Devious Prey Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books on March 31, 2026 Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 304
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Goodreads
Reading Challenges: All booksA young woman must survive the deadly mythical creature she smuggled aboard an airship after a crash landing on a deserted island frees it to begin hunting the survivors in this thrilling fantasy adventure from New York Times bestselling author Scott Reintgen.
When an airship’s windmaster dies mid-flight, the crew and its passengers are swept out to sea by a violent storm. They crash on a desolate island, but they’re not alone. A dragoness had been stashed in the hold. After escaping a damaged cage, it begins preying on the surviving travelers in the hopes of remaining free.
The stranded group’s best chance of making it home alive is the young woman who smuggled the dragoness on board in the first place—and the mysterious teen boy who was led onto the ship in chains before takeoff. Both have secrets that could help them survive on the island…but those same secrets could deliver a death sentence if they ever make it home.
Dragons, Secrets, and Survival
I went into Devious Prey by Scott Reintgen expecting a fun fantasy adventure—but I didn’t expect such a tense, survival-filled story. This book quickly turns into a gripping mix of fantasy, mystery, and a little bit of monster horror, and I was completely pulled in.
The story begins with an airship voyage that goes terribly wrong. After a storm and a sudden death on board, the ship crashes on a remote island. But the survivors have a much bigger problem than being stranded… there’s a dragoness loose among them, and she’s hunting. The twist? One of the passengers secretly smuggled the creature aboard in the first place.
One of the things I loved most was the story’s survival vibe. The group of survivors has to figure out how to stay alive on a dangerous island while also avoiding becoming the dragon’s next meal. The tension builds with every chapter because the characters are trapped with something deadly—and nowhere to run.
The characters also made the story really engaging. Pearl, the girl responsible for smuggling the dragoness, carries a lot of guilt and responsibility as everything spirals out of control. Then there’s Marken, the mysterious boy who boarded the airship in chains. Both of them have secrets that slowly unfold throughout the story, and those secrets make the stakes even higher.
I also appreciated how the book blends fantasy worldbuilding with fast-paced action. There’s magic, political tension, and hints about a larger world beyond the island, but the story never slows down for too long. The pacing keeps things intense, especially once the dragoness begins hunting the survivors.
And honestly, the dragoness might be one of the most memorable parts of the book. She’s not just a random monster—there’s intelligence and purpose behind her actions, which makes the danger feel even more chilling.
Final Thoughts: Devious Prey is a thrilling YA fantasy that mixes survival adventure with deadly magic and a terrifying dragon on the loose. If you like stories where characters are pushed to their limits, secrets slowly unravel, and danger lurks around every corner, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Overall: A tense, fast-paced fantasy survival story with a dragon that completely steals the show.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
