BOOK LINKS 🔗
BLURB
Broken Souls and Bones: An Enchanting Norse Mythology-Inspired Tale of Magic, Betrayal, and Love.
Lyra Bien wants only a quiet life, far from King Damir’s war and his hunger for magic. But when Roark Ashwood, the king’s silent and dangerously handsome soldier, invades her village, her secret is exposed.
She is a melder. Gifted in bone, blood, and soul. Feared. Desired. Doomed.
Claimed for the king, Lyra becomes a captive in Roark’s care. But escape is impossible when her jailor might be her only hope of freedom.
Bound by secrets, drawn together by fire, they must decide: restore a kingdom built on lies, or burn it to the ground.
REVIEW
Broken Souls and Bones by L.J. AndrewsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
BOOK: Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews
(Library Paperback Read)
I have found a few Romantasy books to be disappointing, but this one has managed to capture my attention immediately. From the prologue to the first chapters, the author has created a world and characters that I actually wanted to know more about.
TITLE: Broken Souls and Bones
Author: LJ Andrews
Status: Read | Rating: 5/5
Progress: Read 436 of 436 pages
QUICK IMPRESSION
Lyra seems like she's going to be totally out of her depth when she gets to the castle. However, she soon finds her feet with the help of those she tried hard to see as her captors, but who ended up being her friends. I loved how she tried to keep her friends safe when, in reality, she was in just as much danger and not really equipped to defend them.
DID I GUESS ANY TWISTS???
• P209: Major twist guessed correctly!
(view spoiler)
QUOTES TO KEEP
"I was once told we never truly knew another soul until we saw the darkness they kept inside."
"True love. To accept another soul—th I'me good and the bad—and love them through it all."
"And that, they say, is what it means to love a heart—the lightest pieces, and the darkest."
KEY CHARACTERS
• Lyra Bien: Melder. Hidden most of her life, raised in a youth house, and later served in Jarl Jakobson’s household. Her skill with a knife and knowledge of gathering herbs and berries have helped hide her secret for most of her life. She’s missing memories from a horrible trauma experienced when she was younger and can’t recall anything about her parents or her early childhood. Orphaned, Lyra thinks of the jarl’s elderly cook, Selena, and his groundskeeper, Thorian, as her family. She thinks of Kael as her brother.
• Kael Darkwin: Lyra’s adopted brother, a bone crafter. He is the true heir of Jarl Jakobson (Jarl of Skalfirth), but was disowned because the jarl’s second wife was jealous.
• Roark Ashwood: Sentry or “Death Bringer.” Melded to Prince Thane to be the prince's guard. He is mute and communicates via hand gestures or note writing. He has a deep scar across his throat, jaw, and chest. Though still thought of as handsome, he is originally from the opposing side in the war, Dravenmoor. Although he serves King Damir, he isn't melded to the king—only Thane. He's lucky in that respect! Roark also has a mysterious past and holes in his memory.
• Skul Drek: “Wraith of Dravenmoor,” a feared Draven assassin. He is connected to Lyra via the dark mirror realm, and attacks from Dravenmoor happen after soul bones are used in the melding.
• Emi Nightlark: Like Roark, she is an ex-Draven. She was cast out because she was a bone crafter, and now serves in the Stav Guard at Stonegate. She helps Lyra and Kael. Emi is fierce, and she's related to Roark.
(There are more, but these are my favorite characters 😁)
FINAL THOUGHTS
• The Good: Totally enjoyed every page! I've placed a hold on book 2 because I need to find out what happens next. It's hard to write about what I loved as it'll give away spoilers. But let's just say it was hard to put the book down and do boring real-life stuff!
• The Bad: Honestly couldn't think of anything, and I was actively looking for something while reading after creating this review prompt list.
• Verdict: This is my first book by the author. It does leave me worried about the characters supportive of Lyra left in Stonegate, but gosh... Bring on book 2! Totally 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Definitely one of my top reads of 2026. This is the type of Romantasy I want... Organic relationships, not insta-lust. 💞
View all my reviews
AUTHOR BIO
Stay up to date with all LJ Andrews releases by joining her mailing list.
LJ Andrews is a USA Today Bestselling author of fantasy romance. She could live in dark worlds with brutal romantic heroes all day. When she isn't writing she's keeping her four kids alive, spending time with her hot husband, or enjoying the mountains of Utah.
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