Amanda Hocking

Mara Beznik, who travels with Gideon Davorin's Traveling Carnival, longs for an ordinary life where no one has the ability to levitate or predict the future. When the show stops in Caudry and she meets gorgeous local Gabe, she finally gets her chance. But before long, Mara realizes there's a dark presence lurking in the town, and that she has only a week to harness a power she didn't know she had in order to save everyone she cares about. --

A Novel

Freeks

Alexis Schwulst 

I was looking forward to this book as I have with all of the Amanda Hocking books that I have read.
I enjoyed it and fell in love with the characters, however, I felt like the last few chapters were a rush through with not enough details. just leaving me with a lot of questions.

ashley hopkins

I enjoyed it, but the semi ending wrapped up to nice.

Emma Tickner

3.5

This was on track to be a stronger read until the ending came. I got confused by the whole thing and it was kind of a disappointing ending.

So 3.5 stars it is.

Marissa Scudlo

This book was awesome! Mara is a great character and a badass in her own right. For anyone who is into a crazy ride of a book this is the book for you.

Laura

Wonderful book full of well written characters that could, and should, be expanded into a series.

Lisa ✩ @lifeinlit

3.5 stars!

Freeks was my very first Amanda Hocking book. I'm new to the fantasy genre, so I haven't read very many books outside of my little contemporary bubble the last few years. Recently, however, I've really come out of my shell and have been reading many books that I normally never would have even considered... and I'm really enjoying them!

Mara's life has always been one with the circus. For as long as she can remember, she's been traveling with her mother and close family friends, all performers in Gideon Davorin's Traveling Sidehow. From town to town, they drive in their Winnebago, staying for short week-long periods of time at each place. Mara has always longed for a "normal" life, but she's never been so lucky. When money is tight, it means her and her mother must pick up and move on to another job. This time they end up in a small, slightly-strange town of Caudry, Louisiana. After Mara stumbles into a teenage house party her first night there and meets the rich and handsome Gabe, Mara starts thinking that maybe this trip won't be so bad. That is until she starts having feelings for him and realizes that eventually, in a matter of just a few days, she will be picking up and relocating once again. She never stays in one location long enough to form any real relationship or even a friendship. Her entire life is based about the performers and helpers that travel along with the sideshow. But when very strange things start happening in Caudry that end up turning extremely scary and hurtful, the group must decide if they can stick with it long enough to be paid for their work in Caudry, or if they must up and leave asap to escape danger.

This read was a lot of fun to me!! I really enjoyed getting to know these performers and their unique talents throughout the story. I also liked Mara and felt bad for her, never getting to live a "normal" life, like she so desired. Gabe was a fun character as well, and I loved the interactions he and Mara had. At times they felt a bit insta-lovey, but never overly so. 

Freeks was a unique and entertaining read. Nothing really stood out as being exceptional, but it kept my attention nonetheless. I felt at times it did run a bit slow, and the anticipation for answers lasted until the very end, which wrapped up a bit too quickly for my liking. I suppose I would have liked answers a bit earlier-on in the story, rather than waiting until the last few chapters to explain everything in a short span of words. Overall, a great escape from the daily grind. I'm glad I took the time to read this story and dive into the world of these circus performers, even for just a short while. 

 

  


(Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for the review copy!)

Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

Abby Gaudreau

The Carnival is all she's ever known - but an old terror could tear it down. In the spring of 1982, the carnival comes to small-town Cauldry, Louisiana. Then events take a dangerous turn. For Mara Besnick, the carnival is home. It's also a place of secrets, hidden powers and a buried past - making it hard to connect with outsiders. However, sparks fly when she meets local boy Gabe Alvarado. As they become inseparable, Mara realises Gabe is hiding his own secrets. And his family legacy could destroy Mara's world.They find the word 'freeks' sprayed on trailers, as carnival employees start disappearing. Then workers wind up dead, killed in disturbing ways by someone or something. Mara is determined to unlock the mystery, with Gabe's help. But can they really halt this campaign of fear?PRAISE FOR FREEKS"Generated an excitement not felt in the industry since Stephenie Meyer or perhaps even J. K. Rowling" New York Times"Mara is strong, independent, and pragmatic . . . and her family of misfits is falling prey, one by one, to a beast that is stalking the campsite, bulding to a battle-driven reckoning. This standalone novel will keep readers hooked" Publishers Weekly

Freeks A Novel

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