First of all, what a beautiful cover!!!

Mara has been a part of the circus for ages with her mom who's dating the owner. The whole circus becomes her family and she's learned to accept them for their differences. But she's never stayed long enough in one place to forge bonds and make a life for herself. In desperate need of money, the circus books a whole week in a town. But when members of the circus start to vanish and others get attacked everyone wants to get out of the town. The problem is they only get paid on their last day and they don't have enough money to even get out of the town. But they all feel that something is incredibly wrong with the place. While Mara starts to fall for Gabe, more and more attacks happen and it's not long before she figures out that Gabe is hiding secrets of his own...




This book was weird. And i guess that was the point because it was pretty awesome!




Mara was pretty likable but she was quite bitter about being on the move all the time. Some part of her felt sad that she never stayed in a place long enough to make her own bonds even though the circus was like her family. I wouldn't say that she was ashamed of being a part of the circus knowingly because she loved her friends but it was more like she was afraid of being judged as only being part of a circus filled with people that didn't do normal things. As for Mara she doesn't have an active gift so she kind of helps out by selling tickets and setting the circus up.

I'm not sure how i feel about the romance. I wasn't really impressed by it and i didn't hate it either. Things move pretty fast between Mara and Gabe since they're already making out after their first meeting but it's not exactly insta-love. But it was kinda sweet with Mara feeling insecure about opening up her heart and letting Gabe see that she was part of a freak circus. She was afraid of being judged so it was refreshing for Gabe not to follow the trend.

Pacing wise it was really enjoyable. The mystery drags on throughout the book but i feel like the last 10% was rushed...the explanations came in a hurry and i would have liked it better if there was more of a buildup throughout the book to finally realise in the end what was happening to the circus. It felt a little rushed and thrown together especially the part about Gabe, it just came out of nowhere. That being said i wasn't expecting the ending at all so it did come as a shock!

But i LOVED the circus world building and each of the characters! It was a really interesting read!
And it's a standalone!!

I love Amanda Hocking and her books. And when I read the blurb to this book, I was immediately hooked. However, I did not enjoy it as much as I was expecting.

The overall story of this book was great. That's what kept me glued to the pages. I love the idea of the sideshow and all the characters involved. They were very interesting and I wish we could have gotten to know more about them. But I get that this book revolved around Mara and her family in the carnival.

While I enjoyed the characters and their abilities, I had a hard time connecting to any of them. And it's not that because this is a YA book, but I just don't think any of them were as well developed as her other books. And the whole insta-love thing between Gabe and Mara just seemed to far fetched for me. I understand they have unique gifts and that's the underlying part of how they connect so quickly, but without feeling any connection to them, everything just felt off and hard to believe.

Overall, the book is a good read. There wasn't a point that I wanted to walk away. As I said, the overall story kept me glued and had me wanting to know what was going on. Just don't expect to get too attached to any characters or anything along those lines.

If you're intrigued by the supernatural or paranormal read this book. Werewolves, necromancers, and more are in this book. Mara felt it the moment the carnival drove into the town of Caudry, something dark and evil was in this town. Find out more in the pages of this book.

Entertaining, although not as dark as I’d expected. 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book.

Freeks is an entertaining YA story with a diverse cast of likeable characters. In fact, they were all so likeable, I wondered whether the few “baddies” could have done with being a bit darker to balance things up and add to the drama.

I enjoyed the 1980s setting: not only were the period details delightful, but it also made many aspects of the plot more believable (no smart phones to pass round info instantly, for example).

If you’re coming to this book looking for be frightened, I think you’ll be disappointed. I don’t know why, but I was expecting Freeks to be scarier. There are a few creepy and tense moments, but genuine scares are absent. However, while I don’t think this book would scare a younger reader, it’s still solidly YA because of the romance elements and there is one (commendably safe) sex scene.

I also found the pacing to be a little off. The beginning was good, with lots happening quickly, and the middle sustained this pace, but then the resolution felt rushed. So much was packed into the last few chapters they passed in something of a blur, dampening any menace or tension.

I’d recommend this to fans of Twilight, with the added bonus that the romance in Freeks is entirely appropriate and Mara is in no way as drippy as Bella. Also, there’s no love triangle here: another plus. Gabe and Mara’s relationship might be too “insta-love”ish (that’s a word now) for some, but if you’re prepared to suspend your disbelief for humans with various supernatural powers being stalked by a shadowy monster, I think you can also give two teenagers with raging hormones a break.

Overall: Freeks has a promising set-up, great setting and likeable characters, but is lacking in the genuine menace I’d have liked to balance the romantic elements of the plot.

This is a book that grabs the reader from the first chapter and hooks you so quickly, that you don't realize you've read 4 chapters, until suddenly you realize the book might just end- oh no!!! think of this book as the 'smart' book about monsters- those we know and don't, inside and out. Mara is observant, smart and fearless. She trends where others might not, and that just might have exposed her to an evil that lurks in the small Louisiana town, that now knows how special she is. Is she safe? Her family? The carneys? This is a book that will leave teens, and adults alike, enrapted and eagerly awaiting to see if there will be a followup (PLEASE say "YES!" Amanda!). This is a book you'll be sharing,so run and get it together!

This was a nice little buffer from all the YA/Fantasy books I've read in the last year. I'm a sucker for anything paranormal so the title and cover alone had me wanting to get my hands on this.

The reason I knocked some stars off was mainly for predicability, insta love, and the pacing. This book is very much YA so the plot was pretty easy to figure out and the ending seemed very rushed. I smelled that ending coming from a mile away.

Otherwise I loved just about everything else. Mara was an awesome MC. The setting was dope, who doesn't love the 80's? The supporting characters were all unique and added a lot more depth to the story. And I absolutely LOVED that this book reminded me of Goosebumps. I lived for those books as a kid.

All in all, I would definitely recommended this to YA/paranormal lovers and will definitely be looking into picking up other books from this author too.

Mara is used to the extraordinary since she's spent her youth as part of Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Carnival where supernatural gifts like super strength, levity and telekinesis are common. She long for the facets of an ordinary life--a place to call home and maybe even a steady boyfriend.

Times have been tough but things are looking up as the group heads to the small town of Caudry for a well paying gig. She meets a gorgeous guy, Gabe, and they enjoy spending time together until horrible things start happening around the Carnival.

A friend goes missing...

More are viciously attacked...

Even the tigers are unsettled and terrified. Mara and the others realize a dark presence lurks and is targeting their group.

She eventually learns that she is on a deadline to learn a power she didn't even know she had in order to change the future and help her family and new love.

I'm a general fan of Hocking's work and have always been please to see her develop as a writer from her first self published works (My Blood Approves, Hollowland) to the publications of the Trylle, Watersong, Kanin series. What I liked what the play on the theme, setting and time period. The cover art is fantastic and eye-catching. Standalones are hard to find nowadays so that in itself will appeal to the right teen reader.

Another highlight is that there are times when the book is downright creeeeepy! There is always that fear of the unknown monster coming to attack in the night. I'll admit to having a few squirmy moments.

I still enjoyed this standalone but the narrative felt too rushed. Mara is an interesting character as is her progression toward discovering she has some powers of her own. However, the big reveal to hunt down the monster was introduced and resolved too quickly.

And wait [SPOILER]...there's werewolves too?!? This really could have had more development for a continuation of the story or potential for a sequel or two.

Another problem I had with the characters and plot was the seeming nonchalance Mara and her group pay toward Blossom's disappearance. For most of the story they forget about her and then BAM!...oh, wait story thread resolved. If I was Mara's friend, I'd be wary that something horrible would happen and no one would care to remember or seek help.



Final rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I LOVE magical-realism and circus books - so it's no wonder that I was eager to pick up Amanda Hocking's Freeks before its release to see if it combined the two as anticipated.

Welcome to Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow, where necromancy, magical visions, and pyrokinesis are more than just part of the act…

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 bodies 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.

I mean, come on, doesn't that just SOUND amazing? I'm a huge fan of books like Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Stephanie Garber's upcoming Caraval, and Freeks is billed immediately as being a very similar kind of story, but with a more thrilling mystery twist. I was more than a little eager to dive in.

I'm happy to report that on many levels, Freeks comes through - the traveling circus *I mean* sideshow aspects were awesome... I loved learning about Mara and her companions, and all of their special abilities. It was interesting to see the direction Hocking takes the sideshow - instead of being revered for their "magical" abilities (as the performers in The Night Circus are), Mara's companions are ridiculed and considered "freeks" for what they can do. I've never really understood why anyone would want to go to a sideshow just to ridicule people who are different, so I was intrigued to get more of that point of view here.

This book also has a very dark atmosphere. While I'm usually a fan of lighter reads, I have to say that the atmosphere really adds to Freeks - it keeps you guessing the entire time about what really is going on in this crazy little town. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and how little I had figured out by the time the truth was revealed at the end.

Honestly, the biggest downside for me was the insta-love romance between Mara and Gabe. I'm not even a huge insta-love hater (there are some cases where I will accept it in a story), but in this case I was not buying it AT ALL. I found myself wanting to skim through all of their many, many, MANY kissing scenes to get to the meat of the story. For some I don't think this will be a problem, but the romance here really detracted from all of the much-cooler elements at play in this book.

If you are looking for something a little edgy and a little "out there" for your next read, Freeks is a great choice!

Rating: 4/5 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.

This book is a gross example of ableism. It's a voyeuristic approach to disabled people, who do not need your magical powers or cures to make us more accommodating for your world. I would be embarrassed to give is to any teen. This is not what we--as parents, guardians, educators, and librarians--should be promoting. Shame on you.

I will be purchasing this for my library for my many Amanda Hocking fans. Overall a good story and the author's ability to describe and setting and set up a scene is really well done. At some points, I felt it was too much and slowed the plot. Especially the reference to the eighties music. It became more of a plot device to remind us we were in the eighties than a part of the story. There seemed a lack of concern and wondering where one of the troupe goes missing at the beginning of the story, especially after more and more attacks happen and as result, I kept pulling myself out of the story wondering why the MC, in particular, wasn't more concerned with her friend's whereabouts. Having said all this, by the end of the story I was invested in the characters, surprised by the twists, intrigued by the revealed backstory and thinking a sequel would be a good thing! If libraries already have the authors other books I would say get this one, too. If not, I would recommend starting with purchasing an earlier series such as The Kanin Chronicles. Also, it should be noted there is some because of some s
exual content.

The whole circus/sideshow aspect was really fun. The romance was your typical YA romance, and I didn't expect much more than that going in. It was creepy, fun, and interesting. I always enjoy Hocking's stories. You just have to go into them knowing that the writing style is typical to YA. But the storylines are always usually pretty unique, as was this one. I really like the idea of this being a standalone, but I definitely wouldn't mind to travel more with the circus and these characters if it becomes a series.

This is a fun and quick read. I loved that this was set in the 80's, and who doesn't love a circus story?? The story was fast-paced and exciting and I really enjoyed Mara's story. I do understand that this was a YA story, but at times I felt the writing felt a little juvenile, maybe more suited to a MG book. However, the content was decided not MG and was definitely more geared to 16+.

Freeks is an enjoyable book with interesting characters. I love Amanda Hocking books and was pleased to get this one free via Netgalley for an honest review. My only complaint is I quickly figured out the plot and who the "bad guy" was as well as the secret that the lead's male friend had. However, I read a LOT of books and I think that makes it easier for me to figure out plots. I enjoyed the book though and I do recommend it. I am interested to see if the series continues and if so what comes next. I love the characters-there was plenty of variety and they were interesting.

I about lost my mind when I saw that Amanda Hocking was coming out with a new book. I mean, look at that cover! It's absolutely gorgeous and I was completely blown away. And then I found out that it was about a traveling carnival/freak show, and seriously, how can you resist? So I was especially excited we were chosen to host a tour stop.

Most of you may know that the author is a bit of a self-publishing anomaly, paving the way for the success of others. She came onto the scene with her Trylle series. And then she moved on to the Watersong series, which was one of my favorites. She has such a knack for imposing this magical realism on the reader that is absolutely endearing and terrifying at the same time.

And she didn't disappoint with Freeks either. There were a lot of things that worked for me in this standalone novel. It begins with Mara, who is traveling with her mother and fellow supernatural-performing friends. Except that Mara doesn't possess any of these otherworldly gifts and so, she's relegated to cleaning tiger poop and performing other mundane and lowly tasks. And the band of performers were described so perfectly, I could almost picture them. The picture below is probably very close to what's described, if you could just add an extra leg to one of the males pictured.*

***

Because yes, there's a bearded lady too. Without having to add any more uniqueness to the story, it's also set in the 1980's over the course of 10 days, as they pass through Caudry, LA - a gig that will probably bring them the much-required money they need to continue traveling.

As soon as the sideshow arrives in town, Mara wanders off and meets Gabe, a rich local. But things aren't as they seem and as soon as one of the members of the circus goes missing, that's when the weirdness really escalates. Because people are disappearing, getting hurt, and getting killed, all the while the relationship between Mara and Gabe intensifies and there are "secrets" that each won't tell the other.

The story is told in a very fluid style, which makes it easy to read, and is typical of the author's writing style. And I liked that this story is so different when you combine the elements of Louisiana (my hometown), the traveling circus, the supernatural elements, and the mystery. In other words, I'm very attracted to stories that don't fall neatly into one genre. But where I did think the story faltered was the relationship between Mara and Gabe. It felt a bit rushed. Even when they meet, I had no time to even care or get butterflies over the whole thing because it was instantaneous, both physically and mentally. I also thought that there could have been more character development because I wanted to know more about these people, which is both a good and bad thing.

But overall, it's an enjoyable read. And because my opinion falls right down the middle, I encourage people to pick this one up. Who knows, you may find this to be your favorite book of 2017!

* Cast of Tod Browning's Freaks, filmed in 1931, produced and released by MGM in 1932. Photo credit unknown.

This one surprised me, but in a good way. I wasn't sure what to expect but I really enjoyed this.

The characters came to life, the story flowed really well, and I just love Gabe. I will say that Gabe's "big secret" was really obvious and the ending was pretty cheesy. But overall I really liked this book and I'm eager to read more by this author.

4.5 stars. Thanks NetGalley for a free copy!

Freeks is a young adult paranormal by Amanda Hocking. I have read a few books in the past by Amanda and I have really enjoyed them so when I saw a book about a traveling circus and weird occurrences they face in one of the towns they stop in, I was super excited. While I don't think I enjoyed this book as much as I did some of Amanda's other works, I did enjoy the story in Freeks. It is a book, that even though it clocks in at 400 pages, I easily read in just a few hours. It is a very easy and quick read. While Freeks was a good read, and one that I did enjoy, it didn't make me fall head over heels in love.

Freeks follows Mara who is the daughter of a prominent psychic (yes, I know she is really a necromancer, but the circus features her as a fortune teller.) Mara has grown up in the troupe of people that make up the traveling circus and everyone around her has some kind of supernatural power. Everyone except Mara. I liked that the entirety of Freeks takes place in one town, over the course of one week. That short time frame helped lend itself to the brisk pace of the story. There is also a romance in Freeks that ties in nicely to the town and the mystery, but personally I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story more than the romance aspect. It wasn't that I didn't like the love interest, Gabe. I did. Gabe is perfectly nice and I think a good match for Mara. But the romance just didn't grab me like the mystery did. I was much more interested in finding out what was attacking the performers, and what was messing with their powers.

Bottom line: Freeks is fun, quick read. Fans of paranormal romances that like to be able to read their books in one shot will enjoy Freeks. It almost reminded me of an episode of Goosebumps or of The Midnight Society (which was better than Goosebumps in my personal opinion). The mystery was pretty cool, and was my favorite part of the storyline. Overall, Freeks is a solid read. One that I enjoyed, but I do think some of Amanda's other books were more captivating.

A slow start that goes from 0 to 100 in 3.5 seconds when the first attack happens to one of Mara's childhood friends, Freeks will consume you and your entire afternoon. Once I got to the meaty bits of the plot, I didn't want to put the book down at all. Mara's internal struggle and desire for a normal life was enough to carry me through the first few chapters, because I cared about Mara.

Hocking does a fantastic job about painting these characters and showing you their best and worst parts all at once. I wanted Mara to find her gift and a place within the troupe other than roadie. I wanted her to fall in love and lead a normal life (though, I mainly wanted her to fall in love with Gabe's sister Selena, and not Gabe himself, but that's just me).

Freeks had a great voice; Mara's unique perspective and choice of snappy comebacks left me giggling and really enjoying the story even more. If you're already a fan of Amanda Hocking's work, this is a great addition to your library. If you love paranormal oddities and thrilling mysteries with a sprinkle of romance, Freeks ought to find its way onto your TBR list.

One of the benefits of writing book reviews is the way it encourages you to venture outside your general reading interests. Opportunities abound for reading – and enjoying – something in a genre that you’d never have otherwise considered.

YA fiction is one such genre for me. Books aimed at teen readers are such a significant part of the current literary landscape that any reviewer would be remiss in not at least dipping a toe into those waters and venturing at least a few pages beyond the “Hunger Games” and “Twilight” blockbusters.

Popular fiction tends to be popular for a reason, after all.

Amanda Hocking is already at the helm of a bestselling fantasy series (“The Kanin Chronicles”), but her latest is a standalone, a paranormal romance titled “Freeks” (St. Martin’s Griffin, $18.99).

It’s the story of a teenaged girl named Mara. Mara has spent her entire life living and working as part of a traveling sideshow. But these are no ordinary carnies; see, far from being the standard humbug and flimflam one expects from such an outfit, many of these “freaks” have actual, honest-to-goodness paranormal abilities. There’s a strongman who’s legitimately super-strong and a guy whose body heals itself almost instantly. One of the burlesque dancers can generate fire and the guy who runs the show can read minds. Even Mara’s mom is a fortuneteller who actually commune with the dead.

But Mara’s just plain Mara, so she helps where she can – setting up, taking tickets, shoveling tiger poop, whatever is needed.

But things get even stranger than normal when the sideshow lands in a small Louisiana town for an extended gig. There’s something sinister in the air that is difficult to discern, a force that appears to be affecting the abilities of the special members of the sideshow. The townspeople are either overly suspicious of their presence or suspiciously enthusiastic to have them there. Despite all that, their desperate need for money keeps them there.

And to top it all off, there’s a boy named Gabe and, despite her best efforts, Mara might be getting attached.

Even as she and Gabe grow closer, things get stranger and stranger at the sideshow. There are mysterious disappearances and harassment from the locals. There are even inexplicable attacks by unknown assailants. And through it all, Mara has to confront not only her growing feelings, but the truth of her heritage, if there’s to be any hope of making it through.

Oftentimes, there’s a note of condescension humming beneath the surface of YA fiction. It’s not overt or even necessarily intentional, but it is there and it can be heard. Not so much with “Freeks.” Don’t get me wrong, this is a fairly simple narrative. It’s not awash in deep themes or big ideas. But Hocking never comes off as talking down to her audience. Instead, she seems content to just tell a story. It’s a broad, sweet, occasionally cheesy romance with some fantastic elements stirred in for flavor.

It might not be great literature, but it’s a good story. And it never claims to be otherwise.

Sure, some of the plot movements are a bit on-the-nose. And the late-1980s setting feels a bit tacked on, with little more than the odd fashion observation or pop music reference to indicate the when. But the where and the who are strong enough to make up for that admittedly minor shortcoming.

Teen-centric romances are big business in the literary realm. “Freeks” reads better than most; while the relationship dynamics might be a bit unsophisticated, they have the ring of genuine extremity that can permeate young love. The fantasy elements are present, but not overbearing. There’s enough mystery to keep the pages turning.

YA fiction might look easy, but writing something sincere and entertaining is tougher than you think. And while “Freeks” has its flaws, it’s likely to find some resonance with its target teen readership.

Freeks is another fabulous addition to Amanda Hocking's greatest hits! It's captivating and intriguing and all that you would expect from her: characters that are unique and colorful personalities and a story bursting with action and emotion.

The year is 1987 and Gideon Davorin's Traveling Sideshow has just arrived in Caudry, Louisiana. There's a chill in the air as something dark stalks the performers. Mara, who has longed to settle down in one place and live a normal life, explores the town on the first night and meets Gabe, the epitome of teenage normalcy. Or so Mara thinks. He becomes integral to the story in a surprising manner as Mara and the other sideshow residents fight to protect each other from a mysterious dark force. The pacing of this novel is very steady, so the mystery isn't drawn out so long that you'll want to pull your hair out, but it reaches it's peak at the right moment. There's just the right balance of getting to know the characters and their backgrounds and seeing them interact throughout the course of solving whatever mystery looms before them.

I wasn't expecting the novel to be set in the late 80's but it was an easy adjustment. Amanda writes with such clarity and detail that makes any setting believable and real to your mind. She has always been excellent at world building, a fact that can be attested to by her successful Trylle Trilogy, and she continues the trend in Freeks. By the end of the novel I was searching for any indication that there would be a series to follow, but I can understand if Freeks is left as a standalone. The final outcome remains and, as usual, readers will be left craving more Hocking!

*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*