Holy slow burn from Hel! In the best possible way! I love this book! Action from start to finish, sexy Vikings, some epic steam, betrayal around every corner, etc. Another epic series from the master! And that ending... whew! Can't wait to see what happens next!

Do you miss shows like Vikings or The Last Kingdom? Are you craving magical worldbuilding with battle axes, shields, and mischievous gods? Then pick up A Fate Inked in Blood.

A Fate Inked in Blood starts out a bit slow, as it's setting up the main character, Freya's, bleak life as a fishmonger's wife. And boy, is it depressing. But the story picks up pretty quickly when the jarl come to mess things up and expose all of Freya's secrets. And of course, that's when she meets Bjorn, the fire axe wielding son of the jarl.

Freya is a complicated character. She wants to be a warrior, but she's forced into terrible positions by the men around her due to her loyal nature and desire to protect her undeserving family members. Bjorn, meanwhile, is secretive, but suave. He's got that Hawke/Rhysand personality, but he's a tad more patient; he waits to see how things work out before acting on anything. It was quite frustrating when you are constantly hoping he'll come in and save Freya from all of the terrible situations she's put in. But, he just bides his time. His power is pretty cool, though. I want a fire axe. Freya's shield power is cool too, but it's still a bit of a mystery how her power plays into the king-making prophecy, though I do have some theories for book two.

The side characters in this story don't have a ton of dimension to really make them stand out. Snorri is the corrupt jarl. Ylva is the evil, jealous stepmother type. And Geir is the worthless brother. Everyone else is barely in the story enough to really care about them, which is fine. It's a fantasy romance story, so that makes sense.

As for the worldbuilding itself, while Jensen used existing Norse gods and concepts, like Thor, Loki, and Valhalla, I think it could've been relatively easy for her to not use them at all and create her own god system. I would have preferred that, honestly. It was a little jarring seeing Thor mentioned midway through the story. I do love the idea of having people blessed with powers given to them by the gods, though. It's really interesting to learn about the different abilities. And the action that results from those powers is intense too. I hope it gets even more ramped up in the sequel.

All in all, if you like books like Adrienne Young's Sky in the Deep, Jennifer L. Armentrout's Fall of Ruin and Wrath or From Blood and Ash, or Tricia Levenseller's Warrior of the Wild, then A Fate Inked in Blood is the book for you. There's a solid hate to semi-friends to lovers storyline mixed with forbidden lovers and a very chaotic ending. I'm super excited to see what happens next.

4/5 stars

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

I’ve read many books from Jensen’s backlist, and I’ve known about Jensen in the book world since the publication of the first book in the Dark Shores Series, so I’m no stranger to this writer. I own all of Jensen’s books (yes, even the ones I haven’t read yet). I have liked a few of Jensen’s books. Trust me when I assert that it pains me incredibly to write that I did not enjoy this one. It did not feel like a book written by an experienced author. The plot was repetitive, dull, and uneventful. The book also falls into the cheap trap of trudging along and boring me and then ending the last two or three chapters with what the previous 5,000 should have had in them. Sigh. Also, I wonder how there are so many reviews posted for this when the ebook from the publisher requested for reviews not to be posted until publication date. Maybe that was just my edition? Not sure.

Mainly, the druthers I have about this one stem from the plot structure and the romance between the love interests. It is awkward, forced in setup, and just not really that good. The two people are attractive, and that’s about the only quality that pits them together as a couple. Bjorn (for an authentic Scandinavian spelling, see Bjørn or Björn), though a halfway decent character, feels too incidental to be a love interest. He’s eye candy at the start of the book and then a tagalong for the rest of it. His role in the story comes to fruition mostly at the end (again, I can’t stand the boring, boring, boring, and then tons of action toward the end). Freya, who should resemble a remarkable woman saddled with a terrible husband comes across only as a whiny, simpering idiot of a girl who continues to be loyal to her family to the detriment of the war and conflict going on around her. I know Jensen can write females with conflicting inner turmoil and grown-up thoughts. Freya is not one of those characters. I won’t waste a reader’s time with a breakdown of all the side characters. It could go on and on. I don’t want to get myself worked up.

My bookshelves for a plot in this thing! What a repetitive, completely inane story. It was seriously Percy Jackson but with grown people and Nordic folk. Throw in a little bit of Power Rangers because we have to say the god’s or goddess’ name to activate our powers. I really can see Freya holding out her hand and saying dinosaur names in my head (which may or may not have happened when I was reading). The problem with this type of magic system is the amount of repetition required to narrate action scenes. With action-packed plots, the characters will constantly do and say the same thing in order to fight. And Freya says “Hlin” a lot.

The repetition doesn’t stop there, either. In order to get Freya to fall in line, Snorri, the would be King of the south, threatens her family constantly (you know, just like parents who count when they’re trying to get their toddlers to do what they’re told). It felt like I read for days when only 10% of the book had gone by. Several things go on at one time, and the events don’t connect well together. Jarls come after Freya. Someone tries to murder Freya. Freya and Bjorn make forbidden googly eyes at each other and then try to resist. I felt intensely the circumlocutory nature of the plot. How is this a Jensen book?

We’re not really that far into 2024. It’s only the end of February, but I will have to say, A Fate Inked in Blood is the biggest let down of 2024 for me. I’ve learned not to really expect much from hyped books, but this one I self-hyped because I based my expectations on past experiences. I had genuine, empirically-based high hopes. What a wet blanket this book was, man.

Despite my disappointment, I still profusely thank Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC (I still can’t believe I got approved), for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion (as one can tell).

SO good. I’ve never read anything quite like it. I adored the Vikings aspect, and the world building was amazing, as well as the characters. The story was written so well. Slow burn, but well worth it. Really excited to see how the rest of this series will play out. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Look out! There’s a new romantasy series on the loose and this time it’s with Vikings!

As someone who loves Norse mythology and history I am so excited that A Fate Inked in Blood is here! I loved our main character (as well as the whole cast of characters) and felt like the whole story was just done so well! I am already in anticipation for the next book in this series!

I was so happy to be approved for this ARC! Last year, I started reading more Romantasy books, and I have loved Danielle L. Jensen! This book was another great one by her! I enjoy the worlds she creates and has romances with an actual plot.

From the very beginning, I was gripped by the story. Jensen has a way to pull you in and not let you go. Freda was a character that I really enjoyed getting to know. She’s forced into this life she hates but does it for her family’s protection. She is so self-less throughout this book, and it was hard to keep watching her do. Love is blind, no? Anyway, her journey isn’t easy, and it seems she keeps becoming prisoner to another man. I love how she finds ways to rebel! Her relationship with Bjorn was so swoon worthy and full of tension. Their love story was so kind of a slow-build which I really enjoyed.

The world-building was well done, but I would love to know more about the other parts of it. I hope that will happen in the next book, so I’m not taking anything away here. Some of the pacing was a little off for me. I’m not sure if it was my mood, but the beginning started off with a bang, and then the middle lulled a lot. The ending was insane, and even if I figured things out early, it was enjoyable!

There are a lot of side characters in this book that you will hate. I mean, she really does know how to write villains. Some of them will be relationships that are heartbreaking. I’m looking forward to what the next book brings because I’ve got some suspicions about many!

Overall, this was a great romantasy!! Jensen is brilliant when it comes to writing romances, and this is one you will also enjoy. The ending came with a lot of questions. This book is one that I do want to buy and add to my shelves because the cover is stunning, and it has sprayed edges!

Many thanks to Del Rey and Netgalley for an e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Fate Inked in Blood, the first book in the Saga of the Unfated, blends magic, mythology, spicy romance, and action for a solid novel.
Stuck in an unwanted and abusive marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish dreaming of becoming a fierce warrior. Her life is uprooted when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl; she must fight his son Bjorn to the death. To survive she reveals her deepest secret: she is a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack-even from another magical weapon.
Foretold across Skaland, the shield married will unite the fractured nation. The one who controls the shield maiden will be the one who rules them all. Believing he’s destined to rule, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and marriage while ordering Bjorn to protect her. Being pushed as a weapon, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods
The book bursts to a start with little time to give a setting and get to know the characters. But the book continues this pace making the chapters action-packed and moving the story along. Though there are places where I wish Danielle L Jenson had slowed down. I would have liked to see the emotional attachment grow between the partners of the main love affair that needed more non-sexual intimacy. There is some character development but not as much as I would like but I am sure that will expand across the saga.
Many times, when a book is the first in a series, the endings are left open and leave too many loose ends (I’m looking at you Holly Horror). Jenson ties her threads nicely leaving some openings to explore them in later stories. The story itself is concluded—it doesn’t feel like the author stopped halfway. This left me satisfied with the story while still interested in what happens next.
Fate Inked in Blood is an enjoyable tale. I most loved the use of magic and the strong female characters.

i wanted to like this one, but couldn’t get into it. hoping to give it another shot in a week or two, because i love this authors writing!

I was instantly pulled into the fascinating world of Vikings and Norse mythology by Danielle's writing. As a fan of Norse mythology, I loved how it mixed traditional lore with a fun new one. The world-building was crafted very well and I was fully immersed in the story. The best part was that it was easy to follow and one didn't need to know anything about Norse mythology to enjoy it.

While I enjoyed the book, I thought the pacing could be better. Everything happened a bit too fast, making it hard to believe Freya's growth and relationships. If the timeline was longer, the story would feel more real. Also, the plot twists were easy to guess, which made it less exciting. But even with these issues, I still really enjoyed the book.

Despite some flaws, I found this Book 1 super exciting, and I can't wait to read the next book!

Huge thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

Time and time again, Danielle L. Jensen delivers amazing fantasy romances that take your breath away. A Fate Inked in Blood is no different.



First off, I fell in love with Danielle Jensen’s writing style when I read The Bridge Kingdom. Then I started going down this hole of needing to read everything that she has ever written. In case you are wondering, Stolen Songbird was AMAZING.

She has an amazing way of driving a plot throughout the story that gets you at the edge of the seat. Official auto-buy author for me now.

My favorite is always how complex the FMC is and the love interest of the story. They are complicated and they develop very well throughout the story. The slow burn is horrendous in a good way. It wasn’t rushed and it got to it eventually. All that said, this is an amazing fantasy romance.

What I like about this particular story is that it is about Vikings and I feel like this book captures their life and even their religion very well. The battle sequences were realistic and brutal. For a happy reader that does not like to read anything gruesome….this was really done well and I am actually thinking about reading other subgenres such as military fantasy just to see if I like it or not.

I got really frustrated at the turn of events that happened in the story. Freya really drove me up the wall with her actions. Part of me wants to understand because of the driving force of the events. But ugh, I hope to see some character development in the second book.

The ending was tragic and amazing at the same time. So I am also equally mad that I will have to wait for book 2 now!

I bought the kindle version, the audiobook (with a Norwegian narrator! YES!! Go Del Ray!!!), the waterstones edition, and the standard US edition, and I really hope it makes the NY Times Bestseller's list. I've certainly done my part trying to get it there. :)

Congratulations and happy release day to Danielle!!

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This is for contemporary romance readers who want a heavy dose of old Norse fantasy elements.

It’s well-written and I enjoyed the aspects of Scandinavian culture brought in. Very smooth to read.

I think this is a book I will like more on the reread now that I know what to expect from it. The contemporary romantic slow-burn elements were extremely modern in the way they were written, but then the way the other pieces were written was more traditional to fantasy, and the choice was made to use extremely old-fashioned names. I personally found this mix jarring (who wants to read about their grandma doing.... things? Eep!), but I'm Norwegian and so more sensitive to all these elements.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

I was rooting for Freya from the moment we found out about her awful husband, and reading her journey from fishmonger’s wife to shieldmaiden me everything that accompanied her path was a good time. I loved the tension and desire between Freya and Bjorn. The guilt and get Freya grapples with really ground her as a character and make her so... real. I really enjoyed this one, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

ETA: I can't believe I forgot to mention the twist at the end!! I sort of expected it, but the way it played out turned still had me racing the "time left" thingy on my kindle and I'm on the edge of my seat to see what happens in book two!

This is perfect for romantasy fans and really blends the fantasy and romance aspects well! This was my first Norse fantasy, other than Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series, and I really loved it. Also, I will be checking out Jensens' backlist now, for sure.

Thanks to netgalley, Random House/Del Rey, and Danielle L. Jensen for the arc, this review is my own.

Writing reviews for books you loved is so hard because I just loved everything in it? And I don't even have any criticisms. I thought this was a gripping story with characters that I was very into and a world I loved being in and a romance that had be turning pages as fast as I could and I cannot wait for the second book

In this book, I got whisked into a vivid, Norse-mythology-inspired world where Freya, a shield maiden with divine lineage, is caught in a web of political intrigue and burgeoning love for the king's son, Bjorn. This fantasy romance intertwines elements of magic, power struggles, and the complexities of heart and duty. Freya's transformation from a disillusioned wife to a warrior destined to unite a nation is compelling and empowering. The tension between her and Bjorn adds a delicious layer of forbidden desire to the mix, making it hard to put down. The blend of mythology, romance, and action is seamless, creating a story that's not just about love but about finding one's place in a world marked by gods and destiny.

(4.5/5)

YES. YES. YESSSS! This book was everything! Sexy vikings? Check. Badass heroine? Double Check. Epic battles and swoon-worthy banter? You know it!

Freya is a woman trapped by society and expectations, desperate to escape the droll life of a fisherman's wife. When the opportunity finally presents itself, it's nothing like she would've imagined. Thrust into a new role, she finds herself in even more danger than before - only this time, she's got a hot warrior bodyguard following her around.

Torn between love and duty, Freya fights to forge her own fate and make her own way in the world as a woman. Secrets, betrayal, and strage spectral images lurk around every corner, making this fantasy romance action packed and full of anticipation. The spice is slow and almost torturous, but oh my GOD, does it pay off. Freya and Bjorn are pure chemistry and their banter is sassy and snarky and sexy, which is just the cherry on top.

The cliffhanger at the end is pretty big, but it's one I saw coming (hence the half star reduction). Regardless, I absolitely loved this book and I cannot wait for the next!

Perfect for lovers of Norse Mythology, forced proximity, forbidden romance, slow burn spice, and lots of angst!

Ok. I'm officially in my Viking Romance era. This was AMAZING.

"Where you go, I go, Born-in-Fire."

Read if you love:
- Norse inspired story
- Gods and magic
- Slow burn
- Forbidden Romance
- Bit of a bodyguard trope
- One horse
- Forced proximity

Danielle Jensen is back again with another great series. I am a HUGE fan of The Bridge Kingdom so this book was definitely one of my most anticipated books in 2024. And I will say this is my first Norse inspired story and I'M OBSESSED.

I was instantly hooked from the first chapter. Danielle's writing is so great and intricate and her world building was so easy to follow -- her use of words/language fit so well in what I would expect in a Nordic setting. *chef's kiss* I feel like I avoided Norse inspired stories just because I felt like there's so much to learn and I would easily get lost, but Danielle did such a good job NOT making me feel that way. Also, did anyone else feel 'cold' too? Danielle makes you FEEL like you're there with these characters. I'm also a sucker for slow burn romances and this was everything I needed along with that tension and banter between Freya and Bjorn. They have such great chemistry and they are a definite power couple. Bjorn is it for me. My god I could have read a whole story in his POV. Freya is a bit hot headed and sassy but at the same time, SUCH a strong protagonist. Loved her.

This book is full of twists (lots of foreshadowing) and left at a huge cliffhanger --I'm hurt-- but I am so excited for what's to come given the events of this story. Thank GOD this is a duology. Thank you so much Netgalley and Del Rey/Random House for the e-arc.

Freya is blessed by the gods, and is prophesized to unite a nation.
As shield maiden Freya has a unique ability to protect herself with the power of a god. Others want to use her to conquer and be victorious. Freya is easily influenced by the opinions of others, and does not stop to question many of the things she is told. I found this to be a major flaw – and with her age and experience in life, I expected more from her. Bjorn, who has sworn a blood oat to protect Freya, has almost no personality or anything that makes him stand out. Bjorn and Freya’s interactions are almost all identical throughout the book, and this really made their relationship feel flat and one-dimensional. Without the growth of their relationship, it really made it difficult to root for them. A really strong start, that just fell a bit flat for me.

**A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king— while fighting her growing desire for his fiery son. **


MY QUICK THOUGHTS
• Fantasy romance duology🙌🏼
• I need book two asap
• Interesting magic, gods, and fate
• Strong, resilient FMC with hidden magic
• MMC who wields fire
• Forbidden romance… he’s her husbands son
• I loved the writing


I loved this story. Honestly, I dragged this read out because I didn’t want the story to be over. I cannot wait for the follow up and highly recommend. I loved Freya and Bjorn so much. The way this ended made me want to scream just because I want the second book immediately. I adored the authors writing, the world and magic she created was amazing. I’ve been wanting more duologies and this delivered.

5 stars
Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for the arc.

After enduring a year of loveless marriage, Freya’s drop of Gods Blood sends her on a sweeping new adventure. While navigating trials from the Gods and men, her true nature is put to the test.

This is a stunning new book from Danielle. I could not put it down! It was a fast paced adventure that flowed well. I already can’t wait for the next!

I ate this book up!!! freya is looking for a way out of her small fishing village and her awful marriage. when on the beach cleaning up her husband’s mess, bjorn comes out of literally no where and asks where her husband is 𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝗺. the banter between these two was off the charts from the moment they met and I was obsessed from chapter one.

when forced to marry bjorn’s DAD, bjorn is tasked with keeping freya safe. I eat the bodyguard setup every timeeeee. what follows is a twisty tale of uncovering prophecies, the onset of war, and so much on-the-edge-of-my-seat violence I literally couldn’t put this down.

freya is definitely a strong-willed fmc, sometimes to the point I wanted to shake her but it’s fine. she definitely has room for character growth in the later books. bjorn is a swoony af gods-blessed axe-wielding viking and I’m quite literally obsessed with him.

thank you so much NetGalley and del ray books for an arc! I can’t recommend this enough.

tropes & things
✨ bodyguard
✨ forbidden romance
✨ feisty fmc
✨ gods and magic