Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Literary Meanderings 
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 *This review contains spoilers for the first book in this series, The Hunt!* 
 Andrew Fukuda wastes no time in throwing us right back into the fray! The Prey picks up immediately where The Hunt left us. Gene, Sissy, Epap, & the younger boys are drifting down the river after narrowly escaping a blood-thirsty pack of Duskers. It's now a matter of survival; survival until they reach the Promised Land--The Land of Milk and Honey, Fruit and Sunshine... the place which the Scientist promised to one day lead them. 
 With just the sparse clues from the Scientist to guide them, the group begins a journey to find paradise. What they end up finding is something that just seems too good to be true. A village nestled between two mountains. A village filled with happy, smiling, singing faces. Human faces. Not only that, but filled with food and drink, cozy cottages, and hospitality like they've never seen. This place is called The Mission. 
 But, inevitably, in fiction, things that seem too good to be true usually are. Gene and Sissy quickly notice that something seems very off about The Mission. The old, fat men who call themselves the "Elders" - the ones in charge, are crude and have created strict and strange laws and rules for the community to follow. There no males anywhere in The Mission, aside from the Elders and the boys in their own group. It's all girls--young girls with brand marks and smiley face tattoos on their forearms. They waddle around on too-small feet. Many of them are pregnant. There is definitely something wrong with this place, and Gene and Sissy plan to get to the bottom of it, even if it kills them. 
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 I don't even know where to begin. I honestly don't. This book BLEW ME AWAY. Literally. I feel winded! 
 I guess I'll start with the uniqueness of this series. I mentioned this in my review of The Hunt, but I have to say it again: These vampires are unlike any other vampire I've ever read about. They are truly unique to the genre, and this is something I appreciate infinitely. It gets so old, so boring, reading about vampire/human love over and over and over again. GAG ME! How refreshing it was to read The Prey and see what vampires should really be like! Savage, ugly, grotesque, ruthless, mindless with bloodlust. I feel like I should give Fukuda a round of applause after this amazing display of creativity. 
 This second installment of the HUNT trilogy is much more than a bridge between the beginning and the end. It's a revelation. It's growth. This book is packed with information and action. In The Prey we learn how the Duskers came to be; who was responsible and also why. We learn more about the Scientist and why he left Gene all alone with the Duskers. We learn that he had more of a purpose, a mission, than Gene or any of the small group of escapees could even grasp. Small details mean everything in this series, that is apparent. Fukuda knows exactly how to weave a plot. It's absolute perfection. It's very obvious that a lot of time, effort, and thought went into this story. 
 We get to see a different side to the characters in this book. We delve deeper into the mind of Gene and his companions. We learn that Gene is haunted by guilt and anger at his father for abandoning him. Gene has some trouble keeping his eye on the ultimate goal of finding the Promised Land. His anger with his father clouds his thought process and judgement (at times). We get to watch Gene transform right before our eyes. He becomes something much more than just a scared human living amongst the enemy. He's a hero; he has a destiny and a greater purpose. I won't elaborate, but there is a very HUGE secret revealed in this book. It was unexpected and jaw-dropping. And just when you think you've figured it out, Fukuda blindsides you with yet another surprise. It's amazing. 
 Not only does Gene learn and grow, but so do the rest of the group - as individuals, and as a whole. Let's not forget Ashley June, either, because she makes an unexpected comeback in this story. I'll let you ponder that one for yourself. hehe ;) 
 As with it's predecessor, The Prey is filled with dark elements. Grotesque scenes of horror and themes that will leave you cringing in disgust. Gene and his friends learn the hard way that the Duskers are not the only thing to fear in this post-apocalyptic nightmare. The declination of humanity in a setting like this is expected. Our beloved characters witness this first-hand in this installment of the trilogy. 
 Overall? The Prey left me floored. This is what I call the perfect sequel. It's non-stop action. From cover to cover, Fukuda kept me glued to the pages. When I couldn't read this book, I thought about this book. All day at work, all I could think of was coming home to read more. It is everything a good story should be. The characters are beyond multi-dimensional. I came to love them. I felt like I was right there next to them throughout their whole journey. I cried for them. I laughed with them. I was scared when they were scared. This story is one that has the ability to grip you by the soul and hold you there until it's finished. It's more than just a story of horror and fighting for your life; it's a story about love and hope, about fighting for more than just yourself. 
 "'This is what you want then?' I say. 'To be chased, to be hunted? To be their prey your whole life? Born prey, die prey?' I look at them in turn. 'This is our chance to be more than prey. To escape all this.'" 
 The Prey is completely laden with plot twists and world-shaking revelations. Every time you think you know it all; that you've figured it out - Fukuda throws something else into the mix. This is a series that girls and boys, teens and adults, can all enjoy. It has something for everyone! It's truly a diamond in the rough. I recommend this book, as well as The Hunt, to literally everyone. It's incredible. It's creative and unique. It's filled to the brim with action. If you haven't read The Hunt, I urge you to do it now! 
 Now it's time for the inevitable wait for the final book. Hurry up, September!!! 
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 Book source: From the publisher for review. 
 Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Macmillan