Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Outcast Orc
SERIES: Claimed by the Red Hand
AUTHOR: Jordan Castillo Price
PUBLISHER: JCP Books LLC
LENGTH: 302 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 20, 2024
BLURB:
Being scooped up by slavers seemed like the worst thing that could happen to me. Then I was bought by a massive green orc.
I used to be the most sought-after horse trainer in the noble houses. But reputation is a fragile thing. One indiscretion made public, and suddenly those same nobles who’d praised my skill couldn’t shut their doors fast enough. I thought leaving the city would give me a fresh start. Instead, it landed me in chains.
Now I belong to Marok. Even to an outsider like me, he stands out among his kind—and not just because he’s the most imposing beast I’ve ever seen. The weight of the silence that follows him speaks of old wounds and deeper stories. And though he towers over everyone here, his own people look right through him.
In a world where humans are property and orcs are masters, I should be terrified. But I’ve never been good at knowing my place – and neither, it seems, has he.
When humans from the civilized lands find themselves claimed by orcs of the fearsome Red Hand clan, passion ignites. These stories weave together clan politics, ancient prophecies, and dangerous adversaries with slow-burn romance. The series follows unlikely heroes as they navigate treachery, cultural clashes, and unexpected attraction in a richly detailed world where survival depends on finding common ground.
- Slow burn
- Medium heat
- Lush worldbuilding
- Forced proximity
- Opposites attract
REVIEW:
What a great start to this new series! At first I was worried it might be too bloody/violent for me, but it wasn’t! Not to say that some bad things don’t happen, but it’s not horror and sometimes the right people get punished 
This was an exciting story that built from the very start. This fantasy world is very well imagined and written. I found myself very curious about the beings who populate this world. The Goblins, the trolls, the orcs and the “mongrels” as they are called are so different and their contributions to the landscape and background of Quinn’s journey. The obstacles and challenges along the way illuminate the differences between humans and the rest of these groups. And let’s just say that the humans don’t always get high marks.
Quinn realizes just how much he doesn’t know fairly quickly. But he is smart and brave and he knows how to read people and situations pretty well. He sees what Marok tries to hide – his grief and his guilt especially. He learns that his assumptions about orcs were wrong and the more he knows, the more he wants to know. He’s also a good friend to the other two humans, Archie and Bess, who are taken as slaves to the Orc clan home as well. He might think he’s a selfish man who is only motivation is to save his own skin, but his actions show something else. His compassion and protective actions towards both the humans and Marok are surprising – even to himself. And the more time he spends in this new land and with these new beings, but more he wants to know.
Marok has a much different journey although both he and Quinn find themselves at a definite crossroads in their respective lives. He’s been shunned by his clan after the death of his wife and then a disastrous battle. Quinn can’t understand why Marok is treated this way – no matter what happened. But he does come to figure out what occurred and how manipulation and betrayal played a part of Marok’s reputational downfall. Marok’s softer side also comes to the fore with Quinn. Never has he even surmised that a frail human would be worth his time, but Quinn is smart and beautiful and skilled. Quinn has stood by his friends, helped Marok to heal after being wounded and uses his horsemanship skills as best he can on a nearly impossible task set to him, despite active attempts to thwart him. Marok admires his character as much as his person Such an unexpected thing after the death of his wife.
The climax/reveal of the story was fantastic and did really surprise me! In the end, I was quite happy with where everyone ended up. There’s also a bonus scene available with signing up for JCP’s newsletter 
I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series and learning more about this world and the Orc clan inner workings. Archie is such a character! I cannot wait to find out more about his background and what his future will be. I am very excited about where this series will go and I highly recommend this book.
RATING: 
BUY LINK:
