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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Beasts of Prey is the first installment in the story of Koffi and Ekon, 2 young people whose separate plan to kill the deadly, infamous creature known as the Shetani brings them together in the jungle going from the hunted to the hunter.
I really enjoyed the world building in Beasts of Prey, it’s colourful and imaginative and well thought through. There are a number of creatures in the jungle and in the night zoo that create a wonderful and intriguing visual, such as the elephant/snake beast known as the Grootslang, or Diko. I also really appreciated the added detail of Ekon, who still mourns and is still affected by the death of his father, having a coping mechanism, counting, to get him through stressful situations. The long term effects of trauma aren’t always properly given attention in characters.
Koffi is the most interesting and engaging character in the book and I enjoyed her parts of the book the most. Ekon who shares about as much of the content I struggled to connect with, his character is pretty closed off but there felt like a wall around him. Adiah’s chapters seem a bit disjointed in the story until the story develops, her character does have potential but I feel like she was possibly a little wasted.
There’s a romance in this book that also feels quite forced, I really feel we need to encourage more platonic relationships in books, not every boy and girl has to look at each other’s lips, especially following a moment of openness or vulnerability, and on this occasion there is just no chemistry between Ekon and Koffi.
I can’t say I personally cared about the characters enough to read the next installment, however that’s just my opinion, there is plenty in this story on offer for others.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the world building in Beasts of Prey, it’s colourful and imaginative and well thought through. There are a number of creatures in the jungle and in the night zoo that create a wonderful and intriguing visual, such as the elephant/snake beast known as the Grootslang, or Diko. I also really appreciated the added detail of Ekon, who still mourns and is still affected by the death of his father, having a coping mechanism, counting, to get him through stressful situations. The long term effects of trauma aren’t always properly given attention in characters.
Koffi is the most interesting and engaging character in the book and I enjoyed her parts of the book the most. Ekon who shares about as much of the content I struggled to connect with, his character is pretty closed off but there felt like a wall around him. Adiah’s chapters seem a bit disjointed in the story until the story develops, her character does have potential but I feel like she was possibly a little wasted.
There’s a romance in this book that also feels quite forced, I really feel we need to encourage more platonic relationships in books, not every boy and girl has to look at each other’s lips, especially following a moment of openness or vulnerability, and on this occasion there is just no chemistry between Ekon and Koffi.
I can’t say I personally cared about the characters enough to read the next installment, however that’s just my opinion, there is plenty in this story on offer for others.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book and the world Ayana Gray created. The chemistry between Koffi and Ekon was relatable and the many twists and turns during the adventure in the Greater Jungle kept me engrossed. Furthermore, anytime there is a twists ending that I didn’t see coming is an automatic plus in my book!
Overall, Beasts of Prey is a wonderful introduction in to the fantasy realm of YA fiction and I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait for the sequel!
Overall, Beasts of Prey is a wonderful introduction in to the fantasy realm of YA fiction and I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait for the sequel!
Are you looking for adventure through a world that is as rich in culture as in magic? This is for you. I cannot wait to continue this adventure.
This book was an amazing debut from this new author! Incredible worldbuilding based on real cultures and stories, and in depth characters that make their city come alive. With an excellent start, and an even better cliffhanger, I was hooked every minute of it. Plus, a well written neurodivergent character; it was like seeing a unicorn! I cannot wait to read the sequel.
This was interesting.
I'm not sure if listening to this on audio was the way to go, but this is a jam-packed YA fantasy that was both compelling and confusing at times. It took me about 50% to truly get into the story and what was going on but that cliffhanger ending has me intrigued to try out the second book.
Rating: 3 stars
I'm not sure if listening to this on audio was the way to go, but this is a jam-packed YA fantasy that was both compelling and confusing at times. It took me about 50% to truly get into the story and what was going on but that cliffhanger ending has me intrigued to try out the second book.
Rating: 3 stars
This debut by Ayana Gray is a lushly vivid quiet fantasy. Much of the lore, setting, and characters are inspired by African culture and it comes across so beautifully. As someone who doesn't know the intricacies of African culture, it was lovely to step inside this world.
And I call BEASTS OF PREY a "quiet fantasy" because it has this almost lyrical quality to its words. An ebb and flow you can almost feel under your skin. A warmth in the word choice and how they all string together that settles into your bones. There's no super flashy fight scene like many epic fantasies. Instead, battles are fought and won with heart.
I especially enjoyed the multi POV shifts that cross time. Wonderfully crafted. We not only follow Ekon and Koffi, but we also experience things as Adiah. Each of these characters are lovingly thought out and have enough to love (and be frustrated with) to encourage us to take this journey with them.
The setting... Wow. I cannot stress enough how beautiful this book is. From the descriptions of the Greater Jungle, to the Night Zoo, and to the streets of Lkossa, every detail is rich and powerful.
Really, the only thing that gave me pause is the pacing. It took me a bit to really ground myself in this world. But once I did, it was a wonderfully enjoyable ride.
And I call BEASTS OF PREY a "quiet fantasy" because it has this almost lyrical quality to its words. An ebb and flow you can almost feel under your skin. A warmth in the word choice and how they all string together that settles into your bones. There's no super flashy fight scene like many epic fantasies. Instead, battles are fought and won with heart.
I especially enjoyed the multi POV shifts that cross time. Wonderfully crafted. We not only follow Ekon and Koffi, but we also experience things as Adiah. Each of these characters are lovingly thought out and have enough to love (and be frustrated with) to encourage us to take this journey with them.
The setting... Wow. I cannot stress enough how beautiful this book is. From the descriptions of the Greater Jungle, to the Night Zoo, and to the streets of Lkossa, every detail is rich and powerful.
Really, the only thing that gave me pause is the pacing. It took me a bit to really ground myself in this world. But once I did, it was a wonderfully enjoyable ride.
A strong 4.5 out of 5 for me on this one. The inclusion of emotional intelligence, Black hair care, and introductory somatic experiencing was great, but I thought that the hooks for opening chapters were repetitive in their style and that Koffi's knowledge of animals from working in the Night Zoo wasn't used as much as it could have been. That said, this story was a very good read, and I know I'm being nitpicky because I'm a writer. You should still read it for the awesome characters, world-building, plot twists, and powerful girls.
Such a good book! It reminded me African folklore with a mixture of modern fantasy, so easy to get sucked in. The ending is such a twist in an unexpected, expected way and I CANNOT wait to read the second book!
I enjoyed this book so much.
This fantasy brought a different world to my imagination. Something different from all the faeries we've been reading, and I loved it.
This fantasy brought a different world to my imagination. Something different from all the faeries we've been reading, and I loved it.