Reviews

The Freedom Race by Lucinda Roy

sophir's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

1.0

I have literally never read a book I disliked more. so slow and the buildup is to something that does not even happen in this book. if it becomes a series I swear to god I will write the publisher and complain until they pull the idea. world building is very complicated and nuanced and this author did not do an even semi adequate job. too much is going on in a very bad way

quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition

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4.0

The Freedom Race is the first novel in Lucinda Roy's The Dreambird Chronicles series, and it is a series like no other. It blends science fiction fantasy with dystopian elements, and it does so flawlessly. Better yet, it has a poignant message written into the narrative, which makes it all the more powerful in my book.

The country has been torn apart by another civil war. Following the aftermath, it split into two factions. On one side, there's the Homestead Territories. This is the side that believes in the right to slavery and is the side nobody would want to see win the war.

Ji-ji was born on this side, and all she has ever wanted was a way to escape the only world she's ever known. The only way to do that is to enter – and win – the annual Freedom Race.

Wow. If you're looking for a book that hits hard and doesn't pull punches, look no further. The Freedom Race is unafraid of who and what it is – and it shows. This is a novel that merges dystopia with slavery, showcasing the brutal world that would stem from it.

To say that it was a horrifying read would be an understatement. Yet, I found myself loving Ji-ji's character. It's impossible not to root for her. She's a light that shines so bright amidst all of the horrible actions around her.

I should mention that if ever there was a book that needed trigger warnings, it would be this one. When I say that there are brutal examples of slavery – I mean it. There are also scenes depicting rape, lots of violence, and so much more. This is not a light read by any means, but as long as you know that going into it I can see readers appreciating the message.

Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks>

blives2dance's review against another edition

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3.0

*Won a free ARC through Goodreads Giveaway

I had hoped to finish this book before it's publish date but it was so very hard to read.
It took me so long to get into it and to adjust to the terms and pattern it was written in. It was a lot of slang and weird words that throws you off.
I constantly had to go back, reread and try and understand.

The beginning of the book just jumps into all of this information but it doesn't truly get explained until the middle. It reads like you should know this information but it's a new world/new book so how could you. The maps aren't much help at the beginning either and you don't really get the history in a full picture way.
There is so much going on but it's also like you're not seeing anything. Like you hear what's going on behind you but can't turn around to actually see.

I liked Jiji but I think my actual favourite was Afara. She's the most kind and loyal friend imaginable. And despite the awful way she is treated she remains that way. I just want to keep her safe...

The concept is super interesting. Which is why I forced myself to continue. I wanted to know but it was incredibly painful to get there.

I boosted the rating because it got so interesting once they left the planting. Meeting the Friends and actually figuring out what was going on all along was a relief. It actually got really good and I read the end half a lot faster than the first.

I feel like book two will be way better than the first...

emmakchapman's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


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ripsuibunny's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


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leecalliope's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 I really liked this book!! I expected to find its premise too dark, especially after I'd felt that way abt My Monticello, but even though it's definitely dark, it was really engaging and mysterious and the characters are Good! I really really enjoyed it + I liked that it ended on a very hopeful note. Love to just say "also this character who died offscreen? Not dead!" at the end of a book.

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kevinhendricks's review against another edition

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3.0

This is the story of a future fractured America where slavery has returned. Slaves, known as seeds, have a rare opportunity to compete in an annual race to earn their freedom. This is speculative fiction, so it weaves scifi and fantasy together in a weird mix. Not my favorite, but it was also hard to put down. It felt like less of a straight forward story, never quite what I expected and always taking odd turns.

lauren890's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

johannajournaled's review against another edition

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2.75

IG: @JohsJournal

Adult speculative fiction set in a near-future United States that has been splintered into factions after a second civil war. The new Disunited States’ Homestead Territories has regressed and brought back slavery, a caste system, and new slaves from Africa. Main character Jellybean “Ji-Ji” Lottermule’s only hope for freedom is to compete in The Freedom Race, a competition that grants winners freedom and the ability to petition for others’ freedom.

This one is not for the faint of heart and was a tough read for me. On top of the subject of a future America where black and brown people are disparaged, enslaved, and lynched, the lack of technology and regression of society and education was a hard sell. Like most first books in a series, a lot of time is spent on worldbuilding and the reader is hit over the head right away with new jargon and terms, replacing understood existing terminology with the new. Rambling memories and observations of the main character mixed in made the plot lost for me until the last 100 pages.

For me, the book is a warning of not only the real possibility of history repeating itself but also how much worse it could be should that happen. Also, the story is not so much about the race but about Ji-Ji’s journey to get there and the revelations about herself, her family, and those around her. So many horrible and heartbreaking things happen along the way that, of course, I was anxious the entire read for Ji-Ji and Afarra (who quickly became a favorite character) to just make it through in one piece.

While this book is not a favorite, there were moments and quotes I did love: Ji-Ji mentioning terms and sections from books she’s read (“a murmuration of starlings”), the found-family sisterhood with Afarra, the racers coming together in times of danger and duress, and the symbolism of Ji-Ji’s “mutation.”

TW: slavery, executions, shootings, lynching, graphic violence of death, graphic attempted rape, domestic violence, physical abuse, drug use, animal abuse

Thank you to Tor Books for the ARC.

crlyhairedbibliophile's review against another edition

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3.0

I betroth myself to my own future. I will never be meek again in the face of it.


This was not an easy read by any means, but I’ve always liked a challenge. There’s so much to unpack here, from the terminology to the way this Disunited States operates that I really had to take my time and digest it all. Every corner of the world was really interesting, though some aspects were hard to stomach like the color wheel system for the muleseeds and Sylvie’s “purple tears.”

I definitely got into the story more around the second half when Ji-Ji leaves Planting 437 and the focus is more on the Freedom Race itself. The whole concept gave me Hunger Games vibes with a little fantasy mixed in, while the first half felt more like a slave narrative twist on The Handmaid’s Tale.

Wanting more of the race aspect and the Toteppi as a people in exchange for a little less time on the Homestead Territories took this down a little for me, but I’d still be interested to see where the story goes from here now that things are established.

⚠️TRIGGER WARNING: Slavery (any & everything related), attempted rape, lynching, death during childbirth, & domestic violence