Book Review: A Fate Inked in Blood is the Viking Fantasy Romance You’ve Been Waiting For
Why is the world of the Vikings always so fascinating? Is it their desire for battle fame? The finicky and trickster gods conniving and changing fates? The ‘only living for the protection of your family and surviving in a brutally harsh climate and raids’? Maybe it’s because they actually existed and the Norse myths surrounding them is riveting. Whatever the pull, A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen (author of one of my favorite low fantasy duologies, The Bridge Kingdom) gives us a Viking romance treat with her latest installment in a new duology. I’ll be honest, based on how this book started, I was nervous this was going to be all insta-love, which I’m not a fan of. While it does have insta-lust I could have done without (unnecessary IMO), Danielle took us on a winding journey of tragedy, forbidden romance, love, and betrayals. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. While the reveals are obvious if you’re paying attention, if you’re a fan of Norse mythology, badass female main characters, and romance with some spice, you’ll probably enjoy this book a lot. The action is wonderful, and at no point was I bored, because the pace really doesn’t let up. There are some very minor spoilers below, so beware!
Things to Know:
Book one in an unfinished duology
Vikings + Norse gods
Forbidden Romance
Bodyguard trope
Battles and betrayals
Cliffhanger ending
We meet Freya, a young woman in a fishing village, who’s in a abusive marriage and I was pleasantly surprised when Vragi met his just end so rapidly. I was honestly cheering. Her friends and family though—what a bunch of horrific lowlifes. I honestly couldn’t believe how much they didn’t care about her or how selfish they were. Everyone in her life uses her, and I was just rooting for her to gain control over her own life. At the same time, I wanted to throttle her for her loyalty to people who deserved none.
Snorri is such a snore. I hate him. I mean, you’re supposed to. He and Stilgar a la Dune are the same person in a different font. Freya does or says literally anything, and he’s like, “OMG it’s a SIGN! It’s a TEST!” Except in this case, Snorri thinks he’s destined to be King and will plow over anyone and anything to get what he thinks he deserves. Rarely have I met a more annoying character so hungry for power. And his wife is just as bad.
Bjorn is the perfect book boyfriend (well…no spoilers). He’s protective in a “touch her and you die” way, he’s got banter, and we love a man who knows how to use a weapon, especially one gifted from the gods. It was a little convenient Snorri saw a ‘sign’ that Bjorn had to become her protector, but hey, we love a bodyguard trope, and this was done super well, without Freya losing her own initiative and capabilities.
The action sequences were amazing, and while I wouldn’t have minded a bit more worldbuilding surrounding the gods and their magic (assuming we’ll get more of this in book two!), Danielle writes in a very accessible way for people just getting into fantasy. Everything is super easy to follow. Side note: as a LOTR fan, I was absolutely loving what I assume is a nod to the paths of the dead moment, as Freya and Bjorn travel inside a mountain on another test. We are absolutely left on a cliffhanger steeped in betrayal, and I’ll be impatiently waiting for more answers coming in book two!
Quotes I loved:
“It’s hard to keep one’s wit when faced with a woman as beautiful as the sight of shores to a man who has been lost at sea.”
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“You’ve never been alone…I will be at your back until I cross the threshold to Valhalla, Born-in-Fire, whether you want me there or not.”
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“Don’t underestimate my tongue, Freya. Especially in the dark.”
This book is perfect for people who are already Danielle L. Jensen fans, as well as those looking for an engaging Viking fantasy romance. Danielle’s books are one’s I always recommend to get out of a reading slump, and A Fate Inked in Blood is no exception. Many thanks to Del Rey for sending me a review copy (all opinions are my own). I cannot wait to read the next installment and find out what the future holds for Freya, Born-in-Fire, and my favorite fire-axe-wielding book boyfriend, Bjorn!
Side note: if you’ve been collecting the Dominique Wesson covers of The Bridge Kingdom series, and you haven’t gotten your copy of The Endless War yet, grab it now, because it’s going out of print in April 2024. As someone who likes all my covers to match, I ran to get this one.
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