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Freaks #2
Travelers
Falling in love. Evading the authorities. Chasing the rabbits.
Now high school sophomores, the self-styled “Freaks” are back in class in quiet Quapaw City, Arkansas. They grapple with the ordinary challenges of everyday teen life: cliques, cars, and crushes. While everything appears normal on the surface, looks have rarely been more deceiving. A secret government task force—fully aware of the unusual powers the Freaks have acquired—is determined to capture them. Even as the mysterious Baltar Sterne shares ancient wisdom and offers hope, a new menace silently emerges in the woods outside of town. Clever, inexorable, and far more lethal than the Freaks’ first superhuman foe, this traveler from another world possesses powers that can only be described as godlike. The Freaks and their town will be tested in horrific ways they are powerless to predict or even imagine.
Now high school sophomores, the self-styled “Freaks” are back in class in quiet Quapaw City, Arkansas. They grapple with the ordinary challenges of everyday teen life: cliques, cars, and crushes. While everything appears normal on the surface, looks have rarely been more deceiving. A secret government task force—fully aware of the unusual powers the Freaks have acquired—is determined to capture them. Even as the mysterious Baltar Sterne shares ancient wisdom and offers hope, a new menace silently emerges in the woods outside of town. Clever, inexorable, and far more lethal than the Freaks’ first superhuman foe, this traveler from another world possesses powers that can only be described as godlike. The Freaks and their town will be tested in horrific ways they are powerless to predict or even imagine.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2022
14 people are currently reading
4795 people want to read
About the author
Brett Riley
11 books124 followersBrett 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
April 8, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is the second instalment in the Freaks trilogy. The characters is well established and the storyline took off running. There was bit of a lull in the middle but ended pretty good. This book had a good take on modern world, and still gives the readers that bit of fantasy we all crave now and then.
This is the second instalment in the Freaks trilogy. The characters is well established and the storyline took off running. There was bit of a lull in the middle but ended pretty good. This book had a good take on modern world, and still gives the readers that bit of fantasy we all crave now and then.
August 10, 2023
Now high school sophomores, the self-styled “Freaks” are back in class in quiet Quapaw City, Arkansas. They grapple with the ordinary challenges of everyday teen life: cliques, cars, and crushes. While everything appears normal on the surface, looks have rarely been more deceiving. A secret government task force—fully aware of the unusual powers the Freaks have acquired—is determined to capture them. Even as the mysterious Baltar Sterne shares ancient wisdom and offers hope, a new menace silently emerges in the woods outside of town. Clever, inexorable, and far more lethal than the Freaks’ first superhuman foe, this traveler from another world possesses powers that can only be described as godlike. The Freaks and their town will be tested in horrific ways they are powerless to predict or even imagine.
I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I think that Riley is on to something here with this series with the main concept being this group of kids accidentally releasing entities into the world and gaining super powers. There is great characterisation and I really have an affinity for the majority of the characters in the book, but it’s the monster in this one that I had an issue with. I thought the whole ancient Indian entity was a little strange and incongruous with the rest of the book and it’s style and for me it didn’t resonate and I didn’t get its role as the ‘bad guy’ making the whole build up to the face off a bit meh.
For me, both times in this series, the book felt like it needed better editing as there were parts which dragged and didn’t add anything to the plot. Nevertheless I will be keeping my eye out for the next book because as I said, I am on this journey with the group now and I need to see how it ends.
I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I think that Riley is on to something here with this series with the main concept being this group of kids accidentally releasing entities into the world and gaining super powers. There is great characterisation and I really have an affinity for the majority of the characters in the book, but it’s the monster in this one that I had an issue with. I thought the whole ancient Indian entity was a little strange and incongruous with the rest of the book and it’s style and for me it didn’t resonate and I didn’t get its role as the ‘bad guy’ making the whole build up to the face off a bit meh.
For me, both times in this series, the book felt like it needed better editing as there were parts which dragged and didn’t add anything to the plot. Nevertheless I will be keeping my eye out for the next book because as I said, I am on this journey with the group now and I need to see how it ends.
October 3, 2022
I want to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
All right let's get into it I did like this book a little more than the first one, with the first one my major complaint was the dialogue it still wasn't as bad in this book. For me the pacing was a little weird in this one I did like all the action and the magic I'm still very mixed on the characters I am really interested in Micah if there is another book I look forward to hopefully him going down the darker path a little more. I did appreciate that there was a non-binary character but it also left a bit of a bad taste since the character was misgendered quite a bit to show how awful certain characters are I just really don't like that personally.
I did like that there was a little romance in this one but it wasn't like a main focus it gave the characters a little more depth then the last book to see their relationships kind of grow and change.
All in all this is a very fun book and series and I will keep my eye out if there is more in the series.
All right let's get into it I did like this book a little more than the first one, with the first one my major complaint was the dialogue it still wasn't as bad in this book. For me the pacing was a little weird in this one I did like all the action and the magic I'm still very mixed on the characters I am really interested in Micah if there is another book I look forward to hopefully him going down the darker path a little more. I did appreciate that there was a non-binary character but it also left a bit of a bad taste since the character was misgendered quite a bit to show how awful certain characters are I just really don't like that personally.
I did like that there was a little romance in this one but it wasn't like a main focus it gave the characters a little more depth then the last book to see their relationships kind of grow and change.
All in all this is a very fun book and series and I will keep my eye out if there is more in the series.
August 19, 2023
This is the 2nd book in the Freaks series. I read the third book as an ARC. I read book 1 then 3, so I had to come back for book 2 to bridge the books I already read. I really love this series of teenagers from an Arkansas town having to battle mystic beings to save their town. They have obtained special powers. Plus they deal with day to day teenage angsts. Secret agents are also after them. This book the deal with a shift changer god that looks like a rabbit unless it has taken on one of the Freaks’ persona. Highly recommend to the YA readers.
October 3, 2022
I want to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
All right let's get into it I did like this book a little more than the first one, with the first one my major complaint was the dialogue it still wasn't as bad in this book. For me the pacing was a little weird in this one I did like all the action and the magic I'm still very mixed on the characters I am really interested in Micah if there is another book I look forward to hopefully him going down the darker path a little more. I did appreciate that there was a non-binary character but it also left a bit of a bad taste since the character was misgendered quite a bit to show how awful certain characters are I just really don't like that personally.
I did like that there was a little romance in this one but it wasn't like a main focus it gave the characters a little more depth then the last book to see their relationships kind of grow and change.
All in all this is a very fun book and series and I will keep my eye out if there is more in the series.
All right let's get into it I did like this book a little more than the first one, with the first one my major complaint was the dialogue it still wasn't as bad in this book. For me the pacing was a little weird in this one I did like all the action and the magic I'm still very mixed on the characters I am really interested in Micah if there is another book I look forward to hopefully him going down the darker path a little more. I did appreciate that there was a non-binary character but it also left a bit of a bad taste since the character was misgendered quite a bit to show how awful certain characters are I just really don't like that personally.
I did like that there was a little romance in this one but it wasn't like a main focus it gave the characters a little more depth then the last book to see their relationships kind of grow and change.
All in all this is a very fun book and series and I will keep my eye out if there is more in the series.
June 24, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Travelers is a very crazy (the good kind!) & entertaining read and one I rate 3 stars despite jumping into without reading the first novel. Yes this book is actually a sequel to the original story “Freaks” which I personally have yet to read! So I can assume it would just add more to the rating if I were to go back and read it!
This book is about high school friends aka the “freaks” who all have powers and are constantly being watched by the CIA and attempt to conceal their powers as much as possible. But what happens when the freaks are faced with a stronger force than they could ever imagine? Rabbit, a shape shifting god, is now closer to destroying the freaks. Is this a battle they can win? Where do the CIA stand within this battle? & how will this affect their powers? I would definitely recommend this book!
Travelers is a very crazy (the good kind!) & entertaining read and one I rate 3 stars despite jumping into without reading the first novel. Yes this book is actually a sequel to the original story “Freaks” which I personally have yet to read! So I can assume it would just add more to the rating if I were to go back and read it!
This book is about high school friends aka the “freaks” who all have powers and are constantly being watched by the CIA and attempt to conceal their powers as much as possible. But what happens when the freaks are faced with a stronger force than they could ever imagine? Rabbit, a shape shifting god, is now closer to destroying the freaks. Is this a battle they can win? Where do the CIA stand within this battle? & how will this affect their powers? I would definitely recommend this book!
May 5, 2024
2.25 (again, being generous)
This series continues to go beyond plausibility and does not so much appear as being written for middle grade but was WRITTEN by a middle grade student. The whole secret government team that has got such a hard-on and so determined to kill the Freaks that they cannot focus on anything else is beyond tolerable and is insulting to the reader. It is just too far out and outrageous to accept.
And to make matters worse, this book becomes preachy about the indignities and wrongful treatment of the indigenous people by the white man. It is ridiculously shallow and pointed, (not that I do not agree how wrong the native people and people of color have been treated and still are in this country, but this was so stilted it was beyond reasonable).
On the positive side, it is readable if the reader is willing to turn a blind eye to any rationality and plausibility and not take offense in how insulting to the readers intelligence this series requires. Honestly, you would be better looking somewhere else for a good book to read.
This series continues to go beyond plausibility and does not so much appear as being written for middle grade but was WRITTEN by a middle grade student. The whole secret government team that has got such a hard-on and so determined to kill the Freaks that they cannot focus on anything else is beyond tolerable and is insulting to the reader. It is just too far out and outrageous to accept.
And to make matters worse, this book becomes preachy about the indignities and wrongful treatment of the indigenous people by the white man. It is ridiculously shallow and pointed, (not that I do not agree how wrong the native people and people of color have been treated and still are in this country, but this was so stilted it was beyond reasonable).
On the positive side, it is readable if the reader is willing to turn a blind eye to any rationality and plausibility and not take offense in how insulting to the readers intelligence this series requires. Honestly, you would be better looking somewhere else for a good book to read.
July 31, 2022
Travelers by Brett Riley is the second in series after the first book, Freaks. And, this is the biggest problem as I did not knew this. The book was very difficult to understand if you have not read the first book. Although, the narrator was very good, but I could not understand that what was going on actually. The characters are young teenagers with good portrayal. And, I am feeling really bad for writing this as I have already read some books by the publisher which were so good.
I could only give 3 stars to the book. Thanks to Netgalley and Imbrifex Books for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
I could only give 3 stars to the book. Thanks to Netgalley and Imbrifex Books for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
January 6, 2023
This book was provided to me from Netgalley!
If you’re a fan of the powers of “Animorphs” and the Saturday morning super hero-y feel, with a tad bit of Riverdale, you’ll like this. It can feel like a CW drama but one thing I will say is that unlike the CW shows these characters see very decent development and the tasteful introduction and handling of the non binary character was something I, as a queer person deeply respect. While this book has its issues such as varying cliches I found myself enjoying the villain as well and how cute little Rabbits are secretly very dangerous creatures (those teeth!). All in all, this book was awesome. Not perfect but awesome. 4 out of 5 stars from me!
If you’re a fan of the powers of “Animorphs” and the Saturday morning super hero-y feel, with a tad bit of Riverdale, you’ll like this. It can feel like a CW drama but one thing I will say is that unlike the CW shows these characters see very decent development and the tasteful introduction and handling of the non binary character was something I, as a queer person deeply respect. While this book has its issues such as varying cliches I found myself enjoying the villain as well and how cute little Rabbits are secretly very dangerous creatures (those teeth!). All in all, this book was awesome. Not perfect but awesome. 4 out of 5 stars from me!
April 2, 2023
Teen superheroes, alien entity, friendship bonds and trials, love, excitement- what could be better?
A group of outlier teens become friends through a common bond- they’ve been gifted with superpowers! They become the city’s secret protectors against “the Rabbit”! They must find a way to conquer “the Rabbit” while constantly outrunning the law who maintain perpetual surveillance on them, stifling their progress. Will they succeed?
P. J. Morgan was given a massive task when asked to create voices for so many characters. This was well done while considering this. With that said, at times, it was hard to tell the difference between characters. The pace, rhythm, tonality fluctuations, emotionality, and rapid changes in different character voices was outstanding!
I found the book to be very enjoyable and appealing, even as an adult (YA book). It was able to meet my expectations in genre, creativity, literacy, and narration.
I would definitely recommend this book to young and older adults who love Sci Fi.
Thank you to NetGalley and Imbrifex Audio for the audiobook copy to evaluate and review. All opinions are my own.
A group of outlier teens become friends through a common bond- they’ve been gifted with superpowers! They become the city’s secret protectors against “the Rabbit”! They must find a way to conquer “the Rabbit” while constantly outrunning the law who maintain perpetual surveillance on them, stifling their progress. Will they succeed?
P. J. Morgan was given a massive task when asked to create voices for so many characters. This was well done while considering this. With that said, at times, it was hard to tell the difference between characters. The pace, rhythm, tonality fluctuations, emotionality, and rapid changes in different character voices was outstanding!
I found the book to be very enjoyable and appealing, even as an adult (YA book). It was able to meet my expectations in genre, creativity, literacy, and narration.
I would definitely recommend this book to young and older adults who love Sci Fi.
Thank you to NetGalley and Imbrifex Audio for the audiobook copy to evaluate and review. All opinions are my own.
January 20, 2022
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Travelers in exchange for an honest review.
Hi friends! I'm pretty sure I'm either blind or started travellers before the netgalley was updated to make it clear its a sequel because I have very specific memories of crosschecking both netgalley and goodreads to try and make sure it was the first book in the series before requesting it and that's why I still read the whole thing even though I felt a tad thrown into things. It is, in fact, a sequel. I'm giving this a mid-range review because I still want to put it as a book I read on my goodreads but READ A REVIEW FROM SOMEONE WHO'S ACTUALLY READ THIS WITH THE CONTEXT FROM THE FIRST BOOK.
Hi friends! I'm pretty sure I'm either blind or started travellers before the netgalley was updated to make it clear its a sequel because I have very specific memories of crosschecking both netgalley and goodreads to try and make sure it was the first book in the series before requesting it and that's why I still read the whole thing even though I felt a tad thrown into things. It is, in fact, a sequel. I'm giving this a mid-range review because I still want to put it as a book I read on my goodreads but READ A REVIEW FROM SOMEONE WHO'S ACTUALLY READ THIS WITH THE CONTEXT FROM THE FIRST BOOK.
August 2, 2022
This is the second book in the FREAKS series, an absolutely wonderful series for anyone who needs an escape from everyday drudgery. As our intrepid super heroes work together to save their hometown, they must keep one step ahead of the "government" agencies that would love to run tests on our Freaks. Brett Riley has done an excellent job of keeping the Freaks world building running smoothly while adding to the depth of the characters and giving them a life outside their heroic efforts. All in all, this is a great series for any and everyone.
February 25, 2023
I liked this second book more than the first. I liked getting to know more about the characters and even meeting new people, all of whom I was suspicious about the whole time. I liked the action and I’m loving the unique “characters” who were let into our world in the first book. I want to see the the freaks develop even more in the next book and get some questions answered about Uncle Baltar and what exactly he’s doing.
November 21, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley for a copy of this book in audio format. The narrator was great. This was a great read as a YA fantasy book set in current times with a group of teenagers with superhuman powers. This is the second book of a series but I read it without reading the first book and I've got to be honest this did not feel like I missed anything. I know there are mixed reviews of the first book. I enjoyed the reference to god's and the changing complicated relationship between the group of friends. I do feel that there needed to be more about Micah's uncle and also not enough development in Micah and his uncles relationship. Equally not a fan of Micah his character just annoyed me. Great book.
March 4, 2023
I thought this sequel to Freaks was really good. We follow the same characters, who are now fighting a carnivorous huge bunny rabbit. They all stick together and some new romances start. If you liked the first book, I think you will like this follow-up. 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.
July 17, 2022
Travelers A Freaks Novel by Brett Riley, narrated by P J Morgan, is the second book in the series and follows the book Freaks. Book one introduced us to the characters and the life-changing event that brings us to book 2. So the Freaks are back in school and trying to act as usual while doing counter-surveillance on the government group sent to watch/eliminate them. All the kids want to do is live their everyday lives, go to school, play video games, and date. However, there is something new and much more dangerous watching and waiting. Will the kids stay off the government radar, and will they be able to band together and fight off this new threat?
So I wasn't a huge fan of the last book, but I am glad I soldiered on and read book 2. This book was so much better. We got to see the characters beyond their cliched roles. I love how they always seem to one-up the government task force sent to watch them. The pace is much quicker in this book. Additionally, this book has a more elaborate plot where they are still trying to lay low from the government. They must also find a way to deal with the uncle, who owns the book that opened the portal and has infiltrated their lives. Finally, there is a powerful shapeshifter after them. There are some legends and myths incorporated in the story that explains the origin of the shapeshifter called Rabbit. The freaks continue to explore their powers.
I had an issue with a few things in this book. First off, not sure why the kids hid what they did from the uncle whose book they used. He knew more about the situation than them. Not that I blame them for their distrust. Also, I was not too fond of the posturing of the surveillance team and the shapeshifter. They knew what the kids were, but it was like they were playing with them. I felt like there should have been more conflict or making the others question the truth and show a little more doubt about the situation.
It was a fun and exciting read. This book was less about good vs. evil and more about power. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book for middle school and young adult readers as they could relate best to the main characters. There is some mild violence and profanity. This book reads like a comic or marvel movie where you have heroes, villains, and the worry of exposure. If you're looking for an exciting book where the underdogs become superheroes and have loyal friends willing to do anything for each other, this would be a great read!
So I wasn't a huge fan of the last book, but I am glad I soldiered on and read book 2. This book was so much better. We got to see the characters beyond their cliched roles. I love how they always seem to one-up the government task force sent to watch them. The pace is much quicker in this book. Additionally, this book has a more elaborate plot where they are still trying to lay low from the government. They must also find a way to deal with the uncle, who owns the book that opened the portal and has infiltrated their lives. Finally, there is a powerful shapeshifter after them. There are some legends and myths incorporated in the story that explains the origin of the shapeshifter called Rabbit. The freaks continue to explore their powers.
I had an issue with a few things in this book. First off, not sure why the kids hid what they did from the uncle whose book they used. He knew more about the situation than them. Not that I blame them for their distrust. Also, I was not too fond of the posturing of the surveillance team and the shapeshifter. They knew what the kids were, but it was like they were playing with them. I felt like there should have been more conflict or making the others question the truth and show a little more doubt about the situation.
It was a fun and exciting read. This book was less about good vs. evil and more about power. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book for middle school and young adult readers as they could relate best to the main characters. There is some mild violence and profanity. This book reads like a comic or marvel movie where you have heroes, villains, and the worry of exposure. If you're looking for an exciting book where the underdogs become superheroes and have loyal friends willing to do anything for each other, this would be a great read!
September 20, 2023
This review originally published in Looking For a Good book. Rated 3.0 of 5
The high school friends who self-titled their group of friends "Freaks" have survived the summer (despite the otherworldly figure trying to kill them) and now school is back in session and they are looking are starting their sophomore year. While the appearance is that they are ordinary, if borderline outcast students, the truth is quite different.
The Freaks inherited a variety of unusual superpowers and there's an alien god trying to kill them. This god can shape-shift. Yet this isn't the biggest threat to the Freaks. When people were dying and it was dangerous just to step outside the home at night, the local police weren't prepared to deal with whatever was happening. Now the CIA is in town. They're sure the Freaks are somehow responsible for everything going on but they haven't got proof ... yet.
I can still see the appeal that a book like this (and this book in particular) would have with a certain group of young readers (typically the outcasts, nerds, or freaks). There's a nice blend of superhero and horror going on here and young teens 'alone' or as though the adults in their lives don't understand them, so add to that feeling some superpowers, aliens, and the CIA, and these readers will feel 'understood.'
As these school-aged Freaks in the book get older, some of their social life aspects begin to change - there's the budding romances or at least the awareness of one another as something, possibly, more than just a friend. This is a really nice addition to the book (from the first book) and author Brett Riley handles it well, not giving it too much importance but not ignoring it.
But somehow this book just doesn't thrill. For all the characters and exciting incidents, this feels like it should be a thrill-a-minute experience, but it bogs down in the relationships and interactions between the characters. And while I like books which are character driven, there just isn't enough drive here.
Not a bad book, but definitely very average.
Looking for a good book? Travelers by Brett Riley is the second book in the Freaks series and this volume builds on the relationships while increasing the threats to the community.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
The high school friends who self-titled their group of friends "Freaks" have survived the summer (despite the otherworldly figure trying to kill them) and now school is back in session and they are looking are starting their sophomore year. While the appearance is that they are ordinary, if borderline outcast students, the truth is quite different.
The Freaks inherited a variety of unusual superpowers and there's an alien god trying to kill them. This god can shape-shift. Yet this isn't the biggest threat to the Freaks. When people were dying and it was dangerous just to step outside the home at night, the local police weren't prepared to deal with whatever was happening. Now the CIA is in town. They're sure the Freaks are somehow responsible for everything going on but they haven't got proof ... yet.
I can still see the appeal that a book like this (and this book in particular) would have with a certain group of young readers (typically the outcasts, nerds, or freaks). There's a nice blend of superhero and horror going on here and young teens 'alone' or as though the adults in their lives don't understand them, so add to that feeling some superpowers, aliens, and the CIA, and these readers will feel 'understood.'
As these school-aged Freaks in the book get older, some of their social life aspects begin to change - there's the budding romances or at least the awareness of one another as something, possibly, more than just a friend. This is a really nice addition to the book (from the first book) and author Brett Riley handles it well, not giving it too much importance but not ignoring it.
But somehow this book just doesn't thrill. For all the characters and exciting incidents, this feels like it should be a thrill-a-minute experience, but it bogs down in the relationships and interactions between the characters. And while I like books which are character driven, there just isn't enough drive here.
Not a bad book, but definitely very average.
Looking for a good book? Travelers by Brett Riley is the second book in the Freaks series and this volume builds on the relationships while increasing the threats to the community.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2022
Travelers A Freaks Novel by Brett Riley, narrated by P J Morgan, is the second book in the series and follows the book Freaks. Book one introduced us to the characters and the life-changing event that brings us to book 2. So the Freaks are back in school and trying to act as usual while doing counter-surveillance on the government group sent to watch/eliminate them. All the kids want to do is live their everyday lives, go to school, play video games, and date. However, there is something new and much more dangerous watching and waiting. Will the kids stay off the government radar, and will they be able to band together and fight off this new threat?
So I wasn't a huge fan of the last book, but I am glad I soldiered on and read book 2. This book was so much better. We got to see the characters beyond their cliched roles. I love how they always seem to one-up the government task force sent to watch them. The pace is much quicker in this book. Additionally, this book has a more elaborate plot where they are still trying to lay low from the government. They must also find a way to deal with the uncle, who owns the book that opened the portal and has infiltrated their lives. Finally, there is a powerful shapeshifter after them. There are some legends and myths incorporated in the story that explains the origin of the shapeshifter called Rabbit. The freaks continue to explore their powers.
I had an issue with a few things in this book. First off, not sure why the kids hid what they did from the uncle whose book they used. He knew more about the situation than them. Not that I blame them for their distrust. Also, I was not too fond of the posturing of the surveillance team and the shapeshifter. They knew what the kids were, but it was like they were playing with them. I felt like there should have been more conflict or making the others question the truth and show a little more doubt about the situation.
It was a fun and exciting read. This book was less about good vs. evil and more about power. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book for middle school and young adult readers as they could relate best to the main characters. There is some mild violence and profanity. This book reads like a comic or marvel movie where you have heroes, villains, and the worry of exposure. If you're looking for an exciting book where the underdogs become superheroes and have loyal friends willing to do anything for each other, this would be a great read!
So I wasn't a huge fan of the last book, but I am glad I soldiered on and read book 2. This book was so much better. We got to see the characters beyond their cliched roles. I love how they always seem to one-up the government task force sent to watch them. The pace is much quicker in this book. Additionally, this book has a more elaborate plot where they are still trying to lay low from the government. They must also find a way to deal with the uncle, who owns the book that opened the portal and has infiltrated their lives. Finally, there is a powerful shapeshifter after them. There are some legends and myths incorporated in the story that explains the origin of the shapeshifter called Rabbit. The freaks continue to explore their powers.
I had an issue with a few things in this book. First off, not sure why the kids hid what they did from the uncle whose book they used. He knew more about the situation than them. Not that I blame them for their distrust. Also, I was not too fond of the posturing of the surveillance team and the shapeshifter. They knew what the kids were, but it was like they were playing with them. I felt like there should have been more conflict or making the others question the truth and show a little more doubt about the situation.
It was a fun and exciting read. This book was less about good vs. evil and more about power. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book for middle school and young adult readers as they could relate best to the main characters. There is some mild violence and profanity. This book reads like a comic or marvel movie where you have heroes, villains, and the worry of exposure. If you're looking for an exciting book where the underdogs become superheroes and have loyal friends willing to do anything for each other, this would be a great read!
July 5, 2022
The FREAKS are back! While I felt like the stakes were a little lower overall in Travelers, than they were in FREAKS, I found myself voraciously turning pages while reading. The author, Brett Riley, does a superb job of building up the tension with the FREAKS grouping, now that a their former bully is one of them. As the reader, it is hard to forgive the bully, but when the bullied becomes a bit too violent, I found myself swinging back and forth between who I felt more empathy for, which gives me just a little taste of what the rest of the Freaks must be feeling, too!
This novel gave us a little more time with Gabby and Christian, which I liked a lot. They were both interesting characters in the first book, but we were stuck more-so inside Jamie, Kenneth, and Micah's heads, so it was nice to see a little more of the story from Gabby and Christian's perspective.
Baltar is definitely a BAD DUDE, I can feel it... I was a little disappointed that there wasn't as much time devoted to Baltar and his magical abilities—where did they come from? what kind of portals did he open? why hasn't Micah spoken to his dad (even via text)? also, we haven't heard back from social services so how do they know someone is staying with Micah? ... I'm sure this will probably be front and center during the next book, but I felt a little disappointed in the Freaks with their lack of questioning of Baltar, aside from the first day where they just took his amulets without question.... the horror fan in me is screaming for them to be smarter!
But aside from my Baltar bothers, I loved the action and high tension that Brett Riley creates. I also really enjoyed the deeper character building in this novel, and the light romantic tension in that teenage love-triangle style.
The pacing kept me on the edge of my seat just waiting to see another rabbit poke its nose somewhere odd or for Micah to maybe lose his grasp on reality. I am now patiently waiting for Book 3, and hoping it delivers more thriller/horror vibes and some answers that are bouncing around my noggin since I finished the last page.
This novel gave us a little more time with Gabby and Christian, which I liked a lot. They were both interesting characters in the first book, but we were stuck more-so inside Jamie, Kenneth, and Micah's heads, so it was nice to see a little more of the story from Gabby and Christian's perspective.
Baltar is definitely a BAD DUDE, I can feel it... I was a little disappointed that there wasn't as much time devoted to Baltar and his magical abilities—where did they come from? what kind of portals did he open? why hasn't Micah spoken to his dad (even via text)? also, we haven't heard back from social services so how do they know someone is staying with Micah? ... I'm sure this will probably be front and center during the next book, but I felt a little disappointed in the Freaks with their lack of questioning of Baltar, aside from the first day where they just took his amulets without question.... the horror fan in me is screaming for them to be smarter!
But aside from my Baltar bothers, I loved the action and high tension that Brett Riley creates. I also really enjoyed the deeper character building in this novel, and the light romantic tension in that teenage love-triangle style.
The pacing kept me on the edge of my seat just waiting to see another rabbit poke its nose somewhere odd or for Micah to maybe lose his grasp on reality. I am now patiently waiting for Book 3, and hoping it delivers more thriller/horror vibes and some answers that are bouncing around my noggin since I finished the last page.
April 26, 2022
ARC audiobook provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“Travelers” is a sequel to the book “Freaks” about friends in high school who have accidentally gain super powers, which they previously used in the first book to fight a supernatural being. In this book, the friends are hunted by a secret government task force bent on capturing and containing them. However, the government guys aren’t the only thing to fear: a godlike creature has emerged and seeks to destroy the group of friends.
I found this young adult book to be better than the first book in the series. This book was a quick easy read. The story flows quickly from beginning to end. The characters are beginning to be developed further, engaging the reader more. The group of friends prepare to fight the newest evil in their town, but there is a bit of discord amongst them. Something is happening with Micah, but the group doesn’t seem to see what’s happening. It raises questions that are left unanswered, but these set this story up for the next book in the series.
My copy of this book was an audiobook, so I must comment on the narration. I did find the narrator did a good job with the story. The character voices were well done, and the entire narrative flowed easily. I would give the narrator a five-star review.
Overall, this book was just above middle-of-the-road for me, hence I would give it a 3.5-star review. I think the concept was once again great, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. The story does set itself up for the next sequel, and I believe the story concept was interesting enough that I’ll pick it up. I think this book would work well for a young adult reader looking for an interesting supernatural/horror novel. If you don’t expect too much, this is a pretty fun read.
“Travelers” is a sequel to the book “Freaks” about friends in high school who have accidentally gain super powers, which they previously used in the first book to fight a supernatural being. In this book, the friends are hunted by a secret government task force bent on capturing and containing them. However, the government guys aren’t the only thing to fear: a godlike creature has emerged and seeks to destroy the group of friends.
I found this young adult book to be better than the first book in the series. This book was a quick easy read. The story flows quickly from beginning to end. The characters are beginning to be developed further, engaging the reader more. The group of friends prepare to fight the newest evil in their town, but there is a bit of discord amongst them. Something is happening with Micah, but the group doesn’t seem to see what’s happening. It raises questions that are left unanswered, but these set this story up for the next book in the series.
My copy of this book was an audiobook, so I must comment on the narration. I did find the narrator did a good job with the story. The character voices were well done, and the entire narrative flowed easily. I would give the narrator a five-star review.
Overall, this book was just above middle-of-the-road for me, hence I would give it a 3.5-star review. I think the concept was once again great, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. The story does set itself up for the next sequel, and I believe the story concept was interesting enough that I’ll pick it up. I think this book would work well for a young adult reader looking for an interesting supernatural/horror novel. If you don’t expect too much, this is a pretty fun read.
January 19, 2023
3.5 stars
Definitely a step up from the first one, but throughout the book it felt very preachy and heavy handed when discussing certain topics. It would have been less jarring for the reader if these things were handled through dialogue only or through a mix of dialogue and subtle (emphasis on subtle) hints in the narrative.
Christian was one of the better characters in the first one, and her role ended up becoming even more important to the overarching story this go around. I enjoyed finding out more about her family's history and how that history connected her with everything going on with this book's villain. She's certainly one tough kid, and I respect the mess out of her for that!
Micah dealt with more than enough trauma in the first book, and now there's been added emotional distress flung upon him. He wasn't quite as insufferable here as he was in the first, but he's still an extremely unlikable character 95 percent of the time. I'm interested to see where his character arc is going in the next book.
The villain this time was a good balance of menacing, interesting, and deadly. While the first book really had more of a creepy factor when it came to the baddy, this one brought more of a mental game to the table. You really had to watch your back and not trust anyone, and that helped add to the drama and severity of the situation. I liked how it drew on past cultural beliefs and customs with the villain and created what, on the surface, could seem innocent until you see its true power.
Overall, Christian and Micah were the main focuses of this installment, and I liked the added depth they gained. It's going to end up becoming a major fight between good and evil, and I'm sure it will tear the Freaks apart. But we'll see how the next one goes!
Definitely a step up from the first one, but throughout the book it felt very preachy and heavy handed when discussing certain topics. It would have been less jarring for the reader if these things were handled through dialogue only or through a mix of dialogue and subtle (emphasis on subtle) hints in the narrative.
Christian was one of the better characters in the first one, and her role ended up becoming even more important to the overarching story this go around. I enjoyed finding out more about her family's history and how that history connected her with everything going on with this book's villain. She's certainly one tough kid, and I respect the mess out of her for that!
Micah dealt with more than enough trauma in the first book, and now there's been added emotional distress flung upon him. He wasn't quite as insufferable here as he was in the first, but he's still an extremely unlikable character 95 percent of the time. I'm interested to see where his character arc is going in the next book.
The villain this time was a good balance of menacing, interesting, and deadly. While the first book really had more of a creepy factor when it came to the baddy, this one brought more of a mental game to the table. You really had to watch your back and not trust anyone, and that helped add to the drama and severity of the situation. I liked how it drew on past cultural beliefs and customs with the villain and created what, on the surface, could seem innocent until you see its true power.
Overall, Christian and Micah were the main focuses of this installment, and I liked the added depth they gained. It's going to end up becoming a major fight between good and evil, and I'm sure it will tear the Freaks apart. But we'll see how the next one goes!
December 30, 2022
In its sophomore story, the Freaks series continues to be... pretty good.
As we have developed characters in the first book (Freaks), the action starts basically right away here, with yet another extradimentional threat that our broken hero must fend off... all while keeping a low profile and evading the authorities.
What I like: There were some really good moments of teamwork in this one that shows our non-conformity friends are learning to work together, putting aside feelings. I feel like this is a key component that can't be overlooked, but often is just assumed. Also, I feel like the villain really amped up in this one, with some great factual Lore backing the story up.... chefs kiss.
What I didn't like: Dialogue still felt stilted and one-dimensional, not really giving any character depth or showing growth. I'm still in awe of the lack of parental oversight being brought up, with MANY loose threads being left all over, which taxed even MY suspension of belief. With cleaner writing, or maybe more invested editing this could be a quick fix... low hanging fruit. Finally, I feel like this grapped with some complex issues.... but kinda didnt...? Like, it just throws them at the reader, saying "This Is A Thing"... but its not reflected in the rest of the story or actual character growth. Instead of deeply meaningful windows into a characters motives, it felt a little hot-buttoney, which put me off.
Overall, a good ending with a solid hook at the end that will probably have me coming back.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As we have developed characters in the first book (Freaks), the action starts basically right away here, with yet another extradimentional threat that our broken hero must fend off... all while keeping a low profile and evading the authorities.
What I like: There were some really good moments of teamwork in this one that shows our non-conformity friends are learning to work together, putting aside feelings. I feel like this is a key component that can't be overlooked, but often is just assumed. Also, I feel like the villain really amped up in this one, with some great factual Lore backing the story up.... chefs kiss.
What I didn't like: Dialogue still felt stilted and one-dimensional, not really giving any character depth or showing growth. I'm still in awe of the lack of parental oversight being brought up, with MANY loose threads being left all over, which taxed even MY suspension of belief. With cleaner writing, or maybe more invested editing this could be a quick fix... low hanging fruit. Finally, I feel like this grapped with some complex issues.... but kinda didnt...? Like, it just throws them at the reader, saying "This Is A Thing"... but its not reflected in the rest of the story or actual character growth. Instead of deeply meaningful windows into a characters motives, it felt a little hot-buttoney, which put me off.
Overall, a good ending with a solid hook at the end that will probably have me coming back.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2022
This is the sequel to Freaks. I received an advanced copy of the audio book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked that this has the same narrator as Freaks. She does a great job of differentiating between characters.
There is great representation in this book including a nonbinary character who is introduced in this novel. Kenneth is still working on growth and continues to show his bigotry but it is a lot quieter now. It's more an internal dialog instead of him taking it out on everyone. It seems an accurate enough portrayal, I think I can just say that I don't like that character at this point.
The relationship between Gabby and Jamie continues to grow and is one of the more pleasant sub story lines in the book.
The antagonist for this novel is the Native American trickster god, Rabbit. He is a shapeshifter and is extremely angry with the freaks for their potential to upset the natural order and because most of them are white. Christian has Native American ancestry and this plays a major role in the main plot of this book.
This book may make you uncomfortable but in a way that encourages introspection and growth. It addresses how Native Americans have been wronged throughout history. Travelers does a great job of continuing the story started in Freaks as well as setting up for the next book.
I liked that this has the same narrator as Freaks. She does a great job of differentiating between characters.
There is great representation in this book including a nonbinary character who is introduced in this novel. Kenneth is still working on growth and continues to show his bigotry but it is a lot quieter now. It's more an internal dialog instead of him taking it out on everyone. It seems an accurate enough portrayal, I think I can just say that I don't like that character at this point.
The relationship between Gabby and Jamie continues to grow and is one of the more pleasant sub story lines in the book.
The antagonist for this novel is the Native American trickster god, Rabbit. He is a shapeshifter and is extremely angry with the freaks for their potential to upset the natural order and because most of them are white. Christian has Native American ancestry and this plays a major role in the main plot of this book.
This book may make you uncomfortable but in a way that encourages introspection and growth. It addresses how Native Americans have been wronged throughout history. Travelers does a great job of continuing the story started in Freaks as well as setting up for the next book.
April 11, 2023
Refreshing with a ya where there are multiple factions fighting for their own goal, whether it is survival, justice or simply following orders from above. How these teenagers deal with making and keeping the friends they have been set up with because of a spell gone wrong is fun and frustrating with plenty of conflict keeping the story interesting between the action scenes. I generally liked the story and plot, however there are some minor issues I have with how its written.
We love a non-binary character, but as a fellow queer and pronounce user myself I have never come across someone writing out their pronounce as they/their/them, it's simply they/them. Nit picky I know but maybe the author has seen someone use they/their/them.
I'm a young millennial/old gen Z and I know 90s slang when I read it. Do not write teenagers using slag if you do not know how kids talk 🙃 this book reads like it's taking place alongside Buffy. Which is a vibe, but not the one I think the author was going for. If you're above the age of 35 and dont have teenage kids, you should probably dive into youth culture to accurately represent it in present day.
All in all, with my head canon is that this is set in the 90s, this is a good read/listen
Thank you netgalley for allowing me access to this book!
We love a non-binary character, but as a fellow queer and pronounce user myself I have never come across someone writing out their pronounce as they/their/them, it's simply they/them. Nit picky I know but maybe the author has seen someone use they/their/them.
I'm a young millennial/old gen Z and I know 90s slang when I read it. Do not write teenagers using slag if you do not know how kids talk 🙃 this book reads like it's taking place alongside Buffy. Which is a vibe, but not the one I think the author was going for. If you're above the age of 35 and dont have teenage kids, you should probably dive into youth culture to accurately represent it in present day.
All in all, with my head canon is that this is set in the 90s, this is a good read/listen
Thank you netgalley for allowing me access to this book!
July 13, 2022
I want to preface this review with I haven't read the first book in the series, though I think this book does a good job of explaining anything from the first book you might have missed.
Travelers overall is a good novel and worth the read. The story has its ups and downs, It's fast and slow parts, But none of them last too long. Riley's writing style is enjoyable, and the book is structurally sound.
In the end I don't really have any negative comments. My rating comes down to It just not being a story that's not my cup of tea. Part of that is that this is obviously a young adult novel, which I do enjoy reading from time to time, But a lot of the themes in the story are your general dealing with crushes, or drama between friends. Despite that, the story was enjoyable and I would read a third book in the series.
I want to thank Riley, and Goodreads for the advanced reader copy of the book. Honestly, it's been a while since I read a physical book so that was a bit of a change for me lol. (Also thank you for including a bookmark, otherwise I would have been using a receipt or something lol).
Travelers overall is a good novel and worth the read. The story has its ups and downs, It's fast and slow parts, But none of them last too long. Riley's writing style is enjoyable, and the book is structurally sound.
In the end I don't really have any negative comments. My rating comes down to It just not being a story that's not my cup of tea. Part of that is that this is obviously a young adult novel, which I do enjoy reading from time to time, But a lot of the themes in the story are your general dealing with crushes, or drama between friends. Despite that, the story was enjoyable and I would read a third book in the series.
I want to thank Riley, and Goodreads for the advanced reader copy of the book. Honestly, it's been a while since I read a physical book so that was a bit of a change for me lol. (Also thank you for including a bookmark, otherwise I would have been using a receipt or something lol).
July 15, 2022
Ever drive through Southeastern Arkansas and wondered why there are no trees? It's because the Freaks have returned to play havoc with the forests. This time they're aided in their woody eradication by gloop-shooting FBI agents.
At least the Freaks are a little nicer to each other than they were in the first novel, Freaks. They can still be catty to each other, but there is romance in the air and being snarky doesn't improve one's love life. They are insulting to the weird uncle, but heck, who wouldn't want a creepy, kookie, altogether spooky uncle who does magic and drives a Lexus?
This is the fourth book I've read this year with icky, villainous rabbits. Are itty-bitty bunny rabbits the new monsters in books? Bitsy bunny did make for a cool cover for Travelers.
If you can get past the wanton treeicide, it's a pretty exciting book. Some good, scary monsters in addition to criminal bunnies. Thanks to Netgalley and Imbrifex Books for allowing me to read and review an eARC of Travelers.
At least the Freaks are a little nicer to each other than they were in the first novel, Freaks. They can still be catty to each other, but there is romance in the air and being snarky doesn't improve one's love life. They are insulting to the weird uncle, but heck, who wouldn't want a creepy, kookie, altogether spooky uncle who does magic and drives a Lexus?
This is the fourth book I've read this year with icky, villainous rabbits. Are itty-bitty bunny rabbits the new monsters in books? Bitsy bunny did make for a cool cover for Travelers.
If you can get past the wanton treeicide, it's a pretty exciting book. Some good, scary monsters in addition to criminal bunnies. Thanks to Netgalley and Imbrifex Books for allowing me to read and review an eARC of Travelers.
April 23, 2023
I want to start by saying thanks Imbrifex Audio and NetGalley for a copy of “Travelers” by Brett Riley.
I should start by saying that I did not realize this was the second book in the series and I DID NOT read the first book. However, this book discusses in pretty great detail what I believe to be the plot of the first book which allowed me to feel like I understood where they were coming from despite not having read it.
The Plot: We follow high school sophomores, a group of misfits the “Freaks” who are starting fresh this school year in their quiet town of Quapaw City, Arkansas. Together they deal with some of the most ordinary experiences of adolescence like maintaining friendships, getting their first cars, and having crushes. While they appear to be the most normal teenagers they all have their own secret powers and a secret-agent task force is determined to capture or kill them - whichever happens first.
What I Enjoyed: The narrator in this book was FANTASTIC an easy 10/10. They are dynamic and engaging and do a good job of creating clarity when the perspectives change. The book is “inclusive” and includes details from modern times. One of the characters is non-binary, and there are several instances of recent events being referenced.
What I Wish was DIfferent: In all honesty, this was the first ARC book that I could not finish. The book just didn't have a flow that seemed coherent or engaging, and the characters were just very very flat for me. I started this book and thought that a quick break with a better book before coming back to finish would help but instead, it just continued to show that the book wasn’t as well executed as it should have been.
Sadly this book will be a DNF at 1 star.
I should start by saying that I did not realize this was the second book in the series and I DID NOT read the first book. However, this book discusses in pretty great detail what I believe to be the plot of the first book which allowed me to feel like I understood where they were coming from despite not having read it.
The Plot: We follow high school sophomores, a group of misfits the “Freaks” who are starting fresh this school year in their quiet town of Quapaw City, Arkansas. Together they deal with some of the most ordinary experiences of adolescence like maintaining friendships, getting their first cars, and having crushes. While they appear to be the most normal teenagers they all have their own secret powers and a secret-agent task force is determined to capture or kill them - whichever happens first.
What I Enjoyed: The narrator in this book was FANTASTIC an easy 10/10. They are dynamic and engaging and do a good job of creating clarity when the perspectives change. The book is “inclusive” and includes details from modern times. One of the characters is non-binary, and there are several instances of recent events being referenced.
What I Wish was DIfferent: In all honesty, this was the first ARC book that I could not finish. The book just didn't have a flow that seemed coherent or engaging, and the characters were just very very flat for me. I started this book and thought that a quick break with a better book before coming back to finish would help but instead, it just continued to show that the book wasn’t as well executed as it should have been.
Sadly this book will be a DNF at 1 star.
July 16, 2022
Thank you to LibraryThing for allowing me to read and review this book before its published.
I didn't realize this was a sequel when I requested the book, my fault. I actually bought the first book, Freaks, after realizing my mistake, so I could get more backstory and fully understand the characters before diving into Travelers.
After reading both, I can say that you could read Travelers without fully needing to read Freaks. Brett helps with giving a little backstory and keeping you updated in the sequel. However, I felt that the first book was more intense and suspenseful than the sequel. We get a little more characters and drama in the second, but it was almost the first book with a different enemy. And the flow for both was off for me and sometimes the writing was flat and one dimensional.
I'm not sure if I'd want to continue reading this series, however I am very interested in finding out more about Micah and which way he ends up choosing.
I didn't realize this was a sequel when I requested the book, my fault. I actually bought the first book, Freaks, after realizing my mistake, so I could get more backstory and fully understand the characters before diving into Travelers.
After reading both, I can say that you could read Travelers without fully needing to read Freaks. Brett helps with giving a little backstory and keeping you updated in the sequel. However, I felt that the first book was more intense and suspenseful than the sequel. We get a little more characters and drama in the second, but it was almost the first book with a different enemy. And the flow for both was off for me and sometimes the writing was flat and one dimensional.
I'm not sure if I'd want to continue reading this series, however I am very interested in finding out more about Micah and which way he ends up choosing.
May 17, 2022
I did not realize this was the second installment of a series and I did not read the first book. With that being said though, I was able to catch up and get a feel for the characters. There was enough reference to what happened in the first book to make sense of it
I listened to the audio version of this book and I really enjoyed the narrator. The middle section of the book felt like it dragged a little bit but there was plenty of action at the end. It wasn't a book that, for me personally, I was carving time out of my day to get back to. I never felt fully invested and that could be because I didn't read the first book.
Overall, the writing was well done and the storyline was easy to follow. I think this is a good book for YA who are into fantasy for sure. Definitely look at reviews from others who read the first book as well though!
I listened to the audio version of this book and I really enjoyed the narrator. The middle section of the book felt like it dragged a little bit but there was plenty of action at the end. It wasn't a book that, for me personally, I was carving time out of my day to get back to. I never felt fully invested and that could be because I didn't read the first book.
Overall, the writing was well done and the storyline was easy to follow. I think this is a good book for YA who are into fantasy for sure. Definitely look at reviews from others who read the first book as well though!
July 9, 2022
(Thank you to NetGalley and Imbrifex Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback)
How it all began in Book 1 (Freaks):
**Four friends, relentlessly bullied, LARP (live-action role play) for fun with robes and a book found in an uncle's belongings. When a chant read from the book unlocks a portal to another dimension, all hell breaks loose.**
The books read like a comic book being spoken aloud. The first book was decent, it was fun enough to get an origin story for these 4 kids, the powers they gain, and their fights against the villain they unleashed.
The problem with this book is I felt it added nothing. It just felt like an entire book of just the same fight going on and on (this time with a new and powerful nemesis). I didn't feel any new ground was covered. I really just wanted the audiobook to be over.
How it all began in Book 1 (Freaks):
**Four friends, relentlessly bullied, LARP (live-action role play) for fun with robes and a book found in an uncle's belongings. When a chant read from the book unlocks a portal to another dimension, all hell breaks loose.**
The books read like a comic book being spoken aloud. The first book was decent, it was fun enough to get an origin story for these 4 kids, the powers they gain, and their fights against the villain they unleashed.
The problem with this book is I felt it added nothing. It just felt like an entire book of just the same fight going on and on (this time with a new and powerful nemesis). I didn't feel any new ground was covered. I really just wanted the audiobook to be over.
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