Thank you to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine/Del Rey for the advanced reader copy of A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen.

In this first book of a Norse-inspired fantasy duology by one of my favorite authors, the tale of Freya, a shield maiden blessed by the gods, unfolds. Freya is sought after by a power-hungry king, whose son provokes her with his divine looks and his words so delectably impertinent they rival her own. When she is discovered to have a drop of a goddess’s blood, the king of Skaland forces her hand to tie her fate to his control. All she’s ever dreamed of was to be a warrior for her people, and with enemies of the king constantly at her heels, Freya quickly learns the duality of glory and guilt that comes with wielding a blade.

One of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a long time; I loved it.

Bjorn and Freya have immediate chemistry in the way they bicker incessantly from their very first encounter. The book keeps Freya’s every thought, emotion, confliction, fault, and choice at the forefront of the story, really letting the reader be consumed by her character. I enjoyed the pacing and felt there were no dull moments of world building and info dumping, but rather the novel’s entirety flowed with ease. There were so many gorgeous quotes that I found myself constantly highlighting lines.

Fantasy story-telling at its finest.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This world was really interesting and I like Bjorn and Freya as characters. I wish Freya had gotten away from the ones who controlled her sooner. The beginning and very end were the strongest parts of the book along with the Bjorn and Freya scenes. I like where the next book is going.

Freya starts out as a fisherman's wife until she's had enough of him treating her poorly so she kills him. However, she does this using the power of Hiln but she's not supposed to let anyone know of her ties to the godess. Jarl Snorri finds out about a prophecy of her and sens his son Bjorn to take her to him. Freya gets tossed into a world of politics where any Jarl is willing to kill her or retrieve her for himself so he can become the king of Skalander. The only person on her side is Bjorn because he's to protect her and they end up wanting one another. The politics were intriguing and the writing can draw you in at times. Some characters had substance while others fell flat. I love a good mythology book, but this one was very dry and things felt forced a lot of the time.

A Fake Inked in Blood is a new fantasy romance by Danielle L. Jensen.
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There is so much to love about this book!
Feyre is a shield maiden, which means she has a drop of goddess blood allowing her to repel attacks.
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🖤Norse mythology inspired
🖤forbidden romance
🖤forced proximity
🖤touch her a die
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Feyre is trying to learn her magic, maneuver around a power hungry king, and fight her feelings for her fierce protector.
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Loved the ending! It sets up a second book very well!
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Thank you netgalley and Del Ray for the opportunity to read this book!

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for a pre-release copy of one of my most anticipated books of the year. Despite the incredible premise and lush marketing, the Norse gods are merely an afterthought, mentioned only in reference to their demigod offspring. At the same time, readers are expected to be well-versed in Viking lore and Nord culture, which works for me but may not be self-explanatory enough for others., fails to live up to her namesake. We’re supposed to believe the titular shield-maiden, FMC Freya, spent a lifetime in the shadows training to be a warrior. But it’s not believable. Freya is entitled and brash (which I love) but has little to no strategy. I sympathize with her given she’s surrounding by terrible family and friends who betray her at every turn, but we never see her overcome this adversity and wield her true powers.

The other characters are even more one-dimensional, despite all the trappings of an ensemble cast. Freya’s romantic interest is equally compelling, in theory, but doesn’t do well on paper. He’s meant to be the better of her two love interests yet is practically thrown at us, forcing an insta love—or lust—down our throats. It makes it hard to connect with the characters or feel the burn from their chemistry.

The book also suffered from anachronisms in the pacing and plotting. This is not a specific indictment of Jensen’s writing—I’ve made similar comments about other authors, including JLA—but I struggled with the use of modern language in this seemingly historical, epic fantasy realm. It constantly pulled me out of the story, feeling a bit too contemporary for the current setting. Ultimately, I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. Still, those who like an adventure—or a story that takes you on a literal journey between page one and the last—will enjoy A Fate Inked in Blood. I also think the magic system is reminiscent of Percy Jackson and other series where mortals exhibit powers from their prolific parents.

Another 4.5 star hit from Danielle L Jensen!!!

I absolutely LOVED this Viking style Norse mythology inspired romantasy with lots of action and SPICE!

-Viking vibes
-Bodyguard trope
-Magic of the gods
-Scorching romance
-Female rage

I can't wait to continue this series. It is dark and immersive and filled with mystery that I'm dying to get to the bottom of.

Thank you to NetGalley and Randon House Publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"They say being given the blood of a god is a gift. But it is a curse."

Our intrepid heroine, Freya, spends her days cleaning fish but clings to her childhood dreams of becoming a warrior. Right away we are thrown into action as her unwanted husband betrays her deeply held secret, bearing the blood of a goddess, to the region's jarl. The jarl (and his wife!!!) staunchly believe that binding Freya to the jarl means he is destined to unite and rule over Skaland as king! Forced into yet another unwanted marriage, our girl has a lot to deal with. Freya must learn to fight and understand/control her magic, all while facing increasingly treacherous tasks set by the gods. The greatest test;however, might be resisting her growing attraction to Bjorn, the jarl's son. Freya risks not only her own fate but the destiny of those she vows to protect.

So I have read the Bridge Kingdom series by this author and feel this falls into the same pattern. Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The romance is just the right amount of angsty. I love a good touch her and die vibe. Once again, her characters and her world building are superb! I have only recently become more interested in Norse mythology, although you don't need to know anything to start reading, and I loved all the the small touches, such as naming the jarl Snorri who is, I assume, named for a well known Icelandic poet/author. One concern was the pacing of the story. While the world building is spread out, which I enjoy, poor Freya and us as an audience just keep getting knocked down. All of the action scenes happen in rapid succession. It also felt like the whole book only covered a week and a half. Which leads me to gripe about instalove. This edged more on instalust but the feelings quickly followed with love on its heels. My last tiny gripe is the predictability. No spoilers, but I guessed most of the plot twists right off the bat. Although I felt this way in the first Bridge Kingdom story and really enjoyed the rest of the series. Overall this was a good start to a new series and I look forward to meeting up with Freya in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read an ARC copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

oh my!!! this book was AMAZING!!! the plot. the characters. EVERYTHING!!! it was very interesting from the start and i really liked the world!!

A Fate Inked in Blood is about a shield maiden named Freya, blessed by the gods, who battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king all while fighting her growing desire for his son, Bjorn. I was totally captivated from start to finish! The ending created the perfect set up for book two and I am dying to see what happens. I loved the Norse Mythology and how beautifully it was interspersed throughout the plot and characters. This is definitely a slow burn, but the world is so interesting that I was never frustrated by it. I loved their banter and pining! The build just made it even better in the end. I loved seeing some of the different powers given by different gods. I'm interested to see what else is revealed later on in the series. So ready for book 2!!!

This Norse mythology inspired fantasy romance is perfect for anyone who loves:

•Norse mythology
•reluctant allies to lovers
•bodyguardish trope
•magic of the gods
•strong women

As someone who hasn’t read a ton of Norse mythology because it’s not something I’ve been overtly interested in, I was excited to see the mythology in a fantasy romance context and I think this book interweaves the two very well. The mythology doesn’t bash you over the head with explanations, but for someone who hasn’t read a lot of mythology, it isn’t confusing at all, and though it is vital to the story, no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy the story.

Mythology aside, I wasn’t overly connected to any of the characters or relationships. The romance aspect was interesting and intrigued me, I love a good slowburn and this did this pretty well. Finally, the plot started off slow, but definitely picked up throughout the story.

I liked our characters but without their powers I don’t think any of them had anything that made them really stand out. Freya’s story is interesting because things kinda just happen to her, and though she doesn’t want that she kinda has to go along with it, so it felt like the story was just happening rather than being motivated by anything. I do believe this will not be the case in the next books.

The romance aspect was done well, and though I haven’t read any of her other books, the author has another fantasy romance series I’ve heard good things about. I’m so excited to see how the relationship develops in the next book.

And finally the plot, slow to start and a bit repetitive at times definitely picked up by the end, which will lead me to continue this series.

I feel like Danielle Jensen is a hit or miss for me. I was expecting to love this, but a lot fell flat for me. I did like it, and will likely read the next in the series when it comes out, but I was expecting a lot more in this book.

This story would have benefited from more world-building, imo. If you don’t know anything about Norse mythology, you may be a little lost throughout the story.

The twist in the book seemed like what I’ve read from this author before. The characters weren’t fully fleshed out, and I really didn’t feel the chemistry with the love interest. I did really enjoy the banter between Freya and Bjorn.

This Norse mythology inspired story had me hooked start to finish. Being a fan of Vikings really helped me visualize the setting, surrounding, and even attire. Bjorn and Freya had an instant chemistry and their banter had me smirking. The link with the gods and magics was interesting to read- a familiar story but presented differently.

While some of the twists I did find predictable, I loved the way it played out. I need book 2 asap so we can all kiss/fight and makeup.

Danielle Jensen did it again. I absolutely adored The Bridge Kingdom series, and A Fate Inked in Blood is an amazing start to a new series. The way the book starts off with Freya getting revenge on her dipshit husband... I live for that!!! And the love interest, Bjorn, just... *internal screaming* He's cocky, fun, and utterly obsessed with Freya and it's everything I look for in a book romance. Can't wait for the next book!

While I’m very grateful to have received an ARC of A Fate Inked in Blood, I just don’t think this book is for me. I would rate it 2.5 stars.
I think it could’ve used more world-building as I was a little confused about the setting and some of the political systems in place. The romance was basically insta-love and I really don’t think it was “forbidden.” Overall, I just struggled to get through the book because I wasn’t very connected to the story or the characters.
I’m really sad I didn’t love this book since so many people do! I’m glad other people love it, it just wasn’t my cup of tea unfortunately.

3.5/5 stars
I was really excited about this book because I haven't read anything with Viking lore before, and was thoroughly intrigued by the uniqueness of this book and its Viking mythology. I thought it was a pretty medium to fast paced book that was easy to follow the entire time.

The reason for 3.5 stars is because I wanted more with the main character and I wanted more character development for her. She just wasn't likable at all, and by the end of the book, I liked Ylva a little more than Freya. I will be interested to see where the next book goes as well as if Freya develops a bit more.

3/5

Overall an entertaining read, but it just didn't grip me much until basically the last 1-2 chapters. The writing is good, but the majority of it dragged for me, and I did guess 100% of one of the twists, and part of the other. The magic system is unique, and the viking/norse mythology setting was different to a lot of other fantasy romance books. I think that the ending may have piqued my interest enough to pick up the sequel, and I do see a lot of people enjoying this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.💫
🌶️🌶️

Prophecies, mystery, betrayal, oh my!

Freya is a God-blessed shield maiden, stuck in a loveless marriage as a fisherman’s wife, forced to hide her identity to protect herself. Everything changed when one day, she accidentally smacks a handsome stranger in the face with a fish. She learns that this handsome stranger is the son of a Jarl who has been searching for her for 20 years, believing a prophecy that stated, “He who controls her fate shall unite the nation and rule the land.” This power-hungry Jarl forces Freya to become his wife and forces his son (the handsome stranger) to be her bodyguard.

I’ve always wanted to read something inspired by Norse mythology but have never gotten around to it so I’m grateful to have gotten approved to read this on Netgalley. This book was such an adventure from the worldbuilding to the characters and the romance. There were a few twists that I did not see coming and if the first line of this review tells you anything, there is sabotage afoot.

Freya is a strong FMC who really can’t catch a break. She goes from one loveless marriage to another, being used left and right by the greed of men. Despite that though, she is incredibly selfless and her devotion to others is what ultimately fuels her decisions. When we first meet Bjorn, he is flirty and a little bit cocky, but really lives up to the bodyguard name and tries to look out for Freya. Since this is in the FMC’s POV, his backstory isn't revealed right away. I loved the banter and the chemistry between these two, their sarcasm is just hilarious. You can just feel the tension and longing coming off the page. Ya’ll know I enjoy a good slow burn and this definitely delivered.

This is my first book by Danielle L. Jensen and it certainly won’t be my last (especially since this leaves off on a cliffhanger lol).

4/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher for the early review copy.

This one was a great read for the forbidden romance aspect. I loved the interactions between Bjorn and Freya. Their scenes had a great amount of spice.

However, I wish there was more action in the book specifically of Freya being fierce and strong. Her scenes were a little bit underwhelming for me and I just expected more..

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will continue the series.

I think this book will be a huge hit for many Romantasy readers. It’s got Vikings and gods and fate all intertwined and was very immersive.

I’m definitely going through a rough spell with stress and this book felt like it would never end at times which I think was just a me problem and I escaped into something far more lighthearted in the middle of reading this to gain momentum. Overall, it was good and compelling.

I enjoyed it in the beginning, felt a huge lag in the middle, and loved the way it seemed to be ending. The explosion of events at the end really irritated me when I had kind of guessed that what happened would happen and yet Freya acted like the world was ending. I didn’t understand Freya in the end. Her reactions and the decisions she made were aggravating to me.

I recommend this one to fans of The Bridge Kingdom. It’s definitely good and part of my issues definitely stem from me and not the book! Feeling like a 3, but because I know I’m in a funk, I’m just gonna bump it up to 4 stars.

A promising start to an action-packed series with a scorching romance!

“A Fate Inked in Blood” follows Freya, a shield maiden blessed by the gods, as she battles to unite the fractured nation of Skaland under a power-hungry jarl—while also resisting her forbidden attraction for his fiery son.

Jensen weaves elements of Norse mythology into her world’s magic system and I was immediately hooked. The idea that the power of the gods can manifest in those who receive a drop of their blood during conception was really fascinating and following Freya’s journey as she navigates her god-given abilities was even more so. Her character is very distinct from others in the book in that she is iron-willed, and fiercely protective of her family, which made her perspective more compelling to read from.

Freya and Bjorn’s forbidden romance is so so good! I could not get enough of the tension, banter, and mutual pining that contribute to their irresistible chemistry. Bjorn is the perfect love interest: a skilled warrior that cannot resist fussing over Freya’s wounds, staying at her side always, and sharing a bed with her to keep her warm. I enjoyed watching the two take fate into their own hands by slowly giving in to their desires despite the forces keeping them apart.

Unfortunately, the second half of the book lost me a little bit. The pacing slows and I found myself gradually losing interest as Freya contemplated the same dilemma over and over again. Seasoned fantasy readers may find the ending predictable, but it still packed enough of a punch that I’ll likely reach for book 2 when it comes out!