Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Blood, Death, Grief, Violence, War, Trauma, Childhood trauma, Kidnapping, Parental abuse, Captivity, Emotional abuse, Animal death
The Beasts We Bury
by D.L. Taylor
Book 1 in The Broken Citadel
A dark YA romantasy debut with genuinely original magic (killing animals to summon them) and an enemies-to-lovers slow burn between a weapon-heir and a charming thief that earns every beat.
goodreads 3.72/5 1,865 ratings
storykind_community 3/5 1 rating
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length368 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice1/5 · Closed door / fade to black
PacingFast
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Enemies to lovers
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- Low
- Closed door / fade to black
- The angst delivered
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- Rogue/scoundrel
- Forbidden love
- Tension / anticipation focus
- Addictive read
- Morally gray
- Tension
- Tension finally satisfied
- Dark/tortured soul
- Mutual pining
- Anticipation
- Thief/criminal
- Longing glances
Fantasy promise
- Young adult
- Royal court / palace
- High fantasy
- Humans only
- Hidden identity
- War front / rebellion
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- Secret heir/royalty
- Revenge romance
- Forced proximity
- Secret relationship
Reading experience
- Dual POV
- Fast
- Mysterious
- Atmospheric
- Heavy
- Medium
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- Reluctant chosen one
- Brooding
- Dark
- Immersive
- Survivor
- Suspenseful
- Punchy
- Warrior/fighter
- Intense
- Emotional
- Epic
- Girl raised as a weapon
- Morally complex politics
- Dark magic with heavy cost
- Enemies forced to trust each other
- Revenge arc
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Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
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Similar because
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Different because
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Different because
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Similar because
Young adult · Morally gray · Closed door / fade to black
Different because
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Book details
- Length
- 368 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book