READ & REVIEWED: The Battle of the Beasts by Maple Lam + Giveaway
- Vivian Teo
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Monkey King continues his quest to vanquish demons to earn his place in heaven in The Battle of the Beasts by Maple Lam, the latest instalment of the Monkey King and the World of the Myths series.
Picking up where The Monster and the Maze left off, The Battle of the Beasts follows the Monkey King as he continues his quest to defeat demons and earn his place in heaven. This time, his journey takes him to an ancient Japanese city, where he meets Momotaro, a boy whose magical hammer has been stolen. Their search leads them to an island of banished beasts, but the theft turns out to be more complicated than it seems. Behind it all is a mastermind whose schemes could spark a war between humans and beasts. With Momotaro and a shapeshifting fox by his side, the Monkey King must unravel the mystery, and stop the conflict before it begins.
Like the first book, this instalment is packed with humour, action and mystery. While rooted in Chinese mythology, the debut explored Greek myths, and now the series dives into Japanese folklore. I really enjoy how Wukong’s travels introduce readers to different cultures and legends, which keeps the adventure feeling fresh and global.
Beyond the action are themes children will find relatable. The story touches on friendship, communication and the importance of keeping an open mind, reminding us that not everything is simply black or white. And once again, the illustrations are gorgeous! This is such a fun middle-grade graphic novel series, and I can’t wait to see where the Monkey King goes next!
Thank you @pickab00kasia for sending me this new middle grade release! Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts by Maple Lam is available at Pick A Book Asia's Shopee store at https://s.shopee.sg/qcEqwpnTu . Thanks to Pick A Book Asia, we also have a copy to give away - do head over to my Instagram post for a chance to win!😉
Disclaimer: The book was provided by Pick a Book Asia for our review. As always, all opinions are ours.
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