I may have squealed a little when I received a copy of A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen. She is an amazing author and all Romantasy lovers will love this book. If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out her other series, The Bridge Kingdom. You will not be disappointed.
Summary
Freya is a shield maiden, blessed by the gods and forced to marry the local jarl against her will. This jarl thinks she is the key to uniting the region and making him king. The jarl’s son, Bjorn, is tasked with protecting her from neighboring territories. He begins training Freya to fight and control the magic everyone desperately wants. Sparks begin to fly and Freya must choose between her destiny and forbidden attraction to her fire-wielding protector.
Review
I’m going to clear the air and say yes, Freya does have a thing for Bjorn, who is technically her stepson. It does sound strange, but it is not icky at all when you read it. They meet before she marries his dad. Technically, she is forced to marry the jarl against her will. It’s not gross but it does make it interesting.
Danielle L. Jensen is very good at writing complex characters that the reader will love. And that complexity makes it not weird.
This book has everything a Romantasy lover will enjoy! It has Norse mythology, Vikings, battles, forbidden love, forced proximity, and banter. It is a slow burn so if you are reading for the spice, you must wait a while. (It’s worth the wait.) The tension between the two main characters is excellent.
Like all good fantasy books, there is some world-building to get through. It is written clearly and isn’t confusing to the reader. There were a few things that could be explained more, but there will be more books. The pace is fast and action-packed with lots of good battles.
Favorite Quotes
“Not all scars we earn are skin-deep, Freya Born-in-Fire.” “There is no less honor in them.”
“In our world, power is most often achieved with violence.”
“I will be at your back until I cross the threshold to Valhalla, whether you want me there or not”
Rating
I gave A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen 5/5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review!