Outlier: Rebellion

Outlier #1

by Daryl Banner

*BOOK #1 IN THE OUTLIER SERIES* *It is recommended to read this series in order. Portions of the story may end in cliffhangers.* (#1) Rebellion (#2) Legacy (#3) Reign Of Madness (#4) Oblivion (#5) Five Kings Every citizen in Atlas, the last city on the planet, is born with a unique, special ability, and no one sleeps past the age of two. Except for Wick Lesser who, at seventeen, still sleeps. Hiding this rare ability from the world, his father, who can calculate futures, trains him in self-defense and combat while his healing-gifted mother works an unglamorous job in the muds and keeps his secret safe with the help of Wick’s older brothers. The Lesser family of the ninth ward slums manages to keep afloat, suffering under the corrupt, greed-driven Kingship of the Lifted City. But not for long. In the first installment of the Outlier series, Wick’s unassuming slumborn life soon explodes into a full-speed adventure of danger, betrayal, and self-discovery when he secretly joins an underground rebel movement working to take down the oppressive ruling power. But the task is far from easy, and there are more adversaries than Wick can count. Not to mention the complication of an intense, unplanned attraction ... to someone on the wrong side of the rebellion. Powerful forces are gathering to put an end to the uprising, including the city’s elite crew of law-enforcers called Guardian, of which Wick’s own two eldest brothers are sworn members, and all corners of the slums grow ever a lustful boy with blackened eyes leads a violent street gang, with Wick’s younger brother as his newest recruit. A cunning orphaned girl whose ability is to be unseen, sees everything. And high up in the Lifted City, a privileged and wealthy boy yearns for an exciting new life in the slums. Their world is at a precipice of great change. No one is safe. The rebellion has begun. *** Reader discretion contains M/F and M/M romance, mild violence, and adult language. ***

Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, M M Romance, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, LGBT

516 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2014

About the author

Daryl Banner is a USA Today Bestselling author, composer, and performer. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston Honors College with a degree in Theatre and Psychology. He is happily married to his piano. Theory suggests this is why he writes romance.

During Daryl Banner's time in college, he wrote, composed, and produced a musical under Tony Award-winning musical and Theatre producer Stuart Ostrow, as well as two original plays produced under the mentorship of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson, who also mentored Daryl through the writing of his very first novel. In addition to new adult and M/M romance, Daryl also writes post-apocalyptic fantasy as well as dystopian.

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Fun facts about Daryl Banner:

- He is an obsessive self-taught pianist.

- He is a huge video game enthusiast.

- He left his day job of 10 years to tour with a 2-woman-1-man original musical.

- He's been remixing video game music for over 20 years. One of his remixes is featured in the major motion picture "The Spy Who Dumped Me". Check out his work here: http://www.youtube.com/DarylBanner

- He composes original soundtracks that accompany his books and series, including The Beautiful Dead and OUTLIER. He is also the award-winning composer of the audio drama Janus Descending, as well as several films, games, podcasts, and other media. You can enjoy his music here: http://darylbanner.bandcamp.com

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. The story takes place in a sort of dystopian universe where the privledged who live in the Lifted City get everything from and look down upon those who live in the slums (similar in thought to the world in the Hunger Games). Everyone in this world has a legacy, different gifts such as seeing the future and being able to walk through walls.

The story follows Anwick, who is the only person over the age of two that sleeps, and Athan. Anwick ends up joining a rebel group against the Lifted City. Athan is fascinated of the slums and dreams of living there instead of where he is in Lifted City. During an accident Athan falls from the Lifted City to the slums and is taken in by Anwick’s rebel group. During their weeks together following the accident they grow closer and closer together, however their romance isn’t the main focus of this story. Anwick has always believed that being able to sleep was his legacy, however after his friends find out he sleeps they think that his real legacy makes him have to sleep. You get the views of many others throughout the book and are able to see how different people’s views are in this world. The book has a cliff hanger ending and I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out.

[Joood Hooligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having read both Beautiful Dead and Dead of Winter, I already knew I liked Daryl's writing. I just was iffy about starting another series by him. I didn't want to have high expectations and end up disappointed.

The first chapter made me worried, I was afraid the entire book was going to be written like that - and I didn't much like it. Then the next chapter happened, and I realized it is a story told by multiple characters from their point of views. Also, I really ended up liking the character from the first chapter.

Things happen, there's lots of drama, and there was many a time I had to close my kindle just to shout out an expletive.

The best part was when I was all, "Don't mind me, I'm just sobbing in the car pool lane at the spawn's school because Daryl broke my feels..."

How long until the next book is released, because I don't know how long I can wait before I have to start a riot.

5/5 Platypires

http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/o...

[Alex Tuttle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even start? There is so much going on in this book, but I never once felt overwhelmed or lost. There are a lot of POV’s but each character is so fleshed out, unique, and necessary, that anyone worried about that part can put their mind at ease. Daryl masterfully and seamlessly weaves this story together, taking you on a rollercoaster of emotions.

One sec, I just got some... dust... in my eye.



I LOVED Wick and Athan, even though there is so much more to this story, they were my favorite. I think it was because their relationship was so intense. Every time they were together I found myself holding my breath and my heart beat a little faster. <3



There is so much love in this story; all different kinds, and I care about each and every one of the characters and was so nervous waiting for something horrible to happen to any of them. Horrible things happen *heart breaks all over again* but luckily I’d worked myself up so much that it wasn’t a devastating as I’d thought it would be. “AS” being the key word there.



I’m not even going to hint toward the end. All I can say is book two can’t get here fast enough!!!

And this is for you, future reader, for when you need it. (You're gonna need it!)

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book via Goodreas' Don't Buy My Love Program.
4.5 Stars for this richly textured, dystopian epic.

The future world, as described in Outlier, is a mix between Xmen, and Hunger Games--without the games. There is one main city, Atlas, which is large and filthy, a hardscrabble life, segregated into wards. The Lifted City is exactly what it sounds like, a city built on a platform thirty stories in the air, upon which the ruling class lives, including the King and the wealthy. The lowborn can only hope to ascend to the Lifted City by means of Legacies. (here's where the Xmen link comes in!) Everyone in Atlas has a Legacy, some extra sensory ability that is manifest within them. All children are tested for legacy, and those who have powerful ones may be brought into the Court, either to amuse or serve, as needs be. Persons who have dangerous or extremely rare legacies are at risk of being named an Outlier, and (currently) subject to experimentation or destruction. Another aspect of life in Atlas is that no one sleeps past the age of two, hence, no one dreams.

The story mainly revolves around the family of Wick Lesser, who is an Outlier, because Wick is 17, and Wick sleeps. He dreams, which is unheard of, and some of his dreams appear to become reality. His family hides his secret, but Wick has another secret, the desire for a male mate--one he continues to see in his dreams. Wick gets caught up in a rebel group, Rain, that is opposed to the current king, and wishes for a more egalitarian life. Wick and his fellow Raindrops *snort* are committing treason just by associating, but nothing prepares Wick for the night when part of Lifted City falls, and the nightmare he has been seeing for nights actually occurs in real life. Wick meets the boy of his (literal) dreams, and rescues this fallen Highborn, Athan, from the rubble.

The story then moves forward with more rebellion, of a sort, and the brutal Guardian troops quelling discord in the slums of Atlas. Athan and Wick experience their first love, but this is completely downplayed. The story is in the struggle, the avoidance of capture. Wick knows that by not turning over Athan immediately, he'll be arrested for kidnapping. That alone will be a capital offense. Athan doesn't want to leave Wick, or the slums of Atlas--he has always dreamed of a life here, and cannot believe the luck of finding such a loving partner; his own family is cold and unloving.

This is is an epic book with 10 or so viewpoints. I found it a fascinating read, though the story is really more the congealing of forces prior to the fight. All the players have been moved into positions on the chessboard, so to speak, and the next book promises explosions and uprising (in both rebellion and rising into the Lifted City). For all that this book is named Rebellion, it is really more rebellious in the sense of discontent and rabble-rousing than actual political/military action. That is not to say I didn't enjoy it--I very much did. I'm simply defining the terms, because this is not a war book.

The romance between Wick and Athan was a bit sweet, but not too intense. There are also scenes of love between Wick's parents who are delightfully smitten after 25 years of marriage. Wick's family is a close-knit one, and I truly enjoyed their interactions. Unfortunately, they are in conflict by the end of this book, but I have high hopes for reconnection.

[Reflection · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outlier: Rebellion has all the magic of a dystopian world and strong engaging characters, with a twisting plot that keeps you guessing about what the outcome may be. The story ebbs and flows with side characters momentarily taking centre stage, and either contributing later in the book to unexpected plot development, or untimely sometimes painfully shocking endings.

I loved this book and the affection has deepened with every turn of page. I have to say the love affair developed slowly and there was some initial resistance on my part...I was intrigued by the blurb (and wanted to discover what might happen to Wick and his star-crossed lover Athan, as well as Wick's friends and family whilst rebellion simmers) however the language, third person and present tense writing was for me initially jarring and each chapter revealed differing characters and various points of view that took some getting used too.

The story is immersive and after three or so chapters I was hooked...you know the kind of thing where you bargain with yourself - just one more chapter, okay well maybe another one, well one more chapter really couldn't hurt? The language too, initially distracting, has a beauty and sometimes poetic flavour that highlights and contrasts individual experience within the dystopian world building. The reader is pulled straight into the story learning largely through deeds rather than description.

As mentioned, the story is told from a variety of perspectives some more empathetic than others, but the changing dynamic and outlooks adds to the depth of experience. The day to day existence experienced by the majority of the characters is harsh and brutal, but many of those who live in the 'slums' have the security of family and their cumulative efforts to offer as much protection and support for each other in an unforgiving environment.

Those living in the lifted city above the slums may experience luxury, however this is no utopia and social expectations can be as constricting and unforgiving and on many levels as brutal as a life lived in squalor.

The disconnect, prejudices and misconceptions are seeding the cause for rebellion and the equally draconian preventative measures taken to maintain peace adds further fuel to the discontent in this part sci-fi part fantasy novel.

Perspectives include the powerless and the powerful and those in between. At the centre is the growing attraction between Athan and Wick who by birth have been placed on either side of the divide. I found myself rooting for them and desperately hoping that things would turn out well in their attempts to overcome adversity and to grasp their chance at first love driven by compassion and thereby changing their fate on a personal and potentially worldwide level in a time of upheaval and uncertainty.

I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of the M/M Romance group Don't Buy Me Love Event.

[VVivacious · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.

The one from whom everything has been stolen...
The only one who dreams in a world devoid of sleep...
The condemned one...
The one who has lost his way...
The one searching for something he knows nothing of...
The one trying to separate the certainties from the probabilities...
The one who suffers with the pain of others...
The source of light at the end of the tunnel...
The one meant to rule...
The distrustful one...
Through their eyes the story of Atlas unfolds.
"Dream big, my friend. For the king only cries once."

This book is awesome but at the same time it is not a romance it is a fantasy with a huge variety of characters that trap you in their world and never quite let you go.

This book is written from multiple POVs and somehow I never quite enjoy that but this book makes it work so fantastically. The way everyone's stories overlap is just too good. Basically I am going to run out of adjectives for awesome describing this book.

On the whole this book follows the Lesser family and their trials and tribulations in the slums of Atlas and the various people they meet. All the characters are extremely rich in their backgrounds and personalities. I mean the sheer number of characters in this book is staggering considering the fact that no two are even remotely similar. In fact even though this book gives a voice to a large number of characters, I wanted to hear the voices of many more like Dran, Victra, Kendil...

The world building is awesome, I mean the concept of the Lifted City is mind-blowing (simultaneously wondering if it is physically possible). But seriously for a fantasy world, Atlas is awesome especially as this world is set in the future which seems to be caught in its past. The concept of legacies is also quite well integrated into the world of Atlas. At no point of time did I feel that the legacies were a creative liberty to explain away plot twists, in fact I felt that even despite legacies there was never an easy way out, which lent a lot of gravity to the characters and their situations.

While I say this not a traditional romance there is quite a lot of a love in the air. And as a couple Athan and Anwick don't disappoint.

But seriously reading this book has raised so many questions, that I really can't wait for them to be quenched.

This book is so immersing that liking it is almost inevitable. While I can wax lyrical about how awesome this book is I think I will stop now so you can go ahead and find that out for yourself.

[Parkq · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The dystopian world of Outlier Rebellion is made up of the privileged few who live in the Lifted City, and the slum-dwellers who work hard and die young toiling for them. Residents of the slum are policed by the Guardians, whose ranks are tainted by corruption and random brutality. Author Daryl Banner has built a dark world where humanity has been all but snuffed out, but people can only be pushed so far before they start to push back. In response to their helplessness, a small band of slum-dwellers form a resistance group called Rain whose goal is to bring down the King and his evil council and regain some control over their lives.

In the face of man’s inhumanity to man, an ember of goodness can still burn. All of the members of Rain have been damaged in some way, but they learn to trust each other and form a family based on devotion to each other and their cause. Two who should be enemies, Wick a slum boy and Athan, an elite boy who is held in benign captivity by Rain, fall in desperate love with each other. They yearn for each other from the beginning, but Wick has to overcome a lifetime of resentment of the Lifted City residents before he can allow himself to trust Athan. Their relationship feels so real and heart-rending as they come together despite everything working against them.

All citizens have a power called a legacy which could be as unremarkable as the ability to change one’s skin to scales, or as extraordinary as the ability to pass through walls or kill with the touch of a finger. This element of the book reminded me of the television show Heroes; as each character was introduced, I found myself anxious to find out about their Legacy.

Outlier Rebellion is not a light read, but it is a very well-written, atmospheric book that sucks the reader in and makes you think. It started off a little slow for me, but I quickly got engaged and read obsessively until I finished it. I really loved some of the characters, especially Wick and Athan; I had my heart in my throat until they came together. There were so many great characters in this book and I can’t wait to see how things get resolved in the sequel.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a epic tale of rebellion. The world within this story is completely distinct in its originality. This is not a love swept dystopian tale. Outlier is the story of the start of a rebellion. It takes place in a world so different from anything I have ever imagined with characters real enough to pull it off and make me believe.

Everyone in this world of Atlas has a legacy, or superpower. No one sleeps past the age of two. No one except Wick, who has no idea what his legacy is beyond being able to sleep. His parents have their gifts. His father has mathematical equations which help his see the future. His mother is a healer who takes on the injuries of others, but heals quickly. His brother Link can throw colors, mostly pink. His older brothers have their gifts and use them as Guardians of the lower slums. On the run in this city is an orphaned girl who can vanish at will, and is being pursued by men in masks. The lifted city above them rules over them all with a king that can scream death.

Wink joins the gang that pledges no violence, and sets out to wake the people of the slums up to their mistreatment. His gang, called the wrath, plans to throw some graffiti up during a festival where both the slums celebrate and the lifted city citizens will bear witness, hopefully inspiring recruits for change. It is on this night that outlawed bombs go off and create chaos. Lives are lost from the slums and the lifted city. Three of the higher born go missing and one ends up in the care of Wick. A boy who was on the end of his rope. A boy who doesn’t know his legacy either.

This is written in first person for each character. All of the characters are so unique and have so much depth. Any one of them could have been a book all by themselves. Bringing their stories together, giving them all the lead, was really genius. There is just so much going on in this book, it is hard not to get swept into this world. This book is worthy of attention. I loved all the characters. Even the little girl, who goes by the name Kid. Wick’s story is the best.

There is a romance in this story, but it is buried in a masculine writing style. It was not hard to remember that a man wrote this. Not that there wasn’t intimate moments, or tender thoughts. The characters just seem more real and less flowery. There was just as much going on physically in the world of the characters as there was in their heads. I really enjoyed the writing style. It was such a refreshing change. Men tend to write with a more masculine aspect, that is just really evident for someone like me who has been reading fiction written by women (just coincidentally) for quite some time.

I have no idea where the next book in this series will take us, but you can bet I want to read it. This book had action, fantasy, a dystopian setting, mystery, sex, and a bit of romance. I just couldn’t ask for more from a story.

[Alexis Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This book was received free in return for an honest review via the Goodreads Don't Buy My Love Program)

3.5 stars

Atlas - is an amazing world. A world of the elite, rich, Lifted City, and that of the below, the slums, the districts and wards. The story revolves around one such slum boy, Anwick (Wick) Lesser and his family. In this unique world, each citizen is born with a Legacy, an ability to do something special. I absolutely loved the use of the Legacies and how each citizen had a different power. This was the highlight of the story for me, learning what each character could do and how they chose to use their powers, be it for good or evil. This unique aspect to the story is what bumped my physical rating from 3 to 4 stars.

Overall, however, as much as I wanted to love this book, it dragged for me. Don't get me wrong, it's a great book. The characters are unique and the world building was amazing. The author painstakingly introduces one by one by one each of the main characters, slowly bringing them together, interacting them or leaving us (the reader) alone with their thoughts. Key word there is "slowly." If a story pulls me in and grabs me, I would have knocked this book out quickly. I just kept putting it down, picking it up, reading each little chapter or two, the story broken up and broken up more into bits and pieces, and it allowed me to put it down because there was no continuity of script. Oh look, another chapter, another character and another storyline, another chance for me to put it aside.

I rode it out, the waves of good, dull, interesting, "come on already," and "alright, this is getting good," all to have in the end an unfinished story: Part 1 of 5. No Happy Ever After, No Happy For Now, just plain old For Now...

[Steph Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl does it again

Another amazing story from Daryl! I loved the characters of this book, very well developed. I don't think there's been a book I've read by Mr. Banner that hasn't gotten a 5 star rating, and I truly am not just a generous person. The book took a little to get used to jumping from different people's pov throughout, but I found myself enjoying it immensely once I could remember each one's names.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't know what to make of this book, it's dystopian, futuristic, and post apocalyptic which is my favourite genre's. Maybe I'm just not in the right mood for it, but I'm going to begin the sequel.

[Toni FGMAMTC · Rating 5 out of 5]

FGMAMTC Blog Review

The first story I ever read by Daryl Banner was The Slum Queen a prequel to this story which is featured in Moments in Time an anthology. I enjoyed it enough that I went on to read The Beautiful Dead which is one of my all time favorites.

I don't know the official classification of the Outlier series, but I would categorize it as dystopian sci-fi. It begins sometime in the future. Most of the world hasn't survived as far as we know. What's left has been divided into sections of slums (much like a third world country) and a raised city (sort of royal palace for the high born). People now have something called a Legacy; we would call it a super power. These abilities range all over every part of functioning from the mundane to the amazing.

The book follows the story from several characters POV. It helps you to be able to understand everyone's position and reasoning. Most of the story centers around the Lesser family—father, mother and five sons. Each family member has a different path they are on. And each has different players in their lives shaping and molding their futures.

This will be the very last time they see all their sons under this roof...according to the math. Their sons will, after this meal, be on their very separate ways. But he cannot tell them this; they will panic, think the worst, and ask questions his math cannot answer. Maybe I am wrong, he hopes. My futures have been wrong before.

This book is filled with so many roles and connections: mother, father, wife, husband, son, friend, lover, boss, enemy etc. I must say though that my favorite was the relationship between Anwick and Athan. Although this book is not inherently erotic, there are a few hot scenes mixed in. Some are between a man and woman, some between two men.

Athan is clutching Wick so tightly, their swollen cocks pressed unapologetically against one another and their bodies bearing no more secrets. Wick whispers into his ear: "You'd be my first."

The main theme that in my opinion continued to pop up was the life-changing decisions. Every action or inaction they made caused a reaction.

The Two Answers, he named his tattoos, because whenever he'd ask dad for advice, he'd be left with two answers and a tough choice to make.

Good, bad. Right, wrong. Life, death. Two Answers.

This author really has his own way of telling a story. It's different from any other author I remember reading, a wonderful difference. He definitely has a gift, coming up with fresh plots and composing them in a most appealing way.

This installment is definitely just the beginning. So much information was given, but so much more is still left to the unknown. I will positively be waiting to read the next book in the Outlier series. I'm impatient to find out what Wick's true Legacy is and what fate has in store for the rest of this diverse cast.

***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***

toni

FangirlMoments and My Two Cents

FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...

[Free_dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author was kind enough to provide me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely loved this book. I was a little hesitant to pick it up at first, because I usually don't like my m/m mixed with m/f. But then I figured I read plenty of m/f dystopian stories, so why the heck not?

The beginning was a little hard to get into. There are a lot of different people with different Legacies showing up at the same time, and a lot of them getting their own pov. It took me a while to remember all the names and who has what Legacy. But once I got those details straight, I started to really, really enjoy this book.

I loved the idea with the Legacies. Everybody is born with a unique power or gift, which is called a "Legacy". The author was really creative here. We get everything from fairly plain things - like heating stuff with your hands - to really outlandish Legacies - like killing people with your scream. It was absolutely intriguing to watch how the different Legacies influenced the person's life. How very important they are in the slums and how most people in the Lifted City didn't even know theirs, unless it was something really obvious.

World building is essential for every story to me and I'm hard to please. But Daryl Banner managed to really satisfy my curiousity. There's religion, culture, history and geography here, but all in a very subtle way that fit perfectly into the natural flow of the story. I loved the world he created and I could easily imagine the setting.

There's quite a few pov's, which I usually tend to dislike because I have a hard time relating to so many people at once. But this really worked for me. Everybody had a very distinctive voice and a completely different life. Though I do have to say my favourites are Kid and Wick. None of the protagonists is perfect. In fact, some of them are quite callous and cold. You might even call them kind of evil, or maybe just very ignorant. I love morally ambiguous characters and this book did not disappoint.

The romances were very subtle, which is a huge plus. I'm always craving great sci-fi/fantasy books with low key romance. And I loved the range we got here. From a married couple with five children to two teenage boys falling in love for the very first time. It was tastefully done, with just the right balance of explicit and fade to black. It wasn't super explicit, but we did get enough details to make it interesting.

The plot itself had plenty of suspension and I was hooked. Still am, in fact, because I REALLY can't wait to get my hands on part 2. There were so many levels and layers and everything was so maddeningly mysterious I just couldn't put this book down. Fair warning, though, this book does demand a concentrated reader or else you'll lose track of the different povs and their individual stories. But that's another plus for me, I love slightly challenging reads on occasion.

So, yeah, long story short: This book is awesome. An intriguing plot with amazing world building and incredibly interesting characters. I was and still am hooked. I have to know what happens next, even if their wasn't one of those god awful cliffhangers that I hate so much. The story itself is enough to make me want to know more, more, more, MORE!

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This story was provided free via the Goodreads Don't Buy my Love Read and Review program in return for an honest review.)

This was one seriously impressive book. The creativity, the future dystopian society, how it was all written together, just a fantastic job of building a new world for us. This book just sucks you in with its rich characters and scenery. It's like a tapestry that has been so well-made, you can't stop looking at it.

First, what I really liked: Wick, his simple integrity, how he defended his brother and only got himself humiliated and hurt, but he didn't regret stepping in. How he fooled the Marshal during his Legacy Exam! I loved his entire family actually, especially his mom and his dad. Forge and Ellena loved each other so deeply, and we're so devoted to all of their sons, their fear at the discovery of Wick and his outlier legacy was really touching. I loved his legacy, I'm a huge fan of sleep, I'm one of those (what some would call unfortunate) people who requires about nine hours a night. So one could say I'm a connoisseur. I can't imagine not sleeping so his gift was particularly appealing to me.

Athan was disarmingly cute at the beginning, so naïve about the world, only wanting to live in it, to be a part of something, not just a pampered knickknack which is the way it seems his parents largely treated him. I really, really liked the relationship that develops between them. This is not primarily a romance, but that aspect only added to the story.

For the things that I didn't like so much, I found the constantly shifting POV to be a bit exhausting. I had to re-read sections of the book to try and remember who I was reading about, and how they fit into the story previously. As a result, I had to step away from the book several times in order to get through it. It also seem to drag in places.

Lastly, there were a few aspects of the book that stretched believability. To me, it seemed really, really unlikely that the family would be able to hide such a huge secret, Wicks legacy, from their youngest son. I had a brother growing up, and if he felt like something was being kept from him, he would weasel his way into whatever he could to figure out what was being hidden from him. Link eventually does eavesdrop on his brothers, But he doesn't fully figure out what's going on, my point is that my brother would have figured it out long long before Link ever showed an interest. Next, how on earth did the privileged keep those folks in the slums when the people had so many gifts. I guess when you have a king that can kill you by screaming that can hold many people in sway, but it did just didn't make sense that a huge portion of the population would live in squalor in the slums when they had such magnificent abilities.

All my niggles in the end were mostly overcome by the sheer wealth of characterizations and world building. Again I loved the characters and the world that the author created for them. I'll definitely be reading the follow up!

[Calila · Rating 4 out of 5]

*A copy of this book was provided by the author for free in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a great dystopian novel, all the elements you expect, but unique enough that it's still interesting. In Atlas, the last place on Earth with humans, the rich live in a Lifted City, and the poor below what are essentially slums. Everyone is "blessed" with legacies, special powers unique unto themselves. These legacies are literally life and death. Too powerful and you're a threat, too week and you're basically a slave. This is not a "romance", there are romantic elements(Wick+Athan!), but the story is much bigger than that. There isn't any "main" character either, though Wick is the most central figure we get to see the world through four or five characters' rotating perspectives. Some were more likable than most. I struggled with a few and had to remind myself that they are teenagers that live in a hard world and to cut them some slack. But some I loved right away. What they all have in common though is that they are dissatisfied with the world and are ready to change it. Legally or not. Peacefully or not. The world building is great. This does read more like a Part One, than has a Book One In A Series, if that distinction makes sense, especially given the ending that sets up the next book to the point of being a cliffhanger. It does read a little slow, you're waiting for something big to happen, and though there are "action" moments, the BIG doesn't happen. It's clear that's for a later book. The writing is really good, I was so interested in what was going to happen. I'll definitely check out the next book in the series.

[Chris Szymanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin!
This was the first book to an amazing new series. The main character, Anwick, grabs your attention from the very beginning and keeps your support of him throughout the book. The other characters are just the same, making you root for them throughout the book.
The creativity in the plot is outstanding. Plot twists are throughout the book that will truly keep you entertained and not let you put the book down. At times I got frustrated because I wanted to keep reading but just could not find the time!
The layout of the book is also fantastic. Each chapter is from one characters perspective, but chronologically it all makes sense. There is no over lap in time (between chapters) so it is very simple to keep track of everything that is going on, and how each character experiences it. The layout makes the book very easy to follow and allowing you to read it for pleasure and not a chore.
The chapter lengths are also great. Being a slow reader (some might call me thorough), it took me about 5-10 minutes per chapter allowing me to learn the perspective of several charters when I could only read for 20 minutes.

Daryl Banner's previous books have all been excellent and this one is even better. I am very excited for the next books in this series to come out.

I highly recommend this book for anyone! (Keeping in mind that there is adult content)

[blub · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Outlier is a dystopian tale that revolves around eleven individuals. Each chapter gives the pov of one of the ten character (one only gets one chapter) and cycle through each giving readers a how effected these individuals are by the society they live in and how oppressed they are. Minor characters are also seen through the eyes of the character giving readers a different perspective of each character featured in the story.

I enjoyed the book immensely. It does start off quite slow and takes some time to get into but once it starts picking up the chapters just fly by. The world building was intriguing and it was fun piecing together the hierarchy and the type of roles the characters each character was stuck in, what their decisions were in regards to how they felt towards their governing body and what effects it had on them. It was intriguing to read the story through so many characters and see their feelings on their role in society and where their paths will/has lead them.

I did have issues with some characters over others. Kid's story was the most tragic of all and I really was fascinated by her. She was one of the major characters that grew on me and had piqued to continue reading when the pacing of the book was losing me.

[Claire Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl Banner has done it again. Now I'll be honest, i started this book thinking it wasn't for me. It felt slow at times and seemed to drag, but then I found that in-between me putting it down and picking it back up, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Wondering what was going to happen tot he characters next.

The book flips from different POV's constantly, and I'm a big fan of this style. I like seeing things from different characters pov and I like seeing the pieces slowly coming together to build the story-line. You're treated to several different plot arcs all at one time, and it's frustrating when it flips to the next one because you're so invested in the one you were reading, but then as that segment ends you realize that you are now invested in the next one also. It all adds to the suspense and drama that is building. It's subtle and perfect, and very cleverly done :-)

And can I say that this man can write a love scene! Holy wow, it was hot and beautiful all at the same time. I was waiting this whole book for those scenes, and they did not let me down at all.

Bravo to Daryl for yet another amazing book, I can't wait to see what he does next.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm freaking speechless!

This book was amazing! I am speechless after reading it. I only knew this author as a M/M Romance writer, and while I definitely like those books of his in that genre that I've read so far, I had no indication he could write such a STUNNING novel in the Fantasy genre. I hope that doesn't come across wrong or as a backhanded compliment, because I don't mean it that way. But this story is simply amazing. I care about the characters, they're complex, they breathe, they live on the pages. The story is exciting. The speech patterns of The Kid and Sedge are simply delightful to read. The ditzy girls fawning over Ruenna are spot on accurate. The development of the relationship between Wick and Athan is related in an intense manner yet it's not pornographic. The Marshals and the Screaming King are simply brilliant creations, are presented so vividly. Life in the Lifted City and in the slums is portrayed in depth in such a convincing manner. I don't know how the rest of the books will turn out, but after reading this 1st installment of the series, I'm convinced this writer is a Storm Constantine level talent and that's the highest praise I can give a writer of Steampunk Fantasy with a M/M slant.

[Ramona Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible read. Daryl Banner grabs you from the very first page and leaves you wanting more at the end. He starts it with a bang makes you wonder. He is an artist with words and paints a world that feels real.

It is a fairly long read, but doesn't feel like it at all. Every page reads easily and is pure joy. He breaks it up by writing each chapter from the perspective of one of the characters making it a supprisingly cohesive read. This could have easily made the book confusing, but he masterfully wove through the storyline giving each character your full attention. I like how this highlights each one of them and allows you to feel even closer, like a friend you haven't met yet.

I honestly can't wait for the next one to come out. I look forward to see how he unravels it and ends this story. This has been one of my favorite reads and especially recently I have been fortunate to read a lot of very good books in this genre. This book should be in the reading list for everyone loving the paranormal.

I have received this book for an honest review (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal).

[Laramie Briscoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So....I finished this book & I feel the need to tell anyone who enjoys an engrossing story that pulls you in from the first freaking chapter...doesn't like the same stuff that's written all the time....loves imaginative worlds built on the likes of Divergent and I even think it could compare to the Black Dagger Brotherhood in a way (no vampires, but I think fans of that series would LOVE this) to go pick up this book. You won't be disappointed. This is not normally what I read, but I was very intrigued by the blurb and I'm beyond ecstatic that I read it. And I have to say, I'm a little jealous and want my own Legacy right now - read the book to find out what a Legacy is. Throw out everything you thought books are right now, and READ THIS!!! Seriously, join the rebellion.....Daryl Banner did an amazing job! It's a breath of fresh air and completely different than anything I've read in the last year. Go grab it, read it, and then let's discuss!

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Like some other reviews have mentioned, I had a difficult time getting into this book at the beginning. I’ll come right out and say that books with shifting points of view tend to drive me crazy! It takes me a while to get comfortable with it. However, I DID get comfortable with it and became so engrossed that I finished this bad baby in one day.

I found the world of Atlas to be fascinating. It’s easy to imagine that I’d be one of those lower ward people and part of the rebellion! There’s also just enough romance to show the love, but not to overpower the larger plot. Also: Wick and Athan are so wonderful together! I was pleasantly surprised by their development.

Finally, this story ends in a cliffhanger. I LOVE CLIFFHANGERS! So where’s part two?! Because I really want it now. In the mean time I’ll have to acquire Daryl’s other work! ****4.5 stars from this happy reviewer!****

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I Received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Lovers of Paranormal or LoP*

I am obsessed with dystopian books right now. This was one of the best I've read! The future brings special powers to everyone. The story is about bad boy, Wick Lesser and his whole family. And boy, do I love those bad boys!! The action in this starts almost immediately and never stops. There's a little of everything...sadness, family, romance, a little mystery and lots more. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

5 'oh wick' Stars!

[Riley K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first the dystopian novel started out really slow but once I kept going, I started to enjoy the story a lot more. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel to Outlier. Daryl Banner really knows how to keep his readers intrigued and invested into the characters and their development.

[Finley Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 4.5 Stars!
This book was pretty sweet! I am a HUGE fan of Daryl's writing. The first book I read by him was The Beautiful Dead, which is one of my favorite books. It was so unique and different from anything I had ever read before. While completely different from The Beautiful Dead, Outlier: Rebellion was just as unique and left me wanting more. Seriously, I was pretty bummed out when I hit the last page. So many things, for me, were left unanswered and I am DYING to know what will happen next in this series.

Outlier: Rebellion was an urban fantasy/dystopian novel told from various POV's. The prologue itself gripped you and had you itching for more of what was to come. I will admit that in the beginning, I was a little thrown off with just how many characters POV's there were, and was finding it a tad difficult to remember who was who. The more I read, the more I got to know the characters and I really ended up loving getting to hear the voices of every single one of them. While each and every one of the characters had their own storyline going on, the book was structured so that they were all linked together in one way or another which I thought to be very creative (and not easy to do in my opinion). This was one of the major plusses for me while reading this book. Nothing was just randomly thrown in to fill up space… every person and event had a specific purpose in the story giving you a smaller, more detailed look into what made up the whole.

A few parts were a bit slow moving for me, however they were vital to the story, and things would not have made as much sense if they had been omitted. The only negative for me overall was that the story felt like it was building up to a BIG occurrence…one that would have a huge bang just like the prologue, but for me there was not that big wow factor after the buildup. The story itself was great, but I would have liked to of seen a stronger ending. However, that being said, there are so many things that can happen in book two with the way things were left off, that I am very excited to see which way the story will go from here, and am hoping to get the big WOW that I was hoping for.

The story revolves around the people in the slums (the poor and the workers) and the people of the lifted city (the wealthy and privileged). These two groups of people do not like each other, and this causes much tension and drama. People in the slums are beginning to rebel, and some want to see the lifted city fall. But rebellion comes with a price that not all may be willing to pay.

Each and every person in the slums & the Lifted City have what is called a Legacy (which is basically a special ability). Some are more powerful and intense than others. Walking through walls, becoming invisible, calculating the future through numbers… these are some examples of the Legacies we encounter throughout the story. I thought this was a very cool concept and love the importance of how these Legacies played into the story. The one legacy which I did not fully understand was that of Anwick's father. He could calculate the future through numbers. I am really hoping to hear more about how this works because I am still a little confused about this.

One of my favorite things in this book was the relationship that formed between Anwick (a slumborn who is the ONLY person over the age of two which still sleeps) and Athan (a boy from the lifted city who dreams about living in the slums). This was the first time I read a M/M relationship and I really loved these two characters together. I am DYING to know what is going to become of these two. Will they find a way to be together, or will their different lives tear them apart?

So many questions, so many directions which this story can go from here. To say that I am excited for book two would be quite an understatement. Daryl has a way of capturing the readers mind from page one in his books. He has the ability to take a concept that has been done in the past, twisting it and adding to it and turning it into a completely unique idea. He comes up with some of the most creative story lines I have ever encountered, and I cannot wait to see what he has in store for us readers in the future.

[Michael S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is very ambitious and packed with loads of characters, plotlines, backstory, and twists galore. Much more of a science fantasy "epic" than I had expected.

Everyone is born with some kind of magical talent, most of which have very narrow applications or are even undesirable (think of Piers' Anthony's Xanth), but some people win the superpower lottery and end up with abilities that are incredibly powerful and/or useful.

The post-apocalyptic setting is full of hi-tech vs. low-tech contrast, class warfare, and some intrigue mixed in for good measure. Some of the biggest mysteries in the series are dangled for many, many pages before they even start to be resolved.

I enjoyed Banner's writing style, and errors are thankfully infrequent with an notable exception here and there (I think it was in book 1 or 2 that a "tome" became a "tomb" more than once).

Readers who are thinking of picking this up based more on M/M than on Sci-Fi, be advised that while there is romance and sexual content (for more than just M/M), and there is an arguable "true pairing" at the center, the emphasis is on the epic fantasy. In other words, the characters' relationships are more subordinate to the story at large than they are the primary focus of the story.

Fellow fans of the sort of realistic/cynical fantasy epitomized by Game of Thrones will appreciate that reality has a tendency to ensue when characters in this universe make questionable or risky choices. Character deaths are not necessarily foreshadowed, allowed a final word, or averted just in time, and horrible, unjust things can and do happen to pretty much any and everyone.

Overall a very interesting and substantial read. I've read through book 3 and am looking forward to finding out what happens next.

[Katie Harder-schauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like a combination between The Hunger Games and Twilight for me, without the blood sucking. The Lifted City is clearly the Capital from Hunger Games, and the various wards that make up the slums are similar to the districts in the Hunger Games. The special abilities, or Legacies, that everyone is born with, seemed a lot like the special abilities that some of the vampires in Twilight possess, like Edwards ability to read minds or the little blonde psycho Volturi guard's ability to cause great pain with just a thought. Also like the vampires, no one sleeps.

I LOVED this book. I wanted to just sit and devour it without getting up, and yet I found myself having to put it down after every two to three chapters because I needed time to absorb what I had read. I can't think of a time when that has ever happened to me before; where I wanted to keep reading but just couldn't do it because I needed time to wrap my head around everything I had just taken in. I do not consider this a bad thing.

The story itself is told in limited omniscient third person, rotating between characters (although not with a particular pattern). It was a great way to get inside many of the characters heads, albeit briefly every time, allowing us to see the events of the story from several different angles. And while there was a fairly large cast of characters, I never felt lost as to who was who. Each character had a very distinct voice, and the legacies also kind of helped to keep them straight in my mind because I always immediately thought, "That's the one who..."

I thought the descriptions were excellent. I had no problem picturing the filth of the slums and the shine of the Lifted City. I was able to imagine most of the Legacies, except Forgemon's math, but math stopped making sense to me when I got to Trig, and that was 14 years ago, so I don't expect to be able to picture a math Legacy very well.

Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's a book that I would happily re-read and I imagine there are things I would pick up on in a second and third reading that I didn't notice in the first, you know, because I'd be starting with more knowledge. I would definitely recommend this to all dystopian fans because I cannot say enough good things about it.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Outlier: Rebellion is a mix of dystopian, sci-fi, and fantasy. A lot of the story elements reminded me of The Hunger Games, including a well-developed world, backstory, and cast of characters.

The author has a wonderful sense of the poetic which often showed up in the unusual but fitting descriptions. They were unusual enough to catch your eye (or ear) but not enough to jar you out of the story.

Outlier is written in third person present tense with a number of point-of-view characters. This choice can be difficult to write. The first several chapters stumbled over verb choices and kept pulling me out of the story. Later though, the writing smoothed out, allowing me to focus on (and enjoy) the story. Stylistically, the writing was also not what I was used to. The style only took a few pages to get used to though.

I look forward to seeing the rest of this series.

Highly recommended

I leave you with a few passages that highlight the author's style:
He ignores the wound on his cheek, letting it run in little red tears to his chin as he talks.

"Saving a life isn't just pulling a friend from the fire," he explains, the daredevil playing in his wet, excited eyes. "It's thereafter keeping him from the fire. Saving a life means saving it over and over."

"This isn't a castle ... This is a metal fortress. This is a bunker in the sky, a prison for the wealthy to keep themselves fed without paying mind to who feeds them. It's a dream wrapped in a big silver box stapled to the sky with promises and kisses from the future."

It is only then, squeezed in this dim corner with nothing but his flesh and his breath and two cold knees against his chest that he lets himself sigh, and sigh, and heave until the tears appear in his eyes, until the world blurs and he chokes on empty air, gasping and choking and coughing the tears off his face, off his lips, a sobbing little child.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outlier: Rebellion (Book 1)

I received a free copy, through LoP, in exchange for a review.

There are those who have, those who might have and those that have not. Everyone in Atlas is born with a special talent and no one sleeps one they are past the age of two. There is a system as well, the Lifted (or well off, high class) and then everyone else, divided between many different subclasses. But, unless you are a Lifted, you live below them and ultimately, work for them, providing them with all of their needs. Wick, although part of the ninth ward and is seventeen, still sleeps. His family has done their best to hide this Legacy, as special talents are called, but there is so much unrest, within all of the lower classes, that Wick soon finds himself in an underground crew, trying to make a difference. Through this, you learn, from many different points of view, how certain acts can help and break people. A rebellion is brewing and it's a matter of choosing a side, us or them.

“Are there even higher classes?” asks a kid right next to Wick, his voice too loud. “What if someone's Legacy is over a 3? What if it's a 9 or 10 on the scale?...Or even higher?”
Professor Frey shrugs lightly. “Outlier.”
“What?”
“Outlier. They're called Outlier, and those types, I'm afraid, cause proud Kings to go cross-eyed and Marshals to shiver, and that's all we'll say about that.” Abruptly, Professor Frey flips open the book on her long knobby desk, says, “Chapter 8. Open your books and let's discuss the history of our first ten Kings, and how their Legacy Exams won them a damn throne.”

Wow. That's all I have to say. This book really grabbed me. I know not to judge a book by its cover, but I was a little skeptical, since the cover was a little disappointing, but the story was so well written. All of the characters were really well developed and you could feel the angst throughout. Great job and really looking forward to the next book!

[Felita Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story introduces you to several characters and does this well. I really care about many of them. You are certain that these people will end up colliding into each other’s lives in one way or another. It is at its roots a book about the haves and the have nots. The differences in those worlds is described and shown by the author without pages and page of narration. But at times the pace is uneven.
How do the young and old feel about their lives? What these characters believe, expect, hope for, and what they are willing to risk to change their lives is what keeps you reading. There are many small spots of wisdom in the writing. “Ellena, she’s always learned never to open her mouth among so many opinions. The only thing you invite in an open mouth is acid in a room like this.” I did find myself rooting for some characters more than others and looking forward to the next section that would feature one that I liked. There is some romance in the book, but not so much to put off the folks that say “I don’t read romances.” There is an undercurrent of who are you, in relation to what your legacy (power or talent) is. Of course, with any power the question also arises of how you wield (or abuse) your gift.
As you can see from the page count, this is a significant work. Although you might have thought the author had plenty of time to round the plot up and have a satisfying closure for the reader, he chose to leave you with a cliffhanger. This is not the first dystopian I have read with a lack of ending. Maybe that’s the trend for that genre? It isn’t my favorite way to end a read. Despite this, I would still recommend this book to readers of this genre, forewarning them of the ending style.
I was provided a free copy of the book to read and write an honest review.