Slow-paced and plot-driven. The characters felt younger than what they were. I didn't think Koffi and Ekon had any chemistry; they had strictly friend vibes.

But the atmosphere of the Greater Jungle was excellent, eldritch, violent, and mysterious. Very imaginative! A nice debut though it's long-winded.

2.5 ( )

This book is so good!! “Beasts of Prey” is based on African mythology and is such a good book!! I really liked the Percy Jackson books when I was younger, and this reminded me a of a more mature, better-written version of that series. This is one of the most engaging quest-based books I have ever read, and I am super excited for the next one!! ( )

It's odd that LibraryThing thought I wouldn't like this book. I really enjoyed it and can't wait until I get my hands on the sequel.

The characters were awesome and I loved the way Ayana Gray intertwined multiple storylines and timeframes. Everything came full circle in the end. I'm not doing it justice--just read it lol. ( )

Oh my! I am in awe of this book. Not at all what I imagined. First, I should preface, this was another Once Upon a Book Club pick for me. I now find the book cover gorgeous but if I saw a book with a snake on it in my fave indie bookshop I would have kept walking on by. Funny how that works, amiright? I now love it, having read the book.
I don’t remember for sure, but I think this was my first book that has taken place in a jungle. And let me tell you, it was pretty dang awesome.
Ayana Gray writes beautifully! It was a real easy book to read, yet a hard book to put down.
The characters are wonderful – from good to evil and all in between.
This book has magic, crazy animals, beasts, friendships, loss, the aforementioned jungle, strong individuals, weak individuals, lore, etc.
The book is classified as speculative fiction. I never heard of this genre before. But I’m a fan!
The only gripe is I have to wait to find out what happens! Book two is not out till late July (2022). It left me hanging – same as “who shot J.R.” (if you know, you know). I wish I had waited to read this book till I had book 2 in my possession. That, however is my only gripe! ( )

Great debut Pan-African fantasy novel. Beasts of Prey incorporates principles of mindfulness meditation and emotional intelligence/regulation. The book champions intelligence and reading books. Also promotes following facts and not jumping to conclusions or making judgments based on appearances. One of the main characters has an anxiety-like disorder and compulsions.

There is violence, but the killing and gore is off page. There is no sex. The main characters are 16 and 18, but they read much younger. This book would be appropriate for younger teen readers.

The book starts and ends really well. The middle lurches a bit from catastrophe to catastrophe, but it's definitely worth sticking through to the end. ( )