Come Out & Prey

Apex Academy Capers, Book 1

Being a teenager is bullshit.

You'd think being an heir in one of most powerful families in predator society would make it easier, but you'd be dead wrong.

From the moment I was old enough, my bloodthirsty parents made sure I understood my job is to smile, nod, and look pretty in public. None of my choices are my own, including my friends, my future, and even my hairstyle. The only sliver of happiness I cling to is my boyfriend, Todd, and attending Apex Academy where I'll be free of the chains holding me down.

Unfortunately, my life is a cosmic joke and everyone but me is laughing.

The perfect prom night I envisioned ends in disaster and my entire world explodes in the blink of an eye. I didn't emerge as a predator and now there's hell to pay.

My name is Delores Drew and I've got news for the friends and family who betrayed me when I turned out different than they expected. I'm no ordinary bunny.

Contains mature themes.

(P)2024 Tantor Media

not expected

I listened to this because it was this months audible free listen, went in not expecting much. I know the narrators from other books. This was very well narrated. The story was good too.

Yummmy

Having shitty people around you 24/7 is the worst, but introduce 4 melt worthy protectors that see you as theirs…things may be looking up Delores. I can’t wait to read book 2!

So good!!

This is the start of one of my favorite series by this author. I was so excited to see it available on Audible! The narrators really bring this story to life! Definitely will be re-listening to this one frequently!!

A Tad Cliche, But Still Delightful

Who doesn’t like a bit of cliche? Though I remember this came out as a prequel and the others weren’t written. I’m so happy to have returned to this lovely world and with more to read now. I enjoyed the characters and the variety! It’s not just weres, it’s a whole range of shifters and creatures as shifters. That what makes it stand out. And I can’t wait to see just how much chaos Dee manages to cause. Especially with 5 men absolutely set their sights on her.

I Hope She Gets Her Comeuppance, and Gets It GOOD!

Oh Delores.... The FMC in this book has it rough. There's a lot of abuse happening in her family, and her "friends" are not her friends. Poor Delores doesn't even really have any allies that could make much of a difference in her life. The story goes through the inevitable that is less foreshadowed - more impossible not to see coming. There are some very disgusting and horrible characters in this book, and Delores herself is extremely naive - not her fault since her parents pretty much keep her locked down, and her ever move is watched. This is pretty much a prequel to the series and is on the shorter side because of that - shorter book, but lots of set up for the main series. Delores is a teenager, so keep that in mind when you get annoyed with her decisions, as you most definitely will. Some of the story was hard to listen for me because of the antagonists, but I couldn't stop listening because the story drew me in.

This is not the type of book I'd normally gravitate toward but I recently discovered the author and love her Discordia series. While waiting for the next book in that series I decided to try this one.

The story itself is interesting and doesn't follow the usual shifter dynamics. We first meet the FMC while she is still in high school and very much a teenager so many of her choices and decisions reflect her age at this point of the story. I did notice that in both this series and the Discordia series the characters are supposed to be attending university, but the schedule and setup of the institutions resembles more of a high school or secondary school. That part was a bit confusing to me but could be explained by the societal setup and control over the population, but it isn't explicitly stated.

I tend to read books with older FMCs where the FMCs have already an established sense of self even if not fully developed. In this series we see the FMC from ground zero (or below zero). We meet her before the big event that changes her life and has her starting fresh.

I love the neurodiversity representation, and that ADHD is specifically mentioned, myself being a human with inattentive ADHD. The MMCs are written well, and balance the FMC well. There were many moments in the book where I cringed because of the FMCs decisions but she is a teenager so it makes sense.

Overall the book was a good introduction to the FMC and the world she has to survive in.