Beneath the Beaks of Giants by Edie K’Roni

Dive into a sprawling insect-scale epic fantasy perfect for readers of Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Time and the dystopian intrigue of Animal Farm. This is a tale of rebellion, conspiracy, and one unlikely hero's fight for the truth. The setting is a fantasy world resonating with Rural Africa. The Story Ziggy is a worker in the massive Termite Mound, just a cog in a machine fueled by fear and rigid doctrine. For generations, the colony has survived by following one rule, stay in the dark and obey the Monarchy. But when the sky-monsters descend, shattering the fortress and leaving Ziggy’s home in ruins, he realizes a terrible truth. The leadership keeps its people obedient, but it is failing to protect them. And when Ziggy suggests a desperate alliance with the Ant Kingdom, his idea is rejected. Permission to visit is denied. He goes anyway, defying their orders, and his own people brand him a traitor. During his visit to the Ant Kingdom, he narrowly escapes a poisoned cup and a brutal execution. Now a fugitive with a limp and a target on his back, Ziggy is thrust into the World of the Small, a terrifying landscape where every shadow hides a predator, and old grudges run deeper than the tunnels. From the treacherous Ant Citadel to the bone-crushing hunting grounds of the Rooster, Ziggy must evolve from a peaceful worker into a master strategist. With the help of an unlikely ally, an ant from the rival kingdom named Henry, he uncovers a shocking secret. They discover a way to exploit the giants’ greatest weakness by attacking their feet, a weapon that could ground them forever. But the clock is ticking. To save a colony that has already condemned him, Ziggy must return to the heart of the corruption, expose a centuries-old conspiracy, and lead a revolution against a ruthless Monarchy. Ziggy once believed diplomacy could save the Mound. He was wrong. It wasn't peace, as he had dreamt, but survival, in a war. To save his world, he’ll have to be both clever and ready to fight their enemies.