I can excuse a story to be so similar to the <i>A Quiet Place</i> franchise it seems part of it, but I draw the line at not giving me an ending.


Thanks to Levine Querido and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

If The Last of Us met A Quiet Place and they decided to take the depraved outlook on humanity from TLOU with the eerie stalking of the monsters from AQP then you get this book.

In 128 pages you get a real sense of the fear and love of the main characters. Abdi and Alva are trying to make their way to the dock in hopes of catching a boat to get away from the titular Beasts that have come to their city.

I really enjoyed the ambience of this novella, there are a couple of really heart warming moments in the midst of this dystopian future. Can’t wait for the UK translated version to hit stores so I can rave about this dynamite book.

I was very excited to get to review Beasts by @ingvildbjerkeland as my first @netgalley ARC! The synopsis captured my attention as it seemed like a suspenseful, action filled novella. Just what I love!

Overall, I enjoyed this quick read at less than 150 pages! Vivid descriptions really pulled me into the story and allowed me to visualise the terror of the characters as they were hunted down by the beasts. At times, even as I read cosily in bed, I felt unsettled at the thought of being stalked by these terrifying beasts.

The author has a particular talent in building suspense and causing the reader to be suspicious of every new character that was introduced. I felt like screaming ‘DON’T TRUST THEM!’ as the characters took chances that I would have steered away from! I would have loved to see what direction the story could have taken if one particular character had had different intentions.

The only real criticism I have is that the ending fell a little flat for me. I can imagine it could have hit harder if I had read the book in one sitting, but personally I think the ending would have been more impactful if it had been a little more developed... it left me with so many unanswered questions and felt a little unsatisfying.

All things considered, I rated this book 4⭐️!

Firstly. thank you to Levine Querido for providing the ARC copy of this book for me to review.

Beasts is a unique and interesting take on folklore monsters causing a dystopian land following their appearance.

Beasts is a very matter of fact take on the end of the world genre at the hands of strange monsters that appear seemingly out of nowhere, following a teenage boy and his young sister as they fight to survive in this new world where other people cannot be trusted. Bjerkeland's prose is very straightforward and to the point and while I enjoyed the concept and the bones of what was there, I do feel that certain points of the story and explanations could have done with more elaboration. This might simply be a stylistic choice by the author, but it feels as though the concept, setting and emotion are there, they need a little more development to really hit home the devastation of the story.

Thrilling tale of siblings on the run from beasts in a world wracked by havoc. An incredibly engaging and compelling novella.

I really liked the atmosphere the author was able to create. Such a feeling of hopelessness and dread. You could feel how tense the characters and situation was. What a whirlwind of emotions as well! Loss, anger and finally hope! I really enjoyed this read!

A harrowing read, BEASTS is a perfect middle grade horror story. It's written in compelling voice of the two siblings, their relationship is endearing and I was quickly invested in Abdi and Alva. It would make a great gift for 8+ kids.

Beasts is a surprisingly endearing novella that follows the traditional beats of survival horror, albeit slightly watered down for young readers. Its greatest strength lies in the protagonists, and their heartfelt bond.

If you're looking for a thrill, although short, this is the book for you! I was actually tucked up under the covers anxious almost the entire time! I do wish it had been longer but on the same hand, if it had been longer, it might not have been as good. It was like reading a zombie book but somehow scarier because the beasts were a new concept and the way they were described was terrifying. I do also wish there had been a better, more conclusive ending but it was still so worth the read!!

I knew going into this, even though it's a YA book, it would be pretty bleak. Nordic books, shows and movies tend to be pretty dark. I'm an adult, but found some scenes in BEASTS to be creepy. I would love to see what Ingvild Bjerkeland does in an adult book. The relationship between brother and sister (Abdi and Alva) was heartwarming and therefore added to the stressful nature of their predicament. This story will stick with me for a while.

Upon light research, I found out that Ingvild Bjerkeland writes for children and teens. It made a lot of sense considering how much I enjoyed the children's voices in this novella. The sibling's dynamic made sense, it made me care a lot for Abdi and Alva.

If you are familiar with "Bird Box", "A Quiet Place", you are no stranger to the post world crisis subgenre of horror. This one is quite simple in a nice way. The writing itself is fast paced, leaving no room to breathe as the two children try to navigate this new world infested with beasts in the hopes of finding their father. As an older brother, Abdi finds himself in a place of provider, a child looking after another child - in this case his much younger sister, Alva.

"Beasts" is a quick and easy read. One I would recommend if you're trying to find something quick to read in one sitting.

It doesn't, however, bring anything new to this type of plot. I wish we had been given more on the beasts themselves. After one particular scene where Abdi watches a beast act in a very specific way, he calls it the scariest thing he's ever seen (I'm not saying what it is to keep this spoiler free). I wish we had gone a little bit more towards that path, I wanted more on those beasts, more on their mystery.

Wow, I was expecting to like this book but I loved it!!
It follows a older brother and a young sister trying to survive in the world while these beasts are roaming around.
Honestly all I can say is " I WANT MORE ", I could have read 600 pages just about these charters.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an arc.

This YA monster"road trip" novel caught my eye when I saw it billed as The Road meets A Quiet Place, but ultimately it fell flat with a lackluster plot and character arcs.

[Minor spoilers below]

Thirteen-year-old Abdi and his five-year-old sister Alva are alone, making their way across the wilds of Norway in an effort to reach the coast where they hope to board a ship to a remote island where their father is working at a research station. Not too long prior, mysterious "beasts" showed up--destroying the world as they know it and killing their mother.

The conceit of this novel was much more exciting than the execution. I loved the blurb, and was excited not only for a post-apocalyptic monster novel for YA readers, but also to learn more about these "beasts" of the novel's title. What are these beasts? Why are they here? What do they want? What will these children do about it? In the end, the book didn't answer any of those questions--and, perhaps worse--didn't force me as a reader to ask any questions of myself either. To that I mean, the book felt all surface, no substance.

The plot felt very formulaic; it featured the classic touch points of most novels of this genre that feature characters traversing a post-apocalyptic landscape to reach a location. Granted, this genre is probably not as popular with YA readers, so they probably haven't been introduced to these tropes as much before. But that doesn't feel like an excuse for mediocre writing. The characters went to point A, then point B, then point C. The descriptions weren't very exciting (there was nothing to suggest they were in Norway as opposed to Vermont or Quebec or Scotland). They occasionally ran into beasts but didn't really have any confrontations with them; the beasts' powers and motivations were also a complete mystery so the stakes around them fell flat. I'm not sure either character really had an arc or learned anything by the book's end. The most interesting elements were the backstory about the children's mother dealing with the breakdown of her community upon the beasts' arrival, and the few sparse chapters where the children are taken in by a kind woman.

I appreciated the two children characters; Abdi was courageous and realistic, Alva was cute. There were a couple very beautifully-written passages. The description of the beasts was vague but creepy--and there was one moment that really creeped me out. But otherwise, the book just didn't land for me. To blame it on the fact that it's a YA book and in translation would do a disservice to both young readers and translators. Overall, I was hoping for more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Levine Querido for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. The book comes out April 2025.

Very interesting concept, but the writing was too simplistic to fully hold my attention. I prefer writing that is more charismatic

Thank you to NetGalley, Levine Querido Publishing, and Ingvild Bjerkeland for the opportunity to read this early ARC.
Publication Date: April 1, 2025

This short yet hauntingly intense novel left an indelible impression. Equal parts touching and gruesome, it masterfully weaves a tale of survival, trust, and the fragile bonds of family in a collapsing world.

Thirteen-year-old Abdi and his five-year-old sister, Alva, are on the run, desperate to make it through the forest and to the sea—their final hope for safety. But with every step, memories of the strange events that unleashed the beasts upon their world haunt them, forcing them to confront questions that dig at the core of human resilience: Who can they trust? How far will they go to survive? And, perhaps most painfully, what will it cost them in the end?

Set against the rugged and striking landscapes of Norway, the story’s atmosphere is nothing short of breathtaking. The snow-dusted forests, isolated hills, and eerie silence of the surrounding wilderness create a vivid backdrop for the siblings’ perilous journey, amplifying both their desperation and courage.

What surprised me most was the darkness that threaded through this YA novel. The story doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of survival, touching on themes that feel both weighty and raw. Yet, amidst the fear and tension, moments of tenderness shine through, reminding readers of the unbreakable love between Abdi and Alva.

For such a brief read, this novel packs an emotional and visceral punch. It’s a chilling adventure with terrifying creatures lurking in the shadows and even scarier truths about humanity rising to the surface. If you’re a fan of post-apocalyptic survival tales with a touch of Nordic atmosphere, this one is not to be missed.

I thought the concept of this book was interesting, but I felt pretty disappointed by the book itself.

The writing quality was fine. It was easy to read and the progression of events made sense. However, this book was incredibly sparse and choppy. The chapters were all very short, and every few paragraphs there would be a larger break, so the book lacked a decent flow. And because of how short the chapters were, we got very little time with each scene. Nothing was described in detail. I didn't feel immersed in the story, nor did I feel any sense of attachment (or any other emotion, really) towards the characters. On top of all of this, the ending was incredibly abrupt.

To sum it up, it felt more like like I was reading an outline than an actual book.

The apocalypse is here, and it's mysterious monsters that appeared from nowhere. As society collapses, 13-year-old Abdi must protect his little sister from both the literal monsters and the monsters that people become when there's no laws. They cross the country, trying to make it to the port city that can take them to the island their father is on.
It's a very solid thriller for children. It deals with the hard topics really well. It's scary without being gory, despite multiple people being consumed by monsters on page. It's also suitably heavy, and gives Abdi space to deal with his emotions. It's a good survival tale.

From the very beginning the story starts off with the siblings Abdi and Alva running from these mysterious beasts. I loved the details of the beasts. I love that despite the siblings being of young age are able to stay together and try to survive. It was short. I wished there had been more at the end. It was scary, it was exciting and I had anxiety for the characters. But overall I enjoyed it and it definitely deserves four out of five stars.

This was an easy read. Simplistic writing and structure. Beasts has an interesting plot that holds enough suspense throughout the novella. However, I felt detached from the overall situation and the two main characters. I do think the concept of this novella is captivating and intriguing and I appreciate that.

Thank you Netgally and the publisher for letting me read this story in exchange for an honest review.

Scary and tense YA creature feature. Very lean, bit a ton of character to development by design, this is a story that is based on suspense and forward momentum. At each stop for rest we learn a little more about the initial appearance of the beasts and just how bleak it seems that anyone is going to survive. Maybe just a little too short, the characters veer more into archetypes then individuals, which takes a little of the emotion out of it, but it is still a well written and tense little novella.