Beasts of Prey

Fate binds two Black teenagers as they strike a dangerous alliance to hunt down the ancient creature terrorising their home.

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 mythical creatures to pay off her family's debts and secure their freedom. But when her loved ones' safety is threatened by the Zoo's cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn't fully understand . . .

As the son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become an elite warrior. Until a fire at the Night Zoo upends his certain future and, on the brink of his final rite of passage, Ekon is cast out - his reputation left in tatters.

For Koffi and Ekon, the outlook is bleak - unless they can capture the Shetani, the vicious monster that plagues their city, and recover their futures. But defeating the Shetani is something no one has yet achieved, though many have tried. As Koffi and Ekon enter the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild magic and untold dangers, the tentative alliance between them is tested to the extreme.

The hunt begins - but are they the hunters or the hunted?

This is an extraordinary adventure inspired by Pan-African mythology, from exciting debut author Ayana Gray.

The hunt for your next YA fantasy book trilogy obsession has ended

― Entertainment Weekly

The next big thing in YA fantasy . . . A dazzling debut ― Kirkus

Rich and powerful ― O, the Oprah Magazine

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 -- Roshani Chokshi, author of The Gilded Wolves

Wildly original . . . 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, author of Wings of Ebony

Rich in magic and mythos, Beasts of Prey is a feast for all the senses . . . Gray's writing is lyrical, her imagery vivid -- Renée Ahdieh, author of The Wrath & The Dawn

This book is your next favourite read -- Adalyn Grace, author of All The Stars And Teeth

With its memorable characters, and a lush, expansive world, Gray's debut is an action-packed adventure that will tug at hearts . . . Essential ― School Library Journal

Thrilling . . . with twists and turns that will delight ― Booklist

Ayana Gray is a lover of all things monsters and magic. Originally an Atlanta native, she now lives in sunny Florida where she writes fantastical stories, follows Formula One racing, and worries over her adopted baby rhino, Apollo.