chelseavbc's review against another edition
5.0
This review was originally posted at Vampire Book Club.
There are few books I enjoy more than the ones that do something fresh. Despite the blurb on the cover for The Hunt comparing it to The Hunger Games, Andrew Fukuda’s debut is remarkably creative and engaging.
The concept, when distilled sounds direct: Vampires are now the dominant species on Earth. Humans—called hepers—have been labeled extinct. They aren’t. The government has a few kept in secret to raise morale. They’ll employ a lottery system to see which lucky people get the honor of hunting down these kept hepers.
Make that more complicated by having the novel’s hero be human. He’s not one of the government’s hepers, but a human living in secret. He pretends to be a vampire (in the novel always just called “people”). He hides emotion. He shaves the hair from his arms, douses himself in hand sanitizer and the like. He takes on the tics of the vampires—neck cracking and wrist scratching. He fakes it. It’s worked, too. Only now there is going to be another heper hunt and he’s been picked to hunt down and kill his kind.
What elevates this novel for me is the brilliant way Fukuda makes his protagonist see himself and the world. He lives by these rules to fake being a vampire, to survive. He hates the vampires, but at the same time he’s been indoctrinated into their beliefs. Even when he sees the hepers kept in a secluded dome, he doesn’t feel immediate sympathy for them. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t equate them with himself at all. He’s free, a survivor. The vampires don’t use names, and we don’t learn the protagonist’s name until we’re far into the novel. There’s this slow, steady reveal of who the main character really is that drives the connection here.
Additionally, the plot throws enough curve balls to keep you surprised. I thought I had a couple key points and character motivations figured out. One of the few times I enjoy being wrong. While the start is a little slow plot-wise, the writing is spry and the story is an undeniable page-turner.
The only reason this book didn’t garner five stars from me is I found the romance angle weak. I didn’t really see any reason why the main character was infatuated with his love interest. That arc wasn’t as clear to me, and made me question some of his choices. However, I loved the writing and will make a point to start the sequel The Prey quickly.
Sexual content: Kissing
There are few books I enjoy more than the ones that do something fresh. Despite the blurb on the cover for The Hunt comparing it to The Hunger Games, Andrew Fukuda’s debut is remarkably creative and engaging.
The concept, when distilled sounds direct: Vampires are now the dominant species on Earth. Humans—called hepers—have been labeled extinct. They aren’t. The government has a few kept in secret to raise morale. They’ll employ a lottery system to see which lucky people get the honor of hunting down these kept hepers.
Make that more complicated by having the novel’s hero be human. He’s not one of the government’s hepers, but a human living in secret. He pretends to be a vampire (in the novel always just called “people”). He hides emotion. He shaves the hair from his arms, douses himself in hand sanitizer and the like. He takes on the tics of the vampires—neck cracking and wrist scratching. He fakes it. It’s worked, too. Only now there is going to be another heper hunt and he’s been picked to hunt down and kill his kind.
What elevates this novel for me is the brilliant way Fukuda makes his protagonist see himself and the world. He lives by these rules to fake being a vampire, to survive. He hates the vampires, but at the same time he’s been indoctrinated into their beliefs. Even when he sees the hepers kept in a secluded dome, he doesn’t feel immediate sympathy for them. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t equate them with himself at all. He’s free, a survivor. The vampires don’t use names, and we don’t learn the protagonist’s name until we’re far into the novel. There’s this slow, steady reveal of who the main character really is that drives the connection here.
Additionally, the plot throws enough curve balls to keep you surprised. I thought I had a couple key points and character motivations figured out. One of the few times I enjoy being wrong. While the start is a little slow plot-wise, the writing is spry and the story is an undeniable page-turner.
The only reason this book didn’t garner five stars from me is I found the romance angle weak. I didn’t really see any reason why the main character was infatuated with his love interest. That arc wasn’t as clear to me, and made me question some of his choices. However, I loved the writing and will make a point to start the sequel The Prey quickly.
Sexual content: Kissing
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Won from Library Thing Early Reviewers
Challenges: YA
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00
First Thought When Finished: Well that was an odd and engaging story!
What I Loved: Andrew Fukuda has weaved a tale that is oddly fascinating, excruciatingly heartbreaking, and truly gross at times. Seriously folks, I would not read this book while eating as it does have some "did he just write that" moments. They totally fit in this story and it is part of the charm (probably not the right word). The Hunt is truly unlike any book that I have read before and yet it had elements that were familiar enough I was hooked. At the end, I wasn't sure what to think and I am still trying to figure out my emotions towards the events.
What I Liked: The world is the exact opposite of the one we know today. Humans (or hepers) are food and almost all humans(as far as we know)are extinct. Yet, the Vampires kept some very human characteristics: they went to school, knew humor, competed in sports, and several other little things. All of this made the world familiar yet completely new!
What made me go "huh": To be honest there were quite a few moments where I wasn't sure where the story was going---the end is one of them. Though each moment was followed by truly gripping storytelling--I felt a little short changed at the end. I felt the real story was just beginning.
Final Thought: This is a book that I would recommend to YA Dystopian readers with a caveat that it isn't like other books you have read.
***I know I didn't mention characters in this review mostly because I am mixed on my feelings there. I didn't feel overly attached to any of them (including G) but I think that was by design as we didn't get to really "see" what he would be like as himself. I think not seeing how he would act around friends/family made even his thoughts reserved***
This is part of a paragraph that explains why: PG 11: Call me picky, but imminent death at the hands (or teeth) of a friend who would suckle blood out of you at the drop of a hat..... That throws a monkey wrench into friendship building.
Challenges: YA
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00
First Thought When Finished: Well that was an odd and engaging story!
What I Loved: Andrew Fukuda has weaved a tale that is oddly fascinating, excruciatingly heartbreaking, and truly gross at times. Seriously folks, I would not read this book while eating as it does have some "did he just write that" moments. They totally fit in this story and it is part of the charm (probably not the right word). The Hunt is truly unlike any book that I have read before and yet it had elements that were familiar enough I was hooked. At the end, I wasn't sure what to think and I am still trying to figure out my emotions towards the events.
What I Liked: The world is the exact opposite of the one we know today. Humans (or hepers) are food and almost all humans(as far as we know)are extinct. Yet, the Vampires kept some very human characteristics: they went to school, knew humor, competed in sports, and several other little things. All of this made the world familiar yet completely new!
What made me go "huh": To be honest there were quite a few moments where I wasn't sure where the story was going---the end is one of them. Though each moment was followed by truly gripping storytelling--I felt a little short changed at the end. I felt the real story was just beginning.
Final Thought: This is a book that I would recommend to YA Dystopian readers with a caveat that it isn't like other books you have read.
***I know I didn't mention characters in this review mostly because I am mixed on my feelings there. I didn't feel overly attached to any of them (including G) but I think that was by design as we didn't get to really "see" what he would be like as himself. I think not seeing how he would act around friends/family made even his thoughts reserved***
This is part of a paragraph that explains why: PG 11: Call me picky, but imminent death at the hands (or teeth) of a friend who would suckle blood out of you at the drop of a hat..... That throws a monkey wrench into friendship building.
lexieb's review against another edition
I'm not going to rate this one, because I'm aware that my rating would be biased.
There were many things I both liked and disliked about it that were not, to my knowledge, biased in any way.
I liked that its concept was so crazily unique, despite certain basic similarities to The Hunger Games and numerous other dystopias.
I liked the constant action, the knowledge that there was always something happening, something relevant, something that demanded your attention.
I liked Gene's childish ignorance in regards to many things human--or, shall I say, heper.
I liked some of the genuinely beautiful moments sprinkled throughout this novel.
I disliked the telling.
I disliked the ridiculously unrealistic dialogue, whether it was attempting to be highly intelligent, villainish, or deep and beautiful. I tried saying just a few lines out loud and had to stop because my sister was in stitches.
I disliked the many awkward phrasings or cringe-worthy similes.
I disliked the constant plot holes.
Unbiased. Things I could base a rating off of.
But, in the end, there's something that would influence my overall rating that does not necessarily refer to the book's quality so much as my personal qualms: Gene and Ashley June's personalities.
I hated them.
Alright, so hated is a strong word. Sometimes, they'd get something right. Sometimes, I'd give them a nod of recognition, a maybe you're starting to get there, just maybe. But it wasn't enough to erase the fact that these two were cocky, hypocritical, selfish assholes.
And you might say but that's not biased, that is something to base a rating off of. But the thing is, I can understand why they're cocky, hypocritical, selfish assholes. From the way they were born, the way they were raised, the way they lived their whole lives--I could understand it. I knew how they'd turned out as they did.
But despite that, it didn't stop me from loathing them. And when you loathe the MC and the love interest, it really doesn't do the book any favors in your eyes. I think I would've enjoyed this significantly more if I hadn't harbored such a deep distaste for two of the main characters I was intended to sympathize with.
However, that's me. That was me being unable to separate my personal dislike from the book's own merit. So I will not be giving this one a rating. Would I recommend it? If you're more adept at removing your personal bias and judging the book solely on its quality, if you can handle gore, if you like dystopians, if you love blood-sucking fiends that are not romantic in any way: yes. If not, I'd recommend you steer clear.
There were many things I both liked and disliked about it that were not, to my knowledge, biased in any way.
I liked that its concept was so crazily unique, despite certain basic similarities to The Hunger Games and numerous other dystopias.
I liked the constant action, the knowledge that there was always something happening, something relevant, something that demanded your attention.
I liked Gene's childish ignorance in regards to many things human--or, shall I say, heper.
I liked some of the genuinely beautiful moments sprinkled throughout this novel.
I disliked the telling.
I disliked the ridiculously unrealistic dialogue, whether it was attempting to be highly intelligent, villainish, or deep and beautiful. I tried saying just a few lines out loud and had to stop because my sister was in stitches.
I disliked the many awkward phrasings or cringe-worthy similes.
I disliked the constant plot holes.
Unbiased. Things I could base a rating off of.
But, in the end, there's something that would influence my overall rating that does not necessarily refer to the book's quality so much as my personal qualms: Gene and Ashley June's personalities.
I hated them.
Alright, so hated is a strong word. Sometimes, they'd get something right. Sometimes, I'd give them a nod of recognition, a maybe you're starting to get there, just maybe. But it wasn't enough to erase the fact that these two were cocky, hypocritical, selfish assholes.
And you might say but that's not biased, that is something to base a rating off of. But the thing is, I can understand why they're cocky, hypocritical, selfish assholes. From the way they were born, the way they were raised, the way they lived their whole lives--I could understand it. I knew how they'd turned out as they did.
But despite that, it didn't stop me from loathing them. And when you loathe the MC and the love interest, it really doesn't do the book any favors in your eyes. I think I would've enjoyed this significantly more if I hadn't harbored such a deep distaste for two of the main characters I was intended to sympathize with.
However, that's me. That was me being unable to separate my personal dislike from the book's own merit. So I will not be giving this one a rating. Would I recommend it? If you're more adept at removing your personal bias and judging the book solely on its quality, if you can handle gore, if you like dystopians, if you love blood-sucking fiends that are not romantic in any way: yes. If not, I'd recommend you steer clear.
eltigre's review
3.0
Pomalejsi rozjezd, o to rychlejsi konec. Nasla jsem tam par chyb a celkove me to prilis nezaujalo, ale spatne to urcite neni :).
lizzy_22's review against another edition
4.0
Quite a thriller and what a nasty take on vampires. Really well done and a total nail biter!!
sammwonder's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book so badly.
Every fibre of my being was making me sit there and get through it because despite my total lack of interest in vampire novels, and my sudden tiredness with the dystopia style, it was such an incredibly interesting concept that could have gone so far.
And yet, I couldn't get into it. And those words sound as bitter in my mouth as I type them. Despite the interesting plot, it just wasn't there. The plot twists, everything coming together was so good but yet so predictable, the action scenes were choppy and sometimes confusing. But I just couldn't bring my self to full heartedly love this book as I wanted to. Hopefully the sequel is better and helps push the story forward, however I don't think it'll be on my TBR for a while yet.
I'd give it 2 and a half really, but I'll bump it up to 3 because of my want to love it.
Every fibre of my being was making me sit there and get through it because despite my total lack of interest in vampire novels, and my sudden tiredness with the dystopia style, it was such an incredibly interesting concept that could have gone so far.
And yet, I couldn't get into it. And those words sound as bitter in my mouth as I type them. Despite the interesting plot, it just wasn't there. The plot twists, everything coming together was so good but yet so predictable, the action scenes were choppy and sometimes confusing. But I just couldn't bring my self to full heartedly love this book as I wanted to. Hopefully the sequel is better and helps push the story forward, however I don't think it'll be on my TBR for a while yet.
I'd give it 2 and a half really, but I'll bump it up to 3 because of my want to love it.
lillianhong's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, I'll admit it: it's better than I thought. With all the authors riding on the Meyer Vampire Fad nowadays, I've lost all faith in the fantasy genre. I expected another piece of dribble made "good" because it has vampires yay. =___= But NO. I got an exciting world with good writing and breathing characters. Freaking awesome.
WHAT I LIKE:
-- The absence of names. I've read a lot of books where the main character has a weird aversion to names, and prefers sticking people with nicknames. At least here, there's a reason to the absence of names. However, I've wondered how the other characters deal with this absence; how do they identify each other? Sure, they've got numbers and letters, but that's only for teachers and such. Hm.
-- The pain Gene goes through to fit in: shaving, clipping nails, block body odor, etc. Just like every highschool student in the US, except if you don't do these things, you'll be eaten. Alive.
-- Despite knowing the clear line between vampires and helpers, Gene can't help but feel abnormal; as if it's his fault for being human. You live in a world where sleeping on the roof is normal, and yet here you are, unable to put a single foot in the sleepholders without breaking it in half. You feel like a freak and it's driving you mad being the only one who's different. That is what I considered a normal and realistic reaction and I love it. Heck, I kind of identify with it too.
-- New details on vampires. There's the basic OMG SUNLIGHT HISSS that is very basic of vampires, along with the blood feeding. (If you don't have those, you're not a vampire, you're a mutant. If you sparkle, you're a fairy.) But then Fukuda adds more interesting things about vampires: they can't swim (and he has the decency to explain why, thank god), they get it on with armpits (yeah, I know, WTF), and more. They're the most original things I've ever read, and I applaud you, good sir.
-- Our human protagonists are smarter than our high and mighty vampires. They scored the highest on tests, are considered the most desirable mates of the school, and yet, they're humans! Considering the vampires' views on humans, I found it to be very ironic.
-- Our female protagonist, Ashley June, is smart, cunning, and brave. She thought of everything that could go wrong, and set out to fix it. She killed her vampire boyfriend in order to fake depression and ward off romantic advances, aka unwanted attention that could lead to her doom, and didn't even think twice. She cut her hand to lure the vampires with her blood so that Gene could escape. This is the heroine that girls should be following, not that fool of a Belle Swan.
-- Vampire's misconceptions on humans. At last, vampires have their revenge for our ridiculous misconceptions about them! Now we're the crazy creatures with baffling actions and motives. It's freaking hilarious.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE:
-- Mentioning old common beliefs on vampires. Previously, I gave my approval. I still do. In an entire paragraph, he makes fun of the common things that mordern vampires are given today. I thought it was pretty funny until he made a jab about romantic relationships between humans and vampires. Didn't he use that very thing in his own book summary? "Do not fall in love with one of them." And what makes it stupider is that the "one of them" isn't even "one of them," so why put that lie on the cover? To get more females readers? Shame, Mr. Fukuda.
-- Ashley June's ability to fit in better. How come she can see in the dark better than Gene can? How come she managed to last several days longer with body odor? And how come she can keep up with the lightning fast vampires, but Gene can't? Being pretty does not solve everything.
-- School enrollment: how?! Don't you need papers for that stuff? How did Gene and Ashley (who's also an ORPHAN at a young age) manage to get into high school without papers?
-- It's going to be a series. No one ends a book with one protagonist locked in death city and another caught in a emotional landslide of to save or to run. If you do, you'll die in a blazing fire of doom. Just saying.
So, my conclusion is 4/5. It's not entirely original as everyone says, but there many parts that'll make you go, hey, that's a new one; never heard that before. It was a rare enjoyable read and restores some of my faith in the fantasy genre.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
WHAT I LIKE:
-- The absence of names. I've read a lot of books where the main character has a weird aversion to names, and prefers sticking people with nicknames. At least here, there's a reason to the absence of names. However, I've wondered how the other characters deal with this absence; how do they identify each other? Sure, they've got numbers and letters, but that's only for teachers and such. Hm.
-- The pain Gene goes through to fit in: shaving, clipping nails, block body odor, etc. Just like every highschool student in the US, except if you don't do these things, you'll be eaten. Alive.
-- Despite knowing the clear line between vampires and helpers, Gene can't help but feel abnormal; as if it's his fault for being human. You live in a world where sleeping on the roof is normal, and yet here you are, unable to put a single foot in the sleepholders without breaking it in half. You feel like a freak and it's driving you mad being the only one who's different. That is what I considered a normal and realistic reaction and I love it. Heck, I kind of identify with it too.
-- New details on vampires. There's the basic OMG SUNLIGHT HISSS that is very basic of vampires, along with the blood feeding. (If you don't have those, you're not a vampire, you're a mutant. If you sparkle, you're a fairy.) But then Fukuda adds more interesting things about vampires: they can't swim (and he has the decency to explain why, thank god), they get it on with armpits (yeah, I know, WTF), and more. They're the most original things I've ever read, and I applaud you, good sir.
-- Our human protagonists are smarter than our high and mighty vampires. They scored the highest on tests, are considered the most desirable mates of the school, and yet, they're humans! Considering the vampires' views on humans, I found it to be very ironic.
-- Our female protagonist, Ashley June, is smart, cunning, and brave. She thought of everything that could go wrong, and set out to fix it. She killed her vampire boyfriend in order to fake depression and ward off romantic advances, aka unwanted attention that could lead to her doom, and didn't even think twice. She cut her hand to lure the vampires with her blood so that Gene could escape. This is the heroine that girls should be following, not that fool of a Belle Swan.
-- Vampire's misconceptions on humans. At last, vampires have their revenge for our ridiculous misconceptions about them! Now we're the crazy creatures with baffling actions and motives. It's freaking hilarious.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE:
-- Mentioning old common beliefs on vampires. Previously, I gave my approval. I still do. In an entire paragraph, he makes fun of the common things that mordern vampires are given today. I thought it was pretty funny until he made a jab about romantic relationships between humans and vampires. Didn't he use that very thing in his own book summary? "Do not fall in love with one of them." And what makes it stupider is that the "one of them" isn't even "one of them," so why put that lie on the cover? To get more females readers? Shame, Mr. Fukuda.
-- Ashley June's ability to fit in better. How come she can see in the dark better than Gene can? How come she managed to last several days longer with body odor? And how come she can keep up with the lightning fast vampires, but Gene can't? Being pretty does not solve everything.
-- School enrollment: how?! Don't you need papers for that stuff? How did Gene and Ashley (who's also an ORPHAN at a young age) manage to get into high school without papers?
-- It's going to be a series. No one ends a book with one protagonist locked in death city and another caught in a emotional landslide of to save or to run. If you do, you'll die in a blazing fire of doom. Just saying.
So, my conclusion is 4/5. It's not entirely original as everyone says, but there many parts that'll make you go, hey, that's a new one; never heard that before. It was a rare enjoyable read and restores some of my faith in the fantasy genre.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
valeriew's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good. I listened to it by I wish I was reading so I could skip some of the descriptions. Way too descriptive. The ending!!!! Wow. That's a good cliff hanger!