother, an expert midwife, since she was a child, but nothing they think of can help her with the problem. Her infertility and some subsequent gestational problems in the village women makes the ignorant villagers think she is witch. She escapes the certainty of the gallows with her mother’s help initially sheltering in a nunnery and then joining the infamous Hole in the Wall Gang thanks to her medical skills.

The book disappointed me in some ways. I was really excited when I read the synopsis because there is a really small number of western-themed books out there featuring mainly women, if any; and for the prospective of queer outlaws. I was entertained in the beginning. Ada is a great character and I was so curious about what would happen once she reached the Hole in the Wall Gang and that part of the story started. My interest began to gradually wane though. I expected to feel the thrill of what I imagined an outlaw life to be, but alas I did not. When I reached the ending I was left completely dissatisfied and even though Ada’s and the rest of gang’s stories are supposed to continue, I think, I am not sure I would be interested in keeping on reading about it.

News and The Kid are the characters that captivated me the most. The Kid is an interesting character whom I coded as non-binary because when Ada asks if The Kid is a woman or a man, the interlocutor replies saying The Kid is neither man nor woman, but just The Kid, which led me to think The Kid sees themselves outside of the gender binary. News is a Black queer individual who had to escape her home both because of her infertility and her Blackness. The story does not go into specifics about her gender, but during my reading experience I felt like News may also identify as a man.

Despite me not appreciating entirely the novel, it was a fast read with interesting characters and a cool concept.

I enjoyed this book.

Ada is young and apprenticing with her midwife mother in a world which, devastated by flu, fears infertility above all else. Any infertility or infant loss is blamed on witchcraft, which is usually a scapegoated infertile female.

As Ada is cast out of her community, she falls in with a gang of similar outcasts who have been cast out too. They form an outlaw gang and use this status to try to form a better world for others like them.

Even if you think you don't like Westerns (personally, I think they can be great), this is a great alternative history with queer representation. Gender is examined in ways that I've not seen before in this book, which is always a good thing.

This was a nicely paced read about a heavy topic in an alternate past. The issues of women’s roles and rights was at the forefront of the story. If you liked the feminist message of Leni Zumas’s Red Clocks or the reimagining of Jane Eyre in Lindsay Faye’s Jane Steele, you might also like this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsburg Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book. Publishes January 5, 2021

A twist on the Hole-in-the-Wall gang. This one is all women outlaws. Some undercover disguised as men, while some, dressed roughly, maintain a female composure. Most have found this calling due to being unable to bare a child. Some are forced to this situation, since barren women are considered witches and are hung, others went looking for a place to feel wanted.

In a different Wild West, circa 1890, these women robbed and stole to maintain their lifestyle, with the dream of one day taking over a town where other misfits would always be welcome.

An exciting Western with a feminist twist, in which women are ostracized or worse for barrenness, and where a group of outcasts band together to fight for survival on their own terms. Great concept, intriguing characters, and plenty of action!

Wow, I honestly didn't know what to expect when I first saw the description of this book, but both the cover and the premise seemed intriguing that I decided to give it a try. I would say it's a story that doesn't really fit into any particular category. It's a western set in an alternate history after a flu has wiped out the fertility of a large part of the world, and yes, it is very inclusive of lgtbq issues but is not just that. It covers fertility issues, the patriarchy, friendship, mental illness, racism, science vs superstition, religion (as distinct from faith), and probably a few other things I can't remember. And yet, I never felt overwhelmed or scattered. The story just sort of unfolded for me and I wanted to know what would happen with the main character. Being a western, there were plenty of deaths, but one in particular really gutted me (no spoilers). In the end, I was surprised by how much I loved this book. I'm so glad this book caught my eye!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A wild ride of a read.blending past&present.Strong women gangs a book that is unique unputdownable will be recommending.#netgalley #bloomsbury

Oh what a story! I so want to put it forward to my bookclub, but I fear I couldn’t ‘sell’ it to them. It is not a traditional old west/outlaw story but shows a world that women had to survive in. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

This story was definitely not what I was expecting. But the unexpectedness was refreshingly good and very interesting.

The story took place in 1894. This was a time when superstitions were held as truth and innocent lives were taken because of it.This was also a time when young girls who reached a certain age were expected to marry and quickly have babies. Any females that couldn’t get pregnant were looked at with suspicion and scrutinized. Any deviation that occurred during this time such as stillbirths or the German measles were thought to be the work of those barren females and held them accountable. Some were lucky to escape, others were put to death.

After being married for a year, Ada didn’t get pregnant. Her husband’s family threw her out and rumors of witchcraft quickly circulated. With her mother’s help, Ada was one of the lucky ones to escape, but she still had the sheriff searching for her. She, like others who were also barren, took refuge in a convent. Since Ada was taught midwifery by her mother, she was eager to educate herself about the causes of barrenness and dispel any of its relationship to witchcraft or other superstitious beliefs. In order to do that, and with the help of the Mother Superior, Ada left the safety of the convent. She took refuge with the Kid and the Hole in the Wall Gang. They did was they had to do in order to survive.This was where the story’s twist became apparent and a strong feminist presence took over.

I liked that the characters were very diverse including several LGBT. They each had a different and interesting reason for taking refuge with the Kid who gave them a purpose to live. It was a fast paced story and at times intense as the women tried to escape the sheriff whose sole interest was to capture and hang them.

This was a well written captivating story that dealt with a variety of topics including a misogynistic society, LGBT hatred, religious beliefs, racism, incest, women’s rights including abortion, and superstitions. If you are looking for a different type of Wild West adventure, this is the book to read.

An ARC was given for an honest review.