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Freelancer #1
Freelancer
Kari is a freelance hacker, taking jobs from clients to design anything from art to security software. In a world where 3D printers, drones and computers that connect directly to the brain are common things, Kari finds keeping her talents secret while trying to finish high school to be quite the problem. With the threat of the 2nd Civil War, Kari must decide how far she will go to protect herself and others from harm's way, even when her choices might have consequences she's not ready to face.
235 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2015
92 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 29, 2015
"A beautiful mind"
Kari is way smarter than your average bear. At seventeen, she hides her brilliance at school by day and freelances on the net at night. Her products? Anything she can imagine, write the code for, and create on three-D printers.
Her parents don’t have any idea what she can do or what she can create. Kari hides her talents away in this dystopian mechanized world where only three types of jobs exist and her skill set is out of the box.
Meanwhile, the US is poised for another Civil War. A clever government plot draws Kari out of hiding, paints her as a heinous threat to society. They’ll let her family and her friend David’s family go if she cooperates and creates powerful weapons for them.
Little do they know, putting Kari in a tight jam is just the way to stoke her creative engine. With a little luck, she might just save the world and have a date for the dance.
Lingwall’s page turning dystopian YA novel kept me on the edge of my seat. The high octane blend of Kari’s vulnerabilities, poise, and talents stole the show.
Another winner from Kindle Scout.
Maggie Toussaint and Rigel Carson for Muddy Rose Reviews
Kari is way smarter than your average bear. At seventeen, she hides her brilliance at school by day and freelances on the net at night. Her products? Anything she can imagine, write the code for, and create on three-D printers.
Her parents don’t have any idea what she can do or what she can create. Kari hides her talents away in this dystopian mechanized world where only three types of jobs exist and her skill set is out of the box.
Meanwhile, the US is poised for another Civil War. A clever government plot draws Kari out of hiding, paints her as a heinous threat to society. They’ll let her family and her friend David’s family go if she cooperates and creates powerful weapons for them.
Little do they know, putting Kari in a tight jam is just the way to stoke her creative engine. With a little luck, she might just save the world and have a date for the dance.
Lingwall’s page turning dystopian YA novel kept me on the edge of my seat. The high octane blend of Kari’s vulnerabilities, poise, and talents stole the show.
Another winner from Kindle Scout.
Maggie Toussaint and Rigel Carson for Muddy Rose Reviews
November 16, 2016
This book was amazing! It was imaginative and action packed! I loved it! I was rooting for the main character the whole way! This story is about a girl in high school who does freelance work as a hacker in secret. She lives in a world where 3D printers are available everywhere and people have chip implants that gives them full access to the internet. It's definitely a unique story plot in my opinion. I have the next two in the series on my Kindle and ready to pull up and read! If you are into dystopian/science fiction kind of books, this is an amazing read. I fully recommend it!
June 20, 2016
I was really excited to read this – I conversed with the author and loved the premise of the novel. There was so much going for it… and then I started reading…
‘Freelancer’ is difficult to get into at the beginning - bogged down with technical details and simulations instead of getting on with (and setting up) the story. Lingwall missed a proper introduction to the novel and jumped right into the middle part.
The protagonist, Kari, is hard to relate to and her motives difficult to understand. The more I read, the less I cared about her. She was coming off like a paranoid prepper - which was weird mixed in with all the teen high school angst. There was little background given or inner monologue leaving her actions as mere plot devices directed obviously by the author. One thing I will applaud was that it was good to read about a diverse character, though, unfortunately, her heritage played absolutely no aspect in the narrative (or her identity) whatsoever. A prime opportunity to create conflict and tension missed. Sadly this trend of little or no character development is also prevalent in the remainder of the cast.
Maybe because of the major issues I had with the narrative style and basic novel writing tools, Kari’s skills felt unrealistic – I guess if there was better world building and character development I wouldn’t have felt this way. Additionally, because of this, the number of times Kari was put in jail felt more like she had been sent to her room for being a bad girl – it didn’t feel like she was being threatened, punished or even all that frightened about the turn of events.
It is obvious Lingwall knows what he is writing about when it comes to the science fiction aspect of the story – very cool concepts of technology. It can also be said that his action scenes are excellent. Though, it was like this book was written around a number of action scenes without any thought to the characters and how to structure a novel. Fun, but needs A LOT of development.
Elements of great political intrigue leading up to a civil war (I’m presuming – the writing wasn’t very precise). Only because of no world building for the political climate either – am I just meant to accept it what is going on? I was a little frustrated by the halfway point. If it weren't for the personal attachment with David (Kari’s love interest), and his family I may have not even bothered.
Consequently, I could have skipped first half of the book. It did little to set up the characters, their motivations, what they stood to lose, and the climate/world. So many essential elements in writing a novel overlooked. The formatting with frequent italicised thoughts were distracting and not needed. One chapter actually started with “Insert chapter nine text here.” Inexcusable! Where was the proofreading! So many elements giving me a very bad impression. ‘Freelancer’ needs a heavy hand from a professional editor. So much promise but no delivery.
It’s a pity because this book has a great climactic ending, though the note after the dramatic scene felt lukewarm and as directionless as the start of the novel. Reactions from the adults in this scenario felt contrived and unrealistic. With phenomenal action scenes, amazing plot, I wish it was executed with precision.
I know that this is a debut for a series, but I won’t be continuing on, or recommending this to anyone. A few shining moments, but the rest just gave me a headache.
‘Freelancer’ is difficult to get into at the beginning - bogged down with technical details and simulations instead of getting on with (and setting up) the story. Lingwall missed a proper introduction to the novel and jumped right into the middle part.
The protagonist, Kari, is hard to relate to and her motives difficult to understand. The more I read, the less I cared about her. She was coming off like a paranoid prepper - which was weird mixed in with all the teen high school angst. There was little background given or inner monologue leaving her actions as mere plot devices directed obviously by the author. One thing I will applaud was that it was good to read about a diverse character, though, unfortunately, her heritage played absolutely no aspect in the narrative (or her identity) whatsoever. A prime opportunity to create conflict and tension missed. Sadly this trend of little or no character development is also prevalent in the remainder of the cast.
Maybe because of the major issues I had with the narrative style and basic novel writing tools, Kari’s skills felt unrealistic – I guess if there was better world building and character development I wouldn’t have felt this way. Additionally, because of this, the number of times Kari was put in jail felt more like she had been sent to her room for being a bad girl – it didn’t feel like she was being threatened, punished or even all that frightened about the turn of events.
It is obvious Lingwall knows what he is writing about when it comes to the science fiction aspect of the story – very cool concepts of technology. It can also be said that his action scenes are excellent. Though, it was like this book was written around a number of action scenes without any thought to the characters and how to structure a novel. Fun, but needs A LOT of development.
Elements of great political intrigue leading up to a civil war (I’m presuming – the writing wasn’t very precise). Only because of no world building for the political climate either – am I just meant to accept it what is going on? I was a little frustrated by the halfway point. If it weren't for the personal attachment with David (Kari’s love interest), and his family I may have not even bothered.
Consequently, I could have skipped first half of the book. It did little to set up the characters, their motivations, what they stood to lose, and the climate/world. So many essential elements in writing a novel overlooked. The formatting with frequent italicised thoughts were distracting and not needed. One chapter actually started with “Insert chapter nine text here.” Inexcusable! Where was the proofreading! So many elements giving me a very bad impression. ‘Freelancer’ needs a heavy hand from a professional editor. So much promise but no delivery.
It’s a pity because this book has a great climactic ending, though the note after the dramatic scene felt lukewarm and as directionless as the start of the novel. Reactions from the adults in this scenario felt contrived and unrealistic. With phenomenal action scenes, amazing plot, I wish it was executed with precision.
I know that this is a debut for a series, but I won’t be continuing on, or recommending this to anyone. A few shining moments, but the rest just gave me a headache.
May 15, 2016
Forget the CLONE wars ... this is the DRONE wars.
Freelancer is Lingwall's debut novel, an impressive feat in the YA arena, especially considering his fresh take on the future. Kari is a brilliant programmer who finds herself on the wrong side of the law as the United States are in the process of dividing. Lingwall's writing is definitely on the lighter side, thematically, of where I typically like my literature (dark and dreary) but he accomplishes everything he aims to in this debut with a fantastic cast and dynamic protagonist. Will be interesting to see where the series goes from here. Either way, I'm in for the ride.
Freelancer is Lingwall's debut novel, an impressive feat in the YA arena, especially considering his fresh take on the future. Kari is a brilliant programmer who finds herself on the wrong side of the law as the United States are in the process of dividing. Lingwall's writing is definitely on the lighter side, thematically, of where I typically like my literature (dark and dreary) but he accomplishes everything he aims to in this debut with a fantastic cast and dynamic protagonist. Will be interesting to see where the series goes from here. Either way, I'm in for the ride.
January 2, 2018
Awesome
Amazing story, riveting, leaves me wanting more. Readers will not be able to put this book down. I'd give the book 500 stars if I could.
Amazing story, riveting, leaves me wanting more. Readers will not be able to put this book down. I'd give the book 500 stars if I could.
November 15, 2015
I had no idea what to expect with Jake Lingwall's "Freelancer." But the description on Amazon got me interested immediately: "Kari, freelance hacker and high school student, designs anything from art to security software in a world where 3D printers, drones, and computers connect directly to the brain." I mean, I don't know why actually. I'm no programmer. I'm not a high school kid anymore, and when I was I was reading Robert A. Heinlein's series of sci-fi for teens novels. But something clicked. The book belongs to a new generation in science fiction, one that incorporates current technologies and speculates outward, much like the old guard back in the 1930s and 40s with their jetpacks, interstellar travel and alien races. But this time the new stuff has 3D printing technologies, cyber mind melds and drone warfare. And Lingwall incorporates all these elements seamlessly. Kari is a typical kid. She's irritated by the popular girls and their vapid priorities of fashion and clique creation. She prints out new clothes but makes them baggy and not form fitting. She relates to the rebel, who she doesn't really care for at first or agree with. She doesn't even like school, which has become nothing more than a politically correct once a week requirement. She's got other things on her mind. Like creating drones that do amazing things. Unfortunately for Kari she can't stay under the radar. She's got to become involved. And that's when the book really takes off. I could say a bit about what happens, but it's more fun to read. The pacing is tremendous, and I never really knew what direction Lingwall would head. He's got a hell of a storytelling talent. I'd rank him right up there with my other favorite new sci-fi author, Mars Dorian.
July 17, 2016
I voted for this book on Kindle Scout and was very happy to get a free read. I love sci-fi and this book does not disappoint. The star of the show, Kari, is a hacker of extreme aptitude. She has a heart of gold and finds herself at the top of the class with only one competitor. A boy named David, whom she doesn't want to admit is cute. He is from middle states which are currently in a bit of tizzy with the coastal states and potentially a civil war looms in the forefront.
As David and his family draw more attention to them for their alliances, friends become enemies and the state becomes mistrustful. They are innocent of course and Kari doesn't want to see them get hurt.
She is a master programmer and has the ability to build drones with her 3D printer. Her only goals is to make sure no one gets hurt, especially David. As her love interest grows, so does her need to protect the innocent and pretty soon finds herself immersed in a web of intrigue. When neighbors turn on David's family, Kari puts her special forces in motion to save them. This attracts some very high level government officials and suddenly she is a wanted person too.
The government needs Kari's brilliance to help them win the war. They want her to develop weaponry that could crush the rebellion. They find a weak spot and force her to do their bidding while holding her parents. Now Kari has two families to protect while she is under surveillance.
This is an excellent story. The author has a great command of the technology and keeps the reader guessing throughout. The ending was outstanding and very action packed. Dying to hear what happens to Kari in the sequel. Nice job!
As David and his family draw more attention to them for their alliances, friends become enemies and the state becomes mistrustful. They are innocent of course and Kari doesn't want to see them get hurt.
She is a master programmer and has the ability to build drones with her 3D printer. Her only goals is to make sure no one gets hurt, especially David. As her love interest grows, so does her need to protect the innocent and pretty soon finds herself immersed in a web of intrigue. When neighbors turn on David's family, Kari puts her special forces in motion to save them. This attracts some very high level government officials and suddenly she is a wanted person too.
The government needs Kari's brilliance to help them win the war. They want her to develop weaponry that could crush the rebellion. They find a weak spot and force her to do their bidding while holding her parents. Now Kari has two families to protect while she is under surveillance.
This is an excellent story. The author has a great command of the technology and keeps the reader guessing throughout. The ending was outstanding and very action packed. Dying to hear what happens to Kari in the sequel. Nice job!
December 19, 2015
I thought I wouldn't review this book but I just finished an assignment and let's just say I need something else to think about.
Now, back to the point. Simply put, this book was interesting. In the kindle version I read, since it features an African American girl and coupled with the synopsis I thought it would be a good read. And it was. It's set in the future, hundreds of years as the main character always reiterates and it's a good futuristic view that is painted. It's light and a fast read and I enjoyed for the most part. Overall, good stuff. I liked the peculiarity of the story since I haven't read many futuristic novels.
Now, back to the point. Simply put, this book was interesting. In the kindle version I read, since it features an African American girl and coupled with the synopsis I thought it would be a good read. And it was. It's set in the future, hundreds of years as the main character always reiterates and it's a good futuristic view that is painted. It's light and a fast read and I enjoyed for the most part. Overall, good stuff. I liked the peculiarity of the story since I haven't read many futuristic novels.
January 2, 2016
Overall, it was an okay read.
What I liked about it:
*Interesting world-building. The usual dystopian world I read about lately is uncivilized and non-technological. This is the opposite. I like the futuristic feel.
*Vivid descriptions. I could easily picture out the simulations being described as if I am watching a movie.
*The cool gadgetry. Especially the mind chip! I want to have one. It would be awesome to hold whatever your mind could think of. Writing a novel would be a blast with a mind chip.
What I had (slight) problems with that made me give the 3-star rating:
*The pacing is too slow for me. I think, I got really excited in Chapter 11 when something is finally happening. And in some parts the excitement level was not sustained enough.
*I couldn't relate or appreciate the characters. They feel to me. However, I think younger readers will like Kari.
*There was not enough tension for me.
*The shift from one thing to another is a bit too fast that the transition is a bit jarring sometimes. There are times when I get questions in my mind to what happened in between the shifts.
*Weird love angle. Although I really don't like love stories in YA with dystopian themes. Like in Hunger Games and most especially in Divergent. I feel the same here.
Conclusion:
This is a kind of book that really young adults will like and appreciate.
What I liked about it:
*Interesting world-building. The usual dystopian world I read about lately is uncivilized and non-technological. This is the opposite. I like the futuristic feel.
*Vivid descriptions. I could easily picture out the simulations being described as if I am watching a movie.
*The cool gadgetry. Especially the mind chip! I want to have one. It would be awesome to hold whatever your mind could think of. Writing a novel would be a blast with a mind chip.
What I had (slight) problems with that made me give the 3-star rating:
*The pacing is too slow for me. I think, I got really excited in Chapter 11 when something is finally happening. And in some parts the excitement level was not sustained enough.
*I couldn't relate or appreciate the characters. They feel to me. However, I think younger readers will like Kari.
*There was not enough tension for me.
*The shift from one thing to another is a bit too fast that the transition is a bit jarring sometimes. There are times when I get questions in my mind to what happened in between the shifts.
*Weird love angle. Although I really don't like love stories in YA with dystopian themes. Like in Hunger Games and most especially in Divergent. I feel the same here.
Conclusion:
This is a kind of book that really young adults will like and appreciate.
June 25, 2016
This is, most definitely, YA and safe for young readers. Kari isn't just a 'freelance hacker and high school student." She is crazy good with code - a young hero that sticks with an ethical code, navigates through the normal drama of school, and happens to find herself in the middle of the Civil War. There is death and destruction, but it isn't gratuitous violence. Like I said, totally YA.
Unlike everything on Nickelodeon, parents aren't fodder for canned laughter. Lingwall takes normal people, family, military, and politics and portrays them all true to nature. In some ways, there is comparable nature to Artemis Fowl. No sprites and such, but brilliance, technology, self-doubt, and grit.
Fun overall, but too clean for my normal tastes. Author provided copy for review.
Unlike everything on Nickelodeon, parents aren't fodder for canned laughter. Lingwall takes normal people, family, military, and politics and portrays them all true to nature. In some ways, there is comparable nature to Artemis Fowl. No sprites and such, but brilliance, technology, self-doubt, and grit.
Fun overall, but too clean for my normal tastes. Author provided copy for review.
August 28, 2015
Excellent Work
I loved this book! Took me all of two days to finish it - a very hard book to put down. Jake Lingwall's storytelling skills and creativity are very impressive. I love that it has a female protagonist who becomes so invested in doing the right thing when it matters most. Kari Tahe is the hero we all should be. Also compelling is Lingwall's view of the future, and the technology that exists and its effect on the world.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, engrossing read.
I loved this book! Took me all of two days to finish it - a very hard book to put down. Jake Lingwall's storytelling skills and creativity are very impressive. I love that it has a female protagonist who becomes so invested in doing the right thing when it matters most. Kari Tahe is the hero we all should be. Also compelling is Lingwall's view of the future, and the technology that exists and its effect on the world.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, engrossing read.
March 20, 2016
I love sci fi, but especially books like this, I can really believe that everything in the book is possible, and that makes it even better. I could see everything in the book becoming reality.
I liked the main character a lot. She is kind of a loner, and at first she seems like a wuss, I was kind of mad at her that she wasn't fighting back, but once she decided to fight, what a fight!
I really recomend this book, is for everyone, but if you have an IT background like me, you will like it even more.
I liked the main character a lot. She is kind of a loner, and at first she seems like a wuss, I was kind of mad at her that she wasn't fighting back, but once she decided to fight, what a fight!
I really recomend this book, is for everyone, but if you have an IT background like me, you will like it even more.
January 3, 2016
wow. An exciting, internally consistent and rather thrilling teen story. It reminded me of a Cory Doctorow for a slightly younger audience, and I felt myself cheering Kari on all the way. The sequel will hopefully carry things on well, as the ending was both a neat way to finish the novel and left things wide open for further developments.
January 4, 2016
Excellent book that is well-paced, technologically focused but without arcane terminology or ideas, and features a very identifiable and likable protagonist. Looking forward to the sequel!
December 30, 2018
This review is going to sound a bit critical ("surprise, surprise" says anyone who knows me and/or my reviews), but I don't mean it be taken as a negative review. I like this book. It is a good read and I do recommend it for anyone with an appreciation of YA fiction or just fun reads. The critical part is for the character as written, which was very consistent, and a bit of the world concept.
Now, when I first started reading this I found myself being fairly critical of the writing style. It does not start out with polish and feels a bit choppy. It seems like it could be 'first time author' syndrome or maybe just YA style. There were also some fairly apparent editing issues that jumped out at me while in hyper-critical mode. Fortunately, I was able to push that aside (or got used to it - *shrug*) and continue with the book, which turned into a fairly decent read.
The plot begins in the not-so-distant future where single-day school weeks, auto-everythings, instant stuff-printers, and ubiquitous drones make the life of a teenager almost bearable. The setting is North Carolina during a time of political unrest that is about to erupt into full-fledged civil war between the coastal states and the Middle States of the U.S. The MC is a senior in high-school who just wants to finish the mandatory indoctrination called 'school' and continue with her clandestine preoccupation with designing and building new and wondrous technical marvels as a Freelance hacker savant. All this is a young person's realm. I'm sure my teen-self would have loved this book very much and found nothing amiss. My much older cynical-self just chuckles at the naivete. It's still a decent read because the characters are realistic (if naive and a bit Mary Sue... but that's YA in a nutshell), and the plot/pacing continues to pull the reader forward into the tale.
The high moral stance of being neutral on a pending civil war in the U.S. was an odd choice. It's a theme throughout, but only the incompetence of the antagonist & the graciousness of the 'enemy' allows it to exist and succeed. I think real world exigencies would not be so gentle. Still, I have to reiterate that the book is a good read and worth continuation of the series to find out what happens next. I plan to pick it up.
I give this one three stars and call it an entertaining read.
Now, when I first started reading this I found myself being fairly critical of the writing style. It does not start out with polish and feels a bit choppy. It seems like it could be 'first time author' syndrome or maybe just YA style. There were also some fairly apparent editing issues that jumped out at me while in hyper-critical mode. Fortunately, I was able to push that aside (or got used to it - *shrug*) and continue with the book, which turned into a fairly decent read.
The plot begins in the not-so-distant future where single-day school weeks, auto-everythings, instant stuff-printers, and ubiquitous drones make the life of a teenager almost bearable. The setting is North Carolina during a time of political unrest that is about to erupt into full-fledged civil war between the coastal states and the Middle States of the U.S. The MC is a senior in high-school who just wants to finish the mandatory indoctrination called 'school' and continue with her clandestine preoccupation with designing and building new and wondrous technical marvels as a Freelance hacker savant. All this is a young person's realm. I'm sure my teen-self would have loved this book very much and found nothing amiss. My much older cynical-self just chuckles at the naivete. It's still a decent read because the characters are realistic (if naive and a bit Mary Sue... but that's YA in a nutshell), and the plot/pacing continues to pull the reader forward into the tale.
The high moral stance of being neutral on a pending civil war in the U.S. was an odd choice. It's a theme throughout, but only the incompetence of the antagonist & the graciousness of the 'enemy' allows it to exist and succeed. I think real world exigencies would not be so gentle. Still, I have to reiterate that the book is a good read and worth continuation of the series to find out what happens next. I plan to pick it up.
I give this one three stars and call it an entertaining read.
June 2, 2018
I don't think the author has ever spent much time around actual teenagers.
Lingwall outlines an interesting universe concept but is unable to make realistic characters to hold together an overarching plot. He's writing a character reacting to a civil war and the readers aren't given any space to understand what the fight is about it even which states are specifically involved. All of the characters seem pretty stock , and Kari doesn't seem to have any reason to do what she does especially closer to the end. It's frustrating because it's an interesting concept but if you tell me people are being forcibly removed from the country for "alternative lifestyles" in country A and dissenters are being sent to internment camps in country N - I'm going to be wanting the story to explore that a little more. How in earth in a country that - according to the text - HAS experienced the US Civil War and World War II would this not be a bigger issue. It would be aided by exploring the setting itself a lot more and in establishing David as someone we are supposed to care about(Kari doesn't even have a reason to care about him but suddenly he's a romantic interest in a book that shouldn't have one?? With no build up??)
Lingwall outlines an interesting universe concept but is unable to make realistic characters to hold together an overarching plot. He's writing a character reacting to a civil war and the readers aren't given any space to understand what the fight is about it even which states are specifically involved. All of the characters seem pretty stock , and Kari doesn't seem to have any reason to do what she does especially closer to the end. It's frustrating because it's an interesting concept but if you tell me people are being forcibly removed from the country for "alternative lifestyles" in country A and dissenters are being sent to internment camps in country N - I'm going to be wanting the story to explore that a little more. How in earth in a country that - according to the text - HAS experienced the US Civil War and World War II would this not be a bigger issue. It would be aided by exploring the setting itself a lot more and in establishing David as someone we are supposed to care about(Kari doesn't even have a reason to care about him but suddenly he's a romantic interest in a book that shouldn't have one?? With no build up??)
June 16, 2017
I can't tell you what a breath of fresh air this book was for me. I typically shy away from the genre, not for lack of love, but simply because a lot of the plots feel contrived. Freelancer offered a Science Fiction adventure that is not too far off from our very own society. The blend of technology and political tension was beautifully crafted. Props to the author for not only entertaining but also forcing readers to reflect on their own biases against other communities.
I greatly appreciated the tech-loving, talented, and smart MC. I was excited to read from her point of view. She was very relatable despite her amazing intelligence. I also thoroughly enjoyed the light and realistic romance elements of the story. Often you see characters go to unnatural lengths for people they barely know, but Kari's story was a different one. Her motivation is purely to do the right thing. IT just so happens that doing the right thing benefits a cute boy whose laid-backness is to be admired.
I greatly appreciated the tech-loving, talented, and smart MC. I was excited to read from her point of view. She was very relatable despite her amazing intelligence. I also thoroughly enjoyed the light and realistic romance elements of the story. Often you see characters go to unnatural lengths for people they barely know, but Kari's story was a different one. Her motivation is purely to do the right thing. IT just so happens that doing the right thing benefits a cute boy whose laid-backness is to be admired.
June 14, 2017
This was an enjoyable reading.
The story didn't really pick up until halfway throw, but when it did, the plot started to show good potential and eventually it just got better and better.
Although not groundbreaking, Freelancer is a very interesting sci-fi story set in a future United States on the brink of a second civil war. The main character is a seventeen year old super-smart freelancer who produces high-tech hardware for different clients. She has a knack for drones, and this passion of her will be significantly important for the development of the story.
Suggested to sci-fi and adventure lovers.
*I received a review copy of the book from the author in exchange of an honest review*
The story didn't really pick up until halfway throw, but when it did, the plot started to show good potential and eventually it just got better and better.
Although not groundbreaking, Freelancer is a very interesting sci-fi story set in a future United States on the brink of a second civil war. The main character is a seventeen year old super-smart freelancer who produces high-tech hardware for different clients. She has a knack for drones, and this passion of her will be significantly important for the development of the story.
Suggested to sci-fi and adventure lovers.
*I received a review copy of the book from the author in exchange of an honest review*
May 10, 2017
I had a hard time getting through the first 30% of this story and almost put it down. The beginning is slow and mostly consists of a teenager and her anti-establishment, self-involved angst.
But around the 33% mark, things finally begin to heat up, and from there, things are action-packed and/or stress-inducing, making for a decent story.
If you like futuristic, SciFi, dystopian YA stories, and can make it past the blah beginning, you'll enjoy the rest of the story.
I was provided a copy of this book by the Kindle Scout program.
But around the 33% mark, things finally begin to heat up, and from there, things are action-packed and/or stress-inducing, making for a decent story.
If you like futuristic, SciFi, dystopian YA stories, and can make it past the blah beginning, you'll enjoy the rest of the story.
I was provided a copy of this book by the Kindle Scout program.
July 9, 2017
At first I thought this was going to be a YA-angst, mean-girls type of book, but it turned out to be so much better. It has a kick-ass teenage girl, who a whiz at programming. Nice to see that to give girls this type of role. The story is imaginative and once it gets going, it keeps you wanting to flip through the pages to see what's going to happen. Plenty of action, and well-written, with characters you can either love or hate.
September 30, 2017
Great
This was an amazing story. Very inventive and along lines I had
Not travelled before. I like the merging the tech we know today like 3-D printers evolving into Star Trek type outlets.
This was an amazing story. Very inventive and along lines I had
Not travelled before. I like the merging the tech we know today like 3-D printers evolving into Star Trek type outlets.
May 13, 2018
Interesting read kind of different from what I normally read
Enjoyed reading reading a little over simplified but that was fine for its target audience if the story continues I will get the next one to see where it leads.
Enjoyed reading reading a little over simplified but that was fine for its target audience if the story continues I will get the next one to see where it leads.
August 2, 2017
Hi, hello, favorite teen hacker girl series! Ugh. Love love love this and love the hell out of the fact we have a young black heroine who is smart as hell leading this series.
September 12, 2019
Freelancer review
Freelancer is the first fast paced book in this series written by author Jake Lingwall. It is a futuristic sci-fi and YA genre that should appeal to all ages.
Freelancer is the first fast paced book in this series written by author Jake Lingwall. It is a futuristic sci-fi and YA genre that should appeal to all ages.
September 23, 2015
Kari is a brilliant teen, somewhat a superhero of the future, with an imagination that enables her to create masterpieces of virtual weaponry. Her skills are impossible for me to imagine, but Jake Lingwall, the young author, is capable of envisioning this inevitable future because he is a programmer himself. My fiction, through three novels and two more on the way, dwells on the present and the past. The future is his realm, not mine, but he has the gift of being able to make it an interesting tale even to those as unsophisticated as I. I've read H.G. Wells, Arthur Clarke and Jules Verne, Lingwall's predecessors in spirit. Kari has made a prosperous living designing drones and other wondrous devices for private sources, and she has never before passed judgment on the ethics and morality inherent in serving her clients.
Now she must confront those types of questions in the future, as America plunges into division and civil war. Hers is a rugged individualism that is at odds with the ruthless pragmatism of preserving the Union. Freelancer is more than a little Orwellian. Kari is not only brilliant but also brave.
The reader must suspend his or her disbelief and accept not where or why Kari would risk all for causes in which she professes no sympathy but that she has. No hand that feeds her is immune to her righteous bite. The reader develops no rooting interest for either the country or the separatists in the Middle States. The reader develops an admiration for the indomitable Kari, who doesn't know why she is doing what she is, yet is bold enough to risk all in the name of what strikes her as right.
Freelancer's Kari is a model for American youth and emblematic of the hopes and dreams of her unique and frightening age.
In some ways, Freelancer isn't futuristic at all. Kari could be Will Kane in High Noon. Or Robin Hood. Or Joan of Arc.
Now she must confront those types of questions in the future, as America plunges into division and civil war. Hers is a rugged individualism that is at odds with the ruthless pragmatism of preserving the Union. Freelancer is more than a little Orwellian. Kari is not only brilliant but also brave.
The reader must suspend his or her disbelief and accept not where or why Kari would risk all for causes in which she professes no sympathy but that she has. No hand that feeds her is immune to her righteous bite. The reader develops no rooting interest for either the country or the separatists in the Middle States. The reader develops an admiration for the indomitable Kari, who doesn't know why she is doing what she is, yet is bold enough to risk all in the name of what strikes her as right.
Freelancer's Kari is a model for American youth and emblematic of the hopes and dreams of her unique and frightening age.
In some ways, Freelancer isn't futuristic at all. Kari could be Will Kane in High Noon. Or Robin Hood. Or Joan of Arc.
July 17, 2016
I voted for this book on Kindle Scout and was very happy to get a free read. I love sci-fi and this book does not disappoint. The star of the show, Kari, is a hacker of extreme aptitude. She has a heart of gold and finds herself at the top of the class with only one competitor. A boy named David, whom she doesn't want to admit is cute. He is from middle states which are currently in a bit of tizzy with the coastal states and potentially a civil war looms in the forefront.
As David and his family draw more attention to them for their alliances, friends become enemies and the state becomes mistrustful. They are innocent of course and Kari doesn't want to see them get hurt.
She is a master programmer and has the ability to build drones with her 3D printer. Her only goals is to make sure no one gets hurt, especially David. As her love interest grows, so does her need to protect the innocent and pretty soon finds herself immersed in a web of intrigue. When neighbors turn on David's family, Kari puts her special forces in motion to save them. This attracts some very high level government officials and suddenly she is a wanted person too.
The government needs Kari's brilliance to help them win the war. They want her to develop weaponry that could crush the rebellion. They find a weak spot and force her to do their bidding while holding her parents. Now Kari has two families to protect while she is under surveillance.
This is an excellent story. The author has a great command of the technology and keeps the reader guessing throughout. The ending was outstanding and very action packed. Dying to hear what happens to Kari in the sequel. Nice job!
As David and his family draw more attention to them for their alliances, friends become enemies and the state becomes mistrustful. They are innocent of course and Kari doesn't want to see them get hurt.
She is a master programmer and has the ability to build drones with her 3D printer. Her only goals is to make sure no one gets hurt, especially David. As her love interest grows, so does her need to protect the innocent and pretty soon finds herself immersed in a web of intrigue. When neighbors turn on David's family, Kari puts her special forces in motion to save them. This attracts some very high level government officials and suddenly she is a wanted person too.
The government needs Kari's brilliance to help them win the war. They want her to develop weaponry that could crush the rebellion. They find a weak spot and force her to do their bidding while holding her parents. Now Kari has two families to protect while she is under surveillance.
This is an excellent story. The author has a great command of the technology and keeps the reader guessing throughout. The ending was outstanding and very action packed. Dying to hear what happens to Kari in the sequel. Nice job!
September 27, 2015
First off, the biggest complement I can give this book is that I immediately recommended it to my teenage daughter. Jake Lingwall’s protagonist, Kari, is smart, confident, independent, and everything you want a young girl to read. In a sci-fi landscape stuffed with exaggerated caricatures of women bursting at the seams of their leather outfits, it was a welcome relief to have someone prize more for what’s on the inside rather than the outside.
The book perfectly captures the teenage view of the world – ridiculous, frenetic and thoroughly centered around the first person narrative. You never really find out exactly what is happening in the world because the author has so thoroughly embraced the terrible wonder of being a teen that you find yourself not caring so much either. After all wars and stuff are stupid, right? The adults messed it up again, but this story taps into the quintessential theme of all Young Adult fiction – the next generation is going to fix it somehow, probably with sarcasm and some spectacularly awesome personal technology.
If you truly want to accept a teenager’s view of a not so distant future then you will definitely love Freelancer and I, for one, want to read more too.
The book perfectly captures the teenage view of the world – ridiculous, frenetic and thoroughly centered around the first person narrative. You never really find out exactly what is happening in the world because the author has so thoroughly embraced the terrible wonder of being a teen that you find yourself not caring so much either. After all wars and stuff are stupid, right? The adults messed it up again, but this story taps into the quintessential theme of all Young Adult fiction – the next generation is going to fix it somehow, probably with sarcasm and some spectacularly awesome personal technology.
If you truly want to accept a teenager’s view of a not so distant future then you will definitely love Freelancer and I, for one, want to read more too.
July 24, 2016
This book was a fun read!
The imaginative technology advancements were definitely captivating, the economic system was interesting, the schooling system was interesting. It is definitely a book that makes you think, speculate.
I personally think that the author spent a little too much time describing the technology and how it works. The first 6 or so chapters had little else. I think that time could have been better used in character and relationship development or political development.
I started out reading this book very critically (because I was asked before hand to write a review) so I may be rating it a little harsher. I do have to say that it was much better than I thought it would be! The writing was great. It took me a little bit to open up to the plethora of first person thought dialogue, but for how the book was written and the technology, I do think it was necessary.
The government and politics could have been more descriptive. There wasn't much of a back story (I'd love to read a prequel!) so it's hard to see how the US could get to where they were in the book.
Overall a great read! I really loved the ideas in the technology and economics!
Disclaimer: I was given an electronic copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The imaginative technology advancements were definitely captivating, the economic system was interesting, the schooling system was interesting. It is definitely a book that makes you think, speculate.
I personally think that the author spent a little too much time describing the technology and how it works. The first 6 or so chapters had little else. I think that time could have been better used in character and relationship development or political development.
I started out reading this book very critically (because I was asked before hand to write a review) so I may be rating it a little harsher. I do have to say that it was much better than I thought it would be! The writing was great. It took me a little bit to open up to the plethora of first person thought dialogue, but for how the book was written and the technology, I do think it was necessary.
The government and politics could have been more descriptive. There wasn't much of a back story (I'd love to read a prequel!) so it's hard to see how the US could get to where they were in the book.
Overall a great read! I really loved the ideas in the technology and economics!
Disclaimer: I was given an electronic copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
March 24, 2016
I received this book for free through Goodreads first-reads.
This novel was a look into the technological future we may be facing. With the ability to be connected to the internet through a "mind chip" and where computer programming can be done through thought, it's scary and exciting at the same time.
In "Freelancer" the United States is on the brink of Civil war between the Middle States and the Coastal States. Kari Tahe is a gifted seventeen year old freelance computer programmer who has managed to secretly build a business by developing and printing (using 3D printers) high tech contraptions for several unknown people. She tries to remain anonymous but gets dragged into the war after helping a friend and classmate try to evade capture.
Many of the concepts in the novel may initially seem far fetched, but given the advancement in technology in just the past decade or so, these concepts could become reality in the next century.
While I don't think the novel is quite at the 5 stars level, it should be more than 4 stars, 4.5 stars is about right. Overall a very good read and I look forward to the sequel, "The Unseen".
This novel was a look into the technological future we may be facing. With the ability to be connected to the internet through a "mind chip" and where computer programming can be done through thought, it's scary and exciting at the same time.
In "Freelancer" the United States is on the brink of Civil war between the Middle States and the Coastal States. Kari Tahe is a gifted seventeen year old freelance computer programmer who has managed to secretly build a business by developing and printing (using 3D printers) high tech contraptions for several unknown people. She tries to remain anonymous but gets dragged into the war after helping a friend and classmate try to evade capture.
Many of the concepts in the novel may initially seem far fetched, but given the advancement in technology in just the past decade or so, these concepts could become reality in the next century.
While I don't think the novel is quite at the 5 stars level, it should be more than 4 stars, 4.5 stars is about right. Overall a very good read and I look forward to the sequel, "The Unseen".
August 31, 2015
What a fun YA read! I read this in a couple days and feel like I just went through a whirlwind of awesomeness. It is fast-paced, action packed, and has a badass female heroine at the center of it. I loved Kari. She is a regular teen except that she is also a genius, as well as emotionally wise beyond her years. She is blessed, and cursed, with the ability to create these drones that even the dystopian US government cannot. Certain elements of this story reminded me of Enders Game, but it is unique all on its own. Lingwall must have done a lot of research on the technology he creates in this dark fictional world, because it is quite realistic. In fact, it is slightly terrifying to think about. Loved the drones, the 3-D printers, the virtual scenarios, all of it. But most importantly, I connected with Kari and would love to see more of her. Awesome Kindle Scout selection!
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