𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙱𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝙻.𝙹. 𝙰𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚠𝚜

𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒚. 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓. 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓.

This was the perfect blend of fantasy and romance! L.J. Andrews writes such addicting reads and Lyra and Roark really do smolder across the pages with the slowest of swoon-worthy burns. I ate up the unique bone magic and the Viking vibes. There are incredible twists and reveals too. The ending definitely leaves you feeling grabby hands for the next installment. I need more!

𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐁𝐑 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞:
Dark Fantasy Romance
Vikings/ Norse Mythology
Unique Magic
Enemies to Lovers
Smoldering Slow Burn 🔥🔥
Forced Proximity
Hand Speak
The MMC is her bodyguard

❝ The Sentry placed his palm against my cheek. I stiffened, eyes closed. But all he did was tap my face three times. Roark turned away in the next heartbeat and abandoned the hut. Pulse racing, I touched where Ashwood held his hand.

Three taps—his gesture for claiming something as his. It meant mine. A word meaning a dozen things—his to command, his to use, his to protect. It didn’t matter, there was truth to it. Since the moment he stepped foot on the pebbled shores of Skalfirth until he turned me over to the king, I belonged to Roark Ashwood. ❞

Thank you @authorljandrews, @berkleypub and @netgalley for the eARC.

BOOK: BROKEN SOULS AND BONES
AUTHOR: LJ ANDREWS
SERIES: BROKEN SOULS AND BONES, BOOK ONE
PUBLISHER: BERKLEY/ACE
LENGTH: 476 PAGES
OVERALL RATING: 5 STARS (6 stars)
TUMBLR BLOG RATING: 5 Stars (6 stars)

The female heroine in this book is Lyra Brien who has been living a calm, tranquil life purposely. It is during the raids where she was brought to safety, however she has no memory of this. She knows it has to due to the scars in her eyes. So she must keep this hidden before anyone detects this and discovers her secrets as a bone melder. She is avoiding the greedy King of Stonegate who is addicted to magic and power.

Lyra is a bone melder and has been discovered by Roark Ashwood, the King’s silent sentry who hates melders for reasons of his own. Now he Storms into her quiet village and abducts all her friends including her bestie! She absolutely despises the King’s bodyguard who hates all bone melders! Roark is determined to discover all of Lyra's secrets, including the scars in her silver eyes! Now Lyra also has to get information and details about this sentry too. Furthermore there is terrifying talk and gossip that Roark is a very violent man and has done some horrific things for this awful King!

Now Lyra has no choice after being abducted only to save her very best friend from her demise so all her magic abilities are revealed! She has no choice where the King's melder is very much feared but is also put on a pedestal and admired from others. This is all about power and war as far as the King is concerned. They have now put Lyra in horrendous position where she and her friends have no choice but escape, but how can they accomplish this?

Soon Lyra and Roark get to know each other and everything changes. As things are not as it seems and they start to open their eyes and realize they are on the same side. Yet the more they work together they both start to fall for each other which is very dangerous. Furthermore the ugly truth is shown and they are put in a very dangerous position or choose a very undesirable dark future. Find out and discover Lyra and Roark’ s fate. Can love conquer all? Read and find out if they are safe or….not?

This book shows the perspective of both Lyra and Roark, the male and female main characters of the book. I found this absolutely fascinating and it honestly beguiled me into this magnificent story. I found it fast paced, the world building was magnificent. I think this is my favorite book by this fantastic yet and I read all nine books in Broken Kingdoms. I am going to actually read The Ever King next as I can never get enough of LJ Andrews who is one of the most talented authors in the romantasy genre.

LJ Andrews has been a favorite author of mine since her the Broken Kingdom series which I seriously think about everyday. This is the first book in her new series and again another addictive book for me. Already putting showcasing it on my bookshelves. I absolutely loved this book so much without any spoilers. Now I can't wait for Book Two in this new magnificent series!

Thank you to the Berkley/Ace publishing and Netgalley for this advance readers copy. All words, thoughts and ideas are my own.

This world is dark and full of secrets. A world where Gods bestow magic as gifts and the mortals corrupt it. You cannot trust anyone, there are lies in the light and truth in the dark, you are not safe and neither is your soul!!! Such a wonderful world and unique and intriguing magic system. I love LJ’s books and this one was no different, she had me hooked as usual!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews.

We are following Lyra and Roark in this story. We get both povs throughout the book.

There is a war in Stigandr and Lyra is soon discovered as a melder. She is then taken to help the King and Roark is deemed the task as Lyra’s bodyguard.

I enjoyed this authors work before, when I read The Ever King. However, I struggled a bit with this story. The pacing was slow and it was difficult to connect with the characters. To summarize this story isn’t for me.

This was an easy 4.25 stars for me. Another fantastic book by LJ Andrew's! Her books and her worlds cease to amaze me. She has such fantastic writing and honestly, I think this is her best book yet! I loved the characters, they were so well developed and multi-layered. I loved the world and the way she does Viking romance is unmatched!! With a new, unique magic system, the found family elements, there was so much to this story. I devoured this book and listened to the audio as I read it and I will say this - the audio is a must while you read! The narrators bring so much more to already fantastic characters. The accents were everything!! Highly recommend!

Thank you so much, Netgalley, for this ARC. In return, I have my honest review!

This was my first book from L.J. Andrews, and it will definitely not be my last! I absolutely adored the writing style and appreciated the unique world I was thrown into. It was a different magic system, and I loved slowly learning more about it over the course of the book. The soul bones were so different, and the aspect of the Skul Drek kept me on the edge of my seat. There were various things happening at all times and I found myself flying through this book!

The romance part of this story was a slow burn, but also had an insta-love quality to it. While the main characters danced around each other, there was always an unknown attraction simmering there. I kept reading because of this aspect, and I was very engaged!

The MMC was also very enjoyable. The fact that he didn't speak, but instead had a unique form of sign language, was something I loved about the story.

Overall, I was very engaged while reading and cannot wait for book two!!

A very fun, sexy, imaginative read. I’m not usually as excited to read a romantasy sequel.

I write haiku reviews on Instagram but am happy to provide more feedback, if requested.

It took me about a million years to actually pick this up and start reading but then I could NOT put it down. The whole dynamic between the characters was fantastic and I love a good romantasy with political intrigue and actual plot- so good!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

6⭐️
BK-R
1.5🌶️
POV: 1st Person, Dual POV
*Tap, Tap, Tap* - IYKYK

Oh my! This book was fantastic and blew me out of the water! Absolutely loved it! Our FMC, Lyra, was what I look for! Strong in her own right and trying to do what is best for those she loves! Our silent MMC, Roark, was strong and broody until he softened to her! Yummy! The Viking lore in this book has its place and flows so well!

I loved the Ever After Trope that was thrown in and truly hit the nostalgia points it made my heart sing!
(Will I stop using exclamation points? NO!)

Getting the opportunity to meet LJ and do a podcast interview with her, she is an amazing being! I can’t wait for book 2!
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Spicy Chapters: 37, 42, 44

This book was AMAZING! I literally have no other words to describe how hooked I was. The plot was equally balanced with the tension between the two main characters and I couldn't stop reading even if I wanted to!

Holy smokes, what just happened?😳
Once again, I am blown away by LJ’s ability to pull me into another world and make me feel like I personally know these characters.

From the first page, I was captivated and consumed. I wanted to know what had happened to lead to this moment. I needed to know who had gotten Lyra out and why. I had to know why her secret was so dangerous.

Lyra was a loyal, friendly, kind young woman who avoided the spotlight, but wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself and those she loves. But when her secret is revealed and she’s forced to do the thing she’s always hidden and feared, it changes everything. Her growth in this story as she is exposed to more truths and the reality of the world she lives in is incredible and inspiring.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Roark Ashwood is mine. No but really, I’m slightly obsessed with this man. He is fierce, possessive, broody and unwavering in his commitment to those he loves. Seeing his battle to both protect Lyra and allow her to stand on her own is inspiring and beautiful. And his devotion to her is incredible.

The pull between our two MCs was magnetic from the start. Before they even truly knew one another, there was a constant tension between them that was delicious. And when things finally snap…ohhh the spicy moments are so delicious🥵

I have to say that I FREAKING CALLED IT! I knew early on a few things that would later come to light, but I was utterly ill prepared for the way they would unfold🫠

And that ending…I’m not sure how I’m supposed to walk away from that. I need more. I need answers to many questions. I need to discuss this because I’m going to go insane before book 2 comes out!

I don't really read a lot of romantasy but this one was highly recommended by a friend who read the arc. And I'm glad she recommended it because I actually enjoyed it despite myself. It did take a while for me to get into it (making sense of the world-building, etc) but it all came together. And the two main leads Lyra and Roark were people I was glad to root for. What a pleasant surprise of a book!

If this is your introduction to LJ Andrews, then baby it’s a great one! Who would’ve thought that a Viking-inspired fantasy was just what the doctor ordered?

I went into this romantasy completely blind. Honestly I judged the book by its cover and it paid off. LJ’s storytelling is so descriptive. Not only did I fall in love with the MC’s but the side characters were so well developed that I had no choice but to absolutely love them as well.

Roark and Lyra gave me everything I needed in this slow burn enemies to lovers romance. The build up was authentic, the banter gave me butterflies, and Roark gave me the delicious morally grey man that we all love and crave.

Some tropes and themes include found family, sign language rep, forbidden romance, touch her & die, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, LGBTQ+ rep, banter. I ATE IT UPPPP!

Thank you @berkleypub @authorljandrews and @netgalley

Broody Viking who can't talk? Say less haha. This was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the world building and magic system. Maybe a bit predictable, although there was one plot twist that really caught me by surprise! I'm hoping for Laura's character to have a bit more development in the sequel.... Most of the book is in her POV but there wasn't much growth.

Thanks to the author and Net galley for the ARC. All comments are my own.

Yet another five star romantasy from LJ Andrews with the perfect balance of romance and plot. Broken Souls and Bones is an ice cream sundae of all the best tropes, loaded with kick-your-feet banter and found family that will warm your heart. I loved the ASL representation in this story which really made it stand out from other books in the genre. LJ is a master at character relationships and writing a cast that will settle themselves into your heart and feel like friends by the end of the book. I loved the scenes of everyone just “hanging out” where the personalities of each character can shine through. This is something LJ Andrews does very well across all of her works, it makes the intense battle scenes that much more personal when reading. I found the big reveal at the end to be a unique twist that I didn’t see coming at all, an unlikely villain that sets this story apart from others.
I cannot say enough great things about this read!

4.5 Stars!!
Such a unique magic system and Lyra and Roark had amazing chemistry. This was great romantasy and I didn't know I needed the bodyguard trope until I read this book. The hand gestures to speak were everything! You could tell the author really did her due-diligence in getting this part right.
Lyra is an amazing FMC, relatable and strong. She is who she is. And every side character I found myself genuinely enjoying or caring about, something that I feel like I've been missing from books lately (Kael and Prince Thane!).

Thank you thank you thank you for this advanced reader copy, Berkley romance!

Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews

*Tap, Tap, Tap...* (OMGGGGGGG)

Okay. WHO gave LJ Andrews access to my “perfect book” wishlist because this one ticked every single box. This was my first Andrews read, and spoiler alert...it absolutely won’t be my last. From the jump, I was hooked. The Norse/Viking vibes? YES. The hidden identity twist? GIMME. And don’t even get me started on the broody, non-verbal bodyguard MMC. Roark Ashwood, sir, you have my attention.

Lyra Bien was such a force, and I loved how the world slowly revealed itself around her journey. The pacing was chef’s kiss, the magic was layered and felt fresh, and the slow-burn tension between Lyra and Roark had me squealing. Seriously, I could not stop reading.
Themes I loved...
Hidden identity
Grumpy bodyguard energy
Slow-burn tension
Viking/Norse mythology-inspired world
Found family vibes
Magic that feels earned
That “I’ll burn the world for you” protectiveness 😮‍💨

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. If you like your fantasy with high stakes, brooding men who say more with a glance than a monologue, and heroines who rise to the occasion every time, this one is for you. Addictive, immersive, and ready to devour in one sitting. Can’t wait to dive deeper into this world--gimme book two immediately...eeeeeek!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and ACE Books for allowing me the opportunity to read and review prior to release.

You may want to step into this world if you like books with found family, forced proximity, unique magic, delicious banter, sign language rep, grumpy MMCs, slow burn, political intrigue, bodyguard trope.
I absolutely ate this book up. I’m telling you, from the very start I was mesmerized and shushing my surroundings so I could stay hidden in the pages of this book. The characters in Broken Bones and Souls mesh together so well and I loved the tension that they had from the very start. Our MMC Roark dug his way into my heart and it’s going to take a pretty remarkable character to shove him out of the running as one of my top book boyfriends. From the sign language rep, to the grumpy bodyguard trope and his possessive nature towards the FMC, he just made such a mark in this book.

I won’t forget to go into the actual story itself, which also deserves as much praise as th characters - it was amazing. I devoured it and if I didn’t have to sleep, I wouldn’t have put the book down, it was that good. I’m losing my mind waiting for the next book to see what happens with the story and the characters and will be diving into more of LJ Andrews books in the meantime to fill the void.

If you love romantasy with unique magic systems, Viking inspired world building, and captivating characters, add this to your TBR! I love Lyra and Roarke and how their relationship develops. Roarke especially is such an intriguing character. This was my first book by @authorljandrews and definitely won’t be my last, obviously because I’m going to need the second book in this series after the crazy cliffhanger we are left with.

Read/listen if you like ⇣
•Romantasy
•Enemies to lovers
•Forced proximity
•Bodyguard x captor
•Hidden identity
•Viking vibes
•Morally gray MMC
•Spice

Thank you Ace Books and Berkley Romance for the ALC!

The book started off slow, and the pacing felt a bit dragged initially, but it eventually picked up. The magic system was unique, and the plot was extensive—though at times, it was a bit challenging to follow. That said, the character development was intriguing and kept me invested.

I’m a sucker for a bodyguard trope, and LJ Andrews truly delivered on that front!