Ok wow.......this book! From the very beginning I was immersed in this world and I was there for every second of it.
This is definitely a slower more complex start to a fantasy but it is so worth all the world building and back story build up. It is needed to fully understand and appreciate all the characters are and the world in which they are a part of.
Andrews has created a beautiful world with complex flawed characters, hints of Vikings and an incredibly unique magic system.

In is book we have Lyra who is in hiding because she possesses a rare type of magic and is hunted to be used by a magic and power hungry king. When she is trapped by the kings silent Sentry, Roake, she must use her magic to protect the people she loves and she is taken to meld for the king. Where surprisingly one of the people she learns to trust and depend on is none other than the man who captured her and hates her.
Lyra and Roake are already one of my new favorite book couples and I cannot wait to see how there story continues especially after the cliffhanger at the end. The fact that Roake doesn't and cannot speak just makes the interactions between them so much more special and emotional. They way he uses hand speak (sign language) and the way she understands him almost immediately was so beautifully written. The things he says to her..... ugh my heart is a puddle at this mans feet.

Definitely will be recommending that s to all my book friends and will be purchasing when it comes out all while waiting on bated breath for book 2. I hope we don't have to wait long!! I can already tell it is going to be one one my top books this year.

LJ ANDREWS HAS DONE IT AGAIN FOLKS!! LJ is a master of writing intricate worlds with captivating magic systems, amazing complex characters, and twists to the very end.

BSaB is a completely new world, so this is the perfect place to start if you’re new to reading LJ’s books!

holy shit y’all this book was amazing. the first 50% was a lot of set up establishing the world and magic system, but it totally payed off because you really need to have your head wrapped around it for the second half. at the 50% mark, i could no longer put down the book and it was binge reading from then on out 🫡

BSaB follows Lyra, a “melder” who secretly has the coveted ability to imbue power from ancient bones into living people through soul magic. she’s captured and used by an enemy kingdom to gain power, all while learning more about her powers and the larger stakes in the game. she’s put under the charge of Roark, a sentry for the enemy kingdom who also has a mysterious background. (& that’s all i’ll say on that)

i LOVEDDD the magic system. set in a viking-esque world, the soul / bone magic is brutal and fits the dark fantasy vibe so well.

something I can always count on LJ Andrews for is her complex, strong, insanely well written female characters. Lyra feels so real and doesn’t just make decisions that will further the plot. i loved being in her pov, especially with how we were finding some things out right alongside her.

this book is a slow burn and boyyyy did it burn. bring back tension & the conflict of falling for your enemy 2025

this book left me reeling and i can only imagine how this world will expand as the series continues. consider me sat & ready!!

read this book if you love:
-vikings
-fantasy lore
-magic systems
-enemies to lovers
-forced proximity
-slow burn
-twists

You know a book is good when you end up staring at the wall after you're finished, trying to process what you've just read!

Broken Souls and Bones is one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I can't wait for it to come out for the rest of the world.

What LJ Andrews does with Roark is amazing. I love how he's learned to communicate despite being able to talk and how Lyra easily learns his language. It just shows how strong their connection is despite their feelings towards each other, especially at the beginning. Their banter was amazing and their chemistry is perfect.

I absolutely loved the unique magic system. The plot twists were perfect. And what a cliffhanger. LJ Andrews keeps you on your toes for most of the book then ties it all up beautifully but still manages to leave you with so many questions. I can't wait for book 2 and what happens next!

Thank you LJ Andrews, Berkeley, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

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

Broken Souls & Bones by @authorljandrews
5⭐️ | 3🌶️

-Viking vibe
-rare melder FMC
-non-speaking MMC
-sign language rep
-bodyguard
-enemies to lovers
-slow burn
-unique magic
-morally grey
-“touch her and 💀”
-secrets & treachery

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚, 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛.”

Uhh wow. This book reinvigorated my love for fantasy. I will probably brag about this read for the foreseeable future, so prepare yourself.

Lyra and Roark had the best chemistry, from hatred of him hunting her to becoming her bodyguard, every interaction was tense. The sign language rep was incredibly well written and made Roark’s character that much more complex and mysterious. The dark and broody Death Bringer. 🖤

“𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙥𝙨—𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚.”

And Lyra felt like a breath of fresh air. With a sheltered upbringing in hiding, and so much to fear, she’s still strong and caring to those she loves, and willing to put up a fight.

“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

The story was the perfect pace, with the right combination of magic, action, intrigue, tension, romance and mystery. The breadcrumbs had me hooked immediately. I was furiously highlighting and theorizing as I went and I was still left reeling at the end. I was so fully invested in this book, by the time I got to the last 20% I was in strict Do Not Disturb mode.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚.”

Thank you @netgalley and @berkleypub for the ARC opportunity!

I am in a chokehold. This book is pure perfection. Top tier. A ♾️ rated read. Everything you could want in a fantasy book. The story is phenomenal and the words capture your attention instantly.

The pace is perfect. You are surrounded in magic and intrigue while chasing the action and romance. The characters are what you imagine magical vikings to be - strong, loyal, ruthless.

The chemistry between our two MC’s, Roake and Lyra, is something I haven’t read in a while. I ate up every single interaction these two had. Roake was literally the silent brooding type. But that man doesn’t need words to heat you up. Its his actions, his devotions and his ruthlessness that make him the ultimate book boyfriend. And Lyra. Lyra is my favorite kind of FMC. Unbreakable in her loyalty and strength. Badass.

The ending left me reeling. I kept trying to peace together parts and I still didn’t see this coming.

Tropes in the book:
-Viking vibes
-Enemies to lovers
-Found family
-Morally grey MMC
-Sign language rep
-Touch her & ☠️
-Slow burn
-Magical intrigue

ARC READ. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an e-arc of this book for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

Broken Souls and Bones took me on an adventure filled with magic, Vikings, and a battle for survival. The first portion of the book focuses heavily on the world and magic building - making it a bit slower of a read in my opinion. Once I started to understand the basics and what powers matched with certain kingdoms or individuals, it became easier to put together.

In true enemies to lovers fashion, this book will give you every bit of angst, bickering, lust, desire, and oh so sweet torment of the two main characters. Your heart will be pulled in multiple directions, especially when a mysterious shadow self makes its presence known. Will everything be as it seems or will fate make itself known?

I really enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, but that’s for me with any backstory building. Roark, Lyra, and Thane are by far my favorite characters of the whole book (for now). And I say for now because this is not just a standalone novel. There will be more coming! That ending LJ threw in there at the end…. I’ll be here to help you pick your jaw up off the floor. Happy reading!

I was completely captivated by this book’s blend of magic, romance, and high-stakes adventure. I felt an instant connection to Lyra Bien, whose resilience and determination to protect her loved ones left me in awe. I empathized with her struggle as she was thrust into the dangerous role of the King’s melder, torn between her duty and her desire for freedom. Her evolving relationship with Roark Ashwood, the brooding guard who initially seemed like an enemy, kept me hooked. I loved how their alliance slowly developed into trust and deep emotion, making their connection feel authentic and powerful. I couldn’t get enough of the rich world-building and the twists that unfolded as Lyra uncovered sinister secrets about her fate. I was on the edge of my seat as Roark and Lyra faced impossible choices, and I found their courage inspiring. I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy romance, especially those who love strong heroines, slow-burn relationships, and stories filled with danger, magic, and intrigue.

This is a must-read for anyone who loves being swept away by a tale of love and rebellion against dark destinies.

I honestly don't think LJ Andrews can write a book that I don't love! The world building and magic system in this book are written so beautifully that I felt immersed in the story and I knew I would immediately knew I'd be devouring it! I absolutely love how she writes her characters and I love how broody Roark is! Low key also loved the sign language representation in here because I don't see that in many books! The slow burn and tension are so delicious and I couldn't love them more.

Read if you enjoy: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, morally grey mmc, slow burn, bodyguard/captive, hidden identity, sign language rep, memory loss

Thank you so much to LJ Andrews, Berkley Publishing, and Netgalley for letting me read an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Wow!!!! LJ Andrews has done it again with yet another amazing fantasy series. I will say, compared to The Ever King series I did find this book to be a little heavier on the world building. I will admit the info dumping was intimidating for the first half of the book. However, just trust the process and know that things will eventually fall into place. Once I started to develop a better understanding of the story and its characters I was hooked and couldn’t put the story down.

The characters were top notch but honestly I wouldn’t expect anything less from Andrews. Character development seems to be a common strong point in all of her books. Their personalities leapt off the page and made me feel like I was right there with them in their interactions with one another. I especially could not get enough of Roark and Lyra. Anytime they were on the page together it was instant swooning and stomach flipping.

Roark is mute and uses unique hand signs as his way of communicating. I think creating his character in this way was brilliant! It made the interaction/communication between him and Lyra so much more intimate and intense. Whenever I would read one of Roark’s lines, I found myself paying extra close attention to his mannerisms and dialogue since his words were more limited than the characters who spoke verbally. To put it plainly, when he “spoke”, you wanted to “listen”. Especially whenever there was interaction between Roark and Lyra. My God, the chemistry between the two of them was electric. There were so many times I gasped out loud or dropped my jaw despite the fact I was reading next to strangers on an airplane.

The ending had my mind reeling and now I need book 2 like I need my next breath.

What more can I say? It is official, L.J. Andrews can do no wrong in my opinion. She is rising to the top in the romantasy genre and I expect it won’t be long until she is a household name among readers.

If you love immersive world building, swoon worthy romance, attention to detail and a cast of characters that feel like lifelong friends than I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews on April 29th.

4.5 rounded up because of the slightly slow start. BUT ONCE WE GOT GOING WE GOT GOING.

I absolutely adored being in a new LJ world and Lyra and Roark will be on my mind for a WHILE. If you want forbidden romance, Viking-vibes, SUPER unique magic and loveable side characters- look no further.

Broken Souls and Bones had me by the THROAT and I think I’ll spend the next *insert however many* months/years starring into space after that ending.

thank you forever to the publisher for an advanced copy!

Probably sitting around a 3.75– I did enjoy this though I found it confusing at times and think the world could have been explained or fleshed out a little more clearly. I enjoyed the romance plot quite a bit and liked the supporting characters a lot, particularly thane. I did guess most of the plot twists except for the Baldur/fadey twist, that one for me and I was pleased by it!! Overall I will continue the series!

I have made room within my brain budget to account for this book living rent free forever & ever!!!

LJ ANDREWS HAS ONCE AGAIN CREATED AN UNFORGETTABLE WORLD!!!!!!! While the beginning of this book takes some time to build up, it is well worth it to become familiar with the magic system and setting. Once it picks up though, IT PICKS UP!!! BSaB is set in an atmospheric world with heavy viking inspiration, that has a rich historical lore that I have a feeling this book has only scratched the surface of! With bone magic, soul magic, AND blood magic, there are so many unique fantasy elements that add to the dark ambience of this book.

Our FMC, Lyra, has been keeping a secret, she is a melder with the power to meld bones of the dead onto the living to give them the powers of the deceased souls. She keeps this secret to avoid being forced to serve the magic-obsessed king of Stonegate. But when circumstances uncover her secret, she is captured to serve as the kings melder under the watchful eye of Roark who is the princes silent guard. As her magic develops and she learns more about Roark and those around her, there may be a darker truth waiting to be revealed.

If you’ve read an LJ Andrews book you know that no one writes lovable and self actualized characters like she does, and this book is no exception. I was OBSESSED with all of these characters from the very beginning, even the side characters felt so developed it’s hard not to fall in love with them all immediately!!!

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and LJ Andrews for an advance copy of this book, I cannot wait for it to be out in the world!!

Lyra Bien has spent her life hiding, concealing the silver scars betraying her forbidden abilities. But when the silent guard invades her village, Lyra is forced to reveal her powers and is immediately claimed by the crown as the King's melder. This title is a fate worse than death; slowly drained by the crown's demands, Lyra reluctantly relies on Roark, who captured her. They have to confront the dark truths buried in the past.

Lyra is a standout character who is determined and unwilling to bow to the cruel demands of the crown. Her courage and struggle between self-preservation and doing what's right add a powerful layer to the story. We see glimpses of the past that create a mystery element I love. The way the magic system interacts with history was phenomenal—one of the best magic systems I have read. Add a dash of political intrigue and Vikings—what more do you need?

The relationship between Lyra and Roark is built on necessity and distrust, which makes their slow-burn romance epic. Their difference in personality and motivations led to an earned relationship that felt authentic. While the slow-burn romance and gradual reveal of secrets serve the story well, the pacing in the first half is sluggish. Though beautifully written, occasionally, the pace stalls the momentum of the story, except for the last part of the book, which almost slaps in the face with all the reveals and action. After a meticulous build-up, the final revelations felt compressed. It was a stunning blend of fantasy and romance and a fascinating magic system. It was slow-paced but rewarding journey rich in world-building and an incredible plot.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group/ACE, for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

LJ has brought us a brand new world and it is EVERYTHING I wanted, needed, hoped it would be! 🙌🏻 As always the world building is impeccable! The characters are strong, women, men, main characters, side characters, the villains - ALL OF THEM! I’m so freaking in love with Roark and Lyra ❤️‍🔥
:
I can’t say too much because it isn’t out yet but DAMN it was good! I literally could not put it down, I read the whole thing start to finish in a day and half, I think I walked like 900 steps yesterday because I simply sat and read ALL DAY 🤣 So anyway I’m just going to leave you with some overarching themes and tropes (because I can’t even drop any quotes yet, which is killing me because I highlighted a TON!)
:
If you love any of this 👇🏻 read this immediately on April 29th!
✨BANTER
✨found family
✨unique magic system
✨non-speaking mmc 🫶🏻
✨bodyguard 🙌🏻
✨enemies to lovers
✨forbidden romance
✨memory loss
✨slow burn (oooo it’s so good!)
✨all is not as it seemsssssss

Ohhhhhh there’s more but I’m not even gonna go there!! I love where the story is heading!!!! You’ll just have to read it to find out!!!!

3.5+/5 ⭐️, 1.5/5 🌶️, 0/5 💧

🗡️ Unique Magic System
🗡️ Found Family
🗡️ Norse Mythology Inspired
🗡️ Forced Proximity/ Bodyguard
🗡️ LGBTQ+ Rep
🗡️ Dual POV

There was a lot of world building in this that is more complex than some other fantasy/romantasy so I would say this might be more geared towards advanced fantasy readers. If this genre is new to you, I’m not sure how captivating it is at first. It was difficult for me to stay engaged with the world building as I was impatient for answers. If you read for vibes and don’t care to figure out everything, this would be a great read for you. I had many hunches that turned out to be right, but I was frustrated as I didn’t feel like I got enough validation earlier in the book.

I thought it was slower paced, and more built on trying to figure out what was happening rather than being swept away by the story. I thought the tension and romance plot was good, but I was so distracted by figuring out the fantasy plot line and wishing it would move faster that I wasn’t super invested in the story.

The ending was interesting and recaptured my interest and I anticipate that the next book will really ramp up. Understanding a new world and magic system is hard, and if you like that challenge and love the vibes without answers, this is a fantastic book that I would recommend to you. If you’re new to LJ Andrews, I would recommend you start with her Ever Seas series, as it captivated me from the start with easier world building and faster pacing.

Genre: Dark fantasy romance
POV: Duel, 1st person
Series: Book 1
Relationship: M/F
Cliffhanger: YES
TW/CW: YES
ARC Platform: NetGalley
Format: e-ARC

Favorite Quote:
“You brightened my soul and I knew.”

Darkness Rating: 3/5🖤
Gore. War & violence. Past child mutilation. SA threats. Torture. Morally grey MCs.

Spice Rating: 3/5🌶️
Hand full of explicit scenes.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Such a beautiful and unique fantasy world.
This is an action, fast paced book that will leave you waiting for more.
The tension between the MCs is was done perfectly and felt natural.
The ending killed me and I am dying for book two!

*disclaimer: my darkness and spice rating might not be the same for you. Please do your own research before reading*

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Broken Souls and Bones" is my first book by LJ Andrews, but it won't be my last. I can't wait for this book to be released so I can recommend and talk about it with everyone.

I felt very lost with all the information being introduced at the beginning. It was bad enough that I contemplated DNFing, but it was worth it to stick through it. It all came together very well. The characters are not groundbreaking, but they are enjoyable. Small things like the main male character being mute were good additions to the story.

Rated 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

Very original and well written. Any lover of romantasy will enjoy this one! Lyra and Roark were perfecto for each other, and I cannot wait for my book club to read this one.

I love LJ Andrews and this book did not disappoint. A lot of information is thrown at you and I did find it a bit overwhelming and confusing at times, but otherwise I really enjoyed the story and the characters.

⭐ 5/5—utterly obsessed

This is my first L.J. Andrews book, but absolutely NOT my last! Can I just say that when I got to 70% of this book, I was internally screaming, "I need book two now, now, now"—not me throwing a tantrum over a book like a toddler denied a cookie. But seriously, this is not just a book. It’s a whole experience, and I was not emotionally prepared.

From the very first page, I was sucked into this world like a magic portal opened and yanked me in. The setting? Vast, immersive, and dripping with intrigue. I have questions, I need answers, and I need more.

Let’s talk about our main duo: Lyra and Roark. These two GRABBED my attention, held me hostage, and refused to let go. Lyra, our fierce and sassy heroine, has no memories of her childhood before she mysteriously appeared in a new village. But with silver scars in her eyes and a very rare magical ability (she’s a Melder—able to control soul, blood, and bone magic), she knew she had to stay hidden. Of course, that doesn’t last long because enter Roark, the King’s silent, brooding sentry, who discovers her and basically whisks her away into a whole mess of danger, power struggles, and EXPLOSIVE tension.

Let’s be clear: Roark does not speak, but L.J. Andrews made me feel everything Roark wanted to say. The way this man communicates without words is absolutely incredible. And the chemistry? WHEW. It’s enemies-to-lovers slow-burn perfection. The distrust, the tension, the unspoken longing—I was shivering. The author nailed the pacing of their romance; nothing felt forced, and their dynamic unfolded so naturally.

The secondary characters? Chef’s kiss. Emi, Thane, and Kael injected humor, drama, and emotional depth into the story, and I adored them.

Now let’s talk PLOT. Jaw-dropping. The twists and turns had me gasping—especially the final 20% of the book. And that last 10%? Pure, utter shock. My Kindle almost went flying. L.J. Andrews knew exactly what she was doing, and she did it so well.

🔥 Tropes & Elements I Loved:
- Enemies-to-lovers (slow burn PERFECTION)
- Hidden identity
- Secret and Lies
- Bodyguard romance
- Touch Her And Die
- Forced proximity
- Unique magic system
- Non-verbal MMC
- Chosen one vibes
- Morally grey characters
- Dual POV

I was giddy with emotions while reading this. One minute I was excited, the next I was frustrated, then I was proud, and before I knew it, I was panicking. If you love romantasy with a strong female lead, a silent but deadly MMC, intense action, and mind-blowing twists, then Broken Souls and Bones is a must-read.