Oh my God!!

So freaking good. Exactly what I wanted right now.
I have yet to read the bridge kingdom and it didn't affect my reading of this at all.
Loved it.

This was one of the most disappointing reads of the year. Usually I’m obsessed with everything Danielle writes but this one just wasn’t right for me. I struggled to like the characters and understand what was going on.

This was a really good book and had a strong start. Overall, I was engaged and very interested in the romance storyline. The overall plot seemed slow at times and had odd pacing. I think anyone who enjoys "romantasy" should pick this book up because it is a solid read!

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Danielle L. Jensen for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book was a solid read and I had fun diving into the world. The fantastical elements weren’t difficult to follow, but still maintained some intrigue.

I loved the main love interest, Bjorn. I saw one reviewer say how he was actually funny and not just all broody like many books portray now, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Now, the plot twists were VERY predictable. I think I had it all figured out by 25% into the book. However, this didn’t deter me from enjoying the book.

The ending was a solid cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see these characters and world build more over the subsequent sequels.

I was already a fan of Jensen’s work after stumbling across Dark Shores but WOW did this book exceed expectations! I found myself eagerly devouring chapters every night before bed the way I used to devour episodes of Vikings and it was such a refreshing dive back into the world of Viking lore and storytelling. I will be pre-ordering ASAP!

4.5 silver glowing stars

Ok. First, I need to say that in my (and my buddy reading companion), this series is somehow better than The Bridge Kingdom. *gasp* Yes, I went there.
(or maybe "better" is a bit of a strech and unfair, it just hits different from the very first page. It's more action and magic and rage and spice).

World, YOU NEED TO PREPARE YOURSELF.

*side note here: do yourself a favor and pre-order that first silver edges edition, it will RUN WILD on the internet and bookstores, it's gorgeous and SO worth it... and we don't want a repeat of the dragon book that broke the internet this spring, now do we?😇

Second, this is probably my favorite world building that I have read in Fantasy in the past few years. Also, the COOLEST. I LIVED FOR IT. I have no words to say how much I enjoyed it.

A heroine filled with rage and power and a fierce heart, wilding a sparkly shield and killing foes left and right, all Wondar Woman style? YES, PLEASE.

Then there is Bjorn and uff.. you are not ready for this level of hotness, alphaness, possessiveness and fire axe wilding badassery. Or his sharp tongue. 🤭

*The reasons it's not a full 5 stars are plot driven so I can't say more without spoilers... let's just say I figured the twist early and the things that could have been avoided if the heroine wasn't so stubborn and set in her ways drove me bananas at times.

Still. Overall, a masterpiece.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley and I am still shocked but so, so grateful for the chance to read this early without the influence of all the reels, posts and fangirling that will most definitely ensue lol. Thank you Del Rey 🫶

This book is absolutely amazing! And even though this isn’t releasing till next year I can’t wait for book 2 already! WOW!

A shield maiden who’s blessed by gods has to hide her identity living as a fisherman’s wife for survival. Her life path utterly changes after meeting the irresistible son of a power-hungry king. Her burning desire for the son increases when she is forced to marry this king. A king who believes God’s intentions for her lies in uniting a nation under him. But is that her only fate? The story unravels while the shield maiden tries to control her power and fate while being surrounded and controlled by greed and power.

This book is an epic read which kept me totally hooked! The author does a magnificent job of introducing new twists and turns throughout the story. The characters are well-built too. Loved the MMC and the FMC and their relationship dynamics. I especially enjoyed how badass the FMC is and her character development. The yearning and spice between the two leads are spot on! Loved every bit of it. I adore a book that keeps getting unpredictable along the way and, this book does it perfectly! Fast-paced, adventurous, and full of magic and Norse-inspired characters. There’s love, hope, faith, fate, betrayal, lust, and greed battling among the characters which will take you on a rollercoaster ride.

You would love this book if you enjoy,
~Fantasy
~Norse mythology
~Badass FMC
~Kingdoms and war
~Magical elements
~Spice

One of the best reads of this year! Thank you Del Rey Books and Danielle L. Jensen for this ARC!

I LOVED this book. I was completely enraptured with this novel from the very beginning. The politics, the betrayals, everything about this book was perfection! I can’t wait till this book officially releases because I will definitely be buying my own physical copy when it does!
Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for sending me this arc!!!

This was one of those ARCs where I did a happy dance when I received the approval notification from NetGalley.  I adored the author's Bridge Kingdom series and couldn't wait to read it.  A vikings/Norse gods fantasy series...YES!

The story revolves around Freya who is trapped between a true king (Harald) and a want-to-be one, Snorri, both whom want to use her and her God-given magic to become ruler of all.  Her family (especially her brother) does nothing to save her from the situation she finds herself in.  The only person who attempts to help her is Snorri's heir, Bjorn (who is also God's gifted).  Unfortunately for Freya, she's unsure who she can trust because everyone seems to have their own agenda.  

There are a lot of twists and turns with this story.  My head was spinning with Bjorn.  Do we hate Bjorn?  Is he misunderstood?  Oh look...he's really trying to help Freya.  Oh crap...did he just do what I think he did?  My head was spinning a lot of the time with the relationship between the two of them.  Just when I think I can trust my instinct....BAM...something happens and I'm cursing at. my iPad.  But I will say this.  Freya is a BADASS!  She's always wanted to be a warrior, and she has the skills.  But it's not until her brother sells her out that she understands why her father had her train.  Once she does, she recognizes the power she welds and what it means...not just for her but for the people she's trying to protect.  I pray that as the story moves on, she never loses that insight.

There are a few smexy times sprinkled within the story, but not enough to give it a high spice rating.  This first book is about world-building, which the author does a fantastic job of.  Now comes the long wait to read what happens next.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the intersection of Norse mythology and fantasy. The magic system was unique and interesting and as I know this plans to be a multi-book series, I am excited to see it further expanded upon. The characters were likable and I was rooting for Freya the entire time (and Bjorn). Toward the end, I began to see the plot twist coming, but that may be from my years of experience in reading fantasy series.

I would have enjoyed a pronunciation guide and a map at the beginning of the book, as Freya is constantly traveling all over the place.

Overall, a very enjoyable read and I am very much looking forward to the next one.

I mean… what more is there to truly say other than wow? A Fate Inked in Blood delivered in so many ways I didn't even know I was asking for until the book ended and I was wholly and completely satisfied.

I am an avid lover of the Vikings and their history and a somewhat harsh critic in their fictional stories, for I find them often lacking in the balance needed for the slow and somewhat basic lifestyles x epic battles and interfering gods. LET ME SHOUT LOUDLY that there was absolutely not one error in this department. Danielle L. Jensen wrote a Viking tale full of the little details of life, the harsh expectations of a Viking woman, the gods, the battles, and the men (one man but we'll get to that).

A Fate Inked in Blood follows the gods blessed Freya as she fights every turn to change her fate and those surrounding her. Escaping one hell to enter another Freya finds an ally in Bjorn whose own blood is shared with Tyr.

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

Leave it to Danielle to write the ultimate Viking warrior, known for his battle-fame of fire and death on the killing field and destined for the halls of Valhalla… to be the world's biggest cinnamon roll…

"It is hard to keep one's wits when faced with a woman as beautiful as the sight of shore to a man who has been lost at sea."

It really… it really only gets better from there, every single moment until your heart is shattered upon the jagged edges of this world and it's cruel cast of characters.

"I want you now, and tomorrow, and all the tomorrows, Freya."

Freya must make a choice, and then another, and then when she thinks she is safe she'll have to throw all of those choices out of the window because no one is safe. The gods are as cruel as they are kind and Freya is no exception. I can't stress this enough friends… I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK.

This book… I immediately reread it because it was so good! So many wonderful references to Norse mythology without being stereotypical. I love that the female lead was strong, but not unrealistic. She had a sense of duty to her family and village, while working through valid human emotions. Her internal debate of what is right versus what is right for her is a relatable turmoil that many endure to this day. I enjoyed that the magic detailed throughout the novel was deemed realistic within the realm of Norse mythology and the beliefs they held of children of Gods. The character development as wonderful. Reading how Freya slowly grew into her confidence in not only her “gift’ and fighting skills, but in herself and her romantic relationships was a perfect touch to the story. Plus, who couldn’t love a handsome Viking warrior? OH, and don’t even get me started on how cool the plot twist is! I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey publishing for my ARC!

I have a thing for Viking stories and this hit a sweet spot for me. I really enjoyed the twists and turns, even if I may have seen a couple of them coming. The story is feeling similar to The Last Kingdom, but between Skaland and Nordeland. The romance and tension was built up pretty well, definitely kept me on my toes. I think my only complaint is that I see shield maidens as super strong and able to withstand anything, and quite a few times I felt like Freya was really good at complaining and thinking like she had the worst lot (which was just kind of annoying to me). I prefer a cocky FMC, while this Freya was more realistic. So really it just comes down to preference on that! Loved it, can’t wait to read more as the series comes out!

I had so much fun with this book! It is a quick and easy read with an absolutely swoon worthy slow burn romance. Freya and Bjorn are SO HOT! They had great banter and chemistry. Freya is a great lead. She is funny, smart, and literally ready to charge into battle to protect her people. I loved the Norse inspired mythology. The magic system is so interesting and detailed. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the start to a new epic fantasy series based on Norse mythology. We're following Freya, a fishwife in a small village who is a bit more than meets the eye. When it's revealed that she is actually the prophesied shield maiden, blessed by the goddess Hlin, the jarl takes her to become his wife and key to gaining political power. He unfortunately has a really hot son, who complicates things.

Overall, this was... okay. I think it had a bit of a slow start, but I did really enjoy the world and the Norse magic. I think the middle 50% of this is really exciting, and overall I found the romance compelling.

However, my main issue with this was, unfortunately, Freya as a character. A lot of this is purposeful for plot reasons, but she makes so many unhinged, irrational decisions and I found her endlessly frustrating. She was also not super consistent (again, there are reasons) -- she flip flops so frequently between needing to stay with Jarl Snorri to protect her family (even though they all suck), and then really resenting her family for putting her in this position and wanting to kill the jarl and/or run away, and sometimes this made it difficult to buy into her motivations or even really root for her.

For most of this book, I did think I was going to give it 4 stars, because I did mostly have a pretty good time, but things kind of went off the rails for the last 20-25%, and I did end up rounding down to 3. I do still plan to continue on with this series though, I think this was a fairly solid start, and I am interested to see where things go.

***eARC provided by NetGalley and Del Rey

I really liked the world building of A fate Inked In Blood, but the slow burn was a bit torturous for me, and I was a bit saddened by the consequences of their actions toward the end. It'll be interesting to see how everything works itself out in the next book. Overall, I liked the magic system and thought it was really creatively mixed with mythology.

Thank you to Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I literally have no complaints about this book, this is my favorite fantasy novel of the year! It’s laugh out loud funny, face paced and fun, and a swoon worthy romance. The main character Freya is so easy to connect too and her inner monologue is one of the best I’ve ever read. The world building is easy to understand but still very interesting and unique. The tension and banter between the two main characters was my favorite part of this story. I loved this book so much I was will definitely be buying a physical copy when it releases because I want to support the start to a very amazing series! I love his authors other series the bridge kingdom but this one blew me out of the water!

Wow! If you liked Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash series I think you would like A Fate Inked in Blood. The Nordic inspiration was top notch. I think a lot of us are obsessed with Vikings these days.

I honestly got so wrapped up in reading this book, that I didn't even stop to make any notes about it until like 60% of the way through. Casually placing my pre-order on Amazon right now just so that I can have the physically copy when it actually comes out. I loved Freya's character. I loved Bjorn. I loved the spice. I just loved this. I cannot wait to see more. AND WHY OH WHY DID IT END ON A CLIFFHANGER, because I just need more now. Right now.

Devoured all 432 pages in 2 days. Phenomenal.

Thank you NetGalley, Danielle L. Jensen, and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

Born as the shield maiden, Freya ends up bound in an umwanted marriage to a Jarl who is convinced she is destined to make him King. Freya is now forced to work with him through a blood oath. However, her biggest challenge might not just be her fate but also her growing attraction to her husband's son: Bjorn. Freya must discover who she is meant to be before is too late for her, her family, and for Bjorn.

What I liked: It was very good pacing. It didn't take long for me to be intrigued in the story. Norse mythology has always been interesting to me and the inclusion of it woven in the story was uniquely done. The magic system was also very well-explained and balanced. There are things in the story a bit underdeveloped but I feel the next installments will cover more of it.

What I didn't like: The insta-lust-love. I do love good sexual tension and while in parts it was definitely well-written, for the most part, it was repetetive. 60% of the book is Freya talking about how wet she is for Bjorn and about her "slickening thighs" and her "throbbing sex". Like I get it, he is hot. You don't have to writw about it literally every chapter.

Another thing I didn't like we Freya herself. While she does have a very difficult journey and she seeks to find a voice for herself, she spends a lot of the time worried for a family that never loved her. NO ONE in her family cared for her and she worried excessively about their well-being which is why she was at Snorri's mercy. It was irritating. The ending also annoyed me but I did make me want to know what happens next.

Overall, this was indeed an interesting read but it was far from great for me. I will see how book 2 goes though since it kept me intrigued.

3.5/ stars ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This books was amazing! I really loved The Bridge Kingdom by Jensen, but A Fate Inked in Blood is even better! I can’t wait for the next book in this series to be released. Jensen leaves us with the perfect cliffhanger that will undoubtedly have me re-reading this book before the next. AFIIB has spicy romance, character depth, and a good fantasy story that may have been predictable at times, but kept me turning the pages at a fast rate nonetheless. One of the best fantasies I’ve read this year!