This was a great read. The characters were well-built, you really felt their emotions, their relationships and their pain, as was the world. I absolutely loved elements of this, such as the glass trees - it was very vivid. The magic system was something new.
I feel like a lot of reviews of this will be skewed due to the subject matter - it's not really a spoiler as it happens immediately and a lot of people will want to be warned, but the main character is forced to kill animals to increase her power. This is absolutely not something she wants to do (as in, that makes up basically the entire driving force behind the plot), but it could make for some difficult reading.
I'm not going to lie - I've read several "grown up" fantasies lately, so the fact that this was YA was a lot more obvious to me than it would have been a year or so ago. The storyline was "softer", despite the heavy subject matter, and despite there being quite a bit of politics going on, they weren't so complicated. Honestly, I kind of loved that as I needed a break from the heavy politics of more adult fantasies. I firmly believe there's a still place for new YA fantasies, and this is a standout one for me recently.
I'll be watching for the next in the series as I want to know what happens to the world and characters.
It's tricky to rate this out of 5 - it wasn't a favourite, but it deserves good reviews - I'd go 4.5 rounded down to 4, only because I need to make sure to save my 5 stars for absolute favourites!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book.

A very original magic world that centres around Mancella the heir to the throne who after entering the Broken Citadel finds herself able to command spirits of animals but only if she has killed them with her bare hands. Whilst trying to avoid killing a human like her father wishes she meets a thief called Silver, who claims to be helping her achieve peace. The magic is mesmerising and surprising throughout, the plot is complex with much more to come I hope, easy to read and hard to put down, but leaves you absolutely wanting more.

"The Beasts We Bury" by D.L. Taylor is an outstanding Young Adult Fantasy that transcends its intended age group. This captivating novel is teeming with elements of violent magic, cruelty, betrayal, revenge, and hatred, nudging it towards the Dark Fantasy category.
However, it also balances these darker themes with lighter ones such as romance, trust, friendship, and the triumph of good over evil.
The plot is fast-paced and skillfully delivered from the perspectives of two characters, Mance and Silver, providing readers with a comprehensive view of their world. The descriptions of violence are essential to the storyline but remain within the boundaries suitable for YA fiction.
I was both enthralled and horrified by Mance's dark and original magic, which is a stark contrast to the person her father tried to mold her into. Silver's character development, driven by his growing feelings for Mance, adds depth to the narrative. Additionally, the revelations about Mara's missing magic and Alect's extraordinary but peculiar skill kept me gripped and eager to learn more.
In summary, I absolutely loved this book, though the cliffhanger ending left me yearning for more. The story suggests that perhaps a dark shadow still lingers amidst the emerging light.

I LOVED THIS. Loved the characters, the story/plot, EVERYTHING. THAT ENDING?? I NEED THE NEXT ONE IMMEDIATELY PLS AND THANKS.

thank you very much for the e-arc, i devoured this so fast

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was a high stakes page turner with plenty of twists and swoon worthy moments. My favourite thing about this book is the magic system. The way the magic manifests in people differently and the things that the characters can do with it is fascinating.

The Beasts We Bury switches between the narratives of two main protagonists, Mancella Cliff, a 16-year-old princess with a dark, chilling power—she can summon animal spirits, but only after killing them first, a gruesome skill she’s forced to use by her ruthless father and Silver, a cunning thief with his own agenda, who is drawn into completing tasks for a mysterious boss who promises to reward him greatly. When their worlds collide, sparks fly, secrets unravel, and the stakes couldn’t be higher with plenty of misunderstandings thrown in the way of their burgeoning attraction. The plot is fast paced and engaging, and I found it hard to put down. The scenes where Marcella is forced to kill are horrifying and her family relationships are messed up to say the least.

The characters are well drawn and I invested in them quickly , I particularly liked Vie, a feisty , sarcastic friend of Silver's. Overall the story has romance, political intrigue and moral complexity and is a fresh take on dark fantasy.

3 stars
I enjoyed this but a lot of things didn't have enough depth such as the romance and their characters weren't interesting enough to really enjoy the full storyline

I enjoyed the premise of the story. I enjoyed majority of the characters, their backround and uses towards the plot. The dynamics of characters was interesting as you would assume Mancella had a great life being Seconde (princess in this case) but she had it so difficult, getting taken advantage of because of her power. The full story gave me little glimpses of the dynamics in Aladdin (but just the odd little thing). However I found the world building quite a challenge in my mind (however this can be normal for me with fantasy, therefore I tend to rely of pinterest and tiktok for help imagining this. Therefore because this was an ARC read I couldn’t rely on that).

Deceit and betrayal take centre stage in this gripping YA romantasy that delivers high stakes, family trauma, and unexpected twists. The Beasts We Bury follows the intertwining fates of Mancella Cliff, heir to a blood-soaked throne, and Silver, a wily thief drawn into a once-in-a-lifetime heist.

Mancella, or Mance, possesses the chilling ability to summon an army of animals—but only by first ending their lives with her bare hands. This dark power, forged in the horrors of her father’s oppressive rule, serves as a haunting reminder of the brutality that underpins her family’s reign. Torn between her role as heir and her yearning for a kinder path, Mance's internal struggle is both poignant and compelling.

Enter Silver, a charming rogue who’s spent his life scraping by under the cruel realities of Mance’s father’s rule. When a shadowy benefactor offers him a chance to infiltrate the royal palace and pull off a daring heist, Silver sees an opportunity for both revenge and a fresh start. But to succeed, he must manipulate Mance and gain her trust—a scheme that grows more complicated as his feelings for her deepen.

D.L. Taylor weaves a captivating tale of love, ambition, and moral conflict. The dynamics between Mance and Silver are electric, their relationship fraught with tension as they navigate a web of lies and shifting loyalties. The story explores the cost of power and the lengths one will go to in pursuit of freedom and redemption.

The Beasts We Bury is a dark and thrilling read, perfect for fans of romantasy who enjoy stories with morally complex characters, surprising twists, and an undercurrent of hope amidst the chaos. A truly gripping tale that leaves a lasting impression!

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

The Beasts We Bury is an incredible dark YA fantasy. This book was genuinely so unique, I've never read anything like it. The magic system was very intriguing and the book had me gripped from the very first sentence. Mancella is such a great example of a strong female lead which I love to read about in books. When I say I could not put this down, I mean it: I read it from start to finish with very few breaks. I loved the magic system, the plot had me hooked and the romance was perfect. I'd definitely recommend this book if you're looking for something to make you switch from tears to laughs in seconds.

DNF at 25%
This book just wasn't for me- the plot and characters really fell flat to me and I don't have any energy to continue with it anymore. Because I finished it too early to make any proper judgements on the whole book, I'm rating it 3 stars as an in between (neither good nor bad).

I absolutely loved reading this. It had me gripped but I personally wouldn't class it as YA.

Thank you D.L.Taylor, Macmillan Children's Books and Netgalley for the ARC

This was so unique, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I liked Mancella, she was a little naive but I think her fathers oppressive and controlling behaviour kept her shielded from what life was really like for the civilians of the realm. Mancella goes through so much in this book, she grew so much as a person.

Silver thinks he knows everything and his cruel upbringing in poverty has hardened his resolve to see his mission through. Yet, once inside the palace maybe he only saw what he wanted to see to justify his hate. He stuck between manipulation to see things through to the end or perhaps be honest and change his tactics.

This book has magic, betrayal, a fine line between enemies and lovers. There’s political strife and rebellion lurking behind the scenes. This is a YA story so no spice, but I enjoyed the story being more about the plot than any potential romance.

I think this book will be a big hit with its intended audience when it officially releases next year. I think it will be deserving of that, but I don't think I'll be sharing in that enthusiasm.

Not that I think the book is bad by any means. Mance and Silver were great main characters in their own right, and I always think it's incredible when an author manages to distinct two different character POVs so well, especially in a debut. Their banter was genuinely good at times, and I found it very sweet with the forwardness Mance displayed in certain scenes (If you know you know) despite the very obvious lack of experience she had. Plus, the betrayal elements were built up well, particularly because the contrast shown in both POVs, where Silver is drowning in guilt with all he's doing, despite being initially oblivious to what he was doing, and Mance gradually coming to trust him completely despite it all. It made for some excellent tension and angst.

The things holding me back are the worldbuilding and the humor. The worldbuilding, particularly the realm/kingdom structure, is condensed heavily in the beginning, and the knowledge barely stuck with me throughout the rest of the story. I dunno, it was just hard for me to visualize much of the world. But I did really like the magical glass trees. As for the humor - it was good except when its timed poorly in dire situations. Like, a meager battle happened because of Mance's dad's manipulations where many a-casualties freshly occurred, and Silver was making jokes in the prose and dialogue about getting to her. I found that very awkward and poorly timed, even if it was to relieve some tension, but, again, time and place.

I dunno if I'm going to read the next book. The ending left me a bit curious to what Taylor has planned next, but whether I will commit to that curiosity is the question. I think I'll be waiting until the synopsis/cover for Book #2 comes out next year, but, until then, I will be saying this was a good read for people to check out for themselves.

Taylor’s writing is lush and immersive, capturing the bleak beauty of a world where every decision has dire consequences. The exploration of sacrifice, freedom, and the price of true power resonated deeply, making this book not just an escape, but a profound experience. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment to see how the story continues. This book is a must-read for anyone who craves a rich blend of romance, adventure, and magic.