“A Fate Inked in Blood” by Danielle L. Jensen is a Norse/viking inspired fantasy romance. Readers are introduced to Freya, a unhappily married 20-something-year-old who dreams of becoming a warrior, rather than the abused, fish monger’s wife that she currently plays. Her dreams of becoming a warrior are thrust upon her after she is betrayed by her slimy husband to the local jarl. In order to keep her loved ones safe, Freya must become that which she has kept a secret her entire life - born with the blood of a god and imbued with magical capabilities, she is the prophesied shield-maiden that will unite Skaland.
Believing that Freya will be his “king maker” and that he is destined to rule all of Skaland, Jarl Snorri binds Freya through a blood oath, while simultaneously ordering his son, Bjorn, to protect Freya with his life. Tensions run high between Freya and Bjorn, as Freya must learn to fight and command her powers like the warrior she is to become. (Tell me you see where this is going!)
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Freya and Bjorn. It was definitely slow burn for most of the book, but the constant flirting, banter, and “touch her and you die vibes” helped sustain me until we got to something more substantial between the two characters!
I appreciated Freya’s character development too. She is in no way the “perfect heroine” and learns a lot as she begins to fulfill her role as a shield maiden. Freya is fierce and driven to make choices that constantly put others' well-being before her own - including that of her unappreciative family members. Despite this, Freya endures and remains altruistic despite the ungratefulness. Toward the end of the book, we see her start coming into her own and fighting for what she truly wants (hint: it’s the handsome Bjorn!)
This was the first novel I’ve read by Danielle L. Jensen and it blew me away. I absolutely loved the way she painted her scenes with such vivid wordsmithing. And despite the book being 430+ pages, I easily devoured it in less than two days - it was THAT good! The book ended with some deep revelations (I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “cliff-hanger,” but it definitely had cliff-hanger vibes) that sets up what’s in store for Freya, Bjorn, and the rest of Skaland in Book 2. I cannot wait to read the sequel!
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