I was pleasantly surprised by this read. I have read other works by this author before, but was never too interested in them. This one, however, is definitely a step up! The world-building was so lush and vivid with a unique unearthly system that has roots tied to Norse mythology. I also really enjoyed the characters and, after every page, was anxious to see what fate awaited them. The romance was very thrilling too! Definitely a beautifully crafted world that I would highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of fantasy and romance!

Thank you so much to the publishing company for gifting me this ARC to read, I am very grateful for the opportunity and I vow that my review is from an honest heart.

I don't even know where to start.
This is one of those books that even though I read it via my Kindle, I will be needing it in a physical copy.

This book is among one of my absolute favorite reads of 2023. My anticipation, excitement, happiness, anger, hung on every single page I read. I was 100% captivated and enthralled by this book. If you like slow moving books, this is not the one for you. Every single chapter had my jaw on the floor with a new twist or turn of the plot.
Freya's story is truly enchanting and to follow her in her journey as she explores who she truly is and what she is capable of, felt like an honor. p.s. I don't envy her enemies lol.

Danielle L. Jensen has an impeccable way with her words and I will forever read everything she ever publishes.
I will very impatiently wait for the second book as I know this story will be on my mind for a long time.

Thank you so much to the publishing company for gifting me this ARC to read, I am very grateful for the opportunity and I vow that my review is from an honest heart.

Review to come closer to release date - as requested by penguins review preferences / approval guidelines (:

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC! I absolutely loved Danielle L. Jensen’s The Bridge Kingdom series so I was super excited to begin this series. This book was great, there was so many twists and turns, action, magic, and of course spice! My preorder is already placed and I’m excited to see where this series goes.

Wow! I binge read this story in 24 hours. It was unputdownable! It is the definition of a page turner. The story is heavily inspired by Norse mythology and features Norse gods and magic. It's a world that is both intriguing and full of challenges with characters who are complex and morally grey. It delivers on all things you'd expect from a Viking story: warring clans, raids, sexy warriors, power hungry clan leaders, rituals, and myth and magic.

Our FMC, Feyre, has been harboring a secret which is about to turn her world upside down. I don't want to give too much away, because I don't want to spoil anything. However, I will say that book is essentially about Feyre learning to use her magic ability and navigating what her fate looks like while others try to control it for their own political gains.

It has a strong romantic subplot that has exquisite sexual tension and definitely some spicy scenes. The banter between the love interests is delicious. I found the MMC to be a refreshing take on the mysterious broody male love interest you see in so many romantasy stories. Many of his lines had me clutching my pearls and giggling.

The action is packed and I was impressed with the author's ability to create so many challenges and cliff hangers in each chapter so you had to keep reading to find out what happens next. My biggest complaint with the story is that the plot twist is so very predictable as the author hints at it time and time again. This really hindered the climatic effect of the ending.

Overall, I had such a fun time reading this book and will definitely be continuing on with the series. I would give it a 4.5 rating, but since my option is only 4 or 5, I'll round it up.

Thank you to Del Rey/Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast-paced, plot driven fantasy romance that really interested me from the start. The characters and setting are vivid and interesting, and I liked the romance subplot.
However, I think it could use another round of editing. There are several typos I noticed and the dialogue for most of the book read really weirdly. It was just not how normal people speak, and sounded too stiff and stilted. I get that this was Viking speech in the past, but it doesn't sound like that either. Even the protagonist's voice seemed weird. It could really benefit from some more edits and improving the dialogue.
Overall, this was a good read. I didn't love it, but I did like it a lot.

**Thank you so much to Danielle Jensen and Del Rey Books for the ARC. These thoughts are all my own**

This book was everything I hoped a fantasy would be. It is a must read for anyone who loves vikings, their gods, and magic.

Freya was phenomenal. She reminds me of Brida in The Last Kingdom. She's been through so much and is a fierce warrior. I appreciate the aspect of how fighting was not everything she thought it would be. I enjoy seeing a character battle their own demons and have to work to pull themselves out of darkness.

I really appreciate that there were moving parts continually and you could not pin the plot completely down. It gave the story an air of mystery. There was only one part of the plot that I felt was predictable, but I felt as though the author was trying to lead you there intentionally.

As far as her tension with Bjorn, who doesn't love a good forbidden romance? Am I right?

I can't wait to continue with this series. I look forward to seeing Bjorn's backstory and how he ended up where he is.

The only warning I would give is that if you do not care of violence or spice, this is not the book for you. Vikings were a people surrounded by war raging on all sides, so go into this book expecting that.

Wow just wow! I really enjoyed this book, I really liked Freya and Bjorn (hopefully there’s a pronunciation guide in the finished copy). I liked all the twists and turns in the story!
Would definitely recommend to a friend

I have been a fan of Danielle Jensen since her Bridge Kingdom series and was excited to read A Fate Inked in Blood. It was a fun plot (albeit, pretty formulaic) and I enjoyed both Freya and Bjorn. I also loved the magic based in Norse mythology - it's always something I'm interested in. The spice wasn't wonderful but also wasn't terrible. The banter was definitely better than the romance/steamy scenes.

If it's like other series by Jensen, I bet the second book will be better. I enjoyed both books 2 and 3 of her Bridge Kingdom better than the first and I'm hoping this will follow the same pattern.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have decided that I will probably read anything by Danielle L. Jensen, she has once again delivered a sizzling read that captures your attention from the very beginning.

Jensen immerses readers in a world of desire and romance. Her storytelling is so compelling that it's nearly impossible to set the book aside. With vivid prose and intense chemistry between the characters, keeps you riveted to the book. However I am not gonna lie I wanted more...build up and less physical lust turn love but it is what it is.

The infusion of Norse mythology into the narrative is a standout feature of this book. It brings a fresh and exciting dimension to the story, making it stand out to recent books I've read. The blend of mythology was absolutely fun and she created a world that's both enchanting and scary.

However, as the story unfolds, there is a noticeable sense of predictability that creeps in. It becomes apparent that the plot follows a familiar path, and astute readers may anticipate some of the twists and turns. This predictability can be somewhat disappointing but whatever.

The ending, too, leaves something to be desired. It follows a conventional formula, but one that will leave you reaching for the next book because if I know anything about Jensen's writing is that book 2 will be where the emotional roller coaster happens. And I am here for it!

Needless to say it's a spicy and enticing journey that combines romance with Norse mythology which is something I'll always reach for. While the predictability of the plot and the formulaic ending may was a bit of a bummer, it doesn't overshadow the book's appeal. For fans of steamy romances and mythology enthusiasts, this book is a must-read, leaving them eagerly awaiting what Jensen has in store next.

This was engaging from page one all the way to that mega cliffhanger at the end- I loved it. Magic, bonds, betrayal, action- loved it!
Excited for the next one!


Thanks NetGalley for allowing me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

The biggest new fantasy romance of 2024?

It’s giving Fourth Wing but make it Viking.

The concept of this book is right up my alley. Those fated and unfated, touched by gods and given a fraction of their gifts. Incredible and unique powers. If you like Thor, wait til you meet Bjorn.

While the paced never lulled, it was more disjointing than intriguing. It was hard to pick up this book at times because we were constantly thrown from scene-to-scene. There was hardly any world building, which made it increasingly hard for me to place where characters were in the scene. There was a lot of dialogue that made it a quick read, but some of it didn’t flow well.

I would have loved to see more tension between Freya and the love interest. It felt like an instant attraction and confirmation bias of how great he was from there on out. However, I do adore a mysterious, powerful love interest with a soft spot for her. I just wanted to know why her.

Ultimately, I wanted to really love this and I think it has so much potential. If scenes become more fleshed out with description and a few more rounds of edits take place, this could truly become the biggest new fantasy romance of 2024. I look forward to seeing what the final product is like.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I received an arc via Netgalley, and am leaving an honest review about the book. I’m thankful to the publisher and the author for giving me this wonderful opportunity!

I’m actually not sure what I think about this book. I loved the premise and how the author took Norse mythology and applied it in such a wonderful fashion. I also loved the writing, and each character was wonderfully made. Some were so infuriating that I wanted to snap their necks, but it’s the MMC that’s my favorite throughout. The FMC, on the other hand…

Anyway, my biggest criticism on the book is how deep it is in misogyny. There is SO much of it that it appalled me. The fact that it’s set in an era of the past makes no difference to me; if the world is different, why can the treatment not be less sexist? The author created this world, so I don’t really see why the treatment of women in it is so horrendous. We see much of the effects of misogyny when it concerns the FMC, but it’s also apparent in the other lesser known women in the books.

Anyway, I did enjoy it, but again, I’m not sure how I feel about this book.

Danielle Jensen has done it again.. once again. I spent hours into the night trying to finish her book! This book has great world building. I love the relationship between Freya and Bjorn! I’m excited for the next book in her series!

Thank you so much for providing me a copy of this book for an honest review!
Danielle does it again!! This had me hooked! I didn’t want to put it down!
Danielle Jensen has crafted a rich and beautiful nordic / viking-inspired world!
It’s intricate while still being easy to understand and is honestly a book I’d recommend to friends looking to start getting into fantasy/ fantasy romance! The characters were all so wonderfully written, each of them with their own unique experiences making it easy to relate and see them as real people. Our main character Freya is strong and feisty! Her journey to find herself and what she wants is beautiful and inspiring. The plot and battles are exciting and thrilling! There are so many great tropes too- forced proximity, slow burn, forbidden romance, one horse and many more!! Overall, what more can I say other than I loved this story and commend Danielle for, once again, crafting an epic, captivating, and swoony tale!

This is my first book by Danielle L. Jensen but it will not be my last! I have already purchased her book 'Dark Shores' and can't wait to dive in. I absolutely loved her writing style - and her characters found within "A Fate Inked in Blood". This is not a slow start. Almost immediately, the reader is thrown (along with our FMC Freya) into the plot dealing with gods, fate, and the devastatingly handsome (and witty!) Bjorn. This is romantasy at its absolute best! It does have quite the cliffhanger ending though so be prepared! The wait for book 2 will be torturous but thankfully I have plenty of the author's previous work to get me by!

I have yet to find a Danielle Jensen book that I don’t love. I loved this new world and Freya! I am impatiently awaiting book two(and book 1 isn’t even out yet!) THIS IS A MUST READ for anyone wanting to escape into a truly epic world

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for allowing me to read this ARC.

Um….wow. I went into this without expectations, and I am thoroughly impressed.

This book is very much a Romantasy rather than a romantic fantasy, but it definitely worked. It is incredibly fast-paced; I was engrossed the entire time. Additionally, I find romantasy novels to be pretty predictable most of the time, but A Fate Inked in Blood truly surprised me!

A Fate Inked in Blood is a Romantasy based on Norse mythology. This was incredibly refreshing considering I’ve never read a novel with Norse influences. I found that the world-building and character descriptions really matched these influences, making it clear that the author is well-versed in this subject matter. I’ve recently become tired of many fantasy romance books because they’re all very similar, and this one was an incredible break from that predictability.

Not only was the plot exciting and fast-paced, but the actual grammatical structure and flow was perfect. This is something that may not be important to others, but can really make or break a story for me!

I really loved reading Freya’s internal moral battle between love and loyalty. In my opinion, Freya is one of the most well-developed female main characters in recent releases. While her feelings love and lust are central themes within this book, her traumatic experiences greatly impact her internal dialogue and thought process. I love a good character with complex emotions hehe

Overall, I truly think this is one of the best upcoming releases, especially for those who love fantasy romance.

warriors, fated destiny, powerful magic, and various gods~ if you’re craving that, this might be for you.

i had a fun time reading this, for it is entirely a book to read when you’re bored and simply need some action and romance!

however, every single character was annoying, included the fmc who was quite promising. the plot also fizzled out into something predictable, and i just couldn’t stand the love interest.

but did you guys see that cover?? i want a poster of it in my room bc it’s so prettyyy. so *thank you* netgalley for the arc!

It’s another winner for Danielle L. Jensen!!! A Fate Inked in Blood was a fantastic read!! When I heard she was writing a book about Vikings and Norse Mythology, I knew I had to read it. When I found out I got the ARC, I was beside myself. And let me tell you, this book lived up to all of my expectations AND THEN SOME.

Jensen knows how to weave a story to suck you in. The book starts off with a bang - we meet Freya and get a glimpse into her miserable life with her awful husband Vragi. And we also very quickly meet a charming stranger, Bjorn who immediately has Freya intrigued. The Viking world that Jensen describes is harsh, brutal and unforgiving - particularly for the women who suffer at the hands of men again and again. Freya bucks against the system and yearns for more, but finds herself bound time and time again to obligation, family and sacrifice. But is that all there is for her? Of course not…because there are secrets in her blood and once revealed, those secrets set into motion a chain of events that see her swept up in new games of politics and battle with bigger players, bigger risks and one very big love. As she starts to take her fate into her own hands, Freya must decide who to trust and who she’s willing to give up…but in the end can you ever really trust anyone?

This book had all of the things I love - a slow burn forbidden romance, strong yet flawed FMC, Vikings and Norse mythology, amazing witty banter and, of course, a touch of magic & meddling Gods.

I loved this book just as much as I loved The Bridge Kingdom series and I’m so impressed by the Viking world that Jensen made come alive. The new characters are superb and the use of Norse mythology is done really well- I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!! Go read this book ASAP, just prepare yourself for a big twist at the end…..it’s so good!