A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.
Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.
Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.
Review: Forced into an unwanted marriage, Freya is spending her days gutting fish while yearning to be a warrior like her brother. Her lackluster existence is suddenly altered when her husband betrays her. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: she was born with a drop of goddess's blood, which makes her a shield maiden with a magical ability to repel any attacks. Before her birth, it was foretold that a magical shield maiden would unite the fractured nation of Skaland. Determined to wield her power to unite Skaland in his name, the jarl binds Freya to him in a blood oath and yet another forced marriage, albeit in name only. Yet almost immediately, Freya is drawn to the jarl's son Bjorn, who time and time again protests her. To survive and fulfill her destiny, Freya must learn to fight, wield her magic, and quickly figure out who to trust, all while battling her internal desire for Bjorn.
This book reeled me in from the start. I loved the historical vibes, the fate of the beautiful young woman trapped in a loveless and unhappy marriage was intriguing, and I loved all the Viking mythology! The plot quickly progresses, and it didn't take long for Freya to find herself in another predicament where she is once again caught in a loveless marriage but this time passionately yearning for another man.
However, my initial interest tanked as the novel went on. Freya is extremely inconstant. She blows hot and cold, seems to not have no loyalty whatsoever, and mostly angrily fusses at Bjorn and others. I have never seen the phrase "throbbing core" used with more abandon in a book. It was absolutely non-stop, to the point that I was almost rolling my eyes every time the word "core" popped up, which was frequently. I also didn't totally get the whole plot or premise of the prophecy. Because of her goddess blood, Freya is frequently referred to as the "unfated", yet Bjorn is constantly urging her to change her fate. Maybe I just misunderstood. I also wish more pressure had been put on the tension between her marriage vows and her desires. In the end, her marriage to both her first husband and the jarl don't matter, and she gets to go after what she wants with very little holding her back.
I did like the great reveal and cliffhanger in the conclusion. It spun the whole narrative on its head and set the book up well for book two. I like I lot about this, but it just didn't all come together quite the way I had hoped and dragged at times.
Stars: 3
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