The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

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?

He gets up every evening at dusk to carefully shave, clip his nails and wash away body odor.  His face shows no emotion, his eyes no spark.  He has a strict regime that he must not deter from or it could be his last day of life.  The world is run by the Ruler, and the hepers (humans) are all but extinct. 

He goes to school every night at dark with the other vampires and tries very hard not to call attention to himself.  He eats what they do and does the same actions they do, like rub his wrists together when he finds something humourous.  He wants a better life like his father used to talk about, but knows no other life.  His parents dead, he has no one to depend upon but himself.

When the Ruler declares that there will be a Hunt, everyone is excited.  To Hunt and eat the remaining hepers is a dream of most of them who have only had animal blood.  The lucky hunters chosen by lottery, he is one of the ten, as well as Ashley June, a classmate who has had a crush on him for years.

When they arrive at the Institute to be trained for the Hunt, Gene gets his first glimpse of other hepers.  They live under a retractable dome and are only allowed freedom during the day when the vampires are asleep.  Gene tries hard to reach out to the hepers, yet still keep his identity a secret.  But with a strict training schedule, Gene needs to wash badly and needs water, something a vampire would never need to do.  He needs a plan quickly before he becomes one of the hunted.

The Hunt is a refreshing twist to the apocolyptic novels of late as well as depicting a fierce and monstrous vampire, compared to the romantic kind usually featured.  Engaging characters, superb writing and an attention to detail to set the scenes will have you hard pressed to put this book down.  I hope there is another installment!