"You are mine, Born-in-Fire. And I am yours, even if only the two of us know it."

From the author of one of my favorite series, The Bridge Kingdom, Danielle Jensen draws you into the world of Vikings, with meddling Gods, forbidden romance, and a little bit of spice.

What to expect:
- Vikings
- Norse Gods
- Instant attraction
- Bodyguard trope
- ONE HORSE!!!!!
- Arraigned marriage

My thoughts:

This book was so good! I truly enjoy Danielle’s writing and was so excited to dive into another one of her books.

Our two main characters, Freya and Bjorn are so so good. They balance each other so well and I loved their dynamic. They both have fiery tempers and push each other. Freya is strong willed, and even though she is unwillingly put into a situation out of her control, she does her best to make the most of it and do whatever it takes to see it through. She’s strong, kind, caring, and independent. Bjorn is funny and sweet, with a fierce loyal streak to him. I cannot wait to see where these characters go in the next book, especially after the plot twist at the end.


I did feel like this book was a little more predictable than most. I would have loved if there had been some out of left field twist (I did guess the plot twist at the end), but the book gave us all the tropes we know, and love and it didn’t disappoint in that department.

I will definitely be continuing this series, and I truly can’t wait for the next book to come out. Book 2 can only build on the momentum of this book, and I feel like it’s going to be incredible.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Favorite quotes:

"Don't underestimate my tongue, Freya. Especially in the dark."
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"I wanted you the moment I first set eyes on you. I wanted you in Fjalltindr. I want you now, and tomorrow, and all the tomorrows, Freya."
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"You are mine, Born-in-Fire. And I am yours, even if only the two of us know it."
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"I'll have all of you or none of you."
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"I'll kill anyone who tries to take you from me."
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"There is no future where I would regret choosing you, Freya."

Possibly one of the more thrilling books I have read in quite sometime. I absolutely devoured this book like a starving woman. This was FANTASTIC and DYNAMIC and BEAUTIFULLY THRILLING!

I was already a fan of this author's other books, so I was pumped to read this one. I really enjoyed my time with this story. When I saw this book was Norse/Viking inspired, it definitely piqued my interest, and this did not disappoint. The brutality of that life and the gods having a lot to do with the plot was interesting and kept the pace up. I liked the main character but sometimes I wanted to shake her for not seeing how awful people were being to her, but, I am thinking the next book is going to remedy that frustration so I will definitely be continuing with this series.

Omg!

I honestly have no words to how wild and thrilling this book was. Our main girl, Freya, was so awesome. She fought for what she believed in and was so honorable when no one else was. And Bjorn... he had a lot of hidden depths that, honestly, we didn't all find out about until the end!

This book was pretty fast paced, which I loved. Action was happening from the first two chapters all the way to the end.

The book is set in a world where the Norse gods are worshiped. It was very interesting to me because honestly I know nothing about the Norse gods. Which was cool each time we met a new "child" of a Norse god.

Now while our main character Freya was strong and a great person, she was sadly surrounded by people who WEREN'T good people. And let me tell you, their actions will do-nothing but make you angry.

I can not wait for book 2. We were left with some very big changes at the end and I can't wait to see where Freya stands in the next book.

THIS BOOOOOOKKK WAS SO GOOOODDDD.

I had an absolute freaking blast reading this. Freya is such a baddie and I so desperately want to be her friend. And BJORN? I need him in my life. I want someone to protect me in the way he protects Freya.

this was my first Danielle Jensen and I am so in love with her writing that I absolutely need to read her back list now.

3.5 rounded up.

What a fun book! I was drawn in immediately and loved Freya the minute we met her. Starting a new fantasy can be daunting with world building but DLJ did such a great job making this world approachable and easy to jump into quickly. I knew I was in for a treat when I was blushing and kicking my feet barely one chapter in.

Though I felt the progression of the book was fairly predictable, I genuinely loved the characters and feel like they made a fairly formulaic story much more compelling. The action sequences were well done - never seeming to drone on for too long - and no scene felt wasted.

The last bit of the book did drag a little for me but it was immediately rectified by the ending throwing several surprising revelations out that pulled me right back in and left me wanting more.

I think this book is going to be such a popular 2024 release and I am so excited for whatever DLJ has in store for the rest of Freya’s story!

This book immediately drew me in. I really enjoyed the main character and the side characters as well. Freya was strong and interesting, and her powers made for a compelling narrative.

When I tell you I absolutely TORE this book apart. I'm a sucker for a fantasy romance with a strong female lead and this did not disappoint! I also really enjoyed the tie-ins with Norse mythology because I haven't read anything similar. The romance scenes were spicy, but they weren't just there to be there, they made sense with what was happening in the plot. Overall, I'm invested in Freya's story and will definitely continue reading the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of this book!

If yall don’t drop all of your reading plans and TBRs to pick this up I swear 😍 I know a few others that received this arc as well and we all cannot stop GUSHING about these characters and this story. If you love fantasy romance, mythology, and Vikings, especially Norse inspired, this one’s for you. Also- it will be a duology! We love duologies around here.

Thank you to @netgalley and @delreybooks for the wonderful e-ARC of this 🖤

Ms. Danielle Jensen has done it again! She created another world for us to wander about. A Fate Inked in Blood is Norse-inspired romantasy that will have you wanting for more after finishing the book. Aware that its a Norse-inspired book, it wasn't a surprise when I found myself having a hard time figuring out how to properly pronounce the names. I was glad I found a pronunciation guide on the author's website. (Side note: The audiobook is narrated by a Norwegian! I'm so happy the author and her team chose to have a native speaker do the narration for the book. I think it would give more depth to the audiobook)

From the beginning to end, I was drawn to everything in this novel. The story was well-paced. It had a good flow, that it was easy to follow and wasn't confusing given there were multiple locations for each events. And, although, there were alot of characters/names thrown at you, you won't be overwhelmed.

There were no wasted characters here. I mean everyone, no matter how small their role is, had an impact that gave more depth and color to the novel. The FMC, Freya, has a strong personality matching the MMC, Bjorn, which makes their witty banters more entertaining to read. It wasn't just them feeling the tension between them, I too as a reader felt it. It wasn't only Freya and Bjorn's chemistry that was great, but also, the dynamics between the characters.

There are definitely some twists here and there, but, its kind of predictable. The predictability of it is the only thing that disappointed me. However, it was still an awesome read and would recommend it to everyone!

Readers, prepare to be amazed! "A Fate Inked in Blood" is a wild, magical and treacherous start to a new fantasy romance series by Danielle L. Jensen.

There were lots of unfortunate situations and (perhaps too many for me) well-written but unlikable characters that made this book heavy/tough to read. But I was captivated by the world-building, eager to know what would happen next, and hoping beyond hope that Freya would make it through the escalating dangers in one piece.

For most of her life, Freya has had to hide that she is a child of the god so that others don’t use her for nefarious purposes. She is an unfated child born in fire prophesied as the shield maiden who would unite all of Skaland under one rule. One throw of an axe places Freya on a path toward an uncertain future but one in which she's determined to prove herself worthy of being a warrior to protect her family and her people.

Freya has always had the heart of a warrior. She puts her loved ones before her well-being and happiness and continues to do so throughout book one and yet gets so little or nothing in return. This was sometimes not the best decision as you'll see.

Bjorn, the forbidden love interest, is blessed by the god, Tyr, with fire magic and is reverently known as Firehand. Despite the disruption during his childhood and the immense tension between him and his family, he's carefree, charismatic, and enjoys fighting and winning battles. He hates the idea that his fate is tied to Freya’s against his will. Nevertheless, Bjorn and Freya - whom he coolly refers to as Freya Born-in-Fire - are drawn to each other even though they want nothing to do with the circumstances that brought them together.

One character who still has me stupefied long after I had finished reading is Snorri, Bjorn's father and Freya's jarl. Snorri is a terrible, power-hunger person and an even worse "leader." There is so much illogical blind faith in him and his ridiculous belief that he is destined to rule all it astounded me that people continuously chose to follow Snorri regardless of the senseless death and violence that occurred in his wake.

Freya shows admirable tenacity and courage during perilous situations, which I liked about her character. However, it was sad to see her initial spark and strength slowly dim the more she got caught up in Snorri's obsession and madness. I wish more page time had been spent on Freya learning to become the warrior she’s always dreamed of being because it could have amplified/legitimized her character as the chosen one. I imagine it could have also lessened the unwarranted blame and scapegoating by everyone (except Bjorn) toward her over things she couldn't control.

I liked the relationship between Freya and Bjorn but not so much the back-and-forth feelings. Freya likes that Bjorn accepts her as is and doesn’t want anything from her - that he actually cares about her! But her stubbornness about putting the needs of others first and her desire to do the right thing, thus leaving her increasingly conflicted, was a bit too much or went on for too long for my liking. Although this often seemed unknowingly and not intentionally at Bjorn’s expense, his frustration was understandably warranted.

The last quarter of the story was epic chaos plot-wise with a huge plot twist I didn't expect (but probably should have in hindsight) and a cliffhanger that left me yearning to read book two because this was a tumultuous journey.

Overall, I liked the story, the magical components, the Norse-inspired setting, and the gorgeous cover art. Jensen truly is a one of a kind storyteller and I look forward to seeing how the story concludes.

Thanks again Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

4 stars, 1.5 spice

Thank you to Netgalley & Delrey for the arc!

I am a huge fan of Danielle L. Jensen work, The Bridge Kingdom is one of my favorites. I am not so familiar with Norse mythology, I think this was my first Viking fantasy book as well.

This story had some really unique tropes but somehow it wasn’t taboo at all? Being married to another man, to forced political marriage…but wait the MMC is HIS SON. And he has to protect her because she is the shield maiden and oh so important to his father for his own power gain. Wild.

It starts off a bit insta-lusty, but don’t worry, there is tons of action, and adventures and prophecies and politics before the romance really picks up.

Expect to see leaders twisting religion for their own gain, lots of fight scenes, Vikings, a MMC with a flaming Axe, unique gifts (those you have a drop of gods blood have different gifts), great banter, shitty men trying to control women. And some feminine rage.

The one thing missing was some more character depth on both Freya and Bjorn. I think Freya has had to hide herself her whole life, so I am hoping she will open up more in the next book. And Bjorn… honestly a bit of the same. I am hoping for his POV moving forward too…. A girl can dream.

I did end up doing most of the read on the audiobook - which I highly recommend! Especially if you are unfamiliar with Norse Mythology and names. (If you read only with your eyes check out the pronunciation page on Jensen’s website, she has snippets from the audio pulled for all the Nordic words and names)

I wanted to love this one so much, but ended up being another book that just did not hit for me the way i wanted it to. For me, the story drops you right into the middle of another world and doesn’t build it, Freya (FMC) is one of the most annoying characters I’ve ever read and I just did not find the romance believable at all. Might still read the second book just to see how the first book cliffhanger resolves. Will recommend the Bridge Kingdom series by this author over this one!

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get this ARC, and I was finally able to sit down and really read it this week. I was immediately gripped by how much of a powerful FMC Freya is. She cares for others and will do anything for the sake of those she loves. When she grabbed the ax in the beginning of the story??? That was such an insane move and I am rooting for her all the way. I enjoyed getting her POV and slowly learning all of the truth about her and the situation she’s been put in. She is constantly having to see who she can and can’t trust.

This story does slow down a bit in the middle, but it was still enough to keep me interested. I needed to know what happened in the last 50% of the book. It’s based on Norse Mythology which I love, and I feel like there will definitely be more of the gods at work in the next book. All of the battle and fighting scenes were great, and I was stressed several times trying to figure out how Jensen would end the story.

The relationship between her and Bjorn was good. It immediately starts off with fun banter, and they are always bickering even though there is obviously tension and attraction between the two of them. There is forced proximity between the two of them when he is tasked with keeping her safe. As this forces them to befriend one another, they slowly begin to see their love for each other. I felt like I highlighted so much of their conversations, especially towards the end.

It ended on a big cliffhanger, so I am definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes!

There was never a dull second in this book, it held my interest from start to finish! The magic system and world are so vast without it being overwhelming. Even the minor characters felt so thought out and dimensional. I cannot wait for the next book in this series… this book had no business ending like that. I need answers! I’m excited to see how Freye writes her own fate going forward, as I’m sure she will.

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Everyone is in their Romantasy era. I’m only half joking but for anyone needing something to hold them over for the next SJMaas or Fourth Wing installment, this book is for you!

Danielle L. Jensen has done a fabulous job of creating a fantasy world inspired by Norse mythology. It has all the Viking vibes and is filled with meddling gods, prophecies, and battles of fate. Freya, along with other born gifted with blood from the gods, is part of the few whose fate is unwoven and can be changed by her decision. She’s also the prophesied Shield Maiden that says the person who controls her will be able to unite and lead the clans. Forced to marry, Freya soon finds herself in the middle of battling clans who will stop at anything to possess or kill her.

I love quick witted and sassy banter, especially between our romantic leads and Jensen fully delivers this with her banter between Freya and Bjorn. Though their relationship is forbidden, their chemistry and attraction is palpable. And I mean who wouldn’t be attracted to sworn worthy Bjorn. While Bjorn quickly became a favorite of mine, Freya had her ups and downs. I believe this book falls under ‘New Adult’ and Freya definitely comes across as naiver and more impulsive than I would have liked. She goes through quite a few periods where she just frustrated me. Since this is ‘New Adult’ though, she would certainly appeal to the younger audience this is aimed at, as she has a very YA feel to her. I’m hoping we see significant growth in her character as the series progresses.

Filled tons of action, adventure, forbidden romance, and spice, I had so much fun reading this book. I haven’t read anything else from Jensen before, but I have heard this is her spiciest series yet, but I’d rate it a 3.5 out of 5 on the spicy scale. I’d give this 4.5 stars rounded down to 4, just because I thought there were a few pacing issues, otherwise strongly recommend!

A Fate Inked in Blood is out now! Huge thank you to Del Rey Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book.

A Fate Inked in Blood surprised me a few different times. I expected this one to be a deep high-fantasy book, a la The Priory of the Orange Tree (no, I didn't read the description). By the second chapter, I knew that I had expected too much out of the world building and the characters here. I really contemplated DNF-ing this book. But for some reason, I stuck with it.

The second surprise was that I found the heart of this book to be very compelling. It isn't groundbreaking, but I was intrigued by the plot. The writing quality was at a young adult level, which gave me pause while reading. I can compare it to Fourth Wing or the Serpent and the Wings of Night, but A Fate Inked in Blood teeters the line between romantasy and fantasy romance.

Now... the main romance in this book is a doozy. Basically, its a stepmother/stepson pairing? Which was CRAZY by the way. It did give forbidden romance, because I certainly thought that they should not be messing around with each other! The plot twists were predictable, and the romance scenes in this book had me cringing. But luckily, those scenes were easily skipable.

Another note is that the traditional gender roles are central to the plot in this one. If you like a bit more nuance about gender roles and gender expression in your fantasy books, you will find this book to be surface level. Lastly, all of the villains in this book were comically evil which made me laugh. The emotions of every character were at 95%. Bjorn was prone to rapid mood swings, and I had a hard time keeping track.

If you like From Blood and Ash, you should read this book. (2.75/3 stars)

Danielle L Jensen’s newest title, A FATE INKED IN BLOOD, contains all of the best parts of fantasy romance - political intrigue, prophecies, meddling gods, and of course, the flirty, but broody, hot warrior.

This story is face-paced, plot-driven but still has intriguing and complicated characters. Freya, our FMC, is desperately trying to find her place when she is thrust in the middle of power-hungry men trying to use her for their own gain. Danielle portrays Freya’s conflicting emotions and thoughts extremely well. Our supporting characters are also well-developed and add a lot of depth to the story.

It was so easy to get lost into this story, and Danielle’s storytelling is some of the best I have read. She provides great world-building and immerses us into Norse mythology. We are left on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am very excited for the next book in this series (and to get some answers!).

Definitely move this title up on your TBR!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️.5 / 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Del Ray for the opportunity to read and review ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A FATE INKED IN BLOOD releases 2/27/24.

Important things you need to know about Ill-Fated Fortune:

Pace: Fast

POV: 1st person (Freya)

Trigger Warnings: A Fate Inked in Blood contains themes that include violence, war, death, blood, gore, death of a parent, fire & fire injury, murder, sexism, injury & injury detail, animal death, grief, bullying, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, infidelity, misogyny, physical abuse, vomit, kidnapping, gaslighting, classism, suicide attempt, bigamy, and toxic relationships.

Series: A Fate Inked in Blood is the first book in the Sage of the Unfated series.

Language: There is moderate swearing in A Fate Inked in Blood. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in A Fate Inked in Blood. But, the lead-up to Bjorn and Freya having sex is explicit.

Setting: A Fate Inked in Blood is set in Skaland.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

In an unwanted and abusive marriage, Freya lives to keep her husband, a child of the gods, happy. Freya is also hiding a huge secret, one so big that it could rip apart everything that she knows. And it happens; her secret is discovered the day her husband decides to have her killed by the king so he can marry another woman. What is Freya’s secret? She is also a child of the gods. She is The Shieldmaiden of a prophecy where she is foretold to unite a fractured Skaland.

Brought to the capital of Skaland by a fanatical Snorri (the king), Freya is forced to marry him and then is bound by a blood oath to keep his secrets. Snorri then orders his son, Bjorn, to train and protect Freya. Freya is desperate. She needs to learn to fight and control her magic to appease Snorri and the gods. Meanwhile, she survives attempts on her life and trials given by the gods. Freya is also battling an attraction to Bjorn, which is forbidden since he is technically her stepson. Can Freya live up to what the prophecy said and unite Skaland? Or do the gods have other plans for her?

My Review

I was browsing NetGalley (specifically the Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine page) when I noticed A Fate Inked in Blood and saw it was wish only. I was going to pass (the cover didn’t thrill me then), but when I read the blurb, I knew I needed to read it. This book was based on Norse mythology, and from the blurb, it looked good. So, I took the gamble and wished for it. I was thrilled when I got the email telling me it was granted. Now that I have read the book, I can tell you that it is fantastic. It was a rare five stars for me!!

A Fate Inked in Blood’s main storyline centers around Freya, her magic, and Bjorn. The author took Norse gods and goddesses and interwove them into a violent and bloody storyline that reflected how the way of life was back when people still worshipped the gods. But she put her own spin on things, which made this book so good.

I loved Freya. Her life wasn’t great the entire book. But she kept her wits about her and used her circumstances to better herself. I also liked how she handled being told that she would unite Skaland. Her reaction was something that I could see an ordinary person doing.

Freya’s magic was a huge aspect of the book, but at the same time, so little was known about it. Her training wasn’t excellent (she had to be trained fast), and most of what she knew was instinctive. A massive twist in her origin story took me by surprise. I hope that in book 2, she gets the training to understand and use her magic.

Oh, Bjorn, let me tell you about Bjorn. He was utterly devoted to Freya when his father made him her protector. But, even before that, he looked out for her. His backstory was tragic. It was a little drawn out, and I figured out what was happening before the book’s end. But, it was that drawn-out story, along with his utter devotion to Freya, that made him so amazing to read.

I want to warn you that A Fate Inked in Blood has a lot of gore and violence. But, considering when this book took place, I thought it was weird if there wasn’t any (if that makes sense).

Several secondary storylines involve Snorri and his war. From the threats to kill her family to marrying her to going into battle, it helped flesh out Freya’s storyline and made me better understand what she was going through.

The fantasy angle of A Fate Inked in Blood was terrific. The author did her research when it came to Norse gods and customs of that era. I couldn’t put the book down when Bjorn and Freya battled through the caves or when the gods came to witness her battle.

While I saw how Bjorn’s storyline would end, I did not expect the book to end the way it did. I was utterly floored by what was revealed about Freya and Bjorn. I didn’t see it coming, and I had to reread those chapters several times to understand everything. Events happened so fast that I did get turned around. It also made me very excited to read book 2. Because I can’t wait to see what a pissed-off Freya is capable of!!

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Danielle L. Jensen for allowing me to read and review this ARC of A Fate Inked in Blood. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Danielle Jensen has done it again! This book is amazing! Freya is such a strong resilient character who is forced to hide her magic gifted from the Gods so that she can still have some semblance of a normal life rather than becoming a pawn in the games of the Jarls intent on fulfilling a prophecy. When her magic is exposed in a way that she can no longer remain hidden, Freya is forced to balance a life of compliance, for the sake and safety of those she loves, and defiance, so that her life is not solely dictated by the whims of those who feel they have a right to her life and power or who want her death.
I already know this is going to be one of my tops reads of the year. The way Jensen intermingles the Norse mythology, a unique magic system, forbidden romance, intriguing plot, and *spice* is masterful. Definitely a must read!