LJ has done it again! This book was so amazing from start to finish!

Roark and his 3 taps…swoon!!

It took me a bit to understand the world and if I’m honest I’m still a bit confused on a few things but you get lots of answers near the end! And I think it’s okay to not understand everything in book one of a new world.

And wow that ending and all the twists?!! I am so ready for book two and hate I’ll have to wait awhile to continue.

LJ’s writing is incredible and has you falling in love with not just the main characters but the side ones as well. I’m rooting for them all!

"To claim something as his—a strike, a skill, a horn of ale-Ashwood tapped whatever he wanted three times."

So this book started off a little slow, but soon I was drawn in and constantly questioning what was happening. And the ending had me reeling!!! I need to know what happens next!!

The author does such an amazing job of creating SO MANY great characters. I love Emi, Roark, Thane, Lyra, and Yrsa all so much!! I want to be besties with all these characters. They all have such well developed personalities and added so much to the story.

THAT ENDING. LJ PLEASE WHY END IF BY GIVING ME ANXIETY. That twist was AHHHHHHHH!!! I will be diving into the next book IMMEDIATELY upon release.

You’ll like this book if you like
🪓 Vikings
🪓 Touch Her and Die (or eat your own fingers?)
🪓 Non-Speaking Rep
🪓 He wants to hate her

This unique story is phenomenal. It has me entranced. I have read it slowly because I didn't want it to end.

All the stars!! 10/10 just everything!

Oh my god! What an ending!
I went into this book with minimal knowledge, not realizing that it wasn’t a standalone (but it’s LJ Andrew’s I should’ve realized) and oh my god I need more!!!
I absolutely love LJ Andres books, but this one? It might just be my favorite!

Roark and Lyra are just amazing and their story from the beginning is just amazing!
I love Lyra and how strong she is and everything
Roark is a mystery and I just love the whole “he’s soft for her” trope and he has that in spades!

I’m not entirely sure how to write my review without spoiling anything but this is a must read!

Broken Souls and Bones is a unique, action-packed romantasy full of intrigue and tension.

Lyra has spent her lift hiding what she is. She has a rage magic - a melder - one who can wield the magic of bones, souls and blood. Revered and feared, she is sought by three different kingdoms. When blood magic reveals her location, she is ripped from the only home she knew and brought to the fortress of Stonegate, forced to wield her melding magic for the king to bolster his army and serve his whims. But melding is dangerous - the use of soul bones fused to the living can corrupt souls, and each time brings Lyra closer to the darkness. and the mysterious figures within. Roark Ashwood, the Prince's Sentry, is begrudgingly tasked with keeping an eye on her. He despises melders, knowing they bring only death and destruction. But soon the pair cannot deny the connection they feel, and the more they are together, the more memories of their past seem to resurface. Can Lyra trust Roark to keep her safe, especially when he is the deadliest warrior in the kingdom?

I LOVED this book! I will say, the world building is based on Viking lore and culture, but the intricate magic system is so unique. The story bounces between Lyra and Roark's POVs, and personally I love a dual POV book. We also get glimpses at their memories, and events that seem to lead to some shared past. One thing I love about this book is how well Andrews wove everything together - she gives us bits and pieces throughout, and by the end of the book, it all comes together in an explosive and unexpected conclusion. I loved the romance between Lyra and Roark - it was a delicious slow burn with lots of emotion and tension. The found family element was fantastic as well - Thane, Emi, Yrsa, and Kael were wonderful characters, adding levity and emotion to the story. All in all, I loved this book, and cannot wait for the next in this series!!

Thank you so much to LJ Andrews, NetGalley, and Berkeley Publishing Group for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

5🌟 A Nordic Viking style romantasy with an enemies to lovers and slow burn setup.

LJ Andrews really sucks you into this world with her rich world building but not too much to overwhelm you. The FMC has a rare kind of magic that her enemy wants to use as a weapon and is taken by Sentry Roark Ashwood otherwise known as The Death Bringer to her enemy kingdom.

They have this connection they both can’t resist or understand so the yearning and frustration they have towards wanting each other is everything. He’s mute so he doesn’t speak so she’s one of the few who can actually speak to him and understand him which makes their relationship that much more special.

Quotes✨
“You above everything. Burn it all if it means you still live.”
“If I hated you, it was because I could not understand why I wanted you.”
“To die for the ones we loved was honorable, but to kill for them was beautifully terrifying”

OMG IM OBSESSED!!! I absolutely loved the ever king series so I knew I had to read this one and honestly I think this is even better!!!

Thank you LJ, ACE, and Netgalley for my arc! This is my FAVORITE read of 2024 and it doesn't even come out until 2025!!!

"I WAS ONCE TOLD WE NEVER TRULY KNEW ANOTHER SOUL until we saw the darkness they kept inside."

Oh wow!! This is the MUST read of 2025! I love how LJ writes her morally grey characters! They will become monsters for those they care about and I'm so here for it!! Her MMC are ruthless but I love how they're all about empowering women! They're willing to kill for the ladies in their lives but perfectly happy handing them the weapons to do it. It such a great dynamic!

"Almost like a spell cast had captured my mind, I was pulled into his mystery, his violence, and the way he looked at me like he might wish to slit my throat or step a little closer whenever our paths crossed."

Roark is a really complex character! He uses sign language to speak and it was so well written! Three taps. Be still my heart!!! I will swoon! Lyra is a strong sassy FMC and I loved learning how her magic works! It's a unique magic system and the world building is epic!! I love the Norse viking vibes!

“Accomplices always.”

As always I love the found family and side characters she's created! Kael being one of them!! Prince Thane is fantastic as is Emi! I can't wait to read more about them!! Really well fleshed out side characters!

"I thought too damn much about the way her skin, when it touched me, no matter how briefly, lingered like venom I wanted to drink again and again."

The enemies to lovers push and pull is so perfect!! The tension was just *chef's kiss* AH-MAZING!! And the spice was fabulous! I love that it's a natural part of the characters' storyline and not just smut. Don't get me wrong - I'll read smut but in romantasy I like it to fit the story.

This is action packed and some of the twists and turns I saw coming but there was one at the end that totally blindsided me! Lol, poor LJ had to deal with all my unhinged DMs at all hours of the night since I couldn't put this one down and read it in less than 36 hrs. This is a book that definitely stays with you after you finish reading it. Like days and weeks later I still find myself thinking about it. I'm already contemplating a reread!! That's how good Broken Souls and Bones is!! This is the epic and amazing story telling I'm coming to expect from LJ!!! I couldn't put it down! Trust me - you're gonna want to preorder this one!!!

Excuse me as I walk around in an LJ Andrews induced haze after being completely consumed by the new world she’s created in Broken Souls and Bones. With Viking and Norse Mythology weaved throughout, the world building and unique magic were everything I expect from this author and more!

As always with her books, the stars are the characters. Roark is a tortured soul whose darkness makes him a feared personal guard to the prince. This morally grey MMC stole my heart ,and the romantic tension between the main characters jumps right off the page. Even though he’s unable to speak, the way he talks through his hands, or on parchment, or gods, on her skin, made the banter super hot. His primal Viking influenced protectiveness had me melting over and over again. Lyra, the FMC, is a force to be reckoned with, and I love how her character becomes more fierce as the book progresses.

The found family trope is a big part of this story, and I found myself caring about not only the FMC and MMC, but the rest of the supporting characters. The book is quickly paced and what I thought was going to happen was hijacked by the many twists and surprises that showed up. I found myself at the end of the book sitting there wondering what just happened and dying for the next book! Don’t wait for this one - add it to your TBR and pre-order it today.

Thank you Berkshire Books, NetGalley and LJ Andrews for the advanced copy.

There is nothing @authorljandrews could write that I wouldn’t read - I need more of whatever she puts in her words 😅 I read a teaser for this book months ago and it has lived in my brain since - Broken Souls and Bones had everything I was hoping for and more, and the wait after that ending is already so painful. The plot kept me engaged the entire time, and the magic system was so interesting to unravel. Lyra might be one of my top FMCs, she is feisty and has such a quiet strength, I loved watching her come into her power. Roark is such a complex character and I found the way he communicates to have a much larger impact than if he could speak. Watching their relationship unfold was such an absolute treat and my heart is still stuck with them!

Do not sleep on this book!

5/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow. Just wow. I absolutely devoured this book. I couldn’t put it down—even at the expense of sleep—because I was constantly telling myself, just one more chapter! From the very first page, it had me completely hooked. It’s an enthralling, original story that gave me serious Viking-meets-Shadow & Bone vibes, while still standing firmly on its own.

LJ Andrews truly knocked it out of the park with this one. The depth of her characters is phenomenal—not only do you fall in love with the MFC and MMC, but the entire supporting cast is just as captivating. Her storytelling is immersive, pulling you in and refusing to let go. While there are some predictable elements, the foreshadowing and cleverly placed breadcrumbs ensure plenty of unexpected twists along the way. The ending especially had me saying, “That makes sense… but I did NOT see that coming!”

I also have to highlight the beautiful inclusion of “hand language” in the story. It added such a unique and meaningful layer to the narrative. And lastly, a massive thank-you to LJ Andrews for blessing us with Roark Ashwood.

I’ll be impatiently counting down the days until this book hits the shelves so it can claim its place as my newest book trophy—and, of course, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

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

Perfection. Broken Souls and Bones has all of the things I love: a morally gray man, romance, slow burn, adventure, magic, gut wrenching twists and turns. At the heart of the story is Lyra, a melder, and Roark, the Prince’s sentry and all things morally grey. LJ Andrews did a magical job of having Roark speak through his fingers and having Lyra know his words in her very soul. I could’ve read another 500 pages of Lyra and Roark’s story and it still wouldn’t be enough for this first book. It is not a surprise that I loved the supporting characters of Emi, Thane, and Kael, as LJ Andrews has a way of creating characters that burrow into your heart and take root. This is officially one of my favorite reads of 2024 and the second book will not be able to come quickly enough. I am officially hooked and need more of Lyra and Roark in my life. LJ Andrews deserves a standing ovation for all of her books, but this one might need a longer and louder clap from me. I am not sure how I can follow this story up with anything else in the coming weeks and months, but I regret nothing.

I finished in a day and I’m desperate for the next book! LJ does an incredible job world building and coming up with unique elements to the magic “craft”. I’ve read all of LJs books thus far and even I could not see some of the plot twists around Roark. Plus, I was so impressed with how she described his hand speak. I’ve NEVER read another book where the MMC cannot speak. Absolutely incredible read!

5⭐️
Once again LJ Andrews delivers an amazing story! She is an automatic read for me so I have been so excited to join her street team! I can’t stop thinking about Broken Souls and Bones and right now it has easily become one of my top reads of the year! I love LJ’s writing style so it was no surprise that I was immediately hooked.

Main characters Roark and Lyra have become one of my favorite enemies to lovers couples! Their slow burn relationship was set up perfectly. From the very first (not so great) interactions, to Roark becoming her bodyguard, and then finally being together was amazing! And don’t get me started on Roark Ashwood. My new favorite book boyfriend for sure. He was passionate, possessive, and deliciously morally grey. Roark and Lyra are the epitome of touch her/him and die and I am here for it! On top of the amazing main characters there are so many incredible side characters that play such a big role in the story. LJ always does an incredible job of including and giving life to all her characters. The found family among the characters is one of my favorites. But my favorite part of the book has to be the very unique magic system. It really added to the Viking lore and helped set the scene. I am still so curious about all the different types of magic and hope to learn more in the next book!

This book has it all! Romance, action, adventure, magic, and so much more. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait for the second book. I’m still thinking about the ending and don’t know how I will be able to wait for the sequel! This is another great slow burn enemies to lovers from LJ with a fantastic plot and world building, all things Viking, amazing characters, and a very unique magic system. I will never stop recommending LJ Andrews’ books! Make sure to add Broken Souls and Bones to your tbr and check it out when it releases on April 29, 2025!

Thank you so much to LJ Andrews, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for this amazing arc!

ARC Read - Thank you Netgalley!
Tropes - Viking vibes, unique magic system, slowest of slow burn, enemies to lovers.
Lyra has no memories of her past childhood before she turned up in a new village, with no family. Knowing that she was different by the silver scars in her eyes, she learned to hide who she was. Lyra is a rare being known as a melder.
A magic user able to tap into all three of the magics ( soul, blood and bone).Therefore highly sought after by people of power in order to serve them and their purposes. After she is discovered by the royals sentry - Roark - she is forced to leave home to go serve the king. Roark is tasked with her protection. But the mysterious sentry has a history of his own.
It's honestly too complex to explain into details all the little intricacies of the story line and plot - and I wouldn't spoil it for you anyways! Great story, I found the flow of the story and world building a little disjointed, it was hard to initially get into, but once I was in, I was committed. It's just a lot of info thrown at you and l've been in a slump, so it was a little heavy. I loved the unique language representation for Roarke and how that was written into the story. Also, this cover is downright beautiful.

LJ Andrews strikes again with an incredible story that I couldn’t put down.
No dull moments here! From the very first chapter, the story captivates and maintains your interest. The world-building is exceptional—you feel completely immersed in the world Andrews has created. The bone magic, souls magic, and blood magic systems are fascinating, with vivid descriptions that bring them to life. The story is full of unexpected twists and turns, and the ending... wow, just wow.
LJ’s characters are impossible not to love. They are deeply relatable, each with their own depth and baggage. Even the side characters have rich backstories. Roark’s inability to speak adds a unique layer to his relationships. The banter is delightful, the secrets intriguing, and the spicy scenes evoke all the feels. You can truly feel the emotion, angst, and tension. The dynamic between Roark, Thane, and Emi is particularly compelling and heartwarming.

ohmyGAWD this book was so amazing. Nobody does romantasy world building like LJ Andrews. I was obsessed with Lyra and Roark right from the beginning.

Lyra is a melder who has been hiding from power-hungry kings and feuding kingdoms her entire life. When she is brought to the king in Stonegate against her will, she's guarded by Roark Ashwood, the prince's sworn guard and assassin. To protect her family and loved ones, Lyra becomes the king's melder. She has no choice but to learn to use her magic. As she learns more about her craft and histories of the kingdoms, Lyra finds that things are not always what they seem – or what she was taught.

I have repeatedly said I love every LJ Andrews book more than last, and this one was no exception. The magic, power dynamics, and kingdom structures are complex, and at the beginning, they were a bit dense for me to follow. But the details become clearer as the reader learns more about the world alongside Lyra.

I highly, highly recommend this one for spicy romantasy fans. If you like enemies to lovers, villain gets the girl, morally grey characters, this one is for you.

Thank you so much to LJ, Netgalley, and Berkeley for providing me with an e-galley of this amazing book.

Holy guacamole! I called it and I called it again. I freaking love this book, it’s fantastic. I cannot wait for everyone else to get to read it! I am seriously so in love with Roark and Lyra. Thane, Yrsa, Emi, and Kael are amazing side characters. The plot is so so good, and interesting and ugh this book is everything!! LJ is such an incredible writer and I’m so honored to have gotten to ARC read this, and be prepared to hear me rave about this for FOREVER! I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series takes us but I know it won’t disappoint. “Tap, tap, tap.” it’s not quite licking but it’s still mine, I’m claiming Roark forever. You seriously do not want to wait to read this book, go preorder now!

I’m completely obsessed with this book!!. From the moment I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. This book is pure magic—rich in tension, danger, and a slow-burn romance that had me on the edge!

Lyra Bien was supposed to live a quiet life, but when Roark Ashwood, the prince’s silent guard, enters her world, everything changes. Roark is mysterious, intense, and silent—he communicates through his hands in such a powerful way that I could feel every emotion. There’s so much tension between him and Lyra, and watching their relationship grow was everything I wanted in a romantasy!

Lyra’s forced into a dangerous position as the King’s melder, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. But what really grabbed me was the way Roark and Lyra became allies—and the way their bond grew deeper and more consuming as they fought together. The chemistry between them? Unmatched.

The way she builds these characters and their world is genius. I’m not exaggerating when I say this book swept me away. The romance, the magic, the stakes—it’s all so brilliantly done. And the twist? Didn’t see it coming.

This is my all time, no one does it better romantasy one click auto buy author forever!!

Okay first off, I LOVE that the MMC, Roark, used "hand speak" (a type of sign language). I don't think I've ever read a fantasy book in which the MC couldn't speak and yet was revered, respected, feared, and a warrior! His inability to speak did not hold him back AT ALL and I LOVED that 😍
What i didn't love at first was how judgemental and prejudiced he was towards the kind of people the FMC was. They didn't ASK to be born with powers that made others uncomfortable. Lyra had a lot to deal with and Roark's inability to empathize didn't help matters. But that was part of his character arc and deep down he did care, his conscious would get to him 🤭
That being said, Lyra and Roark were TRUE enemies to lovers! While Roark felt drawn to her from the beginning, it wasn't instant. They grew to know each other, read each other, understand each other and by the end I just loved them together 🥰
She was a light to his dark world and he also taught her a lot! The way he was protective of her even against orders....sigh 🫠😍
The magic was different from anything I've read before, but wasn't difficult to grasp. The plot was good, the characters were relatable, the world was interesting, I can't wait to see where it all goes!
While some things were easy to predict, LJ still surprised me at the end! This book kept throwing things at me that made my jaw drop 😲🤯 Love when that happens😂
100% recommend! So good!
I will now start tap, tap, tapping to claim things 😏 iykyk hehe