The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda
Expected Publication Date: May 8th, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Page Count: 293 pages
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.Holy. Crap. This book is creeptastic! I didn't really know what I was getting myself into when I started The Hunt, but I definitely loved every minute of it! Andrew Fukuda created a disturbing world where monsters are the majority and humans are hunted for food. Most believe humans are completely extinct, but some live among them, pretending to be monsters in order to survive. This was definitely a quick read, but that had more to do with the fact that I couldn't put it down than the length. I loved every minute of The Hunt and despite the nightmares it will probably give me later one, I am praying there is going to be another one!
Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.
When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?
I really liked Gene as a character. I didn't really connect with him emotionally, but I admired how far he was willing to go to survive. I definitely loved how he talked about his father and all of the things his father taught him about how to survive in a world of monsters. When he's chosen to be a part of The Heper Hunt his life is in jeopardy, but he fights through it. Of course, there is a bit of a romance, but it's definitely overshadowed by what's going on in The Hunt, although I do hope it's developed more (if there's a sequel!!!)
Fukuda's writing style is really well done. He's incredibly descriptive and there are scenes where some really gruesome stuff happens, but there is no sugar coating in The Hunt. People are ripped to pieces, melted in the sun, and you get a clear and disgusting picture of it. I absolutely LOVED it! Some parts gave me shivers and others had me gasping and screaming out loud. I didn't see much of anything coming, nothing is predictable. I definitely do not recommend reading this book at night.
Overall, despite the fact that I don't give ratings on Literary Exploration anymore, The Hunt gets 5+ stars!! I love a good horror story and this one greatly surpassed my expectations for it! It's horrific, terrifying, gruesome, and inspiring. A story of survival, loss, and sacrifice that had me reading late into the night and early into the morning. If you haven't already added The Hunt to your TBR I highly recommend it!
