By Meghan Mazzaferro
Content warning: violence, gore, racial discrimination/prejudices, trauma-induced hallucinations
Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray is a young adult fantasy novel inspired by Pan-African myths and folklore. A hundred years after a cataclysm called the Rupture scars the sky and drives magic from the city of Lkossa, two teens form an unlikely alliance that may be the key to unlocking mysteries hidden for the last century.
Koffi and Ekon could not be more different. Koffi is an indentured servant of the Night Zoo, forced to work as a beast master to pay off her family’s debts, and Ekon is an aspiring Son of the Six, a warrior desperate to fulfill a family legacy. Though separated by class and culture, a twist of fate drives Koffi and Ekon to a shared, desperate goal: to hunt the Shetani, a monster who has hunted in the Greater Jungle for the last hundred years, killing thousands. The two form a tenuous alliance to brave the Greater Jungle together and capture the monster—though each needs the Shetani for a different purpose. But the Greater Jungle is a dangerous place, and Ekon and Koffi must work together if they wish to make it out alive.
Beasts of Prey has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and when I found out I would have the opportunity to read and review this book before its release, I was ecstatic. This book sounds like everything I could want from a YA fantasy novel: a fantasy world with a deadly setting, two characters with opposing goals forced to work together, and larger forces at play that come to shake the very foundation of the story I was promised. Those are lofty expectations to place on any book, particularly a debut, but Beasts of Prey not only met my expectations, it exceeded them.
From the first page I was pulled into the world of Eshōza, and Koffi and Ekon captivated me immediately. Gray has crafted two complex characters that leap off the page, and she takes the time to develop each character and invest the reader in their goals and struggles. A common mistake I find in YA books is a tendency to jump too quickly into the main plot without taking the time to develop the status quo, reducing the impact of any character growth; Gray, however, does an excellent job of establishing the lives and goals of both Koffi and Ekon quickly and efficiently, giving the reader a clear understanding of who they are and what they want without sacrificing the pace of the story. Their individual journeys were the most memorable part of the story for me, and these characters will stick with me for a long time. Ekon in particular is a compelling and sympathetic male lead, one who deals with grief and trauma in a very realistic way, and who already holds a special place in my heart.
The plot itself is intriguing from the first page, with a perfect blend of mystery and political intrigue to keep the reader engaged in between moments of fast-paced action. Twists and turns kept me eagerly reading, and the story evolves beyond what you are provided in the synopsis in the best way; the plot twists are shocking, but Gray lays all the clues out for you, so each reveal feels like another puzzle piece falling into place, creating a larger, more powerful picture than just the tale of two children hunting a monster.
This book is an example of everything right in YA fantasy, and I cannot wait to continue the series and to see this book gain the love and attention it deserves.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons at Penguin Random House for this complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.