Review: FREAKY FRANKY

A novel that manages to be simultaneously scary, metaphysical, and heartwarming, FREAKY FRANKY focuses on the religion of Santa Muerte, the Mexican Saint of Death. The story is set in Mexico, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the Dominican Republic. Emphasis on family and interpersonal relationships balances with an interweaving of the nature of Saint Death and aspects of her worship. There's also a heaping helping of poetic justice.

Freaky Franky was a lot different and better than I was expecting, It starts with a pretty gruesome beginning which introduces the reader to Santa Muerte or St Death as her followers call her, she is a protector and bringer of good fortune but she also has a dark side if you misuse her, The book follows a group of characters who all individually worship her but are all indirectly connected. The book is gruesome in places so not for the faint hearted. If you like horror then this is for you.

Freaky Franky was a name that a young boy and stays with him in school. Anisa is a single mother whose son is dying. The doctor uses Saint Death to cure the boy as nothing else has worked. It works no becomes a follower of Sain Death. She is warned to keep Saint Death a secret as many think worksipping Saint Death is worshipping the devil but it is not so. As Anisa shares this with a friend, she has a nightmare about her mysteriously disappeared brother, Freaky Franky. I won't tell more of this story as I don't want to spoil it for you.

The author has written an excellent horror novel. The tension never ends and kept my attention glued to the story. It is a novel that is not your typical horror story. While it is imaginative, it is based on a folk tale that is accurately portrayed. I plan to read more novels by this author as I enjoyed this book so much!

This is my first time reading this author, but it will not be the last. This was a very good book which flowed well and also provided some shocks along the way. There are some graphic parts in the storyline, but that adds to the story. I enjoyed how the characters all came together and had things in common with each other. I highly recommend this book. Once you start reading it, you may not be able to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.