Freerunner

by C.K. Miller

Freerunning is my edge.

I sprint rooftops, fly gaps, and own drops that make normal people freeze. But no matter how hard I push, there’s always someone better... because of the NeoGen bracers—viral tech that rewires your body to move faster, hit harder, see in the dark, even look filter-perfect. Everyone who matters has one.

Except me, Flip Carson.

Here’s the part that makes no sense: my dad invented the bracers… and he refuses to let me anywhere near one.

I guess breaking into his secure lab is easier than trying to convince him.

But the moment I strap it on, I understand why my dad never wanted me near one. I start seeing things no one else reacts to… creatures built from my worst fears, the bring-your-worst-phobia-to-life kind, hunting me.

And the corporation twisting me dad’s arm will do anything to keep the truth buried.
Now I’m not just running to belong.
I’m running to stay free.

Because if the bracers can turn fear into monsters, what happens when the whole world plugs in?


Perfect for readers who love:

• high-stakes YA sci-fi
• parkour action
• dystopian corporate conspiracies
• near-future tech thrillers

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

C.K. Miller writes across genres and age groups. YA fantasy, sci-fi, and even picture books. But the thread running through all of it is the same: kids caught between worlds, finding out who they are. It's a theme drawn straight from her own life, growing up split between Germany and the U.S., belonging nowhere and everywhere at once.
Her debut series, the Roanfire Saga, started with a small blue agate necklace from her geology-loving father. In her imagination, that stone slowly became a cursed ruby, and years later, a four-book fantasy world. Her latest, Freerunner, trades medieval magic for a sci-fi thriller about a teen who can't stop moving. And The Key, a picture book co-created with her sister, is on the way for younger readers.
When she's not writing, she's teaching kickboxing and martial arts, chasing quail off the porch, and figuring out how many more books she can talk her husband into letting her Kickstart.

Reviews

[Becky Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sooo good. I could hardly put it down. It was fast-paced and caught me by surprise several times. It's funny. Clean. The characters were fleshed out with wants and dreams, and they felt real. Several times I felt like I might almost stumble into them in real life somewhere out there in the real world. I enjoyed that the parents are not brushed aside but play active roles in the story without weighing it down, so it still feels like a YA read too. I enjoyed the messages of being yourself and growing comfortable with who you are. And I loved the ending. The author settled into a very comfortable place with that ending, and I really enjoyed that. I loved the friendships. The stakes are high without being dramatic...but you truly care about them too. I enjoyed that even the villain was fleshed out, and I empathized with his plotline, while seeing him as wrong. He wasn't a cardboard cutout. I can't wait to share this one with my kids, and I'll be revisiting it.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book for my honest review.

This book was everything I wanted and needed it to be and more! A great clean YA book that, if you have kids, you can feel confident letting them read.
Fast pace, high stakes, reminding you that even if it feels like everyone is better than you, you can't give up. Keep going, you will get there.
This book was a breath of fresh air. The characters felt real, and the world felt real. If you're looking for your next read, look no further than here. You won't regret it.

[Abby Ivonhoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this book. I couldn't put it down to go to sleep.
If you enjoy clean YA, and action packed scenes, involving a lot of flping and dodging.
Then I highly recommend this book.