The Prey by Andrew Fukada

Published: January 2012

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Pages: 304

Copy Provided by: Bought

Summary: by Goodreads

Summary:

For Gene and the remaining humans—or hepers—death is just a heartbeat away. On the run and hunted by society, they must find a way to survive in The Vast... and avoid the hungry predators tracking them in the dark. But they’re not the only things following Gene. He’s haunted by the girl he left behind and his burgeoning feelings for Sissy, the human girl at his side.

When they discover a refuge of exiled humans living high in the mountains, Gene and his friends think they’re finally safe. Led by a group of intensely secretive elders, the civilisation begins to raise more questions than answers. A strict code of behaviour is the rule, harsh punishments are meted out, young men are nowhere to be found—and Gene begins to wonder if the world they’ve entered is just as evil as the one they left behind. As life at the refuge grows more perilous, he and Sissy only grow closer. In an increasingly violent world, all they have is each other... if they can only stay alive.

Review:

Fukada continues his fast-paced thriller with the same intensity as book #1 The Hunt.  The book literally begins right where things stopped last book on the river with vamps in hot pursuit.  Their desire to devour these hepers is so creepy!  The extreme lengths they go to in order to beat the sun is startlingly cunning and extreme.  

One of the things that I found so interesting about The Prey is how Fukada incorporated a bit of Chinese history into his story.   Being an East Asian Studies student, I learned much about the ancient art of foot binding.  It sounds very similar to what was done to the women living in this civilization.  Tiny feet were beautified and large feet were considered manly and ugly.  He doesn't go into a lot of detail but the pregnant women in this society certainly had the same characteristics of women in ancient China.  A small foot was revered (also called a lotus foot) but debilitating to a woman.  It would prevent much hard labour and could also prevent a young woman from running away from her husband.  

There were so many twists and unexpected turns in this novel that I cannot divulge them all.  I often feel like I'm reading "outside of the box" with this author because just when you think you know what is going on, he throws you for a loop and takes you in another direction.   That Andrew Fukada is a tricky game changer....but always entertaining.  

Prey was so intense that it only took me a short time to devour.  It definitely did not have second book boredom and the ending will leave you wanting more answers.  Move this one to the top of your TBR list. I LOVED it!

p.s.

At one point in time, Gene uses a hang glider as wings to escape a group of vampires in hot pursuit.  Oh the irony of a dark bat-shaped creature escaping a bunch of blood suckers through the air!  

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