Freaks by Brett Riley

Abstract

Reviewed by: Freaks by Brett Riley April Spisak Riley, Brett Freaks. Imbrifex, 2022 [288p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781945501531 $18.99 Paper ed. ISBN 9781945501524 $14.00 E-book ed. ISBN 9781945501548 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad Gr. 9-12 Micah and his three friends are bullied daily in school, so when one finds a dark magic book, the group decides to try to cast a spell that, at worst, will be a cool RPG sort of distraction, and at best could actually change their lives. Unfortunately, one of their vicious tormentors has come to cause more trouble at the exact moment a portal opens, so when the teens are endowed with incredible superpowers, he gets them too. All of their abilities will be needed, even those of their sworn enemy, to grapple with a terrifying beast that also came through the portal before it can violently murder everyone they love. The introduction of a government cover-up adds a layer of complexity, as the group tries to figure out who are their allies—if they have any. The bullying feels oddly old-fashioned, however, focused more on reading comics and the assumed limitations of being a girl rather than the digital jabs that make life miserable now. In addition, while it may be authentic that the four are not particularly kind to each other or developed outside of key traits, these elements make every single person in this novel difficult to relate to, let alone like. It is possible a sequel may give everyone some depth and growth, however, and readers who are mostly here for the portals, superpowers, and gory details of monster attacks will likely cruise right past the book’s flaws and leave satisfied with the action-driven plot. [End Page 228] Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois