Winner in the 2018 Kindle Books Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy FictionB.R.A.G.Medallion HonoreeFinalist in the 2018 Wishing Shelf Book Awards For Adult FictionTop 10 Finalist in the Author Academy Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy FictionCover Finalist in the 2019 RONE Awards from InD’tale Magazine “Fear is normal, Indra, it is what you do with that fear that determines if you are strong or weak.”In the dusty … fear that determines if you are strong or weak.”
In the dusty ruins of the world, three groups exist: the Sovereign, the Fortis, and the Outliers.
Indra is an Outlier. Living on land that has not healed from the poison of the past, the Outliers have adapted – but to the Sovereign and the Fortis, they are nothing. For centuries the Fortis have made their abuse of Outliers a sport, but when Asa comes to Indra’s rescue, she sees something different in him. Something that marks him as so much more than just a Fortis guard.
But when Indra’s world begins to unravel, even the quiet alliance she and Asa have formed cannot save her from the wrath of the Sovereign. In one life-altering moment, everything Indra has ever known is ripped away, forcing her to face a world even more harsh and unforgiving. Broken and scarred, Indra finds herself on a journey that will challenge everything she’s ever been taught, learning along the way that she’s stronger than she ever imagined. Maybe even strong enough to free her people forever.
An emotional first book in an exciting dystopian series, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and The Handmaid’s Tale.
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Society always forms a structure.
Rarely is it based on kindness and equality. In stories like this one that is very clear. What does it take to change an unjust system? If everyone keeps going along with the status quo? How many direct pains and losses does it take? What will inspire people to stand together against injustice?
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Let me just start this review off by saying this book is AMAZING. I read the blurb before reading, and I was intrigued, but I’ve never read anything by Kate L. Mary, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. From the first chapter, I was hooked and I read the book in one day.
Without long, drawn out paragraphs, Kate L. Mary is able to paint a vivid and interesting world. I love how each tribe of the Outliers is different, and even though we spend the majoirty of our time with Indra and the Winta tribe, we still get a clear picture of the other three. We are also given lots of insight on how the Fortis and the Soverign live, and it helps move the plot along.
Indra is a fantastic main character. She is everything I wanted her to be. She isn’t perfect, she has her flaws, but she isn’t plain or weak either. She’s a great mix of everything, and a really well rounded character. This is missing in a lot of stories I read, and I’m so impressed.
Each character we meet has distinct voice and I never felt confused about who each character was. With a relatively large cast, having every character be recognizable was super helpful when reading.
I was never bored with Outliers, and I didn’t want it to end. The book was a page turner, and I devoured this story. I’m so impressed with this novel and I can’t wait to read more from Kate L. Mary!
This is a fantastic read. This Author has created such a different world that pulled me in and is a real page turner. The story building is fantastic as well as the story. This read is right up there with Divergent and the 100. One of my favorite types of genres. I felt like the Characters emotions really come out in the writings. I definitely recommend this read.
Shauna Joesten
Outliers: A Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Novel (The Outliers Saga, Book 1) by Kate L. Mary and narrated by Grace Sylvan is Kate’s best series to date in my opinion. If you enjoy dark post-apocalyptic/dystopian worlds with a strong female lead as the series moves forward, this is the book for you.
What’s it about? Many years into the future castes have settled on what’s left of the land, most of which is poisonous and not suitable to grow crops. The Sovereign, who are the upper class, rule with an iron hand. The Fortis are the Sovereign’s guards and enforce the laws. In the lower class are the four Outlier tribes, who are employed by the Sovereign as they need the jobs to survive. The story is told through Indra’s viewpoint. She faces many dangers from her village to work every day and then some. Other elements in the book: love interests, death, borderlands, wastelands, the wilds, hunting for food, one child rule for the Sovereign, tribal traditions, and more. This book has excellent world building and character development (this might be the best series of Kate’s books to date- I’ve already started the second book and have been unable to put either of them down- help!). If you enjoy books with strong female leads, who find their strength, will to live, and revenge after trauma, this is the book for you. Keep in mind Indra grows as a person as the series goes on, so she is not kick butt right from the start. There is a decent amount of brutality in this book- it is not for the faint of heart.
The narrator, Grace Sylvan, did a great job. Initially I wasn’t sure, but not long after I started listening, it was clear she is the perfect fit. Her accent reminded me of Cloud Atlas in a way- so stick with it if you aren’t sure at first. I would definitely check out other books by her.
Overall I highly recommend the audiobook. I’m already on book two and am patiently waiting for book three to be released on audible. If you enjoy dark post-apocalyptic/dystopian worlds with a strong female lead, this is the book for you.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings: As I stated before, this is not for the faint of heart. Hunting of animals for food, beheading and other ways of dying, sex on wedding night and other times (not in graphic detail), cutting off hand as a punishment, removal of clothes to be searched (repeatedly), sexual harassment/verbal harassment of the Outliers, repeated rape of staff (male raping women- sometimes resulting in pregnancy), whipping of staff, electroprods used on staff, death of spouse, talk of miscarriages (multiple), adoption, and tattoos. I do not recall any swearing.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!
I really liked this book, as much as Kate Mary’s zombie series. Protagonist Indra is a member of one of the four tribes of Outliers, in a world where the Sovereign people rule, with the Fortis providing the muscle. The Outliers are the workers, the weak, who rely on hereditary jobs in the Sovereign’s kingdom. Immediately, I wanted to know where this strange land is supposed to be; a fantasy world, or Earth? The suggestion that it’s Earth comes at just the right time, as Indra is shown the remains of one of the cities. Centuries before, their world had been overcrowded, with technology so sophisticated that the inhabitants’ weapons could wipe out whole kingdoms; this they did, unleashing ‘poison’ into the world that rendered much of it a wasteland. ‘What they had fought over none of us knew for certain, but we know that it had not only destroyed them, but left the earth barren and dry… poisoning it for future generations.’
Yes, I think it’s mean to be Earth, but we don’t know. Books exist, containing writing that no one can understand. I love that the question was put into my mind but not answered fully, and hope there will be more about this in future episodes. There are other clues ~ the rich Sovereign have grown weak, small and plump because they are waited upon and spend much time eating and drinking, and the women make all the decisions (!!). However, in the wilds, where Indra’s tribe (the Winta) live, women are the weaker sex; they tend the home fires while the men go out hunting.
The beginning of this new series builds up nicely, painting pictures of the world I know I am going to continue to read about. I liked how KLM has done this; it’s not a big information dump, but she skillfully sets up all the info we need about the Sovereign, Fortis and Outliers within the first few chapters of the story, so we’re good to go for the rest. I was engrossed from the start.
After lots of terrible things happen to Indra, her friends and family, she looks around at the women of her tribe ~ women unarmed, women defenceless and useless. This, she knows, must change.
As I was reading, I thought, ‘KLM has been watching Outsiders’, and in the Author’s Note she thanks the show for giving her the name Asa for the guy I had my eye on as the main love interest/hero of the hour. Works for me ~ I love Outsiders (I picture Indra looking like G’Winveer, for anyone else who watches it).
This first instalment of the Outliers saga is a real ‘easy-read’ at the same time as being a totally gripping page-turner, and I read 90% of it in one day. Any negatives? There are a few small editing glitches (the same information repeated more than once, a couple of minor instances that seemed like afterthoughts dropped in, instead of being threaded through the story), but nothing that would worry most readers, and I give this a wholehearted thumbs up. Roll on May, when Book #2 is published!
I’ll just come right out and say it……this is NOT my usual genre. I won’t get into exactly why I gave this author a try, BUT I’m sure glad I did. I found this book about a world where you have three classes of people…The Sovereign (think nose in the air, I’m better than the rest of you. Only really nasty as the same time), The Fortis (think hired muscle. Not well paid, but in this world it’s “do as I say or else”), then you have the underdogs….The Outliers (think bottom of the food chain, desperate yet a very proud people, these folks go through a living hell and are the best bunch of the three classes). The story follows Outlier Indra, a very strong young woman, stuck working for next to nothing at the heels of the good for nothing, Sovereign. She is very dedicated to her family and her tribe working to keep getting the little help the upper crust is willing to give so they never have to lift a finger.
I found this book very difficult to read, yet it was very well written and had some amazingly interesting, likable characters. Indra actually made me wish I could be as determined, strong willed and fearless as she is. This world that author Kate L. Mary has created makes one in this world appreciate what they have and question if we would be able to survive this Dystopian madness. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Audiobook review: Outliers is a fantasy story involving an unfair class system with each group taking advantage of the perceived lesser group. The storyline is about a young lady and the dynamics around her that take her from a submissive to a dominant. Unfortunately, this journey is painful and parts (sexual violence & death) that may be difficult for some. The narrator did a great job! I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The world of The Outliers Saga is made up of three different classes of people. The high society and rulers of the world are the Sovereign who live inside the walls of the Sovereign City. Sovereign City is ruled by the women and is the one who makes all the rules and enforces them. They have a one-child rule where if anyone has more than one child that child is left outside of the walls to die.
The next group of people is the Fortis that live just outside the walls of Sovereign City. The Fortis take jobs inside the walls of Sovereign City as guards and they are given the food that is not eaten by the Sovereign people. They hate the Outliers and use their role as guards to dish out punishments and overrule them.
The Outliers is the next group of people who are considered as the lowest class of people who have to walk for miles and miles to work inside the walls. They have to walk through the badlands with all kinds of dangerous animals. The men of the Outliers group are the only ones who are allowed to go hunting to provide for the family the women are not allowed to hunt.
Through Indra’s eyes we are shown the world in which she lives in; a world of desolate. Indra works inside the walls of Sovereign City as a housemaid. She does whatever she is told to do by the lady of the house or she is punished. Indra knows the rules and tries her best to follow them day after day. She also looks out for her best friend Mira who works with her. If the need arises for her to do so Indra would step in and take the blame for something her friend has done to save her friend the punishment that is to come.
Indra may not be the strong, bada** fighting woman who can beat almost in anyone in a battle but she is strong inside and sometimes that is all that is needed to be a winner. Indra soon learns that she is stronger than she ever knew when the rules inside the walls start to change and tragedy comes into her life that almost destroys her.
After this horrific event in her life takes place Indra’s whole life falls apart and nearly destroys her. Her heart is ripped in to and she does things that will change her life forever. Will it make her a better person? Will it make her stronger?
I love dystopian books and I loved the world in which the author created for Outliers. The way the people are treated is not any different than how some people are treated in today’s society. About the only difference is the material things that each group has.
I love books with worlds like the one the author created for Outliers, worlds that could possibly be our future. The Outliers is one of my favorite books and I can’t wait to read more in this world. The Outliers will grab you from the very first page and will not let go until the end. It is one of those books where you can’t turn the pages fast enough to find out how it all turns out but at the same time, you don’t want it to end ever.
I just started watching The 100 on Netflix this week; I love it, so image how excited I was to learn that The 100 is what inspired the Outliers.
If you love dystopian, post-apocalyptic books or tv shows like The 100 or Outsiders then you will love Outliers.
5 Indra Strong Stars!!!
Kate L Mary has given us the start of an amazing new post-apocalyptic world. The world is left with three different groups of people. The top is the Sovereign and they are sitting pretty. You have the Fortis. They’re big and strong and they’re the Sovereign’s muscle. As long as they keep the Outliers in line the Sovereign give them things like electric and running water. At the bottom with twice the people then the Sovereign & Fortis put together is the Outliers. The Outliers are spread out and form four tribes.
Indra is part of the Winta tribe. She works for house of Saffron. Indra and her friend Mira must walk thru the wastelands past the Lygan Cliffs thru Fortis and Sovereign city everyday.
Indra has worked at her job for a few years. The Outliers only get their jobs passed down from family members. She got her a few years ago when her mom was too sick and weak to do it anymore.
The only thing they receive for their work is food that can’t grow in the wastelands where they live and some medicine for her mom.
Indra has been chased for years by Brodi. Indra finally realizes she’s in love and they marry in their tribes wedding ceremony. They get into a routine. When Indra isn’t working Bodhi takes her into the woods. While men in their village don’t believe women belong hunting and providing. Bodhi wants her to know how to survive if something were to happen to him.
Indra continues working in the city. But, the Sovereign are changing how things are done. Of course making the Outliers lives harder and harder. Luckily for Indra there’s Asa. He’s not like the rest of the Fortis people. He stands up for Indra and her friend Mira.
As weird as it is Indra and Asa end up friends. They don’t interact much. But, they respect each other. Even though Indra loves her husband, Asa makes her feel things she’s not sure how to take.
One day when Asa isn’t at work things don’t go well for Indra. Her life as well as everybody she cares about changes. Nobody is the same from that day forward.
I’m hoping this is the start of an amazing story. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down. There’s so many storylines that can be told it’s amazing!!! I can’t wait for more of Indra. She’s my favorite leading lady that I have read this year. Kate L Mary has definitely started another what looks to be one of my favorite series! Can’t wait for book two
I’m not sure what Kate L Mary’s plan for this book is…but I certainly hope it is going to be another big multi-book series! Indra lives in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world. There are 3 known groups of people in this world: the Outliers (gentle people where men are basically the providers, women are taken care of), the Fortis (big bullies where men and women are equal and harsh), and the Sovereign (the rich and spoiled where women are the rulers and the bulk of the other groups are their ‘employees’—and I use that term loosely). Right from the start, Kate L Mary sets the scene, giving great descriptions of the landscape and the people. And immediately you are drawn into Indra. The book is filled with surprises…I cried. And romance…I cried again. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
If this is your first Kate L Mary book, look her up on Goodreads or Amazon! You will find a bounty of books to keep you reading for a LONG time.
A great story, interesting characters and heartbreaking. Also very empowering.
Overall I enjoyed this instalment of the Outliers Sage. I like that it didn’t end on a cliffhanger, but rather at a natural break point in the story. The whole book is written in the first person and from Indra’s point of view, which is a little unusual in dystopian/Sci-Fi novel.
For me, the story was a little slow at first. Whilst I appreciate that there is a need to world build and to introduce the various characters, it felt as though nothing much happened. It is so worth sticking with though because once the story picked up pace, I really got drawn in and really didn’t want to put the book down.
There are some wonderful, inspiring events in the story and some downright heartbreaking moments. I really enjoyed seeing Indra grow as a person, to start finding herself and realising her inner strength. I will definitely be continuing with this series and can’t wait to find out what happens next.
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