A review by keepcalmblogon
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

adventurous medium-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? No

4.0

I was so lucky to have gotten this arc of A Fate Inked in Blood from Del Rey Books at NYCC! This is my first Danielle L. Jensen book and I’m super into Norse inspired stories right now. I was also able to buddy read the arc with my friend @greenteabookme, which made it so much more fun!

Off the bat, we’re introduced to Freya who meets Bjorn as he ascends glistening from the fjord while gutting fish for her jerk husband. The pace of the book stays at this level of action with battle and murder abounding. Freya is definitely very powerful and strong-willed, which I like in a FMC. I could have gone without her guilt though.

I enjoyed the magic system regarding children with drops of god’s blood. I also enjoyed the romance as it had good buildup and tension and stakes. I didn’t like how it felt weirdly plot driven, despite not being obviously plot driven. Freya’s connections to friends and family and her people aren’t well-developed, which makes her motivations weak and her emotions seem based on nothing, and so that turned the possible characterization into nothing but plot points. Despite that feel, I will say this was four stars for me in the end as the story itself was still action-packed, interesting, and entertaining. 

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a chosen one trope, Norse mythology, and tattooed warriors.