I loved the viking mythology and the beginning was strong and engaging.
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Setting aside the lusty and lacking in depth romance, the world building was barely accomplished and if I hadn't seen viking TV shows, I would have no visual or sense of the atmosphere or world.
The characters are constantly bickering like juveniles, or groping each other.
The dialogue was repetitious and unremarkable.
For 2 exceptions, the action scenes were short ( 3 sentences) or underwhelming.
The villians were childlike and dramatic.
After a few chapters the pace was like a jack in the box. Aggravating and random.
The main character Freya is exhausting. Frankly, I don't know how this chick can walk with how many times "an ache forms between my thighs." And her "throbbing core."
She's also inconsistent and the epitome of indesicision. She's leaving and then 2 pages later she's staying... and repeat. She wants to be with Bjorn but moments later pushes him away... and repeat.
I was hoping for a woman who can see sense, learn from her mistakes, with good character growth and not a horny girl who needs therapy and anger management.

The ending was not a surprise and overdone in this genre.

I have read and loved a few books by this author and I was hopeful for this one, but it seems that her books are no longer for me.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Danielle Jensen’s novels always have my emotions all over the place, viscerally tugging at my heart in a way few authors truly manage. That pain in my heart is a real, physical thing, and one I always feel somewhere in the journey! A Fate Inked in Blood is so different. I spent the entire book agonizing over what I knew was coming. I could sense it, and the ending proved me horribly correct. But Danielle managed to make me doubt myself several dozen times along the way! Twists and turns that completely threw me for a loop and left me second guessing everything.

Freya, our main character, starts out a fishwife who desires to be a warrior. A woman blessed by the gods but forced to hide it by her father for unknown reasons, she hates her husband and is taken advantage of by everyone in her life. When her husband learns her secret, he turns her over to Jarl Snorri, who seeks to use her to fulfill a prophecy that he believes will see him as king. His son, Bjorn, a man blessed by Tyr who just so happened to have flirted with Freya earlier the same day, is assigned to protect her, and since Freya is forced to marry Snorri, despite his wife, the two must keep their hands to themselves. Something which proves difficult, especially as Freya begins being tested by the gods, and Snorri will push her past any limit to see himself named king.

The relationship between Freya and Bjorn is done so well! Their initial flirtation is playful, and we get moments of that same energy between them at points in the story, but mostly they are left wanting and forced to hold themselves back. They are constantly together, and it makes it very difficult for them to maintain distance of any sort emotionally. Bjorn was kept a prisoner most of his life by King Harald, and as such, he’s not close to really anyone in Skaland. He’s viewed as being an outsider despite technically being Snorri’s heir, and most want his younger half-brother to be the heir instead. Freya was pulled out of a small village, so she’s also new to these people, and it creates a sense of otherness around the two of them that keeps them apart from others but together.

Through the trials Freya faces, they grow closer and closer, until Bjorn is ready to leave everything behind and run away with her. Freya is facing a difficult time, not understanding her powers or the force taking her over. After wanting to be a warrior all her life, she sees the cost of it now and wants nothing more than to stop the killing. She follows Snorri only because he threatens her family, but she questions who truly controls her fate. As does Bjorn. They have such great and intense chemistry together, that I just rooted for them to get out the whole time, or for anything good to actually happen to them, as it seemed like poor Freya is just repeatedly getting whacked in the face with her decisions, no matter which way they go.

One of the things I really loved about this was everyone was so complex. For most of the book, all of it really, there’s no clear good guy/bad guy. Everyone is making choices with consequences, but there are threads of good and bad in all of them. We dislike characters because they’re against Freya, but they aren’t necessarily bad because of that. The end does indicate some clearer lines being drawn in the sand, but it also opens it up to the potential good ones being just as bad in reality. The ending means things will definitely be complicated next book no matter what, but what is a Danielle Jensen novel without some treachery!

I’m looking forward to Freya getting answers and learning to control her own fate. But I’m also looking forward to the (I hope) inevitable reconciliation down the line. I’m so curious where this will lead, and whether Bjorn will have to make some really tough calls to protect Freya, some he was already making of course, but taking it a step further now that her blood has been revealed. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these two and the future of both lands!

Such an amazing read! Definitely going to be a huge hit for fantasy/romance lovers! A huge fan of Danielle L. Jensen’s writing style and the world she created. I love Freya the main character (the shield maiden). A must read for 2024!!

A huge thank you to NetGalley + Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this arc!!

AMAZING!!! I have been a big fan of Danielle L Jensen for a while now and I just knew this book would be fantastic, and it truly was. This new fantasy series set in Norse Viking era that it is a saga woven full of destiny, war, love and deceit! Where you are either fated by Gods or carry a touch of their blood allowing you to wield magical abilities and thus becoming the unfated.

Once I started reading I could not stop, and when I was forced to stop it was all I could think about. And man that ending, I need more and I need it now!

First, before I say anything else, what a privilege to read this Advanced Reader Copy. I was granted a Wish on NetGalley and I'm so glad. Delving into the world of Mythos is my favorite amongst the genres. I adored how Danielle L. Jensen created her children of the Gods. The story of how they end up with their powers and, specifically, how Freya ended up with her powers, intrigued me. I know you'll love it.

"If the child is gifted only avarice, her words will be only curses, but if gifted altruism, what divine power she might make her own is a fate yet unwoven."

Freya, what a force of nature wrapped up in a beautiful woman willing to give and give of herself in order to protect those she loves. She endures test after test all in the name of proving herself worthy. But worthy to whom? To the Norse Gods? (Hint: Yes) To Snorri, a Jarl of Skaland who wants to be King, who bought her from her husband (who secretly knew she was a child of a god) and was looking for because of a prophecy about her? To King Harald of Nordeland who wants her for the same reasons. Or worthy to Bjorn, the man who says:

"…the most fierce beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on hit me in the face with a fish."

Danielle L. Jensen has create a rich world of Skaland full of cities and towns that each have their own unique distinctions. Halsar, where Jarl Snorri reigns, is a tight knit community that feasts and drinks together, works together, fights together, mourns together, and carries on.

The Mountain town of Fjalltindr and the route Freya and Bjorn take to get there, Danielle L. Jensen exquisitely details the surroundings and what the two travelers encounter. It is one a wonderful and incredibly action filled section in the book that reveals something of Freya's power.

She creates a relationship between Freya and Jarl Bodil, the only female Jarl, where Freya could train with woman and understand how to use her body to fight like a warrior. Bodil becomes very important to Freya.

Tropes in this book include:

-One Horse
-Pining
-Family Secrets
-Norse Mythology
-Trials
-Betrayal
-Slow Burn and Steam
-Mead, copious amounts of Mead

I give this book my highest recommendation. It was everything I wanted in a Fantasy Romance Book. I pined with these characters felt their emotions, felt Freya's desperation.

Danielle L. Jensen's Saga of the Unfated is certain to be very popular with her current fans, fans of Mythology Retellings/New Stories, and new readers a like. Mark my works, you will see this book all over the internet in the next few weeks.

Set in the era of vikings, Freya is a fish monger's wife, and hates him intensely. She's also a woman with the blood of a god in her veins, and when she is revealed as the Shield Maiden to those beyond her family, she is taken by a jarl who wants to be king of Skaland. This book is the beginning of her journey of discovery of herself and her power, and the beginning of her fight toward being in control of herself.

This was such a detailed, complex story. I love the viking angle, referring to the Norse gods, Valhalla, etc, because the Greeks and Romans get so much play already, it's about time Odin, Freyja, Loki, and the rest, get more time to shine. It's exciting, and hard to put down. I tend to take longer with these sorts of high fantasy books, but I went through this FAST.

Freya is a strong willed lady, not one for rolling over and bending to the will of a husband. Having so many coming after her, trying to possess her because of her magical gift really screws with her, and you can see her get more and more unhinged, even when she's not forced to be high on mushrooms or mead. She doesn't take it lying down, but does feel a lot of pressure to perform, and to be there in support her people. She swiftly learns the lesson that "the grass is always greener on the other side," after wanting to be a warrior for so long, then seeing what horror is left when the battle is done. I think that despite her being a grown woman, there's much learning and growth to be done with her, and she's only at the beginning.

I find that at the end of this book, there are a few fairly significant plot points that don't get resolved, or even acknowledged, by the end of the book. Obviously, this is the beginning of a series, and it's probably going to be a hefty one, since there are so many places to go with this. But the ending feels far too loose, and is a bit frustrating. It bothers me when a book ends in the middle of a scene. It feels like you're going to be expected to either reread the book when #2 comes along, or at least read the ending of 1 again so you know where you left off.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

This book left me reeling for the sequel. Although it was predictable, I enjoyed the plot and actions throughout the mystical Viking world. The comparisons to various Norse legends, Gods, Goddesses, and heroes was well executed. The spicy scenes were also done quite well- the tension and passion between the two MC’s was well written and believable. The FMC was annoying many times throughout the book but hopefully she matures in the second installment. I will for sure be reading the next one!

Blown Away!

This was my first ever Danielle L. Jensen book, and I'm still in shock and awe. This book might be my new favorite read of this year!

I was obsessed with the world and the magic! I'm a sucker for Norse mythology and Vikings, so this book was right up my alley. This book was such a fast-paced, wild ride, and I loved every second of it. The slow burn romance was beautiful, and the pacing was flawless! Honestly though, romance aside, I loved the concept of the children of the gods. Their magic was so intriguing and fun to read. And that twist of an ending!!

I will say if violence, vikings, or mythology isn't your thing, this probably isn't the book for you. But if you love those things, you'll love this read! It was everything and more. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

Rating: 4.7/5

3.5 Stars, rounded up!

There were parts of this book that had me on the edge of my seat, but others took me a bit to get through. Definitely heavier on the romance than I anticipated, but there was plenty of rich world building to counter the romance plot. While a few of the twists were a bit predictable, I love how the end unfolded and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series to see how Freya’s story continues!

Trapped in a loveless and abusive arranged marriage, Freya cannot help wanting more for herself. She has dreamt of the glory of battle as a warrior like her brother. An unexpected opportunity sends Freya on a journey of discovery and danger.

With her fate unclaimed, will Freya forge her own and how much is she willing to sacrifice?

Tropes/themes:
🗡️ Passionate & stabby FMC
🗡️ Hot & flirty MMC
🗡️ Hidden identity
🗡️ One horse
🗡️ Banter
🗡️ Prophecies & mythology
🗡️ Slow burn 🌶️

Let me preface that Jensen is already an auto-buy author for me, so I JUMPED at the chance to read this e-ARC and can confidently say that this will be one of my top reads of 2024.

I love Freya’s fierce spirit and sharp wit. Beyond her personality, I was intrigued by the nuances of her fate and how she confronts her choices (or lack of). Will she choose to instill hope and reverence or fear in those around her?

Bjorn is hot in every sense of the word and his vulnerabilities make him even more endearing. He has the makings of a top tier book boyfriend. The chemistry was sizzling and the banter was everything!

The ending of this book opens the door to even greater unknowns and I cannot wait to continue Freya’s journey with all she has learned.

Jensen’s writing never disappoints or ceases to astound. A Fate Inked in Blood introduces the reader to a Norse-inspired world filled with spellbinding adventure, rich mythology, and heartaching romance!

I received a free e-ARC and am leaving my honest and voluntary review. Thank you to Danielle L. Jensen, NetGalley, and Del Rey Books for the opportunity to review this e-ARC!

A Fate Inked in Blood is going to be the next big sensation! Jensen included the key materials needed for a hit story that will rock the book community.

She takes Norse and Viking mythology and puts her own flair on it to bring us a unique unforgettable story. The growth of our female main character is huge. From hiding her power to fully embracing herself at the end is quite the arc. The tension and lust between the two main characters is absolutely delicious. I cannot wait to see where this goes for the rest of the series.

Overall this is a solid four star for me. There were shifts in the story that I had questioning what was happening and when, as well as the overall development of magic. I hope to see more expansion on these areas. I also did not care for the internal monologue of the female main character. At times she came off as whiny and indecisive. In fantasies, I prefer to have my female main characters strong and confident in their abilities and their relationships.

I plan to post this review in full to my bookstagram account @alyssa__reads during release week 2/28-2/29 is the goal as this is the date my physical copy will be arriving for me to photograph and include in my review.

This review is also on GoodReads at this time!

Danielle Jensen does not miss! I loved all the lore in this and it is so much different from their Bridge Kingdom series but no less entertaining and the action was nonstop!! I loved this one and Bjorn owns my heart<3

A stunning Norse-inspired fantasy book that had me so enthralled from start to finish! Danielle l Jensen is a favourite author of mine for a reason and she fully delivered with this book!! The fmc was seriously so badass and I was rooting for her the entire time! The mmc was hot and the tension between the characters truly had me on the edge of my seat! Forbidden romance is always going to be so good to me, so well done here! The plot was immaculate and the pacing was perfect!! Couldn’t put this down for a singular moment in time! When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it!! THAT ENDING?! Oh my gosh, I am so sat and will be eagerly awaiting the next book!

This book was soooo good! It was tracking at 5 stars until the last 1/3 of the book or so.

If you have watched any of the following viking shows, this book is for YOU: The Last Kingdom, Vikings, Vikings: Valhalla.

I have been in my Viking era the last couple of years and was so excited to start this! Overall, this book was action packed and had me not wanting to put it down! There were some predictable portions of the story and Feyre jumping to conclusions over and over started to grate on my nerves.

I loved reading about the different settings in the book and it brought me back to those viking feels. Aside from Feyre's jumping to conclusions, I did love her as an FMC and I loved Bjorn as a MMC. Even the side characters were fantastic!

While I called a big twist at the end, about 1/2 way through, I was excited to see there were even more twists to throw me off! I cannot wait for book 2 to come out.

I absolutely adored this book!!! Freya is so relatable. Danielle did an incredible job weaving a compelling story!

And Bjorn… omg. I love their banter and how he’s willing to do whatever Freya needs without coddling her.

I can’t wait for the next book!

I read A FATE INKED IN BLOOD several months back, so this review will be short and sweet. Initially, I wasn't going to request an early copy, but when I saw the overwhelming number of positive reviews, I decided to take a chance. I was immediately captivated by the Norse setting, as I haven't read many fantasy novels set during that time period. The chemistry between Freya and Bjorn was off the charts. I started to feel that a few of the conversations between the two of them became repetitive near the end and I wanted to see a bit more from the magic system, but I still thought that this was a fantastic book. I've already preordered a copy, and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in the series. A huge thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Obsessed!

Actually I don't know if obsessed is a strong enough word because this book was everything to me. It was so well written and so fast paced and I just fell in love with this world, the magic system, and these characters. I will admit that this book was darker than I expected, but as someone who regularly reads dark romance that was a delightful surprise for me.

Freya has lived her life never getting to make her own choices. She has this obligation to protect her family and carries that weight solely on her shoulders. She is forced into a marriage she never wanted and she barely is getting by. Freya also has a secret that her parents have made her keep for her whole life.

This is a story about fate and changing fate and I ate up every second of this amazing story. This book does end on a cliffhanger and I almost threw my kindle across the room when I finished it. I just want to go back and read this amazing book over and over again. I will be impatiently sitting on the edge of my seat until I can get my hands on the next book in this series.

Why? Why do I have to wait for book two?
A Fate Inked in Blood is book one in the Saga of the Unfated by Danielle L. Jensen.
The action, forbidden romance, uncertainty, outstanding world building and a main character to cheer for are the best. And I had the greatest time devouring it.
The book was very well paced, and the world building was just phenomenal!
It was so well written and I loved how unique it was. This is a fantastically written book with a complex world based off mythology.
I’m ready for the second one!

Thank You NetGalley and Random House, Ballantine & Del Rey for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Imgur link goes to Instagram graphic scheduled for February 23rd
Blog Post goes live March 8th
Will be discussed in February Reads Pt 2

**TL;DR:** If you enjoy Romantasy you’ll probably enjoy this, if you want nuance or depth maybe go elsewhere.

A Fate Inked in Blood is the newest Romantasy release from Danielle L Jenson, whose Bridge Kingdom is one of the most recommended in the genre. This one is Norse in inspiration about a young woman with the power to make a King after a spoken prophecy.

I can see this doing fantastic - I really can. This is going to be a hit for a lot of readers, especially of Romantasy. Unfortunately for me this was just okay? I found the writing easy, bingable, and quick. And there were moments that I really enjoyed! However I had a huge issue with the characters and what I felt like was very lazy writing in the characterization.

For the most part these characters filled roles, 2 dimensions at most. Our main character is treated as and used as a tool which led to my biggest issue in this. The only characters that weren’t outright sexist for most, if not all of the book, were… well all of them. Even our main love interest in this cracks sexist jokes constantly. Our primary ‘villain’ of the piece is interesting until he starts talking to or about our main character then he looses everything and it’s just sexism and neglect. Most the women in this were cold, or outright bad to our main character, an annoying trope in a lot of romance. All of this could be used well, but it felt like it wasn’t nuanced in any way or had a purpose besides riling up the reader.

As I stated, I enjoyed parts of this, but lack of depth and nuance to these characters just left me annoyed. As an aside, I also felt like the amount of work done to actual capture anything besides the ‘vibe’ of a Norse series was lacking as well. If you’re going in for the ‘fantasy’ or actual character depth, perhaps this is a skip. But if you want just a fast and emotional read, this could be a winner.

3 out of 5 flaming axes

4.5 Stars

What a wild ride! I was looking forward to Danielle L. Jensen’s next book and this did not disappoint. This story has action, slow burn forbidden romance, danger, suspicion, great world building and a main character to root for.

I loved Freya from the beginning. She cares so much for her family that she is dragged into war of man and gods. She has a crazy temper but she is equally fights for and resists her fate, whatever that may truly be. Her hotheadedness is balance with Bjorn’s calm and oh so charming self. I freaking loved him. He is so level headed and a much needed character. He is really the only ally Freya really has for most of the book. Their slow burn, forbidden romance was absolutely wonderful.

So many characters I can’t wait to see die or get their just deserts. Freya is too good for her horrible, garbage family. They can go jump out a window. Then you have Snorri who is the opportunist and piece of trash too.

I love the Norse folklore of the setting and world building. There was a good balance of action, romance and discovery. Can’t wait for the next book after that ending!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from beginning to end.

Is this my favorite Danielle L. Jensen book? No
Did I see the ending coming? Yes
Did I still love this book? Heck yes!

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*