This novel begins fast and keeps a brisk pace throughout. I definitely see the comparison to Jurassic Park, though I like the characters in We Are Hunted better than those in Crichton’s novel. The unresolved conflict between Femi and his family and Femi and Deja add layers of interest to the story. The crisis brings them closer together but simultaneously highlights the rifts in the relationships. That kept me even more engaged.

The story has the high sense of creepiness and tension you’d expect in a thriller, too. Several scenes had me on the edge of my seat. Because of the nature of the story, there’s quite a bit of gore as Femi witnesses several people’s injuries and deaths and stumbles over the remains of others.


There are a couple of chapters that show scenes from another character’s perspective. While that added some interest or context to those characters, I think that information could have been inserted into the narrative in other ways. I appreciated that they were set apart as “interlude” scenes.

Femi is a musician, and there are lots of references to sound and sensitivity to sound throughout the book, which adds some interesting details. I liked the references to his music and the way that sound impacts different components of the story.

On the whole, I think readers looking for an international thriller will not want to miss this one. I flew through this book. It’s really easy to read. I probably would have read it in one session if I’d had the time to do it.

3.5 stars

If you combined "The Island of Doctor Moreau" and "Jurassic Park", but made it YA and for today's politically and socially aware teens, you'd get this book. We follow Femi, a teen whose family is not getting along, as he goes on a "bonding" trip with his older brother and father. Their destination is a beautiful but secretive island, discovered by a billionaire, that's home to an entirely new ecosystem full of strange animals and plants. The island is very high-tech (think Jurassic World), so of course something goes wrong, the tech stops working, and the island is put on lockdown. The animals go ballistic, and people start dying. But as Femi and his family attempt to flee to safety, they realize that there's more to the events than meets the eye, and the motivation for the attack is at it's core, very human.

This is billed as YA sci-fi meets horror, and it definitely leaned more sci-fi to me. I had a great time with it once sh*t really hit the fan, though, and everyone was running and hiding and battling mutant animals. There were some moments of modern slang that had me crinkling my face a bit, but obviously, I'm not the intended audience for a YA book anymore, so I gave it a pass. The main character had a unique and very consistent voice, and despite the action-packed main plot, it had a lot of subplots that I think teens will appreciate--romance, family tension, lack of direction in life, living with chronic illness, oppression, climate change/environmentalism, questioning religion, creative ennui, etc. Overall this was a fun read, and I think it'll really hit the mark for readers younger than me. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for the eARC.

We Are Hunted was a wild ride for me. It was a new take on a YA novel for me that I ended up really enjoying. I think it is best to go in blind to this one with no preconceived notions. 3.5/5

This had so many things that COULD have added up to a really good story. Main character with tinnitus; fraught family dynamics; some cool visual elements in the text; lots of potential for gore/body horror; ghosts???; rich people finally seeing consequences…

Instead, we didn’t linger on any of the potentially interesting or engaging descriptions (gore or otherwise), the dialogue was stiff and awkward, the visual elements were few and far between (and usually referencing the same vibe, which made them feel repetitive), the pacing was off with the “before” taking up way too much book; Femi was a brat; very preachy Christianity that in my opinion has no place in a book that should also have body horror (unless there’s a cult involved; I make an exception for cults).

The ending feels unresolved. And not in a “we could make a sequel” way but more in a “we want this to seem edgy and mysterious” kind of way that honestly just falls flat.

I will be forever mourning the lack of body horror and gore because it could have been epic. Oh well.

I am a huge fan of this author! I loved this. It is for younger people so I am a bit more jaded than most of the intended readers but I still really enjoyed it.

Like many 90s kids, Jurassic Park is one of my favorite stories. It only now occurs to me that for all the ethical dilemmas presented in that tale, none revolve around buying and claiming ownership of an island, which seems a very American oversight. Tomi Oyemakinde's new sci-fi horror adventure novel We Are Hunted is being widely advertised as Jurassic Park meets White Lotus, which is part of the reason I requested it on NetGalley (the other is that phenomenal cover). There are no dinosaurs here, but a host of hostile, dangerous, and fantastic wildlife that will fulfill your appetite for claws and teeth. Where the novel differs most from the elements it's subverting and remixing is in its focus on the indigenous people of Darlenia, the island setting for our blood bath.


The three men of the Fatona family embark on a journey to a highly secretive new resort. They've been invited as shareholders of Jenkins & Children, a corporation run by a famous venture capitalist who is best described as Jurassic Park's John Hammond combined with Elon Musk. Femi is our narrator, a young hip-hop musician full of youthful inflexibility. He has a passion for authenticity and refuses to sacrifice his self-expression for any reason. Femi is a lovable hero, a willful, smart teenage boy. He’s a deeply compassionate character but spends most of the story masking his youthful innocence and naivety with bluster and gumption. His father is trying to teach him the value of compromise, a lesson he just won’t hear. It’s not just his dad Femi struggles with. Older brother Dapo and he have had a strained relationship following an accident that left Dapo injured, an accident Femi feels responsible for. The Fatona boys' vacation with their father is partly an attempt by their mother to bridge these divides.



On the way to Darlenia, we meet Deja, an old flame that notably left Femi on read months ago. She also happens to be vacationing at the same resort. Femi is a hopeless romantic with this girl and is in over his head. We are also introduced to Mui, a little girl who is every bit the heart of this novel. Mui carries with her an imaginary friend, Ken that she insists be given the same respect as any other living person. Mui’s newfound friendship with Femi gives us a nice glimpse into Femi’s heart when he’s at his most guarded early in the novel.


The book takes its time cooking with these relationship dynamics but it never feels lagging and there's an underlying sense of momentum as Femi finds himself helping Valoisa, a Darlenian living on the island with her sister, with a problem he doesn't really understand. Through this, readers can learn a bit more about Darlenian wildlife and history and Femi learns that celebrity capitalist Richard Jenkins may be a fraud. For the horror readers, the patience is worth it, as there’s just no substitute for good setup. By the time things start unraveling, the novel is a gruesome bloodbath. Very few people make it out of this thing alive and even fewer make it out in one piece. Things start small, a random bite here or there. This slow escalation swan dives into Hell when a swarm of strange birds called "golden raptors" begins eating the tourists. It isn’t just the birds, but all animals, which I haven’t mentioned, are wonderfully described in iridescent colors that would feel at home in any 1960s kaiju movie. The beasts attack anyone and everyone. Whether it be glass dragons, land eels, or Darlenian revolutionaries, Femi and his family have no shortage of mortal threats to face as they try to escape the resort. All this is to say, don’t get too attached.


The consistency of voice in this novel is unwavering. Sticking with Femi's close first person, present-tense POV, every moment is filled with youthful immediacy. Complex emotional situations are put into words that feel intimate and relatable. What impressed me most with this novel was how it kept throwing off my expectations. Knowing this covered familiar pop culture ground as a critique of colonial capitalism, a lot of ideas jumped to mind about exactly how this thing was going to go. Whatever ideas I had, I was delighted to find it went somewhere else every time. We Are Hunted isn't just entertainment, it wrestles with criticisms of colonization and ideas about revenge. It holds a mirror up to contemporary societies’ growing appetite for violence, that so often can feel righteous and justified. Oyemakinde knows some readers will want blood as justice and baits them with it. For all the carnage, the Fatona boys are Christians and resolute that killing isn’t justice. The narrative concludes, making its point satisfactorily. Don't worry, there’s plenty of comeuppance. As an added bonus, I urge you to keep reading after the acknowledgments.


This is the kind of book I would have devoured in a single sitting when I was younger. I was surprised to see such a bloody tome about survival landing in the YA section. Things have changed since I was young. I'm definitely picking up a copy of this for my nieces and strongly encourage you to buy a copy for any horror-minded, thrill-seeking teens, but also yourself because I had a blast reading this. What I loved most about this book is the way it took the familiar and made it something completely new and made me think about old stories in a fresh light. Pick We Are Hunted up on US shelves on Tuesday, September 17. If you’re one of my readers located in the UK (pretty much you, Colin), it’s out now.


I received an advance reading copy free in exchange for honest feedback and am leaving this review voluntarily. Below are links to purchase WE ARE HUNTED from two of my favorite St. Louis bookstores which Nocturne Books and Media is not affiliated with but firmly believes deserve your support. As of this writing, it appears The Novel Neighbor currently has 3 copies on their shelves!

This has some serious Jurassic Park vibes. It is a younger YA horror that delivers suspense and family drama. For someone who grew up loving Jurassic Park, I found the nostalgic moments incredibly satisfying. The remote island setting, packed with strange animals and futuristic tech, draws you in with a sense of wonder before slowly revealing its darker secrets. That classic "something isn't right" atmosphere really worked for me. And I loved that the kids were the heroes in this.

I thought the tension between Femi and his family was interesting. Their conflicts felt real, and the way they eventually found a resolution—learning to love each other despite their flaws—was a nice emotional payoff.

However, because this is a younger YA book, the themes like colonization and the exploitation of animals are touched on briefly, but not fully explored. I found myself wanting a bit more depth on those fronts, particularly since the story had the potential to dig into them. <spoiler> Where it lost me a little was the choice to use Indigenous people as the villains, which felt unnecessary. </spoiler> It’s especially odd given that the rest of the book seems to be pushing back against entitlement and exploitation.

YA horror is tricky because it often has to walk a line between being accessible for younger readers while still delivering scares. I think younger readers will enjoy it. It’s a fun, fast-paced read with plenty of action, but for older readers, some of the deeper themes and the treatment of certain characters might leave you wanting more.

Thanks so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read and review. This review is based on a complimentary copy and it is voluntary. All opinions are my own.

Great premise. Didn’t keep my attention as much as I was hoping for.

Demi and his family is on a “fun family trip” to an island to reconnect when things go awry. I’ve seen it compared to Jurassic park and Willy wonka…I agree.

I think I didn’t like the characters and didn’t feel like they were developed enough to care that deeply about them.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan for an eARC.

CAWPILE Rating: Characters - 7, Atmosphere - 8, Writing - 7, Plot - 6, Intrigue - 7, Logic - 7, Enjoyment - 7

We Are Hunted draws clear inspiration from Jurassic Park, with its thrilling island setting and high-stakes adventure. Femi, the protagonist, is reluctantly dragged into a family bonding trip with his father and brother to an island resort that promises the impossible. However, upon arrival, Femi quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous plot that threatens not only the island but all its guests and the mysterious "founder."

The vividness of the writing really stood out to me—certain scenes felt incredibly real, making it easy to get swept up in the action. I was also intrigued by how the author skillfully weaves in quotes and takeaways that resonate with today's world. However, it's important to note that the story leans heavily into Christian themes. If you're not Christian or have experienced Christian-related trauma, this aspect might feel overwhelming.

Many thanks to NetGalley Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange of an honest review. Check out my socials (@blackgirlbujos) for my book tour post on 9/20!

3.5 ⭐️

A brilliant premise gets bogged down in the execution by a very drawn out start to the story of a young man, Femi, who goes on a "fun family vacation" with his father and brother to a mysterious island full of wonders.

Of course, there are tensions galore within Femi's family, and once the secrets of the island are eventually revealed, it's a fun ride, but at that point, I was dragging along with characters that felt unfinished. The ending left me a bit nowhere as well, and all in all I think this book had a strong concept but it could have used some editing to tighten it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

This was a lot darker and gorier than I imagined it would be. Very gruesome for a YA book. I was having a hard time connecting to Femi in the beginning but he grows on you. The way he treated his brother and dad was appalling but the character development was very well done.

There’s so much emotion here and honestly the ending caught me by surprise. I felt so bad for everyone dying and the motives behind everything. Some of the dialogue was a bit weird, but past that I really enjoyed how this story progressed. I might have to go back and read the author’s debut soon!

This book is a mix of Jurassic Park with a splash of Willie Wonka (without the candy). Sounds like a wild ride, right? Well, buckle up... but maybe don’t expect the rollercoaster to start right away.

The first chunk of the book feels like it’s setting up for something amazing—there’s mystery, there's secrecy, and there's that weird feeling you get when your dad drags you to an island that feels too good to be true (spoiler: it is). But the build-up takes its sweet time. Sure, there’s a cool island with out-of-this-world tech and strange animals, but you’ll have to wade through some awkward pacing before the bodies start dropping and the real fun begins.

Femi, our main guy, is thrown into this bizarre situation, and while the stakes are high, his journey to figure out what's really going on feels a bit... lethargic at first. But once things do kick off, you'll finally get that Jurassic Park vibe, minus the dinosaurs, plus a whole lot of sinister secrets. Just don’t get too attached to anyone. The island’s got plans, and they don’t involve happy endings.

In the end, this book gives you enough thrills to make it worth the trip, but you’ll need some patience to survive the slow, awkward start to get the speculative twisty thriller you were promised.

i had really high hopes for this book, but it fell short for so much of it. the concept and set up was amazing, especially because I love the whole "disaster where we are we need to escape and the real villain is capitalism" trope. however, throughout the course of the book, I kept being disappointed on how different plots were handled and how much attention they got. everything felt very rushed and in the end, I wasn't super satisfied with how everything wrapped up. it had its moments of really amazing writing where I was super invested, but that happened far less times than I would have hoped.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC!
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

When they said Jurassic Park, they MEANT it. I've never seen White Lotus but I have heard a lot about it from my roommates who have watched it and I think both comps for this book are very viable. This book was both horrifying in it's descriptions of death and killer animals/insects and full of incredible world building. Finding out that the living creatures of the island mutated because of a chemical spill felt like something straight out of a comic book. The anti-colonialism in the book was a really great part of the story as well. Instead of the island simply failing on it's own because of technology, the native people had a hand in actually destroying the corrupt business men who took over their island. It felt like poetic justice even though a lot of bad also came from trying to take back their freedom. Overall this was a great story about love, loss and familial bonds.

3.5 stars
Femi and his brother are headed to a mysterious island with their father on a business trip. They have signed non-disclosure agreements and have no idea what to expect. What ends up happening is more than any of them could have imagined.

The island was intriguing and exciting. Femi explores quite a bit and finds himself in a questionable situation. While feeling he could be doing more good than harm, he agrees to some blackmail. Soon afterward, the island is absolute chaos with the animals running free and many attacking. What ensues is the fight of his life and for the lives of many others. It’s full of excitement and fast-paced adventure but also quite a bit of gore and death. It definitely had a Jurassic Park feel which I loved, but I also felt the characters were not as developed as I would’ve liked. If you love a sci fi adventure full of life-threatening situations then this one is for you!

Thank you to @FierceReads for the copy!

The book releases September 17, 2024.

This mixes family tensions and terrifying creatures so well.

When Femi accompanies his brother and their father on a trip to an unimaginable private island, he hopes he can make the most of it. The waters may be choppy between he and his father and brother, but he won’t let the tension get to him, especially when he sees a familiar face on the island…

This island is a modern marvel. Shrouded in mystery, it’s supposed to be incredibly luxurious, with remarkable wildlife and endless things to occupy your time. Unfortunately, shortly after they arrive it becomes evident that something is wrong with these animals. They are starting to attack and they. are. smart. The science fiction aspects of this book were something I really appreciated. As well as the ultimate message, one that becomes clear as we see what is really going on on this island…

The intensity is pretty high in this one, with action on almost every page. It was very entertaining and I LOVED the characters.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

When we got to the point in the novel where MC was beat boxing their way to victory...it sent me. I literally was sitting there, stopped reading and said "What?" to myself.

Super strange and eerie, having a great suspense and adventure while delving into psychological mysteries. Bright and atmospheric, but also very odd and ecclectic.