5/5 stars READ THIS IMMEDIATELY!!
Danielle L. Jensen is the absolute queen of combining romance with fantasy. I loved The Bridge Kingdom series so I was very interested when she announced this new release. I can confidently say that she did not disappoint in the slightest. A Fate Inked in Blood had me intrigued from the very beginning and I love when a fantasy surrounds a strong female lead! I’m obsessed with the main character Freya and the adventure she embarks. The plot to romance ratio is well balanced, the plot twist was amazing and it kept me wanting more! I’m so glad this is going to be a series, I desperately need more Bjorn content!
This is a 2024 must read and I recommend it to all my romantasy lovers.
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Thank you Del Rey and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

4.75 ⭐️

This book was perfectly paced. I couldn’t put it down, every chapter was so interesting, and i wanted to know how Freya would handle the situation she was in.
Freya was an interesting main character. Bjorn was a wonderful love interest, he was definitely my favourite part of this book. This was kinda a slow burn book? they don’t actually get together until the last 3 chapters, which i actually prefer in Fantasy Romance.
My only problem was sometimes Freyas made dumb decisions. (though she was written to be that way! it’s just a me thing)

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book!!

This was my first book by Danielle L. Jensen, and wow! I could not put this book down, I was picking it up every chance I could. I like her character development and the story was well done.

This was a DELIGHT. The perfect blend of viking badassary, god focused magic, snark dipped in sarcasm, and sexy people being sexy. It is an absolute blast to read.

OKAY.
I was not expecting to literally die at reading a book inspired by Nordic mythology but here we are.
Let's start with our FMC Freya- who is honestly sick being a fish monger's wife... which like okay fair. After a few twists and turns we find her to be the shield maiden promised to make whomever controls her king of Skaland. Which is a big deal. So basically she is left to continue to navigate being a woman in very clearly a man's world.
Then we have Bjorn our MMC who having recently reunited with his father is navigating life back in Halsar.
Honestly this story is very well thought out and the world is fully immersive. Of course Danielle L. Jensen's writing is amazing (but we already knew that).
The banter between Bjorn and Freya was delicious, and Freya is a mouthy queen (which I also love). The story had a great flow, at no point did I feel a lull- it just takes you right through everything.
Also loved Bjorn's loyalty to Freya- there's nothing quite like an FMC who is brutally loyal to those who don't deserve it and a MMC who sees this and tries to protect her.
I am so excited to see what else comes from this series and will be waiting with bated breath.

I absolutely loved this Norse inspired Romantasy, and I give it 4.5 stars. Hands down one of my favorite reads this year! The plot was fast paced and engaging, and the characters were well written, and most of them likeable (except Snoori and Yvlva...I couldn't stand them!) I loved the main characters Freya (although sometimes her choices annoyed me), and Bjorn. I did see one of the plot twists at the end coming, but the other one was a surprise. After that ending it's going to be hard to wait for the next book, but I will look forward to reading it.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was super excited and determined to read this; despite some technical difficulties opening this on my Kobo I was finally successful! And it did not disappoint. I loved that this book hooks you and gets going almost immediately - and doesn't stop! I thought the pacing was great, I was engaged from start to finish. I don't think I've read a Norse inspired romance before, but I thought the fantasy world created was easy to follow while still being complex enough to keep you guessing. Was a fan of both the FMC and the MMC. Looking forward to the next instalment. Romantasy lovers will eat this one up!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for sending me an eARC of ‘A Fate Inked in Blood’ for review consideration.

You had me at Norse-inspired romance. The novel opens with Freya being a downtrodden wife with an infuriating husband. When Freya takes control of the situation you will not be disappointed.

Freya has hidden abilities and a dangerous inner rage, that make her a liability and a weapon that people either want to exploit or extinguish. There is a forbidden love and enemies to lovers trope - if you’re into that. I can’t wait to see what happens in the second book because it finished on a pretty huge cliffhanger - one in which we are not sure where everyone’s allegiances lie.

A Fate Inked in Blood is a fast-paced fantasy adventure with a good dose of romance. Freya has been keeping a secret her whole life and one day thinking she can earn her freedom she finally reveals herself only to discover herself in a carefully laid trap. Things would be much bleaker in her political marriage if not for the jarl's son Bjorn who she simply cannot get a read on.

Damn this was FUN. I read it in one sitting on a plane, with zero sleep or energy. Literally my only criticism is that the plot twists were incredibly predictable even for an idiot (me), but you know what? Sometimes that's what you want in a fantasy romance book.

The romance was GOOD and I was anxiously waiting for them to get together from page 1, and you know how long it took? 90% OF THE BOOK!!! I was screaming.

The plot was compelling, I liked the magic system and the setting, and Danielle L. Jensen's writing truly never fails!

Freya has a secret. She can wield a powerful magic that repels any attack. She is the shield maiden, one who is prophesied to unite the nation under the one who control's her fate. Inspired by Norse mythology, A Fate Inked in Blood is an addictive and dramatic fantasy romance filled with violence, spicy forbidden love and the magic of the gods. Readers who enjoy heightened sexual tension and fierce characters relentlessly trying to defy Fate will find great satisfaction in this epic tale!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This book dug its claws into me and didn't let go at all. It was utter perfection and I literally cannot stop thinking about it.

Danielle's take on Norse mythology was so brilliantly crafted and really created the perfect fantasy setting for her new book. I loved how much this book stayed true to myth and kept it all so close to the lore but had Danielle's own twist on it, I absolutely could not get enough of it.

This is my first Danielle book ever and I can't say anything but good things. This book was absolutely incredible and I cannot wait to read more. And that ending? Take me now, I'm obsessed.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book dug its claws into me and didn't let go at all. It was utter perfection and I literally cannot stop thinking about it.

Danielle's take on Norse mythology was so brilliantly crafted and really created the perfect fantasy setting for her new book. I loved how much this book stayed true to myth and kept it all so close to the lore but had Danielle's own twist on it, I absolutely could not get enough of it.

This is my first Danielle book ever and I can't say anything but good things. This book was absolutely incredible and I cannot wait to read more. And that ending? Take me now, I'm obsessed.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A welcome departure from the fae/vampire/shifter worlds that dominate the romantasy space! Freya won my interest and support right at the end of chapter two with how she dealt with her husband. While some of the plot felt predictable, there were enough twists and turns to keep me engaged all the way through to the cliffhanger ending! And knowing where some of it was going did not at all detract from the journey! The forced proximity and tension with Bjorn was so good! Can’t wait for the next book!

Amazing, amazing, amazing. I love everything that Jensen writes, and this book is no exception. Immersive, full of tension and an amazing story! I could not put it down.

4ish stars, I'm struggling with this one a bit.

This title started strong and ended strong for me, but lost me a little in the middle.

"A Fate Inked In Blood" started strong, and I really felt drawn to Freya right from the start, as well as Bjorn. The quick worldbuilding and fast pace at the beginning, as well as starting to learn Freya's personality, and her fate, made for quick reading.

Trying to avoid spoilers: as the story progressed, I did find it a tad frustrating, as it felt the same thing happened numerous times with slight differences and the same outcome. I'm sure it was used to build intrigue and tension, but it mostly left me feeling ready to move forward and instead feeling stuck. I also lost some of my interest in Freya, as I feel that the character growth that had been well written in the first 150-200 pages just came to stand still, and I had been enjoying it to that point.

The romance aspect also started strong for me, and then lost me in the middle, and then got me again, in the same vein as the plot. While the romance was good, it did feel very quick.

When the last 50-75 pages came around, I did once again feel the draw to the story that I felt as the offset, and so I do feel this story finished strong, though I wasn't too surprised by the ending.

Overall, I will pick up a physical copy of this for my shelves when it comes out, and will most likely pick up the sequel when it's published. Thanks for the e-arc

I'm.a bit torn on this. First, the bad: I felt the pacing was a bit uneven and the twists were predictable (which isn't a bad thing necessarily, but the protagonist was so oblivious to what was going on sometimes it made me want to scream). The good: this is a steamy romantasy with a Nordic setting and all the familiar Norse gods and goddesses. Freya is a fishwife turned shield maiden who has hidden her gods-blessed magic powers for her whole life. I was glad to see a protagonist for once who isn't a teenager with no life experience. The cover is absolutely stunning, I hope to see more artwork like this on book covers.