Outcast (The Grey Gates #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Jan 16, 2024 Katyana rated it really liked it

Shelves: uf, kindle-unlimited

A solid start to the series, even though sometimes it labors under all the setup strain. I like Max a lot, though I occasionally had to grind my teeth over how much shit she takes. I'm worried that the series is going to lean too far into one of my least favorite things in uf: martyr heroine bending over backwards for a society that treats her like garbage.

It's not definitely going to happen, but there were a few parts that made me worry.

Max has been pretty beaten down by life. She's a orphan, g A solid start to the series, even though sometimes it labors under all the setup strain. I like Max a lot, though I occasionally had to grind my teeth over how much shit she takes. I'm worried that the series is going to lean too far into one of my least favorite things in uf: martyr heroine bending over backwards for a society that treats her like garbage.

It's not definitely going to happen, but there were a few parts that made me worry.

Max has been pretty beaten down by life. She's a orphan, grew up in an orphanage, never knew her family. The Order (an organization that seems to be created as a power structure for people who are literal human garbage) seems to have abused her throughout her childhood in order to set her up as their scapegoat - tormented her as a child, then told her it was her "duty" to pledge to the Order when she was the appropriate age. After joining their shithole organization, (view spoiler)

So I hate the Order and everyone in it - the ones we meet are either complete assholes or spoiled toddlers (think reality TV stars with actual magical powers). And society as a whole isn't much better ... the ruling Five Families all seem to be scum, and generally I'm rooting for the monsters to wipe out this city.

I like the Marshals though - Faddei (head Marshal) seems great, and honestly cares about his people. Other Marshals we meet also seem cool, so in this thankless job, at least they have each other. Though I have to say, if I was treated the way they were (and especially the way Max is) I wouldn't raise a goddamn finger to stop monsters that get loose in the city. In fact, I'd probably leave a trail of raw hamburger right to the houses of the people in charge. Fuck all those people.

But Max is cool, and her magic seems different - possibly the Order fuckfaces know that, which is why they poorly trained her - so I'm excited to see how that unfolds. But I really hope she starts standing up for herself. The next people who tries to interfere with her job because, say, they have a monster fighting ring in their basement, she better shoot right in the balls. ...more

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May 21, 2023 ~♥*Marianna*♥~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: four-stars, urban-fantasy, kindle-unlimited

A good read but it doesn’t have that special zing to it. A bit depressing actually.. like grim urban fantasy. Not much is going on in the heroine’s life other than her job. No friends, family.. okay there was a past lover but the only interactions were with the purpose of getting info in an investigation. Doesn’t seem like much of a life. There are some hints that her real magical strength is yet to be discovered by her and a possible interesting romantic interest has been presented. As a reader ...more

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