I thought this was a good first book! It has a lot of potential and I'm excited to see where the series goes. I really liked the magic system and how it's pretty sensitive to how it works. I thought that Mancella's journey to find her way was very well written. I thought that Brenda Scott Wlazlo and Jake Chronister did a good job with the audio overall. For some things I didn't love. It's marketed as enemies to lovers. Silver is the only one who thinks they are enemies and that's a bit of a stretch. He's enemies with her father the king and dislikes her because she is his daughter. He quickly switches to liking her but being upset that he likes her. I thought the plot was a little silly. Silver is written to be more observant but he misses all of the big red flags about what's going on. Overall it's a great first book for D. L. Taylor and for this series!

Mancella Cliff will soon be appointed Second by her brutal father, the Prime. Forced to kill animals from a young age to increase her magic, Mancella joins forces with Silver, the only person who has ever befriended her, to form a crucial political alliance. However, Silver is plotting to take down her ruthless father. Mancella's ability to summon the animals she has killed from the dead makes this YA fantasy unique. Full of intrigue and excitement, this is an excellent debut novel.

Dual narration from Brenda Scott Wlazlo and Jake Chronister provides clarity to the listener. Brenda's tone is rich with emotion and engaging making it easy to transport the listener into Mance's world. Jake's voice is fine, but lacks urgency and expression during intense scenes.

Special thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What do you do when your life’s mission is to take down a family power that’s plagued the whole of your realm? Do you work to break the wheel or do you cower to defeat?

If you choose to follow this dangerous path you deceive not just the players in this game of deception, but the heir to throne. In doing so you must decide if betraying your own thoughts is worth betraying your own heart.

This Y.A fantasy by D.L. Taylor was fast paced and started off with a bang that left me feeling both Intrigue and sadness with how the FMC Mancella’s magic is first introduced to us. The plot never felt like it was dragging especially for it being Y.A. We get to really see how Mancella’s deeply rooted trauma and hurt manifest its way into the person she is when she encounters our MMC Silver. He’s essentially a street rat who goes undercover in the city walls to dismantle the family whose dealings has plagued
the entire realm for far too long.

Being kept in the dark about so many things Mancella needs to uncover a way to break the bonds her father holds over her. With the unlikely alliance of her and Silver working together Mancella must navigate family dynamics, betrayal and the dangers of her father’s desire to exploit and grow her power..all while sparks form inside the deepest parts of her heart for the boy who first offered her a slice of cake.

I would have liked to see a little more world building if I’m being picky and more developed side characters. I wanted more from them. One of them was giving me “Hot pie” vibes from GOT who I loved in that series. In my humble opinion they are what holds the glue together most times for our MC’s. ….Filling in the pieces of personality our main characters unknowingly hide.

I really enjoyed listening to this via audiobook. Having a dual POV narration was perfect for this story, giving both MC’s a chance for us to be inside their thoughts and emotions. I thought Mancella’s character was richly developed. I liked being able to see both her rage & her compassion. I could feel both her anguish and love develop through the lines in this story.

The Beasts we bury is a duology and with how the story ended you could feel the change in the air. I was not expecting that ending. This alone should solidify your return to the second part of Mancella’s story.

Thank you to Macmillan & NetGalley for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I walk away from ‘The Beasts we Bury’ giving it 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook.

This is my first D. L. Taylor book, and I attempted to listen to the audiobook.

I really like the plot of this story and I like the author's idea for the magical system and the FMC's ability. I also enjoyed the MMC's drive and ambition. This book has a many positive aspects for me.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF the audiobook at 25%. I am not sure if it is the writing or the female narrator, but the FMC is presented as too overly, and annoyingly, dramatic for my taste.

Since this story has so much potential and I really like the author's idea and where this might be going, I might try to physically read the book once it is released to see if it is just the audiobook that is bothering me.

the starting of how it started had me really interested on how this would go but as i kept listening to it didn't hold my attention i started zooning out had to restart it several times. didn't like the narrators

I loved this! I've not been in a romantasy mood for a few years, so this was the first one I've really felt sucked into! I found the magical world very unique and the characters authentic. The character arc and dilemma was deep and thought-provoking. The romance was pretty closed-door, so THE BEASTS WE BURY would appeal to readers who prefer closed door or for younger readers. I have 12 yo and would encourage her to read. Oh! And it ends with a whollop/rewriting of all you've read. Loved! Overall, highly recommended.

Before I get further into the review I want to give a big Thank you to D.L. Taylor, Netgalley, and MacMillan Audio for the ARC audio of this book. This is my first ever audiobook experience and man “The Beasts We Bury” was a wild ride.

⚠️ Also Big disclaimer: please check trigger warnings before reading this book. I definitely did not do that and was not expecting what unfolded. If you have issues with any of the below topics please seek other reading material:
-Mental and Physical abuse
-Graphic description of animal cruelty/sacrifice

When I tell you this a dark romantic fantasy novel. I’m not bluffing. I honestly wasn’t expecting D.L Taylor to go that hard but she didn’t hold back. I also went into this book completely blind. So Listening to this audiobook to and from work was a trip. And it left me multiple times screaming, gasping, and laughing. This book immediately grabs you in and doesn’t release you. The only reason I didn’t finish the audiobook sooner was because of one of our narrators. I absolutely loved Mancella narrator. She was easy to follow and her voice matched perfectly with what I thought her character might look like. Our narrator for Silver on the other hand definitely took some time getting used to. I didn’t really start vibing with him until way past the half way point. His voice never felt like it fit the vision I had for that character.

Even with all that I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was a high stakes page turner with plenty of twists and swoon worthy moments. The fact that this was D.L Taylor’s debut novel still blows me away. Overall I really enjoyed listening to this and would recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of the romantasy genre.

PSA: Animal lovers this has some hard scenes to read, check trigger warnings but I still recommend.

I couldn’t put this book down, a high stakes, quick moving YA Romantasy. I felt like I was right there experiencing life with the characters. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the E-ARC.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor. All opinions are my own.

The premise of this story sounded interesting to me, so that is why I wanted to give this story a chance. While I do think the magic in this story was unique, I didn’t find the plot that interesting or the characters that likable. I ended up not finishing the story because it wasn’t keeping my attention.

The main character’s dad was completely awful, but the other characters just didn’t stand out to me. I also thought the romance was just okay from the part that I read.

The narrators for this story were fine, so I would recommend the audiobook format if you decide to give this book a try.

While the synopsis does give a bit of a suggestion as to what content might be included in this story, I would also just like to warn readers that there is a pretty graphic scene in the beginning of the book about the death of an animal. It was very hard to read for me because of my personal feelings about animals.

This is a YA fantasy with a very dark magic system with a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with no spice.

The descriptive writing was amazing and allowed me to become fully immersed in the story from the beginning and kept me engaged until the end.

This story is told from dual points of view, Mancella the MMC and Silver the FMC, alternating between chapters with both a female and male narrator for each protagonist. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the male narrator Jake Chronister at first but then came to realize the voice was perfect for the age and personality of the MMC. The female narration by Brenda Scott Wlazlo was phenomenal, as I could feel the emotions of her character and I could listen to her voice all day.

Be aware that the descriptive writing and emotional narration for Mancella also make the scenes when she is forced to slay animals and the parts depicting the horrid mistreatment of her and other children even more heartbreaking.

Mancella’s father the Prime ruler of their realm is a true villain in this story. I have not despised a character this much since Lionel from Zodiac Academy.

This story surprisingly became one of top favorite reads of 2024 and I cannot recommend this enough. If a second book is released in the future, it will be an immediate purchase for me and I will be purchasing a physical copy as shelf trophy with all my other favorites.

Thank you to D.L. Taylor, Netgalley, and MacMillan Audio for the ARC audio of this book.

This is a lovely YA enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy. I absolutely love that this is most plot driven, there's a clear story being told here and it's not hinging on romantic ties. The romance involved is very YA, nothing descriptive, which is a nice change of pace for me. I love the power Mance gains through the book, you can really see her develop from a weak-ish girl to a powerful woman. Silver also grows on me, especially in the end. I wasn't sure how to feel about Mance's older sister, because I couldn't pinpoint if she was good or bad. We find out in the end. I don't want to spoil it.
Overall I really enjoyed listening to this and would recommend to someone looking for a fast paced YA romantic fantasy.

The audiobook was great. I really liked both narrators, more so the woman than the man but both got the job done.

You should read if you like ❤️
- YA romance
- Enemies-to-Lovers
- family secrets
- badass FMC

Warning ⚠️ 
-graphic description of animal cruelty/sacrifice

I just can't get into this, I am not in the mood. This book as a great premise, very unique and interesting. I like the characters the FMC seems interesting and dynamic the MMC seems sexy like a good booktok boyfriend. But I just can't finish it at this time.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and D. L. Taylor for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. I’ really dove into this book headfirst. I found myself so invested in the characters and the world-building and I was so excited to actually feel like there was something completely different about this book. The way magic manifests and how it truly takes from the wielder… yes, there were parts and themes that were pretty atrocious, but I think it made for a really great story. I look forward to the second book!

Mancella is the daughter of a cruel tyrant, and while she hates his actions, she also loves him. When Silver enters her life, he helps her begin to see that life isn't what she thought it was. Maybe it is time to rise and take action into her own hands, but when you have been abused and manipulated for years, that is easier said than done. The Beasts We Bury is a heartwarming tale of magic, love, deception, backstabbing, and self-discovery. Mancella and Silver do a lot of growing up throughout the novel, which is relatable and beautiful to see play out across the story. The fine line between love and hate is tested repeatedly by numerous people in Mancella's life, which is also relatable.
I had the privilege of listening to this novel in audiobook format. Both narrators did a fantastic job using tone and inflection to convey these two conflicting characters' intense feelings and desires. I would strongly recommend either the novel or audio version to anyone who loves enemies to lovers, YA fantasy, and stories that will leave you going, what just happened?!?!?!

The young man is doing what he can to protect himself and his friends, performing multiple jobs that will add up to a major heist for a man he’s not entirely sure he can trust.

She’s filled with an army’s worth of animals, a spirit for each and every animal she has (unwillingly) killed with her own two hands, but all she wants is peace.

He wants revenge against her father, but the more he gets to know her, the more he wonders if more violence is really the answer.

This dual POV, YA fantasy novel is full of secrets, the fierce loyalty of found family, feelings of betrayal, moral dilemmas, and a hint at the blush of young love.

Brenda Scott Wlazlo and Jake Chronister do an excellent job of capturing the youthfulness of the characters in their audiobook narration.

I enjoyed this story so much the narrator had a really soothing voice which I could listen to all day long she could probably read anything and I’d love ot

THAT EPILOGUE!!!!!
This was an absolutely fantastic magical YA fantasy!!!! (EXTREME TW if you are an animal lover...)
Mancella has been through so much at the hands of her father all to be named his second and to obtain power under the pretense of "peace" and "protecting the people from impending war" that is a constant threat. In order to obtain her power, she must do unspeakable and horrifyingly violent acts to innocent creatures to obtain their power and drawn them within her. This is an absolutely traumatizing experience for Mancella and as much as she grows to love her animal "companions", she is tormented by what she has done. When plans are put into motion that threaten the realm and her father, the Prime's, position--she teams up with unlikely allies who seem to be part of a resistance movement to ensure peace, something she wants more than anything, and will ensure she can stop using her powers in such a traumatic way.
This book is so hauntingly epic. On one hand, you have a very dark magic system that is violent and traumatizing and there is something to be said about that in a YA fantasy. The characters, however are so cleverly written that you can really feel their emotions, the turmoil, grief, anguish at the way their powers are used and the desperation to find an alternative route to peace. There is great commentary in this book about man's duplicity and the manipulitive way those in power abuse those who don't have it(and how those who don't have it manipulate others so they can obtain it).
It was a really wonderful book, despite being rather sad at times. Also, the romance is SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW Burn.
**Side note: If you get the chance to listen to this on audio, the narration is so well done and the emotion is very clear in the characters/actor's voices.

Personally, if I could summon a magical horse at any moment, I would never shut up about it.

This was excellent. Not for the weak-hearted if you love animals, but the magic system is so fascinating, and how Mancella is abused and manipulated by it was so well done. Her father in particular is a nasty piece of work and I was continually shocked and wondering what would happen next as a result of his political machinations.

I'm not sure why this is pitched as a romantasy, because the romance is very much not the focus of the story and develops as a very slow burn. I loved that too though, and Silver is such an interesting counterpoint to Mancella in this world. Will definitely be reading the sequel!

The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor and narrated by Brenda Scott was a unique YA fantasy/romantasy read. Appropriate for YA. Slow burn. Unique magic in that the FMC obtains the strength and skill from animals she kills, as forced by her overbearing ruler/“prime” father. The Beasts We Bury traverses family loyalty, parental expectations, morality, and many other topics teens and YA will be able to connect with. Mancella is an extremely likable FMC and Silver a good candidate for book boyfriend. Brenda Scott flows back and forth through the dual POV beautifully. The more popular adaptations are becoming, I can see The Beasts We Bury being a standout hit, both in writing and on screen.

I loved the world and how the rulers come to power but it felt like the main character did not grow. It felt like she was about to but more towards the end. Maybe she will in book two?

I got to listen to the audiobook thanks to NetGalley. It is narrated by two voices and they did a great job at consistency with each character. At first I wasn’t sure about the male narrator for Silver but as I got to know the character I realized he fit the character. Same for the female role. For the narrators I give them a 5⭐️’s /5.