The Beasts We Bury

Name: The Beasts We Bury
Brand: Macmillan Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: D. L. Taylor
ISBN: 9781250383372

Author: D. L. Taylor

Series: Broken Citadel #1

Narrator: Brenda Scott Wlazlo, Jake Chronister

Unabridged: 11 hr 36 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners

Published: 02/04/2025

Categories: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Romance, Action & Adventure

Synopsis

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.

About D. L. Taylor

D.L. Taylor is an attorney by trade. She’s worked in criminal defense and civil non-profit law, but writing has always had a special hold on her heart. Though she hails from the sunny lands of California, she married a Midwestern boy and ended up settling down outside Chicago. She has three kids, two cats, and minimal sanity, but in the quiet hours before dawn she likes to write about magic, mischief, and moral quandaries. The Broken Citadel duology is her debut.

About Brenda Scott Wlazlo

Brenda Scott Wlazlo has narrated over 225 audiobooks under her name and pseudonyms—which is impressive, considering she once thought “freelance” meant unemployed with flair.An IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award Finalist, Brenda brings over two decades of performance experience to her narration, including a background in musical theatre, a B.A. in Theatre, and training in improv comedy at The Second City, UCB, and iO. Her style is immersive and emotionally grounded, with a strong sense of character, pacing, and tone.She specializes in fantasy, romance, and thrillers—particularly stories with emotional stakes, fierce heroines, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. She’s fluent in American Sign Language and is a passionate advocate for disability representation in the arts, both on mic and off.Brenda records for Macmillan, Brilliance, Podium, Tantor, and beyond. She’s known for her warmth, versatility, and deep respect for story—and for bringing humanity to every voice, even those with fangs, wings, or questionable motives.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) on November 14, 2024

4.5 stars rounded up A page-turner of a YA romantasy with deception, betrayal, family trauma, high stakes, and surprising twists! This was a very pleasant surprise and the audio narration was EXCELLENT! The performances really heightened the experience for me. Animal lovers be aware- the magic of the......more

Goodreads review by Sophie (lambsbooks) on February 20, 2025

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 gu......more

Goodreads review by Danielle on February 21, 2025

**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝑾𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒚 𝑫.𝑳. 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒍, #1) Release Date: February 4, 2025 3⭐️n/a🌶 I DNFed this a few chapters in. I wasn't engaged with the characters. The characters seemed rather simple, and the world building was not what I needed it to be. I like the premise of the FM......more

Goodreads review by Brittany on November 08, 2024

2.5 Stars ✨ “One thing that I have learned is that ash makes excellent fertilizer,” “Is that so?” “Yes, once you’ve burned everything down, it’s the perfect time to help new things grow.” **Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy of The Beasts we Bury, in exchange for an......more

Goodreads review by rose ❀ on February 02, 2025

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 tak......more

Quotes

"A fun, classic YA fantasy romp that I absolutely raced through." —Sarah Underwood, New York Times-bestselling author of Lies We Sing to the Sea

"The Beasts We Bury captured me with its world of unique and terrible magic . . . Enchanting debut." —Erin Beaty, author of the Traitor's Kiss trilogy and the Blood and Moonlight duology

"Full of compelling twists and high-stakes magic, The Beasts We Bury is a captivating romantic fantasy that had me rooting for the protagonists from the very first page." —Kelly Andrew, New York Times-bestselling author of Your Blood, My Bones

"[A] whirlwind romantic fantasy debut." —Publishers Weekly