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Bound By a Hidden Deal
Those with the worst reputations might be your best chance for survival.
Grace Walker’s life has become something out of a nightmare, one that she can’t wake up from. Captured at a young age, she has spent the past four years confined to a slave camp, but now it’s her time to become a part of the trade. If that wasn’t bad enough, she finds herself at the mercy of “one of the greatest torturers in the Outback”. As her new reality starts to unfold, she’s forced to take a good look at the life she was taken from, and the one she’s been thrust into.
Rudolfus Lesikar is no stranger to darkness and having blood on his hands. Born into a family infamous for their work with torture magic, he’s used to people regarding him with fear. When the evil and trauma from his past threatens his future, Rudolfus is faced with a difficult choice. Try to run from the blood in his past, or face the darkness and hope to find peace on the other side of it.
Grace Walker’s life has become something out of a nightmare, one that she can’t wake up from. Captured at a young age, she has spent the past four years confined to a slave camp, but now it’s her time to become a part of the trade. If that wasn’t bad enough, she finds herself at the mercy of “one of the greatest torturers in the Outback”. As her new reality starts to unfold, she’s forced to take a good look at the life she was taken from, and the one she’s been thrust into.
Rudolfus Lesikar is no stranger to darkness and having blood on his hands. Born into a family infamous for their work with torture magic, he’s used to people regarding him with fear. When the evil and trauma from his past threatens his future, Rudolfus is faced with a difficult choice. Try to run from the blood in his past, or face the darkness and hope to find peace on the other side of it.
641 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2019
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Amanda N. Newman
11 books37 followersAmanda N. Newman is an author of Young Adult and New Adult fantasy novels (sometimes with aspects of other genres blended in). Her books feature strong found family elements and perfectly imperfect characters. Take a journey through other worlds and find yourself surrounded by diverse casts of characters that you can't help but grow to love.
She has been writing since she was a child. As a quiet person who didn't make friends easily, while also battling social and general anxiety and depression, she found refuge in writing. She first started handwriting alternate universe style crossover fanfiction featuring her favorite characters from various video games, anime/manga, television shows, and other books, though she never shared any of these stories on any public forums. As her stories became longer and more intricate, she branched away from and adapted her stories from fanfiction and into different subgenres of fantasy fiction. In her final year of high school, she wrote her first original novel Hybrid Empire, a YA fantasy about an international student trying to fit in at a fictitious boarding school in Alaska.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmandaNewmanAuthor
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Om...
Ko-Fi:
https://ko-fi.com/amandanewmanauthor
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She has been writing since she was a child. As a quiet person who didn't make friends easily, while also battling social and general anxiety and depression, she found refuge in writing. She first started handwriting alternate universe style crossover fanfiction featuring her favorite characters from various video games, anime/manga, television shows, and other books, though she never shared any of these stories on any public forums. As her stories became longer and more intricate, she branched away from and adapted her stories from fanfiction and into different subgenres of fantasy fiction. In her final year of high school, she wrote her first original novel Hybrid Empire, a YA fantasy about an international student trying to fit in at a fictitious boarding school in Alaska.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmandaNewmanAuthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/Amanda.N.Newman
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Om...
Ko-Fi:
https://ko-fi.com/amandanewmanauthor
Wattpad: www.wattpad.com/Amanda_N_Newman
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 28, 2022
(Actual rating: 3.5 stars)
Children of the Outback was a unique take on a dystopian world set in Australia.
I loved the world building in this novel. The settings and rules of magic and the class system were very well explained. I felt that the author had a perfect mix of showing and telling to leave me informed but still not knowing everything right away.
The characters were also well-formed and unique. Rudolfus was my favorite, as well as his brother Randyll. Their tortured pasts and their struggle with learning to love themselves made them very endearing to me.
I do have to say that I think this book was a bit too long and I found myself struggling to continue at some points. Certain parts were very repetitive and I feel that if it was trimmed up a bit it would have been a much better read.
There are also quite a few triggers in this book including mentions of self-harm, suicide, and rape just to name a few so please read with caution if any of these trigger you.
But overall I did really enjoy the story. I have never read anything like it before and I definitely didn’t see that ending coming! I am excited to read more by this author and I’m curious to see where these characters go in the next book.
*I was given a free copy of this book by the author and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
Children of the Outback was a unique take on a dystopian world set in Australia.
I loved the world building in this novel. The settings and rules of magic and the class system were very well explained. I felt that the author had a perfect mix of showing and telling to leave me informed but still not knowing everything right away.
The characters were also well-formed and unique. Rudolfus was my favorite, as well as his brother Randyll. Their tortured pasts and their struggle with learning to love themselves made them very endearing to me.
I do have to say that I think this book was a bit too long and I found myself struggling to continue at some points. Certain parts were very repetitive and I feel that if it was trimmed up a bit it would have been a much better read.
There are also quite a few triggers in this book including mentions of self-harm, suicide, and rape just to name a few so please read with caution if any of these trigger you.
But overall I did really enjoy the story. I have never read anything like it before and I definitely didn’t see that ending coming! I am excited to read more by this author and I’m curious to see where these characters go in the next book.
*I was given a free copy of this book by the author and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
April 4, 2021
I'll start off by saying Children of the Outback is not a light, easy read. A lot of the the topics it addresses are mature and pack a punch. That said, it was well worth it and enjoyable!
The writing itself is great and I am absolutely floored by the fact that in a book of this length, I did not find a single error. Not one. Newman clearly put a ton of time and effort into making sure this book was grammatically perfect. I'm very impressed.
As for the plot, it was unique and there were multiple twists throughout the book. There was one HUGE event that I did not see coming at all. I was totally surprised and even though the event itself had me reaching for the tissues, I was genuinely shocked it happened. Well done!
The cast of characters was huge and one thing I liked is that we were given a good amount of back story about each of them. Skar was my favorite character and I enjoyed learning about his past and how it impacted the choices he makes.
Overall, Children of the Outback was enjoyable and I look forward to reading the sequel! 5/5 stars!
The writing itself is great and I am absolutely floored by the fact that in a book of this length, I did not find a single error. Not one. Newman clearly put a ton of time and effort into making sure this book was grammatically perfect. I'm very impressed.
As for the plot, it was unique and there were multiple twists throughout the book. There was one HUGE event that I did not see coming at all. I was totally surprised and even though the event itself had me reaching for the tissues, I was genuinely shocked it happened. Well done!
The cast of characters was huge and one thing I liked is that we were given a good amount of back story about each of them. Skar was my favorite character and I enjoyed learning about his past and how it impacted the choices he makes.
Overall, Children of the Outback was enjoyable and I look forward to reading the sequel! 5/5 stars!
August 18, 2021
I really enjoyed Children of the Outback! It was such an amazing dystopian story filled with magic. There was so much passion behind every word of this story.
April 7, 2021
Unexpected outcome!
This was an awesome book, full of unexpected twists and turns. I really didn’t expect the ending. I especially enjoyed the depth of all of the characters. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good dystopian novel.
This was an awesome book, full of unexpected twists and turns. I really didn’t expect the ending. I especially enjoyed the depth of all of the characters. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good dystopian novel.
November 29, 2021
This was a dark and gritty read with no clear heroes or villians. Everything was various shades of gray as the ensemble cast each fid what they had to do to survive in this dystopian version of the Australian Outback. While it may not have had the romance or happy ending I do so love in most of my reads, I can still appreciate what am intricate and well-developed story this was. A great read if you enjoy long, intense stories told from multiple POV.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
January 29, 2021
What I Love: Um, it's in Australia! As soon as I saw the title, I just knew I was in for a good one! I love this dystopian sort of wasteland Australia had become and how a new society grew from that. I love the play on the word Dingo to mean a group of violent people hell-bent on kidnapping and enslaving. I love the fact that nothing is like what it seems with this book or this story. There was always some sort of underlying reason, and the amount of deception was infuriating, but in a good way. Like I’ve said before, if I want to go into the book and slap fire out of characters, then you are doing well in my book! I love the depth of the character Rudy, as well as, his brother which there was a MAJOR twist in there with him, and I am LIVING for it! It blew my mind the number of lies and tricks people told, all while instilling magic.
For the record, I see what Grace’s brothers were trying to do, but….no…
The magic system in this book is unique and I love the take on it. Amanda has a great new and fresh way of creating something that we’ve seen time and time again, and it's pretty good!
What I Don’t: This is just my personal taste on people, but I will say, while I felt for Grace, she made me want to shake her at times. I had to remind myself that she was young when she was kidnapped, terrified of being raped, and had been raised to believe something completely different about the Dingoes and Bitzer's. But man...it took her so long to defeat the truth and the way she was doing Rudy at first. She got better as the story goes and she gained strength to her that was definitely beneficial and put her back in my good graces for a minute.
Rating: 4.3 out of 5
I would definitely recommend this book! Amanda isn’t new to the game, but this is I believe the beginning of a new series that I am excited to see where it goes!
For the record, I see what Grace’s brothers were trying to do, but….no…
The magic system in this book is unique and I love the take on it. Amanda has a great new and fresh way of creating something that we’ve seen time and time again, and it's pretty good!
What I Don’t: This is just my personal taste on people, but I will say, while I felt for Grace, she made me want to shake her at times. I had to remind myself that she was young when she was kidnapped, terrified of being raped, and had been raised to believe something completely different about the Dingoes and Bitzer's. But man...it took her so long to defeat the truth and the way she was doing Rudy at first. She got better as the story goes and she gained strength to her that was definitely beneficial and put her back in my good graces for a minute.
Rating: 4.3 out of 5
I would definitely recommend this book! Amanda isn’t new to the game, but this is I believe the beginning of a new series that I am excited to see where it goes!
January 23, 2023
This book had so many things I love: multiple POVs, dystopian setting, fantasy/magic, and a twisty mystery.
There are several POVs, but the main three are Grace, Skar and Rudolfus.
Grace was kidnapped while playing in the Outback at 12. Now, 16 and part of the slave trade, her nightmares are about to become reality when she becomes the slave of the notoriously dangerous Rudolfus Lesikar. Can she survive? Will She ever see her family again?
Skar was Grace's captor and now he's putting her in the slave trade. He's tried to keep Grace safe, but Rudolfus is dangerous. Skar has magic, but it's caused him much more suffering than aid. He's got a hardness, but that's how life is, if you want to survive in the Outback. Trusting people isn't his strong point; staying guarded is.
Rudolfus has a reputation; dangerous, vicious, ruthless. Just the name instills fear. Grace's arrival might be an opportunity for healing, but her fear keeps her distant. Everybody has a story. Is Grace willing to learn Rudolfus'?
I loved the weaving together of all the character's stories. The twists and turns kept me guessing. The author gives trigger warnings right up front, but I appreciated her use of them in the story. They were realistic and not gratuitous. Ugly things happen in this kind of environment/situation. Things it'd be easier to pretend didn't. It's dark, tense, and real. It was a part of this story.
Intriguing and twisty, I liked the new/unique take on a dystopian/magic story.
There are several POVs, but the main three are Grace, Skar and Rudolfus.
Grace was kidnapped while playing in the Outback at 12. Now, 16 and part of the slave trade, her nightmares are about to become reality when she becomes the slave of the notoriously dangerous Rudolfus Lesikar. Can she survive? Will She ever see her family again?
Skar was Grace's captor and now he's putting her in the slave trade. He's tried to keep Grace safe, but Rudolfus is dangerous. Skar has magic, but it's caused him much more suffering than aid. He's got a hardness, but that's how life is, if you want to survive in the Outback. Trusting people isn't his strong point; staying guarded is.
Rudolfus has a reputation; dangerous, vicious, ruthless. Just the name instills fear. Grace's arrival might be an opportunity for healing, but her fear keeps her distant. Everybody has a story. Is Grace willing to learn Rudolfus'?
I loved the weaving together of all the character's stories. The twists and turns kept me guessing. The author gives trigger warnings right up front, but I appreciated her use of them in the story. They were realistic and not gratuitous. Ugly things happen in this kind of environment/situation. Things it'd be easier to pretend didn't. It's dark, tense, and real. It was a part of this story.
Intriguing and twisty, I liked the new/unique take on a dystopian/magic story.
February 20, 2021
Children of the Outback by Amanda N. Newman is a fantasy fiction novel set in a dystopian type wasteland in Australia.
After years of civil war in Australia, the Outback has been fenced off from the rest of the New Australian Republic. Stories of rough, rugged, terrifying, kidnapping Bitzers and Dingoes were spread to keep people away from the fences. Their reputations however have merit as twelve year old Grace Walker discovers after being snatched at the hands of one such Bitzer.
Four years on and she is now of age to be sold as a slave to a Dingo. Will she discover her worst fears of being used as a sex slave? Or that although some Dingoes have a terrifying reputation that they are just people, who are just trying to make their way through the life they have been given?
I found this novel to be gripping. The fantasy aspect of the story comes into play with the use of magic by those living in the Outback and the way they have been ostracized for it. I found the dark themes compelling reading and liked the way the author included current day social difficulties in a futuristic fantasy story.
I very much enjoyed the way Newman told the story from multiple points of view as this allowed me to get to know and understand the complex characters more. The plot twists and turns were unexpected, and at one stage I was very upset with the author; to find out why you will have to read the story yourself.
After years of civil war in Australia, the Outback has been fenced off from the rest of the New Australian Republic. Stories of rough, rugged, terrifying, kidnapping Bitzers and Dingoes were spread to keep people away from the fences. Their reputations however have merit as twelve year old Grace Walker discovers after being snatched at the hands of one such Bitzer.
Four years on and she is now of age to be sold as a slave to a Dingo. Will she discover her worst fears of being used as a sex slave? Or that although some Dingoes have a terrifying reputation that they are just people, who are just trying to make their way through the life they have been given?
I found this novel to be gripping. The fantasy aspect of the story comes into play with the use of magic by those living in the Outback and the way they have been ostracized for it. I found the dark themes compelling reading and liked the way the author included current day social difficulties in a futuristic fantasy story.
I very much enjoyed the way Newman told the story from multiple points of view as this allowed me to get to know and understand the complex characters more. The plot twists and turns were unexpected, and at one stage I was very upset with the author; to find out why you will have to read the story yourself.
September 12, 2021
"Children of the Outback" is a very intense novel, one full of ups and downs when it comes to heavy emotions. Overall, I enjoyed it, and felt that most parts were very well written. This fits the genre of dystopia extremely well, I feel, along with fantasy. There was magic use in this book, and the mention of other magical monsters, but we saw the world through the lens of the Dingos of the Outback, for the most part.
We start by following Grace Walker, who ends up being captured by a Bitzer, the slave traders of the Outback and enemies of the Republic. The rumors of those in the outback, especially Dingos, are that they are horrible, brutal people with no redeemable qualities. I was definitely worried for Grace in the beginning of the story.
There were a lot of high and low points in this book, many areas that really scrambled my emotions. I'm going to get into spoilers now, which I will mark below, for my specific thoughts on the parts of the book.
**SPOILERS START**
I didn't attach to Grace at first, but I also really could not blame her at all for how she felt. Her situation was horrible, as was the slave trade in general. What happened to those people in the trafficking area was brutal and without morals, though it depended on who they ended up with. A lot of that was rumors in terms of treatment, but there were truly bad people that took on slaves and did terrible things to them. That's why I still was 'eh' about Bitzers, morally speaking, in the end, but could still enjoy the characters toward the end. (That took a while though, and I still feel very conflicted, but more on that later.)
Grace herself went through so much, including when she was out of the outback and forced into pregnancy. I was sad to see the one who did that to her escape without consequence, if I'm going to be honest, and wished Rudolfus was able to torture him to death. Alas, sometimes the bad guys do get away, and it was realistic in that sense.
Grace's attachment to Rudolfus was... odd. She fell in love with him, though thank gods the writing made it clear that this wasn't reciprocated, and Rudolfus saw her as a daughter, not a lover. Her admission really threw me off, but thinking it over, it does make sense. He showed her kindness and, as she said, took care of her despite everything. I think, in the end, she was very confused on her emotions there, especially after what happened to her. In the end, her story was a tragedy, a well written one at that. I was sad to see her die.
Rudolfus and his story was also a tragedy, and I found myself sympathizing with him the most. I think he was one of my favorite characters. I really like how this story takes abuse on a man by a woman seriously. That's not brought up much either in real life or media, nor is it seen as an issue by most circles, where it honestly should be. I felt a pang in my heart for him, and am so happy he ended up with someone he loved in the end. Although, Nathan clearly hates him, so I feel horrible for him there. It's a shame, but again, understandable.
Skar and his adventures were interesting, and I wish I could like him more. I couldn't shake the slave trade and Bitzer culture, however, and couldn't blame Steven at all for his reactions. He wasn't lying, Skar and any Bitzer had traded innocent children into trafficking, in-depth characterization or not. Putting that aside, he was a likable character that had a lot of complex emotions, but definitely not someone I find myself truly attaching to. Still, his plight with Steven in general was very interesting to read, and he did go above and beyond for Grace & the Dingos.
My favorite relationship has to be Randyll x Cain. That was an adventure to read, and I love forbidden love--especially when they ended up together in the end. Ran was someone who I really, really enjoyed as a character. I saw more of Rudolfus, but I really loved his brother too. Cain as well, because he saw past the propaganda and instilled hatred, embracing true love. I really love how this did NOT end in tragedy for them. Also, bi representation in here was lovely to see, I felt it was done very well.
These were what I wanted to remark on the most, and what stood out the most to me, but of course there is much more to the story than what I mentioned. I wanted to cover key points.
**SPOILERS END**
The magic system isn't explained in depth, but not everyone has it, and it's a 'born with it' trope. Which is just fine and fits in this setting! I don't prefer the trope myself, but it really does work here, and is explained well.
It's a long novel with a lot of content, a lot of conversations, and a lot of names, so I did get lost at some points as well. I couldn't get attached to every character, and some names didn't stick around in my mind to really matter, which I somewhat felt bad about because they likely were important. I did need to take a break once, but came back to the book after it. Grace's plight did make me need said break, but as the story goes on and misunderstandings are cleared up, it really begins to shine brightly.
The lessons in this story are clear, about how badly propaganda can lie about a group and twist them into something they are not. The Republic is very far from a paradise, and I found myself disliking them heavily, leaning more toward sympathizing with the Dingos.
There's no moral high-ground in this story, it's very grey. In that sense, there is a certain realism here that sincerely fits the tone of dystopia. There's something likable about most main characters, and something dislikable about most main characters. Some things they've done, like Skar for example, are super hard to get past despite him being very well fleshed out. In that sense, they are flawed, some morally more than others, yet characters I was interested in learning about through their stories.
This story fits into dystopia very well, has some rich fantasy elements, very complex characters, and is worth checking out for the really in-depth lessons it has to teach its readers that can definitely apply to real life in general.
Note for Goodreads: I added my notes/highlights, so specific reactions can be seen within them.
We start by following Grace Walker, who ends up being captured by a Bitzer, the slave traders of the Outback and enemies of the Republic. The rumors of those in the outback, especially Dingos, are that they are horrible, brutal people with no redeemable qualities. I was definitely worried for Grace in the beginning of the story.
There were a lot of high and low points in this book, many areas that really scrambled my emotions. I'm going to get into spoilers now, which I will mark below, for my specific thoughts on the parts of the book.
**SPOILERS START**
I didn't attach to Grace at first, but I also really could not blame her at all for how she felt. Her situation was horrible, as was the slave trade in general. What happened to those people in the trafficking area was brutal and without morals, though it depended on who they ended up with. A lot of that was rumors in terms of treatment, but there were truly bad people that took on slaves and did terrible things to them. That's why I still was 'eh' about Bitzers, morally speaking, in the end, but could still enjoy the characters toward the end. (That took a while though, and I still feel very conflicted, but more on that later.)
Grace herself went through so much, including when she was out of the outback and forced into pregnancy. I was sad to see the one who did that to her escape without consequence, if I'm going to be honest, and wished Rudolfus was able to torture him to death. Alas, sometimes the bad guys do get away, and it was realistic in that sense.
Grace's attachment to Rudolfus was... odd. She fell in love with him, though thank gods the writing made it clear that this wasn't reciprocated, and Rudolfus saw her as a daughter, not a lover. Her admission really threw me off, but thinking it over, it does make sense. He showed her kindness and, as she said, took care of her despite everything. I think, in the end, she was very confused on her emotions there, especially after what happened to her. In the end, her story was a tragedy, a well written one at that. I was sad to see her die.
Rudolfus and his story was also a tragedy, and I found myself sympathizing with him the most. I think he was one of my favorite characters. I really like how this story takes abuse on a man by a woman seriously. That's not brought up much either in real life or media, nor is it seen as an issue by most circles, where it honestly should be. I felt a pang in my heart for him, and am so happy he ended up with someone he loved in the end. Although, Nathan clearly hates him, so I feel horrible for him there. It's a shame, but again, understandable.
Skar and his adventures were interesting, and I wish I could like him more. I couldn't shake the slave trade and Bitzer culture, however, and couldn't blame Steven at all for his reactions. He wasn't lying, Skar and any Bitzer had traded innocent children into trafficking, in-depth characterization or not. Putting that aside, he was a likable character that had a lot of complex emotions, but definitely not someone I find myself truly attaching to. Still, his plight with Steven in general was very interesting to read, and he did go above and beyond for Grace & the Dingos.
My favorite relationship has to be Randyll x Cain. That was an adventure to read, and I love forbidden love--especially when they ended up together in the end. Ran was someone who I really, really enjoyed as a character. I saw more of Rudolfus, but I really loved his brother too. Cain as well, because he saw past the propaganda and instilled hatred, embracing true love. I really love how this did NOT end in tragedy for them. Also, bi representation in here was lovely to see, I felt it was done very well.
These were what I wanted to remark on the most, and what stood out the most to me, but of course there is much more to the story than what I mentioned. I wanted to cover key points.
**SPOILERS END**
The magic system isn't explained in depth, but not everyone has it, and it's a 'born with it' trope. Which is just fine and fits in this setting! I don't prefer the trope myself, but it really does work here, and is explained well.
It's a long novel with a lot of content, a lot of conversations, and a lot of names, so I did get lost at some points as well. I couldn't get attached to every character, and some names didn't stick around in my mind to really matter, which I somewhat felt bad about because they likely were important. I did need to take a break once, but came back to the book after it. Grace's plight did make me need said break, but as the story goes on and misunderstandings are cleared up, it really begins to shine brightly.
The lessons in this story are clear, about how badly propaganda can lie about a group and twist them into something they are not. The Republic is very far from a paradise, and I found myself disliking them heavily, leaning more toward sympathizing with the Dingos.
There's no moral high-ground in this story, it's very grey. In that sense, there is a certain realism here that sincerely fits the tone of dystopia. There's something likable about most main characters, and something dislikable about most main characters. Some things they've done, like Skar for example, are super hard to get past despite him being very well fleshed out. In that sense, they are flawed, some morally more than others, yet characters I was interested in learning about through their stories.
This story fits into dystopia very well, has some rich fantasy elements, very complex characters, and is worth checking out for the really in-depth lessons it has to teach its readers that can definitely apply to real life in general.
Note for Goodreads: I added my notes/highlights, so specific reactions can be seen within them.
April 28, 2021
A fascinating, intricate, gritty, magical read, written in a dynamic, darkly realistic, sophisticatedly detailed style that is a real page turner. I became so involved in this story that I read it in less than two days, because I simply could not put it down.
Written from the perspective of different characters, you are drawn into a dystopian future set in an Australia divided by an electric fence and the ability to wield magic. There is an active slave trade fuelled by kidnappers known as Bitzers who take children from the other side of the fence into the Outback.
The Outback has a complex social structure set around the well-to-do Dingos, including the torturer Ruldolfus Lesikar who is introduced to the story through Grace, who was kidnapped from the other side of the fence and has come of age to be sold as a slave. Grace quickly learns that you do not want to be purchased by Rudolfus Lesikar as “his slaves never come back.”
Rudolfus is beautifully developed and explored, like all the characters in this book, and not all that he seems to be. I must admit, I developed a bit of a crush by the ending.
Add this book to your “must read” list immediately!
Written from the perspective of different characters, you are drawn into a dystopian future set in an Australia divided by an electric fence and the ability to wield magic. There is an active slave trade fuelled by kidnappers known as Bitzers who take children from the other side of the fence into the Outback.
The Outback has a complex social structure set around the well-to-do Dingos, including the torturer Ruldolfus Lesikar who is introduced to the story through Grace, who was kidnapped from the other side of the fence and has come of age to be sold as a slave. Grace quickly learns that you do not want to be purchased by Rudolfus Lesikar as “his slaves never come back.”
Rudolfus is beautifully developed and explored, like all the characters in this book, and not all that he seems to be. I must admit, I developed a bit of a crush by the ending.
Add this book to your “must read” list immediately!
August 4, 2021
Fantastic read!
After ignoring their parents warnings, Grace and her brother stray beyond the fence into the Australian outback. They are aware of the many stories passed down about the Bitzers and Dingoes, kidnapping, torture and slavery but when her brother runs off after Grace is captured she is left to face this terrifying world alone. Now a slave to a man with an unsavoury reputation, realisation hits Grace that things are not quite what they seem! A storyline that completely captures your imagination to the full and you travel this journey with Grace. Captivating from the onset this is a double edged sword, you want to find out what happens but don't want the story to end. Really well written by this talented author who certainly knows how to keep you on board. Congratulations on a job well done!
After ignoring their parents warnings, Grace and her brother stray beyond the fence into the Australian outback. They are aware of the many stories passed down about the Bitzers and Dingoes, kidnapping, torture and slavery but when her brother runs off after Grace is captured she is left to face this terrifying world alone. Now a slave to a man with an unsavoury reputation, realisation hits Grace that things are not quite what they seem! A storyline that completely captures your imagination to the full and you travel this journey with Grace. Captivating from the onset this is a double edged sword, you want to find out what happens but don't want the story to end. Really well written by this talented author who certainly knows how to keep you on board. Congratulations on a job well done!
October 31, 2021
This book was a major treat to read for sure. I love how it takes place in the future, and in Australia. I love the description of the setting. Made me think I was actually in the story. Kept me interested from the beginning until the end of the story. So intense that I did not want to stop reading this. I love how it was written in POV of different characters. Made me think of how the game of thrones books was written that way. Best way to keep the reader interested. Grace was told so much and still went on this journey into the outback! Her kidnapping made me jump, and I kept on reading. Well done on this book, and I am going to read another one from this author for sure.
September 19, 2021
What do get if you mix Mad Max with Harry Potter?
Set in a dystopian Australia. A truly awesome and epic tale of one girl from the New Australian Republic whose life is changed forever when she’s kidnapped by the infamously scary and mysterious Bitzers. It sets of a chain of events that includes the magic wielding Dingoes, Bitzers, Pikers and the Republic themselves that results in fatal tragedy. The story is told in 1st POV but from multiple perspectives which you don’t see very often but I reckon is a stroke of genius especially if done right. Which this book does.
Set in a dystopian Australia. A truly awesome and epic tale of one girl from the New Australian Republic whose life is changed forever when she’s kidnapped by the infamously scary and mysterious Bitzers. It sets of a chain of events that includes the magic wielding Dingoes, Bitzers, Pikers and the Republic themselves that results in fatal tragedy. The story is told in 1st POV but from multiple perspectives which you don’t see very often but I reckon is a stroke of genius especially if done right. Which this book does.
August 22, 2021
Children of the Outback is a dystopian read set in Australia and I could not put it down. Written in different POV’s about life in The Outback had a very Mad Max vibe which I really enjoyed. While it was a big, BIG, read it was really well written, deep, well-thought-out characters (no spoiler but Ruldolfus! Like a fine wine... that's all I'll say)!
I’ve already downloaded book 2 ready to deep dive into in the Outback again.
PS needs a trigger warning!
I’ve already downloaded book 2 ready to deep dive into in the Outback again.
PS needs a trigger warning!
December 7, 2020
Wow
Ok so I didn’t read the genre of this book so I’m not well versed in this particular genre. However I absolutely loved the story. It was completely full and I really can’t wait for the next book in the series! Usually I hate waiting but this has so much information that I know it’ll be a worth the wait!
Ok so I didn’t read the genre of this book so I’m not well versed in this particular genre. However I absolutely loved the story. It was completely full and I really can’t wait for the next book in the series! Usually I hate waiting but this has so much information that I know it’ll be a worth the wait!
December 8, 2020
Wonderfully Written!
The kidnap of Grace gave me a clear insight into her feelings, fears and expectations. I watched her every interaction and felt relieved when I discovered that her kidnap was arranged, although I was saddened by her death. The author passionately relates the characters to an amazingly wonderful twist of events. I definitely recommend reading this book.
The kidnap of Grace gave me a clear insight into her feelings, fears and expectations. I watched her every interaction and felt relieved when I discovered that her kidnap was arranged, although I was saddened by her death. The author passionately relates the characters to an amazingly wonderful twist of events. I definitely recommend reading this book.
January 14, 2021
Children of the Outback is a rich story told from the perspectives of different characters. I fell in love with many of the characters and got my heart broken, but still, I turned the page because I wanted to spend time with other characters. This is a beautifully written book and I enjoyed it immensely.
July 24, 2021
The Outback and the Republic
Grace is a slave from the Republic bought by Rudolphus. The Republic uses her as an excuse to start a war. Amanda N. Newman has created a tale of people who use peoples differences to hate. Because some are users of magic they are feared and hated. I loved this!
Grace is a slave from the Republic bought by Rudolphus. The Republic uses her as an excuse to start a war. Amanda N. Newman has created a tale of people who use peoples differences to hate. Because some are users of magic they are feared and hated. I loved this!
September 18, 2021
A well-written, unique, dark, intense tale set in Australia divided into the republic and the outback. The story seems to fit the dystopian fantasy genre, and had great world and character-building. The author has wonderful story-telling skills.
October 20, 2021
Plot twister
This is a great story about all different kinds of love. A brother making a deal with the devil to protect his sister. A young girl trying to survive the worst life had to offer. And of course, twist after twist! You will be guessing all the way to the very end!
This is a great story about all different kinds of love. A brother making a deal with the devil to protect his sister. A young girl trying to survive the worst life had to offer. And of course, twist after twist! You will be guessing all the way to the very end!
October 17, 2021
Intense and dark
The story feels the tantalising story about Grace, who is kidnapped as a child and taken away from family and sold as a slave. Very young and terrified about her situation. As the story unfolded I was captivated by the authors description and the characters. I felt Graces pain and fear and also intrigued about Rudolfus. Great adventure with action, adventure and several guest. If you like dystopian books, this would be a excellent choice!
The story feels the tantalising story about Grace, who is kidnapped as a child and taken away from family and sold as a slave. Very young and terrified about her situation. As the story unfolded I was captivated by the authors description and the characters. I felt Graces pain and fear and also intrigued about Rudolfus. Great adventure with action, adventure and several guest. If you like dystopian books, this would be a excellent choice!
September 7, 2021
Intertwined!!!
I absolutely love this author's unique storytelling capabilities. I actually read the second book of this series first. It was fascinating to see how each book complimented the other, but with the stories told from different perspectives through the characters eyes. I will be reading more from this author.
I absolutely love this author's unique storytelling capabilities. I actually read the second book of this series first. It was fascinating to see how each book complimented the other, but with the stories told from different perspectives through the characters eyes. I will be reading more from this author.
April 2, 2021
Australia has become divided. The New Australian Republic rejected those that now live in the Outback. The people known as Dingoes are the most feared in both the Republic and the Outback. Gangs of Bitzers kidnap anyone who trespasses beyond the gate and make them slaves to anyone who will buy them. Grace Walker was kidnapped when she was twelve years old, and officially enters the slave trade now that she has turned sixteen. As she is taken deeper into the Outback, she begins to truly learn about the people who live there and what the civil war that split the country was really all about.
Children of the Outback by Amanda N Newman is a very interesting fantasy. I don’t think I have read a dystopian fantasy before, so I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this storyline. The New Republic is supposed to be an amazing place where only good people live, and beyond the fence is where the criminals and murders are kept away. However, it is fairly obvious from the start that the Republic might not be as great as everyone thinks it is. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the story that add more depth to the events and characters.
There is a fairly large cast of characters in this novel with a first-person point of view that jumps between all of them. I think this works really well with the author’s writing style while allowing the reader to see what is happening in the Outback and the Republic. The reader is in the position to know more than any of the characters. As things continue to unfold, that knowledge creates more tension and makes you wonder how everything will end.
I also think Newman created a really complex world. She has mixed magic, discrimination, the concept of good and evil, and people’s vulnerabilities all into one book. As the reader learns more about the Outback and the Republic, we see the truth about people on both sides. The story points out the vulnerability of those who had a hard life. Good and evil is not easily definable, and we even see how discrimination feeds into false assumptions and unnecessary conflicts.
However, I do feel that the book is a little long. There are some events that didn’t seem to be necessary or to develop the plot as much as I’d like. I also feel that the character development was a bit slow because of this. Grace and Rudolfous are the two main characters that develop and change over the course of the novel. However, even with a lot of obvious indicators and events that challenge their current ideals or beliefs, they seem to have a hard time believing any of it. It takes almost three hundred pages to truly see their mindsets start to shift which at times was a bit frustrating.
Overall, I think this story has a lot to enjoy about it. The writing is smooth and easy to read and has a very unique and interesting storyline. There are many characters to learn about and follow through their struggles. And with many of them, the author tackles some very serious situations. If dystopian stories are of interest to you, I think this book is one to give a shot.
If you want to see more, see the official review on https://fantasyfictionfanatics.net/ch...
Children of the Outback by Amanda N Newman is a very interesting fantasy. I don’t think I have read a dystopian fantasy before, so I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this storyline. The New Republic is supposed to be an amazing place where only good people live, and beyond the fence is where the criminals and murders are kept away. However, it is fairly obvious from the start that the Republic might not be as great as everyone thinks it is. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the story that add more depth to the events and characters.
There is a fairly large cast of characters in this novel with a first-person point of view that jumps between all of them. I think this works really well with the author’s writing style while allowing the reader to see what is happening in the Outback and the Republic. The reader is in the position to know more than any of the characters. As things continue to unfold, that knowledge creates more tension and makes you wonder how everything will end.
I also think Newman created a really complex world. She has mixed magic, discrimination, the concept of good and evil, and people’s vulnerabilities all into one book. As the reader learns more about the Outback and the Republic, we see the truth about people on both sides. The story points out the vulnerability of those who had a hard life. Good and evil is not easily definable, and we even see how discrimination feeds into false assumptions and unnecessary conflicts.
However, I do feel that the book is a little long. There are some events that didn’t seem to be necessary or to develop the plot as much as I’d like. I also feel that the character development was a bit slow because of this. Grace and Rudolfous are the two main characters that develop and change over the course of the novel. However, even with a lot of obvious indicators and events that challenge their current ideals or beliefs, they seem to have a hard time believing any of it. It takes almost three hundred pages to truly see their mindsets start to shift which at times was a bit frustrating.
Overall, I think this story has a lot to enjoy about it. The writing is smooth and easy to read and has a very unique and interesting storyline. There are many characters to learn about and follow through their struggles. And with many of them, the author tackles some very serious situations. If dystopian stories are of interest to you, I think this book is one to give a shot.
If you want to see more, see the official review on https://fantasyfictionfanatics.net/ch...
March 7, 2021
I felt like this book took a look at a dystopian world and played with some really unique, original ideas. With Australia divided between The New Republic and the Outback, we're shown a divide created by both fear and discrimination that leads to a lot of violence between the two, including the kidnapping of children to then put into the slave trade.
Told from multiple first person points of view, the author manages to show us all different angles to this world. There is deep-set hatred for certain people of certain affiliations, many of which is based on prejudice instilled in them based on where they are raised, and nothing more. The author did a good job with that.
Where I struggled with this book was the length, and there was a fair amount of repetition in both content and dialogue. Certain things were mentioned a bit too often, and I found there wasn't a lot of change in the dialogue; everyone spoke in the same fashion. One thing I couldn't really understand was the slave trade - I wasn't sure why it was there in the first place, and it was very hard to overlook anyone who takes on slaves (particularly children, many of which were sexually assaulted). And so many of the characters who might have been redeemed, I couldn't look past the fact they had slaves.
Told from multiple first person points of view, the author manages to show us all different angles to this world. There is deep-set hatred for certain people of certain affiliations, many of which is based on prejudice instilled in them based on where they are raised, and nothing more. The author did a good job with that.
Where I struggled with this book was the length, and there was a fair amount of repetition in both content and dialogue. Certain things were mentioned a bit too often, and I found there wasn't a lot of change in the dialogue; everyone spoke in the same fashion. One thing I couldn't really understand was the slave trade - I wasn't sure why it was there in the first place, and it was very hard to overlook anyone who takes on slaves (particularly children, many of which were sexually assaulted). And so many of the characters who might have been redeemed, I couldn't look past the fact they had slaves.
May 21, 2021
A twist of an adventure
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Grace is a character I found really interesting to watch, and her struggles became my struggles. There were characters like Skar that I disliked in the beginning but as he grew I really started to route for him. The story was filled with so many twists and turns, honestly, it kept me on my toes and I could never guess where it was going to head! I loved the diversity with the characters from their sexuality to their place of origin and their background stories, each character was seriously unique. Ben was a character I started to like, but actually ended up not really liking because of some of his actions. I love that there are no perfect characters in the book. To top it off, the book is really well written, and I found myself constantly engrossed in the story! Great read which I highly recommend and I really can’t wait for book 2!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Grace is a character I found really interesting to watch, and her struggles became my struggles. There were characters like Skar that I disliked in the beginning but as he grew I really started to route for him. The story was filled with so many twists and turns, honestly, it kept me on my toes and I could never guess where it was going to head! I loved the diversity with the characters from their sexuality to their place of origin and their background stories, each character was seriously unique. Ben was a character I started to like, but actually ended up not really liking because of some of his actions. I love that there are no perfect characters in the book. To top it off, the book is really well written, and I found myself constantly engrossed in the story! Great read which I highly recommend and I really can’t wait for book 2!!!
September 14, 2020
Children of the Outback is a story that grabs you from the beginning and literally pulls you into the pages. The author has mastered the art of writing in a deep point of view narrative where the characters are strong and well developed. The plot is intricately thought out and the author’s imagination is mind blowing. According to my Kindle this novel takes eleven hours to read from cover to cover – but believe me, you will enjoy every page and still, you will not want it to end!
The story does contain brutality. And there is cruelty. But the author intricately turns the viciousness into virtue, outrageousness into righteousness, hate into love and captivates her audience by keeping them enthralled with her vivid imagination and her magical, talented prose until the very last words of the book. Kudos to this young author, Amanda N. Newman. She has penned a winner.
The story does contain brutality. And there is cruelty. But the author intricately turns the viciousness into virtue, outrageousness into righteousness, hate into love and captivates her audience by keeping them enthralled with her vivid imagination and her magical, talented prose until the very last words of the book. Kudos to this young author, Amanda N. Newman. She has penned a winner.
August 17, 2023
What do get if you mix Mad Max with Harry Potter?
Set in a dystopian Australia. A truly awesome and epic tale of one girl from the New Australian Republic whose life is changed forever when she’s kidnapped by the infamously scary and mysterious Bitzers. It sets of a chain of events that includes the magic wielding Dingoes, Bitzers, Pikers and the Republic themselves that results in fatal tragedy. The story is told in 1st POV but from multiple perspectives which you don’t see very often but I reckon is a stroke of genius especially if done right. Which this book does.
Set in a dystopian Australia. A truly awesome and epic tale of one girl from the New Australian Republic whose life is changed forever when she’s kidnapped by the infamously scary and mysterious Bitzers. It sets of a chain of events that includes the magic wielding Dingoes, Bitzers, Pikers and the Republic themselves that results in fatal tragedy. The story is told in 1st POV but from multiple perspectives which you don’t see very often but I reckon is a stroke of genius especially if done right. Which this book does.
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