
Outliers: A Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Novel
The Outliers Saga, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Grace Sylvan
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By:
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Kate L. Mary
About this listen
First Place Winner in the 2018 Kindle Book Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction
Finalist in the 2018 Author Academy Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction
"Fear is normal, Indra, it is what you do with that 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.
©2018 Kate L. Mary (P)2018 Kate L. MaryThe reader is introduced to Indra, a trusted servant in the House of Saffron, which lies within the Sovereign City. The Sovereigns lead a life of indolence and wealth, a matriarchal society, with servants to do their every bidding or suffer harsh and immediate punishment. But to be a servant in the City is a position much sought after because these favoured ones are able to take food and medicines back to their families, provisions much needed in the villages of the Outliers. Every day, Indra and her friend make the journey to and from the City, facing ferocious beasts and the even more dangerous men of the Fortis, the tribe surrounding the City walls who also provide the guards.
Saffron, Indra's mistress, is considered to be one of the kinder Soveriegns, but within the City things are changing and life is becoming more difficult for the Outliers working there.
Told in the first person by Indra herself, narrator Grace Sylvan becomes the young woman as she tells of her life, her fears and her remeberances, good as well as bad. And of the times of shame she encounters, her feelings of guilt and those of love. Read with a gently accented voice, Ms.Sylvan reads with a delicacy, every sentence beautifully intoned and reflecting the text. It is a remarkable performance which further breathes life into this already well characterized woman.
I would be remiss if I did not also mention the excellent world building of this novel, plus the images of the lands within which it is set are vividly painted into the reader's mind's eye. Stunning.
I was very fortunate in being freely gifted a complimentary copy of The Outliers, by the rights holder, at my request via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. I understand that this is the first in a series and very much hope that the next book will soon be brought out in Audio. If it matches the quality of this book, it will be well worth waiting for.
Dreams of beyond the Wilds
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If I have to complain about something it will be that I don't really feel that the narrator did the book justice. She feels older than Indra, in the way she sounds and portrays the characters. I also found it quite difficult to hear the difference between the characters. However, she has a lovely, soothing voice which I think would be perfect when it comes to storytelling and fairytales. Keep in mind that this is my personal opinion, and you might love the way she narrates!
Love the story!
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a world a new
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I contacted the author on social media who very kindly gave me a copy of the book.
This book had me captured immediately and I found myself needing to listen to it when ever I can I even connected it to my TV so I could listen to it whilst Zwifting.
As ever when reviewing an audio book the narration can make or break even the best of books. I had not heard of Grace Sylvan before listening to this audiobook she has a very distinctive voice and I couldn't place the accent but she really brings the characters to life and draws you into the world that Kate L Mary has created. The recording is high quality with no background noise or pauses between recording session.
So onto the actual book this is billed as a Saga and if the first book is anything to go by it is going to be amazing. This story is set in a post apocalyptic dystopian future with a caste based system. Kate L Mary creates a vivid world which came alive as I listened, I haven't felt as taken into a world since Brandon Sanderson Stormlight Archives. The language is detailed without being over complicated the names and characters are introduced in a way which are easy to follow.
The story is told from a first person perspective and you can really feel and empathise with the main character and those around her in a way which is rare in most books.
Enthralling Listen
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****TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE****
When some awful WW3 style conflict destroys the world... the remainder of the human race has become Sovereign (your typical blue blood snobby 1%) and Forties (those who live outside the gates protecting the Walled Cities inhabited by Sovereigns... probably close to what would have once been soldiers, fighters or guards to protect their settlements from threats in the past only now its mutated giant animals) and Outliers.. those who live on their own terms outside the cities... but are now treated like indentured servants. Families from her village have been bound to a Sovereign family, inheriting their parents roles within the households, often mistreated and under threat of new legislation which would give them slave status and make them even more vulnerable to Sovereign abuse.
She is from the Winta Tribe, one of several such tribes which rarely mix outside the walls even though inside the Cities they all share a lowly status.
This is how Indra became a house servant in the Sovereigns household, her time hasn't been easy.. shes been beaten, treated like chattel, and her mistresses son has abused her in the past, even forcing other maids like her out of service when he has made them pregnant. The furies of the Sovereigns are not her only problem... Forties Guards regularly abuse their position, and use tormenting the Outliers as sport.
Asa is a Forties guard who comes to Indras rescue one afternoon, even though he is above her in the twisted Caste System. The kind where outlier children have their hands cut off if accused of theft, where guards strip search women with impunity, where masters of their houses routinely abuse their position for carnal purposes. Indra's compliant nature only comes because she has the maturity to adapt like water, she does what she can to survive.
New laws are being passed every day, each more humiliating than the last, and now accommodations are being built to keep the worker outliers imprisoned in Forties village Indra knows they are running out of time. After another enduring a violation to protect her by the cruel son of her Mistresses House and an even greater loss... she begins to give more serious consideration to the realization she's had that Outliers, as scattered as their tribes were.... greatly outnumbered both the Forties and the Sovereign.
My only comment would be that the Narrator's accent was a little grating at first but the story is so good I had to kept going.
Old World Post Apocalypse Problems... new Century.
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This is oone hell oof a book
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The characters are very well written and I really enjoyed the narrator. Some reviewers seem to not like the narrators accent but I think it really added to the story! I felt totally immersed in the dystopian world and really felt for the characters. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Absolutely loved it!
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A strong start to another impressive saga
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Grabs your attention from beginning to end.
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I like that there's scope for the series to go in many different directions as from book one there have been many doors left ajar. I found myself tearing up in the isles of Tescos at a certain part of the book in pure identification... I had to go sit down!!! powerful stuff.
Kate. l. Mary has an uncanny way of getting me to listen to different types of post apocolytic / dystopian novels that don't contain a zombie and have me loving them. She's an educator.
I can't recommend this book enough if your looking for a twisty ride with a not so predictable GPS. 10☆
Interesting Concept....
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