Action-packed and full of truth: My review of "Outcasts" by Jill Williamson

Picking up a few weeks after where "Captives" left off, the second book of the "Safe Lands" series continues the story of the villagers of Glenrock who were captured and taken to the Safe Lands. The three brothers Mason, Levi, and Omar, continue their fight for freedom, with Omar seeking to redeem himself for his past actions, Mason trying to find a cure for the disease that is slowly killing the population, and Levi learning to lead his people. In the midst of their struggles, they must discern who they can trust as they try to free their people, and simply stay alive!

"Outcasts" is a thrilling read, filled with the same non-stop action that characterized the first book, and so providing a truly entertaining read. There are many pulse-pounding scenes from the get-go, and I simply couldn't put the book down. Readers are quickly thrown back into the world of the Safe Lands, a world that seems foreign due to its futuristic overtones, but one that is also eerily similar to our own world today. Williamson continues to explore mature subject mature such as the use of addictive substances, forced pregnancy, and sex outside of marriage, but wonderfully balances these with Christian truths and values. The backdrop of the lack of morality among the people of the Safe Lands makes it all the more apparent why God, as our Father, seeks to protect us from a lack of morals, for such actions truly do lead to death, as portrayed in this book. I found Outcasts to be as good of a read as the first book in the series, and continue to believe that Williamson is one of the strongest voices in teen Christian fiction today. 

I give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, and highly recommend both Outcasts and the whole series for teen audiences but also adults who enjoy such fiction as well. 

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Zondervan, and the BookLook program, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

 Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms and the award-winning author of several young adult books including the Blood of Kings trilogy, Replication, the Mission League series, and the Safe Lands trilogy. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two children and a whole lot of deer. Visit her online at www.jillwilliamson.com, where adventure comes to life.