In Broken Souls and Bones, the opening act of L.J. Andrews’ Stonegate series, we’re plunged into a realm of sharpened loyalties, hunted magic, and forbidden love. Andrews, already a sensation in romantasy circles with titles like The Ever King, brings her signature blend of emotional intensity and sweeping world-building to a new saga that feels both fresh and hauntingly familiar.
This novel is not just another fantasy romance—it’s a testament to the dangerous beauty of secrets and the people who carry them. Readers are invited into a world where one girl’s hidden magic could tip the balance of power, and the very man sent to destroy her might become her salvation.
With its richly textured narrative, dual perspectives, and morally complex cast, Broken Souls and Bones is a stellar example of what makes the romantasy genre so addictive. It’s a tale of rebellion wrapped in mythology and romance laced with war.
The Premise: A Girl with a Curse, A Man with No Voice
Set in the brutal tri-kingdom realm of Stìgandr, the story centers on Lyra Bien—a servant girl with a dangerous gift. The silver scars in her eyes mark her as a melder, a once-in-a-generation magic wielder capable of manipulating bone, blood, and soul. But in a world where melders are seized, owned, or executed by the crown, Lyra conceals her identity behind dyes, false names, and years of carefully honed silence.
Her life of obscurity shatters when Roark Ashwood, the kingdom’s most feared sentry, arrives in her village. Known as the prince’s blade and a shadow-born killer, Roark has one mission: to capture the hidden melder. When his path collides with Lyra’s, their fates become entangled in a web of secrets neither of them can outrun.
As Lyra’s identity is exposed and Roark’s loyalty begins to fracture, the two must choose: serve a crown built on lies—or burn it to the ground.
The World of Stìgandr: Myth Made Dangerous
L.J. Andrews constructs a meticulously layered realm where the legacy of gods and kings bleeds into everyday life. Three kingdoms—Jorvandal, Dravenmoor, and Myrda—vie for dominance. Power is measured not just in soldiers and treaties, but in craft: bone for healing and war, blood for rituals and bindings, and soul for the manipulation of memory and death.
The melder, who can wield all three, is both myth and monster. Her existence threatens the delicate balance of power and is seen as a living weapon—one to be claimed, caged, and used.
Andrews draws heavily from Scandinavian folklore, threading elements of Norse runes, ravens, and legendary monarchs into the fabric of her world. The setting—fog-drenched forests, fortress cities, and tide-worn villages—feels as alive as its characters, each place echoing with its own forgotten history.
Character Dynamics: Complex and Cutthroat
Lyra Bien: The Hidden Flame
Lyra is not your typical chosen one. She doesn’t embrace her power with ease. She loathes it. Having lived in fear of being discovered since childhood, she’s cautious, witty, and fiercely loyal to the few people she trusts. Her bond with Kael, her adoptive brother and a bone crafter, brings tenderness and emotional grounding to a character otherwise forged in fire.
What makes Lyra so engaging is her contradiction—she longs for a quiet life but cannot ignore injustice. When she is pushed to the brink, she doesn’t break—she sharpens. Her journey isn’t about finding greatness, but about surviving with her soul intact.
Roark Ashwood: The Silent Sentinel
Roark is a masterpiece of controlled violence. Voiceless due to a brutal past, he speaks through sign language and swordsmanship. Though feared as the prince’s shadow, Roark is far from emotionless. Andrews reveals his inner torment piece by piece, showing a man at war with the monster others see in him and the protector he secretly longs to be.
His chapters—written in close third person—offer a stoic, haunting counterbalance to Lyra’s internal monologues. He’s a man shaped by loyalty, trained to kill without question, and yet he falters when faced with a girl who defies every rule he was taught to follow.
Their dynamic is electric not because it’s fiery, but because it simmers—layered with tension, guilt, longing, and restraint.
Supporting Cast
- Kael Darkwin, once the rightful heir of House Jakobson, now a stablehand and Lyra’s protector, is a quiet anchor in the chaos.
- Captain Baldur, Roark’s commanding officer, is the perfect antagonist—charismatic on the surface, but rotting beneath.
- Prince Thane adds nuance as a royal who is both a friend and master to Roark. Their bond gives the political stakes surprising emotional depth.
- Vella, the seer, though short-lived in the plot, adds a sense of betrayal and foreboding that fuels much of the tension.
Romance That Burns Slow and Deep
The romance in Broken Souls and Bones is a slow-burn masterpiece. There are no over-the-top declarations or forced proximity tropes—what we get is a deeply emotional, dangerous unfolding of intimacy. Every stolen glance, every touch, every moment of protectiveness carries real consequence.
Roark and Lyra don’t fall into love—they bleed into it. Their connection is rooted in understanding and respect, born of necessity but blooming into trust. Even as they move closer, the tension of betrayal lingers. Both are wary, wounded, and walking razor-thin lines between duty and desire.
Andrews handles their bond with the maturity and delicacy the genre too often skips. There’s fire here, but also softness—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Writing Style: Bold, Evocative, and Unflinching
L.J. Andrews’ writing in this novel is cinematic and emotionally rich. Her prose is laced with lyricism, but never loses its edge. She uses visceral detail to create atmosphere—whether it’s the crack of a bone blade, the sting of thorn blossom dye in Lyra’s eyes, or the silent fury of a man who cannot speak.
What stands out in her style:
- Poetic brutality: Battle scenes, emotional reckonings, and inner monologues are written with elegance and impact.
- Layered symbolism: The recurring use of symbols like silver eyes, bone sigils, and ravens gives the narrative thematic depth.
- Effective dual POVs: Lyra’s first-person voice offers immediacy, while Roark’s third-person viewpoint provides distance and gravity.
If there’s a critique, it’s that some passages in the middle third begin to loop thematically—internal doubt, repeated reminders of danger—but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise immersive reading experience.
Themes: Control, Consent, and the Burden of Legacy
Beneath the romance and war lies a nuanced exploration of deeper themes:
- Bodily autonomy and state control: Lyra’s struggle to retain control over her body and power is a direct critique of systems that reduce individuals to weapons or property.
- Inheritance and identity: Both Lyra and Kael must confront the legacies they’ve inherited and decide whether to embrace or destroy them.
- Silence and expression: Roark’s muteness is not presented as a disability, but as a narrative strength—an embodiment of control, trauma, and the power of communication beyond words.
These themes elevate the story from genre fiction into something more enduring—an allegory for resistance, selfhood, and liberation.
What Could Have Been Stronger
Even an accomplished work has its cracks, and Broken Souls and Bones is no exception:
- Pacing Dips Midway: The second act has moments where momentum slows in favor of introspection and travel. A tighter structure here could enhance the impact.
- Underutilized Characters: Astra and Vella are compelling, but disappear too quickly. There’s potential for more narrative complexity if their arcs were extended.
- Exposition Density: The worldbuilding, while impressive, can be front-loaded. Some readers might feel overwhelmed by the politics and terminology in early chapters.
However, these are structural critiques, not story-breaking flaws. The emotional and thematic heart of the book remains intact and powerful.
Final Thoughts: A Gripping Launch of the Stonegate Series
Broken Souls and Bones is more than just a romantasy novel—it’s a story about reclamation. About owning your magic, your voice, your fate. It’s about a girl who hides behind dye and defiance and a man who’s been silenced by cruelty but finds strength in choosing whom to protect.
Andrews delivers a narrative that’s brutal in parts, tender in others, and wholly captivating. The romance is hard-earned, the stakes are high, and the world feels as dangerous as it is dazzling.
Fans of The Bridge Kingdom, The Shadows Between Us, and Defy the Night will feel right at home in this world. It’s addictive, emotionally immersive, and promises even greater things to come.
Perfect For:
- Readers who enjoy high-stakes slow-burn fantasy romance
- Those who crave morally grey heroes with tragic pasts
- Fans of political intrigue mixed with magic lore
- Lovers of stories about rebellion, found family, and forbidden love
Looking Ahead
As the first in a series, Broken Souls and Bones lays the foundation for what promises to be an epic saga of war, sacrifice, and unraveling fate. With secrets still buried and kingdoms on the brink, the next installment holds the promise of deeper betrayals, stronger alliances, and even greater emotional payoff.
The kingdom is divided—but hearts, as this novel shows us, are harder to conquer.