THE BEASTS WE BURY

Tainted magic and a father’s twisted nature unite an heir and a runaway.

Like royals before her, Mancella entered the Broken Citadel at age 8 and emerged with the magic to summon animals—albeit at a fearsome price. Over the years since, she’s endured the manipulations of her father, the Prime, hoping that her sacrifices as heir apparent can protect others. Silver, a young thief on the run from the Prime’s draconian Academy, strikes a deal with a shadowy figure to secure a better future for himself. Disguised as a servant, he infiltrates the castle grounds with the goal of seducing and double-crossing Mancella. When her father’s demands cross a line, Mancella is drawn to Silver and the rebellious plot he’s a part of, causing both to vacillate between duty and lust. This gruesome book is not for the faint of heart, but those who can stomach Mancella’s brutal acts of violence toward animals (which are balanced by depictions of the emotional toll of these acts) will find elements to relish. Though Silver’s character development is not as robust as Mancella’s, their romance still simmers. This debut’s worldbuilding and lore are ambitiously sketched but ultimately let down by generic language and other missed opportunities for more robust development. The leads’ alternating first-person narration highlights divisions between the social classes in this vaguely European historical setting. Main characters are cued white.

A uniquely twisted if unevenly executed dark fantasy duology opener.