Beasts of Prey

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

Beasts of Prey

by Ayana Gray

Fantasy

Young Adult

Adventure

400 Pages

"Thrilling and immersive—Beasts of Prey brings West African-inspired fantasy to vivid life with dangerous magic, fierce monsters, and two unforgettable heroes whose secrets could doom them both."

Synopsis

Magic doesn't exist in the broken city of Lkossa anymore, especially for girls like sixteen-year-old Koffi. Indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, she cares for its fearsome and magical creatures to pay off her family's debts and secure their eventual freedom. But the night her loved ones' safety is threatened by the Zoo's cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn't fully understand—and the consequences are dire. 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, a fire upends his plans. In its midst, Ekon not only encounters the Shetani—a vicious monster that has plagued the city and his nightmares for nearly a century—but a curious girl who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi's power ultimately saves Ekon's life, but his choice to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior. Desperate to redeem himself, Ekon vows to hunt the Shetani down and end its reign of terror, but he can't do it alone. Meanwhile, Koffi believes finding the Shetani and selling it for a profit could be the key to solving her own problems. Koffi and Ekon—each keeping their true motives secret from the other—form a tentative alliance and enter into the unknowns of the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins. But it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.

Our Take

Ayana Gray's debut novel brings much-needed West African-inspired fantasy to the YA landscape, creating a world rich with magic, mythology, and monsters that feels fresh and fully realized. Beasts of Prey succeeds on multiple levels: as adventure story, as dual-POV romance, and as exploration of power, freedom, and destiny. Koffi and Ekon are both compelling protagonists with distinct voices and motivations that sometimes align and sometimes conflict, creating genuine tension as they navigate the dangerous Greater Jungle while keeping secrets from each other. Gray's world-building draws from East African cultures and mythology without being a direct analog, creating something that feels both grounded and fantastical. The magic system based on spiritual connection to nature and ancestors adds depth, while the Shetani—the ancient monster they hunt—proves far more complex than initial descriptions suggest. The prose is accessible and fast-paced, perfect for readers seeking adventure over introspection, though Gray doesn't shy from exploring themes of indentured servitude, family obligation, and the cost of pursuing one's own path versus meeting others' expectations. The romance develops slowly and naturally, with Koffi and Ekon's growing trust and attraction feeling earned rather than forced. While some plot beats will feel familiar to fantasy readers, Gray executes them with enough freshness and heart to keep pages turning. The book works as a standalone while clearly setting up a larger series, ending at a satisfying stopping point while promising more adventures to come. Readers who loved Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone or Namina Forna's The Gilded Ones will find Beasts of Prey equally captivating. For anyone seeking diverse fantasy with adventure, romance, dangerous magic, and representation that centers Black characters and African-inspired settings, Gray's debut is a thrilling, accomplished start to what promises to be an exciting series.