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.

*tap, tap, tap* had me in an actual chokehold

Synopsis
Lyra Bien has spent her life trying to remain unnoticed, but when Roark Ashwood—the silent sentry of Stonegate—arrives in her village, her secrets are exposed. Marked by silver scars and a forbidden magic, Lyra is forced to reveal her abilities to save her best friend, only to be claimed by the Jarl as the kingdom’s next melder.

Being a melder means wielding rare and powerful magic, but it also means being a tool of the king and a prisoner in all but name. Determined to break free and protect those she loves, Lyra seeks out the one person who might hold the answers she needs: Roark. The enigmatic warrior is feared across the kingdom, but as Lyra gets closer to him, she discovers he may be more than just a cold-blooded killer—he might be her only ally.

With secrets unraveling and a dark destiny looming, Lyra and Roark must make an impossible choice: fight against everything they’ve been taught or surrender to the fate that binds them together.

Book Review
Plot & Characters
L.J. Andrews crafts a world filled with intrigue, lost magic, and a brooding sentry you can’t help but love. The story follows Lyra, a girl trying to escape the notice of a power-hungry Jarl, only to be thrust into a dangerous role as the kingdom’s lost melder. Her reluctant ally, Roark Ashwood, is a deadly and mysterious sentry whose true loyalties remain unclear. Their dynamic is a mix of tension, forced proximity, and undeniable chemistry—though their connection felt a wee bit too instant at times.Kael, the fiercely loyal side character, was a standout for me, and I was half-expecting a love triangle that never materialized. The villains and political players added depth to the story, though the heavy exposition in the beginning made it hard to keep track of who was who.The last act of the book delivered some major twists—one of which I didn’t see coming, which is rare for me with fantasy books. I would have loved more time to sit with the fallout of the final revelations after all of the buildup during the book.

Writing & Pacing
Read the 20% at a leisurely pace taking time to understand the unique magic system, the large amount of upfront information on magic and characters made it hard to connect with the story early on. The worldbuilding is interesting and unique, but it takes time to settle into it. Once the story picks up, the pacing improves, though the ending could have used more breathing room. Despite this, Andrews’ writing is engaging, and Roark’s character in particular had me hooked. In fact, he’s officially earned a spot on the shadow daddy master list—silent, brooding, deadly, and utterly captivating.

TLDR
If you like Norse-inspired fantasy with forbidden magic, intrigue, and morally gray warriors, this one is worth picking up!

THE LAST 10% >>>>>>>>

WOW 🤯

I enjoyed this for the most part but was also... bored? Idk if it was because of the MMC or what but I needed more tension. The magic and plot was pretty freaking cool though and I am intrigued for more because of that ending!

3.5⭐
-romantasy
-enemies to lovers
-bodyguard
-forced proximity
-captive
-morally grey mmc

This was my first book by LJ Andrews and let me say she now has a reader forever! From the beginning, I was absolutely hooked with the story trying to piece together every little bit of information I could about Lyra, Kael, Emi, Thane and of course Roark.

There were some amazing twists in this book and I cannot wait for more readers to get ahold of this story at it's launch!

Thank you to Ace/Berkley for the review copy.

He was a storm rolling off the tides, but I could not find the strength to run. Instead, it seemed, I stood at the water's edge, willing the gale to devour me.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley/Ace for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

After reading and enjoying Ever King by LJ Andrews, I was immediately drawn to this book by its premise and STUNNING cover! Much like Ever King, this book has the elements that I've come to love and expect from LJ: a stunning Nordic-inspired world, a fascinating magic system, and lots of found family! I especially loved Lyra's relationship with her adopted brother, Kael.

The star of this book for me was the magic system - it was structured around bone craft (bone manipulation), blood craft (blood casting), and soul craft (power from the dead). Some melders are also able to blend all three craft. This magic allowed for some pretty unusual and gruesome scenes with bone melding. I loved that it helped convey the brutality and viciousness of the conflict between Jorvandal and Dravenmoor, and also the impacts of the FMC, Lyra's melding abilities.

Minor spoiler -
My lone gripes with this story is that it kept a pretty steady, slow-ish pace and then completely upends things in the last 10% of the book. There is a slew of lengthy dialogue - which felt a lot like telling and not showing to beat the reader over the head with explanations of what's happening. This book does end on a cliffhanger.

Book review 📖

📜Broken Souls And Bones
✍️LJ Andrews
📠Berkley Publishing
📚Fantasy Fiction
🗓️Pub date: April 29, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @berkleypub for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨Lyra Bien tries to avoid attention at all costs, especially from the magic-obsessed king of Stonegate. She chooses to look downcast to hide the silver scars in her eyes.

✨Roark Ashwood, the king’s silent guard and royal assassin, invades Lyra’s village and uncovers the truth behind her magic. To save her best friend from death, Lyra is immediately claimed by the crown as the next melder.

✨To be the king’s melder means to be feared, but it is a death sentence. Trying to free herself and her friends means becoming close with her captor, Roark, and discovering the dark destiny that awaits them.

✨ Broken Souls And Bones had a Vikings feel to it and was a unique magic system and world. It took me a little bit to understand what a melder’s role was, which distracted me from the plot, but once I got into it, it was a fun read. Typical Andrews’ fashion—great prose, great book!

#netgalley #brokensoulsandbones #ljandrews #berkleypublishing #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #springreleases #fantasyfiction #romantasy

From the moment Lyra Bien’s quiet life is shattered by the arrival of Roark Ashwood, this book grips you and refuses to let go. This enthralling fantasy delivers everything a reader could hope for—high stakes, deep secrets, a fierce heroine, and a slow-burning romance that smolders with intensity.

Lyra is a heroine to root for: courageous, intelligent, and willing to risk everything to protect those she loves. Her journey from a hidden talent to the King’s feared melder is laced with tension and heartbreak, making every step feel earned. And then there’s Roark—the silent, enigmatic warrior whose reputation as a killer masks a far more complex reality. Their chemistry crackles on the page, their reluctant alliance evolving into something deeper as they face the sinister forces at play.

Beyond the romance, the novel shines with its richly woven world and suspenseful twists. Every revelation pulls you deeper into Lyra’s struggle for freedom, leading to a thrilling climax that will leave you breathless. Fans of gripping fantasy, forbidden magic, and slow-burn romance will devour this book in one sitting.

If you’re looking for a story with heart-pounding action, dark intrigue, and an unforgettable love story, this book is an absolute must-read!

LJ can literally do no wrong! You guys are not ready for Roark! He takes the whole strong, silent type to a whole new level. He is everything we could hope for and more in a broody soldier/guard. The tension, the chemistry, just everything between him and Lyra is perfection. Not only are the MCs amazing, but the side characters have so much depth and bring so much to the storyline.

The magic system itself truly is so unique and unlike anything I've read before. It had my interests piqued from the start. The plot twists and overall anticpation for what's to come were so intense and had me holding my breath in so many instances. I will literally rave about this book to anyone and everyone. I desperately need the next book because the bomb of a cliffhanger she leaves us with is just unfair.

♾️⭐️

LJ can truly do no wrong. I've read countless of her books and they never cease to amaze me with the worldbuilding, intricate magic and swoon-worthy romance. Roark- A DREAM. It was so unique to have a mute MMC who uses sign language and other methods of communication and it was done beautifully in my opinion and made their connection all the more special.
I love how outspoken and bada$$ Lyra (our FMC) is and she was such a balance to Roark in so many ways. The tension, yearning and chemistry between the two was perfection. The story was action-packed and I was hooked the entire time.
The imagery was perfect and I felt truly immersed in the story, as I always do with LJ's worlds.
The ending? I need more!!
Huge thank you to Berkley for the e-ARC!

What an amazing story! I am a huge fan of LJ’s work, and getting lost in this new world was so much fun. The magic was so interesting and unique - I can’t wait to dive more into it in the next book. I loved the tension between Lyra and Roark - it was a slow burn, but did it ever ignite! The last 25% had me on the edge of my seat, the twists were so well executed! Some I picked up on clues for, others were a total shock (in the best way). This was a fantastic read!

Thank you to LJ Andrews and Berkley for the advanced reading copy, thoughts and review are my own.

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

Another masterpiece by LJ Andrews👏🏼

I didn’t think it would get better than the Ever Seas, however I am always so surprised at how captivating her stories are.
The level of depth she brings to her characters, even when they can’t speak is mind blowing.

The devotion, the yearning, the found family, the wickedness. All done so perfectly!

I don’t know how else to describe Broken Souls and Bones besides - Incredible.

Plot - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Details - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice - 🌶️🌶️

I love this author! She always knows how to keep you reading.

Enemies to lovers? Say less! The best part is he signs and doesn’t speak, so when he realizes she knows how to communicate with him, *swoon*

YES! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! One of the best romantic fantasies I've read lately. The characters are wonderful... especially Roark. He is such a unique character on his own. I LOVE how the author incorporated "sign language/hand speak" into the story. Good tension, banter and forced proximity between main characters. Great job LJ Andrews! I can't wait to see how this story progresses in the next book!

This was so addicting!

Will be adding Roark Ashwood to the Aragorn coded shadow daddy mmc roster tyyyyyy

Lyra is a sheltered young girl with a hidden past who is reluctantly exposed as the next great magic user for the kingdom. The princes’ lethal & silent guard is assigned to protect her from those who would seek to have her killed and upend the king’s plans to exploit her power.

It is extremely satisfying to me when an author’s writing perfectly matches the tone of a high stakes plot! The nods to Viking culture/Norse mythology interwoven into this world made this such an atmospheric & immersive reading experience, I ended up reading in only two sittings. For a first book in a new series, I was not anticipating feeling so endeared to these characters but LJ Andrews did a phenomenal job of making me feel invested into every single one! I’m so curious to see how everything will pick up in the next book because this ending was BRUTAL!

One really special element I want to mention is the way in which the mmc communicates. This mmc is mute from a previous injury so uses a variance of sign language to speak and I found this to be such a beautifully inclusive addition to the fantasy genre.

I would like to see more development between the leads as a unit in the next installment as some parts of their dynamic seemed hastened over after their initial coupling.

Read if you like:
— Vikings
— Norse mythology
— Reluctant allies to lovers
— Slow burn
— Broody but soft mmc
— Unique magic system
— Found family
— Betrayals

Where do I even begin with this one! I am thoroughly unwell! LJ Andrews has done it, once again, with this fanFREAKINGtastic story! I am in awe of the magnificent words she writes and the vividly detailed worlds she continues to create. Broken Souls and Bones does not disappoint in the least. Every book gets better and better; and I’m going to have to go out a limb and say this is now my favorite book LJ has written.

This book sucked me in, hook line and sinker, from the very first sentence. It’s fast paced and exciting and teeming with the most incredible magic and brilliantly crafted storytelling. This incredible Romantasy is filled with Vikings, Norse lore, unique magic the most amazing found family, a fierce FMC and a broody swoon worthy MMC.

Every single character is so masterfully crafted with incredible depth. Lyra, the FMC, is quite strong and unabashedly outspoken, while also fiercely loyal and protective of her “family” and loved ones. She doesn’t just confirm and accept her lot in life. She plows headfirst into figuring out what she needs to do. Roark, our beloved MMC, is broody yet so lovable. His silence speaks volumes. I find it inspiring that LJ Andrews chose to create such a strong non verbal character. His hand speak is incredibly unique and unlike anything else I have ever read. The devotion and yearning between the two of them is done so perfectly!

If you love Viking/Norse lore, enemies to lovers with delicious slow burn tension and angst, a bodyguard/ward dynamic, forced proximity, burn the world for her and a hunt at “fates mates” then you will 1000% fall head over heels in love with this book.

I want to give a huge Thank you to Berkeley Publishing, NetGalley and LJ Andrews for the absolute honor and delight of reading this advanced copy.

Broken Souls and Bones review
Firstly, wanted to thank Berkeley, Netgally, and LJ Andrews for the opportunity to ARC read this book.

Second, oh my god. I really enjoyed this book. From Lyra discovering the intricacies of her craft, to learning more and more about Roark, everything just flowed super naturally and kept me hooked. I cannot do slow paced books. I just can’t, I don’t think I have it in me. That being said, the pacing of this book was utter perfection. Like with any book LJ writes, I quite literally could not put it down.

I loved the diversity of our characters. Writing a character who does not speak verbally and has his own language of sign is not something that is usually done well, but LJ conveyed everything beautifully. I also loved how the ever revolving theme of souls came full circle at the end.

Speaking of the end, that ending?!?! I’m usually fairly decent guessing the plot/twists in books, but this one had be pretty well in the dark until the end just like everyone else. I can’t wait to see where we go for the next book, because that ending set us up for a whole new adventure for Lyra and Roark.

Overall rating 5⭐️
Spice rating- 3 🌶️
Bonus spice points for close proximity, character tension, and communication style 😏🥵🪭

One thing that LJ Andrews does so well is write such interesting and intricate worlds! While the bone and blood mending was a little confusing I did find this world easy to understand.

I loved the sign language rep and thought it was so cool how Roark and Thane created their own signs and way to communicate.

The slow burn was definitely slow but it worked for this story. Overall I thought the story was good and am happy I got to read it!

Once again, I am in awe of another book of LJ's.

The world that she has created is incredible. Just enough to keep you intrigued in book 1, but room for so much expansion. I want to get my hands on a map of the world so badly!!

The magic was very unique. Blood, bone, and soul magic! Some of it did get a little gruesome, but nothing too outrageous.

The forced proximity between Lyra and Roark had me swooning and kept my eyes glued to the screen. I did not want to put this book down ever. And after following LJ on social media and seeing her sneak peeks at this book, I thought I would expire at Roark's first "tap tap tap" IYKYK.

She also has an absolutely fantastic way of crafting side characters that you just adore! Every single person that Lyra surrounded herself with just added more to the story.

I know book 1 hasn't even published yet and I'm already in desperate need of any crumbs for book 2!

Read if you love:
-Vikings
-Unique bone magic
-Sign language rep
-Forced proximity
-Banter
-Found family

Thank you to Berkeley, the author, and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Finish date:2/7/25, Release date: 4/29/25

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
🌶️🌶️ 1/2

I have a new world to be lost in…
 
Set in viking territory, a divided kingdom fights for control of the crafts: bone, blood, and soul. And all of them want the rare melder, one who can use all three.

Lyra Bien has been in hiding since childhood, hiding herself so that those in power cannot use her; however, she is found by Roark, the royal sentry, after being betrayed. Roark appears to despise Lyra for her craft and Lyra feels the same as he forces her away from her home, along with other crafters in her village. Lyra is fiercely protective of her own and knows how to use a blade.

Once in place as the king’s melder, Roark is placed as her 24/7 personal protection. As Roark and Lyra spend more time together, there appears to be a connection we can’t quite place. Roark is mute and uses sign language, which Lyra is quick to pick up. Vague memories they share, but from different vantage points.

As they navigate her magic and his purpose while navigating suspicions and betrayals, they grow closer and closer until its time for decisions to be made and loyalties to be declared. 

I love Roark and Lyra (sigh). The use of sign language here is an amazing dynamic. It’s not only a reflection of his tragic childhood, but also a demonstration of connection. How he taps her cheek to say “mine” or spells words against her spine that are just for the two of them. LJ wrote the development of their relationship so wonderfully, nothing felt skipped or rushed for me.

I also love the magic system in this world, giving new twists on the crafts: the cost of their use, the lore behind their existence, how the kingdoms feel towards each one. All of it is interesting and feels like still more is to be uncovered.

The Found Family theme was strong and I loved what each character brought to the story. LJ does a great job of developing the characters: histories, evolving relationships, & remaining mysteries.

While I found myself a little lost during the world-building and initial introduction of the magic, most of it came together for me. It was a little disappointing to get so far in a book and still not have a clear picture on who a certain group is. That being said, that could be a “me” problem so I’ll likely do a re-read soon so I can see if I can fill in those gaps.

This is book one in a series so of course we don’t end with everything wrapped up in a nice bow BUT…another thing I love about LJ is that her books don’t rely on crazy cliffhangers, but rather take a To Be Continued approach. It’s nice to have a natural pause in the story that leaves us wanting more.

This book is an amazing addition to the LJ Andrews lineup and I will help do my part to keep this on all of your radars so you read it when it releases on April 29th !

🗡️ Enemies to Lovers
🩶 Fierce FMC
🗡️ Fated Mates
🩶 Found Family
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🩶 Slow Burn
🗡️ Banter