Reviews - The Beasts We Bury

205 reviews for:

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I decided to read this book. Lately I’ve been choosing books at complete random. This one surprised me. It’s definitely YA and reads very YA at times. The characters can be frustrating with their nonsensical actions (especially the MMC) but that’s to be expected at their given ages. I enjoyed the relationships between characters and seeing the contrast of their backgrounds. I thought the magic system was unique and interesting. I did feel like there was a lot of world building missing. We didn’t get a clear sense of the realms other than the “main” two that were brought up most often. I also would have liked to know more about the citadel and the lore surrounding it. If the author had concentrated more on explaining how the magic worked aside from the basic explanation that was given, I think it would have given the reader a more immersive experience. There were also some predictable things, but it didn’t deter me from continuing to read. Because it is YA there isn’t really a strong romance but there is a seemingly innocent lust and attraction. This was a cute addition to the plot. Our FMC did grow throughout the book and I’m anticipating she will continue that growth as the series continues. The ending / epilogue was a bit of a surprise and while I did wonder what would happen with that particular situation, I was not expecting that conclusion. I’m currently undecided if I’ll be reading the next book or not. If you’re on the fence about reading this book I would say to give it a chance! As I mentioned, it has a super cool magic system and you may end up loving it!

ravenstears's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Beasts We Bury was a decent but predictable read. You can tell what's happening pretty much from the get go which is a shame as the plot isn't quite enough to carry it past how obvious the story beats are.

I thought the magic system was interesting though could have been explored a lot more. The idea of different powers and how they all have some type of downside, some dark insidious twist to them was really interesting and could have made an even darker tale that made the story better, but the darkness just was never fully explored in ways I would have liked. Though the descriptions we do get of how Mancella was forced to kill things can be very detailed.

I found the characters likeable enough though Mancella was just a tad to trusting for my liking, espesially when she really had no reason to be but every reason to doubt everything she was told.

While I did enjoy it when I was reading, it's not a book I would rush to recommend.