In this blockbuster fantasy series, perfect for fans of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Iron Widow, fate binds two Black teenagers together as they journey into a magical jungle to hunt down a vicious monster.
“Rich in magic and mythos, Beasts of Prey is a feast for all the senses.” —Renée Ahdieh, New York Times bestselling author of The Beautiful
An Instant New York Times and Indie BestsellerThere’s no such thing as magic in the broken city of Lkossa, especially for sixteen-year-old Koffi, who indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, knows the fearsome creatures in her care and paying off her family's debts to secure their eventual freedom can be her only focus. But the night those she loves are gravely threatened by the Zoo’s cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn’t fully understand, upending her life completely.
As the second son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become a Son of the Six—an elite warrior—and uphold a family legacy. But on the night of his final rite of passage, Ekon encounters not only the Shetani—a vicious monster that has plagued the city for nearly a century and stalks his nightmares—but Koffi who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi’s power ultimately saves Ekon, but his choice to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior.
Desperate to redeem himself, Ekon vows to hunt the Shetani and end its reign of terror, but he can’t do it alone. Koffi and Ekon form a tentative alliance and together enter the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild, frightening magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins. But it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.
“The hunt for your next YA fantasy book trilogy obsession has ended.” —
Entertainment Weekly
Praise for Beasts of Prey:An Instant New York Times Bestseller
An Indie Bestseller
A 2023-2024 South Carolina Book Award Nominee
A 2022-2023 Arkansas Teen Book Award Nominee
A 2022 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
A 2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
A 2022 Books All Young Georgians Should Read List Pick (GA)
A 2021 Kirkus Best Book
A 2021 New York Public Library Best Book Pick
A 2021 Chicago Public Library Best Book Pick
A 2021 Tor.com Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Best Book Pick
A 2021 Parade Best YA Book Pick
A 2021 Black Caucus American Library Association Best of the Best Booklist Pick
An Apple Best Book of the Month Pick – October 2021An Amazon Best Book of the Month – October 2021An Indie Next Pick“
Rich and powerful.” —
O, The Oprah Magazine"The hunt for
your next YA fantasy book trilogy obsession has ended." —
Entertainment Weekly“A
propulsive mystery mixed with a
moving coming-of-age tale and a touch of
romance,
Beasts of Prey asks: When we go into the jungle, who will we be when we come out?” —
The New York Times Book Review“A
new epic fantasy series.” —
POPSUGAR“Step into the
lush, magical jungles of
your new young-adult fantasy obsession. . . Much more than just your standard hero’s journey,
Beasts of Prey is a story of courage, friendship, and community that’s
as inspiring as it is exciting.” —
Apple Books Review★ “This pan-African story, rife with betrayal and narrated through
poetic language that evokes vivid imagery,
will ensnare readers, keeping them engaged with its energetic pace. The
beautiful blend of mythology, romance, and action ends with a hint at more to come…
A dazzling debut.” —
Kirkus Reviews,
starred review★ “Gray's debut is
a thrilling series opener with
twists and turns that will delight. Hints about more
expansive worldbuilding to come will entice readers to pick up future volumes in this
must-buy for fantasy enthusiasts.” —
Booklist, starred review★ “With its
memorable characters, and a
lush, expansive world, Gray’s debut is an
action-packed adventure that will tug at hearts and keep teens glued to the page, yearning for more.
Essential for all collections.” —
School Library Journal,
starred review“
Rich in magic and mythos,
Beasts of Prey is
a feast for all the senses. Prepare to be transported to Koffi’s world from the first page and find yourself lost not only in the
dark thrill of the hunt but the
poignant beats of emotion at the heart of this story. Gray’s
writing is lyrical,
her
imagery vivid. I eagerly await whatever she pens next.” —
Renée Ahdieh,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Beautiful“
A fast-paced, rip-roaring ride that grabs you by the throat and never lets you go.
A masterpiece of magic.” —
Namina Forna,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Gilded Ones“
Epic doesn’t begin to encompass the
jolting twists,
sparkling mythos, and
magical quests that fill the pages of
Beasts of Prey. This is the sort of read that’s
beyond transportive; it’s downright transcending—a tale
full of heart and magic, and
sure to ensorcell readers' body, bone, and soul.” —
Roshani Chokshi,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Gilded Wolves“In this
wildly original debut, Gray marries the
lush imaginative wonder of African mythology with an action-packed tale of two teens on the opposite ends of fate, figuring out what’s truly worth fighting for.
Swoony, twisty, action-packed,
Beasts of Prey is
as epic as it is unforgettable.” —
J. Elle,
New York Times bestselling author of
Wings of Ebony "
A delight. I rarely fall in love with characters as quickly as I did with Koffi and Ekon. Gray
masterfully balances the wonder and uncertainty of youth with
a deftly, fully imagined world that I was dying to learn more about." —
S. A. Chakraborty, author of the critically acclaimed and internationally bestselling The Daevabad Trilogy
"Ayana Gray’s
wonder-filled world of mythos and monsters and magic comes to life in the
ensnaring, enchanting Greater Jungle. An
unputdownable tale that unfolds in a maze of twists and turns, driven by the
crackling wit of two protagonists on a quest to vanquish the beasts of their present and past.” —
Amélie Wen Zhao, author of the Blood Heir trilogy
“
A magical, bingeable debut by
a phenomenal new voice in YA.
Beasts of Prey is an
immersive and
heartfelt book with characters whose personalities seep from the pages. From its
beautiful prose to its
rich and vibrant world, this book
is your next favorite read.” —
Adalyn Grace,
New York Times bestselling author of
All the Stars and Teeth"
Steeped in rich worldbuilding and resonating with keenly drawn emotional depth,
Beasts of Prey features
masterful twists,
heart-pounding action, and
unforgettable characters you will want to follow to the end of the world and back. I grew lost in this book from the very first page." —
Margaret Rogerson, bestselling author of
Sorcery of Thorns“Gray’s pan-African fantasy is
filled with monsters, mythos, and Black girl magic. Her characters are
well developed, and the plot is filled with African lore, expanded upon in an extensive author’s note. Fans of Forna’s
The Gilded Ones and Ifueko’s
Raybearer will enjoy this
engrossing debut novel.” —
The Horn Book“The protagonists achieve a
rich emotional depth complemented by the
fast-paced action, and a light
romantic element lends the plot additional support. . .
imaginative debut.” —
Publishers Weekly
“
One of the hottest young-adult books . . . It’s a
thrill-packed premise that Gray elevates with
crisp prose, surefooted pacing, and detail-rich worldbuilding. She weaves the markers of daily life, history, and culture into scenes that crackle, painting her characters’ existence for her readers as clearly as she depicts physical action and emotional depth. It’s undeniably
powerful storytelling.” —
Book & Film Globe“
A great quest full of blood and betrayal.” —
Tor.com
