Well... this was a bit of a bummer.
The pacing was pretty bad. Like, the fastest most uninteresting ending...ever.
And relationship wise, there were things that happened in the second book that were just forgotten or moved past so quickly I had whiplash.
I still enjoyed the mythology just could have used alot more of it.

Also, the only thing worse than a love triangle is a USELESS love triangle.

Thanks to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

In "Beasts of War," acclaimed Ayana Gray author delivers a compelling and thought-provoking examination of the complex relationship between humanity and conflict. Set against the backdrop of a war-torn landscape, this gripping narrative dives deep into the hearts and minds of both soldiers and civilians, exploring the profound impact of war on individuals and society as a whole.

From the opening pages, readers are thrust into a world torn apart by violence, where survival hangs in the balance and moral lines blur beyond recognition. Through the eyes of the diverse cast of characters, [author's name] masterfully navigates the harrowing realities of war, offering poignant insights into the human condition in the face of adversity.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its richly drawn characters, each grappling with their own demons and desires as they navigate the chaos of war. From the battle-hardened veteran haunted by past traumas to the innocent bystander caught in the crossfire, every character feels authentic and fully realized, adding depth and dimension to the narrative.

Moreover, Gray demonstrates a keen understanding of the complexities of conflict, weaving together themes of power, ideology, and the inherent brutality of war with skill and nuance. Through vivid prose and evocative imagery, the author brings to life the stark realities of combat, immersing readers in a visceral and unflinching portrayal of the human cost of violence.

At its core, "Beasts of War" is not simply a tale of bloodshed and destruction, but a profound exploration of what it means to be human in the face of overwhelming adversity. Through moments of courage, sacrifice, and unexpected acts of kindness, Gray reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit, even in the darkest of times.

In conclusion, "Beasts of War" is a powerful and haunting work that will linger in the minds of readers long after they turn the final page. With its compelling narrative, well-drawn characters, and poignant exploration of the human condition, Gray has crafted a masterpiece that demands to be read and remembered. Whether you're a fan of military fiction or simply enjoy stories that challenge and provoke, "Beasts of War" is an absolute must-read.

I wanted to love this conclusion to the great series, but I just could not enjoy it. I found the story to drag in some areas and rushed in others. I thought the quests were warranted and interesting, but the action in each setting could not grab my attention.

I own and read the first book in the series, so when I first saw the sequel was coming out, I knew I had to read it.

If you’ve read the first book, then you need to start this one!

If you haven’t read the first one, I recommend you do and then start this one.

This was one of the best finales to a series that I have ever read! I hadn't read the other two books in a while and I thought Gray did an excellent job reminding me what happened previously without it feeling like a summary. Gray also always includes a new POV in each book and I sometimes end up liking the new POV more than the original ones! The new POV character in this book was super interesting and I found myself looking forward to his chapters the most.

I liked that this book felt like a quest and had us traveling all over. I utilized the map quite a bit! I do wish that the map had been updated for this book to include all of the little places mentioned along the river. A zoom-in version of the map that focused on the river would have been fun.

I liked meeting all of the gods and experiencing the world more through the characters' travels. There was a great balance of action and emotional moments. I highly recommend this series!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the publisher for a physical copy of the book.

Everything about this finale was wonderful until the last 50ish pages.

I loved getting to see the crew together hunting down gods to help them fight Fedu. It added this incredible depth to the characters and obviously the world building. A part of me wishes we could have had even more time with them because I have so many questions. Their ultimate defeat of Fedu seemed a bit too easy, and while I understand Koffi stepping in to ask for another punishment besides death, a part of me wishes the imprisonment could have been the original goal. It definitely felt forced and even "this is what I want you to learn" vibe, which was also the same feeling I got when Ekon and his brother talked in the jail cells before their execution. I don't believe Ekon's brother would see the error of his ways that quickly. I also wish their relationship could have had more page time because their resolution felt rushed.

Rushed is honestly the word I would use to describe these final 50 pages. I wish even another 30 or 50 pages could've been added to allow the pacing and timeline of the story to flow more naturally and cohesively. It was akin to whiplash to go from scene to scene to lesson to lesson.

Probably my favorite part of this book was Koffi's imperfections. This has always been one of my favorite things about Ayana's writing and characters, but it shined BRIGHT in the finale. Koffi slowly becoming corrupted with the splendor, by its power, was fascinating. Her friends and loved ones—Ekon in particular—checking her behavior when it teetered into unhealthy territory really accented the depth of the crew. Ekon and Koffi particularly calling the other out when they overstepped was great because that's what any partner would do for the other. In many ways, I wish we could have had more time to see them actually become a couple instead of jumping into the six months later, but I also understand the need to wrap the story up.

Besides the pacing, the big critique I have with this book lies with Akande. The previous two books and their past POVs made sense (Adieh and Koffi's grandma), but Akande felt a bit like a scapegoat for the story. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed his chapters, and they provided great world building, but I don't see why he had to be the one to take Koffi's splendor via the Bonding besides the simple fact that it would keep Koffi alive. He feels like an easy choice to throw to the wolves, and I didn't like that. Maybe further chapters could have helped me to understand, but I did not think Akande and Koffi had built a deep enough relationship for him to sacrifice himself for her. Obviously, he sacrifices himself largely due to his guilt and discontent for his splendor in his youth, the mistakes he made, but again, it felt very surface level. I wanted something deeper to form between him and Koffi.

Overall, Ayana is a phenomenal writer. I did really enjoy this finale, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you PenguinTeen and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Penguin Teen, PRH Audio, and Netgalley for my review copy. All opinions are my own.

Beasts of War was a great finish to the series. It followed the same structure - a quest to reach the goal. Finding friends along the way, with epic challenges in between. So nothing was surprising.

For me, Akande's timeline and story felt unnecessary, and completely made the book feel like a new problem/story.

But I loved the friendships and romance, and the continuation with African Mythology and different Gods. And did like how the end went full circle, and we ended where we began. It brought closure.

Highly recommend this series to YA Fantasy lovers as it will deliver it all - a lush story telling, an interesting world, full of monsters, magic, and Gods that can help or punish. And a cute enemies to lovers story line,

This was a great ending to the series! It fell a little flat for me at times, and I didn’t find myself as hooked as the other books. Overall I enjoyed this series.

Struggling to finish. The story line is dragging about 30% into the story. The reader is not learning anything new about the characters.

4.5

Beasts of War by Ayana Gray is an absolutely solid ending to an amazing YA fantasy trilogy. We start immediately where we left off Beasts of Ruin and we follow Kofi and Ekon through their very action packed journey as they attempt to throat Fedu in his path of destruction.

This series finale finally ties up all the complex characters that we've seen since book 1, bringing together all the plot lines and all the events that take place since the beginning of the series. At the same time we meet lushly imagined new and exciting magical beasts and a whole host of fantastic, full bodied characters.

This was super highly engaging and I'm truly sad to see this series come to a close. I can't wait to read what else Ayana Gray comes up with.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I got 49 pages in before dnf’ing.

I do want to start by saying this book has a lot going for it, but it just isn’t really for me.

I remember liking Beasts of Prey when that came out. But then Beasts of Ruin fell so flat. To the point I don’t actually remember what happened in that book. Which majorly played into me dnf’ing this book.

I don’t connect with Koffi at all. To me she just reads as very juvenile. Fedu reads as a creep, but seeing as he’s this villain, I feel like that’s more intentional. For Ekon he has anxiety and a very specific way of dealing with it.

I love the world with its African setting and base. It’s great. But it doesn’t make up for the characters for me.

What a fabulous conclusion to this strategy, and I was so excited to read this book and even more excited to have a physical copy of the story. Thank you so much to penguin. I have to say that this is one trilogy that I wish I could go back to the beginning and read because of the world building and the character development being so well done. I hope she’ll be coming out with another series because this one is definitely one that I will be recommending to people who are looking for a good series that’s short and sweet, but just so good.

I can’t believe that this series is over! I thought that it was a great conclusion and goodbye to the world Ayana created. it was just as action packed and fun as the first two and it was nice learning even more about the daraja and gods/goddesses

I think this was wrapped up really well. I appreciated that we got answers and the epilogue was beautiful. It topped the story well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
4.5/5 STARS

Genre: YA Fantasy

This is the final book in this YA fantasy series filled with African mythology and I’m sad for it to end. In this book, Koffi and Ekon are on a quest to defeat the evil god Fedu. They seek the help of other gods along the way to the bonding ceremony where they know Fedu will be. Without spoiling it, the book comes full circle and I was happy with the ending. There is a dash of romance, but more so it is an adventure series.
The first book Beasts of Prey was my absolute favorite with all the different mythological creatures and the dangerous jungle. This one has a few beasts but is more centered on the journey to finding different gods.
This series is definitely underrated! If you like books with an adventure/quest feel and strong female heroine, you need to check out this series!
Thank you Penguin Teen for the gifted copy! 🐍🦁🦁🦁🦁

Thank you Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC!

An exhilarating finale to an adventurous trilogy!

I thoroughly enjoyed the continuation of Koffi’s and Ekon’s stories. We get more splendor, more mythical beasts and more Gods!! I’m sad to see the series end but so happy to have gone on this journey with these characters.

Full transparency: I am not a high fantasy reader. I am a visual reader and I have difficulty visualizing the world building when the descriptions aren’t rooted in “real” things. However, that being said I read the first two books of this series with friends (I need translators for high fantasy lol) and loved both of them. I was excited about reading book 3 and decided to go for it on my own. Yall this book and series have officially made me a fantasy reader. The author writes with such detail that even though I have never seen the beasts she describes, I am able to clearly get it. I realized that I didn’t want this series to end. I want to know so much more about the characters.

4.5⭐️
Thank you so much Penguin Teen & NetGalley for the ARC!
I started this series a few months ago, and overall it’s been such a great ride. BOW was a great conclusion to the trilogy!

This series is definitely a new favorite fantasy, and I will absolutely be recommending it! I love how unique and diverse it is, but also fast-paced and kept my attention. I love the characters too, and I’m so glad they got their happy ending.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this series, and I hope others enjoy this finale as much as I did!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. MS. GRAY. Wow, talk about an absolutely amazing journey. The pacing was done so well, and I really felt like the story wrapped up at the perfect time, with everything feeling well explained, and a natural winddown. I also was very impressed that the series didn't seem to weaken as the books released, usually sequels and trilogy's can lose my interest, but that did not happen here once. Ms. Gray will forever on my auto-buy list! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

Y’all….I FLEW THROUGH THIS. I read 70% of it on two flights yesterday and finished the rest this morning.

This is probably one of my favorite YA fantasy trilogies ever. Beasts of War picks up right where Beasts of Ruin left off. When I say picks up…I mean picks up. This book was so action packed and fast paced from the start. The world building was expanded on even more, we got more lore about The Six, and the character development that occurred was *chef’s kiss*. My favorite part of the book was Akande’s chapters. I think they added to much depth and nuance to the story and oh how my heart hurt for him by the end.

I don’t really want to dive too deep into the plot or anything because I don’t want to spoil anything. But ugh, this series will always hold such a special place in my heart and I will continue to scream from the rooftops about how everyone needs to read it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.