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adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely loved this book! It was such a wild ride from the very beginning of the book all the way to the end. I found myself enthralled and hooked by the world inside of the pages. Learning about all of the gods, their powers, and how children of the gods were affected was so intriguing!
This was my first ever Nordic Mythology book. I have to say the subject manner never really interested me, but I wanted to pick one up and give it a shot. I am sO glad that I did! It was so interesting, had me hooked, and I was so invested in the characters and all of the mythological lore present in the story.
Freya was such a badass FMC, I was living for it. I loved seeing her grow as a character, learn her worth, and ultimately make the best decisions for herself.I was so happy when she finally decided to put her family in their place and make decisions based on her own wants and desires.
Freya and Bjorn — Freyorn was so hot and iconic, I was obsessed! I was rooting for them the entire time. At first when I read the synopsis of this book, I was like…the son? But when I actually read it, I was like, “YES, THE SON!” Hahah — the tension between them was perfection and had me practically screaming for them to get together already. The spicy scenes were written SO well and they were seriously so hot. 10/10 Bjorn…just saying.
The ending of this book. I will not go into extreme detail but all I will say is that I cannot wait for the next book! Danielle L. Jensen actually wrote this cliffhanger in a way that left me wanting to know what was going to happen next, but it did not make me upset. I was happy with the way it ended and how it left the story open to what would happen next. I seriously am so excited to keep reading Freya and Bjorn’s story!
Overall, I had such a good time reading this book and I am so happy that I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and read my first Viking romance. I am now obsessed with the genre and I cannot wait to read the next installment in this series. I rate this book 5/5 stars! 🌟
This was my first ever Nordic Mythology book. I have to say the subject manner never really interested me, but I wanted to pick one up and give it a shot. I am sO glad that I did! It was so interesting, had me hooked, and I was so invested in the characters and all of the mythological lore present in the story.
Freya was such a badass FMC, I was living for it. I loved seeing her grow as a character, learn her worth, and ultimately make the best decisions for herself.
Freya and Bjorn — Freyorn was so hot and iconic, I was obsessed! I was rooting for them the entire time. At first when I read the synopsis of this book, I was like…the son? But when I actually read it, I was like, “YES, THE SON!” Hahah — the tension between them was perfection and had me practically screaming for them to get together already. The spicy scenes were written SO well and they were seriously so hot. 10/10 Bjorn…just saying.
The ending of this book. I will not go into extreme detail but all I will say is that I cannot wait for the next book! Danielle L. Jensen actually wrote this cliffhanger in a way that left me wanting to know what was going to happen next, but it did not make me upset. I was happy with the way it ended and how it left the story open to what would happen next. I seriously am so excited to keep reading Freya and Bjorn’s story!
Overall, I had such a good time reading this book and I am so happy that I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and read my first Viking romance. I am now obsessed with the genre and I cannot wait to read the next installment in this series. I rate this book 5/5 stars! 🌟
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, War
Moderate: Drug use, Vomit, Death of parent
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, so I will say this book both was what I hoped for yet disappointed me at the same time.
Let's start with the pros and what I did like about the book. I really enjoyed the magic of this world, how the Norse gods can grant their magic through mortal children and give them access to abilities in their blood. I was really interested in the powers and how those gods magic can manifest into different ways, I was fascinated and eager to learn how all the different gods magic can be granted. I also liked the setting during the Viking era, I thought the world was well established and captured how the world was back in that time. It also showed how people lived back then, how men and women's roles were vastly different from each other. Freya as a character had moments where I felt for her, the feeling of being used by people who are supposed to care about you and getting tired of being seen that way added much more believability to her as a main character. Her rage moments were great to read and those scenes you could feel them coming through the pages! The banter between Bjorn & Freya was fun to read and certain conversations they had made me laugh. I could definitely see the chemistry between the two of them!
Now I want to list some of the things I didn't like about the book. In my opinion I felt like the relationship between Bjorn & Freya was a bit too insta love for me. If we had a couple more moments that showed them building feelings for one another then it could have worked a bit better. It was driven more on lust and you are begging them to go and sleep together already. I am hoping the second book does do more with Bjorn & Freya especially with what happens toward the end. They could have done more with the aspect of forbidden love, the two of them being forced to be apart because of the circumstances they are involved in. The middle half of the book did drag a bit and I felt like it slowed down during those parts. Freya's decisions did frustrate me at certain points, like when she kept defending the people who hurt her and used her. That did make me frustrated with her and I hope she works that out in the next book.
Overall I really enjoyed this release, I am excited for the second book to come out and can't wait to see what lies ahead for Freya & Bjorn. Where their relationship goes or if it survives at all.
Let's start with the pros and what I did like about the book. I really enjoyed the magic of this world, how the Norse gods can grant their magic through mortal children and give them access to abilities in their blood. I was really interested in the powers and how those gods magic can manifest into different ways, I was fascinated and eager to learn how all the different gods magic can be granted. I also liked the setting during the Viking era, I thought the world was well established and captured how the world was back in that time. It also showed how people lived back then, how men and women's roles were vastly different from each other. Freya as a character had moments where I felt for her, the feeling of being used by people who are supposed to care about you and getting tired of being seen that way added much more believability to her as a main character. Her rage moments were great to read and those scenes you could feel them coming through the pages! The banter between Bjorn & Freya was fun to read and certain conversations they had made me laugh. I could definitely see the chemistry between the two of them!
Now I want to list some of the things I didn't like about the book. In my opinion I felt like the relationship between Bjorn & Freya was a bit too insta love for me. If we had a couple more moments that showed them building feelings for one another then it could have worked a bit better. It was driven more on lust and you are begging them to go and sleep together already. I am hoping the second book does do more with Bjorn & Freya especially with what happens toward the end. They could have done more with the aspect of forbidden love, the two of them being forced to be apart because of the circumstances they are involved in. The middle half of the book did drag a bit and I felt like it slowed down during those parts. Freya's decisions did frustrate me at certain points, like when she kept defending the people who hurt her and used her. That did make me frustrated with her and I hope she works that out in the next book.
Overall I really enjoyed this release, I am excited for the second book to come out and can't wait to see what lies ahead for Freya & Bjorn. Where their relationship goes or if it survives at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, War
Moderate: Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Story fell flat for me unfortunately. I saw so many great 4-5 star reviews about this book which hyped me up to start my first Danielle L. Jensen book, especially since her bridge kingdom series has been on my radar/tbr for a while. The Norse mythology retelling is what intrigued me the most because it’d be my first book with this type of background within a fantasy setting. Yet once I got into it, the story and the characters were just meh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence
Good world building, blah middle, exciting ending with a cliff hanger even if it is partly predictable.
Very much a romantasy with some excellent banter, which was the best part of the book. I loved the Norse backdrop and how Jensen didn't just use the names of the gods but added a magical twist and kept them the same. My biggest gripe is I didn't find Freya to be super bad ass. She's a strong and capable warrior but she seemed to overly accept shitty things happening to her until the very end. But the romance and BJORN are top tier. This is my first Danielle J. Jensen book, but I think I'll read Bridge Kingdom sooner rather than later because I did enjoy the writing style as I found it approachable, not too 'big words make me sound smart' but everything being well described and not fluffy. I'm hooked on the story and would love the next book NOW.
Very much a romantasy with some excellent banter, which was the best part of the book. I loved the Norse backdrop and how Jensen didn't just use the names of the gods but added a magical twist and kept them the same. My biggest gripe is I didn't find Freya to be super bad ass. She's a strong and capable warrior but she seemed to overly accept shitty things happening to her until the very end. But the romance and BJORN are top tier. This is my first Danielle J. Jensen book, but I think I'll read Bridge Kingdom sooner rather than later because I did enjoy the writing style as I found it approachable, not too 'big words make me sound smart' but everything being well described and not fluffy. I'm hooked on the story and would love the next book NOW.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, War
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the first book I've ever finished my skimming the last ~80 pages. It was a book club pick and something I had been highly anticipating. I've been craving a Norse fantasy and this author came highly recommended to me. Oh man, where do I start?
Our protagonist was so insufferably stubborn and I found no redeeming qualities in her. I'm not sure she does one action that someone asks her to for the entire book, even if they would have been to her benefit. She's so hot-and-cold, changing her mind at the drop of a hat to whatever course of action would be the least convenient for her and the people around her. I wanted to like her! I especially loved that opening scene with her love interest; they had banter that I actually enjoyed!? But I was so frustrated with her by the end I couldn't enjoy anything about their romance.
I predicted one of the big main twists from the first moment it was foreshadowed. The other big twist was something I guessed was probably going to happen. It didn't feel fun, it didn't feel like I can solved the author's intricate puzzle and now I was in on it. I spent a lot of this book going "are you serious?" and "how it is not obvious to you!"
The magic makes NO sense and was a constant source of irritation. People who possess the blood of a god are "unfated" and both do not have a destiny/fate of their own and can change the destinies of those around them... but can also be the center of a prophecy and two of them can be destined to be together? How does that make sense!
The final cherry on top is that I could not help but notice the number of named female charactersthat die or betray Freya compared to the named men. Every time I hoped Freya would form a friendship with another woman, something would happen to destroy that relationship.
I am so grateful I hesitated on preordering this book, and will not be continuing with the series.
Our protagonist was so insufferably stubborn and I found no redeeming qualities in her. I'm not sure she does one action that someone asks her to for the entire book, even if they would have been to her benefit. She's so hot-and-cold, changing her mind at the drop of a hat to whatever course of action would be the least convenient for her and the people around her. I wanted to like her! I especially loved that opening scene with her love interest; they had banter that I actually enjoyed!? But I was so frustrated with her by the end I couldn't enjoy anything about their romance.
I predicted one of the big main twists from the first moment it was foreshadowed. The other big twist was something I guessed was probably going to happen. It didn't feel fun, it didn't feel like I can solved the author's intricate puzzle and now I was in on it. I spent a lot of this book going "are you serious?" and "how it is not obvious to you!"
The magic makes NO sense and was a constant source of irritation. People who possess the blood of a god are "unfated" and both do not have a destiny/fate of their own and can change the destinies of those around them... but can also be the center of a prophecy and two of them can be destined to be together? How does that make sense!
The final cherry on top is that I could not help but notice the number of named female characters
I am so grateful I hesitated on preordering this book, and will not be continuing with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexism, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, War
Minor: Kidnapping
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the beginning, got frustrated in the middle, and didn't like the ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Hooooo boy.
I read this book in a matter of days.
Danielle has always been someone I would gladly recomend when it comes to books with romantic tension, and this book was genuinely a masterclass in banter. I was hooked from beginning to end, and the wait until the second book comes out is already agonizing, and I finished the book less than five minutes ago.
5 Stars.
I read this book in a matter of days.
Danielle has always been someone I would gladly recomend when it comes to books with romantic tension, and this book was genuinely a masterclass in banter. I was hooked from beginning to end, and the wait until the second book comes out is already agonizing, and I finished the book less than five minutes ago.
5 Stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Kidnapping, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent