Mara has always longed for a normal life in a normal town where no one has the ability to levitate or predict the future. Instead, she roams from place to place, cleaning the tiger cage while her friends perform supernatural feats every night.
When the struggling sideshow is miraculously offered the money they need if they set up camp in Caudry, Louisiana, Mara meets local-boy Gabe…and a normal life has never been more appealing.
But before long, performers begin disappearing and bodes are found mauled by an invisible beast. Mara realizes that there’s a sinister presence lurking in the town with its sights set on getting rid of the sideshow freeks. In order to unravel the truth before the attacker kills everyone Mara holds dear, she has seven days to take control of a power she didn’t know she was capable of—one that could change her future forever.
Bestselling author Amanda Hocking draws readers inside the dark and mysterious world of Freeks.
More info on Goodreads......
Review:
Freeks is the latest release by Best Selling author Amanda Hocking and is a beguiling and magical standalone tale and will easily entertain and draw you in to a magical world of traveling carnivals and powerful abilities.
For eighteen year old Mara, Gideon Davorin’s Travelling Sideshow is home. The daughter of a necromancer, Mara and her mother have been with the carnival for years and travel alongside other supernaturally endowed individuals to different towns to captivate audiences with their unique and magical abilities. Unfortunately audiences don’t seem to be as plentiful as they’ve always been and with Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow in trouble financially, the carnival members are thrilled when they’re invited to the town of Chaudry, Louisiana in what looks like a big payday. Amongst the magic shows and performances, Mara quickly finds herself drawn to Gabe, a local boy who seems to be keeping a secret of his own, but when it becomes clear that something dark and dangerous is stalking the carnival, will Mara be able to protect those she loves? Or will they find themselves victim to some unknown evil?
In the past, my experiences with Amanda Hockings books have always been positive and Freeks is definitely no exception to this rule. A well told standalone tale, Freeks draws you into a captivating world of magic and circus folk. It was really interesting to get a glimpse into the day to day life of a traveling side show and witness how the dynamic between them all works. I thought it was sweet how they all appeared to be one big family and like that Amanda Hocking wrote them so close.
Set in 1987, Freeks includes some cute throwbacks to the late eighties; VHS, cassette tapes and typical 80’s style of dress that will interest readers. I’m not sure I completely understand Hocking’s reasoning as to why Freeks was set in this decade—perhaps because traveling circus’s and sideshows aren’t as common in today’s day and age--but I don’t think it effected the story too much. Just made for something different. Does make me wonder what happened to all the characters up until now though….
With Mara being an easy heroine to follow and all the members of Gideon Davorin’s Travelling Sideshow so interesting, my only issue with this book is the ending felt a tad rushed and abrupt to me. And having finished the story, I find myself really wanting more. Sometimes it’s refreshing to read a standalone tale, but one novel doesn’t seem like enough time to get to know the characters—I’m left with a lot of questions about all the characters, not just Mara. Will Hutch ever tell Roxie he likes her? And is the feeling mutual like Mara suspects? What will happen to the performers after leaving Chaudry? Where will they go next? They’re were all just such interesting individuals. I’d have loved the chance to explore them all some more.
Overall though, Freeks was an engaging read. Entertaining and intriguing, I found myself eagerly turning the pages until the end and enjoying myself immensely.
Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you Alana!)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback ARC
Australian RRP: $16.99
Release Date: January 31st 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A solid Amanda Hocking tale well worth a read, although I'd love a companion novel down the track ;)
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