Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence and secrets tangle in fun standalone fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In DEVIOUS PREY, Pearl never thought smuggling a deadly creature aboard an airship would result in being hunted by that very creature. But when a storm tears the ship in two, not only does she find herself among a small number of passengers trying to survive on a deserted island, but the creature she'd thought safely contained has broken free, only to set its sights on ridding the island of every last human. To make matters worse, the one person who might be able to save them, a young wizard named Marken, is being held captive by the surviving prison guard, who has no intention of letting him free, regardless of the risk. But as the hope of being rescued fades, the survivors form factions, and Pearl finds herself in an uneasy alliance with Marken. But on an island full of predators and prey, how does she know who she can trust?
Is It Any Good?
This fun and action-packed fantasy combines magic, adventure, and deceit. Devious Prey is Scott Reintgen's first standalone novel, but he builds a world here as rich as his series, with elements from a variety of genres that coalesce in a cohesive adventure with enough character intrigue to keep you guessing until the end. Written in Scott Reintgen's clear, action-oriented style, the book contains just enough world-building details to make the story world feel realistic, while keeping the focus on the danger and high stakes that the characters face.
While the story contains plenty of bloodshed and violence, it's tempered with enough character development and moral quandaries to keep the reader thinking. People who love dragons, magic, and adventure will likely enjoy this quick read, which deviates from traditional fantasy with some steampunk elements and the deserted island survival subplot.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about various characters' motivations in Devious Prey. People decide to work together as they fight to survive, but are they choosing teamwork for selfish or altruistic reasons? Does it matter why they work together? Why?
Both main characters make ethically questionable choices to defend and protect themselves throughout the course of the story. Why do you think the author chose characters who make morally gray decisions as the heroes? Does it make them more or less relatable? Why?
When Pearl's secret is revealed, we realize the great danger she's in. Does knowing what she faces if her secret is revealed change how you feel about her actions? Can you think of a situation in the real world where someone breaks the law to protect themselves? What parallels can you draw?
The dragon sees humans as takers, not giving anything back to the world as other species do. Why do you think the author chose this view for the dragon?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Dragons , Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Margaret K. McElderry
- Publication date : March 31, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : April 29, 2026
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