ARC from Del Ray and Netgalley!

The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five is because the MC drove me INSANE by the end. She was so so ignorant and had so much blind loyalty for a “home” that I wasn’t really bonded to as a reader. So, my one critique is that. If I’m going to read about a girl make one million and tweny mistakes over something it better be something reasonable for her to care about. The only information I ever got about her home or family was terrible… so I don’t really get her devotion to them in the name of goodness or whatever.

Once I’m less mad at her I might move to five stars. But this girl literally gets betrayed and I was on the side of her BETRAYER bc she had it coming. She tried to end on a girl power note but I truly don’t think this MC can function on her own. She’s tired of being manipulated but gd she makes it so easy for everyone around her to do it!!! Like some of these characters had to manipulate her for safety purposes bc she is so blind to everything around her.

I will say that other than my rage at the protagonist, this was a really good read. I liked it better than The Bridge Kingdom books, though this has different vibes. The Norse lore is a great fantasy element and it really helped build the stakes of their world. There are also quite a few plays on popular romantasy tropes, which we love to see. And tbh whenever I feel this much rage at an MC it’s because I was really invested in the story.

I finished this in like two days reading way late into the night. Very addicting. I hope to ODIN that the MC smartens up in the second book. (or at least give me one good reason why her brother doesn’t deserve to die??)

Also, there is more 🌶️ in this than in her other books :)

This book was amazing. I am in love with the character development that happens for each individual. The complex politics, family dynamics, and love interests came together to make the absolutely perfect fantasy novel. The novel was so captivating that I read it in two days! I just couldn't put it down! I have already pre-ordered myself a physical copy, and I cannot wait for the second installment to be announced! The cliffhanger was breathtaking, and I cannot wait to see where Jensen takes it. 5 stars from me!

Bottom Line: a fishwife-turned-shieldmaiden fights for control of her fate in the first book of a Norse-inspired fantasy series.

Danielle L. Jensen is a must-read author for me, and A Fate Inked in Blood is another pageturner. Freya is our female lead, and we follow her as she is swept from the world of a fishmonger's wife to the wife of a jarl, tangled in the web of a prophecy, fate, and magic-wielders with the blood of gods.

I loved everything about this book. The Norse setting (Nordelanders, Skalanders, jarls) is a refreshing change from the typical Tolkienesque fantasy. The big action setpieces in the book made me think of Lord of the Rings though - sweeping and epic! The complex relationship between Freya, Ylva, Snorri, and Bjorn was also very enjoyable. Much of the book deals with the concept of fate and dealing with the consequences of your actions, making this a book I enjoyed contemplating even when I wasn't reading.

For fans of DLJ's previous works, I would say this book has less of a romance focus than previous series. Freya/Bjorn had an instant attraction with some immediate roadblocks set in place, and there were spicy moments and feelings throughout. However, I wouldn't call this book a romance, but a fantasy with romantic elements.

This is the first book in a trilogy. The conclusion was satisfying. Waiting until the next book may be a challenge, however!

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and Danielle L. Jensen for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE Danielle Jensen. I discovered her work when I read The Bridge Kingdom duology in 2020 and have been obsessed ever since. She has such a way of getting you lost in the world she creates that you don't realize the story is over until there is no more book left! I loved the characters and the atmosphere and can't wait to continue the series.

Okay people I did not expect liking a viking novel so much as this one! You got forbidden romance, witty banter, forced proximity, divine magic elements and a baddie FMC that does not have a filter and i love her for it.

Freya has a secret that is revealed and because of that secret she is "destined" to bring the nation together.. but she doesn't want to and omg i love it. Bjorn is ordered to keep her safe and with it he becomes protective of her and well well well *cue the relationship matchmaker* agh. Loved every second of it.

I devoured this book in record time, and now comes the hard part – waiting until February 2024 for the physical copy. And don't even get me started on the second book itch because I NEED to know what happens next! That's how much this book swept me off my feet. 📚🔥 #BookBliss #VikingMagic

I honestly at this point know what to expect from fantasy romance books, and while this one did contain classic romantasy tropes, I do think it stood apart. The viking aspect is something I hope will be explored more in the future books. The characters are very lovable, and while sometimes the fmc's can be irritating, Freya was not. The mmc was very similar to many others in this genre: over protective from first meeting, I would do anything for you and only you, etc... but I did still like him. It is very similar at this point to a lot of the others in this genre, but this is only the first book.

What did stand out to me was the writing. It was well written but still accessible. I literally flew through this book, and sometimes I do just want an easy read that is still written very well. This checked those boxes.

Now, I will say it is very heavy on the romance and not so much on the fantasy. I love a fantasy that has detailed world building and intriguing unique characters; with lots of epic battles, complex magic systems, twists, etc... - this is not that fantasy. That being said, this is tagged as fantasy romance, and I mentioned before, I do expect it to lean more romance. There is a place for that, don't get me wrong. It is described and tagged as such so I was not disappointed there wasn't more as I knew what I was getting into. However, I do wish there was more effort in this genre to do both. Make the books longer if needed! I just am starting to fall out of love with romantasy because it does feel like I've read the same book 50 times.

This is only the first book so I am pumped to see where Jensen goes with this series. Overall it was a solid first book. I hope to see more on the magic and world building in the next ones. I loved Bridge Kingdom, so I am hoping to see more in book two.

this book is dripping in classic norse mythology and i love it. the twists, the romance, the stakes, it was all just so fantastic. if you like insta-love turned slowburn, the romance in this is for you.

the only thing i didn’t like was that the main character freya was a bit aloof at times and made some *questionable* choices. made me want to shake her and say “think before you act woman”

i’m so glad i got to read it and i need the sequel like, now

This hooked me right from the beginning. Freya was a brave and determined character in a world that just wanted to use her as a weapon, yet she still had personal flaws to overcome and I rooted for her. It had the perfect amount of romance without ever overtaking the main plot.

I think if you liked Fourth Wing, you'd like this one as well. I felt it had a similar balance of plot to romance in a war-torn world. It was propulsive with lots of action, and didn't get bogged down with any overly flowery writing. I enjoyed the Norse mythology aspects as well, and am excited for this series as a whole!

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for this ARC.

First, thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I absolutely loved it. I would've read it in one sitting if it weren't for me being sick. This book was phenomenal. I enjoyed both the FMC and the MMC. Norse Mythology was well incorporated in the story.

Freya is a fisherman's wife who is gods Gifted by not one but two gods. She has kept this secret her whole life until she is betrayed by her greedy husband. He sells her off to the Jarl of Skaland as she is the Shield Maiden and she is to unite Skaland as one nation under one King, Jarl Snorri. His son Bjor is to be her sworn protector as their fate are entwined. Jarls across the land hunt her as they want her to wield her as their Shield Maiden and Bjor protects her every step of the way.

Everything about this book was just chefs kiss. You can help but fall in love with Bjor and Freya and cheer for them. The banter in the book was so witty and had me giddy. I just loved this book. I'm sad I'll have to wait till 2025 for the second book.

First and foremost, thank you Danielle Jensen and Random House for granting me the opportunity to review this ARC. You can also find the below review on Instagram (@sahmbookqueen) and Goodreads.

This book left a feeling that I can't quite describe. It's akin to drinking a cool glass of water while listening to your favorite song. There is something uniquely beautiful and refreshing about A Fate Inked in Blood. Perhaps it's the Norse-inspired imagery that invites you into a beautiful, yet deadly, landscape. Maybe it's the first-person perspective from a fierce FMC that has you allying with her from the start. You are quickly sucked in by her intelligence and inner-conflict that is SO well-written. Although, my money is on the fire-axe wielding MMC. 😉

Forbidden love is one of my favorite tropes and Jensen does it marvelously! My favorite part of this story is the playful banter and sheer wit. I found myself giggling and (dare I say) blushing at times. But, it was the moments in-between, when they professed bits and pieces of their feelings, that had me swooning. The tension was palpable, but equally delectable.

My one point of contention is that there is not a second book to consume. Pre-order this book. You will not be disappointed. This book has been granted occupancy in my soul.

I devoured this once I got into it. I've never read a book from this author, but I really enjoyed the world she created. A world based on Norse mythology was interesting and different from a lot of the fantasy I have read.

Freya is trapped in an awful marriage and dreams of being a warrior. But when her horrible husband reveals her magic to the jarl (basically a tribal leader), she is put on a path that seemingly includes everything she wanted, in none of the ways she imagined it. She is the shield maiden and prophecies speak of her power and ability to build or destroy kingdoms. She ends up serving the power-hungry jarl to protect her family and finds herself drawn to the jarl's warrior son, Bjorn. The book goes through this journey as Freya deals with the expectations of the jarl, Bjorn, the community, her family, the gods, and herself.

The book often focuses of the role of fate and how someone's decisions do or do not come into play. I really like that aspect of it, as well as the idea that some characters are unfated and thus might have a different level of control. It's also interesting to see Freya grapple with the idea that her imagination and reality don't match up. She wanted a different life so badly and it's a harsh wake up call to realize that different isn't always better. At times, Freya can be frustrating, mostly because of her age and limited worldview. This is very much a new adult fantasy. She talks about fairness quite bit, which is surprising considering what she has experienced so far. Additionally, I liked how the jarl was fanatically committed to his interpretation of the seer's prophecy. It's hard to tell if he is really a villain at this point, or if he is a just a man deeply deluded by a belief that he is meant for greatness. This also gets to another theme, which is figuring out who is responsible for powerful displays that hurt others. Is the person who wielded the power? Or the person who ordered it?

The romance is decent, if a bit too instant for me. The biggest issue I had with this book is the predictability of the plot. The set up for the final action is broadcast pretty clearly throughout the book, so I was pretty sure about what was going to happen (and it did). On the other hand, one of the things I liked most about this book is that Freya has to deal with the very real consequences of her actions. Too often in fantasy, the main character with powers does everything perfectly from the beginning and is always on the morally right side. Things aren't so cut and dry for Freya, which made her journey much more compelling.

I was leaning towards three stars, but as soon as I finished the book, my first thought "I need to read the next one!" I think that speaks well of its intrigue and overall plot. I will absolutely be back for book 2.

Thank you to Del Rey/Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this.

I have never read a vikings fantasy and this truly delivered. I will be eagerly awaiting PUB day and the subsequent novels following Freya.

This is my first book I have read by : Danielle L. Jensen. After reading this, it definitely will not be the last either.
(It is also, my first viking story.)
A Fate Inked in Blood follows the story of Freya. Freya is right off the bat described as a very strong character with bigger dreams of becoming a warrior, beyond just being someone’s wife. If I could book a book character I would definitely want to be like Freya she is someone, who is not only powerful but very smart & it has been very enjoyable to read about her character development.

From a young age Freya is told to hide her powers gifted to her from a drop of blood, by a goddess named Hlin. When her life is in danger during a duel her power comes to light and it is revealed that she is the shield maiden the jarl has been looking for many years. She is forced to go with the king and be his second wife in order to fulfill the prophecy a seer spoke of many years before. As the story goes on, we get to see Freya grow stronger as a character and learn how to harness her power.

What really hooked me with this book is the trope fathers son -
What I did appreciate was reading about Bjorn my new book boyfriend🙃.

This book has been amazing & I will definitely be buying a physical copy when it releases in February 2024.

Thank you to Danielle L. Jensen & her publisher & Netgalley for granting me permission to read this as an ARC.

I can't believe I hadn't read anything by Danielle L. Jensen if this is what I have been missing!! It is everything! It has epic fantasy, romance, loyalty, and betrayal. The only thing I didn't like about this book is that I will now have to wait for more until the next book comes out! 😭😭 Freya is strong and bold. Bjorn is my new book boyfriend and I can't imagine anyone replacing him. I don't want to give too much away but every romantasy lover needs this book!

5 stars!

Goodness this was wonderful. I was sucked into this world and utterly captivated. I love Danielle’s writing and her ability to tell epic fantasy stories.

This Norse-inspired fantasy romance was full of Norse lore, political intrigue, and a fierce heroine you can’t help but cheer for.

Freya is a shield maidan blessed by the gods and foretold to unite a nation under a king. I really enjoyed her character. She was at times frustrating, but I appreciated her character flaws. I felt for her as she was sought after, not for her, but for her power. Men fighting to own her for their own glory and agendas. Her desire to protect her family and stay loyal was endearing.

The battles were epic, the Viking setting immersive, and the gods with the blood magic delivered on a unique story. The story left me questioning the true motivations of most characters and kept me wanting to turn the page. The romance in this book balances with the fantasy plot, and Bjorn was delicious. I loved the forbidden aspect to their attraction.

I think if you are familiar with DLJ’s writing then this was a touch predictable, about 50% of the way in I saw how it would end, but it was great nonetheless. I loved it! Definitely a top fantasy romance this year!

Releases: February 27th, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“How can a man control your fate when he is not even the master of his own?”

I loved Danielle L. Jensen’s The Bridge Kingdom series, so giving this book a low rating pains me greatly. I went in with high expectations because of the said series but ended up disappointed. This was a fast read, I finished it in a day or two, but it got boring for me around the middle to end.

This is a fantasy romance book which means it focuses on the romance more. Even so, that part of the book was a bit of a snooze for me because it was instalust and the relationship felt underdeveloped.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Super great story! I love the dive in to Viking lore and adore the development of characters along the way. I was very drawn in to every bit and loved the balance of gore and spice. I can't wait for the next book.

I learned something about Norse mythology in this book. I really liked the world building and character development. The romance wasn't super great though.

This reads like binge watching your favorite Viking show with a good dose of Norse myth and magic. I don’t easily or usually like heroic female characters but I really liked Freya and the forbidden love story was beautiful. I did see the twist coming which is not necessarily a bad thing but it just made me not consider the proposed alternatives throughout the story as anything alarming or with high stakes. I also understand that because of the ending the MMC had to have some mystery but at times he felt a little too closed off. I wanted to connect with him directly not just feel interested because of the MFC. I’m really looking forward to book 2 and have already preordered book 1 physical copy.

4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

I love everything Danielle writes and A Fate Inked in Blood was no exception. It was fast-paced, intriguing, and had me hooked from the beginning. If it hadn't been for work and needing to take care of my child, I wouldn't have put it down. 😂

I was immediately pulled in and loved Freya from the start. She was strong, selfless (to a fault), and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. I loved that she never played the damsel in distress role and was confident in and took responsibility for her own actions. I will say, Freya feeling at fault for OTHER people's decisions and actions drove me absolutely mad by the end, but I'm sure it's all part of her character arc.

Bjorn? OBSESSED. I'm so glad we met him so early on, because no amount of him was enough. I loved his humor, his strength, and his dedication to/protection of Freya at every turn. The banter between them? Grade A. Top notch. ELITE.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. Why wasn't it a 5? I wanted more - plot, fantasy, world-building. I also found it to be pretty predictable. The ending was exciting an some aspects of it I didn't guess, but most of it I did. That said, it was still a great cliff-hanger and I can't wait to read more of Freya and Bjorn's story!

Read If You Like:
-Norse Mythology
-Shows/Books About Vikings
-Gods/Goddesses
-Powers Gifted from Gods
-Strong, Sharp, Kind, Selfless, Badass FMC
-Forced Proximity
-Forbidden Romance
-Fated Romance
-Slow Burn Romance
-Perfect Banter

Thank you so much to Del Rey Books for the very advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. Now I'm going to go cry under my covers thinking about how long I have to wait until book 2!