booksalacarte 's review for:

Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews

4.5

adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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4.5⭐️3🌶️

Dual POV

Viking Romantasy

Sign language rep

Mute MMC

Orphan FMC

Enemies to lovers

Bodyguard

Forced proximity

Unique Magic system

Self discovery

Panic attack rep

Viking lore, a fascinating magic system, a long-lost heroine in hiding, and a mute hero who communicates through sign language—this book had so many elements that instantly pulled me in. The prologue throws you right into the action, which I loved. It sets a fast pace and allows the world-building to unfold naturally, without overwhelming info dumps.

This was my first LJ Andrews book, and now I’m wondering why I waited so long to dive into her work.

The setting felt rich and immersive, with a historical tone that grounded the fantasy elements beautifully. While the world-building leaned a bit heavy at times, it was layered and engaging, making it easy to stay invested. The magic system was fresh and compelling. I’m eager to learn even more as the series continues!

I can’t wait to read the next installment (and everything else  LJ Andrews has written because they are now officially at the top of my TBR priority list).

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for gifting me the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.