There are a few times in my life when I've so eagerly awaited a book being both published and arriving on my doorstep that I get all jittery with anticipation. And Prey Drive is one of those very books. When it hit my doorstep I ripped through that package like a madman with a thirst to get right into reading it. But instead I decided to read the first part again, seeing as how about three years had passed in a haze and I thought it best to read it before jumping right into Prey Drive. Unless you have a good memory you might want to do the same, though once I started reading it I realized that the visual impact of Wrath's words had stuck with me in the dark recesses of my mind. At least I had the book to stare at while I re-read Succulent Prey, and damn it's a beautiful limited edition!
Before I randomly start blabbing about this book, I should get it out of the way that you can't read this one without having read the first part, Succulent Prey. So if you haven't read it do yourself a favor and get to it!! And I'll do my best not to give away to many if any spoilers for the novel.
First thing that popped into my head as I finished them was how much I felt Wrath has developed since Succulent Prey. The first part is a raw, cruel punch to the head, whereas Prey Drive shows how much he has changed as a story teller. Prey Drive don't get me wrong is another raw, brutal verbal attack, but his style has become more concise and stronger since Succulent Prey was published.
I've found that Wrath has always had an excellent knack for character development and with Prey Drive he really excels in taking the readers on a journey through the mind of Joseph Miles. Most of the novel is set inside a prison, which I feel makes this trek through character development stronger, seeing as there's nowhere for Joseph to go but inside his own head. There's almost a claustrophobic feeling to the way the novel plays out as Joseph Miles tries to regain his humanity and feeds the monster inside him even more.
Just like with Succulent Prey, there is verbal assault on the reader as Wrath mixes in equal parts erotica and violence. These scenes are gut wrenching as Wrath forces the readers mind face down, hard into the viscera and sexuality. Unlike many writers Wrath won't skip around the bush hinting at what is happening, he wants you to know it all. Every last detail. Without a doubt the average reader is going to need a strong stomach and constitution to handle what he describes, but fans of Wrath are waiting for these explicit jaunts through disgusting territories. And honestly I don't, nor can I explain why I'd rather read something like this, other than the fact I want to have a chance to delve deeply into the worse without a chance to turn my head. And I got all of that and more with both novels and the possibility that there may be a third...please Wrath!!
There may be a few copies of this left and I'd grab one, for both the vivid story and the beautiful book it is. Highly recommend to other readers who want fear shoved straight down their throats.