I’m sorry to say that this was just not it for me. While I do think that the magic system was pretty cool, and I liked a lot of the characters, I feel like the plot was just missing something. Because of that I struggled, as I feel like nothing was pulling me to keep reading. I can see why a lot of people would love this book, but unfortunately I’m not one of them.

Give me anything LJ Andrews writes and it becomes my next favorite book. She is easily a favorite author and for a reason. This book was phenomenal! Hands down going to be a top read of the year and I am going to need to own all the versions this will be made in. I will be needing to reread in physical form once it is out, the day it is released.

I enjoyed this book, the story and the characters, I found it to have an interesting world and magical system, altough I do wish we had more worldbuilding.

I loved that the MMC used sign language, it's not something you see very often in books and that was refreshing.
Thane deserves everything and I hope that he [redacted] after that ending, Kael also deserves everything and I hope to see more of him in book 2

The reason why this wasn't a 5 star read for me, is because I found the dialogue and story to be a bit redundant towards the middle-end and I also tought that the story kinda dragged on in the middle but other than that I can see Broken souls and Bones being a hit in the booksta/booktok community.

For more on this book, check out my review on IG @faes.bookcorner

LJ has been an auto buy author for me since COSAT released, and I had absolute faith that I would love this book just the same. I was 100% correct! I binged this baby and loved every page. I swear this book altered the make-up of my soul!

The soft marshmallowy moments between Roark and Lyra were so satisfying. The banter 🤌 The man doesn't even speak, and yet he managed to make me laugh.The twist had me gasping out loud and scaring my husband half to death 🤣 Emi, Kael, Thane, Yrsa- Fabulous side characters that I can't wait to see again. Is it too soon to reread?

This book absolutely wrecked me in the best way. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, packed with intensity and twists that literally had me gasping out loud.

Lyra completely stole my heart. She’s not fearless, and that’s what makes her so powerful. She feels everything from fear, grief, love, loss and still finds the strength to rise every time. She’s the kind of character who fights with her whole soul, especially when it comes to protecting the people she loves, even when the cost is high. Her strength isn’t about never breaking. It’s about choosing to keep going, no matter what.

And Roark? Ohhh, Roark. He’s broody, intense, and deliciously morally grey. A storm of shadows and pain, trying so hard to keep it all locked away. You feel it in every look, every moment, every choice he makes. He’s complicated in the best way, and watching those walls slowly crumble (especially with Lyra) had me absolutely feral. The tap. tap. tap. The slow burn. The tension. The push and pull. It was pure, glorious torment, and I was here for every second.

What made this story even more special was the side characters. They weren’t just background noise… they mattered. Every single one added something meaningful, brought life to the world, and raised the stakes for Lyra and Roark. I found myself caring deeply about all of them, which honestly doesn’t happen often.

The Nordic/Viking-inspired world was stunning, gritty, magical, and so immersive I felt like I’d been dropped into a completely different realm. The magic system was haunting and powerful, with just the right touch of mystery. And just when I thought I knew where the story was going, LJ Andrews would flip the script and leave me reeling.

And that cliffhanger? I just sat there, jaw on the floor, rereading the last few pages and questioning if that seriously just happened?!

Huge thanks to Berkley Pub, Ace Books, and LJ Andrews for the ARC. I’m going to be thinking about this one for a long time.

VIKINGS?!? yeah. i loved this so much. the book was amazing. a lot of world building but the ending got me so excited for book two!!

𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 | 𝚊 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚛

𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 - 🫑

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚎 - “You are no coward, Lyra. You are no monster. Your soul is too bright.”

𝚃𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚜 - sign language rep. | forced proximity | banter | found family | touch her & die | super unique magic |

↳ Tap. Tap. Tap.

I had to pick my jaw up off the floor to write this review.

First, the sign language type representation in the book had my soul smiling. We need more of that in books.

Second, Roark. Just Roark. I freaking love you. You’re top tier.

Third, I need the second book even though the first one doesn’t actually come out until April 29.

The magic system was so interesting. It’s so unique, and I loved learning how it worked. Lyra is such a strong willed FMC. I love how strongly she loves her people. & the found family is so dang good. It’s one of my favorites.

Then - you get to the last 25% and boom BANG. DOUBLE BANG. What the actual heck did I just read?!
Read it with a friend so you can text them your freak out. That’s my warning. Also, the cliffhanger is a killer.

I can’t wait to get more of their story. Tap. Tap. Tap.

I don't know how to properly explain my love for this book.

LJ has a way with words. She can make something as simple has a tap of the hand on a cheek into the most intimate and heart stopping moment.

Broken Souls and Bones has a refreshing magic system that I've never encountered. It is raw and brutally beautiful. Which also explains the world the story is set in. The policital intrigue added to the despair so well. And like our fmc Lyra, I never knew what was coming or who to trust.

Lyra and Roark start off rocky and the slow burn was done so well. I felt every bit of tension. Witnessing their walls slowly crumble while trying to hold on to their hate for each other was deliciously sweet. Lyra is fierce and loyal. She needed this found family and they needed her. Roark is now and will forever be the most sincere book boyfriend. Learning his hand speak along with Lyra was so fun and fascinating! And how he never let that stop him from becoming the warrior and sentry he knew he could be.

I could ramble about this story. I could throw the book at everyone and say read it and love it and tell every person you know about it. I cannot wait for release day and to hear all about book two.

Broken Souls and Bones is a dive into a richly woven fantasy world that feels like it could be set in the Viking era—brutal, atmospheric, and deeply immersive. LJ Andrews brings something fresh to the table with a unique take on magic. Lyra, our fierce and complex heroine, is a bone melder—a magic-wielder who draws strength and armor from the deceased. It’s dark, intriguing, and unlike anything I’ve read before.

This book leans heavily into the fantasy elements—think battles, ancient magic, political unrest, and layered worldbuilding. The romance takes a backseat, allowing the gritty story and Lyra’s journey to shine. If you’re someone who craves an epic setting with raw power and originality, this one's for you.

However, the majority of the book felt slow and I was honestly a bit bored through much of it. The pacing is incredibly slow, and while I appreciate the detailed worldbuilding, it did make the story drag at times. The slow burn might not be for everyone, and I found myself waiting for something to really grip me.

Lyra’s magic isn’t just cool—it’s symbolic of survival, sacrifice, and carrying the weight of the fallen, and I loved how Andrews used that to shape her character and the world around her. A bold start to what promises to be a thrilling series, but be prepared for a slower pace.

I give this 4 1/2 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this book with the vikings , the magic , the disability rep sign language, the action, romance. This book had some good twists some I thought I saw but thous had a twist on them and the ending I need the next book

“Broken Souls and Bones” by LJ Andrews was an excellent romantasy read. I have a feeling this will be all over BookTok soon. Especially with that lovely cover. I couldn’t put it down! Lyra is a melder who can fuse bones of the dead onto the living. I thought that was so unique. The emotional depth was outstanding and the characters were compelling and well developed. Fans of slow-burn romance need to add this to their TBR.
Thank you to NetGallery and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

LJ Andrews delivers another masterpiece. This book is a solid 6-star read for me—rich in emotion, worldbuilding, and unforgettable characters.

From the first chapter, I was completely drawn in. The story is layered and immersive, with a unique magic system and incredible attention to detail. And the characters… ugh, I enjoyed meeting them all. Even the smallest side characters had depth. (Prince Thane, in particular, deserves a book of his own!)

Roark and Lyra’s enemies-to-lovers dynamic is everything I hoped for—slow burn, intense banter, forced proximity, and emotional tension that leaps off the page. Roark is a silent, broody, morally gray MMC who manages to steal every scene without saying a word. The sign language representation was beautifully handled. He radiates that “I hate you but I’d burn the world for you” energy, and I couldn’t get enough.

Lyra was a refreshing surprise—fierce, clever, and layered. Her character growth was one of the highlights of the book.

And the final 10%? Completely blindsided me—in the best way. I was hooked, shocked, and already desperate for book two.

- Lyra, witch, and shadow 😈 & Roark, Prince's right hand and assassin for the Crown
- Chose one but she doesn't know it
- Based on nordic mythology
- Rich cast of secondary characters
- Cliffhanger end!
🌶️yes, slow burn

People who like Throne of Glass for the chosen one aspect, quests and secondary cast will enjoy this book/series too.

*Takes deep breath* okay, now that I’ve finished crying! ✨This✨ is why LJ Andrews is one of my favourite authors. The world, the magic system, the characters, the plot. It just ripped me apart then put me back together again. Lyra & Roark’s story is just… speechless. Absolutely speechless!

⚔️ enemies to lovers
🥀 forbidden romance
✨unique magic system known as craft
🖤 morally grey
❤️‍🔥slow burn
👏 forced proximity
💜sign language rep
🥂dual pov

LJ has such a way of writing these amazingly complex and unique worlds. Broken Souls & Bones takes on a dark twist with such a unique magic system and relationship between characters. The found family? Oh my GODS feed it to me with a SPOON! The tension? Outstanding. The burn? Just how we like it - slow 😏. How fast it went to my God Tier book series? Right after the prologue 🤣

I, without a doubt, believe BSAB will take the Romantasy world by storm. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out her Broken Kingdoms series and the Ever Seas series! LJ knows how to write a dark fantasy romance that just rips the soul apart but then✨melds✨ it back together in the perfect way (read BSAB and you’ll see what I did there 😉🤣). I fear I need book 2 and book 1 hasn’t even released yet 😄 This was my first ever ARC and it will now forever be one of my favourite books🥹 A more in depth review will be posted on my socials come release date🥳

♾️⭐️

Also, did I stay up until 2am to finish this master piece? Yep. Prime reading time baby ⚔️

Love it.
Biase? Yes!

But the world building is fantastic, the magic system straightforward and makes sense.

The nuances of Viking life is so ingrain in Andrews storytelling that I felt a weird déjà vu since there were a lot of parallels in diction to her other indie series such as the Broken Kingdom and Ever Seas.

For example Jul celebration and the darkness.

Described as enemies to lovers but I think it is more soulmates with morally grey MML.

LJ Andrew does the best character development so I enjoyed meeting all the characters and how dynamic they are.

The secrets were obvious in my reading but it does not detract how well written the story is.

Would recommend!

I was absolutely feral for this book. FERAL. I devoured it in one sitting like a starved little gremlin and immediately wanted to go back and read it again to catch all the delicious details I missed while speed-running through the chaos.

"Broken Souls & Bones" is a wild ride from page one. LJ Andrews knows exactly how to grab a reader by the heart (and throat) and not let go. The plot is fast-paced, the worldbuilding is rich, and the emotional depth? Chef’s kiss.

But let’s talk about him—the morally gray (or is he?) male lead who had me questioning all my life choices. He’s dangerous, tender, powerful, and communicates in sign language, which??? Why is that the hottest thing ever now? I was not prepared to be swooning over hand gestures, but here we are.

The tension? Off the charts. The stakes? So high I was practically vibrating. The romance? A slow-burn inferno that had me screaming into my pillow. Every interaction crackled with energy, and the dynamic between the leads felt raw, real, and utterly addictive.

This book is for you if you love:

Morally gray love interests with soft spots for only one person
Powerful women who don’t take any sh*t
High-stakes fantasy with serious emotional payoff
Sign language used in a way that’s both plot-relevant and seriously hot
And writing that makes you feel every heartbreak, betrayal, and moment of hope

Highly recommend for fans of shadowy plots, secret pining, and unhinged bookworms like me who love to scream into the void after a good ending.

Summary

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️ 2.5/5

LJ Andrews absolutely slaps when it comes to romantasy and this is no exception! I am so buzzing I got to read her read pub debut early and the Nordic/ Viking inspired world was so addictive to read about!

One of the things I love most about LJs writing is she always has well established and interesting supporting characters. Thane for example, loved him from is very first line! The way the character relationships develop throughout this book was so gorgeous to read I adored the found sibling, sweet relationship between Lyra and Kael as much as the development of the romance between Lyra and Roark which I think speaks volumes as to how well the dynamics are written.
There’s a beautiful budding female friendship between Lyra and Emi and they are absolute banter besties and that was also so fun to read.

Roark was a beautiful morally grey MMC (our fave) and I love how even though he’s non verbal and uses sign language she’s still able to craft gorgeous intimate moments with no words. I was LIVING for the yearning and small touches! This book was the absolute embodiment of all the best parts of the romantasy genre!

My only real critiques would be I would’ve liked a little more history of Lyra and Roark before they crash in to eachother although given the developments at the end of the book I can see why this was the direction she took. And whilst the magic system was intriguing, I found it slightly confusing at times.

This story was engaging, fast paced and chaotic in the best way. Like come on that last 20% was freaking WILD! There’s a great set up for the remainder of the story as well as a good mix of humour that definitely ups the enjoyment and entertainment value. The magic system was intriguing and the world building was great in setting up the story.

I highly recommend this one!

Wow. Wow. Wow.

I mean… I’m not surprised that I’m blown away since L.J. Andrews has yet to let me down. ANYTHING she writes is a beautifully woven story with the most beautiful imagery and loyalty between characters that I have yet to feel in any other authors work!

This world she creates in the Stonegate series is so complex - the magic and lore is something I can’t wait to reread already so I can study and understand it more. The legend or myth of The Wanderer is really intriguing and again…. Just has so much depth to it. Even though I was putting the pieces together of some of the twists - I still feel like some of it went over my head and can’t wait to read it again. If you love a romantasy with more substance and politics - don’t forget all the amazing action, magic, relationships and characters - BSAB needs to be at the top of your TBR.

BSAB is perfectly paced but that last 25%… whew I feel like I ran a marathon. So much happens and you LEARN so much. I am itching for the next book in the series as there is still so much more to occur. I fell in love with each and every character in this novel… you feel like you know them on a personal level and I feel their pain at my core.

So grateful to L.J. Andrews, Net Galley and Berkeley pub for the opportunity for this ARC.

This is why LJ is an auto buy for me, Broken Souls and Bones gets all the stars, it was absolutely fantastic!
An amazing new series with unique magic, lots of action, secrets, memory loss and I loved every page of it. Enemies to lovers, slow burn and touch her and ,are my favourite and everything was on point.
Roark is broody, protective and so swoon worthy. He might have lost his voice but he definitely can get his point across. Tap, tap, tap. Lyra is fierce, loyal, smart and brave while trying to free herself and her friends. The banter between these two was perfect.
You'll definitely want to read this when it comes out in April.
Thank you so much @authorljandrews, @berkleypub and @netgalley for this fantastic ARC!

“Soul to soul.”

This book screams Guilty As Sin? by Taylor Swift!

If you love

🤍enemies to lovers
🤍badass FMC
🤍silent broody MMC
🤍forced proximity
🤍slow burn romance
🤍found family
🤍touch her and 💀
🤍norse inspired culture
🤍intriguing magic system
🤍heart-wrenching romantasy

you will absolutely love Lyra and Roark in Broken Souls and Bones! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

MIND OFFICIALLY BLOWN AWAY!! Broken Souls and Bones intrigued me from the very beginning and it is a story like no other. This world is a very dangerous, bone crushing place in which Lyra must fight like hell to protect the ones she loves.
For so long, Lyra has tried to stay unnoticed, until she is found by the king’s silent Sentry, Roark Ashwood. As a melder, Lyra is coveted by the king and hated by many. Roark, our mute and deadly MMC, is tasked with protecting Lyra even though he dislikes melders as well.

A true enemies to lovers romantasy? CHECK! Roark and Lyra are forced to work together in tandem to figure out what exactly is transpiring in the kingdom. Roark, although mute, is very passionate with the way he speaks with his hands; through taps and gestures, Lyra is a quick study and they soon begin a bantering relationship of charge and protector.

Honestly, the tension was radiating between the two and the way enemies become lovers had my eye brows raising!! The spice was passionate and the touch of forbidden love was like a jackhammer to the heart. The plot was incredibly well written and the magic system was unlike any I’ve read before. I loved the Viking aspect to the story and how it ties into the different clans’ culture and craft. The sense of found family was strong in this story as well, seeing how Lyra didn’t think she’d come to care for anyone at the keep. The last 25% of the book was where sh*t got real and I might have cried a couple of times.

I fell in love with LJ Andrew’s characters and storylines last year and I’ve fallen in love with Lyra and Roark’s story as well. The ending really gut punched me and shocked the hell out of me. I loved how I didn’t expect any of the end to happen, and that’s what I find to be a really good book!!
That cliffhanger will really have your jaw dropping, eyes wide open wondering what the heck just happened. 👀

Also please read LJ’s Broken Kingdom series as well if you love romantasy as much as I!!

Thank you so much to LJ, Berkley and NetGalley for the ability to read this ARC! My words are my own opinion!