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Title: Prey
Author: Rachel Vincent
Publishers: Mira Books
Paperback: 400 pages
This is the 4th book in the Shifters series so it is very difficult to review without giving spoilers for previous books. If you're new to the series I strongly recommend you start reading from the beginning as this really is a series you need to read in order.
I was already a massive fan of this series but I honestly think that this is the best book yet. There was so much going on & I literally couldn't put it down! Marc is in exile which is bad enough but when he goes missing Faythe is out of her mind with worry. Along with searching for Marc she has to deal with Manx's trial and Kaci's diminishing health as she is still refusing to shift. That's nothing compared to the political maneuvers that Calvin Malone is putting into place to try and oust Faythe's father as the Alpha of the south-central Pride. If ever there was a character I wanted to climb into a book just to punch it would have to be Malone!
Prey takes you on a complete emotional rollercoaster - it is the first book in a long time that actually made me cry. Parts of the book are absolutely heartbreaking and although at the time I was crying "Noooooo" and begging Rachel Vincent not to do it, I do think that what happened is going to have an important impact for the series. The plot is as even more action packed than I was expecting and the number of twists the story takes is incredible.
We really do see Faythe start to grow up in this book. Without Marc to lean on she has to stand on her own 2 feet and I can see the makings of a great Alpha in her. She still isn't perfect and makes several mistakes but her character has come a long way since Stray. The book doesn't end on as much of a cliff-hanger as some of the previous books but don't let that make you think you won't be itching to get on with the rest of the series because you definitely will be. This really is a series that I can't praise highly enough - if you haven't already started reading it then you need to buy it now. I promise you won't regret it!
The review for this book will include major spoilers for anyone who hasn't yet read the first 2 books Stray & Rogue so please don't read any further if you're new to the series.
The end of the last book saw Faythe kill her ex-boyfriend Andrew in self defense, this is the same ex-boyfriend who she had accidentally infected with her ability to partially shift. Now she is on trial for both of these crimes and if she is found guilty she will be facing the death penalty. As far as the council is concerned she is guilty until she can prove her innocence and unless she can convince them that she infected Andrew by accident she is going to be in serious trouble. Considering she is the only werecat in history who claims to be able to do a partial shift, and all the witnesses she has have good reason to lie for her, she is going to have to show the council that it can be done. She has yet to learn how to do this on command though, so is finding it difficult to demonstrate the ability.
The trial is being held on neutral territory & 2 of the 3 alpha judges seem determined to push for the death penalty. It soon becomes clear that there is more to this than their first seemed and they are using the situation against Faythe's father for political reasons. While the trial is ongoing they soon become aware of strays causing problems in the area. 2 humans are missing and they need to solve the mystery before the human search parties find them.
There is so much going on in this book that I just couldn't put it down! Rachel Vincent is an expert at complex plots and it is impossible to guess everything that is going to happen. I loved the developments in Faythe & Marc's relationship but was heartbroken at the situation they find themselves in at the end of the book. I am going to have to read Prey now just so I can find out what happens! For me this is the best book in the series so far. The predjudice and scheming of council members helped explain some of Faythe's need for independence and whinging in the earlier books. Also she seemed less annoying and more mature in this book. Rachel Vincent has a well earned place in my favorite authors list & this series is the best one I've come across for ages.
I loved Stray, the first book in this series, and I was far from disappointed with Rogue. I would really recommend reading this series in order & although there won't be spoilers for Rogue in this review I can't help but give away some things that happen in Stray. If you've not started this series yet then I suggest you don't read any further.
The story continues several months after the end of Stray and as she promised her father Faythe is now working as an enforcer alongside Marc, who she is also now dating again. She is still unsure of her long term plans but is enjoying being an enforcer and is determined to prove herslef to her father & the rest of the Pride.
It isn't long before strange things start to happen though. The Pride starts to get anonymous phone calls directing them to the bodies of dead strays in their territory. They also discover a pattern of missing human strippers that seems to be linked to the bodies and Faythe is getting threatening phone calls from her ex-boyfriend Andrew. Is it all a coincidence or is everything somehow linked together?
I really enjoyed reading this book, Rachel Vincent has a way of sucking you into the story and making it impossible to leave. Faythe is strong and independant but she can also be selfish and immature. At times I wanted to shake her but the very fact that she has her weaknesses makes her seem more human. None of us are perfect and it can be easier to relate to someone who has such obvious faults. There is also a lot of room for Faythe to grow up throughout the series & I'm looking forward to watching this happen.
I love the relationships between the Pride members and it is easy to feel like you know the characters personally. Marc is fantastic & I really have to wonder at Faythe's sanity when she pushes him away, sometimes it is really hard to see why he puts up with some of the things she does. I also really like Faythe's brothers. We didn't really get to see much of Faythe's mother in the previous book but she comes into her own more in this book and you get to see more of her influence on Faythe's character.
As with the previous book there are lots of things going on and although I was able to make some guesses about how things were going to tie together there were a lot of things that came as a complete surprise. The book ended on a major cliff hanger & I was just relieved that I already own Pride and was able to start reading it immediately! If you haven't already discovered this series then I can't recommend it strongly enough.
*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
Stray is a fantastic start to the Shifters series & I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the books. Faythe is one of only 8 unmarried female werecats in America which makes her a very important member of her Pride. Her family are very keen to see her settled & married so she can start producing the next generation of werecats but this is the last thing Faythe wants to do. She is very independent and determined to have a life of her own outside the Pride. For the last 5 years she has been at college but when she is attacked by a stray this gives her over-protective family the perfect excuse to bring her home.
Faythe is a brilliant character - she is smart & tough but she has plenty of flaws too. She can come across as selfish but it is easy to understand the motivation behind her actions. The fact that she isn't perfect makes her easier to relate to and made her feel more real to me. Back at home Faythe discovers she isn't the only one who has been attacked - 2 of her fellow tabbies are missing and she is determined to find out what has happened to them. Her family are equally determined to keep her safe and she is practically under house arrest, under 24 hour supervision from her brothers and her ex-boyfriend Marc. I absolutely loved Marc - he is madly in love with Faythe and wants her back. He has an incredible jealous streak but apart from that is he is pretty much my ideal man!
Feeling stifled by her family & Marc, Faythe tries to find room to breathe but ends up putting herself in danger. It is going to take all her strength and cunning if she is going to save herself and her fellow tabbies. Once the main action started I couldn't put this book down although there were times when I was almost frightened to read what was going to happen next - it was like watching a horror film where you can only watch by peeking over the top of a cushion! I think I went through every emotion possible when reading this - a sure sign of a good book. I'll definitely be going back for more of this series.
I LOVE Faythes brothers. They are all so protective of her and all have different and awesome personalites. My favourite is Jace...he isnt Faythes brother but he does live with the family working for her father the alpha. You get to meet him really abrupty in Stray what with him not being to keep his hands off Faythe.
The plot moves at a good pace, and flows really nicely. There is a lot of action and certain twists I really didn't see coming. I love Faythe's attitude because she also shows her ability to learn and grow, something you see much more clearly in the following books. The writing here is good and solid. There are some really great one-liners that help keep the book from being too dark, but the dark stuff isn't shied away from. A really solid debut and I hope only gets better once I get the second :)
