Wow I'm left speechless, this is easily one of my favorite series ever!
I read through the first two books without a break, keeping me up a whole night, this storyline is just *so* great.
Kate and Dani are such fantastic characters and I love the switching of POVs.
This is the first book series where I honestly love all supporting characters, especially Lucas. These two authors really know how to balance plot action with romance and I was always squealing with joy when I got to the parts where the MCs could finally spend a little time together.
I have no clue how this will end and it's so refreshing when usually storylines can be pretty obvious from the beginning. I'm so here for the journey though!
Such clever and engaging plotlines, a phenomenal insight into the depths of all characters in a world which is just so believingly created by words alone. I can only recommend this high quality dystopian novel with a touch of sapphic fiction, honestly where has this been all my life?!? If you're only interested in pure romance, read this anyway, the fact that there's a little less romance makes those scenes so much better!

Without spoiling too much, I honestly can't wait for the codename Songbird explanation moment, I just know it'll hit right in the feels.


*Spoilers below*

Really good books make you feel all the feelings and for someone who barely cries, I shed a few tears at the end, that was just brutal and painful and beautiful and I'm so excited for the next book.
What a cliffhanger. Again.

I want to start this review by saying I have not read the previous book in the series, and have read the book as a stand alone. When I read the synopsis I feared I would have a hard time with the characters when I didn't know what happened in the previous one. It turns out I had nothing to worry about. This book caught me from page 1, and I will buy the first book of the series just to get more time with the characters.

Pro:
+ Fast paced and catching
+ Strong female characters
+ Believable dystopian book
+ Wonderful secondary characters
+ Perfect amount of angst

Con:
-

This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

Outland by Kristin Keppler and Allisa Bahney is another novel I’ve been looking forward to for a while now. This is the second book in the “The Badlands” series and continues the dystopian adventure/romance tale that began with Wasteland. I was totally hooked on this series with the first novel, and I believe this second one is equally as good, if not better than the first.

The adventure continues in book two with even more action and danger for our main characters Danielle (Dani) Clark and Katelyn (Kate) Turner. White River, Dani’s home for the past seven years has been destroyed by Simon and the NAF (National Armed Forces) and Dani, wanting revenge, has rejoined the Resistance with her family and friends. Kate is back at her post with the NAF and under the command of her mother, the general. She unsuccessfully tries to warn Dani of the fate of White River, and is very conflicted by the actions and decisions she sees her mother and the NAF taking in the war with The Resistance. Kate and Dani can’t seem to stay away from each other even though they are technically enemies. When Kate sees what the general is about to unleash against Dani and The Resistance, she becomes even more determined to help them.

This second book really lives up to all my expectations. The action begins on the first page and keeps going all the way to the last. The setting, which is well-developed in the first novel, continues to portray the desperate, dystopian aura of the tale. Dani, Kate and all of the secondary characters will pull you even more into the story. They are so real, so human, especially in the dangerous situations they find themselves in. The romance between Dani and Kate also continues to develop despite the opposite directions their lives seem to take.
The story does not end with this novel. There will be at least one more book in this series, and after reading the first two, I can’t wait for the third one to get here. This is not a standalone novel. You should read Wasteland and Outland in order. You will be glad you did.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Breaking out of the gates at a hell for leather pace, Outland is an action packed, full throttle sequel to the authors’ debut novel, Wasteland.

As the plot thickens and tensions rise in both the Resistance and the NAF, lines are drawn and irrevocable choices are made. The battle for control of the Badlands continues to rage, and Dani and Kate must rely on the fledgling trust between them, if they are to find common ground and achieve the seemingly unachievable. But to trust each other, however incompletely, is to question where their loyalties really lie and whether the ’cause’, or each other takes priority.

I found that I enjoyed Outland significantly more than book one in the series; in so much as being the second book and therefore a continuation of the story, I felt I really knew the characters and because the story picks up exactly where book one finished, the action and depth flows from the outset.

Where as book one focuses a little more on Dani’s back story, I was pleased to find that Outland delves deeper into Kate’s history, in particular, the strained if not none-existent relationship she has with her mother, General Judy Turner. The authors do a great job at portraying Kate’s turmoil as she tries to align her morals with her actions, and her anguish as she considers that to align the two may ultimately mean betraying both her family, and the ’cause’; leaving everything she’s ever known behind could prove to be the point of no return.

When it comes to Dani, the authors let us glimpse the buried side of her personality, the one filled with rage and rash decisions. As she fights to keep a level head, her return to the Resistance is not quite as she expected; Dani’s been out of the game a long time and the people she once idolised and held in high esteem are no longer who she thought they were.

This time around, the focus is on the intricate relationships between the Badlands many inhabitants, from enemies across the line, to friends, lovers and familial ties, the authors explore the stresses, joys and struggles of living, loving and fighting in a dystopian world. As the plot progresses and each side continues to up the ante, both Dani and Kate are forced to explore their inner turmoil over their thoughts and feelings not only for each other, but their comrades and their ’cause’; tough decisions are made resulting in ramifications no one could have foreseen.
As Outland draws to a dramatic close, the authors leave no doubt that this is just the beginning of the ultimate war between the Resistance and the NAF, and with emotions already running high, book three is sure to begin with a bang!

This is a sequel to Wasteland. I loved everything about this Dystopian story and thought the main characters were great. I strongly recommend. What a great read! 4.5 stars


Thanks to the publisher Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Who doesn't love a good dystopian read! Outland is the sequel to wasteland, and I highly recommend that you read the first in the series to be able to follow the storyline. It continues where the story dropped off, where we were just left hanging with lots of unanswered questions. It's jam-packed with action and adventure, suspense with a tad bit of romance involved.

I've given outland a 3.7/5

Excellent book, loved everything about it. The complex relationship between Dani and Kate, the relationships between all the members of the resistance and I love how Dani interacts with her brother and her friends. This book was more about the relationships between the people involved in this dystopian futuristic war and the toll that it takes on each every one of them and how they respond or don't respond. to what's happening around them. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to the next book in this series.

Apocalypse continued
This is the continuation of Wasteland and picks up where we were left hanging last time: Keppler and Bahney again pull off great characters. I was not always convinced of the world-building and the Resistance seems to be quite rag tag, but what can I say I am a sucker for a good dystopian tale with a good pinch of resistance story.
The story is still unfolding in this second installment, but the plot thickens and as readers we get the idea that there is even more cooking than we have already suspected. We are left on a cliff (literally) hanging around for the next installment. I have high hopes for a big bang ending where all is revealed.
PS.: Scratching my head: what happened with editing in the last chapters? There were an usual amount of „glitches“ up to using the wrong military ranks after much ado about promotions.

Thanks to BSB and netgalley for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily.

I don’t read enough dystopian books, but when I get my hands on one I am also super excited and don’t want to put it down. Outland is the second book in the Badlands Series and you should read Wasteland before you dive into this one.

Outland picks up right where Wasteland ended and I am rather happy for it. There is so much going on in these books, in the war, that you can’t skip any time. As in Wasteland this book has alternating chapters in both Dani’s and Kate’s perspective. And again I have the feeling these authors divvied up the chapters, one writing Dani and the other Kate. I won’t say much about the story because it is so closely tied to Wasteland and I don’t want to spoil either read for anyone. Let’s just say it all kicks into another gear. There aren’t as much gruesome battle details in this one, this one is a bit more focused on strategy and (inner) conflict than actual battles.

These books aren’t for everyone, but I enjoy this. Any lover of dystopian or action/ adventure would enjoy this series. What I do like to add is that, especially in later chapters, I noticed some “sloppy” editing. Some sentences got a little confusing to read, which is a shame, but all is forgiven because I am here for all this dystopian action. Please give me/ us book 3 really soon!

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Dani and Kate are each fighting to saved the survivors while fighting their attraction towards each other. As Kate struggles which way is right her mother way or Dani way who is the leader of Resistance fighting for freedom and democracy.

I enjoy this read it’s great continuation of the first book the plot and actions move well I love all the emotional beats it’s was great characters development with good guys and bad guys can’t wait for the next.

In this second book in Badlands series we gave Resistance leader Dani and Kate a major in the NAF reuniting. Each are fighting for the survivors of a Third World War. The NAF is the current military government that is forcing the survivors to choose the NAF or be killed. The Resistance is fighting for democracy and freedom. Kates mother is the head of the NAF and is hell bent on destroying every town and city in her pursuit of Dani and her team
of resistance fighters. Kate is forced to choose between her mother and her growing attraction to Dani.

Keppler and Bahney did a great job with this sequel. It was better than the first book. I really liked the build up of emotion between the two MCs and the side characters were well done, both the good guys and the villains. The action scenes and the plot moved along well. I throughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next installment. Highly recommend for all dystopian story lovers.

ARC received for a voluntary and honest review.