THE BEASTS WE BURY (The Broken Citadel, 1), by D. L. Taylor, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), Feb. 4, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
The heir to the throne falls for a thief out to deceive her in The Beasts We Bury, an upper YA romantic fantasy by D.L. Taylor.
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. —Synopsis provided by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
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.
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