Review: Outlawed by Anna North
Overview:
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Outlawed was a meh read for me. I enjoyed the diverse female cast of characters, but the pacing was too slow, the narration was inconsistent, and there was a bit too much nature imagery for my tastes.
Content Warning:
Outlawed contains racism, medical bias, sexism, childbirth, miscarriage, child death, mental illness, gun violence, sexual content, genital mutilation, and references to suicide.
Book Description:
Outlawed is an adult historical fiction. Ada is a young girl who lives in a town where being barren can mean being tried and hung as a witch. When she is not able to produce a child after a year of marriage, she is forced to flee and eventually ends up sheltering with the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang. They are planning their biggest heist yet, and Ada must decide if she wants to help them secure the funds to create a haven for outcasts like her.
On the Characters and Representation:
My favorite parts of this book are the diverse cast of female characters and how the author approached historical events and medical practices through a more social justice based lens. I’ve been trying to read more historical fiction lately, and I’ve noticed that a lot of stories that are supposedly very feminist only have female characters that are white, straight, and able-bodied. Outlawed was a breath of fresh air in the sense that it provided a more intersectional narrative (including women of color, lgbt+ women, and women with disabilities).
On the Plot and Pacing:
This book covers a large period of time in less than three hundred pages, yet it felt agonizingly slow to read because of its meandering plot. There are so many unnecessary scenes and pit stops along the way before the greater goals and conflicts of the story are revealed. Before Ada even reaches the Hole in the Wall Gang, she joins a covenant, smuggles herself out of the covenant, and then crosses the wild western frontier alone. Then, after that, it’s several more chapters until North truly starts to delve into Ada’s divided loyalties, fears for the future, etc.
On the Narration [spoilers]:
The narration style of Outlawed is 1st person, past-tense (aka a diary-like recount of events by a narrator who’s already lived through what they’re describing). This is style is typical for historical fiction, but the way it was applied here allowed for HUGE gaps in the development of the plot. One instance of this that particularly bugs me is the jailbreak of Ada and her partner. One chapter ends with their failed escape from the jail, and the next begins after they’ve been successfully freed and taken back to the Hole in the Wall. Not only was this a huge missed opportunity for high-stakes action and a change of pace, but the jump forward in time is jarring to the reader. My initial reaction when reading these chapters was to check and make sure I didn’t accidentally skip pages because it felt that wrong.
On the Nature Imagery:
Nature imagery is abundant in this book. I know some folks particularly enjoy the level of detail and western world-building that such description provides, but I personally skimmed over sections that were heavy with it.
On Who Might Enjoy Outlawed:
I recommend you read Outlawed if you:
like movies and television shows like Ocean’s 8, Charlies Angels, and Hell on Wheels
want reads similar to The Familiars by Stacey Halls
enjoy works where women are portrayed in traditionally male-dominated roles
need more books with diverse characters
PLEASE NOTE: Image sources for the photo edit on this post can be found here.