GrimmPariah.Dark Messiah.Harbinger of death.My reputation has always preceded me.I’m a brother to the queen of the Badlands.I’m one of the few confidants to her fiancé–the devil himself.And those whispered rumors that I’m a silent killer, a true harvester of souls? They’re true. People never see me coming. I don’t discriminate, I show no mercy, and I feel no remorse. My only loyalty is to my … discriminate, I show no mercy, and I feel no remorse.
My only loyalty is to my family and when someone important to them goes missing, I vow to do whatever is necessary to track her down and bring her back.
But the person I find is not the same woman who was stolen away.
Something’s different about her.
Something I find myself drawn to as we fight our way back to hell.
Arlen
Stubborn.
Reckless.
Original family disappointment.
My reputation has never preceded me.
I’m supposed to be this spoiled, rich btch who does everything her daddy tells her.
I was forbidden to even think about the Badlands.
But money means nothin to me and my paradise was a pretty cage I refused to be trapped in.
I fought my way out, I found a new family, and even though sht got tough sometimes it all worked out in the end.
And then I got kidnapped.
I thought it was over for me.
I almost broke.
I should have known he would never let that happen.
And I should have realized something inside me had shifted.
Maybe then I’d have seen the signs that I was falling for an irredeemable man.
A man who taught me that there was power in taking away a life.
A man who showed me just how beautiful hell truly was.
It’s only fair I warn you that this is not a story about a rescued damsel in distress.
This is a story about what happens when a man who collects souls finally meets his match.
Outcasts is the 3rd book in the Badlands series. This book can be read as a standalone but I recommend starting Savages & Deviants first.
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Outcasts is book three and Grimm and Arlen’s book. Like the previous books, It was dark and twisted and so good. I loved it! I loved Grimm and Arlen. They were perfect together!
Jesus Christ.. I think I need to bathe in holy water after finishing Natalie Bennett’s latest in the Badlands series. The Queen of the Dark and Depraved just fed my black soul exactly everything it needs that thrives on all of this delicious darkness.
I LOVE this author’s brand of dark, and it should scare me, but it doesn’t. I do believe this series is one of the darkest I’ve read to date and I soaked up every wicked word and gruesome detail. I mean, I have morals and all but not when I submerge myself into a fictional world, then I chuck that shit right out the window.
On this nightmarish adventure, Arlen has been taken, but her dark knight – Grimm – saves her, only to lead her into another nightmare in the dark world they live in… but this nightmare is one she welcomes and flourishes in with the reaper by her side, leaving a bloodbath in their wake.
“Her halo was broken, but there was brimstone burning in her eyes. Her hatred was beautiful. I’d give her a crown forged of blood and bone from every motherfucker who’d laid a hand on what was mine. I hoped she was ready to paint some shit red. We weren’t going home until their bodies were at our feet.”
I loved seeing the different sides to Grimm; on one hand he was death, the reaper, a silent and vicious cold-blooded killer with no remorse.. But on the other hand, when he was with Arlen, he was oddly sweet and the words coming out of his mouth had my toes curling. And Arlen was his perfect counterpart – she was mercy; he was death, and they were wickedly beautiful together. They were heartless to everyone else around them, but to each other they were vulnerable with one another. He was her dark king, and she was his hellish queen.
“We are not soul-mates, but one eternal flame split in two. We were going to set fire to anything and anyone that stood between us and the way back to our dark paradise.”
Be sure to check your morals at the door when you dive into this sick and sinful world because Natalie Bennett shows no mercy to her readers.
5 Cranky Stars
Again…these books are not fluff pieces. There are no happy endings or feel good moments. It is raw violence with sexual themes wrapped in raw violence and topped with dysfunction.
Proceed at your own risk.
Book 3 continues the story of The Savages as they fight for dominance in the Badlands. Outcasts is the story of Arlen and Grimm AKA Grim Reaper. We get insight into how they became as dark and dangerous as they are and how their romance evolves. The fantastic storytelling continues to drive us deep into these characters, finding layers in all of the darkness. Part of why it is so easy to love the characters of The Badlands is because they are absolutely SURE in who they are. And give not one crap to give about morality. Ah…the freedom!!
Things are coming to a head in the Badlands and we quickly learn exactly why the Savages reign.
It’s not just a name…it is who they are.
~ He showed me how beautiful hell could be and all the wicked delight to be found in the dark. ~
I can’t get enough of this series. It’s darkly delicious and beautifully barbaric!! Grimm and Arlen’s story is just as deranged and perverse as Cali and Romero’s and I am relishing every disturbing detail. Bennett is the matriarch of madness!
Grimm, brother of Romero’s queen, he is royalty of sorts. He isn’t a hero, he is the reaper. Dark, diabolical and the silent bringer of death. He needs his queen and there will be no mercy shown for those who have taken her.
Arlen, stolen by Romero’s brother Noah, is collateral. But for whom? And what does her father, the Mayor of Centriole have to do with the Savages and the Badlands? Imprisoned and held captive, Arlen is near to being broken and defeated. And just when she cannot withstand or be subjected to anymore of Noah’s cruelty, her warrior comes for her and shows her that hell has beauty too.
~ I’d give her a crown forged of blood and bone from every motherfucker who’d laid a hand on what was mine. ~
This book is the definition of dark and disturbing!!! I highly recommend The Badlands Series to those who like to feed their dark and corrupted souls!!!
4.5* Disturbingly Delicious Dark Stars
Outcasts is the 3rd book on the Badlands series by Natalie Bennett and is the story of Grimm and Arlen. I have to tell you that I liked the first two books but only gave them 3 stars. Not because of the story line or characters but really because of the holes in the story line, unclear thoughts and editing mistakes. THE STORY and the Characters in this series really stick with you and that is really why I picked up Outcasts.
I was so sad that the editing issues were still there but I knew what to expect so I went in it filling in the wholes and treating it like it was more of a rough that the finished product.
There is just something about this series. It gets in your head and stays.
I loved Arlen and Grimm but you really need to read Book 1 Savages and Book 2 Deviants and the truth is that I will buy Book 4.
DARK, completely messed up erotic romance!!!
Texas Hugs and Happy Reading!!
You know I don’t think it really matters the dark depraved satanic stuff that comes from the depths of Natalie Bennet’s soul.
I just can’t help but absorb the craziness and depravity portrayed here so decadently.
Really just flowing with the tide and giggling manically as we get to delve deeper amidst the fucked up pages that is ultimately Outcasts and this author’s amazingly demented psyche.
And man this stuff; is as always major fucked up; like totally.
Sorry; I just can’t bring myself to care though as its just such compelling reading.
So in “outcasts” we get to continue the story we started in previous books and this begins initially with Arlen still MIA waiting for Grimm to come rescue her arse from her kidnapper Noah.
And In direct opposition to most romances (if you could call this that) the feelings between Grimm and Arlen are already established and on a firm ground, just not yet acted upon by either party involved.
And from the onset, we are thrown right back centre-stage into the action with blood, gore and torture aplenty.
“Outcasts” really doesn’t pull its punches in that particular department.
There were even occasions when I found my self going no that’s just sick man, no way.
So here we get to be up close and personal with what makes the Reaper that is Grim himself actually tick.
And we also get a front row seat to his brand of psychotic savagery and his way of giving his brat all of his attention and true self.
“I’d give her a crown forged of blood and bone from every motherfucker who’d laid a hand on what was mine. I hoped she was ready to paint some shit red. We weren’t going home until their bodies were at our feet.”
“Grimm was filthy, wicked down to his core, but he was the kind of filthy you wanted coating every fibre of your being, straight down to your bare bones”.
Then we have Arlen; Grimm’s brat, already damaged, but since her capture and life’s cruel lessons she now on the wrong side of cray-cray.
And what she wants most of all; besides grim, is to bathe in the blood of her enemies.
she is no longer so hung up on right verses wrong and is now fully embracing her malfuctioning moral compass.
So this is told from duel POV with a bonus chapter at the end courtesy of Romero.
We don’t get to see that much of Rom and Cali here though they do make the occasional cameo.
“Outcasts” mainly features Grimm, Arlen and Cobra heavily with some extra newcomers also thrown into the mix.
This was extremely ramped throughout; which as you can expect from this series was of a very graphic nature.
“Outcasts” was also super steaming hot setting the pages alight with its chemistry.
Grim and his brat certainly had a connection here and I could really feel it literally projecting off the page, heading right for me.
sometimes it’s the little things. like a shared interest.
“I wondered what it said about my relationship when I knew it was my man who killed someone simply by the way they were executed; clearly, we were very compatible.”
So I know this says it can be read as a standalone but in my opinion, I wouldn’t advise it.
You would lose so much and I do think have issues following along with the present timeline.
My advice, start at the beginning with savages you really won’t regret it.
Its a fantastically imaginative journey; that would be a shame to miss.
But before I go, a warning “Outcasts” is an extremely dark read dealing with some very graphic scenes.
If this is at all a trigger for you please do avoid, you have been warned.
If like me you like to take a stroll on the dark side occasionally then, by all means, please do join me on this effed up post-apocalyptic ride.
I want to leave you with this quote; which I think sums Grimm and Brats relationship up perfectly.
“She was mercy. I was death. She’d always be Sally. I’d be her Jack. A goddess like Persophone, to a dark lord like Hades. Queen of death. Queen of me. For always.”
Thank You to the Author for providing me with an ARC of “Outcasts (Badlands #3)” of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Five Bloody Daggers for Outcasts
Not even sure where to start – How can something so depraved and so bloody licentious be so damn good?
We get it all -again- with Grimm and Brat’s tale –
There was such beauty in the way they bathed themselves in the blood of their enemies * sigh* They have been the apt couple since they first “stumbled” upon one another
I honestly think I may have fallen a bit more for Grimm in this one.. He is just so dark and deadly and ohhh so scrumpdillicious
There are some great new twists in book three – Brat’s eyes are awakened in a way that leaves her soul just a bit tainted and a whole lot jaded – Some of the other characters we love so much are jolted into painful realities they never saw coming and others are gifted with small blessings –
There is the introduction of some new characters that will definitely have you scratching your head – I questioned if they were going to make it to the final scenes .. I am not telling how that plays out
The men and the women of the Badlands just keep getting more debauched and perverted as time rolls on- but then again only the strong survive the Badlands and we all know how much they love their depravity
We were left with some serious clues and questions as to what the future holds for our band of sinners – I am eagerly awaiting book four
My understanding is you can read this as a standalone –
I personally suggest starting with book one Savages – it just makes the whole journey that much more ….
~WRITING – PLOT – PACE~
I feel like I just keep repeating myself whenever I try to write a review for this author’s books. I am a huge fan, and I pretty much love everything she has written to date. This was another fantastic read, and I am loving this series. It was well written. It was well paced. The plot was engaging and kept me turning the pages. There was torture. There was rape. There were sweet moments. There were sick moments, and there was blood. A LOT of blood and gore. How none of these people have Hep C is beyond me (lol). Last, it was all wrapped up in a happy for now cliffhanger.
~HERO~
GRIMM…I loved Grimm. He was deeply disturbed. He was sweet. He was hot. He was (eventually) all about Arlen. I wish he would have made his move a little sooner thus saving Arlen from being gang raped over and over again, but I also understood that was a turning point for both characters, so I went with it.
~HEROINE~
ARLEN…I loved Arlen in the previous book and I loved her even more in this one. She was feisty. She was strong. She rose from the ashes of being raped and became the perfect foil for Grimm.
~SECONDARY CHARACTERS~
As with the first couple of books, this one had some really great secondary characters. We see a little of Cali and Romero. We get A LOT of Cobra, who I adore, and I can’t wait to read his book. Although, I have NO idea who his heroine is going to be? Blue? Kat? Beth? Blue and Kat being two new additions to the series. Both of them intrigued me a lot.
~HEAT LEVEL~
Medium. There are some pretty twisted sex scenes in this one. Most of them featuring pain and blood in one form or the other. There is also exhibitionism and voyeurism.
~ANGST LEVEL – SEXUAL HISTORIES~
Low…relationship wise. Medium…plot wise. This couple is pretty tight from the minute Grimm saves Arlen. I will say I wasn’t overly fond that Grimm was sticking his dick down OW throats while Arlen was missing and getting repeatedly gang raped. There isn’t an OW scene or anything, Grimm just mentions it while having a chat with Arlen. They weren’t technically a couple yet, so I wasn’t overly bothered by it. That said, it would have been nice had he kept it in his pants while he was actively looking for her. There was no OW drama. There was some OM drama in the form of multiple men raping Arlen. These scenes were semi graphic in nature.
~IN THE END~
I loved it. Another fantastic book by Natalie Bennett. Well written and paced. Engaging and completely twisted as f-ck plot. Deranged (but at the same time lovable) characters. Great cast of equally f-cked up secondary characters. What more can you ask for? Therefore yours truly is going to give this one two very solid thumbs up. Bring on book four!
The third book in the Badlands series and it features Arlen and Grimm.
Arlen has been taken by Noah and what happens to her there, changes her forever. It is a change that makes her perfect for Grimm. they make sense together.
The book reads like a movie. There is a lot of action, incredible steamy scenes, but also funny and snarky dialogue between the characters. It is also dark, gritty and bloody.
We also get more background about the world and the other players. I look forward to the next book.
One of my favorite lines is
We are not soul-mates, but one eternal flame split in two. We were going to set fire to anything and anyone that stood between is and the way back to our dark.