Fall Prey: The Hunt

by Dallas Massey

Asher Blackthorn is a young but weary rookie police officer whose older brothers recently died of complications related to muscular dystrophy. His dismal world explodes into chaos one fateful night when he encounters Icarus, a sadistic living vampire, whom he somehow kills with a lucky shot through the eye.

Impressed by his skills with a firearm, Commander Micheal Greaves of the 96th Legion abducts Asher and attempts to convince him to enlist. Asher reluctantly decides to join the Legion, becoming part of a covert paramilitary force dedicated to the downfall of Atropos, a criminal organization led by living vampires.

Unbeknownst to Asher, his oldest brother Cyrus Blackthorn still lives and is taken from his home by associates of CyberGen, a bioengineering corporation with a disturbing lack of morality. Placing him on the operating table, CyberGen’s researchers present Cyrus with a he can return to his life to await a slow death or undergo an experimental procedure, one that could cure his disease. Agreeing to the procedure with little convincing, Cyrus awakens to find himself cured, though at a high he will soon lose his humanity entirely.

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2021

About the author

Dallas Massey is from Seymour, Missouri, and has always fostered a love of both reading and biology. He received his Master’s in Cell and Molecular Biology from Missouri State University in 2014. He returned to the same university as an online adjunct professor, teaching Concepts/Issues in Life Science. Dallas likes to incorporate his scientific knowledge into his writing wherever possible, adding a dose of authenticity to his fictional works. Though he loves writing, it was never his first career choice as his initial ambition was to become a successful genetic engineer. Unfortunately, Dallas was born with Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, a degenerative muscle disease that grants him only limited use of his limbs, his disorder keeping him from his dream occupation. He turned to writing after the loss of his younger brother, finding it provided him a constructive way to cope.

Reviews

[Marielyn Crest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fall Prey: The Hunt is a gripping blend of dark fantasy and sci-fi that introduces a tragic and compelling world. Asher Blackthorn is a relatable protagonist young, exhausted, and shaped by loss whose life changes forever after a violent encounter with a living vampire. The emotional weight of his brothers’ deaths adds depth to the story and makes his reluctant recruitment into the Legion feel believable. Cyrus’s storyline is especially haunting; his choice between death and a cure that costs his humanity is handled with real emotional impact. The pacing is strong, and the world of vampires, covert forces, and unethical science feels dangerous and immersive. This is a powerful opening that balances action with meaningful character development.