Title and Author: Beasts by Ingvild Bjerkeland
Diversity and Representation: translated fiction (Norwegian author)
Genre: horror, survival, Teens & YA
Length: novella
Publisher: Levine Querido
Pub Date: April 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read This if you enjoyed: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Summary (spoiler free): The story begins in medias res, following thirteen-year-old Abdi and his five-year-old sister Alva as they traverse an apocalyptic Norway that has been thrown into chaos by the arrival of "beasts"- creatures of unknown origin with seemingly one goal- attacking and destroying humans.

This novella uses familiar survival and apocalypse tropes, elevated by the quality of writing and pacing throughout. The brother/sister and other familial relationships are well-established, and Abdi's development from modern spoiled tween to world-wary protector of his family is well done.

Thank you so much to Ingvild Bjerkeland and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.

Charmingly eerie, folkloric and atmospheric, the writing was beautiful and immersive, especially for a book meant for a younger audience. I did feel like that the story ended perhaps a bit too abruptly which was a bit jarring and ultimately brought my enjoyment of the book down quite a bit. Overall, a wonderful sweet little work of horror that is well translated and well written.

⭐⭐⭐

This novella was well written and highly entertaining. Albeit middle grade, it did have some genuine scary parts in it that I loved and would disturb the average reader. It definitely has the vibes of "A Quiet Place", and "The Road", but because it's middle grade, these themes are watered down a bit to suit younger readers. As an adult reading this novella it still was a highly enjoyable and quick story. For more avid horror readers, you may find this story a bit too tame for your tastes.

Bjerkeland's talented writing in this story really stuck with me, and I'd be excited if they'd ever write anything for an adult audience.
 
Thank you NetGalley and Levine Querido for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this epub copy.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from a first time translated author's middle-grade work of dystopian horror/suspense, and I'm not sure I can say that it was necessarily for me. The prose is often uneven and choppy, reminiscent of The Road but sans the distance of time and lived-in-ness of the modern dystopian classic. Beasts feels more like a dystopian slice-of-life story, seemingly borrowing thematic elements of A Quiet Place with monster design that harkens to Adam Nevill's The Ritual. We never truly get an explanation for how or why this apocalyptic event came about, which isn't always a bad thing, but with how sketched around the edges so much of the story feels (most of the people we meet, including our main family, feel quite two dimensional), it leaves this reader feeling rather unsatisfied. There are suspenseful moments peppered throughout, but all too often they are rushed through to keep the plot moving forward and very few scenes have time enough to breathe--though this might be a particularity of the audience or something lost in translation I will readily admit.

While this novella is aimed at middle-grade readers, it does appear to suffer from an amount of vagueness that ultimately is unsatisfying with too many questions left unanswered and a particularly ambiguous cliffhanger ending, leaving the story feeling unfinished. In the end, this is a no-frills horror-lite novella aimed squarely at the audience it's looking for that is propusively suspenseful albeit at the cost of overall mood and characterization.

I found the premise interesting, but the writing is awful. This may be due to the translation, but it made absolutely no sense almost immediately. The two main characters are able to see a mutilated deer with no issues, yet a few sentences later it’s nighttime and they step onto a crag they somehow saw, overlooking an ocean that they didn’t hear, and a full moon is shining; the implication being that it was pitch black up to the point the full moon appears. This makes no sense whatsoever. I couldn’t read more after that.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

Beasts definitely does not reinvent the wheel of dystopian horror fiction, but it does do a nice job of conveying tension. The reader is frequently reminded that danger lurks around every corner, and that there are no safe choices here. The language is very plain, but the themes are somewhat heavy. There are some deaths, but these largely occur off screen. I feel Beasts would be appropriate for a mature middle grade reader, and definitely high schoolers. 3.5 stars

Don't be fooled by its slim size: "Beasts" by Ingvild Bjerkeland is a gripping, fast-paced adventure that will leave you breathless. Translated by Rosie Hedger, this English debut introduces us to the young dynamic duo of Abdi and Alva, who navigate a world filled with terrifying huge and hairy creatures. At times the kids aren’t sure who to be more afraid of the beasts or other humans.
While Beasts is written for young adults, the expertly crafted suspense and sharp writing make this a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling story, especially for teens and up.

Thank you NetGalley, Ingvild Bjerkeland and Levine Querido for this ARC.

This was a great quick read. I really enjoyed the main character and how much he loved his sister even in the midst of the horrible circumstances. While it’s a shorter story/novella, it really leaves you wanting to know more about the monsters and what is happening in the rest of the world.

This was a fun read. I felt this novella might be more YA, which isn’t a bad thing. The writing is easy to read and gives a very mild telling of a post apocalyptic world. I could see this book being a gateway into that trope. I also think my feelings could be because the main characters are young. Either way, i think it’s worth a read if you want something quick and thrilling.

Despite being billed as upper middle grade, I found myself thoroughly engaged with this novella myself and think many adults would feel the same. This was a chilling horror novel and I found myself with actual goosebumps at several points while reading this. I possibly wouldn’t recommend to very young or sensitive readers for this reason, but I think a YA/older middle grade audience should be fine. I read it in one sitting (which is unusual for me) as I just needed to know what happened next! The description of the beasts - one scene in particular - had me holding my breath. The characters were relatable and sympathetic, and the older character of Abdi in particular will be relatable to middle grade readers as a peer. The short format did not allow as full a character exploration as I would have liked, but the reader is given enough information to root for the main characters and feel invested in their plight. Despite the horror elements, this book also speaks to several real-world issues. The social commentary on the things people will resort to in a crisis, particularly putting their own needs above those of others, reminded me at times almost a little too much of where we were several years ago during the Covid pandemic! Without giving too much away, I actually appreciated the way things were left off with the ending of this novel, as it leaves room for interpretation and the reader’s imagination. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read which I would recommend to not only to a middle grade audience but to an adult one as well.

BEASTS is a quick romp through a post-apocalyptic world overun by blood thirsty creatures. The story, told by a 13-year old boy, is interesting but not enough to completely satisfy readers. The novella has potential and shows glimpses of what a longer work could be, but, as is, the work ultimately disappoints. Be warned, there is no explanation or conclusion to the events taking place. Truly, this publication feels unfinished.

***3 stars out of 5***

(Note: thank you to Netgalley.com for the ARC.)

Coming in at under two hundred pages, Ingvild Bjerkeland’s Beasts packs plenty of punch. Translated by Rosie Hedger, it’s the first of Bjerkeland’s novels to be published in English. Led by the engaging duo of Abdi and Alva, its rapid series of set pieces keep readers gripped from the get-go, revealing much about the monsters, inhuman or otherwise, that inhabit their world.

While Bjerkeland writes primarily for children and young adults, Beasts is a fine example of how good writing and an engaging story can easily transcend recommended age groups - though the scares in this one mean it’s probably best for teens upwards.

Proof that the best things often do come in the smallest packages, Beasts hits much harder than its short page count might suggest. This one ticks off everything that makes for a good horror, packing its high stakes with a healthy dose of heart and a dash of social commentary. Does it reinvent the wheel? No, not particularly. But when the wheel works this well, why would you need to?

This is a fast paced YA novella with a quiet place aura to its. I throughly enjoyed this novella. The writing was easy to understand, flowed well and had an emotional touch to the characters and plot. I also adore this cover! I recommend this book and think younger children and adults would adore this story!

Honestly, at first I thought I was going to dislike this book. It kind of felt like I was reading a story I would write in middle school, because the prose was so simplistic. And I'm a believe that even if a book is written for a younger audience, it doesn't need to be super simple. But I reminded myself that we are seeing this story from a POV of a very young child as he tries to take care of his little sister during some sort of apocalypse where "beasts" are tracking and killing humans. So the simplicity began to make more sense the longer I read.

We also started to get a bit more detail--what the beasts look like (although we never get super close up to them). Mostly we follow the brother and sister as they travel and stay short spans in different houses, and we get little snippets of how they survive and scavenge for supplies, which were my favorite parts.

I read this in about an hour as it reads super quick. There is a very open ending and you don't any answers to what the beasts really are, how the apocalypse started, or anything like that. It's almost slice of life, and I feel like the author could do other stories in the same world following different groups of people, although I don't think that is their intention.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Beasts by Ingvild Bjerkeland is a tense and atmospheric horror novel that explores fear, isolation, and the blurred lines between reality and nightmare. The writing is evocative, with a strong sense of unease that builds steadily. However, the pacing can feel uneven, with moments of intense dread interspersed with slower sections that may lose some readers’ engagement. While the psychological horror elements are compelling, the narrative’s resolution might not satisfy those looking for clear answers. Overall, it’s an eerie and unsettling read, but its effectiveness depends on the reader’s tolerance for ambiguity.

The story of Abdi and Alva, although short, was very satisfying. There was tension and scary moments but not outright horror. I would not let my preteen grandchildren read this as it is quite an emotionally taxing book but it is great for the older ones. The ending leaves you hanging a bit with no firm conclusion but has positive vibes. Overall I would buy this authors works if more were in english.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this novella a lot! it's very Last of Us-esque and not the most original storyline ever, but you seriously can't go wrong and I loved the world building it created. Part of me wishing this was a full-length novel because I could have just kept reading and reading, but I appreciate what it did! I would definitely recommend to friends and family and would pick up a physical copy for my bookshelf. The cover art is so pleasing!

This book sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions. It made me cry, made me tense, and very invested in the story and 2 main characters,
This is a great quick read that'll leave you wondering about the beasts. Where did they come from?
I am very excited to read more from Ingvild Bjerkland.
5/5 stars from me :)) Thank you, #netgalley for letting me read this ARC :)

Fast, easy to read, interesting stuff! A punchy dystopian novel, overall had a blast with it. I'm always very moved by stories about kids dealing with the fallout of a larger societal issue (in this case, its downfall).

This book was a page turner for me! I grew fond of the main characters immediately. I enjoyed escaping into this book. I do think is similar and repetitive to other dystopian novels but I enjoyed the writing and adventure.