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A review by happyeverabigail
A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
2.0
This book.. if you read the level of worldbuilding described in the blurb that’s basically the extent of what you can expect for the rest of the book. Nothing is added or expanded upon, so many cool possibilities with the Fates and the Gods but they went nowhere. I also found the worldbuilding to be inconsistent. This FMC has been forced into marriages and partnerships against her will simply because she is a woman. And yet they have other women with agency and power in their same community. So why is she oppressed to this level?
The FMC is very immature. If the narrator didn’t do such an amazing job I would have noticed that earlier. I usually read fantasies all the way through. I want to see if certain ideals will be challenged. In this one she has so much internalized sexism and I don’t think the author even knows. She thinks things like “of course he fell asleep so fast he’s such a MAN” what?? Or “of course he was distracted by my chest, MAN” I couldn’t believe this author had me out here defending nice men who actually don’t objectify women. She has been so greatly oppressed and complains about the prejudices assumed about her as “just a housewife” and yet does it right back and it is never challenged.
The constant SA. I understand a book can be as dark as an author wants but I still believe that SA should be called out for what it is and written with the gravity and acknowledgment that it deserves. I feel as if this author thinks because an act wasn’t violent that it isn’t as bad when that is not the case. This FMC has been SA’d for a year by the man she was forced to marry. She is under the constant threat of SA in this universe (sparing spoilers of the context here). And her first actually consensual act of her life? Ruined by non-consensual exposure to guards. And also the structure of how the Gods work also includes tons of SA but there’s no acknowledgment of the weight of that on those who have been through it or are a product of it.
The romance. I thought the MMC was interesting. Dual POV would have saved this for me so much. He had a fascinating sounding background but we never get to hear about it because they are both too busy immaturely volleying innuendoes and playboy accusations back and forth to each other. All the sudden he was declaring his love and I paused like wait where did y’all build to this level of partnership?? It was so disjointed. And again, the FMC immaturity and lack of compassion was grating.
I received a complimentary audio copy from PRH audio (thank you!) and the narrator was AMAZING. I read she has accurate pronunciations of the language and names as well which was awesome to hear. Without the audio this would’ve been one star for me. I will not be continuing with the series.
The FMC is very immature. If the narrator didn’t do such an amazing job I would have noticed that earlier. I usually read fantasies all the way through. I want to see if certain ideals will be challenged. In this one she has so much internalized sexism and I don’t think the author even knows. She thinks things like “of course he fell asleep so fast he’s such a MAN” what?? Or “of course he was distracted by my chest, MAN” I couldn’t believe this author had me out here defending nice men who actually don’t objectify women. She has been so greatly oppressed and complains about the prejudices assumed about her as “just a housewife” and yet does it right back and it is never challenged.
The constant SA. I understand a book can be as dark as an author wants but I still believe that SA should be called out for what it is and written with the gravity and acknowledgment that it deserves. I feel as if this author thinks because an act wasn’t violent that it isn’t as bad when that is not the case. This FMC has been SA’d for a year by the man she was forced to marry. She is under the constant threat of SA in this universe (sparing spoilers of the context here). And her first actually consensual act of her life? Ruined by non-consensual exposure to guards. And also the structure of how the Gods work also includes tons of SA but there’s no acknowledgment of the weight of that on those who have been through it or are a product of it.
The romance. I thought the MMC was interesting. Dual POV would have saved this for me so much. He had a fascinating sounding background but we never get to hear about it because they are both too busy immaturely volleying innuendoes and playboy accusations back and forth to each other. All the sudden he was declaring his love and I paused like wait where did y’all build to this level of partnership?? It was so disjointed. And again, the FMC immaturity and lack of compassion was grating.
I received a complimentary audio copy from PRH audio (thank you!) and the narrator was AMAZING. I read she has accurate pronunciations of the language and names as well which was awesome to hear. Without the audio this would’ve been one star for me. I will not be continuing with the series.