What do you think?
Rate this book
Prey: The Drovers, Book 1
This job with the drover just might save him, if it doesn't kill him first.
Ferran, a scrappy youth, is doomed to slavery if he can’t gather the money his family owes the new Lord. After thieves beat and rob him, his prospects look dim.
However, just before the debt comes due, a mysterious drover shows up at the village. War with the Kingdom of Osson is imminent, and the drover needs to hire a few good hands to help him drive a herd of cattle to the queen for her army.
It’s Ferran’s salvation, but only if he can win a slot on the crew. And then survive the deadly perils along the trail.
Ferran, a scrappy youth, is doomed to slavery if he can’t gather the money his family owes the new Lord. After thieves beat and rob him, his prospects look dim.
However, just before the debt comes due, a mysterious drover shows up at the village. War with the Kingdom of Osson is imminent, and the drover needs to hire a few good hands to help him drive a herd of cattle to the queen for her army.
It’s Ferran’s salvation, but only if he can win a slot on the crew. And then survive the deadly perils along the trail.
- GenresFantasy
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2019
45 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
John D. Brown
20 books117 followersJOHN D. BROWN writes action-packed thrillers and epic fantasies with characters you want to cheer for. He lives with his wife and four daughters in the hinterlands of Utah where one encounters much fresh air, many good-hearted ranchers, and the occasional wolf. If you want to be notified when he releases his next book, sign up at his website johndbrown.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 28, 2019
Love the style
The writing style is straightforward and succinct. I always know when I'm reading a John Brown novel.
Short and fast read that kept me entertained. I'll surely pick up the next one.
The writing style is straightforward and succinct. I always know when I'm reading a John Brown novel.
Short and fast read that kept me entertained. I'll surely pick up the next one.
June 30, 2021
What fun book this was! The plot was fun as hell and I loved all the characters.
Set in a fantasy world, a boy's family (already living on the edge of poverty) was driven into starvation when their sole cow died and their cheese-making pots were stolen. The boy sets out to find odd jobs to make money to help them, and happens into a job as a drover (cow herder).
That seems such a simple idea, and much of this book was just day-to-day life, but it was so interesting! The head drover who hired them taught them to fight (so they could better defend the herd), and he and the cook (the only two adult main characters) had some kind of interesting backstory that we only ever got glimpses of.
The whole story was such an adventure, it was so fun from beginning to end!
The only downside is that the author is only writing book three now, so it's going to be ages before it comes out. It's too easy to lose track of in-progress book series.
Set in a fantasy world, a boy's family (already living on the edge of poverty) was driven into starvation when their sole cow died and their cheese-making pots were stolen. The boy sets out to find odd jobs to make money to help them, and happens into a job as a drover (cow herder).
That seems such a simple idea, and much of this book was just day-to-day life, but it was so interesting! The head drover who hired them taught them to fight (so they could better defend the herd), and he and the cook (the only two adult main characters) had some kind of interesting backstory that we only ever got glimpses of.
The whole story was such an adventure, it was so fun from beginning to end!
The only downside is that the author is only writing book three now, so it's going to be ages before it comes out. It's too easy to lose track of in-progress book series.
Read
January 4, 2020Brown defines his niche as fantasy with characters you can cheer for, and that’s what he delivers here. You can’t help but root for Ferran as he struggles to pay his family’s debts. He’s not some warrior mage or child of prophecy; he’s just a kid trying to do the right thing in a world much larger than he.
When he signs on with a drover bringing cattle to the Queen’s armies, you get increasing tastes of that larger world, but the scope remains small, which I like. This is a story that happens on the boundary of war, and the smaller stakes seem more compelling for their smallness for the same reason the main character is more compelling for not being, say, the Kingslayer/best looking man on the planet/best swordsman ever.
Looking forward to book 2.
When he signs on with a drover bringing cattle to the Queen’s armies, you get increasing tastes of that larger world, but the scope remains small, which I like. This is a story that happens on the boundary of war, and the smaller stakes seem more compelling for their smallness for the same reason the main character is more compelling for not being, say, the Kingslayer/best looking man on the planet/best swordsman ever.
Looking forward to book 2.
May 11, 2025
This is a coming of age story, and it's a good one, so far..
A drover and his assistant arrive in a small village in need of more men to help drive a herd of cattle to a large city for the Queen's Army, as the three men he hired turned out to be thieves.. Unfortunately, it's harvest season, and the men of the village refuse to help. Ferran, a young teen needs to earn money, as the taxes required by the local Lord are behind, and if he doesn't earn enough, he'll be sold as a slave.
So Ferran, three of his friends and Caswal, an older boy who hates him, get hired. As the days go on, Caswal plays several nasty pranks on Ferran, and the two men teach the boys how to make spears and use them efficiently. They learn of something that has been stealing cattle and sheep from the surrounding countryside, and one night see a creature fly over the camp.
A few days later, they are attacked by the creatures, which seem to be a local variant of a dragon or drake. The battle intensifies when they realise it's not one creature, but a group of three. Fighting bravely, they manage to kill two of the beasts, and drive off the third.
The book ends with the three thieves introduced in the first chapter, turning up asking questions as to where the drovers have gone.
It's a good book. The characters are all given individual moments to shine, and there is a sense of growth with them all. I really look forward to reading the next book.
A drover and his assistant arrive in a small village in need of more men to help drive a herd of cattle to a large city for the Queen's Army, as the three men he hired turned out to be thieves.. Unfortunately, it's harvest season, and the men of the village refuse to help. Ferran, a young teen needs to earn money, as the taxes required by the local Lord are behind, and if he doesn't earn enough, he'll be sold as a slave.
So Ferran, three of his friends and Caswal, an older boy who hates him, get hired. As the days go on, Caswal plays several nasty pranks on Ferran, and the two men teach the boys how to make spears and use them efficiently. They learn of something that has been stealing cattle and sheep from the surrounding countryside, and one night see a creature fly over the camp.
A few days later, they are attacked by the creatures, which seem to be a local variant of a dragon or drake. The battle intensifies when they realise it's not one creature, but a group of three. Fighting bravely, they manage to kill two of the beasts, and drive off the third.
The book ends with the three thieves introduced in the first chapter, turning up asking questions as to where the drovers have gone.
It's a good book. The characters are all given individual moments to shine, and there is a sense of growth with them all. I really look forward to reading the next book.
February 1, 2022
Good fun!
Now, here's an enjoyable composition of simple adventure and charming characters to cheer for. I immediately downloaded the next book and am looking forward to reading it.
Now, here's an enjoyable composition of simple adventure and charming characters to cheer for. I immediately downloaded the next book and am looking forward to reading it.
March 5, 2025
Great book - engaging, satisfying battle scenes, and the narrative style fit the setting, personalities, and the tone of the story - those are considerable strengths! I found myself rooting for the primary characters and their friends (not so much for C.) and I'm moving directly to the sequel!
November 23, 2019
I loved this book! The characters were real and engaging, the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, and I can't wait for the rest of the series!
February 9, 2020
Fantastic. Read my Amazon review.
August 9, 2022
Very interesting. A bit slow but it kept my attention.
February 25, 2020
So good.
Love this story and I love this author. This one has left me wanting to read more. Can’t wait for the next one!
Love this story and I love this author. This one has left me wanting to read more. Can’t wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews