Am I Strong Enough Yet

I recently finished reading The Beasts We Bury by D.L. Taylor. This is OwlCrate's February '25 YA book.

~POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT~

  Rating: 3.75/5 stars

"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 with her bare hands. Her father, ruler of the realm, wants her to summon him an army, and isn’t afraid to lock her in a room full of predators to get it. Now her magic is a constant reminder of the horrors he has forced upon her to strengthen their realm’s 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."

Well. . . that was an EXPERIENCE. I love that we are getting UNIQUE and THRILLING reads in YA fantasy this year. I had no idea how unique it was going to be. But wow. I can honestly say, I have never read a book with this type of magic system, especially Mance's. Sure, it was a bit difficult to grapple with the way the magic works in this world, but once you push past it, you understand the intricacies and how it impacts the storyline.

The storyline was great and the pacing was good, I loved the dual narration. I definitely think more YA books, especially duologies, should have dual narration in order to get the most well rounded experiences of both the main leads. Silver's POV was fantastic. That boyish, impish charm paired with a good natured attitude and penchant for getting into trouble. The writing was good but there was enough description to let you get to know the characters at the very least.

Sure, I had to suspend my disbelief a bit with the pacing of the romance between the two characters. You know it is inevitable, but I still would of liked a bit more development. Unless I missed it by my brain fogging over a few times. But I did like how they complemented each other. Mance is strong and capable of protecting herself, but it is nice to see her vulnerable side and for once, have someone else care and protect her. You cannot help but feel for Mance in this book. The girl has it rough, man. Her magic is a twisted cruel thing, but...its still hers. And while what she does may be a bit unsettling, you realize its just...a new part of her. Every shard is as beautiful as the whole.

Silver is originally just looking to make things better for himself, and his friends. He stumbles into a bigger plot than anticipated. But he just rolls with it and he becomes integral to the plot, and not just for comedic relief. I like how Mance is able to let her guard down around him, and let him in. She becomes less of a witch, and more of a woman. And Silver...there is just something about him that makes you want to cuddle him up and never let him go.

The political intrigue is dashed throughout this book, and there is a storm brewing. When lightning hits, it hits. And wow. . . the ending came on strong and fierce. I was actually shocked. Not as big of a plot twister as some of the other books, but it was still impactful. It definitely leaves you wanting more. I would probably eventually reread this book again in anticipation for the sequel.

Check out Beasts We bury, and discover what happens when your forced to be gifted with magic.

Happy Reading :)