In this much anticipated follow up to New York Times bestselling Beasts of Prey, Koffi’s powers grow stronger and Ekon’s secrets turn darker as they face the god of death.After having promised to use her new powers to serve Fedu, the cunning god of death, and assist in his plans to remake the world, Koffi finds herself a prisoner in Thornkeep—a luxurious mansion with well-manicured gardens. But Fedu’s beautiful realm is a lie. Koffi and many other darajas are trapped there by a deadly, inscrutable mist, making escape impossible. But something within the mist calls to Koffi, igniting her magic. It soon becomes clear that the very thing imprisoning her could be the key to not only her freedom, but finally unlocking the remaining mysteries of her own magic, allowing her to fight the god of death and perhaps even win.
While Koffi attempts to decipher the secrets of the mist and learns to wield her own deadly power, Ekon is determined to make his way to Thornkeep to fight alongside her. But leaving Lkossa is easier said than done. Ekon, once a promising soldier, is now a wanted man on the run from those he once called brother. He’s forced to make new, uneasy alliances to flee Lkossa and turn his back on everything he once believed. And each day he draws closer to the realm of death, so too does Ekon draw nearer to a long-hidden truth about himself that could change his loyalties forever.
Koffi and Ekon—separated by both land and gods—risk everything to reunite. But the longer they’re apart, the more they will have to reckon with changing destinies and, maybe, changing hearts.
Praise for Beasts of Ruin:A 2022 Kirkus Best Book
“This
stellar sequel deepens these
beautifully realized main characters and
keeps you wanting more stories in this world.” —
BuzzFeed★ “
Readers will be entranced as themes of heritage, betrayal, and erasure are brought to life with
vivid details in this
riveting, fast-paced volume that lives up to its predecessor. . .
An absorbing story with
tantalizing hints of more to come.” —
Kirkus Reviews,
starred review“Gray’s
lush and detailed worldbuilding remains a highlight as the sequel delves even deeper into the history and heritage of Lkossa and its surrounding kingdom.” —
Paste Magazine“
Well-crafted and engaging. . .
Beasts of Prey and
Beasts of Ruin are
riveting reads that should hold
great appeal for teenage readers, especially fans of
Black Panther and
The Hunger Games.” —
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution “
Beasts of Ruin, like its predecessor, is
filled with action and tension. There are fights, spells, chases, twists, betrayals, a wicked villain, and
fantastical creatures throughout the novel’s short, punchy chapters. She
weaves African myths and legends of frightening creatures like the kongamato into her narrative, and explores the impact of discrimination and cultural erasure.” —
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette “[A] tale of
courage, curiosity, and magic.”—
Sheen Magazine“Gray returns to her
captivating world of beasts, secrets, and vengeful gods in this follow-up. . . boast[ing] a more
expansive world… Readers who easily lost themselves in Koffi and Ekon’s story will
devour their continued journey. . . An
engaging sequel gearing up for an
explosive third book.” —
Booklist“Gray’s writing balances
high stakes with
strong narrative voices as she expands on the cast of characters. Themes of heritage, segregation, and erasure all play roles in Ekon and Koffi’s growth, and readers will easily draw parallels to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.” —
School Library JournalPraise for Beasts of Prey:An Instant New York Times Bestseller
An Indie Bestseller
A 2022 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
A 2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
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★ “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 world building 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
