The Prey by Andrew Fukuda
| The Prey by Andrew Fukuda | |
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| Category: Teens | |
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Reviewer: Jill Murphy
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| Summary: Follow up to The Hunt. Gene and his fellow hepers escape the vampires hunting them, as The Scientist had planned. But the Mission isn't the haven they had hoped. Lots of action and a satisfying amount of plot progression. We actually liked this one better than the first book. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 336 | Date: January 2013 |
| Publisher: Simon & Schuster | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 0857075446 | |
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Having escaped the vampires hunting them on the boat left by the Scientists, Gene, Sissy and the boys make their way down the river and arrive at the Mission. Food is abundant, the place is peaceful, and the Elders promise them a trip on the next train to Civilisation. Gene and Sissy can hardly believe it. But it's soon apparent that the Mission is not all it seems and Gene begins to wonder if they haven't simply exchanged one hellhole for another. Although they find out a great deal more about the Scientist - he developed the Origin, a cure for vampirism - understanding his plans is as frustrating as ever. And with the vampires coming ever closer, even to the Mission itself, and the Elders making moves of their own, time is running out and Gene and Sissy must decide what to do...
The main emotional focuses in The Prey are the developing relationship between Gene and Sissy and Gene's gradual change in perspective, explored through the prism of his view of his father. Over the course of the book, he loses his Stockholm Syndrome and comes to feel truly human. It's a struggle, as is working through his feelings about the Scientist. Why did he abandon Gene? Could he have loved Sissy more? Is he really the Origin? And if he is, does this mean he was no more than an experiment to his father? These are weighty issues and is does Fukuda credit that he manages to blend them so seamlessly into a plot that has more action scenes than you could shake a dozen sticks at.
I also liked the Mission setting. You'd think that surviving humans would come together in a utopian way, given the madness that surrounds them, wouldn't you? Well, that's wishful thinking, I'm afraid. The Mission is a thoroughly unpleasant place, as Gene and Sissy realise very quickly, and it doesn't say much for human nature. The vampires might be dreadful, but the Mission's Elders give them a run for their money.
Again, the action ends at a good punctuation point and leaves plenty of anticipation about what will happen next while satisfying the immediate storyline. I won't lie to you though - the worldbuilding is still a bit shaky and inconsistent. Delirous, melting vampires still have the wherewithal to plan sophisticated attacks. Some of the Mission's secrets don't really hang together. Perfectionists might find some of this annoying, but those who like a good ol' wham bam thankyou ma'am read will be happy to forgive.
I certainly want to see what happens next.
You might also like Ashes by Ilsa Bick. No fangs, I'm afraid, but there is a nasty little settlement surviving in the midst of a dystopian holocaust that has unpleasant secrets. It reminded me of The Mission.
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Prey by Andrew Fukuda at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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