4.75/5⭐ to Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray. Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for an egalley to review! This is a debut YA fantasy novel that I was highly anticipating and I'm pleased to report that it did not disappoint! We follow two main perspectives (my fave!) - Koffi, who is desperately trying to make enough to pay off her indenture to this exotic zoo/circus, and Ekon, who longs to follow in his father and brother's footsteps as a Son of the Six and is about to enter his trial. Enter the Shetani: a horrible beast that has plagued a village and Ekon's nightmares for years. Koffi and Ekon's worlds collide when the Shetani makes an appearance and Koffi is able to control it somewhat. They decide to join forces to capture the beast with Ekon hoping to slay it to finish his trial and avenge his father while Koffi needs to capture it for the man who runs the zoo so she can finally be free. I really enjoyed being in this world and getting to know these characters! I liked how there were layers to the story linking the present with the personal past of each character with the history of this world. Little bits were revealed along the way, building my knowledge and interest, and helping me connect better with these characters. Speaking of, boy did these two take me to angst-town! Though they don't meet under ideal circumstances, they start to form a bond alongside their agreed partnership leading to one of the most frustrating and satisfying relationships I've read in YA for a while. They each have secrets and things going on behind the scenes that kind of force their hands into decisions building the tension even more. Such a good couple to read about! Finally, I really liked all the twists and political scheming that was in this book! It really kept the plot & pace moving and sucked me into the pages. I hope others read this book and give it more love! Can't wait to see what this author writes next :D

Where do I start? Ayana Grey is a phenomenal author with an exceptional way of writing a complex and thought provoking story. I was fully invested in the character and their struggles. I was hooked, their problems became mine and they needed to succeed. I love when authors do that!

This book was definitely hyped up but it was just ok for me. Nothing really new in the YA genre. Still entertaining and fun - just not my favorite.

This book was FANTASTIC. I loved every second of it. The characters and the world building were so fascinating and fun to read.

Beasts of Prey follows two main characters: Koffi, a young girl who is indentured to a Night Zoo, and Ekon, who wants nothing more to become part of an elite warrior group called the Son of the Six. Koffi and Ekon find their paths intertwine as they set off to kill the Shetani - a monster that has been terrorizing their city.

Here's what I loved:
- Koffi and Ekon were both really easy to like and cheer for
- The side characters were all interesting
- The mythology and magic system were fun and I loved all of the creatures we met

Here's what wasn't for me:
- I wish we could have spent more time in the city and the Night Zoo. They were described as very impressive but we spent a lot of time in the Jungle.

Despite some light gore, this definitely felt like it was on the younger side of YA, so this would be a great addition to a school library even if it was not for me.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the gifted eARC!

Beautiful YA story with tight narrative and well developed characters. Did not disappoint and is worth the hype. The cliff hanger left me wanting more and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Highly recommend.

My Thoughts:
This was a FABULOUS book to start 2022. After a stressful end of 2021, I wanted to start the year with fantasy and magic with grabbing prose action and betrayal. This debut novel by Ayana Gray fit all my wants and desires for a first of the year book. I was hungry for girl magic and danger. This is it. Carve out some time to read it all at once. This Pan-African story with two girl magic queens and lots of back stabbing and intrigue will keep you reading late into the night and into the early morning. And no spoiler alert, but this is a series, so when you get to the end, you are going to want to scream. I mean, don't say that was a spoiler alert. If you know the genre, you know you are going to be frustrated and looking up the publication date of book 2 of 3 (July 26, 2022).

The strength of this novel is really the strong character development, including characters that are complex enough to break your heart, cry over or want to stab in the eyeballs. I also think the prose itself is aesthetically pleasing to read. The author spends time crafting this world and crafting her words, which is always appreciated. I really think in this time of world upheaval and pandemonium, the rules, even in reading have changed, so I appreciate that this is not another fay/vampire/alien white dominant fantasy. I appreciate that the mythos is decidedly not white-centric. In other words, yes for black girl magic!

Finally, the posters on Amazon are just beautiful so I am including them here. Also, for students who are inspired, Ms. Gray has a very stunning website with curated resources for writers.






From the Publisher:
In this blockbuster fantasy series, perfect for fans of Kingdom of the Wicked and Iron Widow, fate binds two Black teenagers together as they journey into a magical jungle to hunt down a vicious monster.

“Rich in magic and mythos, Beasts of Prey is a feast for all the senses.” —Renée Ahdieh, New York Times bestselling author of The Beautiful

An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller

There’s no such thing as magic in the broken city of Lkossa, especially for sixteen-year-old Koffi, who indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, knows the fearsome creatures in her care and paying off her family's debts to secure their eventual freedom can be her only focus. But the night those she loves are gravely threatened by the Zoo’s cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn’t fully understand, upending her life completely.

As the second son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become a Son of the Six—an elite warrior—and uphold a family legacy. But on the night of his final rite of passage, Ekon encounters not only the Shetani—a vicious monster that has plagued the city for nearly a century and stalks his nightmares—but Koffi who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi’s power ultimately saves Ekon, but his choice to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior.

Desperate to redeem himself, Ekon vows to hunt the Shetani and end its reign of terror, but he can’t do it alone. Koffi and Ekon form a tentative alliance and together enter the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild, frightening magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins. But it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.

This is definitely one that I am going to have to re-read in order to really understand and follow what is going on. It took me a while to get into the story because of all the world-building that happens in the beginning but once they enter the jungle the story picks up. I loved getting introduced to all of the creatures that they meet in the jungle and loved searching them on google to see what they are based on. I also really enjoyed both of our main characters, Koffi and Ekon, and hearing the story told through both of their perspectives. I can't wait for the next book to come out and to hear more about this world and these characters.

Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Teen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Things about this book that I loved:
1. Representation and diversity - Black/African female MC, Black/African male MC with anxiety and OCD, Black/African female MC, supporting cast of BIPOC characters.
2. Cool magic system
3. Unique world building
4. Intriguing characters and their development
5. Epic Fantasy/Quest in the jungle including wild animals

Things about this book that I didn't love:
*crickets chirping*

THAT'S RIGHT. This book was AMAZING. Lkossa is a broken, magic-less city except for 16 year old indentured worker, Koffi, who wields unimaginable power. When Koffi's family is threatened by the Night Zoo's master, all hell breaks loose. There are lots of content warnings such as blood, death, drug use, mental illness, xenophobia, and murder so be aware before entering this dangerous, but groundbreaking fantasy book!

A little tough to get into in the beginning, since it's a lot of world building that didn't feel really clear. A really fun and exciting adventure! Not sure if I would finish the series, but still a great read!

This was a very well written book with monsters and creatures that I have never heard of. There was so many times where I just shuddered because the descriptions made my hair rise on end. Koffi and Ekon were fantastic characters and I was so interested in hearing them hunt this creature, Shitani. The only thing that bugged me was the ending seemed to rush everything. But other than that, it was a great book.

My word of advice to anyone starting this book or in the first half of it...DON'T GIVE UP! I almost DNF'd this book around the 150ish page mark simply because the pace had slowed greatly. I loved the setting and I loved the characters, but at one point it felt like the plot completely stopped and then we entered the Greater Jungle.

I'm so glad that I stuck it out and finished this beautiful book. The second half of the story totally made up for the slow build up of the first half. The plot twists were exactly what I needed as a reader to keep me turning the page and I became so invested in these characters and their connections. I laughed, cried, gasped in shock and became so angry I wanted to throw book at times. I love stories that take me on emotional rollercoaster rides and this one did just that.

I do wish that the Night Zoo had been a bigger part of the story, because the idea of it was fascinating. The fantastical creatures that were described were incredible. I could mentally see them as I was reading in their mysterious and misunderstood magnificence.

Overall great book and I highly recommend it!

I had enjoyed this read, even though I was expecting something… a bit different. I wish we’d stayed with the circus more and was expecting the books plot to center there. The characters were some that I liked but didn’t actually connect to. Overall— it was something to pull me out of my reading slump, but nothing that will stick with me.

What the hell was that ending?! And why do I have to wait until July 2022 for the sequel?! This was an amazing debut novel, I didn't give 5 stars for me becuase it was a little slow and a little confusing in the beginning but that ending and the twist at the end of this book was shocking and wow! I don't see why this book isn't getting more hyped. The one thing I will complain about this book is that if I wasn't listening to the audiobook for this book I would never knew it was 2 povs which reading it would've been confusing for some. So overall this was an enjoyable novel and never read anything set in a night zoo!(:

Beasts of Prey is one of the best books that released this year! It was such an adventure, one that I didn't want to end. The ending left me screaming and re-reading the last few pages just because I could not get over it ending the way it did!

The author did such a great job with the world building. The magic system was incredible and so intricate, truly made for a really thrilling reading experience!

I would recommend this book to everyone who loves fantasy! I loved that it was diverse as well and I am beyond excited that it is getting adapted into a film!

Beasts of Prey is an absolutely
outstanding fantasy novel!!
Perfect for fans of adventure, an
ember in the ashes and the
guilded ones!! I cannot begin to
explain how obsessed I am with
Beasts of Prey!! Not to mention I
just read that it has been adapted
by Netflix! I've been in a massive
slump since finishing An Ember in
the Ashes so @ayanagray_
you are
fabulous and thank you for helping
me!!

Simple writing, simple plot, and pretty one-dimensional characters. I think if it would have been marketed as a middle-grade horrific fantasy it would have served the book better. The interesting part was the creatures from mythology but beyond that, there was nothing complex or plot twists that captured me at all.

Beasts of Prey is a fun, fast-paced YA fantasy that feels incredibly fresh and unique. I always adore magical animals and Gray has created this marvelous world full of them. I’m very grateful that this one has already been optioned by Netflix because I can’t wait to see it come to life on the screen.

At first, I wasn’t sure how the multiple storylines would come together, particularly once I realized that they were set in different time periods. But Koffi is a brilliant protagonist, her chapters were easily my favorites. Ekon was interesting, but I didn’t enjoy his chapters as much. Although he did really grow on me throughout the course of the novel. Adiah‘s chapters were intriguing, but I wasn’t quite sure what they were adding to the book until the end (which totally turned my opinion of her chapters around). Overall, the plot kept me hooked from beginning to end.

Beasts of Prey is an excellent debut that I would recommend to any fans of YA fantasy! I definitely will be reading the sequel, I can’t wait for it to come out.

As a Son of Six, Ekon Okojo aspires to carry on his family’s legacy. Koffi, an indentured, impulsive zookeeper, longs to be free. One fateful night, when Ekon is cast out of the warrior class. Hoping to solve both their problems, the two head into the Greater Jungle to hunt the Shetani, a powerful, vicious monster. When something unexpected happens and the two must save their village and humanity, Ekon must use his warrior instinct and Koffi his splendor magic. Will they succeed? Filled with betrayal, vivid imagery, action, mythology, and romance, readers will be drawn into the story with ease. The characters are complex, enjoyable, and engaging. Fans of Rick Riordan, mythology, and adventure will want to pick up this pan-African tale. 4.5 stars, 12 and up

I really enjoyed this book. There was a definite originality to the story and likeable characters. Yes a little bit of a love affair, and some twists and turns along the way.

The world in which the book is set is quite different to other books I've read. There is an element of being thrown right in, but that didn't bother me as it was easy enough to figure out what was going on and what these new words meant. It also meant the pace was good. There is a fair bit of action, and some character and world development.

There were areas of under development. For example when they were travelling and they encountered various beasts, there was a lot of jumping around and time gaps. Personally, I'd have preferred a little more development in places. As a result things seemed a little over simplified at times and therefore, this will suit a younger teen.

I would have liked to know more about the zoo too

Overall an enjoyable read. Pacey, and simple despite the random names for things.