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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
7 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Scott Reintgen
19 books1,590 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
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 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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
September 25, 2025
ARC Copy...Imagine an island survival, to the point narrative along with fantasy elements like a very vengeful and intelligent dragon picking off the survivors. Good to the point reading.
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November 17, 2025I reviewed this book for School Library Journal.
December 14, 2025
This was such a good fantasy read. The atmosphere, the dragons, I loved this world and the characters were good too. This book felt unique and the plot built up really well, having good suspense.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
📚READ FOR
✓ Wizards
✓ Dragons
✓ Airship Crash
✓ Lost (TV Show) Vibes
✓ Secrets and Suspense
POV: Duel, Third Person
Spice Level: n/a
Sad Level: 💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Marken
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
📚READ FOR
✓ Wizards
✓ Dragons
✓ Airship Crash
✓ Lost (TV Show) Vibes
✓ Secrets and Suspense
POV: Duel, Third Person
Spice Level: n/a
Sad Level: 💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Marken
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews