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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
No
This book has so much of what I love in a romantasy. High stakes, an unusual magic system, interesting world building and a compelling romance.
Lyra has spent her life in hiding because she’s a melder, a person gifted in all three magics - bone, blood and souls. She’s hunted by all kingdoms but the King of Jorvandal is the one who discovers her and sends his silent and deadly Sentry, Roark Ashwood, to bring her to the capital.
This is a new world but it has the brutal Norse / Viking vibes that LJ Andrews excels at writing. There’s nothing soft or gentle about this world. Which is exemplified by the magic system - it’s gory and bloody, disturbing at times, but also fascinating.
Lyra and Roark were such compelling protagonists, but there’s also great side characters with depth of their own. The events of the book test loyalties, and I’m already dying to know how THAT ending will impact the group.
Lyra has avoided notice by blending into her surroundings, but that comes to a crashing halt with Roark’s arrival. She may seem unassuming at first, but she has a spine of steel. She needs it when she’s chucked in at the deep end at the capital with the King’s demands. I loved seeing her come into her own, particularly with her power which she’d been taught to fear.
Roark is quite the enigma. We have his POV, but I still spent a lot of the book trying to unravel his motivations. He’s clearly conflicted - he despises melders but there’s no denying the draw he feels towards Lyra. He’s from Dravenmoor, Jorvandal’s enemy, but was mutilated and dumped at Stonegate as a child. He can’t speak and communicates through a sign language he developed with the Jorvandal Prince. He certainly doesn’t struggle to make himself understood and the way that he was with Lyra positively made me swoon.
The spice was spicing between Lyra and Roark but the pace of their romance felt right and was fraught with tension.
Overall - What. A. Ride. I had so many theories as I read - a few were in the right ball park but I was happily taken by surprise by the twists! It was just epic and I’m so excited for book 2!
adventurous
dark
funny
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
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was such a fun one! I feel like the ending became a little convoluted and confusing but loved the FMC and the MMC. The magic system was different and I thought the fact that the MMC uses hand speak was unique and really changed the way they all communicate. The side characters were all distinct and not just there to further the plot but actually had personalities and I’m already looking forward to how this all plays out in future books!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
Much like melder magic, LJ Andrews has woven a tale together using many strings, allowing us to weave through a story where not all is at it seems. With deception lurking in the shadows, a sizzling forbidden romance, and magic that can be used to both heal and harm, this is one story that you will not want to miss out on. This book truly does contain everything I look for as an avid romantasy reader, from the Intricate world building to the secrets and mysteries hidden throughout, all rolled into a story with the most sizzling slow burn forbidden romance between two characters that should all things considered hate eachother but neither of which can fight the undeniable pull between them.
This story starts with events that happened in the past, with no context we are left wondering about the information we have just learned and how this will play in the story. From this point on the story truly begins, we are quickly introduced to the core characters. Lyra Bein just wants to live a quiet life, her main aim to go unnoticed and live the life that isn't much but she loves all the same. Knowing that her magic is both rare and coveted by the magic obsessed King Damir she lives her life in the shadows, that is until Roark enters her life. The silent yet irrestible sentry uncovers Lyra's secret and thrusts her into the limelight she never wanted as a melder. With the ability to wield all three magical crafts, she is forced to reveal her power and transported to the king to act as his next melder. However, with everybody having their own agenda and Roark finding he doesn't hate Lyra as much as he should will he be her salivation and can they work together to stop the danger that lies at every turn?
I can't even begin to articulate how amazing the characters are in this book! LJ knows how to craft characters that are instantly loveable, and a found family unit that feels like home. Lyra despite having to hide her whole life still has a spark of fire within her that she nurtures as the book goes on. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her become who she was meant to be, despite everything that is stacked against her and the demons that loom in her past, she is a fierce FMC that you can root for from the very beginning. I might be slightly obsessed with Roark, ok, maybe a little bit more than slightly obsessed. He starts off stern and closed off, but as the book goes on, you see him shift as he becomes fiercely protective of Lyra, and you begin to learn more about his past and motivations. Within this book LJ also takes the time to explore the other characters within the found family group, providing what in my opinion is a more well rounded story having things going on outside that of just the interactions between the FMC and MMC.
I would like to take a minute to praise the sign language rep within this book, LJ has taken something that very few books explore and treated it with such care and consideration. Weaving it into the heart of the story and being such a key part of the characters' relationship development, and it firmly became one of my favourite parts of the book from the get-go. I don't know how LJ does it. Every magical system within her stories feels so unique and fresh. She takes the time to help us learn these complex magical systems to a point where the knowledge is second nature. What can feel quite daunting in other books, learning about a new world with new lore and different magical system, LJ makes it feel easy and natural, allowing for pure enjoyment in the story being told. We have been given an inkling to this world, and I can already tell there is so much yet to be uncovered. That ending has left me ready for more, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
This story starts with events that happened in the past, with no context we are left wondering about the information we have just learned and how this will play in the story. From this point on the story truly begins, we are quickly introduced to the core characters. Lyra Bein just wants to live a quiet life, her main aim to go unnoticed and live the life that isn't much but she loves all the same. Knowing that her magic is both rare and coveted by the magic obsessed King Damir she lives her life in the shadows, that is until Roark enters her life. The silent yet irrestible sentry uncovers Lyra's secret and thrusts her into the limelight she never wanted as a melder. With the ability to wield all three magical crafts, she is forced to reveal her power and transported to the king to act as his next melder. However, with everybody having their own agenda and Roark finding he doesn't hate Lyra as much as he should will he be her salivation and can they work together to stop the danger that lies at every turn?
I can't even begin to articulate how amazing the characters are in this book! LJ knows how to craft characters that are instantly loveable, and a found family unit that feels like home. Lyra despite having to hide her whole life still has a spark of fire within her that she nurtures as the book goes on. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her become who she was meant to be, despite everything that is stacked against her and the demons that loom in her past, she is a fierce FMC that you can root for from the very beginning. I might be slightly obsessed with Roark, ok, maybe a little bit more than slightly obsessed. He starts off stern and closed off, but as the book goes on, you see him shift as he becomes fiercely protective of Lyra, and you begin to learn more about his past and motivations. Within this book LJ also takes the time to explore the other characters within the found family group, providing what in my opinion is a more well rounded story having things going on outside that of just the interactions between the FMC and MMC.
I would like to take a minute to praise the sign language rep within this book, LJ has taken something that very few books explore and treated it with such care and consideration. Weaving it into the heart of the story and being such a key part of the characters' relationship development, and it firmly became one of my favourite parts of the book from the get-go. I don't know how LJ does it. Every magical system within her stories feels so unique and fresh. She takes the time to help us learn these complex magical systems to a point where the knowledge is second nature. What can feel quite daunting in other books, learning about a new world with new lore and different magical system, LJ makes it feel easy and natural, allowing for pure enjoyment in the story being told. We have been given an inkling to this world, and I can already tell there is so much yet to be uncovered. That ending has left me ready for more, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
LJ Andrews has officially sucked me into another Viking inspired romantasy 😍
- Enemies to Lovers
- Dual POV
- Forced Proximity
- Bodyguard
- Unique magic system
I loved the magic in this book. It’s based on bone melding/mending and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it.
Of course the romance is top notch as well. Thera just so much yearning, tension and passion. Lyra and Roark just make so much sense together ❤️
I do wish that there was more to the plot but it definitely ramped up in the back half. But at this point I know that you half to do a lot of world building at the start of the series.
I just can’t wait for book 2! The plot twist/cliffhanger left me with so many questions and left so much potential for the next book.
- Enemies to Lovers
- Dual POV
- Forced Proximity
- Bodyguard
- Unique magic system
I loved the magic in this book. It’s based on bone melding/mending and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it.
Of course the romance is top notch as well. Thera just so much yearning, tension and passion. Lyra and Roark just make so much sense together ❤️
I do wish that there was more to the plot but it definitely ramped up in the back half. But at this point I know that you half to do a lot of world building at the start of the series.
I just can’t wait for book 2! The plot twist/cliffhanger left me with so many questions and left so much potential for the next book.
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated