I enjoyed this one more than other books by this author however I didn't really get drawn into the story. I will keep reading books from this author but they are not on my must read list.

This paranormal romance is very, VERY predictable, and given how little the characters are established as individuals and how little time is spent developing their interactions and relationship before they are apparently deeply in love, inevitable. Which adds a veneer of boredom to the otherwise promising setup of a paranormal carnival troupe.

I absolutely loved this book , I'm a huge fan of the psychic , paranormal, and supernatural novels. This is very well written, I couldn't stop reading ...

Review live: August 16th, 2017

Freeks is the first book by Amanda Hocking I’ve read. I know, I know. I heard everyone gasp when they read that confession. I don’t know why I’ve never read one of her books before now. They’ve just sort of gotten buried under my ever expanding TBR pile, which has almost taken over my home like the blob in the horror movie of the same name. They just keep expanding. And my list of books to read will expand again when I add everything Amanda Hocking has ever written to it.

I have another confession. The only reason I read Freeks is because I was offered an ARC. Otherwise, it may have been lost in the black hole of my TBR list with all the other books. But, as luck would have it, I pulled it out Sunday and started reading it. It wasn’t long before I was lost in the world Hocking created.

I liked the plot a great deal. I can’t remember reading anything that centered around a carnival before, although I’m sure there are other books that do. In Freeks, the reader gets an inside peek at what life might be like as part of a traveling carnival. But more than that, it also gives us a look into what life might look like as people who possess supernatural abilities of all types and levels. From the ability to read minds to telekinesis, the family of Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Sideshow can do it all… unless you’re Mara. She’s one of the few who has no extra abilities. But that doesn’t stop her from plopping herself right in the thick of things when something paranormal—and none too friendly—starts killing off her family of misfits.

The characters are vast and varied in Freeks. Some play larger roles than others, but all have a purpose and it’s easy to feel connected to each of them. When one character got hurt, I felt the loss in the story without his or her personality filling the pages. They’re all misfits. They all have issues. And while I can’t relate to having the ability to start fires from thin air, I think we all can relate in some way to how it feels not to belong. For Mara, she feels isolated in her life as a Carnie. Not only does she long for a real home with walls and a bed and privacy, but she’s one of the only ones in the traveling sideshow that doesn’t have extra abilities. But, Mara learns that the grass isn’t always as green on the other side of the fence as one might imagine.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style and the story she wove was interesting. There were enough things going on to keep the book’s pacing moving at a good rate. And although I had a good chunk figured out before the end of the book, I was still invested in the story. I would have liked a little more world building, however. There were areas that I had trouble picturing, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying every last word of the book.

The formatting… I don’t usually comment too much on formatting. First, it can change from edition to edition. And e-books are generally different than print books, and so on. But, I have to say in my hardcover edition I really enjoyed the formatting, which isn’t something I pay much attention to. I liked that the book was sectioned off into days of the week. And each section (or day) was set apart not just by a title, but with a different Taro Card. I think. I’ve never really seen Taro Cards before to know for sure if the photos were legit cards, but real or imaginary, the effect was still awesome.

Another part of the book I really enjoyed was the timing. The events take place over ten days in 1987. The comments about popular songs that year and people wearing jackets with “popped collars” and other 80s references were fun. I don’t recall the author mentioning why she chose the late 80s for the setting, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Bottom Line: If you haven’t already, grab a copy. If you like stories with a paranormal twist to them and a dash of romance, you’ll enjoy Freeks. Where everyone is normal and there’s always room in the family for one more. Freeks was a delight and I won’t hesitate (or wait as long) to pick up another of Hocking’s books.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First, what an AMAZING cover. The cover alone gets a star. And that the story takes place during the 80s at a circus also gets it a star. So, that leaves the actual story with one star. Why? That ending.

Think X-Men in a circus and you get a general gist, only it's not actually *that* big of a deal that some of the performers have special powers. I think the way that was treated was great. What I didn't like was 1) I figured out who the baddy was really early, which was disappointing (even southern belles are that nice) and 2) that ending was so saccharine, I now have cavaties.

I was so excited to read this one! I thought it would be like The Night Circus but it is the complete opposite. An 80's horror film but not a good one I don't even know how I finished this and I'm really disappointed because Amanda Hocking. I just don't care.

This book was difficult for me to find anything good to say about it. It lacked what I needed to fully grab my attention. I gave up before I made it half way through

We love Amanda Hocking at my library and she is an auto buy for me. This was a fun, fantasy, but different from her other works.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

this book was not great.

the love story was rushed and not terribly believable. the end was also rushed and ridiculously easy. overall the story had some good points in terms of setting (carnival, Louisiana) and characters but ultimately I wouldn't recommend reading it.

‘Freeks‘ is well written, is has a good pace and will keep your interest. The main characters are interesting and well developed. The setting in a traveling circus in the 1980’s is interesting, being an 80’s boy myself 😉 .

To me the romantic ‘side’ story wasn’t needed, but ‘hey, that’s me!‘.

Put your legs up, lay at the beach, enjoy the sun and get yourself a copy of ‘Freeks‘, and you’ll have a great day!

I have been curious and wanting to read Amanda Hocking for a while as she is from the area where I live. She doesn’t necessarily write my ideal genre, but when I had an opportunity to read Freeks, I took it. It wasn’t my favorite read, but there were some qualities I liked about the book. Mara is living with gifted individuals, although none of them consider their abilities as gifts. Mara starts coming of her own with a gift she didn’t realize she had until dealing with adversity. I enjoyed how she handled that as well as how she was coming of age in the short week she was in Caudry. I also enjoyed her attraction to a local boy, Gabe. Together, they provided a sweet distraction to the darkness that was taking place all around them. I also enjoyed the secondary characters that surrounded Mara and how they showed their love and support for others. I found the evil lurking in Caudry to be a bit strange and that community to be off in many ways, but I understood the importance of it as the story progressed. Where I didn’t LOVE Freeks, I anticipate trying other books by this author in the future.

Though this wasn't the book for me. When I read it to my son he absolutely loved it!

Diverting book, but I felt like it tried too hard to assert the time period.

Isn't this cover absolutely stunning? I really love it.
Was the cover the reason I requested it? Mostly, but also because I had just read The Night Circus and I wanted to read something else about a circus.

These books have totally different feels. There is nothing magical about the carnival, it is treated like they are in our modern world, even if this does take place in the late 80s. It was very much set apart and I enjoyed the setting.
I also enjoyed the mystery, trying to figure out who the bad people are --even if it is a bit obvious. What isn't obvious or much explained is.... well, so much more. I'm one of those people who can finish a book and wants most of it to be settled. I like knowing,so there were a few things that have left me pointing at sections going "???"
Also there are so many characters that I did not truly feel connected to any one of them. An of course, the romance *sigh* another one of those where the only thing that connects them seems to be lust.

I enjoyed my time reading it, but was never hooked or attached. I feel like I kept waiting for something to drag me in... but I really liked the story? My confused feelings have me doubting my rating; I keep going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars, so 3.5 it is.

I also think other people may really enjoy this. If you like stories with downplayed magic, carnivals, lots of 80s references, and paranormal mysteries, then perhaps you should give this book a try.

I really really really wanted to love this book, but it just fell short. Mara is a fun character, but she tended to be a bit too tedious for me. And poor Mom, with the headaches! This book became a plod through for me. Sorry, I just did not like it, and I do like most books I read.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Griffin for the perusal.

Good story for young adults and teens. Not as interesting to adult readers of the genre. Some good story writing, but the characters do come off as very young and make bad decisions to adult eyes.

Not a fan of this book. Sorry. I really wanted to like it.

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 bodes 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.
My Thoughts
This book was thoughtfully sent to me by the publishers St Martin's Griffin for a true and honest review and I was asked if I would like to take part in this blog tour.

First off this is a standalone book and not part of any series either now or that I currently know off in the future.

Mara is the main female protagonist of this story and has grown up with the people of the Carnival for a long time despite showing no signs of an ability herself, her mother has necromancy and uses this skill in the carnival to do readings for money.

As a character however, she has an individuality and a sass which instantly made me like her and care what was happening to her.

When we join the Carnival they are struggling financially and are uncertain if they will be able to continue when Gideon is offered to them from a small town called Caudry.

However, nothing is what it seems from the moment they arrive strange things begin to happen and Mara forms an attachment with a "townie" that may or may not be more trouble than its worth.

I have to say that this is a well written and descriptive piece of work, the atmosphere of Caudry itself however appeared to be lost and almost non existent despite the goings on in and around the Carnival camp site which was a shame.

There are paths that could lead to the answers of the strange events which I feel could have been further explored and the finality of the story although fast paced also felt somewhat rushed and could have slowly come to light.

I really enjoyed the time setting of the 80's however, the references took me right back to my childhood and the musical references I played as I read also made the book somewhat more connective.

All in all I feel that this book is somewhat on par with those 80's adventure films such as Goonies and Lost Boys and would definitely recommend it for a light-hearted read.

I rated it 3.5 stars as insta-love does tend to grate on me.