Overall good read.

I accidentally requested this book not realizing it was the second book in a series 😭. So I couldn’t really finish it since I would like read the first book.

Overall from what I did read, I think the magic system was good! I enjoyed the writing as well.

Let’s talk about the magic system in The Beasts We Raise by D.L. Taylor, because WOW. What a concept! It’s not a world where people are just given power, they have to earn it, which I found compelling and inspiring. Taylor does a great job making everything feel higher stakes and intense. The complexity pulled me in fast, and the world building was so well done. I loved how the setting itself became part of the emotional journey—like every challenge in this world was quietly asking, how far are you willing to go to forgive yourself?
Watching Mancella wrestle with inner conflict and trauma while trying to survive this brutal world was as raw as it was captivating.

And when I say this book had me in a chokehold, I’m not exaggerating. I read it like something might explode if I stopped. Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for the opportunity

intriguing
This book uses a fantasy setting to bring about the thought of self forgiveness and healing. The more dark emotions are felt by everyone, the darker everything becomes. peace is harsh fought for but healing.

When I tell you this book had me in a chokehold, I’m not even close to exaggerating. The progression of magic, tension and world building was phenomenal and I just could not put it down for fear of FOMO 😂

The magical system in this series is like nothing I’ve ever read or even seen in movies. I love the complexity of it and that nobody is born with their magic. Mancella, the FMC, goes through a lot of inner turmoil during this book and it was incredibly fascinating to watch her growth but also look at it through my therapist lense (no spoilers because it would give info from the first book!) 🤫

🚫 spice
🚫 language
‼️ triggers: some graphic death, grief, inner struggles, trauma responses

Thank you so much to D.L. Taylor for offering this ARC on NetGalley - it was my very first one and it didn’t disappoint at all!

An absolute banger, just like book 1. I loved each book for different reasons and this one was definitely the immersive story telling, you felt like you were actually there with everyone

/5⭐️

“…the rules only matter if you plan to keep continue the system as it is.”

“We may not get to choose the beasts that our parents- that life buries in our hearts. But we do get to choose the beasts we raise.”

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC, all thoughts are my own🩷

Secondly… this was such a massive let down.

This book starts with Mance and Silver switching places and trusting a random person they just met in which the repercussions of doing so sets the plot for the book up. I promise there are other ways to start a book other than characters betraying their main characteristics.

Are we ever going to find out who the man silver saw in the outskirts was?? He spoke of him like it was an important character we were supposed to know but he wasn’t named or mentioned ever again.

Silver came off so insanely childish during this whole book that it dropped it several stars. He had purpose in the first book and was able to make choices that at least in his mind were justified, and this one? He is simply sad mance isn’t dropping everything for him or reacting wildly to the engagement. Dude is dating (?), whatever they were, a prime, knowing how complicated the politics of which are from the first book. But is shocked and can’t grapple with the fact there’s an arranged marriage. Be upset- but with mance? Being mad she dosnt want to suck tongue every breath in her crazy fiances realm and castle?? Be fr.
Asset isn’t a buzzkill silver she’s just the only one with a couple of braincells.

I liked the overarching theming and messaging but silver really let this fall from where it could’ve been.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for this eARC!

I actually requested this without realizing it was the second in the Broken Citadel series, so of course I had to read The Beasts We Bury first. I enjoyed both books thoroughly, but loved the conclusion in The Beasts We Raise.

While I enjoyed Mancella, Silver was absolutely my favorite character. His willingness to stick to his guns and also have Mancella's back even when she doesn't realize it is the best. I related to Mancella's battle with acknowledging each part of her, even the "worst" parts.

This was a read that I felt was wrapped up super quickly - it could have been longer? But it was a fast and enjoyable read and a fun, quick duology for anyone who loves characters that aren't flat just because the story is short. I do feel like the duology is what makes it, as I enjoyed the wrap up of this book more than I enjoyed the first book. Lots of stories are tied up and I think it made the world building make more sense as well.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC!
This book took me a little longer to read because I didn’t realize it was the second in the series, so I had to go buy the first and read it before starting this one!

All in all I absolutely loved this book (and series). There’s definitely some very dark themes and ideals but everything turns into a lovely lesson at the end.

My favorite part of this series is the characters, the powers that each of them wield are so different than any other magic book I’ve read and that makes me enjoy the freshness so much more!

The story of Mance and Silver is beautiful, showing that when others love our darkest parts it can heal us to love ourselves more. Mmm mmm mmm. Good stuff.

The Beasts We Raise is a short and emotional read. It picks up a few months after the end of the first book, The Beasts We Bury, and follows Mancella and Silver as they attempt to find their places in the wake of the former Prime’s downfall. While Mance struggles with maintaining a perfect image as her magic splits her apart, Silver is left trying to discover where he truly belongs. With an unavoidable marriage proposal, the looming threat of war, and secrets that are locked away, The Beasts We Raise made for a promising sequel and conclusion to The Broken Citadel duology.
I found the magic system in this duology to be more on the unique side of all the books I’ve read. I especially found Mancella’s ability to split herself into physical copies that represent her individual sides—such as Heart or Livid—interesting. There’s plenty of emotion throughout the book—Reltas’ anger, Silver’s doubt, Mance’s fears and worries—though it does seem like a lot of the emotional trauma the characters go through is passed over and forgotten too easily. The romance is sweet; I liked how Mance and Silver can depend on and care for each other, as well as how they are willing to accept one another no matter what.
The book itself was a decent conclusion to the duology. It was a quick read, though it felt like there could’ve been more in some places (the ending seemed quite sudden, and I wish there had been more on the Broken Citadel). There were several twists I didn’t see coming, and the ending, though a little abrupt, was hopeful and satisfying enough. I did enjoy it, though I don’t see myself rereading this duology very often.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the eARC and the opportunity to read early.

Thank you to Netgalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with this ARC ! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So..funny story, I actually requested this book without realising it was the second book to The Broken Citadel duology (I'm so smart guys 😭), so I read the first one, and I loved it, I'm not kidding, I ate it up and finished it in a couple days.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Spoilers for The Beasts We Bury ahead ! ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥


So the last book ends on a cliffhanger after we find out that Silver & Mancella's happily ever after wasn't so... happy. At least, not for Mancella. After taking Alect's power and gaining the ability to split herself into seperate forms, we learn that she's been suppressing/locking up one particular form of herself in her wardrobe. Livid, who is basically a manifestation of her anger and all the dark, furious parts of her.

'TBWR' is a very fast paced book, maybe a little TOO fast but it was still slow enough for me to keep up. I definitley feel like this book could've been longer ? And while the resolution was pretty abrupt, it was still a nice ending.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Mancella ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Mancella's denial and fear of turning into her father throughout this book was VERY obvious, constantly doubting herself and locking away Livid because she was struggling with the pressure of becoming the Prime, and terrified of becoming the tyrant ruler her father was. Because of that, she also pushed Silver away (MAJOR MISTAKE GIRL HE'S SUCH A SWEETHEART) and hid things from him. It's also really sad to see her doubt herself, trying really hard to avoid war and bloodshed, and trying to put her realm's safety above her own happiness.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ Silver ੈ✩‧₊˚

Silver is so cute through this entire book, he's one of the only people who sees Mace falling apart, and all her broken parts and different forms but still loves and supports her. His character is VERY different to the usual MMC's that I read, but he's powerful in his own way. His friendship with Vie and Rooftop was also hilarious and wholesome throughout the duology, and it's really clear that he basically sees them as family.

This was beautifully done. A story full of magic and identity that does not disappoint. The ability to split herself into multiples has her holding on by a thread, but she must keep herself together, at all costs.

This picks up right after the first book, and WOW D.L. is coming in hot with this one! I really enjoyed this book, honestly maybe a little more than the first one.
I was a little disappointed to see less of Rooftop and Vie in this book though, I loved them in the first book and really hoping for more of them and having Silver's back.
This was a great ending to the duology, well deserved and satisfying.


Pub Date Mar 03 2026 |


Thank you Netgalley | Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for an eARC.

I had to DNF! I wasn’t aware this was book two in a series, that is completely on me unfortunately!! I hope to read it in the future but I was completely lost.

This was my very first ARC book. I was very excited to read this as it seemed right up my alley. I had a very hard time getting through it. It read slow, lacked twists and turns and generally left me confused. It definitely needs some attention to detail and more descriptive scenes.

This was such a solid YA duology and this book was a great sequel. I loved the direction the author went and I read this book in one sitting. The author could have stretched out the story a little more but I think that the book was paced well regardless. I loved the message of loving a person as a whole, not in pieces. This was great!

This is my first ARC book; my thanks go to D.L. Taylor for letting me read her 2nd book early, I appreciate it very much!

I liked this book more than her 1st one because you got more background information on other characters as well as Mancella you got to see deeper into her about the different emotions/ her split selves, you also got to see Silver in a different point of view than in the 1st book, the plot was excellent it kept you intrigued and wanting to keep reading, I had a very hard time putting it down. I’m a little disappointed you didn’t see much about Vie and Rooftop as you did in book 1, I wanted them to be more present in this one least be supportive background characters towards Silver. All in all, I’d recommend this book to others as it’s a very good read and will keep you interested in finding out what happens at the end.

wow, this was such a well written and beautiful book. i was so invested in Mance and Silver's stories. I love them as characters and thought they were so well written. i love a strong FMC and this one delivered! there was so much conflict, action, and drama packed into this book. i was never bored of it. and the ending... such a well-deserved, satisfying one. this book is such a good read! every fantasy lover needs to pick this one up!

thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for this opportunity!

The Beasts We Raise is the second book in A Broken Citadel. Following The Beasts We Bury, this one picks right up with Mancella (Mance) as Prime, trying to navigate her new responsibilities, the relationships among the realms, and her growing relationship with Silver. The focus of her magic has shifted, as she has acquired the ability separate out pieces of herself. These parts of herself become new characters. While sometimes it felt clumsy to keep up with all of them, it also made for a quick moving story that kept going all the way through to the end. It provided space to show how important each part of Mance was - how they worked independently and how they could come together as a whole. It was a story of bringing pieces together, as well as a story about finding space for healing. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Henry Holt and Co for the digital ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this one early (super early 😂)!

So I actually went back and took a peek at my review for book one of this series because I didn’t really remember my thoughts. As soon as I read it, it came back to me. Book 1, THE BEASTS WE BURY was just meh for me. I didn’t dislike it but I also didn’t love it. I didn’t say if I was planning to read the sequel in that review so it seems like I was on the fence.

Anyway, on to this book. It was a quick read. Multiple POVs made the storytelling more interesting but all but one POV are Mance (her different emotions). It seems like the magic system that made up the first book was someone left behind in favor of Mance’s newly acquired power from the end of book one. I was also hoping to learn more about the mysterious Citadel that gives power and that was glossed over as well.

I liked the overall lesson of accepting yourself entirely and I thought the metaphor of splitting herself to learn that was well executed. The romance was cute too.

However, I found the story to be a little boring and it didn’t really connect well to the first book. I missed the found family vibes established in the previous book and I’m not sure if I’d continue to read this if there is a third book (the ending leaves it a little open but also mostly concluded so I can see it going either way).

⭐️⭐️⭐️

2.75⭐️
First, I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillan Publishing and D. L. Taylor for the ARC!
This was a highly anticipated sequel release but I’m left feeling disappointed. The outline of the story had real potential- especially with the character/emotion study on the FMC. However, the plot felt underdeveloped. Things moved too quickly without proper planning or elaboration. It felt like peaks of the plot were just a speed bump. I feel if things were explored more, the story would have been rounded out perfectly. I was just left unsatisfied and wanting more.