The first in Jensen's fantasy series ticked many of my boxes--strong female main character, a tension-filled Chosen One premise, a fight for respect and to trust others, action, Norse-inspired elements, and a romantic storyline in the background.
A Fate Inked in Blood is the first book in Danielle L. Jensen's Norse-inspired fantasy duology, and when the book begins, Freya is yet again gutting fish alongside her brutish, cruel, selfish husband.
But things get worse: her husband's foolish bluster causes Freya to have to fight to the death against Bjorn, the firstborn son of the jarl. In the heat of battle, Freya discovers that the secret her late father had been holding in order to try to keep her safe is that she is a shield maiden. The drop of a goddess's blood she possesses means she can repel any attack.
Now those who would control her want her to do their bidding, and her people's enemies want her dead. Only the irritatingly handsome, arrogant Bjorn may be able to team up to keep Freya alive--allowing her to discover and fulfill her true destiny. But can her feelings for Bjorn be trusted? Can Bjorn himself be trusted?
This is my kind of "romantasy": adventure, fate, a strong main female character, a Chosen One setup--with a slow-build attraction and romance in the background. I loved the Nordic influence as well as Freya's fight to determine who she can trust, which part of the visions and future she may take as written in stone and which she can reimagine, and her noble, imperfect warrior's heart and intention.
I can't wait to read the next in this series, A Curse Carved in Bone.
I listened to A Fate Inked in Blood as an audiobook.
I'd love to hear your Bossy thoughts about this book!
Danielle L. Jensen is also the author of The Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series.
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