This was a fun read! Which is typically the case for Jensen’s novels. I have previously read The Bridg Kingdom and had really enjoyed it so was super excited to see she had the start of a new series! I really enjoyed the storytelling and while the twist at the end was slightly predictable that didn’t make it any less intriguing. I am definitely excited to see where this series takes us Freya and Bjorn!

Thank you to Random Publishing House and NetGalley for the arc!
I have never read a book based on Norse mythology before, and omg I have truly been missing out. I was truly captured by this story from the start. The world building is fantastic and given to us at a good pace, never too overwhelming but I never felt like I was lacking any information. Freya was a strong, well-written FMC and Bjorn was the perfect counterpart to her. New book boyfriend 1000000%.
Danielle L Jensen is the queen of enemies to lovers (and then enemies to lovers again) and I feel like this series is not going to be exempt from that.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested, it doesn't end on a cliffhanger per say but it does leave me wanting more.

Danielle L. Jensen's ‘A Fate Inked in Blood‘ is a captivating foray into Norse-inspired fantasy, blending the allure of mythology with the intensity of a forbidden fantasy romance. At the heart of this tale is Freya, a resilient shield maiden with a drop of a goddess's blood, and Bjorn, the fiery son of a power-hungry king. Their journey from adversaries to forbidden lovers is both thrilling and heart-wrenching, set against a backdrop of political intrigue and the quest for power.

As always, Jensen's storytelling prowess shines through in her well-crafted characters. Freya is a protagonist of depth and complexity, her strength and vulnerability portrayed with a deft touch that makes her struggles and triumphs resonate deeply. Her transformation to a fierce warrior is not just about physical prowess but also an internal journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Bjorn, on the other hand, is the quintessential charming yet tormented hero. His character evolves beautifully as the story progresses, revealing layers of depth beneath his initially brash exterior.

The romance between Freya and Bjorn is the soul of the novel, a slow-burning flame that ignites with every encounter. Their chemistry is palpable, marked by flirty banter, tension, and longing, culminating in moments of intense passion. The spicy scenes are tastefully written, blending desire with a deep emotional connection that elevates their relationship beyond mere physical attraction.

Jensen’s world-building is another highlight of the book. The Norse mythology elements are seamlessly blended into the narrative. The portrayal of the gods and their influence on the mortal world is intriguing, adding a layer of mystique to the tale. The magic system is unique and well-explained, enhancing the plot without overwhelming it.

‘A Fate Inked in Blood’ is a mesmerizing start to what promises to be an epic fantasy romance series. Jensen’s ability to blend Norse mythology with a compelling fantasy love story makes this book a must-read for fans of the genre. It sets the stage for a saga filled with magic, love, and battles both internal and external. The cliffhanger ending leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this saga of gods, mortals, and the power of fate.

THIS BOOK!!! this book might just be my roman empire. i was HOOKED the second i picked it up. jensen does an amazing job at pulling you into the story and keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire time. it had everything i love - tension, forbidden romance, a strong female lead, a very strong plot line outside of the romance plot (lots of war, politics, gods, betrayal, etc), oh and a very protective MMC (hehe bjorn ily).

The ending is *chefs kiss* so good I literally cannot wait to find out what happens next.


ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a sucker for any Viking/Norse inspirited books! Something about freezing fjords and battle hungry female characters gets my blood going. Norse mythology is one of my hyperfixations, so I was fully prepared to dive right into the lore. Freya was a great lead character. She was a little naïve but very strong in her convictions. I think the book could have benefited from Bjorn's POV in certain parts. Logically I know why it wasn't, but his character was a smidge 2 dimensional. I can see the next book adding a few chapters from his perspective. Maybe something along the lines of Aren's chapters in The Bridge Kingdom series.

Spoilers ahead: The romance was a little too instalove for me. I think the ending would have been them same even if they hadn't confessed the L word to each other. The romantic tension really needed to be drawn out a lot longer. I fully side with Bjorn, Freya's family is awful. They do not deserve her. I was getting a bit frustrated with her towards the end when she was still willing to sacrificing her autotomy for them. I totally saw the betrayal coming from miles away . So the ending was somewhat predicable (but still very entertaining).

This was a solid 4 stars! I really loved it. There were just a few things stopping it getting 5 stars for me.

This book. This book! Danielle L Jensen is an auto-buy author for me at this point, and this book did not disappoint. It has everything! Fast-moving plot, interesting and creative world-building, SWOONworthy romance, really fun characters who play off each other so perfectly. I absolutely adored Freya and really connected with her. And I absolutely loved her magic, and how she had been trying to hide it at all costs. Bjorn was everything I want in a dark and brooding male hero. And oh the plot twists! I am not okay with the ending and can't believe I have to wait now for book 2. If Norse-inspired romantasy sounds like something you'd like, then do yourself a favor, and read this book immediately!!

Freya, dreams of becoming a warrior and ridding herself of her horrible husband. Its a good thing he betrays her to the jarl of the region, and it lands her exactly where she wants to be....rid of him and becoming a warrior. But in the process, she is forced to reveal her deepest secret - that she has goddess's blood and she is a powerful shield maiden. It has been foretold that her magic would unite the nation of Skaland under the one who controls the shield maiden's fate. After being forced into another marriage, Freya has to train and learn to control her new magic. But she didn't bargain on falling for her husband's son....

What I didn't like: I struggled to get into this book - probably the first 25% or so. Also, Norse mythology isn't what I normally gravitate toward, but I'm glad I gave it a chance.

What I liked: The characters. The banter. The balls on the FMC. The author reveals just enough to you to keep you guessing. I had an inkling on where some of the plot points would go, but she definitely surprised me with others! Despite having a slow start for me, I really enjoyed this read and didn't want to put it down.

There were some aspects of this storyline that were reminiscent to me of the From Blood and Ash series, which is a favorite of mine. If you've read both, let's talk! The cliffhanger has me wanting more and I'm looking so forward to the next one!

5 -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I have a great many doubts...But the courage of Freya Born-in-Fire is not one of them."

A Fate Inked in Blood is the first novel in the NA Fantasy Romance series, Saga of the Unfated with draws on Nordic Mythology to immerse readers in a world of fate, magic, and Vikings.

In this world we follow Freya, a young woman who's life is turned upside down when it is discovered she has the goddess' blood in her vein, which gives her the unique ability of a shield maiden. It is said the person who controls the shield maiden would unique the nations of Skaland under one power and the jarl is determined to have that be him. Forced to bind himself to him, Freya is thrust into a plot to conquer the land, but first who must face perilous tests given by the gods themselves...and resist the attraction she feels towards her guard and trainer, the son the jarl.

A thrilling and tension filled introduction to a series that is capturing my attention, I found this book to be an absolute delight! Freya is a fierce and resilient character. She wants to be a warrior and has spent the better part of her life being controlled and quieted. Seeing her learn about herself and test those waters drew me in...but I also related to her struggles around family.

Bjorn, the eldest illegitimate son of the jarl, is a gruff but charming male who's banter and antagonism challenges Freya to act. He, too, chafes at the control others have on his life (especially his overbearing and arrogant father) and learning his backstory had me feeling all the things for him. As he grows to care for Freya was get this amazing moments that had me grinning gleefully but there is still mysterious to his character I am trying to unravel...

This book is about a 2 spicy pepper out of 5 spicy pepper for me. It is a slow burn romances that has this instant attraction which quickly turns into a forbidden romance. The angst and tension throughout heighten the romance and I loved seeing the care they develop for each other. Bjorn just had me as a puddle whenever he was discussing Freya's safety and life. The spice is towards the end of the book and it is oh so worth it.

"You are mine, Born-in-Fire. Even if only the two of us know it."

The world building is richly steeped in Nordic lore that I absolutely adored. I loved the way it was infused without info dumping. I found the dynamics and culture of the characters were expressive and I felt we were really able to get a grasp of this growing world. It plays well into the larger story as the characters navigate expectations and challenges the draw out the importance of these things to them. The story starts with an excellent impactful event and then draws us into this journey with adventure and fighting while also still giving us moments to be with the characters and build those relationships. The final 20% I was just a mess of tension and excitement towards the ending and that twist and cliffhanger! I am sold!

If you are looking for a Viking adventure with challenges, slow burn romance, and self discovery this is a book you should definitely have on your list!

Thank you Delrey and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

TY for the advanced readers copy of this book @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse.

This is a Norse inspired fantasy romance, I knew nothing about it, so I found it so intriguing to read a fantasy about other things than Fae (yes I’ve been on a Sarah J Mass kick this year).

Freya, has hid her power her whole life, based on the expectations of her family. As her abusive marriage unfolds, she reveals herself to be the Shield Maiden blessed by the power of Gods. Which leads to basically every empire fighting over her strength and power.

I loved all the scenes where the GODS were present and magical drugs that were used as part of hallucinogenic. The travels and tests she was put through were thrilling.

Every chapter (they were not short) pulled me into the next. I was absolutely hooked on how the forbidden romance would play out. Also, I LOVED all the foreshadowing that allowed you to think you new the ending, which does happen but that final twist had me researching when the second came out.

Dislikes: The animal sacrifices were way to much in this one.

Danielle Jensen is an auto-buy author for me and she just gets better and better.
I loved this book so much it has rendered me speechless and I am wandering my home like the druag wander the tunnels of the cursed mountain. How am I supposed to continue on like normal?
Part of me wishes I could have ended the book at 96%. We were happy at 96%. Then all the stuff happened that made me realize this is NOT a standalone within a series and I will be religiously checking all the newsletters and social media for any updates for the next book.
The way she is able to get her readers to connect and obsess over her characters so quickly is a gift and her ability to build worlds that are fantastical but still comprehensible is perfection. Her Malediction series has been my favorite, but based on this first book, Freya and Bjorn are giving them a run for their money. Cannot wait to see where they take us.

Wow!! This book was so good! I am a sucker for a strong female main character and solid character development. This book has that in spades! I also appreciated the witty dialogue between Bjorn and Freya. Not to mention how protective and sexy Bjorn is. When is the next book coming out??? I’m so ready!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Publication Date- 2/27

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5835368927

I definitely enjoyed this book! I loved the Viking world and mythology, Danielle Jensen is such a master at worldbuilding that I felt like I was there in the Norse world whenever I was reading.

I also loved the two main characters. Bjorn is definitely swoon-worthy. I love a man who is confidently flirtatious. Add in that he’s a fierce warrior and *drool*. It also seems like there’s a lot more to Bjorn that we haven’t seen yet and I look forward to peeling back his layers and learning about his motivations in the next books.

Freya is a young woman who is still discovering who she is and trying to find her place in the world, while everyone around her seeks to use her for their own gain. Because of this, she understandably makes some rash decisions, and suffers the consequences. By the end of the book we start to see her character growing into her own, and I’m anxiously awaiting the next books so we can see her continue to grow and mature into the badass that I know she will be.

Overall I give this book 4 stars, as I felt it was a great first book to set up the rest of the series. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. It was my first ever ARC, and from one of my favorite authors, I couldn’t have had a better first ARC experience 💛

This lady is one of my favorite authors. I'd been wondering when she'd take a break from the Bridge Kingdom and return to the Dark Shores or something else. This something else is exactly what I think was needed. Very unexpected but wonderful and I'm excited for the next installment although that may be a while before we get it. Please pick this up! I will surely be purchasing a physical copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Randomhouse Publishing for an eARC for me to read and provide honest feedback.

The idea behind A Fate Inked in Blood was awesome. I love the fantasy meets mythology and Norse setting. Immediately I was pulled in and super enthusiastic in the beginning, feeling so excited because it had been a long time since a book had me that excited. I felt that way for about 40% of the book.

That feeling did die down for me in the middle for quite some time. It picked back up, but my love for the book and eagerness to see the plot/relationship advance was HEAVILY overshadowed by what I personally found to be cringey vocabulary when it came to the spicy scenes. Those scenes could have been so tasty had it not been for the extreme overuse of describing her below the belt region as “my sex” like- A LOT. Also “my slick core” and “thick” like.. I. I get it . I know what’s happening and where. Less would have been more when it comes to the descriptive words. Once or twice in the book, sure. Once or twice per sexy scene.. too much. I would hope that for the final copy that gets edited. So for that I remove a star.

Also, the twists were very predictable. Down to the who done it, why, and when it was going to be revealed. The ending was good, but I saw it coming a mile a way. So also removing about half a star for that.

Otherwise yeah, it was good, but it could have been great. I don’t expect the predictable plot will be sorted by the final release, but if there’s hope to edit those scenes mentioned, I think that would be so helpful to keep the reader in the heat of the moment, rather than wincing and eventually rolling their eyes at the goofy/redundancy of terms I know a lot of spicy readers are not into.

With how it ended though, I am interested to read book two. It’ll definitely be enticing with the romance going from forbidden, to secret, to lovers, and now enemies.. as well as the new discoveries of her powers. There is a lot of potential for this series.

I give it a 3.5 stars

Thank you Del Rey books and Netgalley for my eARC

"No oath is worth your life.No amount of vengeance is worth your happiness.I'll let the past burn to ash, Freya,because you are my present.My future. My destiny"

It is no secret that I love Daniel Jenson's book, I have loved everything so far and I am happy to announce that this is no exception. A Norse mythology based story with vikings that comes with magical powers inherited from their Gods! enough said for me to pounce on it as soon as I got my hands on this book. I absolutely love Jensen's knack for building complexly wonderful fantasy world's, A Fate Inked in Blood has everything to make it a phenomenal fantasy read. Action packed adventure, brutal world, lot of intrigue, romance and a plot that is heavily inspired by Norse Gods/mythology

I love Daniel's characters especially flawed one's like the FMC Freya in it, she is hard to like, infuriating and always runs hot and cold, however these things make them more human. I see the appeal in these characters as they tend to have such a brilliant character arcs and Bjorn lol if patience is ever personified, it would be him! I absolutely enjoyed the fun banter and the forbidden romance, it is sultry but not too spicy which works great for me. I loved how the scenes based on norse customs were written and played out, it was so much fun to read them, my favorite scene has to be the first meeting of Freya and Bjorn, it was just perfect and had me giggling

If you love high stakes fantasy, flawed characters, chosen one trope and a brutal adventure, I can't recommend this book enough!

4.5⭐!! Quite slow in the middle, but the story kept me interested and invested!! The romance was definitely slower burn than I expected, and the ending did surprise me a little!! Excited for this series to continue!

Heat Index: 6.5/10.

Vibes: vIKINGS!!!!, slutty guy/serious girl, "oops I'm married to your dad", and legitimately intense battle and magic stuff that actually works and puts people in those heartrending situations where it's all "STAY ALIVE!!!!! I WILL FIND YOU!!!!!!!!!" as it should in a FANTASY ROMANCE

Married to a man she hates and hiding the fact that she's the child of a minor goddess (children of gods are a Thing in this world) Freya lives a life of drudgery. Until, that is, her secret is revealed to all and Jarl Snorri declares that she's a prophesied shieldmaiden, meant to clinch him the kingdom he's always wanted. As such, she must marry him--kind of an issue, as she is very, very attracted to Snorri's son Bjorn. Another issue: Bjorn has been bound to Freya as her protector. On top of everything, Freya's goddess-given abilities are obscure but dangerous, leading her to wonder if her fate is less that of a protector than that of a monster...

OOOOH WE'VE GOT SOMETHING HERE. I've read Danielle L. Jensen before, way back in the day with her Malediction books--but those were YA (albeit, pretty hot YA) and I really don't read YA anymore. However, I do like Viking Shit, and I especially liked the idea of a romance between a Viking lady and her husband's SON, which was something I always wanted to happen on Vikings. So I picked it up.

And dude. It sucked me right in. I am, as I will get into more below, kind of a hard sell on fantasy romance--when it works, I am HOOKED but when it doesn't I am quickly turned off. This is the former. I was so drawn to Freya, a heroine who does have Chosen One aspects, but is also very human and just trying to make it work, one battle at a time. (Also? She's not instantly gREAT at fighting, how refreshing.) And I absolutely fell head over heels dumb girl for our hero Bjorn, who I expected to be a stoic silent warrior type. NO. He's so much better. He's like, an amazing warrior--but is also so funny and super slutty and just a BRO. I love him. Protect him.

The fantasy plot is compelling and doesn't get so in love with itself that it's impossible to follow. It's really good! I'm excited by this! Can't wait for the next! (What a relief, God.)

Quick Takes:

Here's my issue with fantasy romance (or romantasy, though I'll point out that this series is billed as "fantasy romance" on Netgalley, and that is so HOT to me): often, though the name implies that it's a subgenre of romance with a heavy fantasy bent... It's basically fantasy (well-done or not) with a romance subplot tucked in. The character work is shoddy, the tension is nil, and you can tell that the author is just trying to horn in on the romance audience. Not so, here.

First off, I think Jensen was really smart to create a fantasy world that is very "Vikings But Fantasy". It's not poorly drawn. You can tell that she's really into the Norse vibe, and I will say that I am biased because as someone who has somehow been watching the Vikings franchise since its inception (pray for me) I'm fairly familiar with it on that level. But the way she weaves the fantasy elements, most distinctly the idea of these empowered children of gods (who are basically made when their mortal parents HAVE THREESOMES WITH GODS??? Amazing. Just imagine having these superpowers and knowing that it's because your parents took some dude home from the bar one night and he turned out to be Thor.) into the story is really natural.

Secondly... There is a really compelling plot, yes. I am really into the duality of Freya, don't get me wrong. I really like the royal intrigue. All the WIFE DRAMA. It's My Brand. But the real heart of this story, very openly and honestly and presented without any self-consciousness, is Freya and Bjorn. And I think Jensen just lays it all out there the moment she introduces the brilliant plot device of "Bjorn's Dad, Who Freya Is Technically Married To, Wants Bjorn To Follow Freya Around And Make Sure She Doesn't Get Into Danger". Oh, so he's supposed to protect her as she hurtles into adventure and fights Viking zombies and shit? HOW CONVENIENT. Throughout the story, their immediate physical attraction melts into this emotional slow burn... and I am also a hard sell on a slow burn, so thank you for doing it right, Danielle. The book is single POV (Freya's, though I wouldn't mind Bjorn's in a future installment) but you can just tell that Bjorn is so mad that he's this into a woman who is technically his stepmother. Like, he can have anyone! But he wants HER. But he can't have her!

Picture me gobbling this up like a raccoon in a trash can.

--Speaking of! If you're all "ew, I hate that Freya is married to his dad"--no spoilers, but this is dealt with in a way that I think both avoids the ick that some readers (to be clear: not me, I am very resistant to ick) may feel over that setup, and avoids a copout.

At the same time... First off, Bjorn doesn't fully know that the ick has been avoided, and to be frank, I don't think Bjorn really cares about a little ick. But he does have like, you know, the "WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME" vibe for a while, and it is delicious. All very illicitaffairs.mp3.

--I also really loved that there is no mistake about Freya being a GROWN WOMAN. I strongly, strongly object to shelving this as New Adult, because regardless of her age, Freya (and honestly Bjorn as well) has been through a lot. She's literally married when we open this novel. She gets a second husband. She is not a virgin; her marriage was not chaste; it sucked. (To be clear: you don't get a lot of insight into Freya's first marriage beyond "it sucked" because it's dealt with pretty quickly. You don't see any sexual assault on the page in this book, and I don't know that Freya would see it that way? It's alluded to as "lie back and think of England" bad, gross sex, which I think suggests assault, but there is not any explicit violence, sexual or otherwise, depicted in either of her marriages.) She is JADED. She has never had a man like, take care of her.

And then she gets linked up with local dude who's snarking at her horrible husband about how he must not go down on her enough, and she's all "WHAT'S THAT MEAN :/". I really, really enjoy a pairing that involves a tough woman who's never been properly taken care of and a man who's like "I am DESPERATE to take care of you". Freya deserves!

--Another good choice: often, in fantasy romance (or at least in fantasy romance of yore; I feel like there has been a recent push to correct this, at least somewhat) the heroine is hypercompetent. She's smart, she's a good fighter, she's a femme fatale, she's the seventeen-year-old master assassin...

Freya is... a person. She does want to fight, and she is--not surprisingly, as she does come from a culture in which women do fight--not incapable of holding her own. Somewhat. But as soon as she's up against a master warrior like Bjorn, she's kind of not great, Bob, and even with the benefit of her goddess-given abilities, she still has a lot to learn. It's giving "Book One Aang", and I'm good with that. I'm actually much happier with her giving Book One Aang as a twenty-something woman because like? Give us hope, Freya.

She also doesn't have all the answers. Frankly, Freya doesn't have 80% of the answers, and she shouldn't, because she's new to this. She's new to the magic stuff (though she knew she had it, which I did like--she's not an Alina Starkov-level "WHAAAT" about it) and she's new to the court intrigue, and frankly she's new to Hot Dudes. Speaking of, she does spend a decent amount of brain time going "STOP! STOP, SELF! DO NOT LOOK! DO NOT TOUCH!" Which, frankly, I loved. I feel like that's the kind of behavior people are going to be annoying about because people are dying, but like. This woman just spent years surrounded by Village 2's and suddenly she's being swung around and guarded by a very flirtatious Royal 12. Give her a break. I would be much worse.

And she doesn't know what the hell she's doing with this man. She knows the mechanics, but she doesn't know the FINESSE. Speaking of...

The Sex:

The reason why I'm between a 6 and a 7 on this (and that's not quality, that's literally just how hot the book is re: sex acts) is that the story is a slow burn. Everything sexy happens in the back half, and you don't get to the full shebang until pretty late in the game. It's ABOUT THE YEARNING.

However, I think this was a good choice, and when we do get those scenes they are super hot (and explicit, though not like Sierra Simone explicit to be clear) and passionate and you definitely get the sense that it's this giant deal for these two. I was quite touched. I was like "awww" but also "oh" which is where I want to be when a story builds to two people hooking up for that long.

And Jensen fully takes advantage of the "Vikings" component and does have some "under the sleeping furs with 76 people sleeping in the near vicinity but we just need to get this done" action here. Which. Brava.

I'll be honest--I was worried about this, as I feel like I've been let down by a great fantasy romance in the past. I, much like several people in this novel, have been burned before. Not so here. I'm fully on board. I loved where we left off, and I cannot wait to see where those two crazy kids go next. Hopefully, like. To Vikings divorce court. So she can end that marriage to his dad.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

👏🏽👏🏽 this is me clapping for the master of twists and cliffhangers Ms. Jensen. I received this as an ARC on NetGalley from the publishers (thank you!) and I’ve never requested a book so quickly. I was transported right into an episode of Vikings every time I read this book.

Freya is a fishmongers wife with a secret and Bjorn is everything you can imagine the perfect Viking man would be like (because Ms. Jensen knows how to write her men 👏🏽) including the sassy and sarcastic banter. The pacing was great, the world building was perfect and the character development was *chef’s kiss*. My one and only issue with this book is that I have to wait for the next one 🥲. Ms. Jensen, please tell me the next one is in the works! 😩🥺
Favorite book of the year so far!

Bridge Kingdom hit the spot for me as a romantasy, so I had high hopes for A Fate Inked in Blood and I was not disappointed! This was a fun ride from start to finish, and left me on the edge of my seat for the next in the series. Jensen excels at creating high tension romances that hit the beats of your favorite tropes, but don't feel overdone. I have recommended this book to friends on that basis alone! But, romance aside, the Norse mythology-inspired world is the star of the show and the adventure-filled plot will keep you turning the pages. My only complaint is that the pacing feels a bit strained in places. I'll definitely be back for book two!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is going to be one of the biggest Romantasy books in 2024.

I felt this book was fantastic. The buildup of sexual tension between the two characters was beautifully done, and I thought the world itself was incredible. The narrative was one aspect of this book that I particularly enjoyed. My issue with some Romatasy releases is that the plot is often overshadowed by the romance. But this book does not do that. I believe the romance and story were well-balanced and equally fleshed out. I can't wait to read the final copy!