Review: The Prey by Andrew Fukuda

Title: The Prey {The Hunt #2}

Published: Simon & Schuster February 2013

Status: Read on February 06, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy Simon & Schuster}

My Thoughts:

Fast paced and exciting, The Hunt was a promising introduction to this young adult series where humans (also known as hepers) have been driven to edge of extinction by creatures that appear to be a hybrid of human,vampire and zombie.
The Prey begins where The Hunt left off as Gene, Sissy and the boys flee the creatures hunting them. Chugging down a nameless river with death lining the the banks and their destination unknown, the group can only trust in the Scientists directions in their bid for The Land of Milk and Honey, Fruit and Sunshine.

With the characters confined to the boat we are able to learn more about Sissy, Ben, Epap, Jacob and David. Born in captivity, each proves surprisingly knowledgeable and capable with skills they attribute to the patient teaching of The Scientist. Gene finds himself slowly warming to the hepers but struggles with having left the relative safety of the only world he has ever known, deserting Ashley June and placing his life in the hands of an absent stranger. Gene is no less conflicted in The Prey than in The Hunt, and when he discovers the identity of the man the others know only as the Scientist his world is turned upside down.

After several close encounters with the ever persistent Hunters the group follows the trail left by the Scientist to The Mission. Believing they have found the promised land the boys delight in their generous reception but Sissy is suspicious and when Gene recovers from a near fatal illness he too grows wary of the community.
For me this part of the story fell somewhere between chilling and absurd. Beneath the veneer of smiling faces and cheerful singing The Mission hides a very twisted secret. With young women happily enslaved to the Elders – a small group of old, balding and overweight men, a captive Dusker and a train that leads straight to hell.

The Prey won’t work as a stand alone. It is very much a continuation of The Hunt and details from that story become relevant to Gene’s journey. Unfortunately I didn’t find it nearly as compelling as it’s predecessor though, with the uneven tension, flawed logic and too many misogynist elements, it all began to fall apart for me.

A fast read with great action scenes but ultimately disappointing, I think I’ll be tempted to pick up the third but it won’t be a priority.