Free on iBookstore - The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

The absolutely brilliant The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda is currently free on iBookstore!  I believe it's only free for a couple of days so you need to be quick! 

Here's the synopsis:

From Goodreads: 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.

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?

Sounds brilliant, right! If you are interested you can read my review for it here.

Here is a link to the page where the free eBook can be downloaded: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMultiRoom?fcId=684309

There is also a an active UK Facebook fan page for the series with almost 5,000 fans! : www.facebook.com/theHuntUK

Why I Write For Young Adults (Prey Blog Tour)

As part of the blog tour for The Prey, Andrew Fukuda's second book in his brilliant The Hunt Series, he has stopped buy to talk about why he writes for young adults...
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Why (and a little of how) I write for young adults

It’s been said that there are generally two ways to write a YA novel: (1) voraciously read and learn the ropes of the YA genre, then pen a YA novel along specific subgenre conventions; or (2) write from the heart and be told (sometimes with wide-eyed disbelief) that you’ve written a YA novel.

There’s also a lesser-known third category, one which I’ll title (rather cumbersomely) the teens-make-for-great-protagonists category. Authors are always on the lookout for great protagonists, and teenagers typically come prepackaged with all kinds of awesomeness. I mean, think about the average teen. Filled with vulnerability and curiosity during a roller-coaster chapter of life, on a journey of self-identity and world-discovery while being assailed by hormones and peer pressure. That’s a topsy-turvy milieu. That’s horizons being discovered, that’s depths of the heart being plumbed. That’s grist for the mill. That’s a protagonist who sucks you in.

Of course, writing with a teenage protagonist is not always easy. Most YA authors are many years (if not decades!) removed from adolescence. To get the voice, the outlook, the persona of teenagers, right (and to avoid trying too hard) you need to reach deep into the memory banks. And because memory lane is not always pleasant, this journey back in time can be painful.

My adolescence was the best of times, it was the worst of times (Dickens was writing about high school, right?). Like most, my teenage years swung like a pendulum between the extremes of self-discovery and self-forfeiture, the latter of which happened whenever I was peer-squeezed into one of those false molds bandied about. Over the past couple of years as I’ve worked on The Hunt series, I’ve had to dredge up some pretty painful high school memories. But in the end I think it helped to flesh out Gene. He is, after all, the epitome of teenage angst – wanting to fit in and be accepted, to find his place even in a world wrought with uncertainty and rejection. By digging deep into my memories, I was able to flesh out a more layered and conflicted protagonist, and brought a level of authenticity to his world.

So why do I write young adult novels? In short, because young adults make for such fascinating protagonists. And the journey backwards and inwards makes the writing process ultimately worthwhile for the author as well, one which Socrates would approve. The life examined…
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Thanks Andrew!

You can read my review for the first book in the series here.

The Prey was published 31 January 2013.

Cover Wars: The Hunt

US / UK

I really love both of these.  I love the 'ripped' design on the US one - it's really clever and I really like the contrast in colours.  But I think there should only be the boy figure in the middle - for a reason that I believe will be apparent once you've read the story.  The UK one suits the story slightly better I think - it kind of screams male point of view giving it more of an appeal to male readers and for the girls? Well...the guy on the front is rather hot don't you think? 

So I think my preference would be the UK cover.  What do you think?  Does the US or UK one appeal to you more?

Also don't forget to check out the rest of the blog tour.  The next stop is tomorrow over at Narratively Speaking.

Andrew Fukuda has his own website and blog and Twitter, plus you can find out more about The Hunt on the Facebook page.

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

For Review: Simon & Schuster
Published:  10 May 2012

From Goodreads:   

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.

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?

How much did I love this book?  I mean seriously!  It is awesome! I got completely lost in it and can't wait for more.

The concept is brilliant and terrifying - just the idea of having to live my life in that world, where one mistake is life or death - made me come out in a cold sweat.  I loved the male narrative and I loved Gene.  Who he is, how he is.  He's so strong - because he has to be -  but you also get the sense that underneath the surface is the belief that there has to be something better.  I can't imagine how you'd be able to continue otherwise.

As for the vampires - they are both terrifying and gross.  All that drooling?  Eww!  And what's with the wrist scratching?  It seriously creeped me out!  But I loved that they are real predators.  They are not cuddly creatures begging to be understood.  They would kill Gene if they realised just what he was - the threat is constant and there is one particular scene in the book that really drums home just what would become of Gene if they were to find out he was human.  I have to admit though, that if I thought about it too much, I started to wonder whether Gene would have realistically been able to hide who he was for so long.  The care in making sure he wasn't showing any hair, having to constantly wash so he didn't smell, or sweat, or bleed seemed as if it would be impossible to continue for a long period of time.  But having said that, I also think that when the impossible means certain death perhaps it wouldn't be so hard after all? And he didn't know any different - he'd lived his whole life that way.

The story is fast paced, and the action scenes are of the hold your breath, did that really happen kind!  But interlaced with that are some calmer, character driven moments.  Combined together, it really defines this as book well worth reading.  The ending has guaranteed I will be first in line for the second book in the series as I am itching to get back into this world.  I need to know what happens next. 

Make sure you pop back later - I have a Cover Wars post too.