Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the archive in exchange for a review

The magic system and worldbuilding in this book had me immediately intrigued, not to mention the politics and found family bonds.

The plot and romance really go together and I loved seeing both develop right until the last sentence, which has me now wanting to read the next book!

The dual PoV adds so much to the plot with inner turmoils, more insights and their character development.

This book definitely shows that actions can in fact speak louder than words, especially with Roak being mute and using his hands to communicate, plus the three taps had me kicking my feet.

The first half is a bit slow as there is a lot of worldbuilding and characters to be introduced but that last half went so quick, I could not put it down.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217453580

Broken Souls and Bones completely pulled me in from the first page. I was swept away by the raw emotion and the intense connection between the characters—LJ Andrews really knows how to write chemistry that burns. The world feels darker and more layered in this book, and I loved how the stakes felt higher than ever. While there were a few moments where the pacing slowed down, the emotional depth and twists more than made up for it. I finished the last page feeling wrecked—in the best way—and desperate for the next installment.

This is the first book in a new series by author LJ Andrews. As a huge fan of her Broken Kingdoms series, I couldn't wait to get a chance to rad this. LJ does an amazing job of building characters that pull on your heart strings and make you want to be their friend. She did that once again with Roark and Lyra. Very excited to see what is next for this series.

5 stars doesn't feel enough for this one. I have loved everything LJ Andrews has written so far (I mean, this is the woman who brought us Kase Erikson and Erik Bloodsinger!) and this is no different. Releasing in the UK on 15th May, Broken Souls and Bones is the first book in the Stonegate series. A new world, new magic, and a non speaking MMC who is EVERYTHING. One of my favourite reads of the year!

This was a bit of a slow starter for me but I enjoyed it overall. I think my favourite part of any LJ book is the relationship dynamics and this was no different. I really loved the found family elements and the magic was interesting and unique. I do kind of wish that the language barrier aspect wasn’t just overcome by magic. I haven’t read a lot of books with that kind of rep and wanted a little more from it.

I love a good, unique magic system! The one in this book is brilliant, and there is just something about the way this is written that is so mesmerising.

The book was slightly slow to begin with but I was HOOKED.

Who doesn’t love a good bodyguard trope? Forbidden romance. Sign language rep. ENEMIES TO LOVERS. Found family. Action PACKED. All of the best tropes!

I was so excited to dive into this after reading the authors Broken Kingdom series!
I’m very much in my Viking/magic era. This had all my favourite tropes.
I’m a sucker for a slow burn and I like my spice but I need equal plot and spice, and this delivered!

Dark and broody vikings new fantasy unlocked. I loved this book. I’ve been a bit in a Romantasy slump of samey samey books and this has bought we out.

The magic is unique and complicated, the characters are flawed but likeable. Lyra is everything you want in a FMC she’s tough, will sacrifice for her family but is vulnerable at times.

Rourke is dark and moody but when he shows his caring side I melted.

And the disability rep amazing all I can see is read this book

Thank you NetGalley for the arc opinions my own.

Firstly thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for a review.

L J ANDREWS is the queen of viking romantasy, I was obsessed with the ever seas duology and now I am, as obsessed with this series 😍

A mute mmc that uses his hands to communicate, her BODYGUARD, blood,soul and bone magic, found family AND a slow burn 👌

Book 1 in the stonegate series is the perfect start to an incredible series, lots of world building in the first 40% and the romance is just 😍

I absolutely will be begging for an arc of book 2 when it is available, LOVE

Thank you Netgalley and L.J Andrews
For the early access copy!

Broken Souls & Bones is a story of magic, war and falling in love with someone you're not supposed to.

With an interesting magic system, relatable cast of characters and a compelling soul-mate esque romance, L.J Andrews has written a romance fantasy book that is a balanced and fun read.

The romance between the leads is sweet, with Roark being non-verbal adding a refreshing and interesting element not only to the romance but to the world.

Lyra is a strong and determined woman who gets what she wants and stands up for herself in her own way, which makes reading from her POV a joy.

BSB does fall on some familiar romantasy tropes but stands out by having side characters that have their own lives, wants and desires that make you want to root for them along the way.

Tropes
* Chosen one
* Touch her and 💀
* Hidden past
* Dual POV
* Viking/Norn inspired
* Bodyguard / forced proximity
* Found family

I absolutely loved LJ Andrews and was SO glad to get this book a little early!

The magic in this world is so different and interesting the way the craft is with bone, blood or souls. I loved the way the story unraveled, with some intense world building to start and questions that need answers! When I did get those answers… 😱 I have even more questions - leaving me in dire need for book 2!
The twists were well executed & the romance sublime 👌🏻 Roark being unable to speak and using hand gestures somehow made everything all the more intense 😍
Lyra is a strong but sheltered character, after being in hiding for so long but I love the strength of her character and the strong connections she has forged with a beautiful found family vibe 🥰

I can not wait to see what’s in store for Lyra, Roark, Emi, Kael, Thane & Yrsa!

Thank you to NetGalley & LJ for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️

Quotes
* I was once told we never truly knew another soul until we saw the darkness they kept inside.
* Three taps – his gesture for claiming something as his. It meant mine.
* You might go there next and find a husband of your own to join you.’ ‘Then I would be forced to share all the food.’
* True love. To accept another soul –  the good and the bad – and love them through it all.
* ‘You never truly know a heart until you see the darkness inside.
* ‘You brighten the dark, and I do not want it to stop.

4.75⭐️

👻 book 1/? ongoing romantasy series
🍑 open door spice
👻 dual POVs
🍑 ‘touch her and 💀’
👻 Viking inspired with magic
🍑 forced proximity
👻 protective bodyguard MMC
🍑 mute MMC & sign language representation

Firstly thank you so much to Michael Joseph for this eARC!

~My Thoughts~
This book has RUINED ME. Andrews never misses and this book is proof. I swear I really am a lover of Viking inspired fantasy and this book proves to be another great addition to the genre.

The first few chapters start off slow, easing you into the world and lore at a gentle pace. And then before you know it, you’re knee deep in an incredible world with amazing characters, fantastic relationships and a magic system that is so perfectly written that I wonder if it’s not actually real?!

Lyra is a fantastic FMC. She’s strong, loyal, so likeable and her growth as she learns who she is is just done so well. Roark is… quite honestly one of my favourite MMCs ever. He’s written so well and his backstory is so interesting with so much depth. Truly one of the best written MMCs.

I know next to nothing about mute individuals and sign language but I think the way this was showcased in this book was also done really well. The way the other characters took to Roark’s muteness (both positive and negative) was just really well laid out.

The romance wasn’t rushed and developed at such a great pace that I felt like I was falling in love with the characters as they fell for each other.

Overall, this was absolutely fantastic and so worth the wait (I have been waiting for this for a while 🥹). Just fantastic honestly. If you like Viking fantasy or any of the above tropes, you’re going to fall for this book.

WOW. LJ Andrews hit this one out of the park. I loved Roark and Lyra’s story. There was so much tension and amazing world building throughout this book. I am so excited for book 2. This book will live rent free in my head with that ending.

Thank you so much to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, and Netgalley for the early eARC of this book.

Andrews has created a other fantastic world and I can't wait for more in the next book. While the ending was not a cliffhanger in the sense we've come to know, there were big surprises and I have no idea what to expect in the next book, but I trust it will be good!

It pains me to write this review. I absolutely adored the Ever Series and was delighted to receive an ARC of this via Netgalley, unfortunately it's a miss for me 😭 The premise of the storyline had me intrigued from the beginning and as we're introduced to our FMC/MMC. We get dual POVs from them which was great but after about 25% it started to fall apart. What started off as enemies to lovers became insta-love that morphed into forbidden romance for like 2 chapters but was then forgotten. We very nearly had a lovely found family but that too kind of fell away after a chapter or 2 of cute banter. The writing style was markedly different from everything else I've read by this author and was noticeable with the romantic scenes that lacked any type of angst or passion. I know LJ can't write her tits off so I'll hold out hope the series gets better.

I love LJ Andrews. Everything she writes is an instant favorite. I was a little weary of leaving the Broken Kingdom world, but I shouldn’t have been. This book was absolutely brilliant! It is a fantastic start to a new series and with a brand new Magic system, This book has twists, turns and romance galore!

The characters are with really did it for me. Lyra was just as amazing, cautious and hesitant, yet deeply loyal and protective of her family. Roark is very special to me. I love his character so much! He is non-verbal and uses his own sign language to communicate, which Lyra picks up very quickly. I also loved the side characters, they added so much depth to the story.

And that ending? If you love books that captivate you, and have tension, magic, secrets and romance then you need to read this! It has me desperately waiting for book two!

Thank you to Netgalley LJ Andrew, and Michael Joseph Penguin Random House for this eARC

*Tap, Tap, Tap*

Well, LJ has done it again! As someone who very openly says that The Ever King was my book of the year last year, I just knew I HAD to get my hands on reading this one ASAP, and wow, am I glad I did! I went in to this one with high hopes and expectations, and it gave me EVERYTHING I wanted!

The first 40-50% of this book is heavy world building, but it is so worth it! The magic system is so unique and really feels right with it being set in a Norse world.

LJ really knows how to write strong, independent women well, but also give them a believable softer side too. Even while captured and forced to use her magic against her will, Lyra managed to put on her mask and just do it. She was fierce and brave and honestly, not annoying like some fmcs can be 😅

The romance between the MCs felt natural and not forced, and the tension was perfect! Roark was complex, morally grey but with a small Labrador tucked inside of him and I loved him so much! Definitely book boyfriend material 😏 Due to something that happened in his past, he doesn’t speak with his words, but used sign language that Lyra quickly picks up. But you also find that he doesn’t need words to command a room, and his actions definitely speak louder. There was a wonderful slow burn between the characters and I looooved the yearning!

This book definitely left me feeling a desperate need for the second, and I cannot wait to continue on with this world!

Tropes:
•First Person, Dual POV
•Vikings
•Found Family
•Slow Burn
•Unique Magic System
•Body Guard/Forced Proximity
•Touch her and 💀

4 Stars – A Dark, Romantic ARC with a Slow Start but Strong Finish

I had the chance to read an ARC of Broken Souls and Bones by L.J. Andrews, and while it took me a bit to fully sink into the story, I’m really glad I stuck with it. The worldbuilding is dark, layered, and full of magic, and the romance brought just the right amount of angst and tension.

I’ll be honest—the first 3/4 of the book felt a bit long. It was heavy on setup and exposition, and I found myself waiting for that turning point. But once things started to click into place, the pace picked up and didn’t let go. The final quarter was intense, emotional, and full of high-stakes moments that completely pulled me in.

The characters are richly written, especially the leads. Their dynamic has that push-and-pull tension I love, with just enough vulnerability to make the emotional payoff worth it. L.J. Andrews knows how to write a tortured love story, and this one delivered in the end.

If you enjoy slow-burn romantasy with dark fairy tale vibes and a satisfying climax, this one is worth the journey. A solid 4 stars from me—and I’m curious to see where the series goes next!

I never doubt that I’m going to love a book by LJ Andrews! And once again, this book proved I was right to hold that opinion!

Despite being slightly nervous to leave the world of The Broken Kingdoms and Ever Seas, I shouldn’t have been!

This book was absolutely brilliant! A fantastic start to a new series.

The first thing I want to talk about is the magic system. It was so unique! It took me a minute to get my head around it, but as soon as I did I loved it. I will say it was one of the goriest magic systems I’ve encountered – but it was incredible.

As always, LJ has managed to build a world you can’t help but want to explore. One which you know isn’t quite what it seems and one you are desperate to dig into and uncover its secrets.

The plot was so interesting – twists, turns and romance galore. You were constantly questioning who to trust and I couldn’t put the book down – I NEEDED to know everything.

Once again, LJ has proven she knows how to write characters you can’t help but root for. The romance was scorching but the family/friendships had me seriously invested too.

I fully believed how the FMC AND MMC’s relationship developed. Their enemies to lovers dynamic was flawless. Watching their hearts thaw and open to each other was sublime.

I also thought it was a fantastic plot point that Roark had to communicate through signing. It was eye opening to see how the wider community in the story treated him and it was a great exploration of what it means to not have a voice in the usual fashion.

I can’t BELIEVE I’m going to have to wait for book two – that ending left me so feral for more. I can’t wait to lose myself further in this world.

This is another brilliant story from LJ. Everybody should read this. You won’t regret it.

5⭐

Thank you LJ Andrews and Penguin Michael Joseph for the ARC!

Broken Souls and Bones is an immersive fantasy read from LJ Andrews, set in a new world than her other interconnected series. This book blew me away in the best way possible and I did not expect myself to come to love this book as much as I did!

For fans of Norse Mythology and Vikings, this book leans towards it for the background of the setting and the characters. Something that LJ Andrews does the best is creating complex worlds and characters, especially female characters. There are many layers and reasons for everything going on, for every decision there's always an intricate background and reason for it.

The decisions Lyra --- the FMC --- makes feels real and as a character, she's doing justice to so many FMCs with her relatable and realistic choices and decisions.

The romance between Roark and Lyra had me giggling and kicking my feet. As you go deeper into the book, the deeper the enemies to lovers arc between them goes. The slow-burn and tension pays off really well in the end that it is unbelievable and comforting to read about these kinds of situations. Lyra's ability to understand and feel Roark is something that was amazingly represented. The way they were constantly choosing each other and willing to go against everything they've built and believed was truly delightful to read about.

There's so much I can talk about this book and this review won't do any justice. The non-verbal & Sign-Language representation was on point with this one. The twists and turns had me spiralling so much because the hints for them were so subtly dropped.

I cannot get over that ending and having to wait for a year is killing me but I'm very excited for the next installment in the series! Congratulations to LJ Andrews for her first trad pub deal with this book and for the new Stonegate series era!