Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

13 reviews

jessdrafahl's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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? No

5.0

Freya was kind of an annoying character sometimes with her petulant attitude all the time whilst simultaneously ignoring every opportunity she had to have her own freedom, but I feel like the story did a good job of explaining exactly why Freya is like that. In the next book(s) I'm sure we'll get to see her come to terms with herself and finally figure out how to carve her own destiny. I love how each character has their own flaws and deep characterization. A lot of love went into this story and the characters in it. They're all very believable and interesting to read. I need the sequel already.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Animal death, and Death

pm_me_book_recs's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Alcohol, Violence, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and War

gpfot's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Bullying, Death, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, Gore, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual content, Classism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Vomit, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

blacksphinx's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

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 characters

that 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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Sexual content, and Murder

Moderate: Gore, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Sexism, Vomit, and War

Minor: Kidnapping

thewitchykitty's review against another edition

dark emotional tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Addiction, Alcohol, Grief, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, and Violence

jennipea382's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, War, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Grief, Child death, and Sexual content

avialaeleigh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was an interesting take on fantasy. I have personally never read something that was a Nordic based fantasy novel. But I really enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the accent of the voice narrator of the audio book as I did a dual read with both the physical and audiobook. 

I liked that we got to see a lot of mythology and the life of people that might have been alive at the time that the book takes place but we also get the fantasy aspect of that they have powers and are supposedly of the gods decent. 

There were also a lot of plot twists, especially at the end of the book. I am also unsure that why Bjorn father is under the impression that marrying Freja will make him King of Skaland. Especially if Freja is unfated. He himself may have a fate but that does not mean it can not change because of Freja. 

The book had a great mixture of flirting, mystery, Adventure, fighting, tension, and grief all mixed in with the norse mythology. It was a very captivating read. 

Also the witty banter and friendship between Freja and Bjorn is great. And how they first meet is one of the best first meets I have read in a while. The spice was okay in this book I almost think that the main event didn't hold up to all the teasing and suspense of evey other "spicy" interaction that Freja and Bjorn had prior. 

It was a very well written book, and it hooked me from the very beginning though I do felt that it was a little rushed at the end though I am excited to read the next book in the saga. Whenever it comes out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Death, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Blood

Moderate: Drug use

jasper_is_atypical's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I'm just tired of people calling an FMC strong or badass and then the MMC does all the fighting and planning and hard work and hero stuff. She literally sits around at points while he does all of the work, although she does try at points, overall she get's used and abused and just sits and takes it and then lashes out at the only people who actually care about her. She's not badass (when she is she's killing innocent civilians mostly) and every decision she makes for herself is a bad one. It was super disappointing thinking she would be this badass in control of her fate while she just let's herself get tossed around like a toy the entire book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Alcohol, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Blood, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death, War, Misogyny, Death of parent, Animal death, Sexism, Medical content, Violence, Sexual content, Murder, Grief, Gore, and Vomit

Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, and Kidnapping

Minor: Slavery, Rape, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Physical abuse

soniajoy98's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, War, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Alcohol, Animal death, Cursing, Murder, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Mental illness, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and Vomit

booksalacarte's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A Fate Inked in Blood

4.75⭐️ 3.25🌶️

Fantasy Romance

Viking Fantasy

Forbidden Romance

Gods

Magic

Secrets

War

Slow burn

Forced proximity

I really enjoyed this book so much! You could really tell that DLJ has grown as an author since her Bridge Kingdom series started. I am so excited to see where this series goes, I still have so many questions!

The magic system was interesting and the idea that everyone is fated, except the children of gods is an interesting way to approach the system. 

The FMC was torn between her selfish nature and wanting to protect others. It’s such a real struggle that I was rooting for her and frustrated by her at the same time. 

The plot was fairly steady. I didn’t feel like there were many lulls in the action, even when there was a break from fighting. The twists and turns were foreshadowed well and left just enough for me to still be surprised by the nature of the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for a eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Cursing, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Alcohol, Murder, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, War, Kidnapping, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Grief, Blood, Death, Incest, and Violence