Travelers
A Freaks Novel
by Brett Riley
Narrated by P. J. Morgan;
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Aug 02 2022 | Archive Date Apr 29 2023
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Description
Falling in love. Evading the authorities. Chasing the rabbits.
Now high school sophomores, the self-styled “Freaks” are back in class in quiet Quapaw City, Arkansas. They grapple with the ordinary challenges of everyday teen life: cliques, cars, and crushes. While everything appears normal on the surface, looks have rarely been more deceiving. A secret government task force—fully aware of the unusual powers the Freaks have acquired—is determined to capture them. Even as the mysterious Baltar Sterne shares ancient wisdom and offers hope, a new menace silently emerges in the woods outside of town. Clever, inexorable, and far more lethal than the Freaks’ first superhuman foe, this traveler from another world possesses powers that can only be described as godlike. The Freaks and their town will be tested in horrific ways they are powerless to predict or even imagine.
Advance Praise
“Travelers by Brett Riley was an extraordinary read. It was so creepy and strange and extremely well-written. Brett wrote another winner that completely held me captive till the amazing ending. The book is riveting. Compelling and totally different. I read it one sitting and was seriously bummed it had to end. His writing is remarkable and had me wanting more. I devoured Travelers and his ones before this. I will read anything he writes.”–Rubie Clark, NetGalley
“Brett Riley has done it again, as he continues his story of teenage supers battling monsters – fantasy beasts and Government agents alike. An enthralling, fast paced, fantasy horror.”–Peter Thorburn, NetGalley
“Riley goes for the gusto…twists aplenty”—Kirkus Reviews,
“Riley possesses a rare, writerly ability to remain in the moment once the action heats up. In this installment, the Freaks face their most dangerous enemy yet, and the menace fairly leaps off the page.”–Paul Eberly, PaulEberly.com
“A great spin on the superhero story, told with genuine depth.”—Mark Waid, best-selling author of History of the Marvel Universe, Doctor Strange, and Superman Birthright.
Available Editions
EDITION | Audiobook, Unabridged |
ISBN | 9781945501777 |
PRICE | $30.00 (USD) |
DURATION | 9 Hours, 23 Minutes, 9 Seconds |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
I enjoyed this one and I haven’t even read the others in the series. I like the setting in Arkansas as well as the diversity of the characters. It was also nice how the racial tension was addressed in the book. This one was fast paced but had the right amount of character development. It’s hard to get to know characters when there are so many with important parts to the story, but this one was perfect. I really enjoyed it.
This is the second instalment in the Freaks trilogy. The characters will well established and the storyline took off running. There was bit of a lull in the middle but ended pretty good. This book had a good take on modern world, and still gives the readers that bit of fantasy we all crave now and then.
The Freaks are back and with a whole new set of troubles. With the government officials constantly tailing them and basic teenage problems the group of friends have enough to worry about when an Ancient God comes to town to punish them for the crimes committed by their ancestors. Will the group be able to save themselves and all of man kind from this angry god before its too late? Or will the government officials get to them first.?!?
A follow up to YA book Freaks (which I rated 3/5)
The start of this book was a lot more heavy on the folklore than the previous which I really enjoyed, it gave a kind of historical thread running through. They’ve really built on the characters from Freaks which was needed, and makes the story a lot more engaging. Although it is a little slower in the first half, it was good to recap some things and I think it gave a better indication of the teams dynamics. I could definitely see a YA audience enjoying this and I feel this is an improvement on the last book.
(Also I find the current cover a little weird/ phallic - Maybe the colour of the rabbits muzzle could be altered so it's not the same as the person?)
3.5/5
ARC audiobook provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“Travelers” is a sequel to the book “Freaks” about friends in high school who have accidentally gain super powers, which they previously used in the first book to fight a supernatural being. In this book, the friends are hunted by a secret government task force bent on capturing and containing them. However, the government guys aren’t the only thing to fear: a godlike creature has emerged and seeks to destroy the group of friends.
I found this young adult book to be better than the first book in the series. This book was a quick easy read. The story flows quickly from beginning to end. The characters are beginning to be developed further, engaging the reader more. The group of friends prepare to fight the newest evil in their town, but there is a bit of discord amongst them. Something is happening with Micah, but the group doesn’t seem to see what’s happening. It raises questions that are left unanswered, but these set this story up for the next book in the series.
My copy of this book was an audiobook, so I must comment on the narration. I did find the narrator did a good job with the story. The character voices were well done, and the entire narrative flowed easily. I would give the narrator a five-star review.
Overall, this book was just above middle-of-the-road for me, hence I would give it a 3.5-star review. I think the concept was once again great, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. The story does set itself up for the next sequel, and I believe the story concept was interesting enough that I’ll pick it up. I think this book would work well for a young adult reader looking for an interesting supernatural/horror novel. If you don’t expect too much, this is a pretty fun read.
I gave it 3.5 stars but I can round it up to 4!!
I really enjoyed this book. I have been waiting for a book that kept me entertained from the beginning to end and not gonna lie, I think I found it. I listened to the audiobook and I really recommend it because the narrator is really good. However, I also read it in the ebook format too. The characters were amazing in my opinion and I liked the fact they were not made out to be perfect.
I will recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to get out of a reading slump because this will absolutely bring you out of it.
I did not realize this was the second installment of a series and I did not read the first book. With that being said though, I was able to catch up and get a feel for the characters. There was enough reference to what happened in the first book to make sense of it
I listened to the audio version of this book and I really enjoyed the narrator. The middle section of the book felt like it dragged a little bit but there was plenty of action at the end. It wasn't a book that, for me personally, I was carving time out of my day to get back to. I never felt fully invested and that could be because I didn't read the first book.
Overall, the writing was well done and the storyline was easy to follow. I think this is a good book for YA who are into fantasy for sure. Definitely look at reviews from others who read the first book as well though!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All reviews are my own.
I requested this book before it was made clear that it was a sequel and I could've researched the series a little better, but I must admit I feel a little catfished.
This book was better than the first, the characters were more established and we jumped straight into the story.
I still don't think these books are for me, and that's ok! I'm sure someone else will love these friends gain superpowers books!
I do have to note that the narrator again was amazing! 10/10
I loved this book! I love the character development, especially Christian’s. I loved the addition of Native American lore as well. I specifically saved this review for Easter cuz hello, Rabbit! The great hare in Native American history went by a few names but appeared as a rabbit most often. I also saw some hints to the chinese rabbit god. He is said to manage love between homosexuals & in this book there’s a love interest that fits. Nod to both rabbit gods, maybe? I kinda thought so. Found it super neat for someone who loves reading about different mythologies.
Loved the history rolled into fiction but in the modern era. Not an easy task to pull off. All characters have their own personalities & with so many new characters, that’s also not so easy to pull off. I got thru this book super quickly & can’t wait for the next one. I suspect at least one of these new characters are going to play a pivotal role in the future of the Freaks.
Well, what can I say about the second instalment in this series?
I enjoyed Travelers more than the first in the series, Freaks. I thought the storytelling flowed better and I enjoyed the progression in Riley’s characters. I also welcomed the nods to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other pop culture references.
I read this alongside the audiobook version and it just flowed. I found it easier to follow than the first book and I found myself thinking about what was going to happen next when I wasn’t reading or listening.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Imbrifex Books and Brett Riley for a copy of both the audiobook and e-book in return for an honest review.
The continuation of the story picks up at the end of where 'Freaks' leaves off. Mr Riley connects mythology with the superhero-young adult fantasy. This book could even stand along well on its own. The old gang is back and their characters grow and relationships become more complicated as more join the action. The story finished off with potential for another book. Teenage readers of action-fantasy will find this an heart-pounding read. Nicely narrated slowly enough that readers can follow along with a book. Dialect and voice pitches help make the different characters' conversation easier to follow.
This was a really nice whirlwind of a read. It's one-hundred percent the kind of book I would have obsessed over when I was a teen!
Unfortunately, when I requested this book, I didn’t realize it was a sequel. I did at least catch what was going on, but the first scene was jarring.
This book was definitely not written for me and I can get behind what it was trying to do, but ultimately, it fell short for me. The characters were fun and it was decent read, but I can’t say I’d pick up the third or go back to the first.
After reading Freaks I was honored with being given the opportunity to read and listen to Travelers almost immediately after. I'm very curious if it's just going to end where it is or if there will be a third book. Either way, it was well written and for being someone who isn't a huge fan of Stranger Things type stories, I think this author and narrator have won my heart forever! It was a page-turner and there as so much action and excitement. Was very sad for it to end
- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an early review.
Thank you NetGalley for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Travelers is a very crazy (the good kind!) & entertaining read and one I rate 3 stars despite jumping into without reading the first novel. Yes this book is actually a sequel to the original story “Freaks” which I personally have yet to read! So I can assume it would just add more to the rating if I were to go back and read it!
This book is about high school friends aka the “freaks” who all have powers and are constantly being watched by the CIA and attempt to conceal their powers as much as possible. But what happens when the freaks are faced with a stronger force than they could ever imagine? Rabbit, a shape shifting god, is now closer to destroying the freaks. Is this a battle they can win? Where do the CIA stand within this battle? & how will this affect their powers? I would definitely recommend this book!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
I didn't realize this book was a sequel when I started it but honestly, it was enjoyable wtihout reading the first installment. The main characters are high schoolers with super powers dealing with the CIA on their backs and a god level nemesis. It didn't seem like a lot of character development within the story and I had a little trouble relating to the friends. Still a quick fun read and I reccomend!
Thanks again to Netgalley for the audio book arc. I enjoyed this story overall! I hadn’t read the Freaks (The first book) but still had a strong understanding of what the characters were and how they interacted. I found the story to be in interesting and entertaining with plenty of funny moments. I didn’t feel a great amount of tension from the story but there were alot of moments that I liked overall.
Okay, it took me a while to get to this one because I didn't realize it was second in the series, so I had to order the first one, then read that, then read this one. And oh man. It was worth it.
This series is an absolute TRIP, in the best and weirdest and craziest way! We didn't carry the first in our store but I plan on ordering it in to hand sell both.
The Narrator did a good job. I liked her voice and kept me engaged in the Aduiobook. The story however was fine. There was something up with that other man expically when he mind someone's father. The rabbit bad or God was cool bad guy. I didn't connect to the story nor the characters in the book as much as I liked. Not sure if I'll be continuing.
I liked that this has the same narrator as Freaks. She does a great job of differentiating between characters.
There is great representation in this book including a nonbinary character who is introduced in this novel. Kenneth is still working on growth and continues to show his bigotry but it is a lot quieter now. It's more an internal dialog instead of him taking it out on everyone. It seems an accurate enough portrayal, I think I can just say that I don't like that character at this point.
The relationship between Gabby and Jamie continues to grow and is one of the more pleasant sub story lines in the book.
The antagonist for this novel is the Native American trickster god, Rabbit. He is a shapeshifter and is extremely angry with the freaks for their potential to upset the natural order and because most of them are white. Christian has Native American ancestry and this plays a major role in the main plot of this book.
This book may make you uncomfortable but in a way that encourages introspection and growth. It addresses how Native Americans have been wronged throughout history. Travelers does a great job of continuing the story started in Freaks as well as setting up for the next book.
Travelers A Freaks Novel by Brett Riley, narrated by P J Morgan, is the second book in the series and follows the book Freaks. Book one introduced us to the characters and the life-changing event that brings us to book 2. So the Freaks are back in school and trying to act as usual while doing counter-surveillance on the government group sent to watch/eliminate them. All the kids want to do is live their everyday lives, go to school, play video games, and date. However, there is something new and much more dangerous watching and waiting. Will the kids stay off the government radar, and will they be able to band together and fight off this new threat?
So I wasn't a huge fan of the last book, but I am glad I soldiered on and read book 2. This book was so much better. We got to see the characters beyond their cliched roles. I love how they always seem to one-up the government task force sent to watch them. The pace is much quicker in this book. Additionally, this book has a more elaborate plot where they are still trying to lay low from the government. They must also find a way to deal with the uncle, who owns the book that opened the portal and has infiltrated their lives. Finally, there is a powerful shapeshifter after them. There are some legends and myths incorporated in the story that explains the origin of the shapeshifter called Rabbit. The freaks continue to explore their powers.
I had an issue with a few things in this book. First off, not sure why the kids hid what they did from the uncle whose book they used. He knew more about the situation than them. Not that I blame them for their distrust. Also, I was not too fond of the posturing of the surveillance team and the shapeshifter. They knew what the kids were, but it was like they were playing with them. I felt like there should have been more conflict or making the others question the truth and show a little more doubt about the situation.
It was a fun and exciting read. This book was less about good vs. evil and more about power. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book for middle school and young adult readers as they could relate best to the main characters. There is some mild violence and profanity. This book reads like a comic or marvel movie where you have heroes, villains, and the worry of exposure. If you're looking for an exciting book where the underdogs become superheroes and have loyal friends willing to do anything for each other, this would be a great read!
I remember reading Freaks and being on the fence about it. It was OK but there were things about it that took away from my enjoyment. Distracting issues. I don't know if it is the familiarity of the characters or that this book is just written more to my style, but I enjoyed this one much more.
The opening is the kind that makes a reader sit up and wonder what the heck is going on. I felt the characters, when they came back, were much more developed and interesting. It felt before like they were outlines. They are filling in nicely.
The mythologies brought in this time were far more interesting. There were a lot of moving pieces from the previous book as well as some new characters that only make the story more interesting.
A much improved sequel.
It was great to revisit these characters and see a lot of growth and maturity. They're faced with evil that must be defeated again, and their bonds are even stronger. The enemy was very interesting and creative while being appropriately creepy at the same time. I really enjoyed these books and I can't wait for more from this author.
Doesn't touch the first, however Travelers is a great follow up to Riley's Freaks. The characters development continues to be fantastic. The plot, however, is not as strong as the first.
Let me start off by saying, I didn’t know this was in a sequel when I requested it. Because of this, I felt a little confused most of the time, but this was completely my fault.
Even not reading the first book, I picked up pretty quick on character development. It was amazing! I had no idea who these characters were, but I immediately grasped glimpses of their individual personalities.
ALSO, the writing! Bravo Riley for being so great with words! It makes me want to read so much more from him.
This narrator did a phenomenal job! She changed her voice several times to fit the setting/character. She made this an interesting read.
I appreciated the inclusiveness of a non-binary character. Wonderful representation.
I’m giving this one an average score of 3⭐️, which is pretty good for my ratings!
Thank you NetGalley and Imbrifex audio for the arc, in exchange for my honest review.
That cover alone should tell you that this book will be... a big mind trip. And that it was. The narrator had a great way of giving off the spookiness of Riley's story.
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Travelers is the second book in the Freaks trilogy. I did not read the first book but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to understand what was going on. The author did a wonderful job balancing subtle world building with a fast paced plot. The story hit the ground running from the very beginning and did a great job grabbing my attention. I enjoyed the modern setting with a fantasy twist. The pop culture references witty and enjoyable. I loved the deep friendships and character growth the main characters shared throughout the story. The narrator's voice was very pleasant and I would love to hear more done by her.
Brett Riley's freaks are back in Travelers. We are taken back to Quapaw City, Arkansas, where the freaks have set in motion a new adversary for the unlikely team to battle. As per the previous novel in the series, the world building is amazing but the rest of the book in a sense falls flat with me. Freaks felt new and creative but Travelers feels like it's trying to hard. It may just be that I am not a huge fan of science fiction.
a very good start but then it decayed a bit , good in general, It had a good construction of characters but weak development, this also applies to to the ambience of the novel
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
This book was the second book in the Freaks series, and I thought it was a great sequel. I liked the super power vibes, mixed with some very relatable subjects. I think this is overall a great YA read. A little on the slow end though.
This is the second book in the Freaks series. I did not read the first one but did not affect my reading experience too much. The characters and the storyline were both enjoyable especially the ending and the fantasy elements.
I want to take the publisher and netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
All right let's get into it I did like this book a little more than the first one, with the first one my major complaint was the dialogue it still wasn't as bad in this book. For me the pacing was a little weird in this one I did like all the action and the magic I'm still very mixed on the characters I am really interested in Micah if there is another book I look forward to hopefully him going down the darker path a little more. I did appreciate that there was a non-binary character but it also left a bit of a bad taste since the character was misgendered quite a bit to show how awful certain characters are I just really don't like that personally.
I did like that there was a little romance in this one but it wasn't like a main focus it gave the characters a little more depth then the last book to see their relationships kind of grow and change.
All in all this is a very fun book and series and I will keep my eye out if there is more in the series.
This was alright, but not my favorite! I appreciate having been selected to listen but I was sadly disappointed in this. I think the tone of the writing just wasn't for me.
Um to start this out the cover is why I originally found the interesting. But what I fail to do was I didn't see that this is the 2 book in a series. Have a read the first one no was I going to start this one then realize it yes. So on my behalf, I am sorry. Again I am sorry. But I do hope that people enjoy their reading of this book.
Thanks #netgalley. I hadn't read the first book in this series but it was easy to pick the story up. I loved this story and will be reading the first book now. Highly recommend
"Travelers" was different than what I thought I would be getting into. It was less exciting and interesting than I expected. It was maybe a book my daughter would like, but it was not for me. I could never get into the characters and found myself caring less and less about how they ended up. There was enough recapping the last book that I understood how it all related, but then it kind of kept churning those same conversations and the same disgruntled relationships and it got old really fast for me. The concept sounded solid, but the book didn't unfold well for me to maintain interest.
It was granted by Netgalley, an arc of the audiobook of Travelers by Brett Rilley in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the second instalment of the Freaks trilogy.
Keeps going strong with a good world-building description and characters that are displayed very pleasingly.
An engaging plot to follow, with a heavier vibe than the first one, but made the ambience better, the struggles and issues between being teenagers and the powers they gained and have to manage along to keep themselves and the town safe from their new enemy This book had a good look at the current world but manages to still give us a dystopian and fantasy vibe.
I would like to thank Netgalley for a copy of this book in audio format. The narrator was great. This was a great read as a YA fantasy book set in current times with a group of teenagers with superhuman powers. This is the second book of a series but I read it without reading the first book and I've got to be honest this did not feel like I missed anything. I know there are mixed reviews of the first book. I enjoyed the reference to god's and the changing complicated relationship between the group of friends. I do feel that there needed to be more about Micah's uncle and also not enough development in Micah and his uncles relationship. Equally not a fan of Micah his character just annoyed me. Great book.
I got this book and had no idea that it was part of a series, oops. But I still enjoyed it. The story centers around some teens who band together to use their superhuman abilities to save their town. The author balanced the drama with the personal trials of the kids without hindering the other so that they’re relatable and have great character development. It’s kind of a Stranger Things vibe. Overall it’s a good read, might have been better if I had read the first installment, but it’s on my TBR.
Follow up story to The Freaks. A good second novel that brought more depth to the superhero aspect of the story. The Native American tie in made the story much stronger in my opinion. A solid novel for those looking for a superhero book.
As I'm reviewing the audiobook version of this, I want to say that I absolutely think they could not have chosen a better narrator for this particular series.
Book two is great in many ways, but the political messaging is strong. There's a lot crammed into it, and not so subtly.
In its sophomore story, the Freaks series continues to be... pretty good.
As we have developed characters in the first book (Freaks), the action starts basically right away here, with yet another extradimentional threat that our broken hero must fend off... all while keeping a low profile and evading the authorities.
What I like: There were some really good moments of teamwork in this one that shows our non-conformity friends are learning to work together, putting aside feelings. I feel like this is a key component that can't be overlooked, but often is just assumed. Also, I feel like the villain really amped up in this one, with some great factual Lore backing the story up.... chefs kiss.
What I didn't like: Dialogue still felt stilted and one-dimensional, not really giving any character depth or showing growth. I'm still in awe of the lack of parental oversight being brought up, with MANY loose threads being left all over, which taxed even MY suspension of belief. With cleaner writing, or maybe more invested editing this could be a quick fix... low hanging fruit. Finally, I feel like this grapped with some complex issues.... but kinda didnt...? Like, it just throws them at the reader, saying "This Is A Thing"... but its not reflected in the rest of the story or actual character growth. Instead of deeply meaningful windows into a characters motives, it felt a little hot-buttoney, which put me off.
A note on the narrator, as I indulged in the audiobook. PJ Morgan reprised her role, and again turned in a solid performance! Honestly, as pedantic as I can be about character growth, she really showed thru and made the characters feel real.
Overall, a good ending with a solid hook at the end that will probably have me coming back.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Travelers is the second book in the Freaks series and I have not read the first book. Having said that the book explained enough of what happened before that it could work as a stand alone, I didn't feel lost.
The book contains as much about the characters and their relationship dynamics between the friends, all who see themselves as outcasts is just as fleshed out as the supernatural elements. Many are recommending this to fans of 'Stranger Things' and I would do that as well.
If you’re a fan of the powers of “Animorphs” and the Saturday morning super hero-y feel, with a tad bit of Riverdale, you’ll like this. It can feel like a CW drama but one thing I will say is that unlike the CW shows these characters see very decent development and the tasteful introduction and handling of the nonbinary character was something I, as a queer person deeply respect. While this book has its issues such as varying cliches I found myself enjoying the villain as well and how cute little Rabbits are secretly very dangerous creatures (those teeth!). All in all, this book was awesome. Not perfect but it's awesome. 4 out of 5 stars from me!
There's something about Brett Riley's books - they're *almost* the best, you know what I mean? The plot is interesting, the writing is well done. What is it that is makes the reader lose that important reader-to-book connection? I'm not quite sure. I really want to like these, and maybe I'll try reading again in a few years.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is the sequel to Brett Riley's Freaks. First I would like to comment on the audio narration, I think that the narrator did a wonderful job voicing the characters. For the story, I think that the development seen out of the characters was done well, my one complaint is I think that the plot had more potential than what was given, but nonetheless this was still quite a wild ride, and I really enjoyed listening to this book. This story sets up the stage for the next installment which is set to release in August 2023. I would recommend this series! The Freaks are back and the government is coming for them. Will they be able to outrun them, or will they meet a new fate?
I will post additional reviews on Amazon, and Instagram within the week.
3.5 stars
Definitely a step up from the first one, but throughout the book it felt very preachy and heavy handed when discussing certain topics. It would have been less jarring for the reader if these things were handled through dialogue only or through a mix of dialogue and subtle (emphasis on subtle) hints in the narrative.
Christian was one of the better characters in the first one, and her role ended up becoming even more important to the overarching story this go around. I enjoyed finding out more about her family's history and how that history connected her with everything going on with this book's villain. She's certainly one tough kid, and I respect the mess out of her for that!
Micah dealt with more than enough trauma in the first book, and now there's been added emotional distress flung upon him. He wasn't quite as insufferable here as he was in the first, but he's still an extremely unlikable character 95 percent of the time. I'm interested to see where his character arc is going in the next book.
The villain this time was a good balance of menacing, interesting, and deadly. While the first book really had more of a creepy factor when it came to the baddy, this one brought more of a mental game to the table. You really had to watch your back and not trust anyone, and that helped add to the drama and severity of the situation. I liked how it drew on past cultural beliefs and customs with the villain and created what, on the surface, could seem innocent until you see its true power.
Overall, Christian and Micah were the main focuses of this installment, and I liked the added depth they gained. It's going to end up becoming a major fight between good and evil, and I'm sure it will tear the Freaks apart. But we'll see how the next one goes!
The kids are back in book two there’s a menacing monster in the woods outside of Quapaw city
So on top of the normal every day teenage issues they have to defend their town from the newest threat and try it steer clear of the government agency that wants to capture them. This book was a little lighter than the first because the first was almost like a horror book but this is still definitely in the sci-fi scary range just not the same scary as book one. I think Brett Riley is establishing the characters in a great way and I think Michael who still has attitude issues may just in the end uses powers for evil… I hope not but just a thought. The rest of the kids were who I expected them to be and I truly love the introduction of the non-binary Rebecca and can’t wait for the third book in the series. I really like and appreciate the direction Brett Riley is taking the series I thought the narrator was awesome. I read the first book on kindle but if she narrates book 3 I am totally down to listen to that. She was awesome and thought she had great character distinction in an awesome tone to her voice a totally great choice for this book collection. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
I liked this book so much... Definitely fun, the characters are so colorful, the mystery is exciting, without a doubt worth a listen. I can't give it 5 stars tho because somethings didn't work for me personally, but it's still a fun book!
I rated book one in this series a 3.5, and Travelers sits in the same range.
This is a fun YA series, a group of teenagers find themselves with superpowers and now hide them, whilst protecting their town! This instalment of the Freaks series gave me Buffy vibes (even having a character nicknamed Giles), and I loved it. There was no 'middle book syndrome' with this, as the character development was solid, as well as the big bad of the book.
These are just an entertaining read all around, I recommend and look forward to book three.
**Thank you to Netgalley and Imbrifex books for allowing me to read to this book. All thoughts are my honest opinions.**
I liked this second book more than the first. I liked getting to know more about the characters and even meeting new people, all of whom I was suspicious about the whole time. I liked the action and I’m loving the unique “characters” who were let into our world in the first book. I want to see the freaks develop even more in the next book and get some questions answered about Uncle Baltar and what exactly he’s doing.
I thought this sequel to Freaks was really good. We follow the same characters, who are now fighting a carnivorous huge bunny rabbit. They all stick together and some new romances start. If you liked the first book, I think you will like this follow-up. The narration for the audiobook was very well done. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this audiobook, in return for an honest review.
I was given the ARC Audiobook for this on Netgalley.
Story 3/5 stars
Characters 4/5 stars
This is the second installment in the Freaks trilogy.
The characters were already well established which allowed the story to just pick up running.
It did hit a bit of a slow down in the middle that caused the story to drag out a little but then towards the end it picked right back up.
The fantasy was enjoyable, but it still had enough of a modern take that it didn't fall to far into the fantasy genre, which if straight fantasy is what you are looking for may be a bit of an issue for some being as it is labelled at a fantasy book.(I will add though I do think it does fall under the fantasy umbrella. just not to the extent that some readers may be looking for)
Teen superheroes, alien entity, friendship bonds and trials, love, excitement- what could be better?
A group of outlier teens become friends through a common bond- they’ve been gifted with superpowers! They become the city’s secret protectors against “the Rabbit”! They must find a way to conquer “the Rabbit” while constantly outrunning the law who maintain perpetual surveillance on them, stifling their progress. Will they succeed?
P. J. Morgan was given a massive task when asked to create voices for so many characters. This was well done while considering this. With that said, at times, it was hard to tell the difference between characters. The pace, rhythm, tonality fluctuations, emotionality, and rapid changes in different character voices was outstanding!
I found the book to be very enjoyable and appealing, even as an adult (YA book). It was able to meet my expectations in genre, creativity, literacy, and narration.
I would definitely recommend this book to young and older adults who love Sci Fi.
Thank you to NetGalley and Imbrifex Audio for the audiobook copy to evaluate and review. All opinions are my own.
https://blujeansbooks.co.za/review-travelers-by-brett-riley/ my full review can be found here on my blog. I will post it on Goodreads etc soon.
Refreshing with a ya where there are multiple factions fighting for their own goal, whether it is survival, justice or simply following orders from above. How these teenagers deal with making and keeping the friends they have been set up with because of a spell gone wrong is fun and frustrating with plenty of conflict keeping the story interesting between the action scenes. I generally liked the story and plot, however there are some minor issues I have with how its written.
We love a non-binary character, but as a fellow queer and pronounce user myself I have never come across someone writing out their pronounce as they/their/them, it's simply they/them. Nit picky I know but maybe the author has seen someone use they/their/them.
I'm a young millennial/old gen Z and I know 90s slang when I read it. Do not write teenagers using slag if you do not know how kids talk 🙃 this book reads like it's taking place alongside Buffy. Which is a vibe, but not the one I think the author was going for. If you're above the age of 35 and dont have teenage kids, you should probably dive into youth culture to accurately represent it in present day.
All in all, with my head canon is that this is set in the 90s, this is a good read/listen
I am overjoyed to reviewing and reading the sequel to Freaks by Brett Riley.
The plot and characters really stepped up the game. At first this begins at a slow-pace and thankfully speeds up. Travelers then kept me on the edge of my seat and is truly a page-turner.
This is the second book in the Freaks series. The narrator, PJ Morgan, does a great job. The story continues with a new character coming in. This new character is an uncle that was supposedly dead but somehow is not. The main characters are still dealing with loss and the government watching them. One of the main characters even has a bad run-in with the government. The main "villain' in the story has an interesting story arc. I enjoyed the story and can't wait to see what happens next.
This book was much better than the first one. I really enjoyed the enemies perspective this time and I felt like the person who narrated the book did a good job with his voice. I felt like the characters grew more in this book and the ending made me want to read the next installment.
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