A Fate Inked in Blood had everything I look for in a book, magic, amazing world building, romance and a badass main character. A Nordic/Viking inspired fantasy romance? What else would you want. Since page one I just knew I was going to love this story, the slow burn, the plot twists, BJORN, the battles, everything was amazing. I don't have much words other than GO AND PREORDER THIS MASTERPIECE RIGHT NOW!!

Biggest thanks to Netgalley, Daniella Jensen, and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I love a good fantasy read but with such a heavy market, it’s hard for one to blow me away now. It’s a solid read and it’s an entertaining plot but it’s just very standard

This was a bit of a letdown for me. I had been excited to read A Fate Inked in Blood since it was announced, especially because Bridge Kingdom is one of my favorite fantasy romance series, but it just missed the mark.

My biggest complaint was the instalust. Like chapter one, first ten pages instalust. One of my favorite aspects of romantasy books is the romantic buildup. And there was virtually none of that in AFIIB because Freya was obsessed with Bjorn from the first time she saw him. By the end of the book I was just sick of hearing how hot Bjorn is, especially when Freya had much more pressing matters to think about.

I did enjoy the Norse mythology aspects and the atmosphere of the book though. The plot was interesting but not enough so that I was able to overlook the parts of the romance that didn’t work for me, hence lower rating. I may continue the series to see where DLJ goes with it, but it did not compare to the Bridge Kingdom for me.

If you like vikings, a stubborn and sometimes annoying fmc, and don’t mind jumping straight into instalust, you will probably love this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and DLJ for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an amazing intro fantasy book. Great, easy to understand world building. Storyline was wonderful & a few spicy scenes as well. I loved the history of the characters and the themes throughout! Great first book of a series.

This book had all of the action, mythology, and vibes I normally obsess over in Nordic-inspired fantasies but WITH SPICE. Need I say more?

Freya was a great female main character. I knew I was locked in with her from the get go when she grabbed that axe. If you know, you know. The romance storyline was so entertaining to read with the banter, tension, and teamwork between Freya and Bjorn.

Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me. I felt like some things got a little repetitive with the jarl and the world’s politics. I wish we would’ve gotten to see Freya come into her own just a little bit more in this book. I feel like the character we met in the beginning kind of lost her edge. Additionally, this book traverses through several kinds of sceneries and is rife with opportunity for some crazy world-building. Some scenes were incredibly atmospheric and I felt like I was hand-in-hand with the characters at points. But I don’t think the book as a whole reached the level I typically enjoy. Which is okay! I think this book would be a fantastic introduction into Nordic fantasy for people who love romance. I will definitely read the next installment. The ending of this book had my mind reeling with theories. I know that the politics, romance, and mythology are going to get even more interesting and complicated and I can’t wait!

Lush, romantic, and a bit dark. A Fate Inked in Blood is sure to appeal to fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Hurricane Wars. It has originally imagined world and strong female lead who you can get behind even when she has some darker things up her sleeve.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

Vikings, gods, kings, magic, political intrigue, and forbidden attraction collide in this Norse inspired romantic fantasy. Goddess blessed with powers of protection, the last shield maiden, fiercely protective of her family, and prophesized to unite the nation of Skaland, Freya must do everything she can to keep her powers secret and keep others from controlling her fate. She struggles daily to accept an ordinary life while dreaming of freedom and the life of a warrior. The sudden arrival of a striking stranger and a sharp twist of events exposes her powers and flips her life upside down. Paired with Bjorn, the son of a power-hungry Jarl, she must train to fight and learn to master her powers while attempting to deny a forbidden attraction she has only ever yearned to feel. The path set before them is littered with treacherous challenges set by the gods, enemies at every turn, and the fate of all Skaland in the balance.

The author does a fantastic job of grabbing the reader by the arm, drawing them into her world, and refusing to let go. I loved the world-building, the magical system is easy to understand, the main characters are well written, and backstories for the characters is essential. I could not put this book down!! I loved ABSOLUTELY everything about this book. When does the next book come out?!! I devoured this book and CANNOT wait for the next installment in the series!!

Myth: 4/5

A strong start to a new romantic fantasy series that plays with Norse mythology. Familiar gods have their chosen on earth, blessed with a drop of their blood. Freya is one of them. She’s also key to a seer’s vision for kings and conquerors. This book brings a woman who’s spent her life sacrificing for those around her to a bigger stage. She has to decide how much of herself she’s willing to lose caught up in the power plays of those around her. And, of course, the jarl’s son presents lots of romantic complications to build that tension we all love!

Magic: 5/5

I loved the play on Norse gods blessing specific people with drops of blood and, therefore, power. Freya’s story is obviously even more unique, which makes it all the more fun to watch unfold in this world.

Overall: 4.5/5

A series opener with a fun build-up and a TON packed into the last 10% of the book. It’s a compelling read, and I’m sure will be a unique fantasy series.

This is one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. If you are a fan of Norse mythology and fate, this is the book for you. The world building is very detailed and intricately woven, I feel like I could live in the scenes. The book starts off with Freya being madden with the husband her family had wed her too. Her dreams are to be a warrior, like her brother. After stumbling upon a naked man at the beach, she finds her way home to her husband who has betrayed her secret. After that instant her life is tossed in the chaos of the gods. It has been foretold that Freya's magic will unite her homeland, but at what cost to herself? This book has a very strong plot, with romance sprinkled in. I personally would have liked for a little more romance.

Absolutely amazing new series from Danielle Jensen! I can’t wait to see this in print! Incredible world-building, dynamic characters, and fascinating new spins on Norse mythology!

Well... it's going to be a longgggg torturous wait for book two to be released! You would think with how much I loved The Bridge Kingdom that I would have been ready for this masterpiece but I certainly was not! Freya and Bjorn are such lovingly crafted characters. They are both so complex and each have a very unique set of of circumstances that forges them. I will say that I had suspicions that the twist was coming but that did not soften the blow at all, I was still absolutely shattered. It took me a bit to really get into the book but that was only because I am not well versed in Nordic mythology, once I got the gist of it, I was hooked. I really have no complaints about this book, Jensen is a master of her craft and I am so excited to see what the happenings at the end of this book bring about in book number two!

4.5/5

I was beyond thrilled when I revived an ARC for this book! I will probably read anything Danielle L. Jensen writes. I am obsessed with her Bridge Kingdom series and was excited to dive into another one of her worlds.

A Fate Inked in Blood is based on Norse mythology and was such a fun turn from my usually fantasy books! Freya has been kept hidden all her life because she is blessed by the Gods as the shield maiden. She becomes trapped in a union with a power hungry jarl who is convinced she will make him king.

Freya is determined to become strong and survive this harsh new world she's been thrown into. So she trains with the jarls son, Bjorn, to learn to fight and control her magic. While also fight her growing feelings for him.

It is spicy and addictive and I absolutely LOVE Bjorn and Freya. This book left me wanting more and craving the next book. Definitely keep your eyes peeled for the release of this in 2024! It is SO GOOD!

"You are mine, Born-in-Fire," he answered, reaching out to take my hand. "And I'm yours, even if only the two of us know it."

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first time picking up a book by this author; and I'm glad I did ( thank you NetGalley for the ARC), this book was so good. I absolutely devoured this book, could not put it down. I adore the main character of Freya, she's smart, snarky, and compassionate. Bjorn is kind of the perfect bad boy/ morally grey love interest. The plot was very well written, and clearly the author did a good bit of research when it came to Norse, and Viking history. I cannot wait for the next book in the series, because that ending... oh boy!


#AFateInkedinBlood #DanielleLJensen #NetGalley

This was great! I was already a fan of the author, but I love how different this was from her other books. I loved how it was Norse inspired and I really connected with the characters. One thing I enjoy about this author is that her characters actually grow and how adventurous her tales are. A lot of romance novels seem to have not much happening, but Jensen never disappoints when it comes to action-packed. Another aspect that I appreciate in Jensen's stories is that she doesn't use silly names will juvenile spellings; her character names and descriptions in this series seem authentic to the time and place.

I will definetly be purchasing this title for my own collection, and can't wait to read book two.

I have to say that I was skeptical about this read because it’s not something I would normally pick up. The cover drew me in though and I’m so glad it did because this was a phenomenal read!

THIS BOOK! I am having trouble putting into words how much I loved this one. What an amazing world and story Jenson has started with characters that I can’t wait to read more about. It’s everything we all love about this genre but with refreshing Viking vibes that filled a void I didn’t know I had.

If New Adult fantasy novels feel a little overwhelming for you, don’t let that stop you from picking this one up. This is one of the easiest new fantasy worlds that I started in a long time. I didn’t feel confused about Gods, characters, magic, or places one time which is a sign of fantastic writing and world building.

Freya and Bjorn are fantastic, wounded characters with depth and feeling. I CAN NOT wait to see where their story goes. If you are fans of books in the Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorn and Roses, and From Blood and Ash vein, then add this one to your list. I hope this one blows up as the next big thing.

Pick this one up if you like:

-Norse Mythology
-Strong but flawed characters
-Forbidden Love
-First in a new series
-Slow burn romance
-Swoon worthy spice
-God blood, fate, magic, and more!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
This book, unlike many fantasy romances out there, focuses very heavily on the political conflict, and the horror of the world around them and the situation that they are in. Also, the world building is thoughtout and is very clearly connected to Norse myth, however, I think that this is where the book falls flat.
While the story is very well thoughout, with a lot of moving parts, very little attention is given to Freya's own agency, and the only decisions she seems to make well into the book are in order to assume responsibilities for the actions of another, and not herself. Perhaps it wouldn't have bothered me as much without the time crunch I'm currently on, but the world felt confusing, and Freya's role as a sheild-maiden felt rushed and unexplained. Her tension with Bjorn felt unearned given the circumstances, and I just didn't understand what they saw in each other and I did not believe their closeness. A book with strong foundations, but unsure on where it's leading.

This is the first book I've read from this author although I have another series of hers on my to-read list. After reading A Fate Inked in Blood, it's safe to say her books have jumped up to MUST read on my list because I am in love with her storytelling and writing style.

In A Fate Inked in Blood, I loved the Norse mythology background, which I thought I knew quite a bit about but quite honestly learned a lot more in this book and looking up some characters on my own on the side just for some more backstory --it's definitely not necessary to go in with any knowledge of Norse gods as I feel like the author does a good job of explaining everything in a really easy to grasp way.

I am such a sucker for the slow burn story between the two love interests. There was that amazing tension and push/pull feeling of forbidden love, and this author did a great job of developing the characters chemistry.

The twists and turns in this story also kept me hooked, and I loved that it felt fast-paced but easy to follow throughout the whole timeline. There were also some jaw-dropping moments for me, and I really can't wait to continue this series!!!

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a review. This review will be posted to Goodreads.

This was my first novel by this author, but I imagine that some of the similar elements would be appealing for fans of The Bridge Kingdom series, based on the themes and discussion I've seen online. On its own, A Fate Inked in Blood offers a strong start to an entertaining fantasy/romantasy series. The Norse-inspired world/magic system is one of its strengths, and I look forward to seeing the lore and Freya's powers be further fleshed out in the next book. The plot is certainly fast-paced and keeps the reader's attention. Freya and Bjorn are interesting and balanced characters who keep the reader invested. However, secondary characters like Snorri and Ylva fall a bit flat by comparison, in that they feel almost cartoonishly evil at times, without us being shown the emotions/motivations that drive them to their actions rather than being told in text. The main romance does feel a bit rushed at times, but in a way seems believable based on the circumstances of Freya's isolation (i.e. does not feel like unearned 'insta-love' on my read).

The plot twists at the end are easily predictable from the heavy foreshadowing throughout, but feel no less enjoyable to read when revealed. Most of the action scenes of the book, particularly in description of raids/attacks feel short and I would have liked to see the battles more developed, though I hope this will come in book 2 as Freya continues to improve upon her skill/power.

Overall, A Fate Inked in Blood is a fun and fast read. It sets itself up for expansion as a series, which I think will appeal to romantasy readers and which I would definitely continue.

WOW!!! I loved this book so much!! The author does an amazing job at immersing the reader into the story and making me feel like I was watching the story unfold before my eyes in person. I felt fully immersed in the environment and felt like I was living during Nordic times. I loved the plot, imagery, characters, and pretty much everything about this book. The only reason I didn't rate it five stars was because I found the main character Freya to be frustrating at times with rash decision making and in turn the consequences for her lack of thinking things through. Overall this was a fantastic book and I loved it so much!! I don't know how I'll survive until the next book is released 😭