It is refreshing to read a book from a guy's point of view for once. Now of what I've read, I may have come across less than 5 of such books, but given that they were written by female authors, I can safely say that those previous books didn't really give me an insight to the minds of the male brain as deeply as I hoped. Some of the guy narrators even came across as plain gay. 
 Not this one though. Whatever goes on in Gene's head are not paragraphs of emotional rambling that can only be concluded by a psychologist as symptoms of insecurity. Instead, with his intelligence, Gene reminisces. Plans. He thinks ahead, or conjures up a sweet memory in his head, rather than spend his excess mind-prowess whining about something/someone or blaming life itself. And hence, the story moved. The pace was good. For that, bravo. 
 IN this book, the world is infested by vampires. No, not the fluffy ones you get in Twilight, but the kinds that truly scare just by description alone (Hmmm... Fukuda must be a Twilight hater). I guess the premise of this book and The Hunger Games is pretty similar - people are picked to go on a popular hunting game of sorts - but unlike the extra modelling and grooming sessions in THG that is too obviously catered to chick-lit fans, here, the hunting game is very real. It's more like a desperate chance of survival. Compared to the other 2 books/sagas mentioned, I have to say, this book comes off as my overall most preferred. 
 I would give this book a 3.5, but the only reason I rounded it up rather than down is that I really think this book outdoes THG in more aspects than one (to me). For one, in this book, the focus IS on the hunting game and the survival of the protagonist rather than - what? - the romance, nice treatment from the supposedly bad-guys/hosts of the game, etc. In this book, Gene's life sounds really, really hopeless. And lonely. Katniss? Not so much. I think instead Katniss whines a tad too much for my liking. Most of all, Gene is NOT in any way a Gary-Sue kind of character. In fact, heck, he can't really do much. Katniss? By all means, Lady Luck is her second name. 
 I think, however, it's unfair to compare the 2 (maybe 3) books mentioned, but for me it is hard not to be reminded of THG while reading this book as the premises are all too similar. You can't exactly applaud Fukuda for coming up with The Hunt later than the debut of THG saga, that is, if you don't suspect any form of inspiration drawn from THG in the first place. I think comparison is inevitable for most readers here since the THG phenomena worked too well in Suzanne Collins' favour. Too bad really. 
 Unlike THG where the sun is still up and shining, this book is hopelessly eerie and dark. This book is no Sci-Fi or Action - it's of the HORROR genre! And frankly I hate horror-themed books. 
 This book has me wondering why the humans left in the story are fighting for survival when there's practically nothing to live for. Suspense? Not really, since I'm not eager about knowing more of Gene's impending doom in the next page. No spoilers here though. I wanted to shout to them, "Dude! Survival is overrated!". But another contribution to the dark and dreadful setting in this book is the theme of loneliness and solitude. There's something pathetic about being the last of the surviving members of your own kind - I am Legend, anyone? But how survival and solitude add up to paint the ultimate horror story (for me), I have no idea. 
 In this book, some explanations could have been done more thoroughly, a few scenes were too quickly touched upon then left off, and the cliffhanger seemed more of a dead end than a potential for a sequel. But I guess I will be picking up the second instalment, after all, that's the only sign telling me that Gene's still alive, and that the author isn't planning to finish him off, letting it get over and done with. Whether or not Gene gets out of this whole mess alive - that's sufficient suspense for me. 
 (view spoiler)[ 
 Dear author, I don't think female readers appreciate it kindly for any character to be left behind, no matter how impossible it is to save him/her. Especially a potential favourite of many. Personally, I'm devastated, since Ashley is such as strong, determined, resourceful character. Call me a chick-lit reader, but I'd prefer for such character's fate to not be left hanging in doom. Please give her a happy ending, if not Gene? (hide spoiler)]