Rubicons

Freaks #3

by Brett Riley

Finding themselves. Fighting together. Growing apart.

It’s junior year in Quapaw City, Arkansas. With it comes a new foe that even the Freaks cannot thwart--adulthood. As they ponder what the future will be like with college and careers looming, they must contend with the ever-more-perilous threat of The Team, the shadowy government agency bent on saving the world from supernatural menaces. At the same time, they must face their most dangerous adversary yet, a creature of scales and wings that threatens every life in town—just for starters.

Can the Freaks achieve a common goal when they no longer agree on precisely what that goal should be? And what happens when they realize they just might be the villains in someone else’s story?

Genres: Fantasy, Humor

318 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Brett Riley is a professor of English at the College of Southern Nevada. He grew up in southeastern Arkansas and earned his Ph.D. in contemporary American fiction and film at Louisiana State University. His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Folio, The Wisconsin Review, and The Baltimore Review. He has also won numerous awards for screenwriting. Riley’s debut novel, Comanche, was released in September 2020. Lord of Order, a dystopian novel set in New Orleans was published in April 2021. Freaks, a superhero thriller featuring dangerous aliens and badass high school kids will be in stores and online March 2022. The second novel in the Freaks series, Travelers, will be released later in the summer. Riley lives in Henderson, Nevada.

Reviews

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book of The Freaks series. Things are really heating up. The Freaks have expanded their friend circle. They are in their junior year of high school now and they not only have to deal with planning for the future, navigate their personal relationships and try to keep the team together but they are still fighting the federal agents, fighting a dragon (which places a wedge among the team) and dealing with issues of race, LGBQT+ and bigotry… you know, normal teenage stuff. These stories take place in Arkansas, where I am currently living. Who knew we had mystical monsters running around this place. The Freaks still have their supernatural powers and use them to save the world with not much thanks. There is a cliff hanger that got me worked up for the next book. Keep your eye on Micah. This is a great YA sci-fi fantasy series. Go get the first three books and enjoy the ride.

I want to thank NetGalley and Imbrifex Audio for this copy of the audiobook for my honest and voluntary review. More people need to give this author, Brett Riley, a try. The narrator, P.J. Morgan, did a fantastic job too.

[Beth Presley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this was a major miss for me. The previous installments had their fair share of "woke" content, but the plot and action was solid enough that it still drove the story and kept me invested. This one, however, was basically just one long rant with a little bit of plot thrown in. It was a big letdown, and it ruined my enjoyment of the story. I want a solid story about misfits getting powers, becoming an unlikely team, learning to grow and adapt together, and taking down some villains, not constant, over the top reminders of hot-button topics.

There was solid character development with Kenneth that I appreciated, but the way it was presented and verbalized was way too heavy-handed. Just let characters learn, grow, and change without making it into a huge spectacle. Other characters had interesting developments as well, and the focus on the daily life and development of teens was done well.

The new creature in this one really came out of left field to me, and it seemed like it was used just because it was the most convenient plot point to create a rift within the group and set up a larger, more sinister plan. It was just super random overall, but I guess in terms of supernatural elements, nothing's really been stereotypical up until this point.

I also thought this one would be the last in the series, so finding out that it continues was just meh. This whole story was just a filler bridge to get to the next installment, but I won't be reading the next one after this experience.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading all 3 books in the Freaks series, I found I was left with more questions than answers. I found myself rooting for different characters as the series progressed and it was sometimes challenging to decide who was "good" and who was "bad" (The Team, The Freaks, parents, the uncle). By the end of the series, it wasn't too much of a stretch to believe that the uncle, Baltar, was involved from the very beginning and manipulating everything. Don't know if a 4th book is planned that might clear up some of these details.

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars! The cover of this book was great and raised my interest in reading it. I found the story to be entertaining, with depths of layers and intrigue. It was a lovely addition to the series and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really wasn’t for me. I loved the diversity of the characters, but the story itself fell a little short. It was a good story idea, but it was slightly boring.

[Adrianne Normanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rubicons by Brett Riley
1st August 2023.

Quote: “It’s not a black persons job to teach a white people how to act.” 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 🫶🏻

Second Quote: A few slices of pizza wouldn’t solve his problems. A little companionship wouldn’t I break his heart. But when has pizza with friends ever made anything worse?

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thoughts: There are so many topics tackled in the book! Set in America current times.
Riley tackles all of this in my opinion with a kind of raw grace that is sure to encourage lots of conversation.
A blend of reality and pure fantasy fiction had me immediately submersed in this story, and I seriously couldn’t stop reading.

My Review: Let me just say I am addicted to this series now! I had absolutely no clue when I requested to read this as an ARC that it was actually the third book of the series! But let me tell you! This did not stop me diving head first and being able to follow the story from page one!
I want to go back to book one and get the whole story, but golly gosh, I am hooked!
Arsis absolutely broke my heart, and the “freaks” are just so loveable, each and every one of them.
There is mention of same sex couples and non-binary characters which I think was fantastic!!!
A great read for any month, but especially Pride month.
Rubicons is coming to you 1st of August this year, so you still have time to read the first two books (featured in pictures)

Online Synopsis. 👇👇
(This is actually book 3 in the Freaks series)
Finding themselves. Fighting together. Growing apart.
 
It's junior year in Quapaw City, Arkansas. With it comes a new foe that even the Freaks cannot stop--adulthood. As they ponder what the future will be like with college and careers looming, they must contend with the ever-more-dangerous threat of the Team, the shadowy government agency determined to save the world from supernatural menaces. Even with the creepy Baltar Sterne acting as an advisor, our teenage heroes struggle with these tremendous pressures. At the same time, they must face their most dangerous threat yet, a creature of scales and wings that could threaten every life in town and beyond. New questions arise: can the Freaks achieve a common objective when they no longer agree on precisely what those goals should be? And what happens when they realize they might be the villains in someone else’s story?

I was provided this eBook by NetGalley and Imbrifex Books in exchange for a willing and honest review. THANKYOU for the chance to read this as an ARC. ♥️

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[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5

The "Freaks" of Quapaw City, Arkansas are high school juniors now and maybe being adults is scarier than facing monsters from other dimensions. ... Nope, the monsters are still scarier. But other adults ... such as the clandestine government group known as "The Team" ... are, if not scary, a definite threat to the teens trying to save their families, their friends, their town, and the world (in pretty much that order).
The Team knows that there's something strange - extradimensional? supernatural? - going on, and they a pretty sure the Freaks are involved, but they don't quite trust the Freaks and the Freaks don't trust the team, even though they may be on the same side. But with the newest monster entering their dimension being a dragon, it's going to take all their skills, resources, and trust in one another to be successful in battle.

I've been a bit underwhelmed by "The Freaks" books but I thought that there were some nice touches here. The fight with the dragon is well done. It was exciting and dangerous and it definitely had me turning pages to see what would happen next. It was quite thrilling.

But the 'monster' was such a small part of this book. Mostly this was about relationships, and, being a book of the 2020's era, LGBTQ+ relationships are all the rage and author Brett Riley plays right in to the hot topic.

I think, however, that the book tries to do too much. The relationships take up the majority of the novel. This makes a lot of sense ... high school juniors, really starting to become young adults and now facing things, like adults, for the first time. This is very appropriate for a YA novel.

The dragon is a terrific conflict to intersperse with the relationship drama. It's high energy and demands their focus, which of course is hard to do.

But what's up with The Team? Do we really need this side story? It sort of made sense in the first two books, but it feels completely out of place here. This is a complication that detracts from the other two stories and just slows the reading down. At this point it would be hard to just remove them completely, but they didn't add anything to the story.

Looking for a good book? Rubicons by Brett Riley is a YA dark fantasy, the third book in a series, that spends more time with earth-bound, human relationship concerns than it does the extra-dimensional threats.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third installment of the Freaks series and if you haven't picked the previous books up yet, what are you waiting for?

These books are getting better with each installment. All of the main characters are given so much time to shine and we get to see all sides of their personalities. Kenneth's journey in this book was amazing to read. He's really trying to grow as a person and it was written so well. He hasn't just woken up a new person one morning, you can see him struggle with the lessons he was taught and how he is starting to challenge them. All of the characters are growing and maturing and it happens naturally. We get to see their growth (and their mistakes) as we follow along this story. All of the characters are simultaneously going through the same experiences and radically different ones at the same time. They're dealing with everyday teenager struggles, on top of all the chaos brought on by being secret, teenaged superheroes.

Brett has masterfully created a story with so many layers and messages that these books almost demand to be re-read to try and pick up on subtle messages you may have missed out on the first time around.

All the books in this series deal with heavy topics, especially Rubicons. There is discussions of race and racism, bigotry, LGBTQ+, family, friends, growing up, mental health, an so much more. But it is not overwhelming and it only adds so much more depth to the story and the characters.

This is a fantastic series and I have high expectations for where the story is going to go next.

[Jessica Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really struggled to finished this book. I got to chapter 5 and didn't think I could read anymore. Since I won the giveaway and was asked to provide feedback, I pushed through. I was hopeful this may be just the kind of book my son and nieces would be interested in reading. However, after reading it myself I would not encourage them to read it and would actually discourage them.

I definitely agree with some of the other comments. The "woke" content coupled with some absolutely unnecessary statements and comments provided that are clearly just the author's opinion, is partly why I gave this book a one star rating. I don't read sci-fi/fantasy books to learn life lessons from the author.

The concept of the book and the content made the book a difficult read for me. I enjoy a good storyline with super hero and mutants but the plot was simply lacking. What was the deal with the Micah character, and where did the content of the epilogue come from?

Rubicons is one of few sci-fi/fantasy books I have read. I was hopeful it would help me branch out and enjoy a this genre. Unfortunately, it did just the opposite. I will not be looking to read another sci-fi/fantasy book anytime soon.

[Tim Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

The third installment in the Freaks series seems to suffer the same fate as the second. An interesting concept, and a real opportunity for character growth and worldbuilding. However, either due to writing style or misguided editing, the story fell flat for me.

Elements of inclusion and social disparities have been a hallmark of Riley's novels so far, yet outside of introducing it, he does very little to show what it means to the character, short of a "well deal with it" mentality.

The action, while decent, seemed rushed and overblown. Some great conflict was injected into our friendly do-gooding group, yet it seemed to barely scratch the surface of the questions raised. Also. There were a few good cliffhangers, but no real action from previous ones, or foreshadowing to make you really want to come back.

I think, for me, I am done with the series. I really REALLY wanted this to be good, as the premise and plots have been great, but with lackluster writing and two-dimensional characters, I'd rather not be let down again.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Irishbookmammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having followed the Freaks series from the beginning, Rubicons was a solid continuation of the story and a fitting third instalment. Brett Riley maintains the tension and camaraderie that make these characters so engaging, and the stakes are higher than ever with a new, terrifying adversary threatening Quapaw City. The blend of supernatural action with the looming pressures of adulthood, college, careers, and fractured friendships, adds a relatable layer to the narrative.

That said, while I appreciated seeing the characters grow and confront increasingly complex challenges, this entry didn’t quite capture the spark of the earlier books. At times, the plot felt a little overextended, and certain character arcs weren’t as fully realised as I’d hoped. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing the Freaks pushed to their limits, but newcomers might find the story harder to follow without having read the previous instalments.

Overall, Rubicons is an enjoyable sequel that advances the series, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessors.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful to be able to get an audio copy of Rubicons by Brett Riley from Netgalley and I was also given an arc of the book from Goodreads. So I was super happy to get best of both worlds. This book was rather interesting to say the least. Coming of age story with teens and abilities and learning how one thing can change everything. Including their friendship. You get a good view of each of the 'Freaks' as they call themselves and the toll having the powers mess with their everyday life, plus being hunted. Then both teams learn of a dragon and things just escalate from there. You can tell the next book is going to be crazy with how this one ends and I am actually excited to read it. I loved how each of the teens had such a different personality. It fit so perfectly. So if you enjoy the Young Avengers comics and teens coming into powers, you will absolutely enjoy this book. I recommend it!

[Céline Badaroux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see it as an interesting take on Frankenstein’s monster intertwined with a superhero tale and geek puns.
A group of teenagers try to protect their loved ones against secret government agents and monsters while taming their superpowers and wondering what life will be like after they graduate.
Well written characters, interesting tension and conflicts that will keep you reading through the end.
P.J. Morgan adds a nice touch to the text making the tension more intense. Very agreeable to listen to, you’re easily through half the book without realising it. I could have dropped the book around 65% if I’d been reading the paper/ebook version, but the narrator kept me listening.
Be careful about one thing though: I would advise former drug users to avoid reading this book as one moment could trigger them.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the Freaks series, so I am glad I got to read this next installment. However, I don't think this installment is as strong as the others which is a shame. This series has been very on-the-nose with its themes in the past, so that should come as no surprise to readers here. However, I did feel it felt a lot more preachy in this one to the point where it seemed the plot was secondary to the social messaging at certain points. I don't mind messages being shared through literature, but it could have used a little more finesse when integrating the messaging into the plot so that it ultimately feels more real and impactful. That being said, I still found the plot and character development fun and engaging.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Myprivatebookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[G Daniels · Rating 2 out of 5]

What can i say except I am DONE w/ this series. Although there are more to come, I trudged through three, that is enough punishment. Three strikes and your out. This series struck out.
It was too insulting of intelligence and plausibility to make it worth reading even for humor's sake it was so outlandish. It was extremely preachy and self-righteous, bludgeoning the reader with the faults of the human race. Yes, we all are aware that humans tend to fear and destroy what they do not understand even when it does not pose a threat, and yes mysogony is still strong, even in today's teens, but we don't have to have them shoved so blatantly in our face.
Mr. Riley can write, he can engage the reader, but the story is so absurd and the overly-preachiness contained, it can't be redeemed.
Don't bother wasting your time reading this series.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

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....

[Mandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #3 in the Freaks series finds our intrepid heroes trying to figure out how to be the best adults they can as they move into their junior year in high school. They've become comfortable with their responsibility for the safety of their community but the monsters are beginning to be smarter and harder to defeat. Brett Riley keeps the group together in spirit even if their lives are beginning to send them in differeing directions. RUBICONS continues the tradition that readers have come to expect from this awesome group.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 3 out of 5]

We're back with the freaks and their supernatural powers fighting more of today's cultural problems, secret agents, and a new threat. It felt a little different this time. There was still some character growth, but the story felt tired and repetitive to me. The audiobook was well done, but the novel just lacked the same level of excitement as the first two books in the series.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Aether Real · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 much, for me personally, but I get it.
Overall, this was a decent book. I'd recommend it.

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this third entry in "The Freaks" series. I love all the teenagers coming from different backgrounds and becoming friends by getting these superpowers. In this story, they meet a dragon caught from another world and are conflicted on how to proceed. Really fun story. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

[K.S. Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A coming-of-age story of sorts, where young people don't know what the future will hold. This is really a catch-all book that hits at different, important themes that readers of the same age would encounter, with entertainment thrown in.

[Bridgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

*third book of the Freaks series but can stand alone on its own
*think of St. Elmo's Fire meets Charmed - coming of age teens/adults with developing super powers
*fast-paced, easy to read
*good character development
*highly recommend

[Jim Groves · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most inclusive book I've read. YA is not normally on my radar, and this turned out to be fantastic. The characters deal with the real consequences of their actions. They deal with real situations and have very real reactions that change them and their lives. Definitely recommend this book!

[Valerie Rivers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook took me on a captivating journey that delved into the complexities of relatable experiences faced by teens as they navigate the uncertainties of their transition into adulthood, while also tackling important societal issues.
The author skillfully weaved together the themes of personal identity and the challenges of growing up in a way that resonates with readers.
With themes of LGBTQ+ and racism, the story prompts reflection and empathy.
The plot was well paced, with relatable characters, and a good blend of supernatural and realistic elements to make it an engaging and thought-provoking read.
I would recommend this for fans of character-driven stories with a touch of fantasy.

[So (Much) for Media · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Kayla Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you, Imbrifex Audio and NetGalley, for providing me with this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.


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.