Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Thrilling fantasy ender about teens fighting god of death.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When BEASTS OF WAR begins, Koffi, a teen with special powers, is at a refugee camp. She and her friends have escaped from an estate surrounded by mist, where they've been held hostage by the god of death. Ekon, Koffi's romantic interest, used his warrior training to help them break out. Now, they're in a race against time to enlist the help of other gods and save humanity at an event where the death god plans to strike.
Is It Any Good?
This title offers a satisfying resolution to a compelling series. In Beasts of Ruin, Ayana Gray brings readers sympathetic characters who struggle with insecurities, anxiety, and trauma. As in the previous books, New York Times bestsellers Beasts of Prey and Beasts of Ruin, she incorporates African mythology and vivid, original fantasy creatures. This book can be read as a standalone, but it will be much more satisfying to people familiar with the characters and their past trials.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it means to be an ally in Beasts of War. Why does supporting someone from another group take courage?
How do failures of self-control put characters in danger in Beasts of War? How do the characters recover?
Have you ever faced a time when you wanted to give up but had no choice except to persevere? What helped you keep going?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Self-control
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Nancy Paulsen Books
- Publication date : January 26, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 464
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate