The Prey
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4.4 • 27 Ratings
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
“A compellingly drawn dystopian future.” —BCCB
The Maze Runner meets The Hunger Games in this heart-pounding trilogy—now in paperback.
Orphaned teens, soon to be hunted for sport, must flee their resettlement camps in their fight for survival and a better life. For in the Republic of the True America, it's always hunting season. Riveting action, intense romance, and gripping emotion make this fast-paced adventure a standout debut.
After a radiation blast burned most of the Earth to a crisp, the new government established settlement camps for the survivors. At the camp, sixteen-year-old "LTs" are eager to graduate as part of the Rite. Until they learn the dark truth: LT doesn't stand for lieutenant but for Less Thans, feared by society and raised to be hunted for sport.
They escape and join forces with the Sisters, twin girls who've suffered their own haunting fate. Together they seek the fabled New Territory, with sadistic hunters hot on their trail. Secrets are revealed, allegiances are made, and lives are at stake.
As unlikely Book and fearless Hope lead their quest for freedom, these teens must find the best in themselves to fight the worst in their enemies.
Catch the rest of the series in The Capture and The Release!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In actor and first-time novelist Isbell's dystopian future, kids like Book are all too common orphaned, congenitally deformed by nuclear fallout, and living in "resettlement camps" after EMPs rendered electronics useless. Book believes that life in Camp Liberty is still better than the lawless outside world until a runaway from another camp shows him the truth: he and his friends are society's "Less Thans," being raised for the rich and powerful to hunt for sport. As Book begins planning his escape, he meets Hope, a girl in a neighboring camp, who is an identical twin, the government's perfect test subjects. The two protagonists work well together, though their romantic story line including a halfhearted love triangle is a bit forced. But the book plays to its strong suits, with plenty of peril (human and otherwise) and illuminating glimpses of the world outside the camps that allowed this system to thrive. First in a planned trilogy, the story delivers its message without moralizing and will keep readers rooting for Book and Hope. Ages 13 up.
Customer Reviews
Interesting story and setting.
Intense, brutal, suspenseful, and thrilling! Not quite the story I was thinking it would be, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Would you rather stay in the only place other people would see as “home”, try and become higher than a “less than”, to enjoy true freedom, achievement, and acceptance? Or, would you rather escape the confines of the camp, and try your luck in the free, and unknown world outside? Book has chosen the latter…and he’s going to lead and take other “less thans” with him. Together, with an extra handful of female twins, known as “sisters”, the “less thans” will attempt to journey to freedom and home, wherever it may be, before their former evil captors hunt them down for cruel sport.
A interesting cast of characters, a brutal story and setting, and tough choices to fill the pages of this book, and I liked reading about them all.
Fantastic first outing for new author Tom Isbell
The Prey by Tom Isbell is a heart pounding adventure that takes us into a post apocalyptic America 20 years after a nuclear fall out has devastated the world. The Republic Of True America has emerged and the world is now divided into territories.
The Prey is comparable to other YA dystopian books out there, but I believe it stands very much on it's own and has a life and a unique voice to it that explores a more human experience in a post-apocalyptic world. It is grounded in a world that is more believable instead of creating an overly futuristic sci-fi world.
It is written from the perspectives of the main characters Book & Hope, and it really gives the book a unique voice seeing that each character speaks in his/her own tense. I liked this touch to the book. You really get a feel for the characters and you can step inside their heads and really feel how they operate. All the characters are very well written. The story moves quickly and keeps you guessing what will happen next.
I could not put the book down and it is definitely a page turner. I finished reading it in two days, and I'm not a fast reader at all.
It was enthralling and when the book was finished, I found myself wanting to know what happens next. In my opinion, that's what makes a good book. One that keeps your attention and makes you want more!
Seeing that this is only the first book in a trilogy of books, Mr. Isbell has established his world and made his mark. I cannot wait to see how the rest of the story plays out.
I really recommend this book. It's suspenseful, romantic, tragic, witty, real and honest. Give it a read. It is great, and I think a fantastic first outing for Tom Isbell.
Good book
The first part was slow...but the next two part shot up the action and suspense. Reminded me of Maze Runner. Not the best but a good read. Just get passed the first part, and the you begin to really like the characters and story. The love story wasn’t the best, but it was enjoyable. Some parts were a bit rushed in my mind... Overall a good book though