‘Hunters & Gatherers’ kicks off with a premise that feels like 'Survivor' meets 'The Most Dangerous Game'. Twenty-four contestants are dropped onto a remote island for a struggling reality TV network, but as the producers' desperation for ratings grows, so does the actual body count. What starts as scripted drama quickly devolves into a brutal, gory fight for survival against an apex predator that is definitely not CGI.

The Atmosphere
There is a specific scene during an elimination ceremony that immediately reminded me of that iconic first night in the 'Lost' TV show. Seeing the jungle canopy shift under the weight of something massive and unseen set a chilling, suspenseful tone that stayed consistent throughout the book. For a debut novel, the pacing is incredibly well-structured. Once the blood starts flowing, the action is nonstop, leaning heavily into the SciFi-action genre with a side of gory horror.

The Monsters & the POV
One of the most immersive aspects of this book was the perspective shifts. Getting to see the action through the eyes of the monsters was a brilliant touch. It gave them a level of depth and background that the human characters sometimes lacked. I actually loved these parts and chapters.

The Cast - Chaos in numbers
If there’s one drawback, it’s the sheer volume of characters. Way too many, it can be difficult to keep track of everyone, and I found myself not particularly caring about many of the "expendable" cast members. While I would have loved a bit more character history to ground the emotional stakes (ironically there’s a chapter named ‘Character Development’), realistically, when you’re being hunted by monsters, you don’t have time to sit around and debate philosophy.

Naturally, the rivalries, partnerships, and conflicts among the competitors are also present, but Trask and Paula were standout favorites. Trask, in particular, earns his status as the "fan favorite" of the show.

The ending was somewhat predictable in regards to who made it out, and Trask’s final decision on the island was perfectly in character and made him even more likable.

Many, many thanks to Rock Savage, Stem Cell Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.