Book Review | A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
Series: Saga of the Unfated #1
Published by Penguin Books on January 7, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Romance / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Romance / Fantasy, Fiction / Romance / Historical / Viking
Pages: 400
Format: Hardcover
Source: Seven & One

A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king - while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son - in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance.

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband's back. Freya's dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region's jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: she possesses a drop of a goddess's blood, which gives her magic capable of repelling any attack. A magic that was foretold would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath a king-the one who controls the shield maiden's fate.

Believing he's destined to rule Skaland, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders his son, Bjorn, to protect Freya from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. Except the greatest test of all may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a fun and adventurous fantasy romance with an interesting backdrop of Norse mythology. While I did enjoy the book, there were a few things that either bothered me or were predictable.

The parts that were bothersome is when the characters would cuss at each other. Now, I’m not saying I’m an expert in Viking history or culture, but I highly doubt they used cuss words like we do today. For the most part, it was a slight annoyance. It wasn’t as bad as other romantasy books were modern day slang is used even though they shouldn’t have our slang due to this being a completely different world. It is something I want to bring up just for those who are bothered by this type of writing.

The writing overall was extremely well-done! For most of the novel, it felt like I was there in Viking Sweden/Norway fighting alongside Freya. There were moments in the plot and certain scenes that I wanted to thrash everyone cause you honestly cannot be this stupid. Alas, I was proven wrong. I don’t know how they heard the phrase about Freya being of two bloods and them saying “oh that only refers to her mortal and god blood.” I’m like okay, but nope because she banishes all the draug’s to Hel and no one questions how she does it?!? Even when Freya’s mom tells her about her birth, the god who came in the night, and Hlin coming the next morning didn’t clue her in! While I hated Ylva and wanted to chop her head of with Bjorn’s ax, she was definitely a red herring for the book. Bjorn’s secretive nature, the aloof way he acts all of them, how he calls his birth father Snorri were all huge clues that Bjorn was the traitor. I definitely am seeing this as a whole, Skaland (Freya) doesn’t know the true story/history) and in book two she’s going to learn about it all and fight with Nordeland willingly. The only part I was a bit surprised by was Bjorn’s mom and the reveal of Steinunn, and I’m definitely interested to see how Bjorn’s mom reacts to Freya and what Steinunn’s role will play out.

I was a bit disappointed that Loki didn’t make an appearance/mention. Yet, thinking back on the last few chapters, I actually think Harald is a son of Loki or Loki himself. I guess we’ll see what happens in book 2.

I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I did enjoy this book and do look forward to the second one.