About the Book
-
Author:
- Amanda Hocking
- Genres:
- Historical Fiction
- Paranormal
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- Multiracial
Cover Story: Big Top, Big Skirt
BFF Charm: Maybe
Talky Talk: Cheap Thrill Seekers, Vendors and the Dealers
Bonus Factors: Traveling Carnival, Mysterious Loner Dude, Diversity
Relationship Status: Lurking in the Shadows
Cover Story: Big Top, Big Skirt
Aside from the literal “under her skirt” commentary this cover elicits, I like it—the mysterious tattooed girl, a full moon, a carnival, and a lone wolf are all elements that scream “read me, Jennie!”
The Deal
It’s the spring of 1987. Mara is eighteen and part of a traveling carnival, where the performers have more abilities than meet the eye—in fact, Mara’s mother is a necromancer, although Mara herself doesn’t seem to share that talent. Every week or so, the carnival rolls into a new town, gets paid, and rolls right back out onto the road. It’s a lonely and impoverished existence, but the “freaks” have made a family among themselves.
Everything changes when they get to Caudry, a small Louisiana town that somehow feels off. When a shadowy creature starts attacking members of their crew, they’re torn—do they stay and get paid, which they desperately need, or do they fight off the creature with what’s left of their dwindling powers?
Meanwhile, Mara meets Gabe on the first night, and although she knows their romance can’t last, there’s something about this guy that makes her wish it could.
BFF Charm: Maybe
It’s funny—even though the reader is in Mara’s head the whole time, I didn’t feel like I knew her all that well. Aside from the carnival, I’m not sure of her interests, if she has any hobbies, if there were any parts of the country she particularly enjoyed—the closest I got was a glimpse into her musical taste and fashion sense (both of which I dug). She’s a little bit of a badass and definitely has her own mysterious loner thing going on, but would we be friends? I couldn’t tell you.
Swoonworthy Scale: 7
I thought I was going to hate the romance in this book when Mara and Gabe are making out within the first thirty-five pages. (Instalust is a thing, but damn, that was quick! Maybe I’m just jealous on behalf of my own 18-year-old self.) Over the course of the book, though, Gabe and Mara’s relationship blossoms pretty realistically (and sexily) for a ten-day span. It’s still very quick, and has a touch of impulsivity, which is to be expected in a high-stakes setting.
Talky Talk: Cheap Thrill Seekers, Vendors and the Dealers
I liked Freeks on several different levels (see: Bonus Factors!), but it suffers from awkward pacing. The ending comes altogether too quickly, although it doesn’t come out of nowhere (I thought it must be a series starter, about 50 pages from the end, because I wasn’t sure how she could wrap up all those loose ends). The author has foreshadowed all of the big reveals, but the book would have benefitted from spacing them out a bit more and giving them their due.
Hocking is great with setting an eerie atmosphere, although some of her ’80s references would probably fly right over the target markets’ heads. It’s also a story that benefits from the lack of cell phones and other technology we now take for granted—something I can appreciate, because I still remember a time when I could get into a hell of a lot more mischief than the Kids These Days can. (Cell phones are parental leashes!)
Bonus Factor: Traveling Carnival
I’m a sucker for all things carnival-tinged, from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (where The Lost Boys was filmed!) to HBO’s Carnivàle. There’s something eerie and romantic about what happens behind the scenes. Plus, the tarot card images in the book add a little extra flair, especially if you know their meanings.
Bonus Factor: Mysterious Loner Dude
Gabe is the perfect MLD—he has secrets, but he’s no Jordan Catalano, toying with Mara’s heart. Thank heavens.
Bonus Factor: Diversity
There’s more than a little diversity in here, including Mara’s multicultural heritage and Gabe’s half-Venezuelan, half-white makeup—while Caudry seems pretty whitewashed and serves to further the “other” carnival folk. There’s also socioeconomic diversity; Gabe is filthy rich while Mara’s Winnebago is falling apart at the seams, held together by duct tape and prayer.
Relationship Status: Lurking in the Shadows
Book, I liked you, but I don’t think this is love. Taking a cue from you, actually, I think I might just lurk in the shadows and see if some of your rough edges get smoothed out in your next relationship or two. If so, I know a Ferris Wheel that’s a prime spot for some literary swoonage.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from St. Martin’s Griffin. This review was originally posted on Kirkus Reviews in exchange for monetary compensation, which did not affect or influence my opinions. Freeks is available now.
