Scan barcode
originsofstars's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I LOVED THIS AND I WANT MORE MANCE AND SILVER PLEASE 🫶
bookgroundmel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
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 something 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!
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!
the_page_sage's review against another edition
2.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!
I have such mixed feelings about this book, and I cannot figure out how to untangle any of them.
For starters, I wish I had read the physical book and not listened to the audiobook. The female narrator almost caused me to DNF this because of how dramatic she is. It's far too dramatic for what's called for and makes the entire thing feel cringey or disingenuous.
I'm not sure if it's the narrator or not, but I also felt like Mancella was annoying me the entire time. It was like she would make decisions that were clearly not going to help and then be upset when they didn't work (why didn't you like....go help them?).
The one thing that made me stay was Silver. He and Rooftop and Vi were the reason I kept reading the book. They were such good characters with strong backstories and such a good development. The betrayal hurt even though you knew it was coming, not because of Mancella, but because of how much it hurt Silver.
Not sure if I would continue this series, but wishing I'd read the physical book.
I have such mixed feelings about this book, and I cannot figure out how to untangle any of them.
For starters, I wish I had read the physical book and not listened to the audiobook. The female narrator almost caused me to DNF this because of how dramatic she is. It's far too dramatic for what's called for and makes the entire thing feel cringey or disingenuous.
I'm not sure if it's the narrator or not, but I also felt like Mancella was annoying me the entire time. It was like she would make decisions that were clearly not going to help and then be upset when they didn't work (why didn't you like....go help them?).
The one thing that made me stay was Silver. He and Rooftop and Vi were the reason I kept reading the book. They were such good characters with strong backstories and such a good development. The betrayal hurt even though you knew it was coming, not because of Mancella, but because of how much it hurt Silver.
Not sure if I would continue this series, but wishing I'd read the physical book.
lambsbooks's review against another edition
2.5
Am I strong enough yet?
It had an easy-to-follow world, underdeveloped tho because of that. Usually, I have to struggle through world-building but this was straightforward. The magic system was also too simple, and not all that exciting.
This is off to a negative start lmao
It doesn’t get better. I guess take this review with a grain of salt because it has my only trigger in it (on-page animal killing and torturing) but also, I was bored through most of it, so it wasn't just the trigger/dislike of the animals.
The cover is pretty, if that counts as something positive?
My main problem with this was that the author centred the entire book around killing animals. You can say it's something else, but no. Like…what? She doesn’t even mention it causally, it’s graphically detailed in the first few chapters and then more and more throughout the story in flashbacks and memories. It’s disgusting. Who even thought this would be a good idea? Having a character's power come from torturing and killing animals. Because she can’t kill them humanly, no, she had to brutalize them first. It’s pretty much universally accepted in the book community that animals are off-limits.
And the FMC, who’s supposed to hate killing animals and is only forced to do it, yeah, that doesn’t ring true. She feels bad and then eh, it’s done. She only started fighting back (and I say that lightly since she had the backbone of an invertebrate) when killing humans was brought up. She was also stupid. So there’s that.
I was expecting a glittering monster, but she’s … just a girl.
Which means I can break her.
Silver, the MMC, was boring and naive lmao. I have nothing to say about him, I've literally forgotten everything about him and his friends. I guessed what he was actually involved in from the start and the fact that he didn’t? Nope.
Thank you to Fierce Reads, Colored Pages Book Tours, the author, and Netgalley for the eARC and a physical finished copy.
It had an easy-to-follow world, underdeveloped tho because of that. Usually, I have to struggle through world-building but this was straightforward. The magic system was also too simple, and not all that exciting.
This is off to a negative start lmao
It doesn’t get better. I guess take this review with a grain of salt because it has my only trigger in it (on-page animal killing and torturing) but also, I was bored through most of it, so it wasn't just the trigger/dislike of the animals.
The cover is pretty, if that counts as something positive?
My main problem with this was that the author centred the entire book around killing animals. You can say it's something else, but no. Like…what? She doesn’t even mention it causally, it’s graphically detailed in the first few chapters and then more and more throughout the story in flashbacks and memories. It’s disgusting. Who even thought this would be a good idea? Having a character's power come from torturing and killing animals. Because she can’t kill them humanly, no, she had to brutalize them first. It’s pretty much universally accepted in the book community that animals are off-limits.
And the FMC, who’s supposed to hate killing animals and is only forced to do it, yeah, that doesn’t ring true. She feels bad and then eh, it’s done. She only started fighting back (and I say that lightly since she had the backbone of an invertebrate) when killing humans was brought up. She was also stupid. So there’s that.
I was expecting a glittering monster, but she’s … just a girl.
Which means I can break her.
Silver, the MMC, was boring and naive lmao. I have nothing to say about him, I've literally forgotten everything about him and his friends. I guessed what he was actually involved in from the start and the fact that he didn’t? Nope.
Thank you to Fierce Reads, Colored Pages Book Tours, the author, and Netgalley for the eARC and a physical finished copy.
jz_assistant_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook
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!
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!
kats_got_your_bookstagram's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This has all the potential to be a really excellent fantasy series but it really just fell flat. I wish there had been better world building and explanation of all the different magical powers. I felt like I was thrown into this world with no backstory.
While I felt like the world building was lacking I did enjoy the dual POV of Silver and Mancella. The character development for both of these characters was well written and the banter made me chuckle.
I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the dual narration by Brenda Scott Wlazlo and Jake Chronister.
While I felt like the world building was lacking I did enjoy the dual POV of Silver and Mancella. The character development for both of these characters was well written and the banter made me chuckle.
I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the dual narration by Brenda Scott Wlazlo and Jake Chronister.
dariancade's review against another edition
5.0
This book was absolutely incredible. I love the idea of having these beasts inside while also not wanting to give in to a more "beastly" nature. I loved the two main characters and their narrators were amazing. Mancella's narrator had me on the edge of my seat during the more intense portions and it had me sitting in my car just a little bit longer just so I could find out what happens. The plotline was fantastic and the pacing was brilliant. The ending had me reeling with how thought-provoking it was - caging the darker parts of yourself so they don't have free reign. Overall, this was a thrilling read and I loved every moment of it.
I was given an ARC through NetGalley. Thank you Macmillan Audio!
I was given an ARC through NetGalley. Thank you Macmillan Audio!
montanamomreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 and @dltaylorbooks for the #gifted audiobook.
This debut novel is an absolute must-read! From the very first page, it grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.
The author excels in crafting a captivating magical world with an inventive magic system that enriches the narrative, weaving together themes of deception, betrayal, and profound family drama. The electrifying power struggle between Mancella and her father is particularly compelling, with moments of emotional conflict that enhance the storyline. You truly feel her internal battles, trauma, and her heartfelt quest to save herself and her sister. The chemistry between Mancella and Silver adds another layer of intrigue and connection.
The narrators breathe life into these characters brilliantly. The distinct voices for Mancella and Silver enhance the experience, making the intense moments resonate with raw emotion.
If you’re on the hunt for an engaging new series, look no further. This book is set to release on February 4, and I can’t wait for the next installment in what promises to be an extraordinary series, The Broken Citadel.
fantasy_fiction_and_fae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor
Pub Date Feb 04, 2025
A thief and an heir make an unlikely pair in this dark YA fantasy where right and wrong blur as a war brews and the fate of many hang in the balance. Mancella is heir to the throne but has an aversion to violence. She has great powers over animals and as she ages, her powers grow stronger. As heir to her father's realm, she is expected to lead the realm and her father cares about one thing. Power, control, and conquer. He cruelly raised her to strengthen her powers to control the animals but to do that, she must destroy them and absorb them into her magic. Once there, she can use them in battle. Over the years the animals she fights get more dangerous and although she has been doing this unwillingly forced by her father the Prime, it doesn't get easier. He has a grand plan; she is the key to his success and will also become his second.
Silver is a thief who will do just about anything to survive. When he is offered a job by a stranger who seems to know his way around the palace and requires his skills of stealing that pays well and will help secure a safe new home for him and his friends that he couldn't refuse. He did what he was told, stealing items as asked with little knowledge of why the items were needed. For these items, he not only needed access to the palace but also to specific areas where the king held them and do it without getting caught. To do that, he befriends Mance to accomplish his tasks, but as time goes on he realizes that she is nothing like he assumed and finds it harder to lie and take advantage of her. When things get closer to the completed task he must decide to continue the path and break her trust or go back on his deal due to his growing feelings for this powerful girl that surprises him with her kind heart.
Book one in this duology starts slow as you get to know the characters and this world but it isn't overly complicated. It is dark in regards to how the FMC is treated and what she is forced to do to strengthen her magic abilities which she does not do willingly. The romance is a slow-burn YA appropriate and not explicit however the way her magic is formed may be bothersome to people who are sensitive to animals. The magic was interesting and different than what I typically see and the ending of this book leads you to believe that the FMC will be up for a big challenge that makes her face her internal demons head-on. It will be interesting to see how that plays out so I look forward to reading book 2.
I received the Unabridged Audiobook through Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Audiobook length 11 Hours, 36 Minutes Narrated by Brenda Scott Wlazlo; Jake Chronister
Or 368 pages, Hardcover
A thief and an heir make an unlikely pair in this dark YA fantasy where right and wrong blur as a war brews and the fate of many hang in the balance. Mancella is heir to the throne but has an aversion to violence. She has great powers over animals and as she ages, her powers grow stronger. As heir to her father's realm, she is expected to lead the realm and her father cares about one thing. Power, control, and conquer. He cruelly raised her to strengthen her powers to control the animals but to do that, she must destroy them and absorb them into her magic. Once there, she can use them in battle. Over the years the animals she fights get more dangerous and although she has been doing this unwillingly forced by her father the Prime, it doesn't get easier. He has a grand plan; she is the key to his success and will also become his second.
Silver is a thief who will do just about anything to survive. When he is offered a job by a stranger who seems to know his way around the palace and requires his skills of stealing that pays well and will help secure a safe new home for him and his friends that he couldn't refuse. He did what he was told, stealing items as asked with little knowledge of why the items were needed. For these items, he not only needed access to the palace but also to specific areas where the king held them and do it without getting caught. To do that, he befriends Mance to accomplish his tasks, but as time goes on he realizes that she is nothing like he assumed and finds it harder to lie and take advantage of her. When things get closer to the completed task he must decide to continue the path and break her trust or go back on his deal due to his growing feelings for this powerful girl that surprises him with her kind heart.
Book one in this duology starts slow as you get to know the characters and this world but it isn't overly complicated. It is dark in regards to how the FMC is treated and what she is forced to do to strengthen her magic abilities which she does not do willingly. The romance is a slow-burn YA appropriate and not explicit however the way her magic is formed may be bothersome to people who are sensitive to animals. The magic was interesting and different than what I typically see and the ending of this book leads you to believe that the FMC will be up for a big challenge that makes her face her internal demons head-on. It will be interesting to see how that plays out so I look forward to reading book 2.
I received the Unabridged Audiobook through Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Audiobook length 11 Hours, 36 Minutes Narrated by Brenda Scott Wlazlo; Jake Chronister
Or 368 pages, Hardcover
goodeyreads's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you to CPBT and the publisher for the gifted copy and Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.
SOLID READ.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I really liked this (and the audiobook was great too!). NOW, it is dark. Please check the content warnings for the magic system. While unique and something I haven’t read before, it’s on the heavier side.
I did love how much of a sunshine character Silver was. He balanced out the book and brought the little bit of optimism that the story needed to make things feel like they could keep going. The romance was a bit quick for me, it grew on me too though.
The complicated politics are intriguing and I am definitely invested in reading the next book. Betrayals and trauma and good twists kept me on my toes and the stakes felt high and intense.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Dark Fantasy
- Language: mild
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: high
- Content Warnings: animal sacrifice/cruelty (as a means to the magic system), mental and physical abuse
SOLID READ.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I really liked this (and the audiobook was great too!). NOW, it is dark. Please check the content warnings for the magic system. While unique and something I haven’t read before, it’s on the heavier side.
I did love how much of a sunshine character Silver was. He balanced out the book and brought the little bit of optimism that the story needed to make things feel like they could keep going. The romance was a bit quick for me, it grew on me too though.
The complicated politics are intriguing and I am definitely invested in reading the next book. Betrayals and trauma and good twists kept me on my toes and the stakes felt high and intense.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Dark Fantasy
- Language: mild
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: high
- Content Warnings: animal sacrifice/cruelty (as a means to the magic system), mental and physical abuse