{"id":2048,"date":"2025-02-21T04:45:38","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T04:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2048"},"modified":"2025-02-21T04:45:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T04:45:38","slug":"the-beasts-we-bury-by-d-l-taylor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2048","title":{"rendered":"The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor"},"content":{"rendered":"
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D.L. Taylor\u2019s debut novel The Beasts We Bury<\/em> is a captivating dark fantasy that weaves together political intrigue, moral complexity, and tender romance. Set in a world where magic comes at a devastating personal cost, this young adult novel tackles themes of power, autonomy, and the courage to break cycles of violence<\/a>. While occasionally uneven in its pacing, the book\u2019s strong character development and unique magic system make it a compelling addition to the YA fantasy genre.<\/p>\n

Plot and World-Building<\/h2>\n

In the Cliff Realm, those who emerge from the mysterious Broken Citadel gain magical powers \u2013 but at what cost? For Mancella Cliff, heir to the throne, her \u201cgift\u201d requires her to kill animals with her bare hands before she can summon them. This brutal magic system serves as a perfect metaphor for how power is gained and maintained in this world, where violence begets violence in an endless cycle.<\/p>\n

Taylor has crafted an intricate world with six remaining realms, each shaped by past conflicts and current political tensions. The author particularly excels at showing how magic has shaped society, from the glass trees that mark territory to the complex treaties governing who can access magical power. The world-building feels organic rather than exposition-heavy, revealed through character interactions and consequences rather than lengthy explanations.<\/p>\n

Character Analysis<\/h2>\n

Mancella Cliff<\/h3>\n

The heart of the story lies in Mancella\u2019s internal struggle between the brutal leader she\u2019s been groomed to become and the compassionate ruler she aspires to be. Her character arc is masterfully crafted, showing how someone can maintain their humanity even when forced to commit acts of violence. The metaphor of the starsprout flowers\u2014delicate blooms that persist despite attempts to destroy them\u2014perfectly mirrors Mance\u2019s own resilience.<\/p>\n

Silver<\/h3>\n

As our second protagonist, Silver provides a street-level view of how the realm\u2019s politics affect common citizens. His transformation from a cynical thief to someone willing to risk everything for what\u2019s right feels earned rather than forced. His wit and charm make him an engaging narrator, though occasionally his quips feel slightly modern for the setting.<\/p>\n

Supporting Cast<\/h3>\n

The secondary characters are well-developed, particularly:<\/p>\n

Mara, Mance\u2019s sister, whose hidden magic and complex motivations add layers to the story
\nThe duplicitous Alect, whose ability to split himself serves as both plot device and metaphor
\nVie and Rooftop, whose loyalty to Silver grounds his character development<\/p>\n

Writing Style and Pacing<\/h2>\n

Taylor\u2019s prose strikes an effective balance between lyrical description and propulsive action. The author has a particular talent for depicting magic in visceral, sensory terms\u2014you can feel the cold burn of Prime Gore\u2019s explosions and the wrenching sensation of Mance\u2019s summoning magic.<\/p>\n

The novel alternates between Mance and Silver\u2019s perspectives, which mostly works well for building tension and showing different aspects of the world. However, the pacing occasionally falters in the middle sections, with some scenes of political maneuvering dragging slightly.<\/p>\n

Themes and Symbolism<\/h2>\n

The Beasts We Bury<\/em> explores several interconnected themes:<\/p>\n

The relationship between power and violence<\/a>
\nWhether it\u2019s possible to break cycles of abuse
\nThe cost of maintaining control versus the risk of allowing freedom
\nThe tension between personal desires and societal responsibility<\/p>\n

The author employs recurring symbols effectively:<\/p>\n

The glass trees represent both protection and oppression
\nThe starsprouts symbolize hope and resilience
\nThe various forms of magical barriers reflect emotional walls between characters<\/p>\n

Romance and Relationships<\/h2>\n

The slow-burn romance between Mance and Silver develops naturally from initial distrust to deeper understanding. Their relationship serves the larger themes of the story, as they must navigate questions of trust, power, and redemption<\/a> together. While the romance is central to the plot, it never overshadows the larger political and personal stakes.<\/p>\n

Critical Analysis<\/h2>\n

Strengths<\/h3>\n

Unique and well-developed magic system
\nComplex, morally nuanced characters
\nStrong thematic coherence
\nEffective blend of political intrigue and personal stakes
\nBeautiful prose with vivid descriptions<\/p>\n

Areas for Improvement<\/h3>\n

Middle sections occasionally lag
\nSome modern phrases feel out of place
\nThe resolution of certain political conflicts feels slightly rushed
\nA few supporting characters could be more fully developed<\/p>\n

Comparison to Similar Works<\/h2>\n

Fans of Leigh Bardugo\u2019s Grishaverse<\/em> series will appreciate the complex politics and morally gray characters, while readers who enjoyed Holly Black\u2019s Folk of the Air<\/em> series will find similar themes of power and betrayal. The book also shares some DNA with Victoria Aveyard\u2019s Red Queen<\/em> in its exploration of magical hierarchies and revolution.<\/p>\n

Impact and Relevance<\/h2>\n

While The Beasts We Bury<\/em> works as a fantasy adventure, it also resonates with contemporary discussions about power, responsibility, and breaking cycles of violence. The questions it raises about whether one can maintain power without becoming corrupted by it feel particularly relevant to current political discourse.<\/p>\n

Final Verdict<\/h2>\n

The Beasts We Bury<\/em> is an impressive debut that delivers both as an entertaining fantasy and a thoughtful exploration of power and morality<\/a>. Despite some minor pacing issues, the strong character work, unique magic system, and compelling themes make it a standout in the YA fantasy genre.<\/p>\n

Recommendation<\/h2>\n

Highly recommended for:<\/p>\n

Fans of morally complex YA fantasy
\nReaders who enjoy political intrigue
\nThose who appreciate unique magic systems
\nAnyone interested in stories about breaking cycles of violence
\nRomance readers who prefer slow-burn relationships with substance<\/p>\n

This book may not be for readers who:<\/p>\n

Prefer lighter fantasy fare
\nAre sensitive to descriptions of animal death
\nWant purely black-and-white morality in their stories<\/p>\n

Looking Forward<\/h2>\n

As the first book in the Broken Citadel series, The Beasts We Bury<\/em> sets up an intriguing world with plenty of room for expansion. The ending, while satisfying on its own, leaves several threads that could be explored in future installments, particularly regarding the nature of the Broken Citadel itself and the relationships between the remaining realms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

D.L. Taylor\u2019s debut novel The Beasts We Bury is a captivating dark fantasy that weaves together political intrigue, moral complexity, and tender romance. Set in a world where magic comes at a devastating personal cost, this young adult novel tackles themes of power, autonomy, and the courage to break cycles of violence. While occasionally uneven […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2048"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}