Wow!! LJ Andrews does it again with another phenomenal world, magic system, and obviously the characters! There was one twist I guessed, but the rest definitely surprised me. I honestly didn't see all of that coming. A delicious cliffhanger...satisfying and leaves you wanting...needing the next book.

Thank you Netgalley, publisher, and LJ Andrews street team for a free copy for an honest review.

LJ does it again! I really enjoyed this book. LJ does a great job bringing newness to romantasy in ways I don't see very often. This story is for you if you like hot vikings, a FMC who can handle herself, disability rep, and excellent world building.

Tap. Tap. Tap!!!!!!! IYKYK!

This book was absolute perfection! I am ecstatic that LJ Andrews is now with a traditional publisher because she deserves all the hype and praise! Everyone should read this book and her The Ever King series.

The way LJ Andrews builds her romantasy worlds are a thing of beauty. She also writes the most alluring MMC's that are coupled with the most bad a FMC's. I loved everything about this book. I read the physical book when I could and when adult duties called be away, I was able to keep reading with the audiobook, so thank you so much Penguin Random House Audio! The narrator for Roark had the dreamiest accent that help sucked me further into their world.

There were many twists along the way which I enjoyed including one heck of a cliffhanger. Of course I'll never tell, but if you want a GRIPPING romantasy

For me it was a struggle to get through this book, especially after the first 15%. The beginning throws us into a world that we know nothing about and slowly builds onto that, but at the same time the initial building didn't give much into the depth of their magic and why the MC was so important that wars would be started. It was hard to understand the implications of her gifts. The second half was better with giving more information about the gifts!

The romance is very much a slowburn which is something I enjoy, but it felt like it dragged on more than I would have liked. I did find both characters interesting on their own. I did like that the MMC was very broody and protective. He was great and swoonworthy.

I don't know if I would pick up the sequel right away, but maybe I would a bit after it releases. I guess it just depends on what else comes out around then!

As a bone melder, Lyra can manipulate bones into whatever shape she wants, but the magic leaves her more and more drained as she uses it. Though she tried to hide this talent, she was forced to put it on display to save her friend. Roark is a sentry and possible assassin for the prince and gets assigned to Lyra as her bodyguard. Her talent is a valuable one, and Roark is probably the only one able to keep Lyra alive.

Lyra and Roark eventually develop a bond and romance. Friendships and Lyra's relationship with her brother Kael is really well done. Of course every magic user co-opted into working for a power hungry king is going to try to break free. She doesn't want to just free herself, but everyone else impressed into service. There's detailed Viking inspired world building here, with many secrets to unravel and action sequences galore.

Broken Souls and Bones swept me into its world from the very first chapter and refused to let go. L.J. Andrews crafts an intricate, emotionally rich romantasy that stands out not just for its breathtaking Norse-inspired magic system, but for its depth of character and soul-deep tension between the leads.

Roark Ashwood, a mute warrior with secrets buried as deep as his scars, and Lyra Bien, a heroine forced into hiding because of her dangerous craft, are the kind of characters who live and breathe on the page. Their connection is slow-burning but achingly intimate—each shared glance, each small gesture (those three taps, the learning of his language) carries immense weight. Andrews doesn’t just rely on sweeping fantasy elements; she excels in the micro-tropes, the delicate emotional beats that give the romance teeth and tenderness all at once.

The world of Stongate is lush and vividly imagined, steeped in Norse lore that feels fresh and haunting. Andrews’ use of myth enhances the stakes without ever overshadowing the character-driven heart of the story. Every twist landed with precision, especially the ones I never saw coming. As someone who doesn’t normally gravitate toward romantasy, I found myself completely consumed.

"A dozen words I wanted to whisper against her lips danced in my mind - she brightened my heart, my damn soul. I wanted her to know that now I'd had her taste, noone would satisfy but her. Her touch was still burned on me like it had burrowed into my skin and would never leave. I didn't want it to."

Definitely in my viking fantasy era & this did not disappoint!

Roark is a mute sentry, who can only communicate with his hands; Lyra is a melder, who is taken captive by Roark in service of the King. I will admit the magic system was a bit confusing for me, otherwise this would have been 5 stars. The slow burn romance was SO SO GOOD though and I cannot wait for book two!

"Three taps - his gesture for claiming something as mine."

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If a book includes the Enemies to Lovers and Forced Proximity tropes, I will definitely read it. That’s what had me picking up Broken Souls and Bones, along with the cover and synopsis. The combination of these tropes in a Fantasy storyline is always going to be something I want to read, plus I enjoy discovering new authors. L.J. Andrews is a new author for me, and I was excited to dive into this book.

Lyra Bien, the FMC, has been hiding for a long time, trying to avoid attention. However, when Roark Ashwood, the sentry of Stonegate, comes to her village, her abilities are exposed as she attempts to save her friend. Now, she is being forced to go with Roark, so the King can use her powers, which puts her life at risk each time she does so. Thankfully, she has friends like Kael and several others to support her. The complicating factor is that the one person she should despise for bringing her to the King is the very person she is beginning to have feelings for. The issue is that Roark is concealing dark secrets from her and others, but she might be the only one who can save him.

I greatly appreciated that this book was written from dual points of view rather than a single perspective. Don’t get me wrong, I would have still enjoyed it if it had only one point of view, but I love being able to read from both main characters’ perspectives.

I haven’t read many Fantasy stories in quite some time, but this year I’m reading more, and L.J. Andrews definitely had me entertained with the first book of this new series/trilogy. This book reminded me of another trilogy I read in the past that featured a bone mending and magic system. However, it has its own unique take since it’s Viking-inspired, and L.J. Andrews put her own spin on it.

I enjoyed getting to know both characters and once again appreciated that it was dual POV. I loved getting to know Lyra and her powers, and I have a feeling there is more to come with her in the next book. I felt sorry for her for what she was having to do for the King because she was being used for his benefit and didn’t take into account her safety and well-being. When it came to Roark, I loved his character and how full of mystery he was. He was Lyra’s bodyguard most of the book, and he took it very seriously. No one was going to get away with messing with Lyra when he was around. A big secret is revealed about him towards the end of the book that I may have already figured out, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.

This book is a slow burn, meaning it takes some time for the characters to express their feelings. Their romance is also forbidden, which adds to the intrigue. The world-building develops gradually, but it’s worth the wait. I have a feeling the author has only scratched the surface, and I can’t wait to dive into the second book, especially after that cliffhanger! Overall, I found this book captivating and gave it four stars.

Cliffhanger: Yes.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, especially for readers in their Romantasy era who love reading the enemies-to-lovers trope like I do. Additionally, I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrators, Lindsey Dorcus and Will Thorne, did a fantastic job of bringing the characters and story to life.

What to Expect:
✔️Romantasy
✔️Slow Burn
✔️Viking Inspired
✔️Enemies to Lovers
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Bodyguard MMC
✔️Magic

Broke Souls and Bones was such a fun and unique read! A truly captivating story of unlikely and forbidden love. LJ delivers on another epic fantasy world! I’m excited to see more of the Stonegate series.

🧿 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 🧿
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Author: @authorljandrews
Format: tandem eye ball and audio

LJ Andrews really knows how to build a fantasy world with twists and turns that you don’t see coming.

Lyra is a girl with a very special, sought after and dangerous talent. She’s spent her entire life trying to keep it hidden. When her village is invaded by the king’s men she forced to reveal herself which leads to her being claimed by the crown. The king has a specific job for her and her abilities.

Roark, who is technically the prince’s personal guard, ends up being tasked with keeping Lyra safe and within the kingdom walls. But he’s also got some special talents of his own that have remained hidden. As the days go on their bond begins to develop and grow into something neither one of them anticipated.

“𝑅𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝐴𝑠ℎ𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑦ℎ𝑒𝑚. 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠. 𝐻𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑢𝑛.”

Things start to unravel, people aren’t who they appear to be and loyalties are tested. When Lyra’s life is in imminent danger Roark is unable to hold back what he’s worked so hard to keep hidden.

What will become of Lyra Bien and Roark Ashwood after all the chaos? We’ll have to wait for the next book.

L.J Andrews has become an instant buy for me. I knew the ever king series was top tier, but this truly took the cake. It has everything a good romantasy should, with amazing world building and a burning forbidden romance. I truly didn’t see that ending coming and it kills me that I have to wait for the next book to find out what happens to Sulka Bien and Roark. The heroine was fiesty and strong, often times giving me more inspiration than I thought to tackle my daily tasks in real life. The Norse mythology mixed with magic was a fun twist on the genre, and certainly something that I hope to see in future books of the genre. Also, because I value reviews that mention spice level, I’d say it was around a 2.5/5 (the lack of actual talking from Roark was 🥵!). Thank you L.J Andrews for another wonderful start to a hopefully long book series! Truly amazing!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest personal opinions.

This is such a refreshing, unique magic system! I feel like it's been a while since there was something genuinely new to the fantasy world and I really liked this one, the world building, and the characters.

It's an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and he's her body guard. So all the tropes are there for the perfect build up.

There's a lot of mystery in the story to find how who certain characters are, the motives, and what will happen. The ending has me wanting book two now!

The beginning took me a bit to get into but once you do, it's easy to get sucked in!

Thank you for NetGalley and Berkley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved the this book. LJ always delivers. It has everything you could ever want magic, deadly secrets, and a slow burn romance anyone would love. This book had me hooked from page one. LJ Andrews delivers a beautifully brutal world with characters that break your heart and steal your breath. My only complaint is that it dragged a bit in the middle, but the ending made it all worth it. I highly recommend this book!

5 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this story!

Literally no notes, you just need to go read this book asap!

Maybe it’s because I haven’t read any Viking books before, but I was captivated by the magic system in this. The different types of craft and how those born with one can wield it. There’s still so much to learn and I look forward to the next book.

I don’t want to get into the plot too much because with all the actions, twists and turns revealed it’s better to keep it a surprise.

Just know that Roark and Lyra were perfection. And the side characters were just as great, they were definitely giving found family, a trope I love.

Now I need to know when the next book releases because the cliffhanger this ended on…I need answers!

This was an ARC, thank you to Netgalley, Berkley, and LJ Andrews.

Dark, romantic, and totally addictive!

LJ Andrews does it again with Broken Souls and Bones, the first book in her brand-new romantasy series. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about a mute male main character, but wow—Roark Ashwood is one of the most compelling and emotionally complex characters I’ve read in a while. This dual POV story pulls you in immediately as Roark, the silent and deadly royal sentry, rips Lyra from her quiet village life and thrusts her into a world of dark magic, dangerous secrets, and a kingdom on the edge of ruin.

Lyra is strong, determined, and has a mysterious power linked to the silver scars in her eyes. The chemistry between her and Roark is intense and slow-burning, with a perfect mix of enemies to lovers and forced proximity. Even without speaking, Roark’s presence leaps off the page, and the way he and Lyra connect—despite the odds—is beautifully done.

This book has all the tropes I love:
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️ Hidden powers
✔️ Secret pasts
✔️ Betrayal
✔️ Slow-burn romance
✔️ Dark, immersive fantasy
✔️ A twist you won’t see coming

And that ending?! Total cliffhanger. I’m already desperate for the next book. LJ Andrews’ writing is as vivid and lyrical as ever—she’s truly a master at building rich, emotional fantasy worlds.

If you love romantasy with tension, heart, and magic, Broken Souls and Bones needs to be on your TBR.

Broken Souls and Bones is a dark, romantic fantasy filled with Norse-inspired lore, slow-burn tension, and a heroine navigating a world that fears what makes her powerful. It’s the first book in LJ Andrews’ new Stonegate series.

Lyra is a strong, quietly fierce heroine. She’s not your typical sword-wielding fighter, but her resilience, intelligence, and loyalty make her incredibly compelling. Roark is pure brooding, protective energy. His muteness adds a layer of vulnerability that makes their connection feel even more intimate and earned. The magic system—particularly the bone melding—is unique, gritty, and visceral, and feels grounded in the harshness of the world Andrews has built. The romance is slow-burn in the best way: full of charged glances, subtle gestures, and a gradual shift from wary allies to something much deeper. Themes of control, identity, and survival are woven thoughtfully throughout, especially in how both Lyra and Roark wrestle with the parts of themselves they’ve been forced to hide.

The pacing leans slow in the first half, as Andrews takes time to lay emotional groundwork and set up the broader world. But if you’re in it for the tension, atmosphere, and long-game payoffs, it delivers. It’s romantic without being rushed, dark without being overwhelming, and immersive in the best way. With its lyrical prose, morally gray characters, and mythic undertones, it’s a promising start to what looks like an unforgettable series.

This is one of the most unique fantasy novels I’ve read. The writing is absolutely beautiful, the magic system is complex, and the characters simply won my heart! I’ve never read a book where a main character was non speaking and the author did such an incredible job with still being able to relay all the emotions through his form of sign language. As for the ending, I am absolutely mind-blown and need that second book asap!

This was a pleasure to read!! Thanks so much for the opportunity!

Excuse me?!

Thank you to the publisher and Inkspire Services for my early copies of this book; all opinions are my own.

Wow. Where to even begin. We immediately meet both Roark and Lyra, two sides to the same heart that beats on two sides of a war. Lyra, who’s a melder, trying to hide from the likes of people like Roark who only want to summon her to Stonegate for the king to use her for her power. Roark, who was born an enemy but abandoned by his people and now the right hand of the prince, trying to perform his duty without allowing a certain melder to steal his heart.

The magic system in this book is truly so unique I’m flabbergasted that that’s still possible every time I read something new. Literally how do authors come up with this?? The magic in this book in particular is so intricate and powerful, I actually went back and reread several portions just because I was so enamored by the way it all works. Bone, soul, and blood magic is not new in itself but the way it works together with the world in this book is refreshing and interesting in its own unique way.

As always, the undercurrent of political intrigue was definitely politically intriguing in this book, all the way through to the very last page… that’s all I’ll say about that.

I’m so excited to continue this journey after that bombshell of an ending and I cannot wait to see what is in store for our merry outcasts in the next installment.

Unfortunately I don't think this author and her writing style are for me. I had trouble within the first few chapters due to unclear world building and character introduction and ultimately decided to DNF after about 55%.

I know this book has been a huge hit with other romantasy fans, I just don't think it was the right fit for me at this time.

Thank you for the e-ARC! I truly appreciate it.

I’m a fan of L.J. Andrews The Ever Seas books, and anxious to read The Broken Kingdoms. When I found out about this new duology, I was eager to check out Broken Souls and Bones, and it definitely delivered for me.

L.J. Andrews takes the time needed to develop the primary characters and their motivations and the risks they face. I was intrigued by the characters, fully invested in their journeys, and the book delivered some shocking revelations that I did not see coming.

This book has an intriguing magic system, and there are a lot of characters with agendas, even if they’re minor characters within the story. And the behind-the-scenes scheming impacts the primary characters’ ARCs in unexpected ways. There were just enough hints throughout to make me feel like I should have anticipated some of the revelations, but I’ll admit, I was too invested in the budding romance to fully focus on palace intrigue.

Some of the things I really enjoyed included the found family aspect, a male-female friendship with no hint of romance, and the battle scenes. My only complaint is that now, I have to wait for book 2.

Full disclosure: I’m an author and will only post positive reviews now. I don’t take many ARCs for review, but I received this to prepare for a podcast interview with the author. These are my genuine thoughts about the book and I'm posting to maintain my NG rating.

I can definitely see why people love LJ Andrews’s books! They cross off a lot of boxes: slow burn enemies to lovers, morally grey characters and a unique magic system. The banter in this was so fun and I REALLY loved the rep here. I’m not sure how I feel overall, but I think I liked it! I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future!

3.75/5