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The Boy to Beat the Gods
Discover a fierce and fun story of one boy versus six gods, from a magical new voice in children's fiction...
Kayode dreams of eating the forbidden fruit of the Orishas, so he can gain their power and stop those merciless beings who terrorise his people. So when a fruit mysteriously appears in his path after the Orishas snatch his sister, he leaps on it.
Surging with new and difficult-to-control powers, he joins forces with a shapeshifting trickster god and a vengeful princess to save his sister and put an end to the mighty Orishas. But each has more fearful powers than the last - and Kayode's stolen half-god strength won't last for ever...
Kayode dreams of eating the forbidden fruit of the Orishas, so he can gain their power and stop those merciless beings who terrorise his people. So when a fruit mysteriously appears in his path after the Orishas snatch his sister, he leaps on it.
Surging with new and difficult-to-control powers, he joins forces with a shapeshifting trickster god and a vengeful princess to save his sister and put an end to the mighty Orishas. But each has more fearful powers than the last - and Kayode's stolen half-god strength won't last for ever...
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First published July 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 12, 2024
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Kaleidoscopic book tours.
The Boy to Beat the Gods is an addictive and un-put-downable middle grade chapter book that I devoured in one sitting!
Kayode has dreamed of being as powerful as the seven Orishas (powerful gods) and longs to eat one of their sacred fruits from the Baobab tree. He wants to put an end to their terrorisation of mankind and finally gets his chance one fateful night when they cruely take his beloved little sister Temi as a sacrifice, and a fruit mysteriously winds up in his path. With his newfound friends by his side; one of the seven gods, a vengeful princess from a rival clan and a fisherman from another, the four set off to put an end to the remaining six gods and save their loved ones, clans, mankind and each other.
Honestly, this book captivated me from the very first chapter. Kayode was such a wise and resilient, inspirational character, and his newfound friendships taught him much about the world, life, and himself, too.
I honestly still can't believe this is a debut it is THAT GOOD!!
The Boy to Beat the Gods is an addictive and un-put-downable middle grade chapter book that I devoured in one sitting!
Kayode has dreamed of being as powerful as the seven Orishas (powerful gods) and longs to eat one of their sacred fruits from the Baobab tree. He wants to put an end to their terrorisation of mankind and finally gets his chance one fateful night when they cruely take his beloved little sister Temi as a sacrifice, and a fruit mysteriously winds up in his path. With his newfound friends by his side; one of the seven gods, a vengeful princess from a rival clan and a fisherman from another, the four set off to put an end to the remaining six gods and save their loved ones, clans, mankind and each other.
Honestly, this book captivated me from the very first chapter. Kayode was such a wise and resilient, inspirational character, and his newfound friendships taught him much about the world, life, and himself, too.
I honestly still can't believe this is a debut it is THAT GOOD!!
September 13, 2024
3.5
This is a superb story, very original, with some awesome mythology that was new to me. Both my kids really enjoyed having it read to them. It wasn't perfect - some of the writing was clunky, particularly bits of dialogue, and it is overwritten in places. But you can easily forgive that and it makes for a good debut by an author who has lots going for him.
This is a superb story, very original, with some awesome mythology that was new to me. Both my kids really enjoyed having it read to them. It wasn't perfect - some of the writing was clunky, particularly bits of dialogue, and it is overwritten in places. But you can easily forgive that and it makes for a good debut by an author who has lots going for him.
July 29, 2024
Full disclosure, I'm friends with the author. This was a really fast-paced, action-packed story with a loveable cast of characters. It took me back to fantasy novels I loved as a kid, though it still kept me invested the whole time as an adult. I appreciated the care that went into the main four protagonists and the various friendships between them. All of them were fleshed out and I was rooting for them the whole time.
May 29, 2024
The Boy to Beat the Gods is a new middle grade fantasy adventure, which draws on a rich seam of storytelling culture from West African Yoruba beliefs and folklore.
I was hooked in by the setting and the intricacies of the traditional belief system of Yorubaland and my interest was sustained by the god-killing quest the young protagonists must pursue!
Kayode, the young goatherd, lives with his iya (mum) and sister, Temitope, in the village of Ikire. Despite the elders’ beatings for his disobedience, & risk of angering the gods, Kayode feels compelled to climb the ancient baobab tree which bears the fruits of the gods. If a mortal consumes the fruit and does not die, they are said to receive the powers of the gods. The Orishas, powerful gods descended from the creator of everything, return to the land every five or so years looking for tributes. They feast on the souls of human sacrifices and believe they are helping to keep humankind in check through their reign of terror.
When the gods pay their latest visit to Kayode’s village, chaos erupts. Kayode’s destiny is quick to present itself when his little sister is among those snatched by the Orishas and a fruit belonging to the gods is left behind.
Despite his new god-like powers, which are still to be tried and honed, the odds are still stacked against Kayode and when help turns up in the form of a trickster god, Kayode must take another gamble. When they join up with Tiwa, a vengeful princess from a neighbouring village, the trio to take on the gods is complete.
The Boy to Beat the Gods evokes both the wisdom of ancient fables and the epic quality of Marvel adventures. It is well paced and the author has managed to give enough life to his world and characters to connect readers and make them care, without overwhelming them with detail- this must be a challenge with such a rich source of inspiration.
For fans of Rick Riordan, Louie Stowell and Tọlá Okogwu. Readers 9-12 will love this adventure, which sees kids being the heroes and which features some laughs amongst the peril- some of which were unexpected and quite…explosive!
I read this on @netgalley thanks to the author, Ashley Thorpe and the publisher, Usborne.
I was hooked in by the setting and the intricacies of the traditional belief system of Yorubaland and my interest was sustained by the god-killing quest the young protagonists must pursue!
Kayode, the young goatherd, lives with his iya (mum) and sister, Temitope, in the village of Ikire. Despite the elders’ beatings for his disobedience, & risk of angering the gods, Kayode feels compelled to climb the ancient baobab tree which bears the fruits of the gods. If a mortal consumes the fruit and does not die, they are said to receive the powers of the gods. The Orishas, powerful gods descended from the creator of everything, return to the land every five or so years looking for tributes. They feast on the souls of human sacrifices and believe they are helping to keep humankind in check through their reign of terror.
When the gods pay their latest visit to Kayode’s village, chaos erupts. Kayode’s destiny is quick to present itself when his little sister is among those snatched by the Orishas and a fruit belonging to the gods is left behind.
Despite his new god-like powers, which are still to be tried and honed, the odds are still stacked against Kayode and when help turns up in the form of a trickster god, Kayode must take another gamble. When they join up with Tiwa, a vengeful princess from a neighbouring village, the trio to take on the gods is complete.
The Boy to Beat the Gods evokes both the wisdom of ancient fables and the epic quality of Marvel adventures. It is well paced and the author has managed to give enough life to his world and characters to connect readers and make them care, without overwhelming them with detail- this must be a challenge with such a rich source of inspiration.
For fans of Rick Riordan, Louie Stowell and Tọlá Okogwu. Readers 9-12 will love this adventure, which sees kids being the heroes and which features some laughs amongst the peril- some of which were unexpected and quite…explosive!
I read this on @netgalley thanks to the author, Ashley Thorpe and the publisher, Usborne.
July 13, 2024
Young Kayode dreams of eating the forbidden fruit of the Orishas to obtain their power and put an end to their murderess regime. One fateful night, they abduct Kayode’s little sister and so when the fruit mysteriously appears in his way, he absorbs all the power of the gods in order to save her. Joining forces with a shapeshifting trickster god and a vengeful princess, this magical adventure was captivating from page one.
A new voice in children’s literature, Ashley has captured the power and formidable ruthless force of the African gods whilst highlighting the importance of friendship, bravery, and family above all else. I loved it and can't wait to come back to this world and follow Kayode's new adventures!!
A new voice in children’s literature, Ashley has captured the power and formidable ruthless force of the African gods whilst highlighting the importance of friendship, bravery, and family above all else. I loved it and can't wait to come back to this world and follow Kayode's new adventures!!
November 4, 2024
An absolutely fantastic debut so full of well paced action, wonderfully empathetic characters and original mythology! Perfect for Percy Jackson and Old Gods New Tricks
July 26, 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable, exciting, and creative adventure!
We follow Kayode, a young frustrated boy in a village crushed by the menacing, earth walking gods known as the Orishas. Hamstrung by his people's cowardice, it takes a tragedy and a stroke of fortune for our young hero to get the power (and importantly, the allies) he needs to try and save his civilization, and his sister.
I will confess to having been completely ignorant to the Orisha's and Yoruba religion prior to reading this book, and seeing a different pantheon rather than the well-worn greek/roman crop was a welcome and important angle. It was fascinating to see an author explore gods from a religion that is still worshiped today, and quite brave of him to make said deities the villains (although names have been changed to protect their identities!)
It's tricky for me to review this book in some ways, as it's been a long time since I've read much middle-grade fiction, and I am not the target audience. But, I would very much have been 25 years ago! There are strong influences from Shonen anime, which I am very partial to - and would have enjoyed when I was younger as much as I do now.
The best comparison I can offer is with the recent and award winning Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell - which shares a lot in common with the book. They're both well researched around existing mythos, share the same target audience, have a fast paced story, and they even share a red/blue cover color scheme! While the writing in Impossible Creatures sometimes swells to poetry in a way that surely wooed awards panels, I preferred the even - story driven writing style of Thorpe's book, which always prioritized the plot, without being a smidge self-indulgent and flouncy in the way that jarred me when reading Rundell. The Boy to Beat The Gods also avoided any painful clichés or lazy named characters. So it's a favorable comparison from me.
Things I loved:
Each character in Team Kayode gets a chance to shine and be genuinely useful. No Sakura playing cheerleader in the back ground here.
A main character with a clear drive and personality *before* the event. Kayode is no passive protagonist - he wanted this adventure, he always wanted to fight - the events of the story are his chance to seize, rather than a trick of circumstance. Loved that.
Things I'd have loved to see:
Kayode actually land a punch on an Orisha! Apart from sucker-punching Eko, Kayode mostly inspires and distracts the big-bads, while his gang do the damage. As a kid this would have irked me, and it irks me still! I wanted to see him make the most of his godly powers.
A smidge more trickery from the trickster god, who is largely as good as his word. I expected an ulterior motive to punish Kayode's naiveté.
Overall - a big recommend from me, and I look forward to reading it with my son when he's old enough to enjoy a revenge quest!
(Disclaimer - I am friends with the author!)
We follow Kayode, a young frustrated boy in a village crushed by the menacing, earth walking gods known as the Orishas. Hamstrung by his people's cowardice, it takes a tragedy and a stroke of fortune for our young hero to get the power (and importantly, the allies) he needs to try and save his civilization, and his sister.
I will confess to having been completely ignorant to the Orisha's and Yoruba religion prior to reading this book, and seeing a different pantheon rather than the well-worn greek/roman crop was a welcome and important angle. It was fascinating to see an author explore gods from a religion that is still worshiped today, and quite brave of him to make said deities the villains (although names have been changed to protect their identities!)
It's tricky for me to review this book in some ways, as it's been a long time since I've read much middle-grade fiction, and I am not the target audience. But, I would very much have been 25 years ago! There are strong influences from Shonen anime, which I am very partial to - and would have enjoyed when I was younger as much as I do now.
The best comparison I can offer is with the recent and award winning Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell - which shares a lot in common with the book. They're both well researched around existing mythos, share the same target audience, have a fast paced story, and they even share a red/blue cover color scheme! While the writing in Impossible Creatures sometimes swells to poetry in a way that surely wooed awards panels, I preferred the even - story driven writing style of Thorpe's book, which always prioritized the plot, without being a smidge self-indulgent and flouncy in the way that jarred me when reading Rundell. The Boy to Beat The Gods also avoided any painful clichés or lazy named characters. So it's a favorable comparison from me.
Things I loved:
Each character in Team Kayode gets a chance to shine and be genuinely useful. No Sakura playing cheerleader in the back ground here.
A main character with a clear drive and personality *before* the event. Kayode is no passive protagonist - he wanted this adventure, he always wanted to fight - the events of the story are his chance to seize, rather than a trick of circumstance. Loved that.
Things I'd have loved to see:
Kayode actually land a punch on an Orisha! Apart from sucker-punching Eko, Kayode mostly inspires and distracts the big-bads, while his gang do the damage. As a kid this would have irked me, and it irks me still! I wanted to see him make the most of his godly powers.
A smidge more trickery from the trickster god, who is largely as good as his word. I expected an ulterior motive to punish Kayode's naiveté.
Overall - a big recommend from me, and I look forward to reading it with my son when he's old enough to enjoy a revenge quest!
(Disclaimer - I am friends with the author!)
July 30, 2024
The Boy to Beat the Gods is a vivid, pacy middle grade adventure about a young boy determined to put an end to the tyranny of the Orisha, the gods who are abusing the very humans they themselves created.
Nobody but Kayode even dreams of fighting back, but when chance and an apparently sympathetic shapeshifting god grant him access to the power-giving fruit, he demonstrates that it is possible to challenge their tormentors.
The story is a serious one that doesn’t shy away from the sad and scary moments, but it is lightened by the humour and heartwarming scenes. The balance is perfect, and the jokes always feel funny and appropriate, never forced.
The battles were especially gripping — it’s the sign of a fantastic book when you nearly miss your train stop — repeatedly — and have to be dragged off by your family and friends while protesting, ‘But I need to know if they beat the hunter goddddd!’
The characters are well-developed on both sides, and the shades of grey and mixed emotions give it significant depth.
The world-building was vivid and painted a clear picture of the culture, especially the food, and the vocabulary makes it easy to research West African traditions further. I also appreciated the section at the end explaining about the actual Orishas, which inspired me to go and read more!
At its core, the book is an impressively well-told and well-paced story about human bonds, both of family and friendship, and standing up against oppressors, no matter how tough and scary it might be. Highly recommended!
Nobody but Kayode even dreams of fighting back, but when chance and an apparently sympathetic shapeshifting god grant him access to the power-giving fruit, he demonstrates that it is possible to challenge their tormentors.
The story is a serious one that doesn’t shy away from the sad and scary moments, but it is lightened by the humour and heartwarming scenes. The balance is perfect, and the jokes always feel funny and appropriate, never forced.
The battles were especially gripping — it’s the sign of a fantastic book when you nearly miss your train stop — repeatedly — and have to be dragged off by your family and friends while protesting, ‘But I need to know if they beat the hunter goddddd!’
The characters are well-developed on both sides, and the shades of grey and mixed emotions give it significant depth.
The world-building was vivid and painted a clear picture of the culture, especially the food, and the vocabulary makes it easy to research West African traditions further. I also appreciated the section at the end explaining about the actual Orishas, which inspired me to go and read more!
At its core, the book is an impressively well-told and well-paced story about human bonds, both of family and friendship, and standing up against oppressors, no matter how tough and scary it might be. Highly recommended!
November 1, 2024
A fast-paced story with a cinematic quality.
The Orisha’s are gods who have terrorised the people of Ikire and surrounding villages since time began. And Kayode has had enough! He’s determined to reach the highest branches of the baobab tree to pick a forbidden fruit of the Orisha’s, believing that eating it will turn him from boy to man — or even into a god — provided it doesn’t kill him. Despite many fruitless attempts, he’s not deterred from his quest. So, when a chance fruit one day appears in his path, he hungrily tucks in. What follows is an epic adventure during which Kayode sets out to rescue his sister and defeat the gods once and for all.
This story is gripping from the off, and continues at a fast pace right through to the end. There’s plenty of action and imagery, but there’s also a lovely smattering of humour, thanks to the dynamic between Kayode and the trickster god Eko… and Bami, of course. As the plot progresses, tensions continue to ramp up and leave you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what will happen next.
A brilliant middle-grade book with an imaginative storyline that’s delivered superbly and has a very satisfying end. And Ashley Thorpe’s clever writing style brings the story to life in glorious technicolour.
The Orisha’s are gods who have terrorised the people of Ikire and surrounding villages since time began. And Kayode has had enough! He’s determined to reach the highest branches of the baobab tree to pick a forbidden fruit of the Orisha’s, believing that eating it will turn him from boy to man — or even into a god — provided it doesn’t kill him. Despite many fruitless attempts, he’s not deterred from his quest. So, when a chance fruit one day appears in his path, he hungrily tucks in. What follows is an epic adventure during which Kayode sets out to rescue his sister and defeat the gods once and for all.
This story is gripping from the off, and continues at a fast pace right through to the end. There’s plenty of action and imagery, but there’s also a lovely smattering of humour, thanks to the dynamic between Kayode and the trickster god Eko… and Bami, of course. As the plot progresses, tensions continue to ramp up and leave you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what will happen next.
A brilliant middle-grade book with an imaginative storyline that’s delivered superbly and has a very satisfying end. And Ashley Thorpe’s clever writing style brings the story to life in glorious technicolour.
July 16, 2024
'The Boy to Beat the Gods' by Ashley Thorpe. I really enjoyed reading this mythical tale full of action and drama, and found that as the story began to build, I couldn't put it down. Kayode's mission was a tough one, and his confrontations with the individual Gods required him to use a different skill set and think about his actions. The West African history and descriptions of their clothing, food and village traditions was unique and appealing, and the new and unusual words for their everyday objects would, I'm sure, encourage lots of discussion and interest. The story is one of friendship, bravery, and fighting for what you believe in against all the odds. It does mention human sacrifice, so I would probably recommend this for older Middle Grade readers.
A cultural mix of ancient myth and a good old quest adventure makes this a gripping read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The beautiful artwork on the cover is also a mix of tradtion meets super hero, which is very visually appealing. This is definitely a 5 Stars from me!
A cultural mix of ancient myth and a good old quest adventure makes this a gripping read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The beautiful artwork on the cover is also a mix of tradtion meets super hero, which is very visually appealing. This is definitely a 5 Stars from me!
July 7, 2024
I seldom read children's fiction, as I often find the plot and characters too simplistic. However, "The Boy to Beat the Gods" shattered that assumption. Ashley's characters, though young, are complex.
Kayode, for example, can be stubborn at times, curious at others, and occasionally elicits pity. He epitomizes the complexity of both children and adults. As a Nigerian, I was particularly impressed by Ashley's respectful and creative reimagining of Yoruba mythology. It neither offends nor misappropriates the culture.
Regarding Ashley's writing style, reading his novel felt like listening to my grandmother's moonlight stories. His storytelling is captivating, with a distinctive and delicate voice that is both simple to understand and deeply engaging. Despite being an African diaspora writer, he embodies the essence of an African storyteller. This novel is a must-read, categorized as children's fiction but thoroughly enjoyable for adults as well.
October 21, 2024
Perfectly gripping leap of action for fans of Anime/Manga/ Percy Jackson.
I was absolutely spellbound by this book! Brilliantly fast-paced, mythical and adventurous, this is a perfect book for those who enjoyed the Percy Jackson Series or Manga/ Anime fans of things like One Punch, Bleach or My Hero Academia. This protagonist is one of the strongest driven male mc’s I’ve read in a while and his ambition and courage was a wild ride I was hooked by from the first page. This was a pleasure to read and I think a really original viewpoint different from most Mythological based kids books who tend to idolize these all-consuming beings. I LOVED the villain aspect. I believe the author's authenticity in approaching the mythologies that inspire this tale really shone through and make this an incredibly well developed, story-driven adventure with a beautiful breadth of emotion.
I was absolutely spellbound by this book! Brilliantly fast-paced, mythical and adventurous, this is a perfect book for those who enjoyed the Percy Jackson Series or Manga/ Anime fans of things like One Punch, Bleach or My Hero Academia. This protagonist is one of the strongest driven male mc’s I’ve read in a while and his ambition and courage was a wild ride I was hooked by from the first page. This was a pleasure to read and I think a really original viewpoint different from most Mythological based kids books who tend to idolize these all-consuming beings. I LOVED the villain aspect. I believe the author's authenticity in approaching the mythologies that inspire this tale really shone through and make this an incredibly well developed, story-driven adventure with a beautiful breadth of emotion.
August 23, 2024
Think you know the gods? Think again. Thorpe’s brilliant debut will introduce you to bunch of new deities inspired by his African ancestry. The Orishas are giant magical beings who terrorize mankind. The only way to protect humanity is to gain the power of the gods, but only one boy is brave enough to risk angering the gods by doing it.
Kayode’s sister has been taken by the Orishas and he will do anything to get her back. On eating a forbidden fruit, he gains the powers he needs to fight his sister’s captors, but first he needs to learn how to control his new talents. Cue a brilliant and often hilarious team up with a trickster god, a princess and a lowly fisher boy as they join Kayode on his quest to beat the gods.
Highly recommend this action-packed read. It's a brilliant, edge-of-your-seat adventure for fans of Rick Riordan.
Kayode’s sister has been taken by the Orishas and he will do anything to get her back. On eating a forbidden fruit, he gains the powers he needs to fight his sister’s captors, but first he needs to learn how to control his new talents. Cue a brilliant and often hilarious team up with a trickster god, a princess and a lowly fisher boy as they join Kayode on his quest to beat the gods.
Highly recommend this action-packed read. It's a brilliant, edge-of-your-seat adventure for fans of Rick Riordan.
May 13, 2024
I absolutely loved this book, I didn't read much about it, just the title and it didn't disappoint. The story is actually based on African Gods, so this book would make a great read if your covering this topic within school. The story centres on Kayode and his dream of eating the forbidden fruit, only reserved for the Orishas, until one day his life is turned upside down and with the help of a trickster God, he is given the opportunity to gain a power and take on the Gods. Determination, friendship and unlikely hero's feature in this book. A perfect read!
September 15, 2024
Oh my gosh!! This book was great!! I was worried at some points that it might be a bit scary (my little is almost 8) but he absolutely loved it, he is insisting that we buy a copy for his school (his is signed by the author) because he wants everyone to read it!!
He has told his dad to read it and recited the story to him also!
The imagery in this book is so vivid that it paints like a film while reading it (I genuinely hope that this book gets picked up by a film maker/series director it was THAT GOOD!!)
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Ashley's next books!!
He has told his dad to read it and recited the story to him also!
The imagery in this book is so vivid that it paints like a film while reading it (I genuinely hope that this book gets picked up by a film maker/series director it was THAT GOOD!!)
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Ashley's next books!!
December 21, 2024
A fantastic original book that is fast paced and full of heart, friendship and bravery. This book is a great adventure that involves a boy, a princess and a goat (you'll understand once you read it) and the friends they make along the way to beat the gods!
4 ⭐
4 ⭐
July 9, 2024
A brilliant and necessary book.
This is a brilliant book drawing on what is to be human. I urge everyone to read this book today.
This is a brilliant book drawing on what is to be human. I urge everyone to read this book today.
September 17, 2024
I love this book it show the strength of the human spirit .
December 14, 2024
What a book! Know any 8–12 year olds? Get this for them. They’ll have such a wonderful adventure!
April 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this story and learning new mythology. I was hooked from the start.
July 4, 2025
A really well crafted MG high action story. I loved it!
It does exactly what it says on the tin!
Prepare yourselves for a rip roaring adventure tale with a cast of fabulous characters.
It does exactly what it says on the tin!
Prepare yourselves for a rip roaring adventure tale with a cast of fabulous characters.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews