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Beasts of Ruin (Beasts of prey, 2) - Softcover

Gray, Ayana

 
9780593531587: Beasts of Ruin (Beasts of prey, 2)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0593531582 ISBN 13: 9780593531587
Verlag: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2022

Inhaltsangabe

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.

After having promised to use her new powers to serve Fedu, the cunning god of death, and assist in his plans to remake the world, Koffi finds herself a prisoner in Thornkeep—a luxurious mansion with well-manicured gardens. But Fedu’s beautiful realm is a lie. Koffi and many other darajas are trapped there by a deadly, inscrutable mist, making escape impossible. But something within the mist calls to Koffi, igniting her magic. It soon becomes clear that the very thing imprisoning her could be the key to not only her freedom, but finally unlocking the remaining mysteries of her own magic, allowing her to fight the god of death and perhaps even win.

While Koffi attempts to decipher the secrets of the mist and learns to wield her own deadly power, Ekon is determined to make his way to Thornkeep to fight alongside her. But leaving Lkossa is easier said than done. Ekon, once a promising soldier, is now a wanted man on the run from those he once called brother. He’s forced to make new, uneasy alliances to flee Lkossa and turn his back on everything he once believed. And each day he draws closer to the realm of death, so too does Ekon draw nearer to a long-hidden truth about himself that could change his loyalties forever.

Koffi and Ekon—separated by both land and gods—risk everything to reunite. But the longer they’re apart, the more they will have to reckon with changing destinies and, maybe, changing hearts.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Ayana Gray is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Beasts of Prey trilogy. Her works have been translated into ten languages across five continents and are being adapted for feature film. Originally from Atlanta, she now lives among the rolling hills and rivers of Arkansas.

Von der hinteren Coverseite

In this much anticipated follow up to Beasts of Prey, Koffi’s powers grow stronger and Ekon’s secrets turn darker as they face the god of death itself.

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 harder each of their loyalties are tested. Soon, both may have to reckon with changing hearts―and maybe, changing destinies.

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CHAPTER 1
The Master Of Thornkeep

Koffi smelled the blackberries first.

Saccharine, tart, it was their cloying scent that lured her back to consciousness. Slowly, she opened her eyes. A groan began low in her throat, very nearly passing through her lips, but instinct caught the sound before it could escape. In the silence, a realization settled on her skin like motes of dust.

She didn’t know where she was.

Life returned to her fingertips, and Koffi let them explore, taking tactile reconnaissance of her surroundings. From them, she gathered that she was lying on something soft—a bed—with linen sheets bunched at her waist. Her head rolled to the left, pressing one cheek against the cool pillow beneath her; she paid for that small movement instantly. A stab of pain throbbed at the base of her skull, and her eyes watered. Seconds passed before her dulled vision sharpened again. Even then, she couldn’t make sense of what she was seeing.

She was in a large bedroom, one she’d never been in before. Its walls—at least, those visible in the dimness—were a cool slate gray. Squares of buttery light dappled the vaulted ceiling overhead, which she took to mean it was morning. A glint to her left caught her eye, and she noted a bone-white nightstand beside the bed. There was a gilded serving tray on it, laden with food. Her eyes took in the sliced bread, the tiny bowls of jam, cheese, and fruit, and her mouth watered.

A feast for a king, she mused. She was still staring at the food, considering, when she heard it: the soft rustle of fabric. She stilled.

She was not alone.

At first, she didn’t understand how she had not immediately noticed the two people standing on the opposite side of the bedroom and facing a massive bay window with their backs to her. But as the seconds passed, she did understand; she hadn’t noticed them because they stood with near-perfect stillness, two statues silhouetted in sunlight. The man was tall, muscled, and lean, with skin like sunbaked clay and cropped black hair. Beside him, the woman was much shorter, with brown skin a shade darker than his and a springy black Afro. His kaftan was river blue, hers was marigold. Without warning, the man spoke.

“How much longer should we let her sleep?” His voice was low. “We’ll wake her soon,” the woman murmured. Her voice was lilting. “He’s expecting her.”

Koffi stiffened on the bed. She was almost certain that these people were talking about her.

Abruptly, the man began to pace. Koffi couldn’t see the details of his face, but his movements reminded her of an agitated lion contained in a too-small cage.

“It doesn’t make sense,” he said between steps. “It’s been years since he brought a new one here—why would he start doing it again now?”

“I don’t know,” the woman replied. She was still facing the window.

The man stopped, and Koffi finally saw his face properly in the light. Every one of his features was smooth and angular, as though carved by a practiced sculptor. He had a long, even nose, ochre eyes framed by thick black brows, and a knife-sharp jawline. Only his scowling mouth looked out of place.

“He said nothing to you?” he asked the woman. “Nothing about where she’s from, or what order she belongs to?”

Finally, the woman turned. Even in profile, Koffi knew at once that she was beautiful too. Her face was soft, defined by full pink lips set below a short, rounded nose. She was frowning.

“He tells me as much as he tells you,” she said. “All I know is that we’re to bring her to the main hall. He didn’t say anything else.”

Koffi swallowed.

“And how are we supposed to do that?” the man asked. Koffi watched him massage the bridge of his nose. “She’s still unconscious.”

“We can’t take her to him in the clothes she’s wearing,” said the woman. Koffi noticed she’d lowered her voice. “They’re filthy. She’ll need to change them.”

Koffi’s pulse quickened. She’d hoped for more time to form a plan. Her eyes searched the room, desperate. The only other furnishings nearby were a vanity and a divan in the far-left corner, neither of which could be used as a weapon or shield. These people, whoever they were, had the advantage. She’d have to move quickly to catch them off guard.

Think. Think.

A shaft of golden sunlight drew Koffi’s eyes back to the serving tray on her left. Just beside it, there was a silver butter knife. She took a slow breath in, bracing herself, then closed her eyes and tried to envision what she was going to do. If she moved over slightly, she could reach the knife. And if she could reach the knife . . .

“Okay.”

Koffi’s eyes were still closed, but to her right she heard the man’s voice again, closer. She shifted subtly to her left.

“Kena, maybe you should be the one to—”

Koffi lunged, rolling off the bed and snatching the butter knife from the tray in one less-than-graceful motion. She regretted it almost immediately; an explosion of stars erupted in her head and blotted her vision, but her fingers wrapped tight around the knife’s tiny handle. She focused on its feel, the cool of its metal against her palm. The room tilted violently from side to side like the deck of an ill-fated ship at sea, and she stumbled. This time, a groan did escape her. She still couldn’t see, but she heard a gasp. Then a male voice.

“Oh. You’re awake.”

Koffi blinked hard, trying to quiet the percussion in her chest as she fought to remain calm. Her ears were ringing, there were still flashing spots in her vision, but she saw that the man and woman who’d been standing at the window were now just on the other side of the bed, looking at her with shared concern. Upright, she realized they were both younger than she’d first thought; not a man and a woman, but a boy and a girl, each about sixteen—her age. It was the former of the two who broke the silence.

“So,” he said with one brow raised. “I take it this means you didn’t like the welcome breakfast?”

Koffi didn’t pause to consider the question. “Who are you?” Her voice was a throaty rasp, as though it hadn’t been used for days. That scared her. She glanced back and forth, trying to keep her eyes on the boy and the girl at the same time, but the effort was dizzying. Her grip on the knife tightened, but to her faint annoyance, the boy only gave it a cursory glance before smirking.

“Is that really necessary?”

“It is when you’re trying to take my clothes off.”

“We weren’t trying to take your clothes off,” said the boy with a note of exasperation. He paused, then smirked. “Well, I mean, technically speaking . . .”

“You have five seconds.” Koffi didn’t know whether to be irritated or terrified by the boy’s nonchalance. “Tell me who you are, where I am, and why I’m here.”

“Or what?” The boy’s eyes flicked to the knife again, visibly amused. “You’ll butter our toast?”

“Zain.” Up to this point, the girl hadn’t spoken; now she was glaring at the boy. “I think it would be best if you left.”

The boy—Zain—considered a moment before he shrugged and headed toward...

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Verlag
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Erscheinungsdatum
2022
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
0593531582
ISBN 13 
9780593531587
Einband
Taschenbuch
Anzahl der Seiten
496
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