ARC Book Review: Beasts of Ruin (Beasts of Prey #2) by Ayanna Gray

Rating: ★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Author: Ayanna Gray
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: July 26th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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.

Koffi has saved her city and the boy she loves, but at a terrible price. Now a servant to the cunning god of death, she must use her newfound power to further his continental conquest, or risk the safety of her home and loved ones. As she reluctantly learns to survive amidst unexpected friends and foes, she will also have to choose between the life—and love—she once had, or the one she could have, if she truly embraces her dangerous gifts.

Cast out from the only home he’s ever known, Ekon is forced to strike new and unconventional alliances to find and rescue Koffi before it’s too late. But as he gets closer to the realm of death each day, so too does he draw nearer to a terrible truth—one that could cost everything.

Koffi and Ekon—separated by land, sea, and gods—will have to risk everything to reunite again. But the longer they’re kept apart, the more each of their loyalties are tested. Soon, both may have to reckon with changing hearts—and maybe, changing destinies.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

WHYYYYYYYY.

This was one of the most second book syndrome books I have ever read. I spent the entire read wondering why in the world the characters were doing what they were. Ekon spent his entire time trying to get to Koffi while she spent the entire time trying to get out of where she was. It made this book draaaaaaaaaag.

Not to mention, we have thrown a love…square? into this. Something like that, I don’t even know at this point. I’m incredibly frustrated. I think this would have been beautiful as a duology and this felt like mostly wasted pages.

I really love these characters. I do. Koffi and Ekon are written incredibly well. Full of strengths and weaknesses and a resilience to take the next step forward. They are the reason I kept going. The beasts are a fun aspect and I love learning the backgrounds on them (from the author’s note) and how they play into the overall scheme of this book.

Juuuuust feeling upset this is how this book went down. It was one of my top fantasy releases for 2022. And you know what? I think book three will be extremely good. This was too middle book for me.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: kisses
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: animal attacks, loss of loved ones, near death experiences, magical and physical altercations, weapons violence