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!

In the debut YA novel, you are dropped into the world of Mancella Cliff, soon to be leader of the Cliff Realm. Like every teenager on the verge of their destiny, Mancella struggles with the weight of her soon to be responsibilities. With the power to summon any animal she kills, this soon to be Prime struggles with the needless violence that comes with power in her world. Soon she is thrust is into a difficult situation, and finds an unlikely partner in annoyingly likeable Silver. Enjoy this unique coming of age fantasy.

Reading the dynamics grow between Mancella and Silver was fun as they both navigate and move throughout their very different lives. The magic system for this world is unique and there is a lot that can be done with it. I can't wait to read more. The opening pages of the book as well as the over are beautiful. Overall, this was great read!

"Am I strong enough yet?"

2.5 stars

It had an easy-to-follow world, underdeveloped tho because of that. Usually, I have to struggle through world-building but this was straightforward. The magic system was also too simple, and not all that exciting.

This is off to a negative start lmao

It doesn’t get better. I guess take this review with a grain of salt because it has my only trigger in it (on-page animal killing and torturing) but also, I was bored through most of it, so it wasn't just the trigger/dislike of the animals.

The cover is pretty, if that counts as something positive?

My main problem with this was that the author centred the entire book around killing animals. You can say it's something else, but no. Like…what? She doesn’t even mention it causally, it’s graphically detailed in the first few chapters and then more and more throughout the story in flashbacks and memories. It’s disgusting. Who even thought this would be a good idea? Having a character's power come from torturing and killing animals. Because she can’t kill them humanly, no, she had to brutalize them first. It’s pretty much universally accepted in the book community that animals are off-limits.

And the FMC, who’s supposed to hate killing animals and is only forced to do it, yeah, that doesn’t ring true. She feels bad and then eh, it’s done. She only started fighting back (and I say that lightly since she had the backbone of an invertebrate) when killing humans was brought up. She was also stupid. So there’s that.

"I was expecting a glittering monster, but she’s … just a girl.
Which means I can break her."

Silver, the MMC, was boring and naive lmao. I have nothing to say about him, I've literally forgotten everything about him and his friends. I guessed what he was actually involved in from the start and the fact that he didn’t? Nope.

Thank you to Fierce Reads, Colored Pages Book Tours, the author, and Netgalley for the eARC and a physical finished copy.

This was a fast paced, unputdownable YA fantasy! There was humor and banter while also exploring the deeper themes of classism, equality, and the beasts inside all of us. The anger and rage and grief we bury until it all finally erupts. Be mindful of trigger warnings for animal death and child abuse.

The found family of misfits reminded me of the Crows and I loved their dynamics. Silver and Mance’s friendship and sweet romance opened Mance’s eyes to the reality of the world outside her palace. Her evolution into the leader her people needed, one who would work for their benefit not her own, was beautiful. After suffering through years of abuse, seeing her finally taking back the power and standing up to a tyrant was so satisfying.

The magic system and world building was unique and I hope we get to explore the other kingdoms in future books. That ending was such a curve ball and I can’t wait to see how it’s going to play out!

Thanks to the publisher, Colored Pages Book Tours, and the author for the review copy!

This edition to the ever-expanding romantasy genre distinguishes itself from the rest by offering a rich, powerfully-strong, skilled-fighter of a female protagonist, and a scheming down-on-his-luck male lead. I genuinely enjoyed the swap. That, coupled with an interesting, if only slightly developed, magic system, made this an easy read that kept my attention. Mance and Silver are both complex characters trapped in a political environment where they have little influence and their struggles to make something out of that as well as the way their relationship develops is engaging and charming. This would be a great YA title to add to collections for romantasy lovers.

This wasn't what I expected, but the cover is absolutely stunning! This well-written, fast-paced YA fantasy is sure to please the right audience, but it's currently a DNF for me.

The magic system for the book is very unique. With that being said, the violence towards animals in the beginning of the book could be a turn off for some readers. Mancella has the ability to absorb an animal's soul and recall the animal at a later time, but to do this, she must kill the animal using her bare hands. Her father has made her kill many different animals to "protect" the kingdom. On the cusp of becoming the next in line for the throne, Mancella discovers that her father is not all she thought he was in protecting their kingdom. She becomes involved with Silver, who is rebelling against the crown, without knowing who and what he is.