This is the second of two arc books I read this weekend at the same time, and when you see the content of this book, that's why I wanted a palate cleanser romance novel to accompany this book. That is absolutely not to say that this book wasn't good though- in fact I think it's grotesquely and brutally brilliant.

I want to discuss some context to why this book exists before I get into the meat of the review. A lot of post-apocalyptic literature doesn't take trans people into account when they write and build their worlds- which isn't great but not the worst crime either. But also recently there have been a string of gender based post-apocalypse novels that are explicitly written with transphobic dogwhistles at best, and being outright transphobic at worst. Several of those books I requested arc copies to read so I could fairly explain my thoughts on them without giving financial backing to their authors, but each time I was rejected. So I knew I had to jump at this book when I saw the blurb. Horror is not at all my usual genre of fiction, but I felt like this book is going to be important.

Manhunt follows Grace and Fran, two transwomen and Robbie, a transman, as well as some other characters as they all try to survive in a post apocalyptic world in which an ailment affects all people with high amounts of testosterone in their system causing them to go feral. In response to the outbreak a lot of the centralized power becomes openly transphobic and run by terf organizations and seek to root out all transwomen from the cities leaving Grace, Fran, and Robbie in a lurch for survival.

As I mentioned, this is far from my usual genre of books- but if I was going to read a horror book at any time October seemed fitting.

I really was intrigued by literally all the characters in this book. Grace and Fran had a really interesting relational dynamic of trusting and relying on each other but with hurt feelings and damaged souls tracing back even before the outbreak. I also found the internal torment of characters like Indi and Ramona really compelling. The character work is great in this book.

One thing I found really interesting about this novel is how society has adapted to the apocalypse. Electricity still exists, hell whole cities still exist. Everything has changed but much is also continuing on despite a lifechanging event for literally everyone involved. Many post-apocalyptic stories I've read while still have clusters of people don't quite depict it in this manner and I found that engaging.

The metaphors and messaging of this book are absolutely not subtle. It's going to be hard to read this book and not see explicitly what is happening and how it parallels to current day trans politics and the people trying to destroy our lives. It's often really intense and brutal imagery that can be difficult to read and imagine- but it also felt so real. Felker-Martin did a really great job at showing the translation from this horror story to how discourse is handled today

One thing I was torn about that both took my out of the book emersion at some points, but I totally understand why it exists in the book was the use of modern day language regarding trans politics and terfism. Part of me thinks in a post apocalyptic world such as this one the terminology would have changed. It seemed a little weird to me that the groups were still calling themselves "trans exclusionary radical feminists" in a society with literally no cis men. How much would "feminism" still be a thing in that scenario? But at the same time I feel that using modern day terms really slams the metaphors down and the messages of the book become all the more clear. So I see both sides of it.

This book is brutal and holds back no punches, it's not for everyone- it might not even be for me. But it is an important book and definitely has carved a place for itself. I was super into it. 5/5

Thank you so much Tor Nightfire for being so damn awesome!
And giving me the chance to read this outstanding novel!

Felker-Martin is the real deal!
I have never read a book like this! And I need more of it!

This dark, breathtaking, stunning novel is a horrific but wonderfully written story!
An exquisite book I could not put away.
This author grabs you from the very beginning and takes us on one hell of an amazing ride.
This is probably one of the most prominent dystopian read, full of mayhem and an outstanding group of characters I've ever read about!

Manhunt... brilliant and scary at the same time, it shows some dark realities of our world that we like to think are gone but that are still lurking.
But yet its an emotional, complex story that is honestly going to stick with me for a awhile.
A new modern post-apocalyptic novel.

⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

I want to thank again the publisher, Methane Author for the opportunity to read this ebook form!
I will post to my platforms closer to pub date!

Manhunt is a post-apocalyptic novel that follows several characters who are trying their absolute best at surviving in a world filled with ravenous men and shit-eating TERFs. We get to meet Fran, Beth, Robbie and Indi, as well as several other characters who, and I promise you, will make you want to throw your book at a wall, either due to how much you love them, or how much you utterly despise them.

Its unapologetically queer, it's filthy, it's grotesque, and is filled with love, pain and devastation.
You won't be prepared for this book, and nothing will prepare you for the roller-coaster that is this novel.

This was just too wildly graphic for me to read. I'm sure it is an amazing book (especially judging by reading the reviews of others), but I could not read through the obscenely graphic description of cutting someone's body open. I should have read the book description more closely, so this is all on me and not on the author. I'm so sorry, but still very appreciative of receiving this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

So, I’m not generally a fan of dystopian fiction, and I do tend to avoid smutty horror. That being said, I’m glad I made an exception and pushed through the early chapters of Manhunt. The second half is thrilling and a smart commentary on gender politics in society today. As an added bonus, some TERFs reap what they sow.

What a wild trip this book is! Felker-Martin grabs you from the beginning with a visceral and funny and strange scene that basically sets the tone for the entire book. There's a lot of gore here (zombie kills and eating testicles are just the beginning), a lot of sex, a lot of killer interrogations of safety and identity and a furnace-blast of fury directed at the fucking TERFs who won't let people be themselves.
There are layers on layers here and it's a blast to read while you're at it. Highly recommended.

A great, precious, devastating, angry, brilliant buffet of disturbing and aching moments. I will miss reading this book. It's captivating. Gretchen's got a hold on my heart, Temple of Doom-style, and fuck, does it ever hurt. Few things have, or will—for a long time—come close to what is achieved in this novel. Every post-apocalyptic book, movie, or otherwise was just practice leading up to this. To call it monumental would be underselling it. It's a masterpiece, and no one could have done it better.