This was a very average read for me. There were elements I liked, that made it incredibly readable and meant I was able to finish it in 2 days, but on the other hand there were elements that frustrated me and left me feeling a bit cold.

To begin with the pros: the Norse mythology aspect is really fun and interesting, especially the powers that manifest in children of the gods. I liked that Freya has this destiny thrust upon her and isn't the Mary Jane kind of character that is just suddenly able to do everything (though at times she certainly could have relied on others less to defend her...) and I also liked the exploration of her rage. Snorri's fanaticism for the prophecy was also a highlight.

On the other hand, there were things in this book which mean I struggle to elevate it beyond 'mediocre'. For one, the writing is easy to gobble up but not particularly great, with a lot of repetition. Secondly, the middle uses up far too many pages that would have been much better off dedicated to the beginning, developing the world and characters so that we have a bit more understanding and empathy for them rather than diving into action immediately. This too could have helped the romance plot because as it stands, it's instalove/lust and entirely predictable. Predictability isn't something I'm totally against, but here the twists were so predictable, Freya comes off as stupid for not seeing them herself, which did not endear me to her.

All this to say, it was fine. I had fun whilst reading the majority of it, my enjoyment only petering off in the second half, and it delivers on a lot of the promises made by the romantasy genre. I'm just not convinced I'm invested enough to want to continue with the series when the sequels are eventually released.

Freya pings off the page right from the start of this one. Her simmering resentment at being married off to a pig of a man who treats her like a malfunctioning brood mare immediately claimed my sympathy. I loved her feisty attitude and raw courage, which she needs in spades. For she’s been “gifted” with a god-given power. And the reason I’ve put the word in quote-marks is that it’s far more of a curse. Small wonder her father desperately tried to hide her talent when it first manifested – because as soon as she demonstrates what she can do, Freya is scooped up from her life and once more forced into a loveless marriage with a domineering jarl who knows of a prophesy that the shield maiden will unite Skaland under a single king. And the jarl is determined to be that king.

Unsurprisingly, he isn’t the only person who realises that Freya’s talent will destabilise the entire area. So there are those who also want to kidnap and control her and just as many just want to see her dead, so the war and chaos caused by her very existence won’t come to pass. It’s a horrible situation – and Jensen does a good job in managing to avoid presenting Freya as a victim in the middle of this mess. I found this one difficult to put down as our plucky heroine tries to pick a way through the constantly changing situation and figure out who is the traitor who is informing Skaland’s enemies as to their movements.

There is also a love story unfolding in the middle of all the action and adventure, which leads to several steamy scenes, particularly near the end. I’ll be honest – I could have done without some of the detail. But I’m aware that it’s very much a matter of personal preference as to the heat factor in romances. Part of my quibble is that the genre convention with epic, God-based fantasy is not to have quite so much explicit sex. But I did welcome some of the snark and lighter interchanges between the couple, which helps to bring some welcome light relief to the violence and constant threat surrounding Freya.

Overall, I tore through this reasonably hefty read in two long sittings as I couldn’t tear myself away from Freya’s plight. There is a doozy of a twist near the end, which certainly sets up the next book to be even more tangled for poor Freya – and I’ll definitely be reading it. Very highly recommended for fans of character-led fantasy with lots of action and a strong setting. While I obtained an arc of A Fate Inked in Blood from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

I loved this book from start to finish! I love the main characters, Freya and Bjorn. They were well written and had amazing chemistry from the first page they met! The romance was a nice slow burn and it had just the right amount of spice. The world building and magic that came from the gods were both interesting. There was lot of action and twist that had me on the edge of my seat! After that ending, I can’t wait to read the next book!

This is the first book i've read by Danielle and I feel she hit the nail on the head with it and would give a *chefs kiss* to emphasize my thoughts. This book was exceptionally well written, the plot, the action, the romance, the characters, the relationships, and the ending.

I think what I enjoyed with Danielle is the world building and magic systems. These were written so well that you could easily get your head around them without needing to write notes to keep track. I also enjoyed that during each of the fight scenes the descriptions made you felt like you were there.
The characters, while sometimes frustrating to read about (due to their actions), were highly addictive to read about. Our kickass FMC, Freya, is a strong (physically and mentally), but kind-hearted & caring woman who constantly wants to do what’s best for her people and family – often sacrificing herself along the way.

I really really enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful and it had twists that, though I’m kicking myself for not guessing sooner, completely surprised me. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and I’m so so excited for the next book.

I loved the character of Freya and I can’t wait for her to break free from all the men who want to drag her around. I feel like there’s something big coming, especially with some of the things that were revealed at the end of the book. I really got a sense of her helplessness from going from being trapped in a marriage with Vragi, to being used as a pawn by Snorri.

I honestly love books about badass Norse women, so I had an inkling that I’d like this book before I read it, so I’m really glad it didn’t disappoint. Really looking forward to the next book!

Wow - this book had me in a grip from the moment i started reading it. It kicks off with a bang from the moment you open it.

We follow Freya, a young woman who has been forced into a miserable marriage. But unknown to everyone, she has the power of a God pulsing through her veins, and before long she is pulled into war because of her powers.

Freya is a fascinating lead, she is so fiery she is almost feral. She knows exactly what she wants and how she will get it and i absolutely adored this about her. She is fierce and reckless and it meant I could never quite predict her next move.

Then we have Bjorn, i loved this man from the moment we met him. A true viking, but with a heart of gold, watching their relationship grow kept me turning the pages. The forbidden romance plot really helped to build the tension between them too.

As for the plot, i dont know alot about norse mythology but there was enough explanation that i felt i understood what was happening without having to google God's every 2 minutes. The world is richly described, my only struggle was pronouncing names!

I 100% think i am in my spicy viking romance era thanks to this book!

Absolutely brilliant. Hooked from the very beginning. After reading her Bridge Kingdom series in January this year, this release couldn’t have come at a better time.

Beautifully written, a really immersive world with well developed characters. I’m so sad I have to wait for the sequel now! I also studied Norse mythology at uni and I thought the references and mythology mixed with fiction was fantastically done.

I just loved it !

4.5⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and for an advanced copy of A Fate Inked In Blood.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Norse mythology and Viking setting was a really refreshing change of scene in the Fantasy/Romance space.

The storyline moved at pace and the whole book made me feel like I was on an adventure along with the characters from start to finish. I love how we continually learned more about the characters strengths but also flaws as the story progresses.

There was an obvious and unforced chemistry between Freya and Bjorn, and the fact that their romance is forbidden just adds to the tension! Bjorn very much gave me Uhtred from The Last Kingdom vibes, especially with his cheeky comments and back and forth with Freya.

I loved this book so much, I have already bought it in hardcopy! I'm looking forward to the next in what I hope is a full series🤞

Set in a world where Norse gods frequently visit couples to add a drop of their blood to their offspring, Freya is a child of Hlin a little known God whose power projects a magical shield on Freya and anybody she is connected with. A prophecy mentioning a magical shield maiden granting the crown to whomever can control her power leads to Snorri - current Jarl (a local leader) Snorri tricks Freya into showing her hidden power and then manipulates her by threatening her family into following his conquest to become king. His illegitimate son, Bjorn is the male romantic lead and him and Freya spend the majority of the book making eyes at each other but attempting to stay apart as she is now married to his father. There are so many parts of this book that were incredibly frustrating, Freya repeatedly made decisions against the better judgement and advice of EVERYBODY else involved, and subsequently drags other people into dangerous situations. Saying that I did enjoy the story overall and when the end reveal is made it made me very interested to see what happens in the next book in the series - just hoping that Freya wises up a little bit before then!

4.5 ⭐️

Wow, this was a great read! Throughout this book I felt like I was reading it but watching it as a show in my head (if you get what I mean).

This is my first Viking fantasy book and it totally did not disappoint. Tbh if this gets picked up to be a series, I would not be surprised because the writing, pacing and characters were top notch!

I could tell Freya was going to be a force not to be reckoned with from the very beginning. I didn’t expect us to go straight into the action but I loved it! Freya was fearless but still had so much worries she battled with. I mean her powers got discovered and she was going from one tyrant husband to the other🥺.

However Bjorn, oh how I love this man! That’s a man in love, a very charismatic dangerous man in love. The “touch her and die” vibes were extremely strong with him! You could tell how protective he was of Freya from the very beginning. I was so curious about his story because his background had a lot to do with the plot. Honestly everytime a scene with him came up, I was there smiling and kicking my feet. He’s a very lovable character!!!

The romance between the two was hot. From the beginning you can feel the chemistry between the both of them which slowly built to something immense towards the end. Their banter didn’t feel forced, it felt so natural. However, it was also so forbidden between the two of them.

As this was my first Norse mythology book, the magic system was explained well. I understood the powers and Gods of the world and how each affected the characters! Honestly I guessed Freya was more than the Shield Maiden from her mum’s story but I shall not spoil😂. Also Bjorn’s powers had me so intrigued, with the way he used them and his fighting skills.

I kind of figured out the plot twist but then the author had plot twists inside plot twists which made it even better. The book was so interesting to read and just kept with the flow of what Freya’s fate would be. With Kings wanting her dead and people fearing her.

The end was packed with so much info and it almost felt rushed. It even got me so annoyed at Freya because her decision making was just not it atall but I guess one could sympathize with her because of what she’s been through.

I feel like I have so much to say but this was a really good read!! Waiting for book 2!!!

4.5

This was my first Danielle L Jenson and I'm impressed!! I think the Norse inspired world/setting really sold it for me. I remember being completely immersed into this story from the very beginning, and I appreciated that even though this is a romantasy story, it was still heavy on the action!! Plus the magic system has consequences too which I really liked. It's so boring otherwise when magic just makes people overpowered and they can overcome literally every scenario!? And this wasn't that, I appreciated seeing Freya struggle and have to learn what she's capable of.

Plus this includes my favourite romance trope of all...

forbidden lovers!!

So how could I not love it!?

Thank you to NetGalley + Del Ray for the e-ARC!!

-Sarah

I was excited because of the viking vibes and that aspect didn't let me down.
Loved the world building and the writing. It was so engaging!
I also loved how badass the characters were. They were so easy to root for!
Can't wait for more in this world.

Ugh I adored this book SO much!! This is honestly one of my favourite books of the year so far/possibly ever. I cannot wait for the second book to be released!

This book is such a flop that I wish I had DNFed it.

The world-building was lacking. Nothing felt magical or god-like. The only things that gave off a feeling of 'Norse' were randomly mentioned names of Norse gods, and the main character's name was Freya. Nothing was explained, and no background was given.

I couldn't understand how the world looked, the scale, how big the army was, or how bad the destruction was. Although the stakes were portrayed as high, they didn't feel that way.

The events felt repetitive and not intriguing or captivating. Some things happen for no particular reason. In some parts, the author has two ideas of what she wants to happen but doesn't know how to tie them together, so they make sense.

Freya is very immature and impulsive; she seems to have no clue what is happening around her. Throughout the whole book, she thinks about two things: how guilty she feels and that she wants to ride Bjorn's dick. Her inner conflicts always jump to her thinking about her lust.

I didn't like that so many conversations between Bjorn and Freya ended up in sex-related jokes that were not funny and just felt childish.

Romance is boring since we know they are attracted to each other from the first pages.

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing an eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Fate inked in Blood is one of the best Romantasy books I've read in a while. It's filled with phenomenal world building based on Norse Mythology and characters you warm to from the start.
The action literally leaks out of this book. I love this one as it has the best of fantasy mixed with the romance side. Freya is a brilliant MC. I'm sick of the sassy heroines who have no depth to their character and Freya is strong, yet kind and wears her flaws. Bjorn is just...well!!!
I genuinely couldn't put this one down and will be recommending it absolutely everyone. High up on one of my favourite books of the year.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

2.75
This book promised slow burn, tension, Norse mythology, and everything else that makes a fantasy book… well fantasy. So you can imagine my excitement when I got approved for this arc. And the disappointment that followed when I realized it wasn't a book for me and I DNFd it.
I still cannot decide if I wasn't in the right mood for it or if I genuinely didn't like it. While I did enjoy the slow burn between the main characters, it was done well, I couldn't get over the writing style. It almost felt a little stiff and unpolished and not what I expected from this writer. Again, it could be a “me” problem, because a lot of my friends actually enjoyed the book immensely.

Trapped in a marriage she did not want, Freya dreams of becoming a warrior. Her dream comes true when due to her husband's betrayal she is forced to fight the jarl's son. To survive she reveals that she has power from a goddess, that she can repel any attack. Due to a prophecy that says a shield maiden with such magic will unite Skaland under the rule of whoever controls her, the jarl binds her with a blood oath. He orders his son Bjorn to protect her. Freya must learn to fight and use her magic while facing all threats as she becomes the warrior she is meant to be. She must deny her growing feelings for Bjorn for they may cost her her destiny and endanger the people she swore to protect.

The 1st person POV is intimate and expressive, making me feel like I really knew Freya from the first pages. She is a great narrator of her story, transporting me to her Norse-inspired world. The intensity of her emotions giving us gut punches, making us smile or swoon or curse with her. Her snarkiness lightens the gravity of her impossible situations, as do Bjorn's quips, their battle of wits. I adored the humor infused in the narrative.

It's a well-rounded tale and you get to know all the characters well, thanks to dialogue that shines with each one's personality. I fell in love with Freya and Bjorn. She wants to be worthy of the position she's been put in and is determined and courageous. He is brazen, a great warrior, and tormented by what he's been through. Neither of them are afraid to speak their mind or stand for what they believe is right.

I really enjoyed the gasp-worthy direction of the story. I never could, gladly so, predict what would happen next. The author succeeds in making the mythology, the magical aspect seem like a natural part of the story. But you still read in awe. Captivating, with incredible action scenes, sprinkles of intrigue and unexpected reveals, this attention-stealing narrative had me reading page after page, not wanting to put it down.

The book often talks about fate. It also talks about abusing power, faith, equality and freedom to do and be who you want. First and foremost we must count on ourselves, taking charge of our destiny. I looooved this book. It was an absolutely thrilling adventure of a romantasy, colored with forbidden love, quirks of gods and betrayals, leading to a gut-wrenching finale that made me want to scream. Cannot wait till the next book in this brilliant new series.

The highly anticipated Norse-inspired romance from Danielle L. Jensen is finally here! I remember seeing Danielle give hints on her Instagram when she was initially forming the book. As the Fairyloot Adult pick for February, I was even more excited to see different customisations for it!
This Norse-Inspired novel follows Freya, a married Skalander who is miserable being married to a fisherman called Vragi. He’s abusive and manipulative and as it was an arranged marriage, Freya is doing her duty. Well, unless that’s producing an heir when she uses some sneaky methods to prevent herself from getting pregnant.
When a mysteriously handsome man walks out of the water and strikes up a conversation with Freya, things change drastically afterwards. Walking with her older brother Geir, Jarl Snorri a ruthless leader comes upon them as well as the handsome stranger from the water. A battle of wills ensues with Freya being forced to reveal her secret, sealing her fate in another arranged marriage as well as threats against her family. The book reveals pieces of each character as the plot progresses. Without spoiling the plot, Freya, after revealing her capabilities, is whisked away and forced to marry Jarl Snorri as some prophecy has stated that it must happen. He is already married to another woman which is awkward, but they come to an arrangement to keep up appearances. Freya is used as a token in the battles the various clans encounter with people far and wide coming to either kill her or take her for themselves. Bjorn, the mysterious stranger as well as Jarl Snorri’s eldest son is tasked with protecting Freya as stated by the prophecy which less and less people are believing.
The book ends on a cliffhanger which leaves you wanting more so I do hope Danielle reveals a publication date for it soon. It was twist after twist but it was not so full of detail that you got confused. It was easy reading and probably a guilty pleasure from the spicy forbidden romance.

While this definitely did have its moments, its downfall was the predictable plot and the lack of world building. I got bored reading so many times that it took me far too long to finish the book. The “Viking” atmosphere wasn’t there, which seems to be a common theme for these Viking novels (Adrienne Young anybody?). Skyrim just did it better… The only thing that kept me interested was the slow-burn romance because it’s actually done well. I didn’t like the sex scenes, but Bjorn was great. If you can look past the predictable ending, you’ll probably still enjoy your read, but be prepared for some bumps along the road.

Diving into "A Fate Inked in Blood" by Danielle L. Jensen felt like charting unknown waters. I haven’t read many books about Vikings in the past, and the magic systems were completely new to me. And although this wasn’t my usual read, wow, did it surprise me! Danielle L. Jensen is a genius. The world-building in this book is something else - rich, detailed, and utterly captivating.

Freya's journey is at the heart of this story. She starts off strong-willed (to the point of frustration sometimes!) but grows into her own, making smarter choices and taking control of her destiny. Her transformation is so well-written, and loved seeing her grow into the character she becomes. And then there's Bjorn - the emotionally intelligent love interest we all need. His kindness and support for Freya, without ever trying to control her, was honestly so refreshing.

The chemistry between these two was absolutely sizzling. Jensen creates tension so real you can almost touch it. And honestly, I can’t review this without mentioning that ending. I sort of suspected it, but boy were there still some big surprises. This book had me feeling a whole spectrum of emotions, from start to finish. And I have to say, I’m now a massive fan of Danielle L. Jensen.

This book wasn’t just a story; it was an experience. I can't wait for the next one!