Freakslaw by Jane Flett
Vivid characters and irreverent references abound in Jane Flett's irresistible queer literary horror, Freakslaw
Jane Flett’s Freakslaw is a riot of a novel, one where the irresistible force of the titular travelling fair and its exotic inhabitants meets the immovable object of the conformist townsfolk of Pitlaw, a place where those who don’t fit the locals’ norm are mocked, bullied, and socially ostracised. With a dark magical realism, and using carnival tropes and types, there are – among many others – echoes of Fellini, Tod Browning’s Freaks, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and even The League of Gentleman, as both sides wish for individuals to become 'one of us'.
The novel is populated by vivid characters. Among the most memorable are young townsfolk Ruth and Derek, who are intrinsically drawn to the fair and the possibility of alternative lives, and the charismatic and otherworldly Zed and Nancy. Nancy in particular is an unforgeable creation, wishing to watch the world burn just to see what it feels like. Whether using a Barbie for voodoo, enjoying a breakfast vodka, or trepanning an unsuspecting lover, there’s a nihilism in Nancy which is both terrible and attractive. Flett’s turn of phrase throughout is an absolute joy, memorable and eminently quotable, with the most unexpected points of reference (Sartre and the Singing Kettle!).
In terms of the sheer thrill of reading, I haven't enjoyed a novel this much all year. Full of rich language, arresting imagery, and visceral horror, it’s magical, sensual, weird and completely wonderful. Welcome to the Freakslaw.