I think this is probably a 3.5 for me. I would like to try more from this author. I love when there’s LGBTQIA+ representation. This is quite YA so if that’s not your thing then I wouldn’t recommend it. I loved hearing other reviewers compare this to Stranger Things vibes because I think we need more books like that. Overall this was enjoyable but not my favorite.

4 ⭐️
This is the 3rd book in the Freaks saga. I was instantly captivated by the narrator for this audiobook so I went back and read a summary of the previous books to better understand. While this book was still enjoyable as a standalone, I wish I had read the previous books first. I really enjoyed the writing and the way the author tackled being lgbtq and racism in a fantasy setting. If this book is anything like the previous ones, I recommend this series!
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, Brett Riley and Imbrifex Audio for the Audio arc of Rubicons.
Narrated by P.J. Morgan

When I requested this book, I was aware that it was part of a series by Brett Riley and was hoping to listen to the other two books in the Freaks Saga. This did not happen so read/listened to this as a standalone book, which worked out just fine. This is the first book of Brett's and I really enjoyed his writing style. The characters within the book, are well fleshed out and the narrative was easy to follow. This turned out to be a great fantasy coming of age book, which tackles lots of issues that teens have to deal with as they transition into adulthood. The LGBTQ= element was handled with both care and empathically and it made the bones of the book. It's the inclusiveness of this book that I really loved.

PJ Morgan did a brilliant of narrating which kept the characters with their own voices and personalities.

will be looking forward to seeing more from Brett Riley and will definitely will be reading the rest of The Freaks Saga

4 stars

First, thanks to Imbrifex Audio for allowing me to listen to this book for free through NetGalley.

I’m not going to lie, I hated the first thirty percent of this book. After I got through that, the rest of it I really enjoyed. The main characters and the story was like an alternate version of stranger things but they all get super powers. I loved the vivid and diverse representation throughout this novel. I plan to read the first two now, but I’m very excited to see where a fourth novel might go.

Had to DNF this one as it just wasn't capturing my interest. The narrator wasn't my favorite, and to be fair at the time I was just getting into audiobooks. I have since listened to 100's of audiobooks and now know my preferences.

Rubicons is the third in the Freaks series by Brett Riley, but the first I’ve read. Although there are references to previous novels, they didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of this book and I did enjoy it quite a lot. It’s a YA coming-of-age superhero story. Several teens face the challenges of impending adulthood and relationships while trying to keep their developing superpowers hidden, fend off federal agents and fight a dragon.
The story moves at a fairly brisk pace with mostly likeable characters and deals with issues facing teens including racism and gender identity in an empathetic way. There were times that I felt that the author would go a little on a tangent and I know some of my students who would otherwise enjoy the book might feel it comes off as a little too preachy, rather than just being part of the story. The end of the tale points to even more danger for the teens in the next book, and I look forward to reading it. I listened to the audio version read by P.J. Morgan who does a marvelous job and I loved the POV of the dragon.
Overall, it was a good read, and I definitely would like to check out some of the other books by this author and add them to our library's collection.

I received an advance audio version of this book from Netgalley.

I would recommend this book to anyone. I listened with earphones and in my car as I dashed. I loved it and can't wait to see what Brett Riley comes out with next. 10 for me.

This one didn't quite hit the spot for me. Felt like it just wasn't my thing. Didn't quite mesh with my taste buds. Not saying it's bad, just not my cup of tea! I couldn't quite get into it, but hey, different strokes for different folks, right? Overall, just a taste mismatch, that's how it goes sometimes.

Let me first say that this was a third novel in a series, but if you have not read the previous ones (just like me) this does not take the joy of the read. One can pretty much figure out the happenings and mood between the characters, so no worries.
The Freaks have powers, which are almost standard for a group like this. I was a little disappointed to see that neither of the freaks was furnished with an original skill or power.
The variety of genders and relationships was a nice touch.
The story was nice. You cannot but feel pity for the dragon, as we also spend some time in her mind and get to know her.
I though a lot whether I have a favourite freak, but I guess I would need to first read the entire series to decide, as I understood that there is more to this than just revealing some skills in a battle with an ancient dragon.

This was a fun book. Enjoyed the plot of it and the underlying messages. Wasn't a fan of the hunting aspect in it, though I could see the author was using that as more of a character development element more than anything else.
The author has a great writing style and flow, it makes the reading go smoothly which makes it quite enjoyable.
The woke content was a bit too much, for me personally, as I felt it took the spotlight a bit too much and kind of drowned out the story a bit because of that. But, I get it.
The narrator was also delightful and really adds depth to the characters.
Overall, this was a decent book. I'd recommend it.

I wanted to like this more because I love the idea and the different abilities of the main characters. But they were so childish it was kept taking me out of the story. It felt like the author knew where he wanted to go with the characters but didn't know how to get there.
I usually like narrators and I liked most of the delivery but some of the accents were like caricatures.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

The 2/5 Star rating may be more of a me problem than this book.

I did not realize that this was a part of a series when I requested it on NetGalley. It was not until I finished reading the ALC and looking at Goodreads that it was indeed the third book of an ongoing series. This explains why I was massively confused with the writing and the world building. However, I can safely say is that I found the pacing to be slow and the characters to be annoying/immature.

I enjoyed this book. It’s funny how it was able to stick with me. I started reading this book Back in Oct, got away from reading for quite some time yet I still had this book with me when I picked it back up to finish it.

Brett Riley's Freaks series is a refreshing take on fantasy elements in the modern world. The characters are complex, and realistic, and their development over time is well thought out. There are a few things that I find a bit questionable. For example, one of the characters comes from a bigoted family, and his views are changed mainly by his love interest who is a poc. Personally, I don't feel great about a woman (or girl) of color having to do all the heavy lifting in order to make a bigoted character recognize his wrongs.

This was unfortunately a massive miss for me. However, I did listen to this not knowing it was the third in a series. I will definitely give this another try after I read the first two!

I was not expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did. The characters were diverse, and faced real challenges. Yes they have super powers but what happens they can't agree on how to handle a situation, and what real world lasting damage will it cause. The author does an amazing job being inclusive and giving grounded and diverse characters, their reactions and emotions feel genuine. I do not normally read YA but this was a welcomes surprise.

I started listening to this and did not mind how it started, but slowly realized that the story just wasn’t for me, but it may be for you. I just don’t think that this story leaned towards my interests reading wise.

Another great entry into the Freaks series. The once solid relationships among the original Freaks is being strained as not all of them see eye to eye as the battle a dragon in Arkansas. They are juniors and besides saving the world they are trying to figure out their futures and themselves. The federal agents are still a pain in the neck and there is a sinister force messing with the mind of one of the Freaks. The book has a big cliff hanger that you don’t want to miss.

What a truly ree-donk-u-lous conglomeration of everything it means to be a teen these days, but let's throw in secret super-hero identities, government goons on your trail, constant surveillance, your friends super creepy uncle, and .... a dragon. Sounds like a recipe for amazingness!

5/5 Adventure
5/5 Teen Angst
5/5 Magical realism

Thank you to Imbrilex for the advanced audio copy for review via NetGalley! I love reading all the bits about being a teen that help remind me how much I don't actually want to be a teen ever again, but sure could use that metabolism back....

Rubicons is the third in the Freaks series by Brett Riley but the first I’ve read. Although there are references to previous novels, they didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of this book and I did enjoy it quite a lot. I’m not sure what genre to put it in other than to say it’s a YA coming-of-age super hero story. Several teens face the challenges of impending adulthood and relationships while trying to keep their developing super powers hidden, fend off federal agents and fight a monster, in this case, a dragon.

The story moves at a fairly brisk pace with mostly likeable characters and deals with issues facing teens including racism and gender identity in an empathetic way. The end of the tale points to even more danger for the teens in the next book and I look forward to reading it. I listened to the audio version read by P.J. Morgan who does a marvelous job.

I received an advance audio version of this book from Netgalley and Imbrifex Audio in exchange for an honest review.