This book is perfection! I have never read a Norse fantasy book and Danielle L. Jensen did not disappoint. The FMC is everything that you want and more. Her love interest is the vision of a Viking warrior put to paper! And their banter is second to none giving me all the feels. Each chapter kept me interested making it nearly impossible to get enough sleep. The world building was simple enough that I didn’t need a diagram to understand it. The only complaint I have is that I have to wait who know how long to devourer the next book.

It pains me to admit that I didn't love this one. As someone who recommends The Bridge Kingdom to literally anyone who enjoys fantasy, I was disappointed that this book fell flat. While the beginning started off strong, the middle dragged on for me, and the so-called 'twist' at the end was painfully predictable (I saw it coming from a mile away). I also found it challenging to believe how quickly Freya and Bjorn transitioned from enemies to lovers (although there was some good banter mixed in there). The strengths included easy-to-understand world-building, the forced proximity trope, and a feisty main character. Unfortunately, I won't be reading the next book in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Danielle L. Jensen for allowing me access to this book. All opinions are my own.

I really liked this one! I’m always here for a Norse myth/Vikings moment and this was definitely a fun take. I absolutely did not see the twist about someone’s identity coming. It was a bit of a trod for me a times - and it did feel a bit slow - but the ending really picked things up. I loved Freya’s character, and how we really got to see her grow and change throughout the book. I’m very curious to see where this one goes!

Danielle Jensen has become an auto-read/buy author since I read her Bridge Kingdom series and fell in love with her writing style. I knew when I heard of this book that I would have to get my hands on it ASAP!
It did not disappoint. This book is filled in love, lust, tension, fighting, emotion, betrayal, and all set in a norse mythological environment. I found myself captivated by the characters and engaged by the story, constantly wondering what would happen next.

I have to admit, I had my suspicions that it would end the way it did, but damn did it still surprise and enthrall me!

Overall, I highly recommend this. Read it, love it, tattoo something from it on your body. No regrets.

Review: Raiders- I mean readers beware this novel will knock your boots off and send you back to great Father Odin! From the first chapter Jensen captures you in a world that is fresh and interesting ensuring you want to learn about Freya’s journey. This fantasy romance starts as a slow burn with progressive events leaving a satisfied touch until the last pages! Jensen delivers captivating battle scenes, beautiful backstories, and characters you can easily fall in love with. With this being the first novel in the series I’m anxiously awaiting the next volume! 5/5 stars!

Novel feedback: I read this novel on a mobile device for reference. Seems there were some spacing issues with some words in multiple chapters but I understand this is this was an uncorrected copy! Im hoping we get to understand Freya’s emotions more in the next novel at points it felt like Freya’s emotions were not addressed or talked about quickly before heading into the next chapter or event. Don’t wanna put spoilers but many of the emotional events! Overall an extremely engaging novel I loved it!!

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle Jensen •my spoiler-free thoughts•
Spice rating: 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️ (Definitely spicier than her other series! 😏)
What I liked: This book delivers on the promise of a Nordic world! More so in this book than her previous series, DJ allows her characters to drive the narrative and lets the world develop around them. The result is an action-packed tale with huge character arcs in a lush world that effortlessly unfolds.
What stood out: I really related to the FMC’s family dynamics. She struggles with the false responsibility of owing them to her detriment, and boy did that resonate. 🫠
And hooooo that banter with the beefy MMC 🔥🙌🥵
Tropes:
-Instant chemistry
-Arranged marriage
-Secret Powers
-Forced Proximity
-Touch her and die
-Forbidden Romance
-A+ Banter
-The Chosen One
-Badass Heroine
-Prophecy
Personal rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Y’all, this book is awesome. A huge thank you to NetGalley and randomhouse for this ARC because I could not put it down. What a dream to read Danielle’s work and confidently say you must add this to your TBR, your Goodreads, your B&N preorder cart, and eagerly await the February release!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me an arc of this book for my honest review. It's been an absolute pleasure to read this book.

Holy cow! What a ride! I can say I have never read a book that was steeped so heavily in mythology but this book made it very easily digestible, explaining in small tidbits so the world building didn't feel overwhelming.

Freya is constantly used as a tool for her family. She is told to never be too loud, never be to opinionated, never be more, only do what is expected of her and not what she wants. I feel like this makes her a very relatable character, having been in her position of being told to do for the greater good rather than good of yourself.

She's traded from one shitty husband to another to build their greatness and once again is used as a tool while she battles with what it means to be who she wants to be versus what is expected of her.

Danielle gives details that make you feel, hear and smell the world around Freya. Her horrors, her joys, her surroundings are yours while you're reading this book. Danielle gives you ample time to warm up to the idea of a love interest in this book and it gave me all the feels when it played out. He pushes her again and again to be her best self, to not rely on only one strength and to choose herself over, even if it means dishing out some tough love. The dash of spice through out the middle and end of this book more than satisfied.

I absolutely devoured this book and am utterly wrecked about having to wait for the next book.

I was held in a chokehold the entire time I read this book. I couldn’t put it down! Danielle Jensen is an author whose works I thoroughly enjoy reading every single time. The prose is phenomenal, the pacing is just right, and the characters are enjoyable to follow. Norse mythology is has some of my absolute favorite myths, so seeing a lot of ties to Norse mythology made my heart swell. I really like the idea of the powers coming from a drop of blood from the god during conception, and it being unknown which god until the child invokes their name. I thought this use of powers was very unique. The sexual tension and build up between Freya and Bjorn was *chef’s kiss*.

The only issues that I had are the predictability of the book with certain plot points, including the reveal at the end, and Freya herself. It seems that a lot of books currently follow a similar pattern/theme, so it was very predictable. Freya was also an irritating character to follow at some points. Although completely understandable with some of her reactions after being thrust upon the fate of her home, it felt like she couldn’t make any decisions for herself, even with Bjorn giving her the option to even have a choice in situations she had heavy influence in. I am looking forward to seeing the development she has in the next book, and what she will do once the truth behind secrets kept from her are revealed. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading the book and I will be eagerly waiting for the next installment!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I saw a girl on Tik Tok talking about how this book is next year’s Fourth Wing. I immediately requested it, and it exceeded my expectations. I could not put it down. Every part was perfect, and I cannot wait to have the second book.

Great read! Liked Danielle Jensen's last books, but I think I liked this one more. Cool worldbuilding, fun characters. It did take itself a little too seriously and also adult fmc and li banter is getting to be too much! lots of cliches.

I am so obsessed with with book and I will not accept any criticism of it. had I read any prior work of Danielle Jensen? No, did I immediately started binging her other series after this, yes. This book was incredible, the story was amazing, the facing was fantastic, the romance was steamy, the world building was everything I did not know I wanted. I don't even like any Vikings shows or any other forays into that culture but this was so good. I binged this book and I have already noticed many women already hyping it on booktok as the next "Fourth Wing" and that is an understatement because I enjoyed this more than FW, ACOTAR, Divine Rivals. It IS going to live up to the hype. If this book was a horse in the Kentucky derby I would put ALL my money on it.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy!

Overall the book was good but the world building lacked and I was waiting for more the whole book. I wanted more from the love interest. I wanted a deeper meaning and don’t feel like the book blended or was written smoothly and nothing rly tied fully together for me.

But I loved the female character Freya. She was hysterical and I loved her intrusive thoughts / dialogue. The mythology was written really well to me also. And the banter was great

Great start but the action seemed to lag in the middle and the story got a little confusing. The twist at the end was good but the romance factor seemed a little rushed.

Thank you to Del Rey Publishing for my arc!


First and foremost this was fantastic. I wasn't sure what to expect due to my limited knowledge of Norse gods but Jensen does an excellent job of making it easy for you to follow as you're reading. I always enjoy reading about characters who will do anything to protect those they love and Freya was no exception. She's headstrong, resilient and you can't help but want her to be happy. .i loved the romance and did not see the ending coming. I need the sequel immediately.

4-4.5⭐️
This book was so good!! 1. It was so refreshing to read about Norse Mythology and Vikings. 2. Freya is hilarious. 3. ✨I love Bjorn.✨4. There is so much female rage in this - it’s amazing

The story follows Freya, a woman who was blessed by the gods, but was sold off into an unwanted marriage for the sake of her family. Even with the wealth she receives from this deal, all she dreams about is fighting in war/being a soldier.

It was so fun reading about Freya discovering her power and the tasks she had to complete in order to get her revenge. The only issue I had was that the book foreshadowed a little too hard 🥲 it became very obvious and predictable of what the twist was going to be.

Still such a fun and refreshing read! Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this arc 🫶🏽

Danielle Jensen is one of my all-time favorite authors and still is. I fell head over heels for The Bridge Kingdom which led me to read The Dark Shores series that took my breath away for so many reasons.

Sadly, A Fate Inked in Blood wasn't so much what I was hoping for. Everything felt so rushed including the love interest. The lack of world building had me feeling lost at times and trying to understand all the Gods had me a bit confused. Many times the main character got on my nerves with how back and forth she was. But I also get it, I can be the same way.

More dialogue between the love interest would have been more enjoyable so that the relationship didn't feel so insta-love. I just didn't feel it between the two.

This was still a fun and interesting fantasy book that kept me on my toes and had a good cliff hanger. All in all, I will still be reading book two and looking forward to what will happen next.

What a breath of fresh air! 👏🏼

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Short version ➡️ read this book!

⭐️ Forbidden love
⭐️ Spice level 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (a few explicit sex scenes)
⭐️ Slow burn romance
⭐️ Interesting and easy to follow magic system

This book made me FEEL things. It was different. 😍 Most books I’ve been reading lately are enemies to lovers, rivals to lovers, fated mates, etc. Don’t get me wrong. I love those tropes but there’s something special about forbidden love. The “we can’t get caught” trope. 😏 It’s hot. 🥵 The sexual tension in this book is on fire. 🔥 It’s a slow burn romance that will have you screaming for them to just get it on already, and have you turning the pages faster than you can say pretty please. Not only was it sexy, this book was incredibly fun to read. I loved reading about the gods, and the portrayal of them in this books was wonderfully unique. The magic system was easy to follow and intriguing. The author did a good job of explaining how everything worked without the reader feeling like they needed a PHD to understand. The FMC was written in way that makes you root for her. Usually the FMC is a badass, all powerful, blah blah. I’m not saying this one isn’t those things… But instead of her controlling her own fate, she’s being controlled by everyone around her in a way. So she’s a badass with her arms tied behind her back. I found the way she was portrayed interesting, and had me turning the pages as fast as I could to see how she’d navigate being a tool caught in the middle of a raging war.

This book will be living rent free in my mind for a long time to come! 🙌🏼

I will be buying this book upon release and crying myself to sleep every night waiting for a sequel! 😭

I had a really fun time with this Viking based fantasy novel. Sometimes the main characters actions/decisions made me want to rip my hair out tbh and her family who she is sooo loyal was the absolute worse but i have a feeling the author intended this for her character development. It was a really fast paced book which I appreciated. The whole story revolves around this major prophecy and I think the author executed this really originally. This definitely felt like a slow burn to me and I loved tension between the main character Freya and her protector Bjorn.

I would say I’m completely invested in this story and want to know the rest of freya’s story. Would even love some Bjorn POV chapters.

Danielle Jensen has done it again! I’m absolutely obsessed with her books and this is no exception. I consumed it. I have already pre-ordered a physical copy because I loved it so much. I was seriously sucked in and enjoying myself from the very first chapter.

So much happens - the plot just keeps going and going and going. It was so hard to put it down and go to sleep. The action and the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. The pacing is perfect. The slow burn of the romance is perfect.

Freya is one of my favourite FMCs ever and I love her personality and strength. And don’t even get me started on Bjorn 🥵 oh my… I love a good forbidden romance. This book has everything I could ever want!

I wish I had the next one in my hands right now - I need it!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing for my first ARC

Wow-this is one of my favorite reads of 2023! I've never been one to gravitate towards the fantasy genre, but I've been branching out more as a reader and this book DID NOT disappoint! This story is filled with Norse mythology, packed with action and powerful characters. Freya is a secret child of the gods, having been forced to hide her powers, until she is discovered by the leader of the Skalanders. Freya is determined to take control of her life and destiny. A Fate Inked in Blood is packed with action and a slow burn romance, leaving the reader wanting more after each chapter. This title releases on February 27, 2024. Thank you to Net Galley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.