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The Beast
Four close friends begin a search for the mysterious 'beast' in a dark and spooky wilderness, but little do they know that they'll discover much more about themselves on this beautifully bleak young adult adventure. Love, danger, and the depths of the soul - it's all here, and all part of this tale of wonder and friendship.
Inspired by the iconic world heritage sit of Horton Plains in beautiful, wild Sri Lanka, Jude Perera has conjured a gripping tale of childhood mystery and legendary beasts that will transport the reader into a magical land of escapism and excitement.
Inspired by the iconic world heritage sit of Horton Plains in beautiful, wild Sri Lanka, Jude Perera has conjured a gripping tale of childhood mystery and legendary beasts that will transport the reader into a magical land of escapism and excitement.
128 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2016
About the author
Jude Perera
3 books7 followersJude Perera is a CPA living in Melbourne with his wife and two sons. He has gained literary presence as a short fiction, lifestyle and travel blogger with some International online magazines - Hackwriters, Fiction 365, The Fringe Magazine, Southlit & Eastlit Magazines and Travelmag.
He recently released a Teenaged/YA book – titled “The Beast” in Melbourne. Key Australian libraries including the – National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature – University of Canberra, State Library of South Australia and The National Library of Australia carry copies of the book. It has earned positive reviews in local and international press and literary circles.
His second novel – A Glow in the Forest, a medieval young adult adventure filled with thrills, mystery and romance was released in April 2020. Family is his first love, hotly pursued by his love of writing, lust for travel and Netflix.
More chapters of his second novel can be read at Book2Look.
He recently released a Teenaged/YA book – titled “The Beast” in Melbourne. Key Australian libraries including the – National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature – University of Canberra, State Library of South Australia and The National Library of Australia carry copies of the book. It has earned positive reviews in local and international press and literary circles.
His second novel – A Glow in the Forest, a medieval young adult adventure filled with thrills, mystery and romance was released in April 2020. Family is his first love, hotly pursued by his love of writing, lust for travel and Netflix.
More chapters of his second novel can be read at Book2Look.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 28, 2022
The story revolves around four teenagers Menaka, Rose, Dylan and Ash. Their adventurous search for the beast in the forest kicks off the book. Things change a lot when they come across a kidnapped girl, and soon Menaka leaves the house.
There are small twists and turns in the book, which really keep the reader hooked to the book. Over all the book is a good read, though I found myself a little lost at times trying to connect what I am reading to the main story, but a little later it made sense.
The story line is good, keeps the reader on the book. Goes with a little good suggestion too. I did like the last chapter of the book, the way people could and should think. The story lining is good, though there are a few gaps but they would not occur so apparent in the book, only after you complete you might sense them.
The love story which runs along is also very cute to read. Again something that you see and hear all around us, kind of love story.
This is a good, interesting read. I thank the author to have provided me with the copy. Appreciate and will be looking for your next work. Thanks
There are small twists and turns in the book, which really keep the reader hooked to the book. Over all the book is a good read, though I found myself a little lost at times trying to connect what I am reading to the main story, but a little later it made sense.
The story line is good, keeps the reader on the book. Goes with a little good suggestion too. I did like the last chapter of the book, the way people could and should think. The story lining is good, though there are a few gaps but they would not occur so apparent in the book, only after you complete you might sense them.
The love story which runs along is also very cute to read. Again something that you see and hear all around us, kind of love story.
This is a good, interesting read. I thank the author to have provided me with the copy. Appreciate and will be looking for your next work. Thanks
March 30, 2019
The Beast is an exciting and action-packed story. It’s full of mystery and intrigue and it keeps you guessing until the very end. The inclusion of vivid depictions of scenery and food from Sri Lanka help to bring the story to life.
December 18, 2019
A great YA read.
May 27, 2020
The Beast is a wonderfully crafted story with characters that are vibrant, innocent young adults. The journey four close friends take captivates young adult curiosities, giving warning of dangers. The search for the Beast is woven into the finding of darkness in those we trust. And as the story builds and twists to reveal the villains, it ends on pure confidence of friendship and respect for all living things.
December 18, 2018
Young Adult novel set in SRI LANKA
Menaka, Rose, Dylan and Ash are on Ash’s tea plantation, near the Horton Plains beneath the Pidurutalagala, the highest peak in Sri Lanka. A reward is up for grabs for anyone who can spot the Yakush (the beast of the title) and gather evidence of its existence – one million rupees, a tantalising sum to capture evidence of the creature with glowing bloodshot eyes and velvety tawny skin.
Dylan has a thing for Menaka, which adds a complication to the teenage group dynamic, but then, the four youngsters are of an age when the first stirrings of love are beginning. All four teens have ways of looking at the world that are typical for their age. The narrative is as much about their adventures, hunting the Yakush and building life experience, as it is about bringing the setting to life. There are rich descriptions of locale…. the birds, the langur monkeys, flora and fauna, encounters with a leopard and stumbling across the eerie Lost Soul’s Graveyard…there could almost be ghosts wafting in the wings, as the mist swirl and eddy….
The group comes across little Usha who has been kidnapped (it was in all the newspapers the previous week) and she can attest to having seen a larger than life creature! Was it the Yakush? Further kidnappings, disappearances, natural calamities and encounters with thugs keep the story pacy and make yakush-hunting quite an adventure. Convoluted and muddled at times, with more characters – including various parents – entering the fray, this is a book full of energy and enthusiasm.
Sri Lankan culture is also a strong part of the storyline, from religion to entrenched class difference, food and more, these all give an exotic feel to the narrative.
The physical production of the copy that we have is not great, I have to say. The typesetting is of a small size and a slightly unusual font for a book (in the UK, anyway), making the layout feel dense and hard to read. The drawings add a personal dimension – drawn as they are by the author’s wife, as I understand it – and have a ‘naïve school of art’ charm. The illustration on the cover is seemingly executed in scraperboard, but a black cover? I don’t know if that really works… it is not that eye catching compared to colour.
There are some odd turns of phrase… do mid teens still refer to girls as chicks? I don’t know, but sometimes there can be a slightly wooden construct. Odd missing words also indicate that the editing / proof reading process hasn’t been a thorough one. The narrative could certainly have benefited from a good editor to add a really professional touch.
Menaka, Rose, Dylan and Ash are on Ash’s tea plantation, near the Horton Plains beneath the Pidurutalagala, the highest peak in Sri Lanka. A reward is up for grabs for anyone who can spot the Yakush (the beast of the title) and gather evidence of its existence – one million rupees, a tantalising sum to capture evidence of the creature with glowing bloodshot eyes and velvety tawny skin.
Dylan has a thing for Menaka, which adds a complication to the teenage group dynamic, but then, the four youngsters are of an age when the first stirrings of love are beginning. All four teens have ways of looking at the world that are typical for their age. The narrative is as much about their adventures, hunting the Yakush and building life experience, as it is about bringing the setting to life. There are rich descriptions of locale…. the birds, the langur monkeys, flora and fauna, encounters with a leopard and stumbling across the eerie Lost Soul’s Graveyard…there could almost be ghosts wafting in the wings, as the mist swirl and eddy….
The group comes across little Usha who has been kidnapped (it was in all the newspapers the previous week) and she can attest to having seen a larger than life creature! Was it the Yakush? Further kidnappings, disappearances, natural calamities and encounters with thugs keep the story pacy and make yakush-hunting quite an adventure. Convoluted and muddled at times, with more characters – including various parents – entering the fray, this is a book full of energy and enthusiasm.
Sri Lankan culture is also a strong part of the storyline, from religion to entrenched class difference, food and more, these all give an exotic feel to the narrative.
The physical production of the copy that we have is not great, I have to say. The typesetting is of a small size and a slightly unusual font for a book (in the UK, anyway), making the layout feel dense and hard to read. The drawings add a personal dimension – drawn as they are by the author’s wife, as I understand it – and have a ‘naïve school of art’ charm. The illustration on the cover is seemingly executed in scraperboard, but a black cover? I don’t know if that really works… it is not that eye catching compared to colour.
There are some odd turns of phrase… do mid teens still refer to girls as chicks? I don’t know, but sometimes there can be a slightly wooden construct. Odd missing words also indicate that the editing / proof reading process hasn’t been a thorough one. The narrative could certainly have benefited from a good editor to add a really professional touch.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews