A Fate Inked in Blood

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

2 stars. Not for me.

I sadly just didn't get on with this book. The writing style and tone were not for me. The text felt cold, stilted, awkward and completely lacked descriptions. I couldn't picture the world or feel the characters' emotions. It wasn't immersive in any way for me. It seemed underwritten, while the plot itself was very repetitive.

The promised slow-burn romance involved the couple lusting after each other immediately. And there wasn't a lot of depth to the characters. They were very one-note.

The world-building felt very spotty and underdeveloped. It's just a stream of cliché Viking barbarian men who are drowning in their own masculinity, with women being their little property. Plus some vague allusions to Norse gods. I was also surprised by how brutal and violent the story was. Without anyone batting an eye or having an emotional response!

Not my cup of tea.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

This moved at a good pace for and I read the whole thing in one sitting. I liked the Norse elements.

However, I think I need to stop request ARCs for new series because waiting for the next one to come out when this isn't out is the WORST. THAT ENDING.

Please allow me to wax poetic for a moment. I'm very endeared to this book because it got me out of a big reading slump, in a way that I could not put it down. Every free moment, I was trying to sneak a chapter. It was nice to get stuck into a book like that again.

It also introduced me to Fantasy Romance as a genre. I've been striking out with Romantasy but kept trying them to sate that craving. In the end, the romance is always too overblown and dramatic for me. Fantasy Romance and Fate especially is the perfect balance of fantasy action and romantic tension that I've been looking for so I'm excited to play in that sandbox in the future.

Ok, ok back to the book, I love how immersive Danielle Jensen's writing is, from the world building to fleshing out the characters and the magic system- you get a lot of background that helpfully adds to the story instead of bogging you down.

Speaking of characters - Freya might just be one of my favorite fantasy FMC yet. She's headstrong and fiesty (her bantering with Bjorn is what I live for). She also curious and so caring despite all that the gods/life has heaped on her.

Freya yearns for someone to care for her unconditionally. To not second guess her choices and to treat her as a person and not a weapon and that is Bjorn from the jump. He shows her with words and actions that she's worthy of her power and stands by her side with both her life choices and in battle.

(also his love language is definitely touch which for 100% touched starved Freya is a gift and she deserves

Few books can ever get me to read them without closely paying attention to what page number I'm on to see how much I've read in a sitting or how much longer I have. A Fate Inked In Blood is one of those books that when I start reading, it is difficult to put back down, especially when reading after a subpar book. The writing of the characters, their emotions, their behavior, and their thoughts feel real and human. Freya isn't just some Shield Maiden, she is a woman living in a world in which women are used for the advancement of men, be it politically or for furthering the "Legacy". She carries guilt and trauma, but still has room for love towards the ones who treated her poorly or well.

The chemistry between her and Bjorn, her love interest, is great and feels real (which I feel a lot of books that center romance to any degree miss nowadays). He is playful in his flirting, serious in his love declarations, and hurt when he has an altercation with others, especially Freya. This also makes the sex scenes between them have actual passion and value, and worth actually reading. The amount of scenes is also sensible, which is also becoming a lost art with many books (which are not erotica) unfortunately.

The pacing of the book is leaning towards great, though I don't really like how quickly they travel from one point to the next, but this book isn't really high-fantasy, so it is expected. The plot is very interesting and remains so throughout the entire book. I never felt that there was a lull in the writing, even if the events happening involve minimal to no action. The writing is purposeful and real, and I'm foaming at the mouth that I have to wait until spring of next year for the second book.

💬: "I'll let the past burn to ash, Freya, because you are my present. My future. My destiny."

Jensen L. Danielle. A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated Book 1) (p. ?). Del Rey. Kindle Edition.

📖Genres: fantasy, romance, romantasy, mythology (Norse), vikings

📚Page Count: 400

🎧Audiobook Length: 15h 16min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5

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A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen is the first book in the Saga of the Unfated series. This story is about Freya who is a Goddess Blessed fisher man's wife in an unwanted marriage. After her fisher man husband breaks faith with Freya and betrays her to the local Jarl, the local Jarl orders her to fight his son, Bjorn, to the death. Secretly, Freya has the blood of a Goddess on her side, that helps her survive the fight. Soon after she gets the news that she is the shield maiden that is supposed to make this particular Jarl, the King. That was foreseen in a prophecy. The Jarl then forces Freya to bind herself to him and thus begins the saga of Freya learning how to fight and tame her magic. Will she be able to ignore the lingering lust she feels for the Jarl's son?

This book had interesting parts, but it did not do a good job of keeping my attention throughout the book. I had such high hopes for this book. Mostly because it's so highly rated amongst my peers but also because the beginning of the story was really good so I expected the action and the overall story to keep up a good pace. The first 25% was interesting, the next 50% really dragged on and was boring, and the last 25% had everything thrown in there, in an exciting way (spicy scenes, action, fighting, surprises, secrets, and a cliff hanger.)

There was one spicy scene <spoiler> in the middle of the book</spoiler> and there are two more spicy scenes <spoiler>at the end of the book.</spoiler> Yes there are many ways to be intimate with someone but I really hated that we had to wait until <spoiler>the end of the book for the two love interests to have intercourse.</spoiler> I'm giving the spicy scenes two chilis 🌶️ out of five chilies.

Overall, I had high expectations going into this book but it was just okay. The beginning and the ending were very exciting, but the middle of the book was really boring. I'm giving this 3 out of 5 stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5 Stars

I listened to this for free on the library app [Libbyapp.com]

3.75★ rounding up to 4. I often have fun with Norse mythology based books, so this was a very enjoyable read. The different personalities present in the book were well written, everyone has something to fight for, and they were compelling. There were points in the book where I was getting slightly irritated by some of the logic of our protagonist, most of which was based on my own personality biases, but the author did a great job bringing me back and helping me understand that this character has layers that can't be shed off so easily, and I appreciated that.

My only immersion breaking gripe with this book was some of the awkward placement of smut. Now.. yes.. this is Romantasy, but I don't think we need to be pondering about our dead allies and the ripped muscles of our love interest in the same breath ¯_(ツ)_/¯
And before you come for me, yeah it's mentioned several times that a huge part of this romance is based on lust. I just think it could've been more refined, which in turn would make the yearning, and the ending payoff of it, become that much more impactful.

This was my first time reading a Norse based Romantasy. Usually, when it comes to mythology, I like to read high-stakes-battle fantasies, but I genuinely had a good time with this one and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

What a ride y'all! I had been seeing this book everywhere and bought a copy because it had pretty sprayed edges telling myself I'd read it soon, but when I saw @styleyourshelf was also wanting to read it, a buddy read ensued! I have enjoyed past works by Danielle Jensen, so I knew the writing would be strong, but this book had it all—strong writing, strong plot, intrigue, tension—everything. A Fate Inked in Blood follows Freya, a woman in a miserable marriage who harbors a secret power bestowed on her by a god. Her circumstances change abruptly when this power is made known. The jarl she is forced to marry ensures her safety from harm by putting his son, Bjorn, in charge of looking after her. Y'all, Bjorn. Is. Everything. I really loved his character so much. He's a bit grumpy but that only makes the banter so good. Their romance is the slowest of burns, and at one point I was practically begging for a break in the tension. There's forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and amazing tension and banter. This Norse inspired story was so good, and I can't wait for book 2! A Fate Inked in Blood is an adult romantic fantasy, 18+ for sexual content

A Fate Inked in Blood is the start to a Norse inspired fantasy romance series. We follow Freya as she is forced to leave the life she has known as people fight to control her fate and magic in order to become king. I found Freya to be a well realized main character, she feels very human in that she has a tendency to let her emotions get the best of her and to act before thinking. There were multiple instances where she would jump to conclusions and turn a blind eye to any other possibilities. Sometimes this could read as a bit repetitive and annoying because she would go back and forth in her mind on what decisions to make, but it felt realistic and I understood why it was a struggle to make the decisions she needs to. I'm interested to see how her character develops in later books in the series. The plot was fun and adventurous and it was cool to encounter other children of gods and to see their powers in action. Overall I enjoyed reading this book and can see myself picking up the later installments in the series.

(3.75, rounded up) Romantasy filled with gods and magic, slow burn forbidden romance, prophecy and fate.

I mean it in the best way possible when I say this was a very readable fantasy romance. The Nordic setting feels fresh, the magic system was interesting, the tropes were hitting their marks for me. It was a good time. I'd say a 70/30 split of romance to fantasy.

That being said, it feels a bit shallow. Like we're just skimming the surface of everything. The world building was just enough to help me picture what was going on but overall feels a bit light. Pieces of Freya's backstory get dropped when it's convenient and are easily forgotten. The romance leans heavily on Bjorn's role as Freya's protector in a way that is satisfying to read, but also gets a bit repetitive. None of the twists surprised me, but that could just be that I read too much of this sort of thing.

I'm a sucker for fantasy involving a world where gods interfere with the lives of mortals and love a good slow burn/bodyguard/extra trope-y romance, so non of the flaws were deal breakers for me. With all the heavy 700+ page books coming out lately I really appreciated how quick of a read it was. I like it enough to reread it someday, would recommend it to others, and will probably pick up the next one.

“Fate Inked in Blood” stands out in the fantasy genre with its unique take on Viking lore, blending historical elements with imaginative twists that capture the reader's imagination from the start. The narrative, rich in Norse mythology, introduces us to a world where gods and mortals interact in ways both exhilarating and terrifying, setting the stage for epic battles and quests. However, despite its fresh perspective on Viking culture, the novel falls victim to stereotypical fantasy plot lines. Predictable plot twists and conventional character arcs diminish its potential to fully break new ground. The story's reliance on familiar fantasy tropes - the chosen one, the etc - might comfort some readers but ultimately detracts from its originality. Yet, for those fascinated by Viking mythology and looking for an accessible entry into a fantastical version of the Norse world, “Fate Inked in Blood” offers an engaging adventure. Its vivid world-building and cultural authenticity are commendable, even as the narrative treads well-worn paths.

Terikat dalam pernikahan yang tidak diinginkan, Freya menjalani hari-harinya dengan membersihkan ikan, tapi bermimpi untuk menjadi pejuang. Mimpinya secara tidak terduga menjadi kenyataan ketika suaminya mengkhianatinya demi seorang Jarl (bangsawan/kepala) daerah setempat yang menyeretnya dalam pertarungan sampai mati melawan putra sang Jarl, Bjorn.
Untuk bertahan hidup, Freya terpaksa mengungkapkan rahasianya : dia memiliki darah para dewa, yang membuatnya menjadi shield maiden (ksatria wanita) dengan kekuatan sihir untuk menangkis segala macam serangan. Ada ramalan bahwa kekuatan tersebut mampu menyatukan negeri Skaland yang terpecah, dibawah pemerintahan seseorang yang mampu mengendalikan takdir shield maiden.
Percaya akan takdirnya untuk menjadi Raja yang memimpin Skaland, sang Jarl mengikat Freya dengan sumpah darah dan memerintahkan putranya, Bjorn untuk melindungi Freya dari musuh-musuhnya. Untuk membuktikan kekuatannya, Freya harus berlatih untuk bertarung dan mengendalikan sihirnya.
Aku adalah pembaca karya-karya Danielle L. Jensen, mulai dari seri Malediction, Dark Shores hingga The Bridge Kingdom, dan aku suka semua serinya (kecuali seri ketiga & keempat The Bridge Kingdom yang kurang okay). Jadi ketika seri baru ini keluar, langsung menjadi incaranku. Terinspirasi dari mitologi nordik, karena aku sudah pernah membaca tema yang sama, dari seri Bloodsworn Saga karya John Gwynne, jadi sudah agak familiar dengan istilah-istilahnya.
Bedanya seri ini lebih ke romantasy namun dengan rancang bangun yang lebih solid dibanding romantasy yang pernah kubaca sebelumnya. Aku merekomendasikan pembuka seri ini untuk penggemar fantasi maupun romantasy.

Overall it was an okay read and I'll definitely pick up the second book so I can find out what happens. The last bit of the book was without a doubt the better part and was the redeeming factor for me.
The quick development of the relationship with Freya and Bjorn was a bit too quick for my taste. For the most part I could understand where Freya was coming from but for someone who wanted to be a warrior to be so against what it entails once she sees it was a bit frustrating.
On a more positive note I enjoyed the magic system for this book alot! It's unique and how it manifests is really interesting.