Beasts of Prey

When Koffi, in indentured servant, finds herself trekking through the jungle with disgraced trainee soldier Ekon, she learns more about herself than she could ever have imagined. In a world full of magnificent creatures and awe inspiring magic, their adventure looks set to change everything.I found the pacing of this book a little strange - the beginning was very slow and could have been significantly cut down. However, about half way through it picks up and I found it hard to put down! The creatures and plants in the jungle made for a really beautiful adventure fantasy!I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this YA fantasy novel set in the fictional pan African Lkossa. Escapist, sometimes gruesome, pacy and well written, this book is the first in a series. I'm looking forward to the next one!

A wonderful YA fantasy, with an intriguing magical mystery and African influences. Koffi and Ekon, 2 determined teenagers, are plunged into chaos as their lives spin out of control, until they are left relying on one another to hunt the Shetani (a monster plaguing the region). The world building is incredible and the plot clever and engaging. There is a sprinkle of romance and it was very fairytale-esque. Unforgettable, rich with lore, and one of my favourite reads of 2022.

An amazing fun story with great character and really wholesome vibes.I love the magic and the setting makes it more original. There are some great twists and turns and just stunning world building

Beasts of prey is a fast paced story of family, redemption, magic and growing up. Set in The great Jungle in an alternative Africa the author Ayana Gray, has used her personal knowledge and her imagination to take you a place of fantasy that feels so real. Adiah, a girl who has magical powers but with youthful over-confidence and a lack of world experience. Koffi, tied to a zoo of mythical beasts but wanting to leave to a better life. Ekon, whose only wish is to make his father proud by becoming a member of the Sons of the Six. These three characters lead us through the story. We meet Deities meddling with humanity, humans who are more horrendous than the ferocious and malicious animals and plants that inhabitant the Great Jungle and magic that should be used wisely. Ultimately the choices these three make will affect each other and so many others. This is the first in the series with a sequel coming soon. I read this book as a free e-ARC, my thanks to NetGalley and G P Putnam’s Sons. My opinion is that this is a must read for anyone who likes fantasy stories, young and older readers alike.

This is a book about two teenagers bound together to hunt a legendary monster in the jungle.For Koffi, it means the end of her indentured servitude at the Night Zoo. For Ekon, it means acceptance into the Sons of Six, the respected and feared guardians of Lkossa.And for the isolated city of Lkossa, it means the end of a spate of brutal deaths, and the capture of the dreaded Shetani responsible for them.I loved the world of Eshōza, with the city of Lkossa and the Greater Jungle being the focus of the story. I felt the jungle in particular had its own personality, with various monsters to trip up the main characters on their way to find the Shetani.Personally, I felt the story really gained steam once they entered the jungle. The events that happen to Ekon and Koffi before they leave the city weren’t quite as gripping, although I felt like they certainly had the potential to be. The characters hadn’t developed as much, and while their motivations were all well founded, I just wasn’t as swept up in their challenges yet. I felt like I needed to really feel for them more — and a lot earlier — than I did.Once they got into the jungle, and were forced to fight the various monsters on offer there, they started to grow more and more as a pair with every interaction.When they finally meet Badwa, I feel like the story really gets going. The pace picks up and I started to get a lot more invested in the plot. The second half of the book is definitely stronger than the first.There are a few transition moments that could have been a bit smoother, but I found that entirely forgivable.The ending was extremely strong — there were several gasp-worthy twists in the final few chapters that upped the ante, a betrayal of trust and a wild prison escape. I can see myself picking up the sequel to see where this story goes, it’s clearly only just beginning for these two! There’s a lot more to cover and I’m now deeply invested in both characters. By the end of the book it felt like they’d both grown, both had had to make tough decisions, and both now have a lot more to offer.A really solid debut to add to the class of 2022. I look forward to the sequel!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read the E-ARC in return for an honest review.Fantastic debut novel from Ayana Gray. It had some fun plot twists, and the characters gelled together. I found some of the book a little slow, then it picked up.It was a fun read but it didn't wow me, but that's just me as I know others loved it.