BEASTS OF THE UNCANNY WILD

A prince must fight for his rightful place on the throne.

Following the events of Creatures of the In Between (2023), at age 13, Prince Jin is now the youngest emperor of the Three Realms. He’s flanked by his friends Bingyoo, Mau, and Masa as well as two monsters, a piyao and a kirin. As part of his goal to reintegrate monsters into the kingdom’s economy, he’s traveling with his monstermates to the kingdom’s first monster exposition, where he’s hoping to build public goodwill. The action-packed narrative evolves quickly as the event is sabotaged, and Jin, needing to think about his next steps, takes leave on Whisper Island. But Jin’s sabbatical is disturbed when news from the palace reveals that Mau has gone missing, and he and his friends embark on a journey to find him. The group’s epic mission includes a series of intriguing twists filled with mythical creatures from East and Southeast Asian cultures. A skillful reveal of a secret connected to Jin’s family leads to political intrigue and conflicts, which are so numerous that the pace feels rushed at times. Readers may wish for some quieter moments to allow the story’s events to sink in. Those who have fresh memories of the previous installment will better appreciate this volume.

An entertaining sequel that’s brimming with nonstop action.