Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Broken Souls and Bones by L.J. Andrews was one of my most anticipated releases this year—and it did not disappoint. If you didn’t already know, L.J. is easily one of my favorite authors. Her Broken Kingdoms series (and its spin-offs) have me in an absolute chokehold, so I went into this book with sky-high expectations. She smashed every single one of them.
BSAB serves up a brilliant dark romantasy that delivers on all fronts: plot, character, and spice. The cast is refreshingly diverse, featuring representation across disability, race, and sexuality. The male main character is mute due to an injury, communicating solely through sign language and expressive facial cues. The way L.J. writes his signing is incredibly authentic—it’s respectful, detailed, and emotionally resonant. Writing a mute character is no small feat, but she nails it. Some of my favorite scenes were the ones where he’s angrily signing or joking with his friend Thane—those interactions felt so alive.
The magic system in this new series is seriously dark—gruesome, twisted, and honestly? I kind of love it. In a genre overflowing with magical systems, this one managed to feel fresh and, at times, left me breathless.
The story as a whole had me laughing, crying, and literally on the edge of my seat. L.J. has such a talent for writing banter and deep friendships, always pulling you in with humor and camaraderie before utterly wrecking you emotionally.
Yeah, my girl did it again—Broken Souls and Bones is a solid 5/5 for me. I’ll be shamelessly begging for an ARC of book two.
BSAB serves up a brilliant dark romantasy that delivers on all fronts: plot, character, and spice. The cast is refreshingly diverse, featuring representation across disability, race, and sexuality. The male main character is mute due to an injury, communicating solely through sign language and expressive facial cues. The way L.J. writes his signing is incredibly authentic—it’s respectful, detailed, and emotionally resonant. Writing a mute character is no small feat, but she nails it. Some of my favorite scenes were the ones where he’s angrily signing or joking with his friend Thane—those interactions felt so alive.
The magic system in this new series is seriously dark—gruesome, twisted, and honestly? I kind of love it. In a genre overflowing with magical systems, this one managed to feel fresh and, at times, left me breathless.
The story as a whole had me laughing, crying, and literally on the edge of my seat. L.J. has such a talent for writing banter and deep friendships, always pulling you in with humor and camaraderie before utterly wrecking you emotionally.
Yeah, my girl did it again—Broken Souls and Bones is a solid 5/5 for me. I’ll be shamelessly begging for an ARC of book two.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a book! From the world building, to the Viking lore, to the magic system, to the MMC that spoke sign language, this book was so unique! I truly felt immersed while reading. I loved the found family and the slowest of the slow burn between the FMC and MMC. And wow… those last 50 pages.. the author just poured the gasoline and lit it all on fire. Let it burn! I always love being left with “wtf just happened”. I cannot wait to see what happens in book two.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another great story from LJ! I love the mix and vikings and magic. I had so much fun throughout the whole book and of course that ending! I can't wait tobread book 2 and see what Lyra and Roark and everyone else gets up to!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
l.j. andrews is a must read author for me every time, and i love the ever seas books. i honestly couldn't enjoy this until the last 70-ish pages. i felt like the characters were flat and the magic system was kind of confusing. i will still read the next one and anything else she puts in, but i'm disappointed by this one.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What I wouldn't give to have Roark *tap tap tap* over my heart 😩
Andrews has her recipe to draw you in to her books down to a T. The world building, the complex characters and relationships, the tension.
Roark's hand talking feels so intimate that anything he says in this book is felt so intensely. Especially when he talks against her cheek 🥵 I felt that more than the spicy scenes!
More please and as soon as possible.
Andrews has her recipe to draw you in to her books down to a T. The world building, the complex characters and relationships, the tension.
Roark's hand talking feels so intimate that anything he says in this book is felt so intensely. Especially when he talks against her cheek 🥵 I felt that more than the spicy scenes!
More please and as soon as possible.