I don't know why but for some reason the name Silver just continuously took me out of the story.
I will say, though, that I did enjoy the darker themes present in this story. The main characters were pretty compelling, and I thought that they were pretty well fleshed out with motivations that made sense/were clear. However, the side characters really just felt like set-dressing in this story--I just wasn't really stressed out/worried about what was going to happen to them, so that also wasn't great. The ending also, for how dark the story presents as, just felt too....neat. I feel like this doesn't really need to be a series because we already sort of got the happily ever after, in a way.

This is a compelling dark YA romantasy about Mancella, who is heir to the throne, and whose magic allows her to summon animals, but only after she’s killed them with her bare hands. Her father is a monster and a tyrant, and in her bid to escape his control, she meets Silver, a charming, sarcastic, thief and liar. He’s grown up on the streets and will do whatever it takes to survive. They become unlikely allies as Mancella fights to save her kingdom, but all the while, Silver is manipulating her to get what he wants. However, they both end up falling for each other and have to face what that means for themselves and their ambitions. This book is filled with deception, betrayal, trauma, friendship, magic, banter, and just a hint of angsty romance. I had a great time with it, and I can’t wait for the next book! I was lucky enough to receive an ALC, and the audio is fantastic. It’s dual narration with Brenda Scott Wlazlo and Jake Chronister and they did such an amazing job with it. I highly recommend listening!
🐆
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️
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Read if you like:
▫️a princess and a thief
▫️magic gifted by the Broken Citadel
▫️rebellion against a tyrant king
▫️reluctant allies
▫️dual POV
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Thank you to Fierce Reads, Macmillan Children’s, Macmillan Audio, D. L. Taylor, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. I received advanced copies for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

\\\\\ 3.5 \\\\\

To be honest, I was quite craving a fantasy read so to jump into this one really hold my interest. While the world-building wasn't that present from the start, I still went with it and figured it would come later on. Sadly, after a while, I still felt like it was lacking. The story was fascinating, but I always had so many unanswered questions and I couldn't really quite figure out the overall situation. That being said, I was still interested enough in the story to enjoy it.

Tropes:
YA Romantasy
Secrets / betrayals
Trauma
High stakes
Special powers
Different class
Enemies to lovers

While this one is YA fantasy, it was a bit on the darker side for sure. The animal parts were hard on me, but the fact that they still were part of our main character definitely made it better. I did love our main characters as soon as they appeared on the page. Both had quite a backstory, and they were easy to understand for me. I could see their relationship evolve quite nicely as they started to open up, and the dynamic between them was interesting with the secrets and all.

One thing that was missing for me though was some kind of attachment to the side characters. I might be more picky with fantasy, but I enjoy the whole found family trope only if I truly feel it. I cannot say the side characters held my interest enough for me to be stressed about what would happen to them and all. So that was a bit of a bummer.

The magical world was like no other that is for sure and I really found interesting that not all characters had powers and that you had no idea what those could be! It opened up for so many possibilities! I did see some of the plot twists coming, but that is not something I find negative, it was well plotted, all happened in its own time, and I was always looking forward to continuing this read. The ending was too much of a happy ending for me to feel a need to continue the series. That final plot twist honestly just annoyed me and I can easily forget about it, and they lived happily ever after in my head.

Overall, this one had a super interesting plot and it's a very nice debut, I'm glad I read it!

Thanks to ColoredPagesBookTour, Fierce Reads and the author for my copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

This YA "Romantasy" was very intriguing. It was full of deception, family problems, and twists and turns. The fantasy world felt very unique. It started explaining the kind of magic that the FMC had, and it was dark, to say the least. If you are an animal lover (like me), Mancella's power and what she's being forced to do by her father can be tough to read.

Mancella is very innocent but strong in her beliefs. She doesn't know how far her father's evilness has spread, but she's willing to do something about it. Silver is the MMC, from a very different world than Mancella; he is trying to get back a little of what her father has been taking from the people of the realm.

The dynamic between the MCs was really exciting to read. Silver was determined to hate the Heir, but he soon found out that she was rather different from what he always thought.

The story was fast-paced; I couldn't put it down because I really needed to know what was going to happen next. The ending left me gasping for air, and I need to continue this series!

There’s a girl who has magic that allow her to collect animal souls she killed, as long as she kills them in a fair fight. those souls reside inside her and could be summoned whenever she wants. and there's an orphan boy who hates her family and plans to manipulate her.

It's a story stacked with betrayals, secrets, and dark past. The vibes was brutal & disturbing, reminded me of Gilded duology. It made me feel helpless but also eager to see where the story’s going, a combination of good writing and amazing narrators. The characterization was so good. The romance was okay but the random “there’s only one bed” felt out of place and unnecessary IMO. But other than that, I enjoyed it.

the ending indicates there could be a sequel? I mean this is good as a standalone but I will read the sequel if there will be one. What a captivating debut

Mancella lives in a world ruled by magic. The Primes of each kingdom flaunt their magical powers to incite war or promote peace. Mancella is the heir apparent to her brutal father, who puts his power before the safety or desires of his family. Schooled by his vicious ways of persuasion, she has been instructed to kill every animal her father brings to her. Her magic absorbs the spirit of each beast, but she can summon them back at will.

Silver, a homeless pickpocket and thief, is recruited by a stranger to steal something from the castle. He is given three specific tasks to accomplish and is promised a house and work papers to secure a job. It is everything he has ever dreamed of! Silver realizes he must acquire Mancella’s cooperation to accomplish the tasks he is required to do. They find common ground where neither expected it, as his job becomes more difficult and deadly than he could have imagined. At the same time, Marcella becomes more desperate than ever to escape her father’s cruel authority and manipulation.

Silver’s desire to acquire a decent life is palpable. Marcella’s abhorrence of the deeds she must accomplish for her father is heartrending. Both main characters are believable and draw the reader’s sympathies. Overall, a quick, exciting read!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor is a medium to high fantasy romance about Mancella Cliff the tortured royal and Silver the charming thief and the struggles about the truth and justice in a kingdom where Mancella’s father rules with an iron fist.
Mancella has a really interesting power with that being said the extent in which the animals deaths are described leaves me feeling a little disturbed to the point where I would even say a warning prior to the book would be appreciated. The way that she feels after using her powers is SO well written as the reader I could feel her emotions as well.
The romance in this book was really palpable and the tension that was created with Silver and Mancella was absolutely stunning. The conflicting feelings that Silver has towards her and the mission that he was given are some of the best uncertainty tropes I have ever read. The side characters were well written and offered their own tone to the novel.
The ending wasn’t my favorite. I would have liked it to go a different way but I understand why it has the ending that it does. The writing and world-building was really good. The only issue I had was the graphic magic but I’m very excited to see where the story goes.

3.5 - Unfortunately this was not a huge hit for me :( I was really excited for this one because I LOVE YA fantasy and romantasy!! The parts I did really like were the concept of magic here...a young girl who can take the power of animals into her body and become one, becoming a beast. I thought the villain was complex and fun to follow along with. The writing was really good and brought me into the magic and made me connect with the main character.

Mance is a powerful female main character, a heir to the throne, who has been forced into her position by her father. She has faced so many horrors in her life and is forced to live with the power to summon animals after murdering them with her bare hands.

The parts that fell flat for me honestly was the world building. I didn't feel really drawn into the story, despite there being a lot of discussion of the politics. I just didnt think that there was enough worldbuilding for this series to be a duology. I also didn't love the pov of the male main character, so when we switched from Mance's POV to Silver's it lost me a bit. I made it to 60% and I did see that there was a cliffhanger and crazy ending, so it may be worth sticking with, but it just wasn't keeping my attention enough.

Thank you to Macmillan Young Readers for the free book!!

Unique magic
Constant Actions
Enemies to lovers

I enjoyed the connection between Mancella and Silver and how they both want to improve the country. Silver is in the castle to steal form Mancella only to feel a connection to her. The twists and turns were unexpected and wonderful.

The only thing I struggled a little with was the graphic descriptions of animal deaths. These deaths are the way that Mancella gains in strength. She does struggle with this.

This was ok. I felt like it had a lot of the right elements, but ultimately they just didn’t land for me.

I thought the magic distribution system and the type of magic people had, especially Mancella, were super interesting and unlike anything I have read before. I actually really loved it despite how dark it was at times for the characters.

I wasn’t a big fan of Mancella. While she displayed tendencies of being strong, overall, I saw her as a weak FMC. I felt like she did strong things passively, if that makes sense. Instead of being truly full of grit, she seemed to reluctantly do the hard things. I don’t want to say too much more than that because I don’t want to give anything away, but I think her character was a big reason the book didn’t land super well for me.

Silver was ok. He was supposed to be a charming ruffian, and I guess he was to a degree, but he was a very vanilla ruffian.

Ultimately, I wanted more out of this. I felt a lot of character traits and events were given just enough detail to make the page count but not enough to have me invested in the characters or the events. However, I will say it was well written and would probably be a great intro book for those just dipping their toes into fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), and D. L. Taylor for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

A great fantasy with a unique twist-our main character can take on the abilities and powers of animals she kills. It can be a bit graphic, so fair warning for sensitive readers.

-Full review for Booklist

“‘And that, just like he can never stomp the flowers out fully, I won’t let that spark of goodness in me die completely either. No matter how many beasts we bury in my heart.’”

I LOVED this romantic fantasy.

My favorite part was the magic system. The abilities that characters had were so unique, and introduced really interesting dilemmas and consequences. The main character absorbs the spirit of any animal she kills with her bare hands, leading her father to want to use her as a weapon even though she tries to fight against him. I really felt for her, her struggle was so heart wrenching.

There was a big theme of pushing back against corrupt leaders, and the methods they use to impose control on their people. In this day and age I think these things are important to think about.

I liked the romance as well. From the MMC’s POV it was filled with angst, as he was lying to her from the jump, while the FMC thinks she has the first person to ever truly see her.

I enjoyed the magic, heists, twists, and romance, and can’t wait to see what comes next!

Thanks to the author and publisher for the copy.

I still can't decide if I liked this book or not. The magic system was very interesting and I stayed interested the entire book. I really enjoyed Mancella as a strong female lead. Overall it was good. But only three stars good. It had super heavy themes but had very immature romance. Not sure I'll recommend it to many.

This was so, so good, and a super impressive debut. I couldn’t put it down. The magic system is unique, the characters are relatable and easy to root for, and the prose is gorgeous. The only downside for me was that some of the animal death scenes were a bit much (I don’t handle animal death scenes very well) so I hope there is a trigger warning at the beginning of the finished copy.

I feel like the author has just scratched the surface of all this world and these characters have to offer (especially after that epilogue). I truly hope there’s a sequel & can’t wait to see what D.L. Taylor writes next

The Beasts We Bury delivers an engaging mix of courtly intrigue, magic, and morally complex characters. Mancella (Mance) is a compelling protagonist, torn between her duty as heir to a brutal throne and her desire to break free from the cycle of violence. Her ability to summon animals through death is both fascinating and haunting, adding a unique twist to the magic system.

Silver, the charming thief with a vendetta, adds tension and excitement as he infiltrates the castle. His growing connection with Mance complicates his mission, leading to an emotional push-and-pull that keeps the stakes high. Their shifting dynamic, filled with deception and reluctant attraction, is one of the novel’s strongest aspects.

While the worldbuilding is intriguing, some elements could have been explored more deeply to enhance the story’s impact. The pacing also wavers at times, making certain sections feel drawn out. However, fans of dark fantasy with morally gray characters and slow-burning tension will find plenty to enjoy. The Beasts We Bury is an ambitious debut with an atmospheric edge and a compelling premise.

The Beasts We Bury is the first book in D. L. Taylor’s new series, The Broken Citadel. This enemies-to-lovers fantasy touches on magic, revenge, war, abuse (human and animal), death, betrayal, friendship, family and love.

It’s a lot to cover, but Taylor manages to capture all those elements into a novel that truly keeps your attention.

Told from the alternating viewpoints of Mancella and Silver you are immediately swept into a world with a comprehensive magic system that fits the setting and the characters. Both are strong characters and their dynamic is strong.

That said, The Beasts We Bury is a dark novel. Some of the scenes, particularly the ones where Mamcella fuels and uses her magic are a bit disturbing. These scenes are key contextually but will be off-putting to a good portion of readers. I suggest checking it out from the library prior to purchasing for readers who are curious but are unsure how they’ll react to these darker themes.

Aaaamazing. Obbbbsessed. I was hooked on this book from the very first chapter. The writing, the emotions, the drama, the MC - boom done. And it only got better and better. I love this magical world - so interesting, so much more can unfold, and incredibly easy to follow. Picturing the vicious and kind MC with all her animals was captivating. Silver and his crew, seeing his motivations and glimpses of his past, you can just feel for these kids. I could not stop reading, I was completely obsessed and totally shocked by each twist and where the story went. This was a non-stop heart pounding, action filled book. I LOVED the ending, and I cannot wait for more! This is going to be SUCH a fun series!

Loved it. From beginning to end. Usually it bugs me when the POV switches every chapter but The Beasts We Bury was so well written and interesting that it didn’t bother me at all. It was interesting how a random citadel gives people magic or (presumably) kills them. And everyone’s magic is different. I really wondered if the magic had anything to do with the person’s characteristics or desires and intentions.

I loved seeing Mancella grow from being the girl controlled by her father and a pawn in his games to someone who stood up for herself and others around her. I was shocked that Alect actually tried to kill the Prime. But totally guessed he was Guerre. I was sad that he had to die. I wish they could have found a way to work things out and go back to a somewhat normal life.

Mance trying to lock her dark side away using Alect's power seems like a recipe for disaster. 😬 I’m imagining that struggle will be a big part of the plot in the sequel. I wish the second book was already out so I could read it now!

Thank you to the author, Fierce Reads, PublishersWeekly, and Netgally for giving me a chance to read The Beast We Bury.

This book was really interesting and had a lot of mystery throughout the book. I loved the magic concepts and the difficulty of obtaining power. The authors ability to create a dark world filled with darker characters was really something I appreciated. There were a lot of dark themes that I think was handled well and with thought. I enjoyed this read!

I greatly enjoyed this story!! Loved it! The magic was very unique and I greatly enjoyed the characters and the story. I think that the only thing I got a little tripped on was some of the more modern language used when the world was clearly one of carriages and swords; I.e “freaking”, “guy” , “chuck” for throwing, and the word doppelgänger which is a German word (I’m pretty sure it’s German?). I think if that was tweaked, it would have been perfection. However, this is only my opinion. I will definitely be reading more of this authors work!!

That epilogue!!!! Wow!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc and chance to read this book!