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A review by literarypenguin
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
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
3.0
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, and War
Moderate: Death of parent