𝙏𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. 𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪.

Gods, where do I even begin?! This book sent me straight to Salur—and I mean that in the best way possible. L.J. Andrews has cemented her place as one of my favorite authors, and I’d read her grocery list at this point.

Lyra Bien has spent her life in hiding, keeping out of the King’s reach and masking the silver scars in her eyes that mark her as the next melder. But when the ruthless Sentry of Stonegate, Roark Ashwood, captures her, she’s forced to hone her craft to satisfy the King's demands to safeguard her chosen family. When outside threats attack, Lyra realizes protecting those she loves, her home—and her heart—will be much more difficult than she's ever imagined.

Slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers fans are going to ADORE Lyra and Roark's relationship! Their journey from complete animosity to fierce possessiveness and passion for one another had me hard-pressed to come up for air while reading. Lyra was such an awesome FMC too! Unwaveringly loyal and protective, she is the best complement to Roark's silent, deadly demeanor. Their sarcastic quips to one another made the situation so believable and the inclusion of "hand speak", or sign language, for Roark to communicate adds such a beautifully intimate layer to their connection. Lyra’s determination to learn the language was so incredibly sweet too. Tap. Tap. Tap. (iykyk). Also, the whole idea of 𝘴𝘫𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴 or "soulmates" had my heart doing little happy flips!

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬.

“𝙆𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩?” 𝙃𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚.

The villains and political intrigue are so well done, highlighting the lengths power-hungry royalty will go to and the sacrifices made by those trapped within their system. Prince Thane, with his kindness and endless humor, quickly became a standout alongside Lyra and Roark for me. (Love, love love him with Roark and Emi, omgoodness what a trio!)

As for the plot twists? While I guessed one (props to the excellent foreshadowing), the others left me REELING—and DESPERATE for book two. ::Cries in impatience::

Broken Souls and Bones turned an intricate Nordic-inspired world, lovable characters, and a dark but exciting magic system into something I couldn't get enough of. The three magics—Soul, Blood, and Bone craft—are as fascinating as they are dangerous, with the risks to their users adding an edge to the narrative between Lyra and those around her. If you love unique magic systems combined with solid Norse Viking vibes and a deeply character-driven plot with steamy romance, this one definitely deserves a spot on your TBR.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚. 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨.

Of two things I'm certain:
1. I’ll buy every edition of this book.
2. I’ll be counting down the days until book two.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and L.J. Andrews for this incredible ARC!

What I loved:
⚔️ Norse Mythology
🦴 Vikings x Bone Magic
😮‍💨 Enemies to Reluctant Allies to Lovers
🤟 Sign Language Rep
🔗 Bonded Souls
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn
✨ Unique Magic System
💀 Touch Her and Die
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Rep
🙈 Hidden Identity

There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like about this book. It had the enemies to lovers, strong bonds between characters and included Norse mythology words which I thought was super fun! The world-building was pretty intense, and I truly enjoyed it. All the different types of crafts that were in this book I thought was pretty cool. Definitely, wouldn’t want to poss of someone with a bone craft 🤣 Roark was a total hardass in the beginning and I wasn’t sure how I would come to like him but by the end I loved him! Also, making him mute? That was crazy because I’ve never read a book with a mute MMC like him and incorporating his own “hand speak” 👩‍🍳😘 This book gave me anxiety at the end but I’m soo pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the story! I didn’t see that plot twist at the end and I can’t wait to see how Lyra and Roarks story unfolds. With that being said, I need book 2 ASAP because now I have to sit and wait after such an ending 🥲❤️ Broken Souls & Bones gave you every trope that you love, wrapped up in a perfectly morally grey bow

Kendra here! I was working my way through Netgalley looking for some fantasy romances…the usual and saw this new LJ Andrews release. As an avid reader of her Broken Kingdom and Ever Seas series I immediately put in a request! I GOT IT, obviously. Spoiler alert guys, it did not disappoint.
Together they’ll restore a broken and divided kingdom–or burn it down. Lyra Bien intended to live a quiet life to avoid the attention of the magic-obsessed king in the fortress of Stonegate. Until Roark Ashwood–the prince’s silent guard and rumored killer for the crown–invades her village and uncovers the truth behind the silver scars in her eyes. To save her best friend from death, she’s forced to reveal her abilities and is immediately claimed by the crown as the next melder. To be the King's melder is to be revered and feared in equal measures, but above all it is a slow death sentence. Lyra is determined to find a way to free herself and her friends from bondage. But first she must get more information from the silent, brooding sentry who first took her, Roark. As Lyra gets closer to Roark she soon learns he’s nothing like she assumed–and in fact everything she needs. The more they work as allies, the harder it becomes to ignore the growing passion between them. After a sinister truth is revealed, Roark and Lyra must choose to stand against all they know or accept their dark destiny.

Vikings, interesting magic system, found family, lovable side characters, mystery, steam, spice, body guard and tension. If you like any of these attributes in a book you need to pick this up. I LOVED this book and eagerly anticipate LJ Andrews next installment in the stonegate series!

Read it!

L.J. Andrews has been on my radar for a while but this is my first read by her! Broken Souls and Bones is the first book in a new romantasy series set in a Viking-inspired world where some people are crafters, people gifted with the ability to manipulate blood, bone, or soul. Lyra Bien is a melder - a rare carrier of all three talents, with the power to meld soul bones to living people, imbuing them with the skills and personalities of the original bearer of the bones. After spending her childhood and early adulthood in hiding in a small village, she is captured and brought to serve as the king's melder. Here she butts head with the Prince's Sentry, Roark Ashwood, a mute guard from an enemy kingdom. As passion erupts between Lyra and Roark, and as she grows to care for others in the king's keep, Lyra must decide where her loyalty lies - with the crown, with justice, or with those she loves.

I absolutely devoured this one! It has big A Fate Inked in Blood vibes and was a really fun fantasy read. Viking stories always feel like winter reads for me, so this one was perfect for the end of December.

✅ Semi-enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
✅ Touch her and die
✅ Fated mates
✅ Vikings-inspired fantasy world
✅ Chosen one vibes
✅ Likable characters
✅ Moderate spice
✅ Queer representation with side characters

📅 - Broken Souls and Bones will be available April 29th, 2025. Preorder it now!

🙏 Thank you so much to L.J. Andrews and Berkley Publishing Group/Ace for this ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/🌶️🌶️ Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews is the first book in a new series, Stonegate.

☠️Dark Viking Romantasy
☠️Enemies-to-lovers
☠️Lost memories
☠️Disability rep (MMC uses sign language)
☠️Obsessed MMC
☠️Powerful FMC
☠️Touch her & 💀
☠️SPICE
☠️Forced proximity

The world-building is pretty heavy, with all the secrets and the mirror realm, but it's all necessary. The magic system is unique and interesting. The characters are well developed and complex. The banter between the FMC and MMC is absolutely delicious! And I loved the side characters so much -- Thane, Emi, Yrsa, Kael.. Thane especially, he has such a good heart. I really enjoyed this book, the ending had my jaw on the floor!! It was unlike anything I've read so far. 😍

To the author.... When I got to the end, I tapped my e-reader for the next page and let out and struggle GASP when the next page was acknowledgements. I was shook, and I need more!!!

I really liked this! This is my first book by this author, she has a unique writing style that I have not seen before, but once I got used to it I liked it. After reading this I am even more excited to read some of her other series.

I loved the Norse-inspired Viking setting. The magic in this book is probably one of the most unique magic systems I’ve ever read, and definitely not for the weak stomached, as the magic is exactly what the title entails. The world building was perfectly done and the magic was introduced gradually to let you understand more as you go. You definitely have to pay close attention which I love when a book makes my brain work.

There was a few twists that I did not see coming and a few that I did see I just couldn’t connect how it would work out in the end. I wasn’t left entirely in the dark but there was a bit of mystery going on. The MMC was super interesting and I liked his characters attributes, there definitely is not a lot of MMC that share his qualities. I’m ready for the next book because I have so many questions needing answered! It does have a bit of a cliffhanger but nothing major. I would 10/10 recommend this to Fantasy Romance readers!

LJ has done it again! This book was so amazing from start to finish!

Roark and his 3 taps…swoon!!

It took me a bit to understand the world and if I’m honest I’m still a bit confused on a few things but you get lots of answers near the end! And I think it’s okay to not understand everything in book one of a new world.

And wow that ending and all the twists?!! I am so ready for book two and hate I’ll have to wait awhile to continue.

LJ’s writing is incredible and has you falling in love with not just the main characters but the side ones as well. I’m rooting for them all!

"To claim something as his—a strike, a skill, a horn of ale-Ashwood tapped whatever he wanted three times."

So this book started off a little slow, but soon I was drawn in and constantly questioning what was happening. And the ending had me reeling!!! I need to know what happens next!!

The author does such an amazing job of creating SO MANY great characters. I love Emi, Roark, Thane, Lyra, and Yrsa all so much!! I want to be besties with all these characters. They all have such well developed personalities and added so much to the story.

THAT ENDING. LJ PLEASE WHY END IF BY GIVING ME ANXIETY. That twist was AHHHHHHHH!!! I will be diving into the next book IMMEDIATELY upon release.

You’ll like this book if you like
🪓 Vikings
🪓 Touch Her and Die (or eat your own fingers?)
🪓 Non-Speaking Rep
🪓 He wants to hate her

This unique story is phenomenal. It has me entranced. I have read it slowly because I didn't want it to end.

All the stars!! 10/10 just everything!

Oh my god! What an ending!
I went into this book with minimal knowledge, not realizing that it wasn’t a standalone (but it’s LJ Andrew’s I should’ve realized) and oh my god I need more!!!
I absolutely love LJ Andres books, but this one? It might just be my favorite!

Roark and Lyra are just amazing and their story from the beginning is just amazing!
I love Lyra and how strong she is and everything
Roark is a mystery and I just love the whole “he’s soft for her” trope and he has that in spades!

I’m not entirely sure how to write my review without spoiling anything but this is a must read!

Broken Souls and Bones is a unique, action-packed romantasy full of intrigue and tension.

Lyra has spent her lift hiding what she is. She has a rage magic - a melder - one who can wield the magic of bones, souls and blood. Revered and feared, she is sought by three different kingdoms. When blood magic reveals her location, she is ripped from the only home she knew and brought to the fortress of Stonegate, forced to wield her melding magic for the king to bolster his army and serve his whims. But melding is dangerous - the use of soul bones fused to the living can corrupt souls, and each time brings Lyra closer to the darkness. and the mysterious figures within. Roark Ashwood, the Prince's Sentry, is begrudgingly tasked with keeping an eye on her. He despises melders, knowing they bring only death and destruction. But soon the pair cannot deny the connection they feel, and the more they are together, the more memories of their past seem to resurface. Can Lyra trust Roark to keep her safe, especially when he is the deadliest warrior in the kingdom?

I LOVED this book! I will say, the world building is based on Viking lore and culture, but the intricate magic system is so unique. The story bounces between Lyra and Roark's POVs, and personally I love a dual POV book. We also get glimpses at their memories, and events that seem to lead to some shared past. One thing I love about this book is how well Andrews wove everything together - she gives us bits and pieces throughout, and by the end of the book, it all comes together in an explosive and unexpected conclusion. I loved the romance between Lyra and Roark - it was a delicious slow burn with lots of emotion and tension. The found family element was fantastic as well - Thane, Emi, Yrsa, and Kael were wonderful characters, adding levity and emotion to the story. All in all, I loved this book, and cannot wait for the next in this series!!

Thank you so much to LJ Andrews, NetGalley, and Berkeley Publishing Group for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

5🌟 A Nordic Viking style romantasy with an enemies to lovers and slow burn setup.

LJ Andrews really sucks you into this world with her rich world building but not too much to overwhelm you. The FMC has a rare kind of magic that her enemy wants to use as a weapon and is taken by Sentry Roark Ashwood otherwise known as The Death Bringer to her enemy kingdom.

They have this connection they both can’t resist or understand so the yearning and frustration they have towards wanting each other is everything. He’s mute so he doesn’t speak so she’s one of the few who can actually speak to him and understand him which makes their relationship that much more special.

Quotes✨
“You above everything. Burn it all if it means you still live.”
“If I hated you, it was because I could not understand why I wanted you.”
“To die for the ones we loved was honorable, but to kill for them was beautifully terrifying”

OMG IM OBSESSED!!! I absolutely loved the ever king series so I knew I had to read this one and honestly I think this is even better!!!

Thank you LJ, ACE, and Netgalley for my arc! This is my FAVORITE read of 2024 and it doesn't even come out until 2025!!!

"I WAS ONCE TOLD WE NEVER TRULY KNEW ANOTHER SOUL until we saw the darkness they kept inside."

Oh wow!! This is the MUST read of 2025! I love how LJ writes her morally grey characters! They will become monsters for those they care about and I'm so here for it!! Her MMC are ruthless but I love how they're all about empowering women! They're willing to kill for the ladies in their lives but perfectly happy handing them the weapons to do it. It such a great dynamic!

"Almost like a spell cast had captured my mind, I was pulled into his mystery, his violence, and the way he looked at me like he might wish to slit my throat or step a little closer whenever our paths crossed."

Roark is a really complex character! He uses sign language to speak and it was so well written! Three taps. Be still my heart!!! I will swoon! Lyra is a strong sassy FMC and I loved learning how her magic works! It's a unique magic system and the world building is epic!! I love the Norse viking vibes!

“Accomplices always.”

As always I love the found family and side characters she's created! Kael being one of them!! Prince Thane is fantastic as is Emi! I can't wait to read more about them!! Really well fleshed out side characters!

"I thought too damn much about the way her skin, when it touched me, no matter how briefly, lingered like venom I wanted to drink again and again."

The enemies to lovers push and pull is so perfect!! The tension was just *chef's kiss* AH-MAZING!! And the spice was fabulous! I love that it's a natural part of the characters' storyline and not just smut. Don't get me wrong - I'll read smut but in romantasy I like it to fit the story.

This is action packed and some of the twists and turns I saw coming but there was one at the end that totally blindsided me! Lol, poor LJ had to deal with all my unhinged DMs at all hours of the night since I couldn't put this one down and read it in less than 36 hrs. This is a book that definitely stays with you after you finish reading it. Like days and weeks later I still find myself thinking about it. I'm already contemplating a reread!! That's how good Broken Souls and Bones is!! This is the epic and amazing story telling I'm coming to expect from LJ!!! I couldn't put it down! Trust me - you're gonna want to preorder this one!!!

Excuse me as I walk around in an LJ Andrews induced haze after being completely consumed by the new world she’s created in Broken Souls and Bones. With Viking and Norse Mythology weaved throughout, the world building and unique magic were everything I expect from this author and more!

As always with her books, the stars are the characters. Roark is a tortured soul whose darkness makes him a feared personal guard to the prince. This morally grey MMC stole my heart ,and the romantic tension between the main characters jumps right off the page. Even though he’s unable to speak, the way he talks through his hands, or on parchment, or gods, on her skin, made the banter super hot. His primal Viking influenced protectiveness had me melting over and over again. Lyra, the FMC, is a force to be reckoned with, and I love how her character becomes more fierce as the book progresses.

The found family trope is a big part of this story, and I found myself caring about not only the FMC and MMC, but the rest of the supporting characters. The book is quickly paced and what I thought was going to happen was hijacked by the many twists and surprises that showed up. I found myself at the end of the book sitting there wondering what just happened and dying for the next book! Don’t wait for this one - add it to your TBR and pre-order it today.

Thank you Berkshire Books, NetGalley and LJ Andrews for the advanced copy.

There is nothing @authorljandrews could write that I wouldn’t read - I need more of whatever she puts in her words 😅 I read a teaser for this book months ago and it has lived in my brain since - Broken Souls and Bones had everything I was hoping for and more, and the wait after that ending is already so painful. The plot kept me engaged the entire time, and the magic system was so interesting to unravel. Lyra might be one of my top FMCs, she is feisty and has such a quiet strength, I loved watching her come into her power. Roark is such a complex character and I found the way he communicates to have a much larger impact than if he could speak. Watching their relationship unfold was such an absolute treat and my heart is still stuck with them!

Do not sleep on this book!

5/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow. Just wow. I absolutely devoured this book. I couldn’t put it down—even at the expense of sleep—because I was constantly telling myself, just one more chapter! From the very first page, it had me completely hooked. It’s an enthralling, original story that gave me serious Viking-meets-Shadow & Bone vibes, while still standing firmly on its own.

LJ Andrews truly knocked it out of the park with this one. The depth of her characters is phenomenal—not only do you fall in love with the MFC and MMC, but the entire supporting cast is just as captivating. Her storytelling is immersive, pulling you in and refusing to let go. While there are some predictable elements, the foreshadowing and cleverly placed breadcrumbs ensure plenty of unexpected twists along the way. The ending especially had me saying, “That makes sense… but I did NOT see that coming!”

I also have to highlight the beautiful inclusion of “hand language” in the story. It added such a unique and meaningful layer to the narrative. And lastly, a massive thank-you to LJ Andrews for blessing us with Roark Ashwood.

I’ll be impatiently counting down the days until this book hits the shelves so it can claim its place as my newest book trophy—and, of course, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

“Break me, I no longer care, as long as it is you that wields the destruction.”

Perfection. Broken Souls and Bones has all of the things I love: a morally gray man, romance, slow burn, adventure, magic, gut wrenching twists and turns. At the heart of the story is Lyra, a melder, and Roark, the Prince’s sentry and all things morally grey. LJ Andrews did a magical job of having Roark speak through his fingers and having Lyra know his words in her very soul. I could’ve read another 500 pages of Lyra and Roark’s story and it still wouldn’t be enough for this first book. It is not a surprise that I loved the supporting characters of Emi, Thane, and Kael, as LJ Andrews has a way of creating characters that burrow into your heart and take root. This is officially one of my favorite reads of 2024 and the second book will not be able to come quickly enough. I am officially hooked and need more of Lyra and Roark in my life. LJ Andrews deserves a standing ovation for all of her books, but this one might need a longer and louder clap from me. I am not sure how I can follow this story up with anything else in the coming weeks and months, but I regret nothing.

I finished in a day and I’m desperate for the next book! LJ does an incredible job world building and coming up with unique elements to the magic “craft”. I’ve read all of LJs books thus far and even I could not see some of the plot twists around Roark. Plus, I was so impressed with how she described his hand speak. I’ve NEVER read another book where the MMC cannot speak. Absolutely incredible read!

5⭐️
Once again LJ Andrews delivers an amazing story! She is an automatic read for me so I have been so excited to join her street team! I can’t stop thinking about Broken Souls and Bones and right now it has easily become one of my top reads of the year! I love LJ’s writing style so it was no surprise that I was immediately hooked.

Main characters Roark and Lyra have become one of my favorite enemies to lovers couples! Their slow burn relationship was set up perfectly. From the very first (not so great) interactions, to Roark becoming her bodyguard, and then finally being together was amazing! And don’t get me started on Roark Ashwood. My new favorite book boyfriend for sure. He was passionate, possessive, and deliciously morally grey. Roark and Lyra are the epitome of touch her/him and die and I am here for it! On top of the amazing main characters there are so many incredible side characters that play such a big role in the story. LJ always does an incredible job of including and giving life to all her characters. The found family among the characters is one of my favorites. But my favorite part of the book has to be the very unique magic system. It really added to the Viking lore and helped set the scene. I am still so curious about all the different types of magic and hope to learn more in the next book!

This book has it all! Romance, action, adventure, magic, and so much more. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait for the second book. I’m still thinking about the ending and don’t know how I will be able to wait for the sequel! This is another great slow burn enemies to lovers from LJ with a fantastic plot and world building, all things Viking, amazing characters, and a very unique magic system. I will never stop recommending LJ Andrews’ books! Make sure to add Broken Souls and Bones to your tbr and check it out when it releases on April 29, 2025!

Thank you so much to LJ Andrews, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for this amazing arc!