Beasts of Prey (novel)
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.png) First edition cover | |
| Author | Ayana Gray |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers |
Publication date | September 28, 2021 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 496 |
| ISBN | 978-0-593-40568-0 |
| OCLC | 1229028609 |
| [Fic] | |
| LC Class | PZ7.1.G7326 Be 2021 |
Beasts of Prey is a 2021 young adult fantasy novel by American writer Ayana Gray.[1][2] Gray's debut novel follows two teenagers, Koffi and Ekon, who enter the magical Greater Jungle in pursuit of a murderous creature called the Shetani. It was published on September 28, 2021, and quickly entered the New York Times and Indie Bestseller lists.[3][4][5]
Ayana Gray has stated that she came up with the idea for the novel while studying political violence in college.[6] A few months later she went on a study programme in Ghana, where she stated that she felt happy to connect with her African heritage. In an interview, she said:
"I left Ghana and knew I wanted to write a story in which Black people had the opportunity to be both magical and nuanced."
— Ayana Gray, [5]
Gray began writing the novel, drawing from various folklores of Africa for most of the beasts in the book,[7] immediately after graduating from the University of Arkansas. She worked on the manuscript between 2015 and 2019. She presented the novel to literary agents at #DVPit, a Twitter pitching event.[8] After connecting with an agent, they both revised the draft for a year before submitting it to editors where it was eventually purchased by G. P. Putnam's Sons in a seven-figure deal.[9][5][3]
