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Bear My Heart
I never did anything to Sayran’s heart. If anything, she did something to mine! I was simply existing, enjoying the solitude and stillness of my home. I was content in my hut far up on Gods Mountain. I wandered among the Old Gods and listened to stars sing.
Then, Sayran showed up, rippling through my silence with her quiet voice. She made the sun brighter with her smile. She warmed my home with her mere presences. She changed everything without changing anything.
I almost killed her with my claws.
Now I’m not sure I can live without her.
Then, Sayran showed up, rippling through my silence with her quiet voice. She made the sun brighter with her smile. She warmed my home with her mere presences. She changed everything without changing anything.
I almost killed her with my claws.
Now I’m not sure I can live without her.
- GenresFiction
Published April 9, 2026
About the author
Karen Lykkebo
11 books24 followersAuthor of The Palace of Winds trilogy (book 1 Winds of Destruction) and Heir to The Sun.
I write original fantasy with a twist of humor. I love broken families and found family, soft girls who kick ass, and tough guys who cry. I add love of all colors and shape, and touch on heavy subjects of depression, anxiety, and greif.
I write original fantasy with a twist of humor. I love broken families and found family, soft girls who kick ass, and tough guys who cry. I add love of all colors and shape, and touch on heavy subjects of depression, anxiety, and greif.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 23, 2026
I absolutely LOVE Karen Lykkebo's writing style! It's the kind of writing you want to savor! Her descriptions are incredible! The story itself is very sweet with lovely characters! The world she crafts on Gods Mountain is full of enchantment and you can feel the magic as you read! I look forward to more in the series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Note: I received a free ARC of this book and it did not influence my opinion.
Bear My Heart is a heartwarming and heartwrenching sapphic folk fantasy tale about a solitary bear-shifter and a human woman who wins her heart. And I just loved this one so much. I was immediately drawn in by Terra's narration as we start with her dragging a wounded Sayran to her hut in the forest. Although it was Terra who had hurt the woman, she feels guilty and decides to nurse her back to health, not really understanding the consequences of that decision to her so-far isolated, hermit-like existence. From then on, we can follow how the two women's relationship evolves, and with it, how Terra's understanding of her place in the world transforms too. The writing transported me into Terra's skin wonderfully, and this is a strength that was present all throughout the story. I was very much taken with her struggles concerning her parents' memory, her life as an outsider between the human and divine world, her place among the forest gods who surround her with cryptic advices about life and change, and her infinitely relatable, conflicting emotions and physical reactions regarding closeness -- emotional and physical. I loved the lore of the gods and the Shards, the beautiful descriptions of them and Terra's mountain home, and I loved Sayran's gentle and accepting heart. This novella was like a warm hug in the cold winds of winter, and I finished the last page with a smile on my face that stayed there for a long time.
Bear My Heart is a heartwarming and heartwrenching sapphic folk fantasy tale about a solitary bear-shifter and a human woman who wins her heart. And I just loved this one so much. I was immediately drawn in by Terra's narration as we start with her dragging a wounded Sayran to her hut in the forest. Although it was Terra who had hurt the woman, she feels guilty and decides to nurse her back to health, not really understanding the consequences of that decision to her so-far isolated, hermit-like existence. From then on, we can follow how the two women's relationship evolves, and with it, how Terra's understanding of her place in the world transforms too. The writing transported me into Terra's skin wonderfully, and this is a strength that was present all throughout the story. I was very much taken with her struggles concerning her parents' memory, her life as an outsider between the human and divine world, her place among the forest gods who surround her with cryptic advices about life and change, and her infinitely relatable, conflicting emotions and physical reactions regarding closeness -- emotional and physical. I loved the lore of the gods and the Shards, the beautiful descriptions of them and Terra's mountain home, and I loved Sayran's gentle and accepting heart. This novella was like a warm hug in the cold winds of winter, and I finished the last page with a smile on my face that stayed there for a long time.
April 29, 2026
This is a charming shorter tale with a heartwarming romance that should leave any reader with a big smile on their face after finishing. Terra is the daughter of one of the old mountain gods, living a solitary existence far from the nearest settlement until she encounters and almost kills Sayran while in her shapeshifted form. Forced by guilt to accept the stranger into her home and attempt to heal her wounds, Terra soon finds she is drawn irresistibly to her houseguest and may be forced to do things that terrify her, including going into town among the crowds of people that overwhelm her.
As a neurodivergent person myself, I really appreciated and empathized with the descriptions of sensory overload and social awkwardness that have driven Terra into isolation. Sayran is an endearing character, too—endlessly curious and sympathetic to Terra's plight. The worldbuilding is effortless and very intriguing. The description of the mountain gods and implication that the world is evolving and leaving them behind are poignant and left me wanting to know more about their ultimate fate. There are many lovely passages evoking the wonder and magic of Terra's environment in this gem of a find for readers who enjoy quiet romance full of beautiful folkloric elements with themes of acceptance and all of the very different kinds of courage it takes to live a full and rewarding life.
As a neurodivergent person myself, I really appreciated and empathized with the descriptions of sensory overload and social awkwardness that have driven Terra into isolation. Sayran is an endearing character, too—endlessly curious and sympathetic to Terra's plight. The worldbuilding is effortless and very intriguing. The description of the mountain gods and implication that the world is evolving and leaving them behind are poignant and left me wanting to know more about their ultimate fate. There are many lovely passages evoking the wonder and magic of Terra's environment in this gem of a find for readers who enjoy quiet romance full of beautiful folkloric elements with themes of acceptance and all of the very different kinds of courage it takes to live a full and rewarding life.
April 11, 2026
Full transparency: I was an ARC reader and received a digital copy for free. I want to note that the author was clear about ARC readers being under no obligation to finish the book, and requested that any reviews be honest.
It's a surprise to me that I love this story so much! It's not my usual kind of story, and I decided to take a chance on it because I have enjoyed other work from the author in a different genre. Definitely worth the risk!
It seemed a little slow at first. I wasn't immediately hooked in. That could be more about it not being my usual kind of story, not about the author's storytelling. Once I was invested in the characters, I started looking forward to having time to read and find out how things were progressing.
Neurodivergent representation is excellent! The terms we use in our world wouldn't fit in this world. As important as it can be to see those terms in representation, it's best that they aren't here because that would disrupt immersion. Not being able to use those labels means the author had to communicate by describing experiences, and that's often missing in entertainment media that relies too heavily on the labels.
The worldbuilding is beautiful, and I was drawn into the mountain in ways that made me want to return again and again.
It's a surprise to me that I love this story so much! It's not my usual kind of story, and I decided to take a chance on it because I have enjoyed other work from the author in a different genre. Definitely worth the risk!
It seemed a little slow at first. I wasn't immediately hooked in. That could be more about it not being my usual kind of story, not about the author's storytelling. Once I was invested in the characters, I started looking forward to having time to read and find out how things were progressing.
Neurodivergent representation is excellent! The terms we use in our world wouldn't fit in this world. As important as it can be to see those terms in representation, it's best that they aren't here because that would disrupt immersion. Not being able to use those labels means the author had to communicate by describing experiences, and that's often missing in entertainment media that relies too heavily on the labels.
The worldbuilding is beautiful, and I was drawn into the mountain in ways that made me want to return again and again.
May 31, 2026
This one is such a beautiful, sweet and cosy book it left me with a sense of warmth and joy few books have given me! Karen has a particular way of describing the woods and mountain that lets it all seep into you and brings you along, like a little sparrow flitting around Terra's home, watching her take care of Sayran and battling with her guilt over having hurt Sayran.
It's a very soft and gentle story, the characters are quiet, thoughtful, shy and clearly neurodivergent (portrayed in a careful and mindful way). I really love that it reads like an ace love story as well, we don't often see that in any media.
Overall a wonderufl little folkloric fantasy novella!
It's a very soft and gentle story, the characters are quiet, thoughtful, shy and clearly neurodivergent (portrayed in a careful and mindful way). I really love that it reads like an ace love story as well, we don't often see that in any media.
Overall a wonderufl little folkloric fantasy novella!
May 23, 2026
Heartwarming and cozy, with a beautiful language and interesting characters ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Karen Lykkebos writing is always magic. You feel swept up in the magic and emotion of her stories, and Bear My Heart is no exception. The characterisation of our FMC is beautiful. She is unique in her otherness, built on lore and whimsy, and personification of every ND baddie out there.
The emotion in this book held me at gunpoint, I fell in love with the characters and the setting. The gods and the mountain painted such a beautiful image in my head. I would actually love a prequel to this short story developing the lore even more.
The sapphic romance was dreamy, I'd give anything to live in the wild with a woman to call my own 😭 I love how positive their connection was.
It's incredible how such a short book can create such a large impact on the reader. 10/10 read.
The emotion in this book held me at gunpoint, I fell in love with the characters and the setting. The gods and the mountain painted such a beautiful image in my head. I would actually love a prequel to this short story developing the lore even more.
The sapphic romance was dreamy, I'd give anything to live in the wild with a woman to call my own 😭 I love how positive their connection was.
It's incredible how such a short book can create such a large impact on the reader. 10/10 read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews