Freakslaw

A wonderfully weird, fever dream of a novel.
Such an interesting premise and it delivered. I loved the setting in a small Scottish town in the 90s.

I also loved the American Horror Story vibes - it's dark, it's uncomfortable, it's unhinged and it's addictive!

A brilliantly written literary horror that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to those looking for an escape from the mudane.

A pinch of horror, a pinch of satire, classic tropes like culture clash and the fascination/fear for who's different.
There's a lot to love in this novel, there's gore and intriguing characters. And some food for thought
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my arc of this book. Unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me I was expecting more AHS freak show vibes

Freaks. Weirdos. Queers. All words that are hurled in the direction of the masters and players of the Freakslaw travelling circus, and those words become the armour that the circus folk use to protect themselves, and to establish kinship with one another, and keep all the normies at bay.

Flett's prose is excellent at evoking the tension that is always bubbling away in all small, working class British towns and using plot to dial up the heat until it boils over, impossible to contain. Although the prose is rich and atmospheric, this tension kept the pages turning, even when the plot slowed.

I was hoping this would give the same vibes as Geek Love but there are too many characters to keep track of and Nancy was the absolute worst. Hopefully I will connect with the author's next book!

I suppose there is an audience for every book but perhaps I am not the one for this novel. I received an ARC via Netgalley and I am unsure as to what drew me to request it. I think it tries to be too many things to too many people. I would have classified it as witches /magic and somewhat macabre.

It is hard to review something which I truly disliked so much. There was no real flow to it just felt nonsensical

I enjoyed this book!
It gave me all the AHS Freak show vibes.
Dark, disturbing & unnerving throughout!

A chosen family literary horror that is the family I would choose in a heartbeat! This is punk, and deviant and full of 90s nostalgia. I loved it and I lived it! It was a visceral feast of the flossie that left me on such a candy high I felt just the right side of unhinged. I want to get my Freakslaw on!

This wasn't one I really connected with. Gave it a good go & the writing was excellent but somehow I just didn't really get into it - can't pin down a reason so probably just me but could not engage with the characters & didn't get the immersive feel I like in a good book

Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for my advanced copy in exchange for a review. I found it funny and entertaining with some good plot twists . I did enjoy the book and would recommend it

Ooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my freaky friends are going to LOVE THIS. I can just imagine if I had read this book before watching shows like AHS my brain would have literally EXPLODED

This was definitely something new and different for me. I was able to dive into this book pretty openinded and I'm to do so. It was very much not what I expected in a good way, although I feel I didn't click with it as much as some might and that's due to personal preference but the characters were definitely colourful and loud bringing their lives to my attention so hard I couldn't put the book down.

A fun, gothic horror that gripped me from the beginning.

I loved the writing style and I couldn't stop turning the pages.

I tried to keep this for the spooky season but couldn't resist.

A good all rounder that I'd highly recommend to any horror lover!

Thank you for the opportunity to read before publication.

Gothic and haunting. This book was everything I wanted and more. The writing style had me invested in the characters from the first to the last chapter. A wonderfully well written and executed book.

This book was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the writing, the story and the deviant cast of characters. It was exactly what I wanted when I requested it and I loved every minute

This was a gothic, haunting and atmospheric story that I couldn’t put down. It was gripping and engaging the whole way through with a level of suspense and unpredictability that added an extra layer to the storytelling. It was a chilling read that has stayed with me since I read it.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Freakslaw - A travelling funfair of seductive troublemakers arrive in a repressed Scottish town. What could possibly go wrong? by Jane Flett is a hyperchaotic fever dream of delicious goodness that I can read over and over! It was just so much fun and as a huge lover of the Mighty Boosh, it was right up my alley! I don't know why it kept bringing the Boosh to mind, it just did!

Highly recommend, a very enjoyable escapade

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Doubleday and the author Jane Flett for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

A quiet Scottish town is rocked to its core when a circus/freakshow turn up during the night. The townspeople aren't so happy about this, in fact they're quite terrified. Curiosity soon wins out and they find that they can't stay away.

I will admit that I'm not a fan of circus literature, there's something about circuses that just gives me the creeps--though I suppose that for this particular book that was the point! Anyway, I found this one a bit...well, gross. But if you aren't squeamish and I like a bit of weirdness with your horror, this is for you.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy.

I’m not entirely sure what just read but it was chaotic and unhinged and I think I loved it 😂
It was like American Horror story meets The Greatest Showman but also felt like a dirty little secret 😅

This book is nothing other than pure unhinged chaos. It’s such a fun and wild ride that I honestly found myself laughing at some of the things that happened, even though I’m not sure they were all meant to be funny. I had a great time reading this book and it felt like watching a ridiculous comedy horror movie that’s made for pure entertainment!

There were a lot of characters in the book, and I found it a little hard to follow who was who for a while. I also found it harder to connect with any of the characters in this one, maybe for the same reason?

That being said, the cast of characters is certainly an interesting one. There is a disclaimer in the book regarding the use of the term ‘freaks’, but if you’ve ever watched the Freakshow season of American Horror Story, it’s very much that vibe.

Just like a fairground ride, this book will whip you in every direction possible and leave you grinning and wanting more. I would love love loooove to see this as a film!