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jessmoats's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the premise of this novel, but it could have been three books with three individual story lines; combining all three into one novel almost makes it seem unbelievable. That being said, it is action packed with colorful characters and a story line full of surprises. Freedom is the main character, an alcoholic who swears, fights, and has a best friend named Passion. Currently in witness protection after testifying against her brother-in-law during her husband's murder trial, Freedom learns that the daughter she never knew has gone missing. She sets out on a stolen motorcycle to find her, unraveling disturbing secrets about her children's adoptive parents in the process.
envd22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
katieeliza's review against another edition
3.0
The plot was OK but I found it all a little too cliché to really invest enough in to allow myself to become absorbed.
kaisu's review against another edition
5.0
Genialer Schreibstil und eine kaputte Anti-Heldin, die man trotz ihrer Macken schnell ins Herz schließt.
amandainpa's review against another edition
4.0
I had no interest in reading this book when I first saw the cover, but I read the synopsis and thought I’d take a chance (I’m glad that I did). This story follows Freedom, who is in the witness protection program and has a slew of issues. Freedom was the kind of character who I really disliked in the beginning of the story but as it progressed and I began to understand her, she grew on me.
The story has many facets and subplots that all merge together. It explores a religious cult which was extremely interesting and chilling. As a reader I went through a range of emotions, from anger to frustration, to fear, and sadness.
The story touches on religion, which often frustrates me in secular fiction, but the author handled it very well and I was pleased with the way things were presented.
Overall, this was a fast paced, action packed story that was enjoyable to read.
I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange of an honest review.
The story has many facets and subplots that all merge together. It explores a religious cult which was extremely interesting and chilling. As a reader I went through a range of emotions, from anger to frustration, to fear, and sadness.
The story touches on religion, which often frustrates me in secular fiction, but the author handled it very well and I was pleased with the way things were presented.
Overall, this was a fast paced, action packed story that was enjoyable to read.
I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange of an honest review.
hobbes199's review against another edition
3.0
3.5*
This is an excerpt of the full review, previously published at If These Books Could Talk
From the beginning, ‘Freedom’s Child‘ is a novel that will divide readers, mainly due to the central character. Freedom is a very hard person to like, and as most of the novel is told with her voice, that’s a big problem. I found her whiny, self-centred, and obnoxious, with her constant streams of bile soon becoming eye-rollingly tedious. At first I suspected that this was a narrative tool, so that when the truth finally came out about her situation the reader could feel some empathy. But no – she was vile before and just got worse. At around the half-way mark, I genuinely didn’t care if Freedom lived or died.
As the plot unfolds, Miller cranks up the atmosphere and set-pieces, describing in great detail the catastrophic events surrounding her characters. Whilst they are often far-fetched and a suspension of disbelief is required (Freedom seems to be super-human, the convenience trope is over-used, and there are plot holes/unresolved aspects aplenty) Miller’s cinematic technique, especially in regards to locations, means you often forget all the improbabilities.
As first thrillers go, ‘Freedom’s Child’ is far from perfect, but Miller’s ability to spin a tale shouldn’t be ignored, and I expect to see her name on best seller lists for years to come.
This is an excerpt of the full review, previously published at If These Books Could Talk
From the beginning, ‘Freedom’s Child‘ is a novel that will divide readers, mainly due to the central character. Freedom is a very hard person to like, and as most of the novel is told with her voice, that’s a big problem. I found her whiny, self-centred, and obnoxious, with her constant streams of bile soon becoming eye-rollingly tedious. At first I suspected that this was a narrative tool, so that when the truth finally came out about her situation the reader could feel some empathy. But no – she was vile before and just got worse. At around the half-way mark, I genuinely didn’t care if Freedom lived or died.
As the plot unfolds, Miller cranks up the atmosphere and set-pieces, describing in great detail the catastrophic events surrounding her characters. Whilst they are often far-fetched and a suspension of disbelief is required (Freedom seems to be super-human, the convenience trope is over-used, and there are plot holes/unresolved aspects aplenty) Miller’s cinematic technique, especially in regards to locations, means you often forget all the improbabilities.
As first thrillers go, ‘Freedom’s Child’ is far from perfect, but Miller’s ability to spin a tale shouldn’t be ignored, and I expect to see her name on best seller lists for years to come.
abookwanderer's review against another edition
3.0
*I received an advance reader's copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for a review.
3.5 stars. I'm finding this one difficult to review. The book is well-written, intriguing, and I found it hard to put down, but when I finished, I didn't love it. Maybe it's just not my cup-of-tea, maybe it's because the main character is hard to like, maybe it's that the ending is so unrealistic. While I had these misgivings, Freedom's Child reads like a script for a Quentin Tarantino film. It's face-paced and dark with dream-like qualities. If you enjoy books about angry women bent on revenge, this is one for you.
3.5 stars. I'm finding this one difficult to review. The book is well-written, intriguing, and I found it hard to put down, but when I finished, I didn't love it. Maybe it's just not my cup-of-tea, maybe it's because the main character is hard to like, maybe it's that the ending is so unrealistic. While I had these misgivings, Freedom's Child reads like a script for a Quentin Tarantino film. It's face-paced and dark with dream-like qualities. If you enjoy books about angry women bent on revenge, this is one for you.
dannafs's review against another edition
4.0
Obviously Freedom McFly is a badass. With a name like that, she's bound to be a no-nonsense, feisty protagonist and Freedom does not disappoint. She would make a fantastic series heroine--more please. Freedom is the name of her choosing--she left Nessa Delaney behind when she entered the Witness Protection Program nearly twenty years ago. She lived a reasonably quiet existence until now, when the man who prompted the need for her protection has been released from prison.
Freedom drinks too much. She curses too much. She hurts too much. And yet, I fell madly in love with the passion that broken souls ignite. Above all else, she's a mother, even if she hasn't seen her kids in over eighteen years, and her motherhood is what drives her every breath. The description of her grief is tangible:
"Have you ever heard your soul snap in two? Have you ever cried for so long that you find yourself on the verge of fainting? Have you ever clawed the frozen earth so hard that your fingernails break off? Have you ever screamed so loud that there was no noise at all, your windpipes simply failing you under the pressure?"
There are moments when the happenings of this book seem too screwed up to be true, and at the same time, where things are so tragically flawed that they seem utterly believable in that truth-is-stranger-than-fiction way. The language is vulgar and borders on offensive (brings to mind the old favorite The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao), so guard yourself. Freedom will take you on a vulgar and bordering on the brink ride through the wreckage and salvation of her heart and life.
Favorite quotes:
"Next is John, a stout man with all the recessive genes: green eyes, red hair, and a tempter that can make the streets shake."
"It's where I take advantage of the Internet, being that I don't actually own a computer and the service on my cell phone sucks like an eager Vietnamese prostitute."
"And the calls to her snot-nosed daughter are even more useless, her business skirts so tight that they apparently choke off the blood to her conscience."
"But when alcohol livens up the darkest corners of my brain, those alleys where many of my skeletons dance, they just sore the most cringe-worthy parts of my mind, of that rape, right out of my mouth."
"'Remember, we ran into her not long ago at the line at the fair? You love her, I can tell. You couldn't stop flirting with her. At least she is pretty, though, not like that Jennifer next door who's in love with you.'
'I was not flirting and Jennifer next door is not in love with me... Where the hell does this kid get his smarts from?'
'He gets his smarts from you.' She smiles as she makes his coffee. 'Accusing you of flirting with women? That he gets from his mother.'"
Freedom drinks too much. She curses too much. She hurts too much. And yet, I fell madly in love with the passion that broken souls ignite. Above all else, she's a mother, even if she hasn't seen her kids in over eighteen years, and her motherhood is what drives her every breath. The description of her grief is tangible:
"Have you ever heard your soul snap in two? Have you ever cried for so long that you find yourself on the verge of fainting? Have you ever clawed the frozen earth so hard that your fingernails break off? Have you ever screamed so loud that there was no noise at all, your windpipes simply failing you under the pressure?"
There are moments when the happenings of this book seem too screwed up to be true, and at the same time, where things are so tragically flawed that they seem utterly believable in that truth-is-stranger-than-fiction way. The language is vulgar and borders on offensive (brings to mind the old favorite The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao), so guard yourself. Freedom will take you on a vulgar and bordering on the brink ride through the wreckage and salvation of her heart and life.
Favorite quotes:
"Next is John, a stout man with all the recessive genes: green eyes, red hair, and a tempter that can make the streets shake."
"It's where I take advantage of the Internet, being that I don't actually own a computer and the service on my cell phone sucks like an eager Vietnamese prostitute."
"And the calls to her snot-nosed daughter are even more useless, her business skirts so tight that they apparently choke off the blood to her conscience."
"But when alcohol livens up the darkest corners of my brain, those alleys where many of my skeletons dance, they just sore the most cringe-worthy parts of my mind, of that rape, right out of my mouth."
"'Remember, we ran into her not long ago at the line at the fair? You love her, I can tell. You couldn't stop flirting with her. At least she is pretty, though, not like that Jennifer next door who's in love with you.'
'I was not flirting and Jennifer next door is not in love with me... Where the hell does this kid get his smarts from?'
'He gets his smarts from you.' She smiles as she makes his coffee. 'Accusing you of flirting with women? That he gets from his mother.'"
thebookgirl's review
5.0
“I am so sorry that I couldn’t save you, Rebekah, I think to myself as I fade out of consciousness. I am so sorry for everything I did and didn't do”
Freedom Oliver, a woman is hiding in Oregon in the wonderful witness protection program. Her own family is in a sense hunting her, they are bent on revenge.
I honestly thought I would hate this book. I disliked Freedom the first few chapters. She's the kind of character you don't think you're going to like but, you end up loving. The twists and turns through out this book are incredible. You feel like your in the story, like you are riding the roller coaster of the characters lives.
A fast paced story guaranteed to keep you flipping the pages. A story that has so many twists and turns it almost sickens you. I don’t read much thriller fiction, and I am pretty sure this was my first crime drama, but this book has me hooked. I read this book over the course of 3 days. I felt like I couldn’t put it down I had to figure out what would happen next. Unfortunately nothing could have prepared me for the ending.
The characters are so interesting, you have the ones you love, Freedom an struggling alcoholic on the brink of committing suicide. Then there is her brother in law Peter, the only sane person in her in law family. Then there are the ones you hate, like Lynn the 600 lb sadistic drug addict mother of Freedom’s husband.
The ending ties up the story nicely, without leaving any holes. At first I thought, “Wow this just ended all of the sudden” As you turn the last few pages you understand it more. All the little pieces of the story end up making a remarkable picture.
If you are able to look past the predicability of the story, and the sort of outlandish situation it's a great book. Would it happen in real life? Probably not. It’s a book of fiction, not a true story documentary.
NOTE: I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.
Also posted on my blog
Freedom Oliver, a woman is hiding in Oregon in the wonderful witness protection program. Her own family is in a sense hunting her, they are bent on revenge.
I honestly thought I would hate this book. I disliked Freedom the first few chapters. She's the kind of character you don't think you're going to like but, you end up loving. The twists and turns through out this book are incredible. You feel like your in the story, like you are riding the roller coaster of the characters lives.
A fast paced story guaranteed to keep you flipping the pages. A story that has so many twists and turns it almost sickens you. I don’t read much thriller fiction, and I am pretty sure this was my first crime drama, but this book has me hooked. I read this book over the course of 3 days. I felt like I couldn’t put it down I had to figure out what would happen next. Unfortunately nothing could have prepared me for the ending.
The characters are so interesting, you have the ones you love, Freedom an struggling alcoholic on the brink of committing suicide. Then there is her brother in law Peter, the only sane person in her in law family. Then there are the ones you hate, like Lynn the 600 lb sadistic drug addict mother of Freedom’s husband.
The ending ties up the story nicely, without leaving any holes. At first I thought, “Wow this just ended all of the sudden” As you turn the last few pages you understand it more. All the little pieces of the story end up making a remarkable picture.
If you are able to look past the predicability of the story, and the sort of outlandish situation it's a great book. Would it happen in real life? Probably not. It’s a book of fiction, not a true story documentary.
NOTE: I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.
Also posted on my blog
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