
A Fate Inked in Blood
Book One of the Saga of the Unfated
Random House Worlds · Print & ebook · February 11, 2025
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in the first book of a Norse-inspired fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A brisk entry point for anyone following Danielle L. Jensen's latest saga.
- Genres
- Fantasy Romance, Viking Romance
- Published
- Random House Worlds, February 11, 2025
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
The Serpent & the Wings of NightCarissa Broadbent, Amanda Leigh Cobb56% match
The Ashes & the Star-cursed KingCarissa Broadbent, Amanda Leigh Cobb57% match
Heavenly Bodies Deluxe EditionImani Erriu60% match
A Shadow in the EmberJennifer L. Armentrout, Stina Nielsen57% matchShares Fantasy Romance
From Blood and Ash Special EditionJennifer L. Armentrout57% matchShares Fantasy Romance
The Bridge KingdomDanielle L. Jensen65% match
The Road of BonesDemi Winters67% matchShares Fantasy Romance and Viking Romance
For younger readers: The Stolen Heir, The Cruel Prince, The Queen's Rising
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in the first book of a Norse-inspired fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series. 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.
Continue reading
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.
Why It Clicks
A brisk entry point for anyone following Danielle L. Jensen's latest saga.
Come here for
- fantasy-romance momentum
- series-start energy
Expect
- Book one setup
- romance-forward fantasy tone
Where it sits
| Fantasy Romance | 69% |
|---|---|
| Viking Romance | 50% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Fantasy Romance
- Viking Romance
- Authors
- Danielle L. Jensen
- Publisher
- Random House Worlds
- Published
- February 11, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Fantasy Romance