A sweeping fantasy about a girl with the special power to communicate with magical beasts and about the warring kingdom only she can save. This book is a series preceded by The Beast Player II Ohju and followed by The Beast Player IV: Conclusion

Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Honor Book; 2020 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Award.

Author is a Japanese writer who has won many awards.

Japan. Originally published in Japan as Kemono no Sōja by In English--Pushkin Press (London) in 2018. English translation by Cathy Hirano published in the United States by Godwin Books/Henry Holt in 2019.

Elin's family has an important responsibility: caring for the fearsome water serpents that form the core of their kingdom's army. So when some of the creatures mysteriously die, Elin's mother is sentenced to death as punishment. With her last breath, she manages to send her daughter to safety.

Alone and far from home, Elin soon discovers that she can communicate with both the terrifying water serpents and the majestic flying beasts that guard her queen. This skill gives her great power, but it also involves her in deadly plots that could cost her life. Can she save herself and prevent her beloved beasts from being used as tools of war? Or is there no escaping the terrible battles to come?