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Devious Prey
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26A young woman must survive the deadly mythical creature she smuggled aboard an airship after a crash landing on a deserted island frees it to begin hunting the survivors in this thrilling fantasy adventure from New York Times bestselling author Scott Reintgen.
When an airship’s windmaster dies mid-flight, the crew and its passengers are swept out to sea by a violent storm. They crash on a desolate island, but they’re not alone. A dragoness had been stashed in the hold. After escaping a damaged cage, it begins preying on the surviving travelers in the hopes of remaining free.
The stranded group’s best chance of making it home alive is the young woman who smuggled the dragoness on board in the first place—and the mysterious teen boy who was led onto the ship in chains before takeoff. Both have secrets that could help them survive on the island…but those same secrets could deliver a death sentence if they ever make it home.
When an airship’s windmaster dies mid-flight, the crew and its passengers are swept out to sea by a violent storm. They crash on a desolate island, but they’re not alone. A dragoness had been stashed in the hold. After escaping a damaged cage, it begins preying on the surviving travelers in the hopes of remaining free.
The stranded group’s best chance of making it home alive is the young woman who smuggled the dragoness on board in the first place—and the mysterious teen boy who was led onto the ship in chains before takeoff. Both have secrets that could help them survive on the island…but those same secrets could deliver a death sentence if they ever make it home.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 31, 2026
4802 people want to read
About the author
Scott Reintgen
22 books1,622 followersScott Reintgen grew up in North Carolina, and took full advantage of the fact that he lived on the same street as fourteen of his cousins. It could be a little crowded, but he threw a few elbows and carved out a space for himself as the family storyteller. He enjoyed the role so much that he decided to spend most of college and graduate school investing in the world of literature. This led to a career teaching English and Creative Writing in the great state of North Carolina, where he currently lives with his wife and family. To his great delight, the demand for stories and storytellers is alive and well. As such, he can often be found at local coffee shops laboring over stories that he hopes his family, and fans, will love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 4, 2025
Devious Prey is absolutely amazing! I always keep an eye out for Scott Reintgen Having read I believe his debut YA novel a few years back he also has several children’s books out so he is a very talented author able to navigate multiple genre’s. This book was very exciting for me as a book targeting a more adult audience but still easily a YA book so it guts the spot perfectly for a wider audience. The world building and magic system blew me away it was richly layered with great characters that are vulnerable, intelligent and cunning. With multiple enemy’s in the fray to keep you guessing if our hero’s will survive. The backstory of these characters is raw and heartfelt and you feel very drawn into this world m. I also have to say the Dragoness wow breathtakingly cunning with skills unlike any dragon in any book I have ever read m. Absolutely unique and that is incredibly hard to do in this day and age so total props for an original enemy I actually truly enjoyed reading about. The prefect apex predator with powerful and deadly foes in their own right. Also a completely unique twist on magic sources. Truly a great read I highly suggest it!
December 4, 2025
4.5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: magic, survival stories, dragons, dual POV
Big thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books, Netgalley, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a nice, quick read, but it's also an uncomplicated read. I was a bit influenced by the Waxways trilogy while reading this and definitely wanted a more ruthless, scheming main character. Obviously this book is not those books, but I did come in with the Waxways series in mind and all the deviousness those characters carry, and I was expecting something similar. While the characters are hiding things, sometimes quite big things, I couldn't help but feel as though the leadup to those secrets wasn't that major. By the time they're revealed, I was kind of just like 'okay' and moved on. (also, frankly, Marken's secret isn't really a secret, we're literally told what happens in the first 10 chapters and then he acts like that account was wrong)
Another issue I have is that it didn't really feel like the characters had any particular agency. I mean, Pearl steps in when the windmaster starts dying, but a ship's crash is obviously outside of anyone's control. Then they're on the island and other people make the decision to mutiny and other people decide how to spend the group's energy, and things just sort of happen. The dragoness hunts them, but I never really felt any danger even though she does very much kill a bunch of the group. The warden and Levi are out for blood, which actually did seem like it had more conflict potential, but that problem sort of gets solved. Everything was just so neat and generally seemed likely to occur regardless of whether Pearl and/or Marken did anything for it to happen.
That being said, I'm always a sucker for survival stories, and I did enjoy the early tension between the various factions of survivors. At the start there were three main groups: the warden and guards, the crewmembers, and the passengers. There's an obvious side we're meant to root for, and surprisingly few passengers want to pick the other side. Likewise, there's a tension between desires at the beginning as well, between the people who want to stay on the beach and see if they're discovered quickly, and the people who want to explore the island and see what they have to work with for survival and escape. This phase lasts a surprisingly short time, and I do wish we'd gotten a little more out of it before things came to a head between the crewmembers and warden.
The dragoness poses new challenges to the group, aside from the troubles of surviving on a random island. Reintgen takes an interesting approach to dragons in this book and I was quite intrigued. I wish we got more of a chance to really explore the creatures more, though since Pearl is the only 'expert' I do get why we don't. Considering the dragon is determined to murder all humans, I was expecting her to be a bigger threat, and she did pick off the survivors, but I didn't really feel the threat. The dragoness ended up feeling somewhat like a caricature villain and for a creature that is supposedly extremely intelligent and adaptable, I was expecting something more difficult to overcome.
I liked both Pearl and Marken and they both brought different things to the table. Pearl is pretty grounded and is knowledgeable about a number of different subjects. She's good in a crisis and is able to generalize her knowledge to a range of different circumstances, as we can see when she tries to save the windmaster and in her conversations with Marken re: magic.
Marken is someone vastle knowledgeable about magic but less familiar with things like socialization. He has a good sense of humor though and while he puts on somewhat of an arrogant front, it's clear fairly quickly that Marken has a good head on his shoulders and doesn't mind taking the backseat when needed.
Recommended if you like: magic, survival stories, dragons, dual POV
Big thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books, Netgalley, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a nice, quick read, but it's also an uncomplicated read. I was a bit influenced by the Waxways trilogy while reading this and definitely wanted a more ruthless, scheming main character. Obviously this book is not those books, but I did come in with the Waxways series in mind and all the deviousness those characters carry, and I was expecting something similar. While the characters are hiding things, sometimes quite big things, I couldn't help but feel as though the leadup to those secrets wasn't that major. By the time they're revealed, I was kind of just like 'okay' and moved on. (also, frankly, Marken's secret isn't really a secret, we're literally told what happens in the first 10 chapters and then he acts like that account was wrong)
Another issue I have is that it didn't really feel like the characters had any particular agency. I mean, Pearl steps in when the windmaster starts dying, but a ship's crash is obviously outside of anyone's control. Then they're on the island and other people make the decision to mutiny and other people decide how to spend the group's energy, and things just sort of happen. The dragoness hunts them, but I never really felt any danger even though she does very much kill a bunch of the group. The warden and Levi are out for blood, which actually did seem like it had more conflict potential, but that problem sort of gets solved. Everything was just so neat and generally seemed likely to occur regardless of whether Pearl and/or Marken did anything for it to happen.
That being said, I'm always a sucker for survival stories, and I did enjoy the early tension between the various factions of survivors. At the start there were three main groups: the warden and guards, the crewmembers, and the passengers. There's an obvious side we're meant to root for, and surprisingly few passengers want to pick the other side. Likewise, there's a tension between desires at the beginning as well, between the people who want to stay on the beach and see if they're discovered quickly, and the people who want to explore the island and see what they have to work with for survival and escape. This phase lasts a surprisingly short time, and I do wish we'd gotten a little more out of it before things came to a head between the crewmembers and warden.
The dragoness poses new challenges to the group, aside from the troubles of surviving on a random island. Reintgen takes an interesting approach to dragons in this book and I was quite intrigued. I wish we got more of a chance to really explore the creatures more, though since Pearl is the only 'expert' I do get why we don't. Considering the dragon is determined to murder all humans, I was expecting her to be a bigger threat, and she did pick off the survivors, but I didn't really feel the threat. The dragoness ended up feeling somewhat like a caricature villain and for a creature that is supposedly extremely intelligent and adaptable, I was expecting something more difficult to overcome.
I liked both Pearl and Marken and they both brought different things to the table. Pearl is pretty grounded and is knowledgeable about a number of different subjects. She's good in a crisis and is able to generalize her knowledge to a range of different circumstances, as we can see when she tries to save the windmaster and in her conversations with Marken re: magic.
Marken is someone vastle knowledgeable about magic but less familiar with things like socialization. He has a good sense of humor though and while he puts on somewhat of an arrogant front, it's clear fairly quickly that Marken has a good head on his shoulders and doesn't mind taking the backseat when needed.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
When Pearl and her aunt Hath set out on their latest smuggling run, they never expected to find themselves stranded on a deserted island with an unusual group of survivors: their fellow airship passengers, the ship's remaining crew, and a platoon of guards transporting an infamous wizard named Marken as their prisoner. Just finding resources and waiting for rescue feels like enough of a challenge, but when the mysterious cargo Pearl and her aunt were smuggling escapes, it also starts hunting, and the weary survivors now find themselves the prey. As they search for any way to get back home, their only hope may lie with the wizard and his magic. Which is more dangerous, a wizard with a deadly reputation or a mythical beast set on destroying them all?
I've read almost everything Reintgen has published, and I've enjoyed each one. With each of his other works, each time he creates a world for his story, it is unique. Each storyline he has brought to life has its own magical system and social terms that are used by those characters, and this is no exception. The way these characters are connected to their magic and the interactions they have with their environment as a whole as magicians is special, but so is this specific guild system as it guides the social conventions of the use of magic in this world. This is written with dual narrators, which aids in discovering the motivations and following the action from multiple perspectives.
This story has plenty of action and keeps the plot moving along, but there are quite a few side characters to keep track of, many of which tended to blend together as the story progresses. I would have liked a little more emotional depth to the character responses in a few particular scenes that deal with a character's death or betrayal, and there were a couple of sections that seemed a little rushed and needed a few more lines of explanation of actions etc. to add more clarity, but overall this fast-paced narrative makes for a enjoyable read and one that can appeal to a variety of readers.
Recommended for fans of dragons, magic, and a good adventure story. As an added benefit, this looks like it will be a standalone novel, so a great intro to Reintgen's work without committing to a full series.
I received a DRC from the publisher via Edelweiss.
S-L, V-H, L-L
I've read almost everything Reintgen has published, and I've enjoyed each one. With each of his other works, each time he creates a world for his story, it is unique. Each storyline he has brought to life has its own magical system and social terms that are used by those characters, and this is no exception. The way these characters are connected to their magic and the interactions they have with their environment as a whole as magicians is special, but so is this specific guild system as it guides the social conventions of the use of magic in this world. This is written with dual narrators, which aids in discovering the motivations and following the action from multiple perspectives.
This story has plenty of action and keeps the plot moving along, but there are quite a few side characters to keep track of, many of which tended to blend together as the story progresses. I would have liked a little more emotional depth to the character responses in a few particular scenes that deal with a character's death or betrayal, and there were a couple of sections that seemed a little rushed and needed a few more lines of explanation of actions etc. to add more clarity, but overall this fast-paced narrative makes for a enjoyable read and one that can appeal to a variety of readers.
Recommended for fans of dragons, magic, and a good adventure story. As an added benefit, this looks like it will be a standalone novel, so a great intro to Reintgen's work without committing to a full series.
I received a DRC from the publisher via Edelweiss.
S-L, V-H, L-L
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review!
4.5/5 stars, rounded up to 5
When I saw that Scott Reintgen had a new YA book coming out, I knew I wanted to read it. I enjoyed his Nyxia series, as well as his Door in the Dark series, so I was excited to see what else he would come up with. I was not disappointed!
The concept of the story was quite simple, and the big twist, I guessed the very first time . But that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t drawn in by the adventure or the worldbuilding.
One of the things I love about fantasy is that there are so many different ways to interpret tropes or archetypes. Sure, dragons may be in a large percentage of fantasy media, but each author (generally) puts their own spin on them. I adored this interpretation. The way the dragoness shifts her shape to different materials at will was awesome, and I liked the way female dragons decided to “purpose” themselves to a single cause. It was a unique take on a classic idea.
I also liked how magic was handled. I believe that magic should have a cost in fiction to make the stakes seem higher, and this was a really cool way to enforce that. Having each spell cost living things to power it, and each wizard tethering themselves to a specific group of things? The fact that when all the living things were gone, the wizard was just out of magic forever? So. Freaking. Cool.
The only thing I wish was different was for the dragoness to feel like more of a threat. When she’s present in the scene, she’s terrifying, but it felt like she was out of the picture more than really felt logical if she is purposed to kill all the humans. Extremely minor comment, though. I enjoyed this read immensely.
4.5/5 stars, rounded up to 5
When I saw that Scott Reintgen had a new YA book coming out, I knew I wanted to read it. I enjoyed his Nyxia series, as well as his Door in the Dark series, so I was excited to see what else he would come up with. I was not disappointed!
The concept of the story was quite simple, and the big twist, I guessed the very first time . But that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t drawn in by the adventure or the worldbuilding.
One of the things I love about fantasy is that there are so many different ways to interpret tropes or archetypes. Sure, dragons may be in a large percentage of fantasy media, but each author (generally) puts their own spin on them. I adored this interpretation. The way the dragoness shifts her shape to different materials at will was awesome, and I liked the way female dragons decided to “purpose” themselves to a single cause. It was a unique take on a classic idea.
I also liked how magic was handled. I believe that magic should have a cost in fiction to make the stakes seem higher, and this was a really cool way to enforce that. Having each spell cost living things to power it, and each wizard tethering themselves to a specific group of things? The fact that when all the living things were gone, the wizard was just out of magic forever? So. Freaking. Cool.
The only thing I wish was different was for the dragoness to feel like more of a threat. When she’s present in the scene, she’s terrifying, but it felt like she was out of the picture more than really felt logical if she is purposed to kill all the humans. Extremely minor comment, though. I enjoyed this read immensely.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have had my ups and downs with Reintgen, but the ups have been good enough that I requested this ARC immediately. I would count this as an "up" for him. I have my quibbles with the system of magic, particularly the system of anchors - how do people use magic while in training before choosing an anchor? Based on Marken's description of the crime of which he is accused, it seems like you can reach out for another anchor, not just your own. And more - but those quibbles are only after I drilled down into the whole story quite a bit. If I stop my intense analysis of the details, this is a good fantasy with a compelling main character. The dragoness is a very nasty villain, as are the human villains presented to us. The dragon's abilities are a great take on a dangerous magical creature and the way her own powers were used against her was also a nice storytelling twist. The mood on the island was palpable with fear, mistrust, and the fight for power well presented. And Reintgen's descriptions of the sensory aspects of their maroonment - the scent of the dead bodies, in particular - was complete enough to be uncomfortable. A really good YA fantasy with enough of a door open for sequels, but satisfying enough to end here as well.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Devious Prey is a high-stakes blend of survival and adventure! When an airship crashes on a deserted island, the survivors must find a way to survive the lethal dragoness that was freed during the crash.
Whew! I felt as though I had actually stepped into Devious Prey and experienced everything the airship survivors experienced!! What an imagination this author has. I really hope this is the start of a series because I want to know MORE. I loved the good characters and hated the bad. (Not mentioning any names...) The whole magic part of the book fascinated me.
I'd read about a third of the book when I LOST MY KINDLE. How does one lose a Kindle? I have no idea! (I have a terrible feeling my year-old puppy may have dragged it off somewhere.) That's my long-winded way of writing: Even though it looks like it took me ten days to read Devious Prey, it was more like 3 days. Great book for young-adult readers, as well as adults and even older!
Thank you, #MargaretKMcElderryBooks, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Devious Prey has an expected publication date of March 31, 2026.
#ScottReintgen #Crime Mystery #Magic #Suspense #Fantasy
Whew! I felt as though I had actually stepped into Devious Prey and experienced everything the airship survivors experienced!! What an imagination this author has. I really hope this is the start of a series because I want to know MORE. I loved the good characters and hated the bad. (Not mentioning any names...) The whole magic part of the book fascinated me.
I'd read about a third of the book when I LOST MY KINDLE. How does one lose a Kindle? I have no idea! (I have a terrible feeling my year-old puppy may have dragged it off somewhere.) That's my long-winded way of writing: Even though it looks like it took me ten days to read Devious Prey, it was more like 3 days. Great book for young-adult readers, as well as adults and even older!
Thank you, #MargaretKMcElderryBooks, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Devious Prey has an expected publication date of March 31, 2026.
#ScottReintgen #Crime Mystery #Magic #Suspense #Fantasy
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOW. Just wow. This is how to write a young adult fantasy novel.
Pearl and her aunt are smuggling a dragoness on board an airship when the airship goes down on an uncharted island. Pearl has to do her best to survive, along with an allegedly murderous wizard who's being transported to trial, and the rest of the crew and passengers.
I'm not sure my summary does this book justice because it is amazing. I loved Pearl, her aunt, and the wizard, Marken. The dragoness was delightfully predatory, and all of the other passengers, including the soldiers guarding Marken, were well drawn.
Spoilers below!
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
Pearl and her aunt are smuggling a dragoness on board an airship when the airship goes down on an uncharted island. Pearl has to do her best to survive, along with an allegedly murderous wizard who's being transported to trial, and the rest of the crew and passengers.
I'm not sure my summary does this book justice because it is amazing. I loved Pearl, her aunt, and the wizard, Marken. The dragoness was delightfully predatory, and all of the other passengers, including the soldiers guarding Marken, were well drawn.
Spoilers below!
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
November 22, 2025
Scott Reintgen’s Devious Prey is a tale about a dragoness and some magic wielding people. It is a lesson of the type that Paul Zinder’s Pigman teaches. An airship takes off from a large continent carrying a small number of people. The voyagers are then surprised to see a contingent of guards transporting a man in chains with a warden who had a metal hand that showed his high rank. Who was their prisoner? What other cargo is aboard?
The plot only thickens with the passing of time. There is a navigator on the flight whose job it is to keep the airship on course. He becomes non-responsive and the passengers determine that he is dead. The ship goes way off course and crashes. The ensuing story is more and more suspenseful and surprising details emerge.
I feel sure the story has not all been told, someone please let me know when another installment in this story has been written. I will be reading it.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the prepublication copy to read and review.
The plot only thickens with the passing of time. There is a navigator on the flight whose job it is to keep the airship on course. He becomes non-responsive and the passengers determine that he is dead. The ship goes way off course and crashes. The ensuing story is more and more suspenseful and surprising details emerge.
I feel sure the story has not all been told, someone please let me know when another installment in this story has been written. I will be reading it.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the prepublication copy to read and review.
October 22, 2025
An airship with a mythical creature secretly smuggled into the cargo hold. A crash landing on a lost floating island. And a wizard who could save everyone – if he wasn’t in chains and on his way to stand trial for murdering an entire village. Crew members and passengers begin violently dying as the dragoness attacks. Marken, the young wizard, and Pearl, the young woman who smuggled the dragon on board, are both keeping secrets that could save everyone. But the survivors split into factions, and now Pearl, Marken, and a handful of survivors are being hunted not only by a raging dragoness but also a warden and his allies looking to clamp down magic and end any chance of their survival. Devious Prey is a fast-paced page turner that blends fantasy, science fiction, and suspense into a thriller that will keep you riveted until the very end.
February 8, 2026
I tend to connect with books that remind me of other books enjoyed. This time I was getting Adrienne Young vibes.
An airship carrying a dangerous creature crash lads on an island. The creature starts hunting the survivors, and we’re left guessing what’ll happen next.
This book offers a diverse range of characters. I enjoyed the female protagonist who is just trying to get home and the male protagonist who came aboard in chains. We have magic and mystery galore.
I would have loved to have had more world building. But I’m not sure this book was written for me. It’s YA, and would suit that audience better. The writing was great, and I would absolutely buy this book for my teenager. The ending was more or less realistic for the situation. I was happy with it.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
An airship carrying a dangerous creature crash lads on an island. The creature starts hunting the survivors, and we’re left guessing what’ll happen next.
This book offers a diverse range of characters. I enjoyed the female protagonist who is just trying to get home and the male protagonist who came aboard in chains. We have magic and mystery galore.
I would have loved to have had more world building. But I’m not sure this book was written for me. It’s YA, and would suit that audience better. The writing was great, and I would absolutely buy this book for my teenager. The ending was more or less realistic for the situation. I was happy with it.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
December 6, 2025
Lord of the Flies meets Survivor in the YA/Upper MS Fantasy. Our story begins when a group of passengers is boarding a spaceship. Pigfarmers Pearl and her Aunt have smuggled something dangerous and illegal aboard (a dragoness), and Pearl is very nervous about getting caught. Marken, a magician, is brought aboard in handcuffs, surrounded by guards, and then there are a few other passengers and crew members. Once the airship takes off, things begin to happen quickly; the windmaster dies suddenly, and the airship goes off course and lands on a deserted island, where they will be hard to find.
In the crash landing, the dragoness escapes, and the survivors must work together to survive, but who can they trust when everyone on board has secrets?
This was a quick read,and the plot moved along quickly with action, people being hunted by the dragoness, and lots of secrets which will appeal to upper middle school students (who don't have nearly enough books written for them), and of course young adult readers. There will obviously be a sequel. This will be an easy sell and fun to book talk.
In the crash landing, the dragoness escapes, and the survivors must work together to survive, but who can they trust when everyone on board has secrets?
This was a quick read,and the plot moved along quickly with action, people being hunted by the dragoness, and lots of secrets which will appeal to upper middle school students (who don't have nearly enough books written for them), and of course young adult readers. There will obviously be a sequel. This will be an easy sell and fun to book talk.
January 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve been immersed in adult fantasy and romantasy lately, and this YA title felt like a breath of fresh air. Despite the “young‑adult” label, the narrative delivers the same polished storytelling and richly drawn characters found in today’s best adult romantasy novels.
The prose is clean and accessible; I breezed through the whole book in a single day. From the opening chapters, the author skillfully lays the groundwork—introducing the world and its players without overwhelming the reader—then launches a relentless series of twists that keep the page‑turning momentum alive. The lovable cast and the promise of unfolding mysteries make it impossible to put the book down, and the pacing never falters.
Thank you to NetGalley for supplying this fantastic ARC!
I’ve been immersed in adult fantasy and romantasy lately, and this YA title felt like a breath of fresh air. Despite the “young‑adult” label, the narrative delivers the same polished storytelling and richly drawn characters found in today’s best adult romantasy novels.
The prose is clean and accessible; I breezed through the whole book in a single day. From the opening chapters, the author skillfully lays the groundwork—introducing the world and its players without overwhelming the reader—then launches a relentless series of twists that keep the page‑turning momentum alive. The lovable cast and the promise of unfolding mysteries make it impossible to put the book down, and the pacing never falters.
Thank you to NetGalley for supplying this fantastic ARC!
Review of advance copy
This book felt like a micro representation of humanity right now. Each character lived their lives with alternate truths, secrets and POVs. Interacting with their peers at a minimum and creating their own narratives - sometimes correct, most times mistaken - about other’s motivations, And isn’t that how people act? Acquaintances, not true friendships and how hard it is to make the jump to trust, how easy to misread what’s happening right in front of us?
Also, I would’ve liked to have more pages with the dragoness, but all in all, I think this book can give lots to talk about for young and not-so-young readers alike!
Thanks to Booktrovert for allowing me to read this ahead of its publication.
Also, I would’ve liked to have more pages with the dragoness, but all in all, I think this book can give lots to talk about for young and not-so-young readers alike!
Thanks to Booktrovert for allowing me to read this ahead of its publication.
Review of advance copy received from Éditeur
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for the gifted physical book for an honest review.
Devious Prey is a YA Fantasy full of twists and thrilling magic. I absolutely loved the two main characters, they were full of secrets and even if we were reading their point of view, we learned their secrets only at the end.
Pearl was my favorite. She's strong, isn't scared to do what has to be done and doesn't condemn people without knowing the truth.
The dragoness, who's the predator in the story, felt so new. Her magic and how she sees the world was really well done.
Read this if you love :
✨ YA Fantasy ;
✨ Thrilling adventures ;
✨ characters full of secrets ;
✨ Dual POV ;
✨ Magic ;
✨ A dragon who wants to kill them all.
Devious Prey is a YA Fantasy full of twists and thrilling magic. I absolutely loved the two main characters, they were full of secrets and even if we were reading their point of view, we learned their secrets only at the end.
Pearl was my favorite. She's strong, isn't scared to do what has to be done and doesn't condemn people without knowing the truth.
The dragoness, who's the predator in the story, felt so new. Her magic and how she sees the world was really well done.
Read this if you love :
✨ YA Fantasy ;
✨ Thrilling adventures ;
✨ characters full of secrets ;
✨ Dual POV ;
✨ Magic ;
✨ A dragon who wants to kill them all.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another ARC read… done! I give this one 5 stars.
I first read The Last Dragon on Mars by Scott Reintgen with my kids. We also have Neptune Rising on our shelf to read, so we need to get to that soon. I digress. When I saw Devious Prey on NetGalley, I was excited to get approved for it.
This one is YA appropriate, and it's told in third person. There is so much going on.
You get an evil dragoness.
Magic.
Secrets.
Sabotage.
Backstabbing.
Fighting-for-your-life excitement.
All the things that keep me turning pages.
I really hope there’s a book two because I’d love to see more of Marken and Pearl.
Whatever this fantasy story is, I’m here for it, and I’ll be buying a copy for my children’s bookshelf.
I first read The Last Dragon on Mars by Scott Reintgen with my kids. We also have Neptune Rising on our shelf to read, so we need to get to that soon. I digress. When I saw Devious Prey on NetGalley, I was excited to get approved for it.
This one is YA appropriate, and it's told in third person. There is so much going on.
You get an evil dragoness.
Magic.
Secrets.
Sabotage.
Backstabbing.
Fighting-for-your-life excitement.
All the things that keep me turning pages.
I really hope there’s a book two because I’d love to see more of Marken and Pearl.
Whatever this fantasy story is, I’m here for it, and I’ll be buying a copy for my children’s bookshelf.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you for the giveaway!
I literally devoured this book. I didn't think I would like it as much as I did, but before I even realized it was around midnight, and I was around halfway done.
I loved the dynamics in this book. I loved the fact that both Pearl and Marken have secrets. Normally, it's just one of the main characters who have a secret, and it tears them apart. Not in this book!!!!! They both were complex, beyond the surface characters. This book was a definite needed break from the slump I have been sucked into with all the books blending and becoming the same. I loved the twists and turns. It was learned early on that they had secrets, but the secrets they had, especially Pearl, were ones I did not see coming. This is a definite must-read, in my opinion.
I literally devoured this book. I didn't think I would like it as much as I did, but before I even realized it was around midnight, and I was around halfway done.
I loved the dynamics in this book. I loved the fact that both Pearl and Marken have secrets. Normally, it's just one of the main characters who have a secret, and it tears them apart. Not in this book!!!!! They both were complex, beyond the surface characters. This book was a definite needed break from the slump I have been sucked into with all the books blending and becoming the same. I loved the twists and turns. It was learned early on that they had secrets, but the secrets they had, especially Pearl, were ones I did not see coming. This is a definite must-read, in my opinion.
January 11, 2026
I kind of loved this one. The magic system was cool, I liked both of the POVs, and the resolution was neatly done (which is great because this is YA and I like loose ends being tied up). BONUS! The content was age appropriate (I’d say maybe 15+ given the offhand reference to a brothel and an oblique sentence about “fumbling under the covers”). So, with a dragon in the plot, I’d call this fantasy but the mechanical elements make me think sci-fi; so, is steampunk a genre? I got “Treasure Planet” vibes with “Captain America: Civil War” gray tone/filter combined with wizards and dragons, would most definitely recommend.
ARC received-read-reviewed, comes out March 2026!
ARC received-read-reviewed, comes out March 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
In a fantasy world full of magicians Pearl and Marken meet while traveling by hot air balloon. Pearl and her aunt are smugglers who have secreted a dragoness in the luggage compartment. Marken is a prisoner in chains, being transported to receive justice for murders he has committed. The balloon crashes on an uninhabited island, the dragoness escapes and begins to terrorize and kill the humans, and Marken’s magic may be their only hope - but Pearl is also keeping secrets that could mean the difference between life and death. Intriguing characters, fabulous world-building. Earc from Edelweiss.
October 2, 2025
Pear Trask is smuggling a deadly dragoness aboard an airship with her aunt. She worries she’ll be caught when a shackled boy surrounded by guards comes on board. Marken Burke, the prisoner, is a great wizard who has been cut off from his magic. When the ship crashes, the dragoness is freed and everyone must try to survive while keeping their secrets intact. This one felt like a set up for a future series, but I enjoyed the characters enough that I look forward to those future books. The dragoness is fascinating in her own right.
November 11, 2025
An airship crash lands on a deserted island. As if that isn’t scary enough, there is a dragoness crated on board this airship and it escapes making this island hers.
This book gave me Lost tv show vibes but with a fantasy twist instead of sci fi.
Super easy read, which I absolutely loved. Sometimes fantasy books have so much going on that it makes it hard for me to fully immerse myself in it. If you feel the same way, I recommend this!
There’s a few twists to keep you on the edge of your seat, wizards, secrets, all the good stuff!
This book gave me Lost tv show vibes but with a fantasy twist instead of sci fi.
Super easy read, which I absolutely loved. Sometimes fantasy books have so much going on that it makes it hard for me to fully immerse myself in it. If you feel the same way, I recommend this!
There’s a few twists to keep you on the edge of your seat, wizards, secrets, all the good stuff!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! I won't say what, because spoilers, so you'll have to find out for yourself. Reintgen brings us an innovative dragon tale set in a Lord of the Flies-esque survival situation. Everyone has secrets, and they just might take the group down. I loved the complexity of the characters and how each one is neither wholly good nor wholly bad; they exist in this grey space instead. This book had me intrigued and reading past my bedtime.
I got an ARC of this book at YALLFest, so thank you to the publisher for giving them out!
I got an ARC of this book at YALLFest, so thank you to the publisher for giving them out!
January 28, 2026
3.5 ⭐️!
This was my first Scott Reintgen book and it definitely won’t be my last! I loved the darker elements of this story and it really felt eerie with the dragoness causing chaos among the survivors of the crash. This book reminded me of Lord of the Flies combined with the tv show Lost. The book was slow paced but the ending was filled with twists and turns! I also really enjoyed the writing style. I do feel like the main characters were a little boring to me though.
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for an advanced copy! Devious Prey releases on March 31!
This was my first Scott Reintgen book and it definitely won’t be my last! I loved the darker elements of this story and it really felt eerie with the dragoness causing chaos among the survivors of the crash. This book reminded me of Lord of the Flies combined with the tv show Lost. The book was slow paced but the ending was filled with twists and turns! I also really enjoyed the writing style. I do feel like the main characters were a little boring to me though.
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for an advanced copy! Devious Prey releases on March 31!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one was a mixed bag for me. The pacing was fast and the plot fairly engaging, so I had no trouble plowing through it. The things that made it not a total home run for me were the constant deaths (not super graphic, but just felt like the whole book was a list of people dying) and the predictability of most of the plot twists. I was never 100% sure what was coming, but I was surprised how often my guesses proved true. However, this is an easy fantasy book to dive into with a fun world to picture in your imagination.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an eARC of this title!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an eARC of this title!
February 3, 2026
i really enjoyed this book, it pulled me in from the start and i couldn’t put it down! marken and pearl were fantastic and i loved how they really meshed. pearl honestly was my fav and i enjoyed seeing how her character developed by the end. marken was lovely and i found his character to be super interesting. i think the magic system in this book was super neat and i enjoyed learning about it. those twists were wild and that ending was everything i needed. definitely recommend reading! thank you for the gifted early copy!
November 13, 2025
This is a fun little cat-and-mouse story! It has a great sense of atmosphere and interesting characters with clear motivations about not dying (obvious) and not getting caught (fun stakes!) I liked how it works as a standalone but could also be the first volume in a series. I wouldn't say that I loved the prose, as a previous reader of Scott Reintgen's I am not sure if he is Trying Something but the writing style was less to my taste than in his previous Waxways Trilogy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It wasn't at all what I expected and turned out to be really not my genre, so I wasn't able to fully enjoy the book, but having read it I see that it can be a highly enjoyable story. It has a great and original plot and lovable characters. I think you should definitely read it if you enjoy this genre.
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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you to the publisher for this free eARC! All opinions are my own.
Pearl and her aunt board a skyship with a guarded prisoner, wizard Marken. The skyship crashes on an unknown island when the ship's windmaster dies. The survivors are being hunted by a dragoness that Pearl was smuggling. Will anyone make it off the island alive, and will Marken and Pearl's secrets save them or sink them? #Edelweiss+
Pearl and her aunt board a skyship with a guarded prisoner, wizard Marken. The skyship crashes on an unknown island when the ship's windmaster dies. The survivors are being hunted by a dragoness that Pearl was smuggling. Will anyone make it off the island alive, and will Marken and Pearl's secrets save them or sink them? #Edelweiss+
February 1, 2026
This is a wonderful YA fantasy novel with steampunk elements. It is an adventure tale with layers of magic and secrets. It also has a high body count. While it is not visceral, this story is not for the squeamish.
The strengths of this novel are three. First, the primary characters are well developed and Interesting. Second, the magical system is carefully constructed. Third, the plot moves forward in a compelling fashion without many side trips. I would recommend this novel for fans of fantasy, steampunk, and YA adventure.
I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.
The strengths of this novel are three. First, the primary characters are well developed and Interesting. Second, the magical system is carefully constructed. Third, the plot moves forward in a compelling fashion without many side trips. I would recommend this novel for fans of fantasy, steampunk, and YA adventure.
I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.
October 5, 2025
Got an early copy of the arc and since I loved the Door in the Dark series I had to read this !!! Scott Reintgen does such a good job creating dark and twisted stories. I was immersed in the story as a survivor of the shipwreck and I felt like I was apart of the plot line. This book was really good and the plot twist was just right. Can’t wait for the next book Scott writes.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC to review
This was so much fun!!! Like Lost with Lord of the Flies meeting and having a YA fantasy child. The story starts fast and keeps going, not leaving a lot of dull moments. The magic system was unique enough to not be a retread of other books, but not so far off that the reader is left trying to figure out how it works.
This was so much fun!!! Like Lost with Lord of the Flies meeting and having a YA fantasy child. The story starts fast and keeps going, not leaving a lot of dull moments. The magic system was unique enough to not be a retread of other books, but not so far off that the reader is left trying to figure out how it works.
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