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!

This book is everything you could want from a fantasy romance. It has unique and detailed world building, with just enough information for you to understand, but not overwhelm you. The magic system is totally unique and so interesting, it is slowly revealed through the first few chapters as the characters themselves learn more about the magic and how it works, as some aspects have been kept very secretive.

The slow burn, damn, the enemies to lovers, PERFECT. The plot twists and reveals are just *chefs kiss*

Honestly at this point I would read LJ's grocery list and be enthralled because every word she writes is just beautiful.

If you loved A Fate Inked In Blood, and you want more viking inspired fantasy with scorching romance and fascinating magic, you want this book!!

Also if you loved the scene in Ever After where she launches apples at the prince, you'll love this meet cute!

I cannot believe that I read this book in under five hours, I could not put it down and who needs sleep anyway? Not me!
This entire magic system had me hooked, I would have loved for more of the lore to have been gone in to more detail, especially the different types of magic - bone, blood and soul but that's just me being finicky.
I loved that Roark, the MMC couldn't speak and that he used 'handspeak' I didn't find it difficult to follow and if anything it made him...just more. Lyra as a FMC is inspired! I loved that she had moments of vulnerability but at the end she stands up for what is right and for those she loves. The spice for me was perfect, I loved the banter between characters and cannot wait for the next installment in this Stonegate saga!

Broken souls and bones

3.5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin random house for the opportunity to ARC read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book unfortunately fell a little flat for me which I am gutted about as I really wanted to love it. I struggled to get past the intense world building at the beginning which was very confusing. (I love heavy world building however this was not easy to follow.)
I almost DNFd at that point.
After pushing through, it became a bit more enjoyable however I felt that the execution did not meet my expectations.

This is a Norse mythology/Viking romantasy with a unique magic system(bone, blood and soul magic), found family and the MMC is mute so there is great sign language representation.

Lyra our FMC is a spitfire who fights fiercely for the people she loves. After hiding in a village for her melder magic which is hated by so many yet coveted by the King, she is found by Roark(MMC) and brought back to the prince. She becomes the Kings melder and plots to escape this fate. Roark is our morally grey MMC, brooding, commanding and a lot of what I love in an MMC.

The first 50% of this book was very slow however it did pick up in the second half.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. And I think if I read it for a second time, I might enjoy it more.

I love listening writing and have been reading from the start. This is the first fantastic book of hers I've read outside of the broken kingdoms series (including the spin off, the ever king).

And as ways, she has wrote an addictive immersion, and rich world, i just wish I could live in.

The characters are loveable and strong, protective and soft when needed. I love how she is so inclusive in her writing and this is no different. I love that theresba wide range of makn and side characters and each are unique and different with their own personality, motives, and challenges - i love they are all varying and add to the stroy in their way. It helps the world and story to have more more depth and feel more realistic and immersive. You really get to know them all ans become friends and love them through the pages.

The world booking is second to none. I can never praise her enough for how she seemlessly and (seemingly) effortlessly created such huge interlinking places, countries, maps, worlds, people and places. And it amazing me how effortless she involves us, the reader, in this. Like we learn as we go, and it never feels a chore. Its like the world's she weaving envelope us, and welcome us in, easily, word by word.

I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, as release I'd a bjt away yet... but I feel this is my new favourite LJ book, and I'm sure anyone who knows me, will know it was hard to top for me! Even TEK didn't know night of mask from my top spot. Buuuttt, here we are... new fave.

I can't wait for people to start reading this and talking about it. Eeek!

Summary

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️ 2.5/5

LJ Andrews absolutely slaps when it comes to romantasy and this is no exception! I am so buzzing I got to read her read pub debut early and the Nordic/ Viking inspired world was so addictive to read about!

One of the things I love most about LJs writing is she always has well established and interesting supporting characters. Thane for example, loved him from is very first line! The way the character relationships develop throughout this book was so gorgeous to read I adored the found sibling, sweet relationship between Lyra and Kael as much as the development of the romance between Lyra and Roark which I think speaks volumes as to how well the dynamics are written.
There’s a beautiful budding female friendship between Lyra and Emi and they are absolute banter besties and that was also so fun to read.

Roark was a beautiful morally grey MMC (our fave) and I love how even though he’s non verbal and uses sign language she’s still able to craft gorgeous intimate moments with no words. I was LIVING for the yearning and small touches! This book was the absolute embodiment of all the best parts of the romantasy genre!

My only real critiques would be I would’ve liked a little more history of Lyra and Roark before they crash in to eachother although given the developments at the end of the book I can see why this was the direction she took. And whilst the magic system was intriguing, I found it slightly confusing at times.

This story was engaging, fast paced and chaotic in the best way. Like come on that last 20% was freaking WILD! There’s a great set up for the remainder of the story as well as a good mix of humour that definitely ups the enjoyment and entertainment value. The magic system was intriguing and the world building was great in setting up the story.

I highly recommend this one!

This was my first book by LJ Andrews (even though The Ever Seas has been sitting on my shelf for a year), and I absolutely loved it! The world-building was rich and immersive, with a magic system that was both unique and fascinating—I'm still wrapping my head around all the details, but it completely pulled me in. The plot was full of twists and turns that left me stunned, and the MMC was one of the most intriguing characters I’ve read in a while. His inability to communicate in the usual way made him even more compelling.

The FMC was just as captivating—cautious and hesitant, yet deeply loyal and protective of her family. I also adored the side characters, who added so much depth to the story. And that ending? It has me desperately waiting for book two! The slow burn was so slow, but so worth it! This world was an absolute joy to dive into, and I highly recommend pre-ordering it before its release on April 29th!

Thank you to NetGalley and penguin random house for this ARC! It took me a while to pick this up again as I needed to wait to be on the mood for a world building heavy fantasy! But let me tell you… I loved every second of it. Like I said, the world building is heavy to begin with - the first 30% is really about finding your feet with the story, and I love that so much. It reminded me a lot of Road of Bones, which I ADORE!

The slow burn was EXCELLENT!!! This is slow burn done right - romance before 60% is sometimes a bit iffy for me, so this was brilliant.

The diversity rep in this was really special. Something I have only read in one other book before (the witch collector) and it was written really carefully.

Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, Viking bones goodness! The ending was amazing - I need book 2 like immediately!

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and this did not disappoint. LJ Andrews never fails to hook me into a story and this time was certainly no different.

I love the characters, the setting, the plot, all of it was amazing.


Now that ive finished this book i have read all of LJ Andrews' work and cant wait to get my hands on more

I picked this out of sheer curiosity, and because the concept just sounded somewhat different to most things I've read recently. And it certainly pays off in that regard.

We're first introduced to Lyra Bien, a bone melder who has managed for years to safely keep her secrets hidden. A visit to the village from Roark Ashwood, the Sentry to Stonegate threatens the peace she had grown so used to and she's forced to reveal the secrets of her forbidden magic abilities in order to save the life of her best friend Kael from certain death. But doing so only leads to a life where she is a king's prisoner and tool, to be discarded when she is no longer needed.

There was a lot to like about this, though I'll admit there were times I put the book down and didn't feel that desire to pick it back up again until I actually started reading. The world building and intriguing characters were certainly a couple of it's largest strengths. Although it was slow to pick up initially, once the slow-burn romance actually started to pick up slightly things became a tad more interesting. I think occasionally I felt a bit overwhelmed by the amount of info that was being thrown at you for the first half - it felt like so much to take in and yet at the same time not much was happening?
Once it had passed that point it certainly found it's footing.. The last 10-15% was absolutely unputdownable!!

But alas, just when it starts to get really good, of course it ends..
I'll admit it's certainly good at leaving you gagging for the next book, that's for sure.

Special mention to the side characters, who were wonderfully developed and each had their own back stories and depth!!
Also the romance was wonderfully paced (big fan of slow-burn romance) and Roark was such an interesting character! Gotta love a man who would tear the world apart to defend someone they care for 💖

I've not read an L.J Andrews book before, despite the Ever series being on my tbr for some time, but that'll definitely change from now! Excited to see what else the author has in store for us in book 2!

Well, all i can say is.............. YOU LOT ARE IN FOR A TREAT!!! ✨️🔥❤️🎉

LJ is onto another winner with the 1st instalment in the Stonegate series. You will fall in love with all the characters. This book had me jumping around on my sofa as always!!!! And leaving me wanting more 🤤🔥 We have enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fated mates, spice, norse mythology, and plenty of heart-wrenching moments. Plus, some of the best twists!!! I could tell you more, but then you're running the risk of spoilers, lol

Thank you to Michael Joseph/Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this E-ARC.

I loved LJ Andrew's Mist Ever Seas and Broken Kingdom series, so it is no surprise that this is a five star read for me, her writing and ability to create such an in depth world is amazing.

This is a Norse fantasy romance that will tick all the boxes if you are a fan of enemies to lovers, morally grey and touch her and die tropes. Throw in a very overprotective bodyguard with a deadly reputation and forbidden love, it is the perfect concoction!

We are introduced to Lyra who unknowingly has a power (craft) that is being sought throughout the kingdom by the King, and is located by our morally grey MMC Roark. What I love about his character is he is non-verbal and uses his own sign language to communicate, which Lyra picks up very quickly. This isn't a story of instant lust, they are supposed to hate each other and it takes time to build the bond between them. When you understand *tap tap tap* and just melt...

My favourite side character was definitely Prince Thane, cheeky and very clearly caused Roark many headaches over the years. Their close brotherly relationship is just perfect, and I want to see more of him in the next book, I am interested to see how his character progresses after book 1.

LJ's worldbuilding is a masterpiece, and you do have to pay attention at the beginning of the story to understand how everyone's craft works. It may feel overwhelming but it all fits into place quite quickly and makes it so unique.

The last 10% of the story has me needing more, whilst I could foresee part of the plot twist due to hints throughout the story, I definitely didn't expect it all. This is a non-spoiler review so I am not revealing anymore, apart from prepare yourself!

Broken Souls and Bones is being released in UK on 15th May, I cannot recommend this enough!

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Forbidden love
- Bodyguard
- Hidden identity
- Touch her and die
- Non speaking/sign language representation
- Morally grey
- Found family
- Dual POV

Broken Souls and Bones is an incredibly unique story that melds together the Viking vibes many love, and a dark magic system built from things better left alone. Discovering this world and its many factions of men trying to one-up each other was seamless, proving a dynamic that felt natural though entirely new.

As a fan of LJ already, this book felt like a fresh take on her typical Viking approach, leaning much closer to the likes of Danielle L Jensen’s A Fate Inked in Blood. Slightly unfortunate for me is that I don’t typically love the Viking vibe, but could bypass that with LJs other books as the characters always win me over. With this one…not so much. It leaned heavier on the Viking’s, and I found it a little hard to connect with the characters the same way I usually do. Some of the charm was missing somehow, but in its place was a world vastly expanded and magic much deeper than the usual. So it was a real hit or miss for me, but largely for personal vibe preference - I’m sure this will be one many read and adore.

Broken Souls and Bones is the first book in the Stonegate series.

It is a dark slow burn romantasy with enemies to lovers, found family, secret pasts and magic.

Lyra is the first female Melder in generations.

She has spent years in hiding, however the King discovers her where she is and sends his Sentry, Roark Ashwood to retrieve and protect her, only to have her serve as his personal melder and key to creating his armies.

Lyra and Roark must learn to trust each other while resisting a passion that threatens to consume them.

If you love books that captivate you, and have tension, magic, secrets and romance then you need to read this.

Be prepared it does end on a cliffhanger…

As expected from LJ Andrew’s - so well written. The banter and bond between Lyra and Roark is outstanding. I loved the dual POV switches, and that every character had a distinct personality. This story felt fresh and new and I couldn’t guess where the plot was heading. Also, the sign language representation was incredibly well done and only enhanced the story.

Gosh where do I even begin. After the Ever I wasn’t sure that any new world or characters could capture my heart the way they did but LJ has achieved it again. There is an amazing group of characters and I cannot wait to delve deeper into this world.

Lyra & Roark
Enemies to lovers
Bodyguard
Forced Proximity
Slow burn
Unique Magic System

This is my first book by LJ Andrews so I had no idea what to expect but I really enjoyed this!

This book has such a unique magic system, I'm in awe!

It's full of amazing characters and plot twists!

The first half of the book is a lot of world building and explaining the magic system, which also leads to a delicious slow burn and enemies to lovers at it's finest!

I cannot wait for the next one!

I loved both of the main characters and the slow burn of their relationship. This is the best type of enemies to lovers storyline.

Lyra has everything you want in a FMC. She is strong, kind, knows when she needs help and will always look out for her made family.

Roark is the brooding type. He really gives off the 'touch her and die ' vibes. He is also mute and I love that they use sign language in this book and all his close friends learn it to communicate with him.

The world building is fantastic and you feel you are in those walls!

I didn't see that twist coming at the end. I need book two already!

Oh this is so good, SO good, I absolutely love it! LJ has done it again, it is incredible! New magic system (hello bone/soul/blood magic) a new world but still that perfect immersive Norse/viking feel that she does so well and of course…Roark & Lyra 🖤 A huge thank you to Michael Joseph for this eARC!! LJ is one of my absolute favourite authors and when she announced this new series I knew it would be amazing and it’s everything I hoped for, I was desperate to read this! I may have also been begging the publisher for an arc of this!

The tension, the chemistry, the hidden pasts, a fast paced plot that keeps you guessing and in true LJ style a great found family (gotta love Prince Thane) along with our main characters Roark & Lyra! I think Roark Ashwood is my new favourite MMC, our silent Sentry who is so much more than what he seems…and would burn the world for her. Brooding, deadly, loyal and when he writes his words on her cheek - swoon!! Tap Tap Tap 🖤 LJ writes such great morally grey men, if you loved Erik from The Ever Seas then you will LOVE Roark!

And Lyra, a clouded past, a hidden power and forced into a future she never wanted, slowly being drawn to the very man she should despise. I do love me some enemies to lovers! She’s a great FMC and I can’t wait to see what book 2 brings her! Seriously, I can tell this whole series is going to be amazing!

Tropes
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Bone/Soul/Blood magic
🖤 Forced proximity
🖤 Touch her and die
🖤 Non Speaking MMC
🖤 Bodyguard
🖤 Vikings

I thought this book was perfectly fine. I have loved LJ Andrews writing through The Broken Kingdom series and The Ever Seas series, but something about her magical writing was lacking in this book to me. While there was nothing wrong with the plot or the writing, I felt as though the characters lacked depth and the FMC lacked motivation to discover more information about her power and was happy to just go with what everybody told her. I also wasn’t shocked by the cliffhanger and its obvious reveals. As I said, it’s fine, just not something that wowed me personally.