Gr 9 Up—Two Black teens must work together as they enter the magical Greater Jungle in search of the Shetani, a
vicious monster that has terrorized their village for nearly a century. This debut YA fantasy has memorable
characters, an expansive world, and tons of adventure.

Meet Koffi, a sixteen-year-old indentured to the notorious Night Zoo in the broken city of Lkossa. Her focus is as sharp as a cat's stare—pay off her family's debts and secure freedom. But when the Zoo's cruel master threatens her loved ones, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn't comprehend, turning her life into a wild rollercoaster.

Enter Ekon, second son of a decorated hero, destined to become a Son of the Six—an elite warrior. Fate takes a spin when he encounters not only the Shetani, a nasty monster haunting the city, but Koffi, with powers to ward off the beast. Choosing to let her flee dooms Ekon's warrior dreams, and he's left desperate to redeem himself. The unlikely duo forms an alliance, entering the Greater Jungle—a world teeming with wild magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins, and soon, it's unclear who's hunting whom.

Pros:
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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' own 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.

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!! ( )