Wow this book was so good!! So many twists, turns and adventure. The main two characters Freya and Bjorn will take you on an adventure as they figure out their feelings for each other and what fate has in store for them. Freya is a strong main character who will fight for the people she loves and Bjorn is so lovable and a great book boyfriend. He made me laugh multiple times with the banter between the two of them. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series and have already preordered my copy of this book! Thank you, thank you Danielle L. Jensen for writing such an amazing book and to NetGalley for allowing me an early copy of the book.

~thank you so much to netgalley & del rey/random house publishing for gifting me with an ebook arc-
I recieved this arc in exchange for an honest review

you guys I have to be so for real with you right now. I am absolutely obsessed with this book and it has absolutely consumed me. after finishing this book I immediately went and preordered my copy. to be honest I’ll probably reread when the book is published.

the story centers around Freya, a fishmongers wife and bound to a an unwanted marriage. But freya carries a secret, she has a drop of a goddesses blood, and contains a powerful gift that was foresaw to change the fate of the nation of Skaland. Freya is blessed by the gods and must make difficult choices all while protecting herself and her loved ones. Freya is faced with a heavy burden and responsibility to write her own fate.

this book is gripping right from the first page. I started reading this one thinking “I’ll just read the first chapter” and then I could put it down for three days. I personally love Norse mythology and I’ve been searching for a book like this for so long. There’s truly not enough Norse romance books but this one is absolutely my favorite.

the plot is so entertaining, fast paced, and the romance is to die for. A forbidden slow burn romance with so many of my favorite microtropes. I was giggling, kicking my feet, and screaming into my pillow

this is romantasy done right. I think it’s rare to find and read a fantasy book that consumes you and affect you so much to the point of obsession. I think this one was honestly better than fourth wing. It’s not going to be for everyone but I really think this is going to be one of the best books of 2024 and it’s only January 1st.

the worst part of this book is that not only do I have to wait months for it’s release and for everyone else to read it but I also have to wait even longer for book two 😭
thanks again netgalley & random house for the ARC but also please give me book two

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this arc!

This wasn't really for me. The premise is super intriguing, and I had pretty high hopes - but ultimately, the style and tone of writing just didn't work for me. This is adult (I think, judging off the many mentions of sex here), but it did not feel like adult fantasy. My hand was being held all throughout, and the romance felt very rushed and immature. I felt as though I began dreading scenes with these two characters, but I am also notoriously picky with romance.
This felt very Skyrim-inspired, which I certainly wasn’t against. The jarls, the mountains with draugr (draug in here, but you get it lmao). I wish it would have worked out for me. I am interested in trying to pick up The Bridge Kingdom here in the future and give this author another shot!

This book was absolutely amazing!! I loved every minute of it and it reminded me so much of the TV show Vikings so it was easy to imagine everything.

This was very enjoyable! A solid read with tons of action and some nice twists. I'm definitely going to want to read the next in the series - I have to know how things get wrapped up for her!

This was a perfect mix of romance and fantasy for me. It’s fast-paced, and there’s a lot of political intrigue and twists and turns in the story. The Norse mythology is woven in beautifully. All the while, the slow burn romance is tantalizing. Side characters are well-developed and add depth to the world. If, like many, you loved Fourth Wing, this will be right up your alley. If, like me, you couldn't get into Fourth Wing, you'll appreciate the more sophisticated world-building and character development in this book. I can't wait for book two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC copy of A Fate Inked in Blood in exchange for an honest review.

Freya has been sworn to secrecy since she was a child. While others are able to claim their gift from the gods, Freya's foretells of a prophecy that will change her life. So her days are spent dreaming of being the warrior she knows she can be while cleaning her husband's catch of fish. When the region's jarl comes to her village to discuss business with her unbearable husband, Freya find herself in a battle to the death with the jarl's son. Unable to hide her god power in her moment of death, Freya calls upon Hlin to protect her. With her secret revealed, the jarl takes property of Freya through marriage with a plan to use her powers to make him king of Skaland. Issues arise as Bjorn, his son and heir, is tasked with keeping Freya safe - proving treacherous as their interest in each other grows. Freya is determined not to be a prisoner, but instead to forge her own fate. As she sets about learning her new powers, Freya must battle the foes in front of her as well as the ones she does not yet know of.

***Spoilers ahead***

I really enjoyed the Bridge Kingdom series by Danielle L. Jensen so this serious was highly anticipated for me. I liked the characters and enjoyed Freya's internal battle of who she wants to be and what she ought to do. Bjorn's character was a little flat for me. The hot rebelious son from a previous marriage who wants different from his father and hates orders? Meh. Has this storyline been played out and done before? Yes. Did I enjoy the Norse adaptation and exporation of it in a fantasy setting? Also yes. I would like to see this series fleshed out with some new plots that are not as used, but I was intrigued nonetheless and look forward to what is next for this story!

This was everything I thought it was going to be. Immersive world building, well-developed characters, and swoony romance. I can’t wait to share this with my readers, I know it will be immensely popular.

This book was so perfect and left me in so much awe that I forgot to do my review. I devoured this book while on a very busy trip. Long made plans were amended so I could read, it was that good.

Danielle L. Jensen knows how to write a book that will leave you at the edge of your seat. She does not pull her punches (for further evidence, read her Bridge Kingdom series).
It was packed with the best romantasy tropes without feeling overly done. A slow burn forbidden romance, magic, meddling gods from norse mythology, and the best world building (no massive info dumping through random side characters here).
The banter was top tier. And the rollercoaster of emotions i went through!?? I was laughing out loud one minute, furious the next, and kicking me feet in giddiness right after. DLJ knows how to get her readers fully immersed into a story.
If you like fantasy romance, you will not regret picking up this book. I can't wait for it to come out on February 27th so I can yell at everyone to read it.
Thank you NetGalley and RH for this ARC

Of all the fantasies I’ve ever read, this is the first based in Norse mythology that I’ve tried out, and I’m so glad I did! Right from the first chapter, Freya’s strength and wit had me rooting for her character. Throughout the book, the way she is at war with herself, caught between what’s best for her, her family, and her nation, was a very relatable conflict.
The chemistry between Freya and Bjorn was on fire (literally!) from the beginning and I loved watching their relationship develop despite all the obstacles in their way.
The world building was excellent, the intrigue at just the right level, and the twist(s) at the end were revealed perfectly. I cannot wait for the next in this series!

Loved "A Fate Inked in Blood". What a great start to this series. I cannot wait until the next one!!

This book has ALL the Viking vibes! It reminded me a lot of the TV show Vikings with its Viking culture, battle scenes, and discussions about power and fate. I was sucked in from the very beginning. I love when the MC is the chosen one, and right away I wanted to root for Freya. I appreciated her character journey of trying to control her fate when so many difficult things happen to her.

The romance in this is a slow-burn forbidden love, and I think it balances well with the epic plot. Both the romance and the plot have lots of twists and turns that held my attention, and I can't wait to see where the next book goes.

I had some reservations about Freya as a character. Some of her decisions (or lack thereof) annoyed me. And I wanted more of an emotional-focused relationship with Bjorn, not just lust. But I think that relationship growth will come in the next book, and I sincerely hope Freya finds more strength and stubbornness too.

Overall, this is an entertaining Viking fantasy, one that both Danielle L. Jensen's beloved readers and new readers alike will enjoy. Definitely give this one a try if you love Sky in the Deep, The Shadow of the Gods, and The First Girl Child.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Ballantine and Del Rey, for the arc!
Releases February 27, 2024

Trigger/Content Warnings: fighting violence and death, gore, sacrificing animals, swearing, several open door scenes

This has all the makings for an epic story. The magic, the forbidden love, the war, the betrayal! There were parts that I felt were predictable, and I found myself not connecting with the FMC at times, but overall I still enjoyed it and look forward to book 2. Bjorn is definitely a new book boyfriend and I need more of his story asap!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

arc review: A Fate Inked in Blood

"I will be at your back until I cross the threshold to Valhalla, Born-in-Fire, whether you want me there or not."

I finally got around to reading this arc and I’m SO glad I did! Sneaking in right at the end, but this quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year! A Norse mythology inspired, Romantasy with a BA FMC that gives everything I didn’t know I wanted.

"Not all scars we earn are skin-deep, Freya Born-in-Fire."
"There is no less honor in them."

I absolutely devoured this book in one day! Very fast paced, epic adventure story about destiny and the power of being unfated. The amount of feminine rage I felt coursing through this book and how I can see it building in the rest was so satisfying. I think going into this story without knowing the plot is the best, because it is full of surprises.

"Freya used to be a good and loyal woman."
'She still is. You're just no longer worthy of her loyalty."

Amazing witty banter, mutual pining, forbidden love, enemies to lovers, unfated destiny, one horse, female rage, slow burnnnnnn.

Thank you to Danielle L. Jensen, and Random House Publishing Group. for this ARC

Almost 4 stars. This is my first book from Danielle Jensen. I've heard amazing things about her Bridge Kingdom series, with reviewers comparing her books to Sarah J Maas. Maas is my favorite author and her books are the ones with which I compare all romantasy against. Because of that, I jumped at the chance to read this ARC. But it also means that I had very high expectations for A Fate Inked In Blood. While this didn't live up to Maas's works (honestly, it didn't read like anything from her at all, but I did get some Lord of the Rings vibes), I did still enjoy this.

Readers going into A Fate Inked in Blood need to be prepared for the fact that literally every single character, with the exception of Freya and Bjorn, are TERRIBLE. And to be honest, Freya was kind of annoying to me at times as well-- she was a little too quick to play the martyr in a woe is me type of way. That said, Bjorn was an amazing character. Bookstagrammers should prepare to hear a lot about Bjorn. He will be all over everyone's 2024 socials. He's sexy and rugged and protective but also doesn't hold Freya back with his protective nature. And he's sarcastic. His banter with Freya is some of the best banter I've ever read in a romantasy book. I was constantly laughing. It's also worth knowing that this is a steamy book, but I think Jensen did a great job with the steamy scenes. Yes, the attraction between Freya and Bjorn was present immediately, but I also think she did a good job developing their relationship so this didn't feel at all like insta-love to me. So all in all, the romance aspect of this one was top notch.

My major critique is that I found the book to be a little long. I'm also really not a fan of such long chapters-- there's no reason they needed to be ~25 minutes to read). That said, there was a TON of action. So while it was long, it wasn't slow (once you got past the first 10-15%). I feel like there was a battle every 2-3 chapters, and I can really appreciate how fast paced it was. There is a bit of a twist/ surprise at the end, which I guessed but guessing it still didn't diminish my appreciation for it. That twist ultimately results in the book ending up on a bit of a cliffhanger.

I definitely recommend A Fate Inked in Blood for fans of romantasy. I've never read a Nordic/viking esque romance, so I really appreciated how unique this felt with respect to that setting. Thanks so much to Jensen, Del Ray, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

All Freya has ever dreamed of was being a warrior for her people, fighting on the battlefield for glory, but she's trapped in an arranged marriage to a wretched, greedy, and selfish husband who misuses his god-given magic. Freya is also gifted from gods, however unlike her husband, she's kept her gift a secret for her entire life. Gifted by a goddess of protection, she's the shield maiden, and her value in battle is undeniable.

A Fate Inked in Blood was quite honestly everything I wanted it to be in a Norse mythology-inspired fantasy romance; an incredibly strong-willed and powerful female main character, and a swoon-worthy love interest. The banter was top-notch and contained very believable jests between two adults who are undeniably attracted to one another (think innuendos on top of innuendos). All-in-all, I think this would be an excellent taster into the fantasy genre for people who have wanted to give it a go, but might have found themselves intimidated because it contains a very straightforward magic system and a well-written plot.

So I stayed up until 3am to read this in one sitting. It’s fast paced, engaging, with high stakes and lots of action that kept me turning the page. Plus it’s got a slow burn, high heat romance. But it wasn’t without flaws. Pretty much all the characters are terrible. Freya’s family is awful, Snorri and Yvala are awful, and even Freya herself is hard to like at times. Bjorn is absolutely the best part of the entire book. He’s super hot and is the only person that seems to care about Freya as a person instead of a thing.
There are some surprising reveals (and some not so surprising ones) that leave everything in disarray at the end. It will be very interesting to see where the story goes next.
Read if you like Norse mythology, FBAA, and high stakes romantasy. There’s even a little something for LOTR fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced look at the book to review. All opinions are my own.

Nope, nope, nope.

This was a pain to get through. Honestly it's just horribly sexist and it tries to challenge it by making her a "girlboss warrior" but it just doesn't work. It felt like forever just to get the story moving and even once the story actually started, barely anything happened.

As a lover of Norse mythology, this book was an absolute blast to read!

It was immediately immersive, following Freya and her journey to power and its consequences.

Freya lives a simple life with a husband she hates, but that hates care of her family. She wants for more, but knows that it's out of her reach until her husband betrays her and opens the door to a new chapter of her fate.

I really enjoyed the rich world that the author brought this story into. Many times I was glad that I have a passing knowledge of mythology or I would have needed to Google a bit. Some of the “tests” and challenges reminded me a lot of the video game God of War (also based on Norse mythology!) which was amazing

I did think that some of Freya's development was rushed, but overall she was someone that many women who want something better for themselves can relate to, as well as her sense of responsibility and honor.

I kept trying to figure out how the book would end as I had many theories, about half of which ended up being right.
I will definitely be reading the sequel as soon as it's available!!

Tropes: Banter, forbidden love, revenge, pining, tension, quest/journey, plot twists, training, magic, and battle

3.75
I'm generally a fan of Danielle Jensen, even going back to her older stuff. Bridge Kingdom was one of my favorite books last year. This one doesn't necessarily disappoint, but it's by no means game-changing. There's a bit too much insta-love, some forgettable side characters (with one exception), and a FMC who practiced sword fighting with actual warriors like, one time and suddenly became some god-level (lol) fighter. I didn't really care about the stakes, although I get the sense that wasn't really the point here.

BUT the premise and romantic plot was interesting enough and the last 10% or so bumped this up from a 3 to an almost 4. Probably gonna pick up the sequel cause that cliffhanger was no joke.