This was my first book by Danielle L. Jensen, and with the huge popularity of The Bridge Kingdom I was so excited to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think all romantasy fans will find things to love about A Fate Inked in Blood. Gripping, badass characters, an interesting magic system, a bit of mythology, some spicy goodness, A LOT of action, and a nice(???) little cliffhanger.

This story was go, go, go from the first page. I was almost shocked at how quickly things started unfolding, and the story did not let up the entire time. Usually book ones are a little slow to set the state, build the world, and introduce the characters, but Danielle L Jensen said hold my beer. It took me a second to understand, relate and begin rooting for the characters, because it took off so fast. But the pacing kept me intrigued throughout the whole story, and I am looking forward to what happens next.

I did think the "twists" at the end felt a bit predictable, I think I've read so much romantasy that I can kind of see the conflict coming at this point. Did that detract from the story? Not really. I still enjoyed the slow burn and conflicts between Freya and Bjorn even though I suspected there would be some trouble in paradise by the end.

*A HUGE THANK YOU TO Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for this ARC*

Fans of Sarah J Maas and Charissa Weaks will devour “A Fate Inked In Blood,” the newest novel by Danielle L. Jensen. Although she’s an established romantic fantasy writer, this is my first of her novels and I’m hooked. This new series explores the world of Norse mythology, their Gods and the shenanigans they pull in the human world.

We follow Freya, a lowly woman married against her will and hiding a big secret. In a realm of nations fighting for dominance, she holds the key to becoming the next King. This entangles her in a web of politics, deception, and intrigue, which drives much of the story. The tension between her and her unwilling protector, Bjorn, serves as a good counterpoint to all the battle, blood and gore.

Jensen has created a lush world with fully realized, if not always likable, characters. This book ends on a big cliffhanger, which I’ll admit, I didn’t see coming at all. I’m very much looking forward to the next installment in the Sage of the Unfated series!

Thank you to Random House – Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

From the very first page I knew I was going to be hooked. Jensen has a way of creating epically captivating stories that are equally tense and hopeful. I loved her Bridge Kingdom series and she does not fail to enthrall once again. She has built a complicated, multilayered tale that feels both excruciating and exciting as the action continues and you wait for the other shoe to drop. I immediately connected and felt for Freya, being forced without choice from one terrible situation to another. Throughout the story her hand is forced due to her love and duty to her family who seemingly don't return the favor. However, when she much like myself was hooked on Bjorn from the moment he stepped out of the fjord. Their banter and chemistry is explosive and only adds to the simmering slow burn.

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

The both show respect and honor to each other which hasn't been given freely otherwise. Bjorn is dutiful, strong and respectful making for a true equal to Freya's honesty and strength.

The elements of runic magic, imposing gods, unknown powers, dysfunctional family dynamic, constant warring, political intrigue, fake affection to avoid capture, forced proximity and prophesy all make for a truly enthralling beginning to this duology.

Thank you to Danielle Jensen and Random House Publishing Group for this NetGalley ARC in exchange for my honest review.

@danielleljensen does it again…..
This book is the first in the Saga of the Unfated series….and not did it not disappoint.
Action, passion, intrigue, betrayal and lies…..you get them all and NORSE Gods!
This story had me hooked from the beginning and held me through to the end.
What will happen next for Freya, Bjorn, Harald and Snoori?

Are you kidding? This was so freaking good. I read a lot of fantasy and this is one of my stand out reads of the year. The storyline and settings are fresh and I was hooked from the end of the first chapter. Danielle Jensen is an absolute queen. 11/10 recommend!

I wish that I could read this book again for the first time. An action-packed plot, interesting and refreshing magic system and setting, giggling-and-kicking-my-feet type banter, tension and chemistry gripped me and made this un-put-down-able. Calling it right now, this is going to be one of the biggest romantasy book of 2024 – and if it isn't, that'll be a travesty, because it should be.

I loved following Freya's character development and journey as she comes into her power and wrestles with the person she was brought up to be with who she's becoming or could be in the world outside her relatively sheltered roots. There was a satisfying amount of feminine rage boiling under the surface (#welovetoseeit) that I think will spill over and take center stage in book 2, and I can't wait.

If you took the essence of the show The Last Kingdom, threw in some magic, and added a healthy portion of binge-worthiness, you'd get this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this absolutely delightful ARC!

🌶️-🌶️🌶️ Spice
⚔️ Battles
🛡️ Norse mythology
👑 Meddling gods
🏰 Scheming & feuding
🔥🪓 Bjorn (he deserves his own highlight as a romantic interest)
❤️‍🔥 Forced proximity / reluctant bodyguard

Steeped in Nordic lore, this story follows Freya, a literal fishwife, who dreams of making her own way as a shield maiden and escaping her cruel husband. She's been married against her own desires for the advantages it brings her family and remains to protect them. Resentful of her beauty, intelligence, and pride- her husband schemes to be rid of her and discovers a long held secret that thrusts her onto a new path and takes her far from home. With no one to trust and everyone seeking to use her newly revealed powers, will she ever taste freedom again?

Omg, I loved this story! It gave me Tamora Pierce meets Jacqueline Carey vibes. I got to read the Advanced Reader Copy and I couldn't put it down. Freya is strong, loyal, and funny. The moments where she had to be brave and suit up for the current challenges totally drew me into the story and made me feel super amped up. I was almost cheering out loud for her. Jensen's action scenes are detailed and flow very smoothly. I felt like I WAS Freya in the first battle scene with Bjorn.

Bjorn, a child of Tyr, won my love from the beginning. Not everyone can get slapped in the face with a fish and hit the ground flirting like that. And oh, the angst! I loved it.

The Nordic mythology is very new for me and interesting. I wish there had been a reference page at the end of the book though, it would have saved me some mid-read googling.

The only critical feedback that I have is that I wish the antagonists had been more relatable and not so easy to hate. I like understanding why people make the choices that they do and seeing the broken coping skills in my bad guys. Basically, I just love angst, haha.

Can't wait to find out what happens next!

I loved this! The Norse mythology is so neat and the book is nice and fast-paced. I was hooked from the very start! I loved the banter between Bjorn and Freya. This falls into the same category as Fourth Wing for me in the sense that there wasn't really anything I was super surprised or taken off-guard by, but I still loved every minute. In some ways, I wished the relationship between Bjorn and Freya was a little more developed, but I also feel like the world-building was more central. DLJ's writing style is so easily digestible and witty, I've honestly enjoyed all her books I've read so far.

This book was SO easy to get into, and so difficult to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning, it truly did hook me right away. This is also the first book I have read in a fantasy Viking setting and it was sooooooo fun to read. The FMC, Freya, felt so relatable and real to me. I found myself rooting for her the entire time, even screaming at her like I would a friend who is jumping to conclusions or making some seriously risky choices 🤪 The forbidden love trope in this was also 🤌🏼 chefs kiss. Also— that ENDING? I knewwwww Danielle had something set up but the twist was just so delicious. There is several spicy things, which can be skipped pretty easily if you choose. I would definitely add this one to your preorder list— it’s on mine!!!

Twists and turns and war and deception and a little bit of spice, the book had all my favorite things.I devoured the first few chapters of this book. There was lag in the middle and at one point I almost DNF'd it. Pushing through the lull was well worth it. Looking forward to the next in the series.

A Fate Inked in Blood is a promising first book in a new Nordic fantasy romance from Danielle L. Jensen. You’ve got enemies to lovers, people with powers who are gifted with a drop of a God’s blood and political intrigue. Perfect for fans of ACOTAR & would recommend pairing your reading experience with Ivy by Taylor Swift.

Freya has been hiding a secret her whole life that, once discovered, because of a prophecy suggesting she will be the one to unite her people under the king who controls her fate, finds herself forced to bind herself to a powerful jarl. He orders his son Bjorn, who is also gifted with power, to watch over her. We follow Freya as she struggles to learn more about her powers and prove herself to the gods through a series of tests, all while trying to choose the best path forward and resist the forbidden attraction she has to Bjorn.

I loved the chemistry between Freya and Bjorn and following Freya on her journey. There were some interesting plot twists that although were a bit predictable, didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the journey to getting there. This was a solid first book in the series. I will note, however, that this does end on a cliffhanger. Will definitely be picking up book 2 whenever it comes out!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the arc.

What an exhilarating journey this book took me on. It whisked me to soaring heights of emotion, only to plunge me into the depths of despair. The protagonist, Feyre, tested my patience with her selfless choices, even when they seemed misguided. While I understand her motivations, they constantly got on my nerves. I wanted to love her but Everytime I rooted for her she turned around and did something stupid.

Now Bjorn, the shining star of this book. He was the magnetic force that kept me coming back. His unwavering support for Feyre and his unyielding determination in the face of adversity were truly admirable. He embodied the qualities I admire most in a character.
Despite my frustrations with Feyre, I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment. Why? Because I'm absolutely captivated by Bjorn, and I'm itching to discover his fate. He remains my all-time favorite, and I can't wait to see what challenges and triumphs await him in the next chapter of this enthralling story.

I just reviewed A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen. #AFateInkedinBlood #NetGalley

Freya, a shield maiden blessed by the gods, yearns to unite a fractured nation under a power-hungry king. Trapped in an undesirable marriage, she dreams of becoming a warrior and seeks revenge against her cruel husband. Her fate takes a sudden turn when her husband betrays her, leading to a life-or-death battle against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya must reveal her secret: a drop of divine blood that grants her magical powers. It's foretold that this magic can unite Skaland, but the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath, making her a pawn in his quest for power. She must train to control her newfound magic while resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. Succumbing to desire could jeopardize not only her destiny but also the fate of the entire nation she's sworn to protect.

This book started strongly. My jaw literally dropped at the end of chapter two, but it quickly became repetitive and predictable. I did enjoy the witty banter between Freya and Bjorn and the ending, while predictable, interested me enough that I would continue on with this series.

As an avid fantasy reader, it’s so rare that I fall in love with a series that actually is obsession worthy opposed to just a series that scratches the itch while I wait for another book in one of OG fantasy series to come out.

This book - obsession worthy. There’s a strong female main character finding her voice (while also saying some hilarious witty one liners along the way), a strong hot male main character (can’t say more until it’s out but GOD is this an understatement description), a love story, gods, fighting, rebellion, betrayals, magic.

There were moments when I audibly gasped, moments where I screamed, moments where I cried, and moments where I laughed so damn hard.

Danielle Jensen has really outdone it with this one and I know it is about to be the next huge fantasy series. Seriously pre order.

This book knocked it out of the park, I was so obsessed! The book is centered around this girl named Freya who lives in a little village and is a fishmonger’s wife. She doesn’t really want to be married to him, but she is because he has money. One day she meets this handsome warrior named Bjorn and she’s kind of interested in him, she’s also very attracted to him, but she doesn’t get to speak to him much besides during their introduction to each other. She sees him once again and finds out that he is the son of a Norse god. Things happen, she decides to take matters into her own hands, some things are found out, she goes on a journey, there’s battles, and there’s talk of other Norse gods and goddesses. I’m obsessed that this book has Norse mythology in it because I feel like a lot of books I’ve read are centered around Greek mythology, so it was really cool to see something with Norse mythology. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars, but that’s because this book, to me at least, was as good as an SJM or JLA book, and could very much be the next biggest book. I already hear a lot of people talking about it, her writing style is amazing, the storytelling is captivating, it’s so unique, and it’s kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole thing so I definitely highly recommend reading this. If you take away one thing from this review it should be that you will not want to miss out on this book. I am predicting that if she writes more books in this series, which I think she will given the fact that there’s still a lot going on in the story, that this will easily become one of the next huge legendary book series that everyone is obsessed with. I think Freya is 100% one of my new role models because she is so strong in a world where people are saying that she is weak because she is a woman and they’re trying to give her special treatment or they’re treating her differently because she’s a woman in a world full of strong male warriors. But she can definitely hold her own. She’s overcome a lot of huge trials and I respect her for it. Besides her, I am also obsessed with Bjorn! He is a big hulking broody warrior, who is supposed to be Freya’s security guard and he’s supposed to watch over her to keep her safe. I feel like he doesn’t want to like her but he is beginning to like her very strongly. There is also a forbidden romance type plot because Bjorn can’t necessarily have Freya as his own since there may be other people that have a claim to Freya, and that adds so much tension because they’re trying to stay away from each other while both being attracted to each other. Some of the best moments I’ve read in this book were the ones with the tension brewing between them. I would like to wrap this up by saying that again, I highly recommend this book and I’m so excited to read whatever this author may put out next.

Where do I start!? This book has everything. A strong FMC, slow burn, magic, and gods. When Freya's life begins to fall apart and men decide to control her gift she learns how strong she needs to be, while also trying to learn who to trust. When a neighboring jarl comes and claims Freya's power as his to wield as foreseen by a seer she is taken from her home and tested in her ability, and her trust. Bjorn is her new husband's son and is tasked with her protection, but from the moment they met on a beach he has been on her mind. Bjorn also has power, but can she trust that it will not burn her? This story is compelling and full of twists and turns that leave you wondering where it is going next. From spies and secrets to bloody battles and betrayal, it leaves you on a cliffhanger just wanting more! I look forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to arc read "A Fate Inked in Blood"!

Book 1 in the Saga of the Unfated

A fiery Viking lust/love at first sight romance that ensnared me from page 1. I was immediately transported into the story and remained there til the very end.

A cursed marriage. A bullying husband. A chance meeting. A want for something more.
Destinies Intertwined. Desire to Forge Own Fate.

This book is centered around Viking lore, Greek mythology, and magical runes. It's packed with flirtatious humor, angst, wit, banter, secrets, betrayal, and intrigue. Well-developed, strong-willed characters who face impossible choices. Intricately detailed world building that paints a picture. Strong plot to keep the reader engaged. The book took me on an emotional journey along the way.

Anxiously awaiting book 2

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this to review!
A Fate Inked in Blood is a norse-inspired fantasy romance by the same author who brought us The Bridge Kingdom. & luckily I loved this SO MUCH MORE. I think fans of the "Fourth Wing" will enjoy this book equally. You can really tell the author did her research on this mythology before writing this story. The romance had the perfect slowish-burn that as reader I didn't get sick of the "will they/won't they" but not so rushed that it felt forced. There were a few plot twists, some I predicted, but some that still surprised me! I will 10000% be continuing this series as it releases and recommending it to anyone who usually enjoys the "romantasy" genre.
Also the forbidden romance, her husband's son, was chef's kiss. (and if you've read the book is not nearly as taboo as it sounds)
The magic system was easy enough to follow, but I wish they expanded more on the "drop of blood."
Overall, I was engaged the entire story and constantly looking forward to what would happen next. I already can not wait to see what she does with the rest of the series.

A very good story that kicks off right from the start! I thought I had the ending figured out multiple times only to be shocked at the end.

Fourth Wing vibes but with vikings... the first meeting of the two main characters is so fun and early in the book. There were a couple of twists that were a bit predictable but entertaining. I love this author, insta-read for me and looking forward to the rest of this series!