The Beasts We Raise

The Broken Citadel #2

by D.L. Taylor

"Full of compelling twists and high-stakes magic . . . a captivating romantic fantasy that had me rooting for the protagonists from the very [beginning]." —Kelly Andrew, New York Times-bestselling author of Your Blood, My Bones on The Beasts We Bury

Marry her enemy. Save her realm. Forsake her heart. The heart-shattering conclusion to this dark fantasy duology is perfect for fans of Adrienne Young, Tricia Levenseller, and Brigid Kemmerer.

Newly-appointed Prime Mancella is desperate to keep the peace within her realm and within herself. Having recently acquired the power to physically split into separate versions of herself, her identity is beginning to fracture—along with her land, which is on the brink of war. The only semblance of normalcy in her life is her budding romance with thief-turned-confidant, Silver. . . at least until the mysterious Prime Reltas arrives at her doorstep asking, or rather demanding, her hand in marriage.

If Mance wants to avoid a fight that will devastate her realm, she’ll have to consider the proposal. Even if it destroys Silver. But Mance isn't ready to give up just yet. Desperate to free herself from the betrothal, Mance must seek allyship from other Primes and learn to control her new magic. If she fails, her decision to refuse Reltas's proposal will implode the delicate state of affairs across the realms, setting off a catastrophic war—and shatter two hearts in the process.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company (BYR)

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Audiobook, Young Adult Fantasy

Audible Audio

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

D.L. Taylor is an attorney by trade. She’s worked in criminal defense and civil non-profit law, but writing has always had a special hold on her heart. Though she hails from the sunny lands of California, she married a Midwestern boy and ended up settling down outside Chicago. She has three kids, two cats, and minimal sanity, but in the quiet hours before dawn she likes to write about magic, mischief, and moral quandaries. The Beasts We Bury is her debut.

If you'd like to know more, her handle is dltaylorbooks on TikTok and Instagram.

Reviews

[minnie. [school hiatus] · Rating 3 out of 5]

«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.»

── .✦ 2.75 stars!

𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 .ᐟ review #12

𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: february 24th

𐔌🗡️ feb 21 ⸝⸝ mixed feelings on the ending because while it was very sweet and wholesome with the idea of healing, it did come off as a little too rushed and sudden. reviewer’s note: guys if you couldn’t tell i am very sleep deprived and tired while writing this. this review contains spoilers for the first book the beasts we bury.

⤿ 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: 02.07.26 - 02.20.26
⤿ 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 12+
⤿ 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 0/5
⤿ 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: trauma, graphic death, violence and gore
⤿ 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: power, responsibility, guilt, trauma, healing, forgiveness, self acceptance

«I think about the girl I used to be, on my knees in the arena, wondering when I would finally be strong enough. And now I know that I am strong enough for anything.»

⋮ ⌗ ┆𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 🗡️꒱

⤿🌻 .ᐟ mancella’s life is complicated. after killing alect and taking his power, mance gains the ability to split herself into separate forms of herself, and locks up livid, the manifestation of her anger and the dark parts of her. leading her people as the prime, mance is overwhelmed with work, having only silver to ease her stress. but when the forest prime, reltas, demands her hand in marriage, her relationship with silver is threatened; she is forced to accept the proposal, or else risk a war that would devastate her realm and her people.

«Because it didn’t matter that no one else fought for me; I fought for myself.»

⋮ ⌗ ┆𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 🗡️꒱

⤿🌻 .ᐟ i thought this was a good read. while nothing in the novel stood out to me as spectacular or amazing, i enjoyed reading it and overall would recommend the duology. i liked the character development of mancella throughout the book. she has a lot of fear and denial of turning into her father and really struggles with accepting all the parts of herself, especially livid. mance struggles with the pressure of being prime and wants peace, but is traumatized by her past and her tyrant father. she pushes silver away and hides a lot from him, which is sad since he just wants to be there for her. i liked how the chapters were from the perspectives of the different parts of mance, like asset or heart, and its nice to see her slowly start to heal and come to terms with who she is as a whole. this book is about trauma and the horrors life throws at you, and healing and moving past that, accepting yourself for who you are even with all the faults and flaws. the message is prominent and it’s important, which i enjoyed about this novel. i personally enjoyed the first book more, but the themes and messages of this one are by far more important.

꒰🌻꒱ the direction this novel goes in is extremely different from the last book. if not for the fact that i already know the characters and world, i would have thought this was just a standalone novel. the exploration of tainted magic and corruption in the story is really interesting, and once i started reading i couldnt put it down since it was so captivating. the magic system is very interesting and the idea of the citadel is very unique. i thought that the ending was a bit rushed and it didn’t give me full closure, but otherwise it was wholesome. the romance in this was sweet but a subplot. i really enjoyed the moments between silver and mancella, since silver is a really sweet person who just wants to be there for mance.

⋮ ⌗ ┆𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 🗡️꒱

꒰♟️꒱ fast paced story
꒰♟️꒱ healing from trauma
꒰♟️꒱ romance subplot
꒰♟️꒱ tainted corrupted magic
꒰♟️꒱ heavy themes of power
꒰♟️꒱ arranged marriage with enemy

⤿ thank you so much to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the arc of this book! all thoughts are my own <3

----------------------------------
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀𐔌🌻 preread ⸝⸝ jan. 26th 🗡️ˎˊ˗
˖ ࣪જ okay...tbh totally forgot everything from the first book, but br-ing this with my fave soph!

[TheConnieFox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This young adult romantacy was really good and highly entertaining! This is the second book of The Broken Citadel series. It would be best to read the first book, that way the reader knows the backstory of the main characters in this book. The first one is called, “The Beasts We Bury”. This second novel is about tainted magic and corruption. It includes multiple point of views, which I really enjoyed while reading this! Some of the themes include power, responsibility, guilt, trauma, love, forgiveness and self acceptance. This is an enemies to lovers story that starts off strong!

I was fully immersed while reading this. It is a fast paced story with some lovable characters. I found that this was very different than the first book in the series. It has a complex magical system and wonderful world building! I recommend this book to anyone that loves reading romance and fantasy! I am wondering if there could possibly be a third book in the series, because it didn’t give me full closure at the end of the story. This book gave me This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede vibes! Overall, I give this novel a 3 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author D. L. Taylor, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for this eARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is set to be released on February 24, 2026!

[Selene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the audio arc of this book! The first book ends on a cliffhanger so I was happy to get my hands on this. I think Silver is the perfect golden retriever mmc. The story moves really fast and you can feel the emotions and angst. I did question some of the other characters actions (like all the other primes and some of the decisions they made) and some of the twists were predictable but this was all around an enjoyable easy read. The narrators did a good job adding to the story, although I wish it had been a duet because that’s really the superior audio book listening experience

[SelkieReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book is gonna make you rage, wanna tear out your hair, scream into the void, pick fights with your partner, anything to get the aggression out.
It’s soooo much more than a YA novel.
I usually do a little blurb in my reviews but for this I want to talk more about the emotions.
If I had to describe this book in one sentence “the meeting of righteous fury with devious and evil actions.”

This books begs you to think about what it does to take your pain and suffering and then cause that same pain to others?
Is it revenge if you hurt everyone?
How far will you take your quest for revenge and who are you willing to sacrifice?
What does it do to an entire people when their sole focus is hurting others for revenge?
Can you heal from what you caused?

Our FMC, Mance, is dealing with the fall out of taking her father’s crown as a Prime. She is splitting herself, different aspects of her personality, into separate sentient and corporeal beings.
She can call them back and merge them with herself and share memories. They are separate but also one.
She is trying to use this power to make safe her kingdom when she is forced to marry an enemy that hates her.
However, it’s getting more and more painful to separate and to call back.

I’ve heard DL talk about how this book is suppose to be about trauma, it is uncomfortable, it should not feel easy or good. You should ask yourself questions and you should be able to sympathize and empathize with the pain. The types of trauma that the main characters go through at the hands of those in power, at the hands of those who are suppose to protect you, at the hands of those who are suppose to love you, can be seen as a mirror for so many different types of relationships in the modern world we live in.

I think that the self-reflection you do while reading this book and specifically getting to the ending it’s also very healing and necessary.

[Val ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ੈ✩‧₊˚ Review ~

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.

[Elizabeth WMT · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
I went into this audiobook ARC feeling a little unsure. The beginning was slower than I expected, and I had a hard time fully connecting with the female main character at first. Her powers and backstory weren’t deeply explored early on, and I think incorporating more detailed explanations or flashbacks in those opening chapters would have helped me feel more grounded in who she was. Because of that, it was difficult to truly resonate with her until closer to the middle of the book.
However — I am so glad I stuck with it.
Once the story found its rhythm (around chapter 10 for me), I became completely invested. The political tension between crimes and citizens, the looming presence of war, and the layered worldbuilding added so much depth to the story.
The most fascinating element was the FMC’s ability to split herself into multiple pieces, each rooted in a specific emotion and capable of traveling independently. It was such a unique concept, and watching her struggle not to become the father who caused her trauma — while also feeling compelled to help others heal — gave the story real emotional weight.
By the second half, the action, romantic elements, and introspective character growth came together beautifully. The emotional complexity and self-contemplation made this feel more layered than a typical romantic fantasy.
Overall, while the slower start and lighter early character development held it back slightly for me, the payoff was absolutely worth it.
A strong 4.5 stars — and I’m very happy I kept reading.

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC of this book. It is the concluding book to The Broken Citadel duology and comes out February 2026. All opinions are my own.

Spoilers Ahead (if you haven’t read The Beasts we Bury)

Mance and Silver find themselves in the aftermath of a war torn Continent left behind by the former Prime. Mance, as the new Prime of the Cliff Realm, wants to prove to everyone, including herself that she is nothing like her father. As she gets used to her newly acquired power of personality splitting, she locks away a part of herself she doesn’t like and continues to split herself into other emotions in order to keep her own council. Tensions between her and Silver are mounting as he senses her distance and it gets worse when the Prime of the Forest Realm comes demanding her hand in marriage as part of their “prior treaty.” To prevent the imminent war, Mance agrees and goes with him to the Forest Realm in order to bide time and find another solution, but what she finds could mean death and destruction for everything she knows and loves.

At first I was a little disoriented by the completely new direction this story took. That’s not to say the first book isn’t informative to this story, but this is its own complete and different storyline. Though Silver and Mance had sweet moments, this story was more about Mance, and her coming to terms with who she is as a whole and accepting that. I thought that was done very well. I liked the POV chapters from the different Mance emotions, I thought that was an interesting way to tell the story. The descriptions of some of the magic that Reltas (and Kiar) performed were horrific and so vivid and disturbing, I really felt sorry for him and what he went through to make him get to that point. The idea of the magic system and its corruption was also very interesting especially when tied to his hate and need for vengeance. “Your hate and vengeance are destroying everyone—“ I the ending was satisfying and funnily enough, it reminded me of the Let Them Theory philosophies I just spent the last few weeks reading through. Overall I enjoyed the fresh take on POVs, the messages in this story, the expanded magic system and how it played into the plot, and the characters themselves, a win all around.

“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.”

[Jenna D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Broken Citadel series and omg did it not disappoint. This book picked up right where the Beasts We Bury leaves off and I was once again hooked with Mance and Silvers journey. Without giving too much away we follow both characters as they uncover the truths behind generations of hatred and work to restore what was broken. Thank you so much to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Leah Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book as an e-arc!!

We continue off the first book with the father being imprisoned and Mance as the Prime. We learn of her new ability to split herself into different personalities that can live outside of her being. Silver and Mance are together and struggling to find their footing as a couple. Until Prime Reltas enters.

A treaty was signed under Mance’s father that Mance would marry Prime Reltas for the good of the realm. Of course she’s not wanting this due to Silver, but if she doesn’t she risks sending the realms to war again.

Seeing Mance navigate this new position, talent, and relationship was a lot. I enjoyed the book, seeing how she splits her personalities was fresh and really interesting concept. I liked seeing the animals fall into position with a certain personality as well. This was a good read but I don’t think it’s one I will come back to. I wasn’t sure how this book would end but enjoyed the direction it’s leading into. Character development was good but it did feel a little lacking.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Randee Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Chiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Même si je n’ai lu que le tome deux, je trouve la plume incroyable et l’histoire trop bien.
J’ai adoré Silver, Mance avec toute ses facettes.
Certains perso non merci mais une histoire que j’ai vraiment apprécié.
Je pense que je vais lire le tome un.

XOXO,
Cippy

[Liana Gold]

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan children’s publishing group for this eARC! Can’t wait!
Publication date: March 3, 2026

[Bekah C · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

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!

If you haven’t read The Beasts We Bury yet, do it before the year is over…because The Beasts We Raise comes out March 2026! 👏🏻

[Chelsea Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so grateful to have received a EARC of this book from NetGalley and Wow. This book was such a beautiful read. The second book in this series following Mance and Silver as the main two characters and the way their story builds and comes to a close at the end was absolutely beautiful. The hardships they go through and The love Silver has for Mance. The way this story unfolds in such a way I’ve never read before. It was such a good read and I definitely recommend this for those wanting a little something different in the fantasy world. Beautifully written.

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prime Mancella must make tough decisions to keep the peace and save her people... and it might cost her love.

Thank you to D.L. Taylor, Netgalley, and MacMillan Audio for the ARC audio of this book.

I really enjoyed this duology and the fact I got to listen to both of them as ARCs. Mance is a young adult who was raised by a broken royal system. Her father was cruel, her mother distant, and her sister holding secrets. When she finally blows it all up to reveal the secrets, she takes charge of her life and her kingdom, and finds a romantic companion. But then Prime Reltas throws a wrench in her peace keeping plans by forcing her into an engagement she cannot break. When chaos ensues, she is left to make the toughest decision of all.
I was sat for this entire book! I went through emotions of being proud of Mance, to having her decisions, to feeling bad for her, all through this book. I also hurt for Silver, precious Silver. He just wanted to love and be loved. I love the way this book ends and the sort of conclusion we get to the story. I like tidy endings and this one leaves you with wanting a little more of a conclusion. But I like it either way.

A great YA magical fantasy, with a spot here and there of romance. Though there is no explicit romantic scenes. This is definitely safe for teens to read and enjoy as long as you don't mind some violence depicted (as with the first book).

[Rachel T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked this novel even more than the first book in the duology! I thought the magic system was really fun and unique. I really enjoyed the world-building and overall plot. There are some complex characters that had me yelling “nooo!! What are you thinking!?”. I had to remind myself that this is written for a younger audience. I appreciated the overall message of this book (to accept yourself for who you are and the overall focus on healing).

Thank you to Macmillan Publishing Group, Henry Holt & Co., D.L. Taylor, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: February 24, 2026

[Allison Romeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5!

I read through this book so quickly because it was just a short read, but there wasnt a dull moment to be found! while the first book focused more on Mance's animal magic, this one was more focused on the different parts of herself.

This book focused a lot on revenge and sacrifice, and the romance part didn't really take a back burner, but there was a lot of miscommunication trope, which I never really like in my romance. I understood why it was there though.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and will continue to read what this author writes! thanks to Netgalley for the early copy to review.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first book so much! The magic is unique and that ending had me begging for more.

This story begins pretty much right where it left off. Mace is now the prime and silver is teaching at the academy. Everyone is finding their place. Unfortunately Mace is discovering her magic causing her pain and is forced to marry the Prime of the forest kingdom after her father has escaped.

I had high hopes for this one but it fell flat. I wasn't getting the same progression from book one that had me hooked. I felt that this one was predictable and took a weird turn. By the end though I was pleasantly surprised. The narration was done well.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook.

[Susy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Liked it but wasn’t so enthralled as with book 1, not sure why, perhaps it was the pace, perhaps the plot. I just didn’t feel as connected to the characters and the plot didn’t grip me as much. I think I like my fantasies better eyeball reading it (though the first book I did the audiobook as well, so...).

Characters 7
Atmosphere 7
Writing Style 8
Premise 8
Plot 7
Pace 7
Length 7
Structure/Setup 7
Enjoyment/Engrossment 7
Narration 7

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first!

Really helpful to me in understanding victims. I have some good imagery for thinking through things in the future.

[Holly Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think all is well, there just has to be another hurdle. Forced political engagement, and a true love that will go to any length to stop the marriage. The magics within are so unique and numerous. A storyline that keeps you holding on with something new at every turn. The physical representation of split personalities was something I’ve never come across in a book before. Warning, this is dark upper ya fantasy. It’s absolutely amazing, but deals with some heavy subjects that could be triggering to some including but not limited to child abuse, suicidal ideation, torture, grief and lots of death.

[Kaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Hannah Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

I really liked this one! I enjoyed the first book, but this felt even stronger. The way it explored dealing with trauma after the fact was so powerful. By the end it leaned a little too hard into the theme (not much left to interpret for yourself), but overall I loved the concept.

The magic system?? Obsessed. I loved how it reflected what the wielder was struggling with when they entered the Broken Citadel. Such a cool, creative idea that made the world feel so alive.

Now…confession time. I just cannot with Silver. 😅 He gave me the ick the entire time and I felt zero chemistry between him and Mance. The romance felt so forced, and honestly I would’ve preferred no romance at all. (Lowkey kept hoping for a little spark between Mance and Reltas instead 👀✨). Vie and Kiar also drove me up the wall. They just came across super petulant and annoying.

The plot itself was really engaging, and I was hooked all the way through. A strong follow-up that builds beautifully on book one, with rich themes and a compelling world.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC!

[Anahid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first Broken Citadel book and couldn’t wait to hear more of Mance and Silver’s story. I was thrilled to receive an arc from the publisher and NetGalley.

While the first half of The Beasts We Raise didn’t grab my attention like the first book did, the second half had much more action and pace. The idea of completely detaching emotions from oneself is an interesting thought experiment. If we could completely expel emotions and/or certain parts of us from ourselves, what would happen? Would we even be the same person?

Although I find viewing ourselves as parts interesting and accurate, I think we all have parts of ourselves and sometimes even different masks or versions of ourselves we show to different people, Mance splitting into different entities and acting as if they aren’t part of her (especially Livid) felt off to me. Heart, Livid, Asset, and Poise are all parts of Mance; not their own beings. I felt the story would have been more interesting if Mance had just split off her “dark” self. Rather than having multiple parts of Mance narrating chapters it might have been more interesting to have half the chapters in Livid’s POV.

The message came across crystal clear though: the whole is greater than the parts. No person is just one emotion or other, we are who we are because of all our emotions and experiences. We need all of our parts and emotions to function as a complete person. We can’t, nor should we try to, completely separate ourselves from parts/emotions we don’t like: it doesn’t end well. The other major theme: self-acceptance. If we accept all of our parts we can grow and face our fears and challenges.

With Mance’s rage and passion (Livid) absent, I could feel her lack of drive and that defining rebellious hope she had in the first book. Not until the end of the book when Mance remerged with all her parts and accepted herself as a whole did I see that same badass character who knew what she believed in and fought for it even if it went against what she was taught and told.

I also loved that Silver became the hero he didn’t think he could be. The person who feared not being enough was the first to realize we are enough when we have love and self acceptance on our side. I loved that Silver was the one to realize that people pull out what they think they need in their darkest moment from the broken citadel’s magic, it’s not the citadel that chooses the power. It was great to see so many people from different realms working together in the end to turn something that instilled reverence and deep rooted fear in all of them into a future beacon of hope and light.

I’m so glad I got the chance to read the second installment of The Broken Citadel series. It may have started a bit slower than expected but kept me hooked the whole way , had me asking myself many deep questions about identity and emotions, and ended with what I see as the most powerful message there could be: love yourself for who you are for that is where your true power comes from.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, D. L. Taylor, Brenda Scott Wlazlo (audio narrator), and Jake Chronister (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of The Beasts We Raise in exchange for an honest review.

‼️SPOILERS if you have not read The Beasts We Bury‼️

Mancella struggles to keep peace both within her fractured realm and within herself (if you know how the first book ended). Gifted with the dangerous power to split into multiple versions of herself based on the various parts that make up who she is, Mance’s identity is unraveling just as war hangs over the edge. One wrong move as Prime, and it's over. Her only refuge is her budding romance with Silver, a thief turned confidant—until the formidable Prime Reltas arrives, demanding her hand in marriage. Mancella must marry her enemy in order to save her realm, since she is now Prime. That also means forsaking her heart.

Accepting Reltas’s proposal could prevent a devastating war… but at the cost of Silver’s heart and her own. Refusing it could shatter the fragile balance between realms. Determined to reclaim her fate, Mance seeks alliances among the Primes and struggles to master her dangerous manifestation magic. If she fails, her defiance will ignite a terrible war—and leave hearts broken beyond repair. When the Citadel seems like the ultimate answer for either side, will the power be abused?

The Beasts We Raise concludes this dark fantasy duology. The writing is great and seeing the physical manifestation of Mance's internal conflict is intriguing. I continue to root for Silver, but Mance's new position as Prime offers a lot of political intrigue to this second installment. One must also find an appreciation for the title and the literal and figurative aspects it explores in the novel and as a theme.

An excellent duology for lovers of strained romance and dark fantasy.

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part two of The Broken Citadel duology was an enjoyable end to this YA romantasy.

I liked the main theme of embracing all parts of yourself, even the parts you want to hide. Further, being loved for all your parts. I think we can all find this incredibly relatable given most everyone has fears, insecurities, and anxieties. I enjoyed exploring how Mance was able to split different parts of herself to accomplish different tasks and how those different parts had different personalities. I especially loved the part of herself she tried to keep away from everyone: Livid. While Livid may have done some morally grey things, she was by far the most passionate part of Mance and arguably the nearest to her true self.

I enjoyed Silver even more in this book, especially how no matter what was thrown at them, Silver was dead set on staying with Mance and loving every part of her until she could love every part of herself. We got to see sweet sides of him, as well as his fierce protection, both of which I loved.

I enjoyed getting to see her and her sister come together and actually mend their relationship. In a world where they were both victims of their father, it was good to see them bury those tense relations and become sisters again.

I liked the mystery that ran throughout the story and all the weird magical things that were happening. It added even more stakes to the political tensions running throughout the book. Furthermore, I liked the ending in how the place that had broken a lot of them needed to heal itself, and they worked together to try to progress this healing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), and D. L. Taylor for the eARC! The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

3.5 stars!

[Roslyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Lisa Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: The Beasts We Raise by D.L. Taylor
⭐ 3.75 stars

The Beasts We Raise is the second and final installment in the Broken Citadel duology, and overall I enjoyed it more than the first book. This sequel raises the stakes both politically and emotionally as Mance steps fully into her role as Prime after overthrowing her father.
Now ruling a fractured realm, Mance is forced into a political marriage with an enemy in order to maintain peace between realms. Torn between duty and the man she truly loves, she must divide herself—both physically and emotionally—to keep her kingdom stable. As the story unfolds, Mance is faced with the impossible task of reconciling her responsibilities, her fractured relationships, and her own sense of self, all while trying to heal a realm still reeling from upheaval.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is its unique magic system, which continues to stand out and adds an interesting layer to the plot. The pacing is solid throughout, keeping the story moving without feeling rushed, and the world building is strong enough to keep readers fully engaged in the political and magical conflicts at play.
While I enjoyed the overall story and found it compelling, I do think the book would have benefitted from deeper character development. Some characters felt underexplored, and a bit more emotional depth could have elevated the impact of certain moments. That said, the plot remains engaging, and the themes of power, sacrifice, and identity are handled thoughtfully.
Overall, The Beasts We Raise is a satisfying conclusion to the duology, particularly for readers who enjoy YA fantasy with political intrigue, morally complex choices, and inventive magic systems.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was curious to see where this story would take us after we last left Mance grappling with the consequences of splitting herself into different parts. Instead, we’re quickly introduced to a new storyline centered on a forced marriage approved by her father as part of a political treaty. As a follow up to The Beasts We Bury, this felt like a sharp shift in direction, moving away from Mance’s beast magic, and into unfamiliar territory.

The sudden introduction of a new love interest also sidelines Silver, at least initially, making him seem more like a loyal golden retriever trailing after Mance than the strong partner we once knew. That said, he remains instrumental in helping her recognize that every part of her deserves acknowledgment and acceptance, not just the good parts.

I did enjoy the introduction of our potential new love interest, broody Prime Reltas, the fierce and angry leader who forces Mancella into marriage. His traumatic backstory adds layers to his character, creating moments of sympathy even as his resentment toward her people is ever present. That complexity made him a compelling addition to the story and makes you question how a marriage between them would work.

While the conclusion ties everything together neatly, it softens some of the darker edge that The Beasts We Bury provided. Even so, it delivers a sweet ending and wraps up the duology in a satisfying way despite being a little disjointed from the first book.

Thank you to D.L. Taylor, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Beasts We Raise. I especially enjoyed the narrators, who brought Mance and Silver to life in vivid and memorable ways.

Release Date 2/24/26