Outliers: A Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Novel

By: Kate L. Mary

Narrated by: Grace Sylvan

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

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. Mary

Holy Roller Coaster of Emotions!!!

This book had me riding the emotional roller coaster the whole way through!
Indra is an outlier working in Sovereign City in a dystopian world. She lives with her mother and sister in a small village on the outskirts of civilization. In this world, the Sovereign wield the power, with the Fortis their hired bodyguards and the Outliers, their servants. Indra befriends one of the Fortis in the city, Asa, and forges a tenuous alliance. Soon, she finds everything she holds dear torn away and must rebuild her shattered existence.
I love-hate this book. It was a great start to the Outliers series and the introduction to the city was wonderful. There were graphic descriptions of amputations, whippings, and rape, which off put me a bit. I understand that this was necessary for the character development of Indra, but it was still very difficult to listen.
Grace Sylvan has one of the most beautiful voices! I will be looking for more books read by her.

Triggers: Physical abuse, amputation, whippings, public humiliation, verbal abuse, rape, and sexual misconduct

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

WOW!!! Great book!!!

From beginning to end, I was memorized by the story as well as the narrator. For me, this was one of the books that you sneak a listen to even when others are talking because you want to see how it ends!!! LOVED IT and can't wait for the next in the series!!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Fabulous

This was a truly entertaining book. I love Kate L. Mary's books. This one is added to my favorites. The narrator did a great job. The story moves at a good pace and keeps you interested throughout. Thanks again Kate!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

HEART BREAKING AND AMAZING!!

Indra is so strong and amazing...this was a great story! I went into this one blind, I just knew I loved this author and this was a dystopic society...and I really feel this is so much more now! This was a heartbreaking tale of a society gone very wrong!! Indra works as a housemaid and is treated so poorly, but it is the only way she can take care of her family...She is proud and strong, and very smart...they take something so precious from her and she can't let it lie...she fights back...and I think she is going to fight a whole lot more! She is going to be a force to be reckoned with and I can't wait to listen to book 2!! I actually really enjoyed this narrator as this character also...I think she nailed it, just enough of an accent to pull it off, and enough emotion to portray Indra perfectly!

I RECOMMEND!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this book, I love India’s character, she’s a strong woman, but doesn’t really know it yet. This world that she is living in is a sad society, but she still tries to find the happiness in it, and enjoy her life outside of the bad times.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Viva la Indra!

In a world reminiscent of a feudal caste system, our heroine Indra is an Outlier. Outliers are the peasants living outside the city. The soldiers or Fortis are the muscle and protectors of the city. The wealthy or Sovereign are those who rule in the city; usually employing the Outliers. This is Indra’s story; a young woman coming to grips with her position in life and not liking what she discovered. Indra believes she is special. Her goal is to become strong and unyielding, to rise above her lowly position and help her people. Indra would take her suffering, her struggle to survive, and turn it in her favor. She would take it to the Sovereign and end their reign of oppression. This is Indra’s story. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A must read!!

I can't get enough of her books. This is another book that had me engaged right from the start!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

awesome!!!

I loved this book! great character development and anticipation!! can't wait for the second book!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Creditable story.

I liked this story. I liked the spunk of the lead character, a survivor. I felt I could give Grace Sylvan only three stars. Not because she is a bad narrator, but because she is in my opinion, not a good match for THIS book. I have no problems with acquiring other Audible books narrated by her. I do recommend this book in it's genre. Now for the obligatory: "I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good Story

Indra's story was full of tragedies and triumphs. I found myself very engrossed in her back story and how/why she made the decisions she did.

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SPOILER ALRET
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I was disappointed that Indra gave into her desire to take the Fortis lives. I was a little confused by Later Sanders age? (10? but he took advantage of her 3 years ago at 7?)

Overall I really enjoyed the story and will read the rest of the series because I have to know what happens next... does she go back to the city? Does she leave the life she's always known? what about Asa? Who is her birth family? I have to know!

I received this book book for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Absolutely loved it!

I can honestly say this was one of the best audiobooks I have listened to! I had not previously heard of this author but was fortunate to be given a free review copy at my request. I have voluntarily left this review and the opinions expressed are my own.

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!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A strong start to another impressive saga

I think this is about the third book now I have read/listened to by Kate L Mary and she is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. The cover intrigued me and Is beautiful in it's own right. The novel was slow to begin with but this is where Kate L Mary builds the world and concept into the readers mind and I urge everyone to stay with the story .I adore that the main character is such a strong female and that this strength has been built from pain and life experience. As a reader you are drawn into Idra's story from the very beginning. Such a strong and powerful debut to what I can foresee as being another gripping collection. I was given this book by the author / narrator in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

"This book was given to me for free at my request

having liked kate L marys broken world series and the rest of them not on audible i had high hopes for this book,however its not the book more the narrator,accent so strange the word head is sued often and come out as hat or had,i really could not get into it at all as found the narrator so bad,however i think this is better read than listened to unless they change the narrator in my opinion.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Interesting Concept....

I’m loving the characters in this book and the narrator has done an awesome job in drawing me into the atmosphere of the backdrop.
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☆

Fabulous

Keep writing anther wonderful book great narrater can’t wait to hear 2 book
10/10

This is oone hell oof a book

On the surface this seems to be totally predictable but it is not. Sure there are some elements in it that are cliche but overall I think it’s one of the better novels in its genre reflecting prejudice and overcoming suffering. indeed, becoming stronger because of the suffering that goes on throuughout this book. I need to read the second book just to see what happens next.

Love the story!

I absolutely love everything Kate L. Mary does, and this novel is no exception. She is able to capture the listener with well-developed characters and worlds. The class system brings my thoughts to present time, and it is scary to imagine that it might become a reality at some point. Indra is a strong young woman who is easily relatable seeing that she still has her flaws, just like everyone else. All in all, I strongly recommend this audiobook and everything else by this awesome author.

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!

Enthralling Listen

I would say that I am veracious reader and listener and get through a few books/ Audio books a week. I have eclectic tastes which range from Jeffrey Archer to Stephen King, My main genres are Fantasy and Sci-fi.

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.

A bit too bleak for my liking…

I tried, I really did try, but this is not an enjoyable book to listen to for three reasons;

1). The author overdid it with the world building prose.

Every scene, every moment, every thought, and every action seemed to require at least 10+ minutes of detailed description.

This wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t for the fact that the authors habit of over-describing every action ends up slowing down the story/plot (rather than adding to it).

2). All of the over-describing (at the expense of moving forward the plot) isn’t helped by the narrators ‘clipped’ delivery.

After an hour or so I grew used to the narrators style, but I do think that the narrators unusual accent (I couldn’t quite place it) took away from the story overall (rather than added to it).

3). Last, but not least, this book is depressing. Seriously depressing. For a book that (in the summary) focuses on describing the lead character, Indra, as someone who will challenge the status quo, the plot takes an awful long time getting there.

For the first 2 or 3 hours (of this 7+ hour long book), it is nothing but non-stop detailed descriptions of degradation, pain, and misery. But having read the other Audible reviews of this title, it appears that Indra does begin to break free later on in the book. But, I just can’t continue listening long enough to find out… it is all just too bleak.

Dreams of beyond the Wilds

Beautifully written and exquisitely narrated, this is one of those books for which I wish there was an additional star of special merit to be given.
The 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.