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A review by annamickreads
Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray
5.0
There are so many things I love about this book that I think YA readers (and readers in general let's be real) who enjoy fantasy will love as well!!!
First, the vividness of this story in everything from setting to characters to magic system is breathtaking. I am so so beyond excited that Netflix is adapting this book to film so we will be able to physically SEE the beautiful and terrifying creatures that exist in Lkossa (and the Great Jungle beyond). In my opinion, this book is not similar to anything I've seen in YA before, and therefore immediately draws the reader in based on sheer intrigue alone.
At first I was wary of the third POV in the story because I didn't see how it connected, but once I got further in the book I LOVED that readers are sort of pre-introduced to a character who becomes extremely important later on. No spoilers, but it's a nice reverse introduction? In that we are familiar with the character but get to meet her in the present later in a whole new light. Yay!
Kossi and Ekon are lovely and I'm obsessed with not only the way they struggle with themselves internally throughout this book, but their clear arcs and the ways the balance each other out. Reading the acknowledgements only further made me appreciate knowing the sheer amount of thought, detail and research that went into crafting this Pan-African fantasy world.
TL;DR "Beasts of Prey" is fun, fresh, original, and fantastical. I will pre-order book 2 as soon as I can and I look forward to the film adaptation!!!!
First, the vividness of this story in everything from setting to characters to magic system is breathtaking. I am so so beyond excited that Netflix is adapting this book to film so we will be able to physically SEE the beautiful and terrifying creatures that exist in Lkossa (and the Great Jungle beyond). In my opinion, this book is not similar to anything I've seen in YA before, and therefore immediately draws the reader in based on sheer intrigue alone.
At first I was wary of the third POV in the story because I didn't see how it connected, but once I got further in the book I LOVED that readers are sort of pre-introduced to a character who becomes extremely important later on. No spoilers, but it's a nice reverse introduction? In that we are familiar with the character but get to meet her in the present later in a whole new light. Yay!
Kossi and Ekon are lovely and I'm obsessed with not only the way they struggle with themselves internally throughout this book, but their clear arcs and the ways the balance each other out. Reading the acknowledgements only further made me appreciate knowing the sheer amount of thought, detail and research that went into crafting this Pan-African fantasy world.
TL;DR "Beasts of Prey" is fun, fresh, original, and fantastical. I will pre-order book 2 as soon as I can and I look forward to the film adaptation!!!!