This is definitely a YA book, but loved the fantasy aspect! Very cool plot and storyline. Sort of reminds me of the Golden Compass with the animals. Very cool aspects and great narration.

I really enjoyed this story, super interesting characters and each of their powers different from what you normally see in fantasy!
Very refreshing & clean YA with a little cutesy romantic crush sprinkled in.
I will defiantly pick up book 2!

About this listen
In this electric enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy, the heir to the throne falls for a thief who plans to manipulate her into helping him steal from her father in an act of revenge and desperation. Will he steal her heart or her chance at the throne? Daughter and heir to the throne, Mancella Cliff yearns for a life without bloodshed. But as a child, she emerged from the Broken Citadel with the power to summon animals—only after killing them first. Her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors her father, the ruler of the realm, has forced upon her to strengthen their power. Silver is a charming thief struggling to survive in a world torn apart by Mancella’s father’s reign. When a mysterious benefactor recruits him for the heist of a lifetime, a chance to rob the castle, Silver relishes the opportunity for a real future—and revenge. But he'll have to manipulate Mance and earn her trust to pull it off. As the deception and carnage mount, Mance must find a way to save her realm without becoming the ruthless monster she's been bred to be. And when Silver discovers that his actions are fueling the violence that Mance wants to prevent, he'll have to choose between his ambition and the girl he’s falling for.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

The Beasts We Bury
By D. L. Taylor
Narrated by Brenda Scott Wlazlo, Jake Chronister
Book 1, The Broken Citadel
Release date 02-04-25
Length 11 hrs and 36 mins
Publisher Macmillan Audio
Categories Teen & Young Adult

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.

let's have a moment to talk about the audiobook narrators because they're SO GOOD. especially Brenda. her performance was spectacular.. I immediately hooked by her narration and the nest thing I knew I couldn't stop listening to it. she imbued so much emotions but just the right amount for this kind of story. Jake was amazing too but i was totally besotted by Brenda's performance. will definitely keeping tabs on them from now!

Rating: 2.5 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advance audio copy of The Beasts We Bury.

Mance is the heir to the throne and wishes she could forge a path to a peaceful and calm future, but that is impossible. As a child her father discovered that she held the power to summon animals, but in order to do so, she had to kill them first. He has used Mance to gain power throughout her life.

Silver is a down on his luck thief, who, thanks to Mance’s father, has nothing to lose and agrees to join a team planning to rob the castle. Through this task, he will gain riches and revenge. The catch - he’ll have to manipulate Mance into trusting him in order to gain access.

As Silver gets more invested in his task, he also begins to fall for Mance, and when he realizes that he’s causing Mance to do the one thing she doesn’t want to do - be violent - he is faced with the difficult decision, does he abandon the heist for the girl he’s interested in or does he want to betray her for fortunes?

Sigh. This is a tough one.

The audio was decent. Both Brenda and Jake did a nice job and told their portions of the story well. Jake’s voice was probably not what I would’ve imagined, so potentially poor casting for me on that one (again, nothing about his performance was bad, I just don’t know if it’s who I would’ve selected).

I really thought I would like this one more. I think there’s a few things that didn’t work for me. I don’t think the magic or the world was built very well (this is a curse of YA fantasy, especially when there is a romance sub-plot). I would say that book 2 may flesh the world out better and give us more insight into things. It is dark, I’m sure if you’ve glanced at any reviews, you’ll know that - animal cruelty is a big portion of the beginning of the book and that will definitely be difficult for some readers. It is YA and I think that’s an accurate target age range, but it will definitely be on the darker end of YA. Romance-wise, it’s very acceptably YA.

I didn’t care much for the characters. I didn’t feel like they had very good chemistry and I didn’t find myself very invested in their safety/well-being/successes. Again - this might be a curse of YA. It’s so hard (in my opinion) to write a successful, fully developed fantasy for a YA audience. There’s just too many moving pieces and too much to try and add in that will still keep your run of the mill YA reader engaged and entertained.

This book was a good surprise. It’s full of twists and turns, and I really enjoyed the audio narration. I thought it was fantastic. However, as a big animal lover, I did struggle with the magic scenes where the main character is forced to kill them.

I got to audio listen to this book and I really enjoyed the audio. This book has an intense start and will keep you locked in from the start. There is many high stakes and intense emotion all throughout the story. It has such a unique magic system and dives straight Mancella and the oppression she is facing in her family. While also getting an optimistic love interest named Silver. I appreciate that the book has small parts of romance but focuses on the main magic and political story.
(I do recommend checking the content warning of the book because it is dark)

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for allowing me to listen to this book as a pre-release in exchange for an honest review!

The concept of this book was unlike anything I have every read before. It was typical rich princess smitten with boy thief, but the magic element to the main FMC was a little confusing at times, but also very interesting. Her connection to animals and death held my interest as the story progressed. While the romance was a strong element of the plot, I really enjoyed that the family dynamics and power struggles were also a huge driving force in the story.

This definitely ended on a cliffhanger that I was not anticipating, and now I cannot wait to see where this series goes! Sign me up!

Instantly hooked from the start. I wasn’t too sure if I was going to enjoy this one because it is "dark" fantasy and because of the animal cruelty, but I really enjoyed it (not in a "I'm crazy" way). Mancella feels for the animals and doesn’t want to hurt them, but she is forced to kill them and take their power/strength for herself. Mancella’s father wants her to be violent and powerful, but she wants peace and love. I love when I feel a connection to the characters and feel for them as if they’re real. Such a great read/listen!

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.

The narrators do a great job with this story. They add so much depth and emotion. This is my first audio with Brenda Scott Wlazlo and Jake Chronister. I am excited to listen to more of their works.

The cover of this really caught my attention and then the synopsis I was like sign me up!

I really didn't know what to expect during my entire reading journey. I thought one thing just to be shocked! The twists wow. Also, the magic and world building was really good!

I really felt for Mancella throughout this book. Even with everything she has endured she has such an open heart. Also, Silver deserves an honorable mention too. He's just trying to create security for him and his friends which leads to some hard choices.

This was a dual narration and both narrators were spectacular! Each character was distinct and easily identifiable.

Thank you to Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook.

16-year-old Mancella Cliff is the daughter of the prime. She wields a terrible gift. When she kills a living being, she can control their spirt. Now her father wants her to try killing a human. Silver is an orphan. After his parents died, he was forced to go to the Academy, a horrible prison-like place that turns kids into soldiers. Since escaping, he’s been living off the streets with with his friends. When a mysterious man offers him a new identity if he can sway Mancella to join the resistance, Silver jumps at the chance. The two soon strike up an alliance to overthrow the prime. Who is the mysterious man? Will they succeed?

Narrators, Brenda Wlalzo Scott and Jake Chronister’s unique intonations and distinct voices bring to life the well-developed characters. Their narrative pacing matches well with the author’s writing style. The plot is well written, engaging, and full of twists and turns. Some mature content makes this best suited for high schoolers. Readers who like fantasy, adventure, and good vs evil will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an alc.

dnf @30%

while this had caught my attention at first, i quickly lost interest when we switched povs from our fmc to our mmc; i just didn’t necessarily care for his plot. i did find the magic our fmc had interesting: she is able to summon animals that she killed with her own hands — very dark and traumatizing, but interesting nonetheless.

as for the audio — the narrators were find but inflicted dramatic tones too often.

i’m sure this book will find its audience but it’s not me

The writing is fantastic and I think the narrator did a great job, but the magic system was just not for me. I think this will find a very enthusiastic audience and the author's talent is so clear, I just couldn't handle the whole killing animals thing.

Review of The Beasts We Bury Audiobook ⭐⭐☆☆☆

I was really excited for the premise of The Beasts We Bury—a dark fantasy with political intrigue, morally complex characters, and a touch of romance. The story itself had so much potential, with Mancella’s brutal upbringing and Silver’s cunning survival instincts making for an interesting dynamic. The world-building was compelling, and I could see how this book could captivate fantasy fans.

Unfortunately, the audiobook experience fell short for me due to the female narrator’s performance. Her delivery was overly dramatic and, at times, distracting, making it hard to stay immersed in the story. Instead of enhancing the tension and emotion, her exaggerated tone took me out of key moments. I found myself wishing for a more subtle, nuanced approach that would have allowed the story and characters to shine on their own.

While the book itself has a strong foundation, the narration made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the experience. I might revisit the story in print, but the audiobook didn’t work for me.

With The Beasts We Bury, D.L. Taylor delivers a dark, compelling fantasy filled with political intrigue, morally complex characters, and a touch of romance. Mancella and Silver’s intertwining fates create a gripping dynamic, as betrayal and ambition clash with unexpected feelings. The world-building is rich, and the magic system—especially Mance’s haunting ability—is both fascinating and unsettling.

The audiobook brings the story to life with Brenda Scott Wlazlo and Jake Chronister’s narration, effectively capturing the tension, emotion, and urgency of the characters’ journey. Their performances add depth, making the story even more engaging.

While the plot is intriguing, the pacing sometimes feels uneven, and certain aspects of the romance and character development could have been explored more deeply. However, fans of dark fantasy with high stakes and morally gray protagonists will still find plenty to enjoy. A solid listen for those who love themes of power, sacrifice, and survival.

Thank you for allowing me to listen to this ALC... however I had to DNF. I really was not enjoying the magic system, the animal cruelty, the narrators, or the characters. I DNF'd at 20% and I had to struggle to get through that.

A dark and enchanting high fantasy with a touch of romance that will completely reel you in, this story left me in complete awe.
Lush world building, unique magic system, and a castle filled with secrets create a fantastical environment for this amazing read. The narrators voices fit the character description perfectly. The epilogue cracked the door open for us to see more from this world, and I can’t wait.

4.5/5
Addictive, dark ya fantasy. I could not stop listening because the book moves fairly quickly. There is a lot of things that could cause triggers for many people but the dark is what creates the goodness of the FMC because she is a victim to it. This book is more fantasy than "romantasy" but does have a romance subplot I guess similar to how Cruel Prince romance plot is for those who have read it. The characters are complex and I absolutely love a dual pov book with lots of plotting. The magic is different and varies per person and the world building is enough to get through the book and I hope to watch it expand while the series continues. (I did listen to the audiobook so not sure if there was a map). I enjoyed the plot and the interaction of the FMC and MMC.
The narration is dual and I do favor female narrators because they usually have a better range of voices which is the case in this story. The male narrator is good and does portray the story well but the female narrator did an amazing job showing emotion and characters.
Absolutely recommend this fantasy.
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Young Listeners and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this story!

I think the writing is great, but I just couldn't get past the killing of animals. I found out this is a new trigger for me.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I’d read it instead of listening to the audiobook. I didn’t care for the narration especially during the more dramatic scenes. But overall this was a good start for a fantasy series. The magic is definitely more unique than other books in recent years. The characters were interesting and well written. I’m definitely interested in reading more of this series but will avoid the audiobook version next time.