Beast Mode: The Animal Awakens

by J.J. Arcanjo

A brand-new, action-packed series from the author of Crookhaven, following a group of street-smart kids who have the extraordinary ability to shapeshift into powerful animals. For fans of X-Men and A. F. Steadman.

A group of young, street-smart kids with a dark secret - the ability to transform into powerful animals - must navigate a dangerous world where their extraordinary abilities are both a blessing and a curse.

As they unravel the mysteries of their past and how they came to be shapeshifters, they'll face life-threatening challenges, betrayals, and an organisation that seeks to harness their power for evil.

It's time to unleash your inner animal...

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2026

Reviews

[Emily Barry]

HOLY MOLY THIS IS A GOOD BOOK. I’ve been reading Warrior cats for a while now and decided to try something new after the cashier at the bookstore QBD recommended me this book. I thought about it and thought the book to start reading and I LOVE this book. It kept me hooked from the very beginning throwing plot-twists at me throughout the whole book. If I could rate it more than 5 stars I would. It’s the beginning of a series that looks to be SPECTACULAR. I fully recommend this book.

[Ria_the_bookgirl]

Masterpiece *me crying*



I am sorry I just loved this so much and all of the characters were amazing.

Top characters:
1. Salia of course !!!! She is beautiful (her description can’t be lying) smart cool and well an IDOL !! Thanks dear author for giving her to me you are my fave author btw! 😍😍😍😍
2. Blue. he didn’t deserve to be betrayed like that by the-character-I-will-not-mention-here-cause-I-don’t-want-to-spoil-anyone!!!😚
3.Ember and Raphael I like them both ember is a HACKER (I wanna be one too!!) and Raphael is… well u can’t not like the protagonist can u? 😂

Plot ??? An absolute perfection ! At one point I was like ok that plot twist is so obvious ! And it seemed like I was right until the last possible second it turned out to be something else!!! (C page 285-286 to understand what I am talking about😉)

I also loved the character development… I am sooo attached to my lil book friends 🥹

Also tell me the last chapter about one week later isn’t The Sweetest Chapter Of All Chapters!!


Now, I am about to say my ships about this series so if u consider this a spoiler bye byeeeeee you can go and see my other reviews if you wanna!!!!










Blue and Ember !!!! Oh my gosh they will be so cute together 😘

Salia and Raphael !!!! My precious Sal and the brave protective Raph! ☺️☺️





I love this book and J. J. Arcanjo has created a new super book series (his first super series is Crookhaven btw it’s my fave series 🥳🤪😋)



My problem : WHY DO I HAVE TEH WAIT TILL APRIL FOR THR SECOND BOOK TO COME OUT!🤨🤨🤨😔😔😔



🫠🫠🫠🫠🥹🙂😍😍😍😍😍🙂🥹🫠🫠🫠🫠

[Leesdromen]

Ohhhh I loved that J.J Arcanjo started a new series! I absolutely lovedddddd Crookhaven and this book was such a good start for a new series!

This is different and the same in many ways, Arcanjo know how to build up a story, a world, a background yet to discover and so much more. The characters developed in such a good way and so much more to discover in the rest of the series. Ohhhh yes this is gooood

I want book 2 NOW!

[whatbooknext]

What is Beast Mode (1) about?
Three kids aged between 9 and 12 are on the run and in hiding trying to figure out who and what they are. A year before, they woke up in a clearing in the dark and soon discovered they can change into animals. Even when not in animal form, they have amazing abilities far beyond those of a normal human child.

Searching for their past, including their own names, they discover others like them. Together, they hunt down the truth.


Plot summary of Beast Mode (1) (No Spoilers)
Caine, Blue and Ember have been in hiding for a year on the streets of London. To survive, they have mastered tricks to steal items from others, working as a team. Little do unsuspecting targets know that these three kids are not just kids. They are animal shapeshifters.

Caine can turn into a large cat, Blue, a black husky, and Ember, a fox. Caine is their leader, adept at planning ways to survive and keep them together and safe. Blue is cocky, with a flair for looking good when he can, and the muscle of the team, and Ember is a very skilled tech hacker. None want to hurt anyone, but they are able to protect themselves – all while trying to learn about their pasts.

One night they run into a creature that has been dubbed The Night Terror by the authorities. This huge black animal seems to coral them towards a particular address. This is where they meet a girl named Salia. She too is looking for answers about her life and is soon on the run with the three.

Constantly fleeing from The Night Terror and the police is fraught with danger, but slowly they piece together clues to find out who and what they are. When they realise that there are others after them, even more dangerous than the police or the creature that stalks the streets at night, they have to be even more careful.

Finding a relative helps them to fill in even more blanks in their stories, but danger is never far away. They must determine who is friend and who is foe, before they can really fight back. More than one betrayal bites them hard, but there is no time to process it as they are attacked again and again.

Has staying alive together all been for nothing?

Review
The action in Beast Mode is non-stop. There is also humour, tons of hand to hand (or paw) combat, loyalties stretched and proven, secret after secret revealed and of course, the awesome shapeshifting into a clever cat, a wily fox and a burly husky, all bigger, stronger and faster than they should be.

The history and lore behind these young shapeshifters is intriguing. Do we really know who or what walks among us? This history is to be further explored in the next novel in this series (released April 2027), and I’m looking forward to learning more from these character’s pasts.

If you like action, animals and (almost) super powers, you’re going to love Beast Mode.

Book Style
305 Pages / 36 Chapters
2 Points of View to allow two stories to develop, cross over and separate again throughout novel

FAQ’s
What age is it for?
10+

Where & When is it set?
London, England / Present

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
2 Points of View alternating through novel
Third person / past tense

Is there Violence?
Yes

What genre is Beast Mode (1)?
Middle Grade Fantasy

Themes
Blended family / Fantasy / Science / Mystery / Series / Action / Animals

Is it part of a series?
Yes

The Animal Awakens
? April 2027
?

[Nicola Michelle]

A high-stakes, action packed adventure with our cast fighting for their survival. It was very fast paced and certainly had the ‘I need to read one more chapter…!’ ‘Okay, maybe one more…’ effect which made putting the book down rather hard.

After the first few chapters and I started to ground myself into the story, I became not only more and more intrigued but more and more hooked! I felt like the second half of the book started to steam-roller and I was like a snowball flying down a hill unable to stop. (That could explain why I finished the book in two or three sittings…).

The concept of the shifters made for a great story. Our characters here, humans that can flip into animals, keeping their abilities a secret whilst trying to figure out who they are, made for one compelling plot. Their flung together friendship between Ember, Blue, Caine and Sal saw them facing some difficult times and whilst trying to recover their forgotten memories, maybe some things are best buried?

Well after this one I need the second book stat. Im off to add the next one to my TBR..

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Peter]

I enjoyed the Crookhaven series of books. So was delighted the author, J.J. Arcanjo, is back with a very different, but equally entertaining, new series.

An action packed adventure for children and teen readers. Adults will like it too.

An easy read, nice mystery story. Once again a group of youngsters who become friends, looking out for each other. This time from a world that doesn’t understand them, and with missing memories to boot.

Of course there’s lots of humour and shenanigans along with some surprising villains.

After you’ve read this book, while waiting for Beast Mode book two to arrive, if you haven’t already, read the author’s Crookhaven series to pass the time.

(If you watched the Crookhaven TV series, the books are very different, and much better than the TV series. In my humble opinion.)

Thank you to Hatchette Children’s Group and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Nick Robinson]

From the moment Caine, Blue and Ember wake up in the forest with no memory and the power to transform into animals, I was hooked. You’re straight into the mystery and tension, but Arcanjo doesn’t give everything away at once — it’s paced just right to keep you guessing.

I loved how the world feels fully fleshed out and easy to follow, with lore that makes you want to dig deeper. The characters are all different, and we learn more about them bit by bit as they grow through the story. The twists kept me on my toes the whole way through.

What really stuck with me was the theme of family — that sometimes the people you choose end up being the ones who matter most. It gives the story real warmth and heart beneath all the action, and it’s something that’ll stay with me long after finishing.

[Belinda]

A fun start to a new series for middle school age kids. J.j.Arcanjo has the midias touch.

[ELLEN Thompson]

Really excellent book so far. I adore JJ Arcanjo's books and his style of writing.