Frankenstein is one of my all-time favourite books, so I’m always up for a modern story that plays with ideas of monstrosity, otherness, and what makes us human. Freakslaw does that in such a fun, offbeat way, full of oddball characters, strange twists, and writing that crackles with energy. I loved how unapologetically weird it was, though every now and then the quirkiness went a bit overboard for me, which is why it’s a 4 rather than a 5. Still, a bold and inventive read. Good for fans of Jenni Fagan or Katherine Dunn

Set in the grim little Scottish town of Pitlaw, summer of 1997, Freakslaw follows what happens when a travelling carnival full of outcasts, queers, witches, and misfits rolls in bringing chaos, seduction, and, unbeknownst to their captive audience, a simmering thirst for revenge. At the centre are Ruth and Derek, two teens desperate to escape the suffocating small town gloom, and a carnival that promises freedom. But such promises always come with a price…

Scotland, debauchery, deviants, and a carnival? You got me. Sold. I was immediately in. The premise alone had me suuuuper excited, and I couldn’t wait to dive into something that promised chaos, magic, and full-throttle weirdness.

I really liked it, but somehow wasn’t as blown away as I hoped I’d be. I was so entranced by the sinister undertones - the desperate pull of wanting to escape a small town, the intoxicating lure of something out of the ordinary, and the dangerous lengths people go when swept up in something seductively wild and all-consuming like a carnival.

It’s seductive, vibrant, and reckless to its core - so enticing, but so destructive. The carnival isn’t just spectacle, it’s a hive mind. A deliberate agent of chaos, like a whirlpool, sucking in bystanders and using their power (literally, in some cases) to fuel its hedonism.

The book is rich with moral ambiguity, which I loved. Is the power of the ‘freaks’ a reclamation of strength in the face of oppression and isolation? Or is it the weaponisation of suffering that tips into something cruel and unthinkable? At what point does liberation become something darker?

That said, I can’t believe how much I’d forgotten by the time I wrote this. I do really really need to start taking notes… but considering the intensity of the drama, it’s wild how much didn’t stick.

I think that’s partly down to the narrative style and number of POVs. I also listened to this on audio walking to and from work, and without the words in front of me, I missed a lot of intricacies. It’s a dense, sprawling story, and I suspect it would land better on the page ( / kindle page!). I’m tempted to revisit my physical copy to see if I pick up on anything I missed this time!

A huge HUGE thank you for this advance copy 🧡

This was wild in the best way! A dark, magical carnival rolls into a small Scottish town in 1997, turning everything upside down - especially for the local teens. It's weird, queer, poetic and completely absorbing. The writing is beautiful, the characters are unforgettable and the whole thing feels like a fever dream about freedom and found family.

This is a really hard book to write a review for. The cover drew me in but I think I should have read up about it first. It was a really strange book and I’m still not 100% sure I really kept up with what was going on. It was probably more a me problem than the book’s problem, more about the genre for me. I will say the authors descriptions were brilliant, you could really see what she was describing in your mind and she’s great with words.

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

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

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.