Audiobook review: A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

Title: A Fate Inked in Blood 
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Series: Saga of the Unfated #1
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Cliffhanger: Yes
Narrators: Nina Yndis
Narration Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Audiobook Length: 15h 16m
Spice level: 🔥🔥🔥
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: February 27th, 2024

Ahh, I was looking forward to read Danielle L. Jensen's new fantasy romance series because I loved The Bridge Kingdom (first duology since I haven't had the chance to continue the other duology)! However, A Fate Inked in Blood missed the mark for me. The chemistry between the couple is missing and very lust-forward. From memory, it was similar for The Bridge Kingdom but I shipped that couple and the angst between them was chef-kissed! 

Tropes:

✔️ Mythology

✔️ Forbidden romance

✔️ Force proximity (training and one horse)

✔️ Instalust 

✔️ Viking-esque settings 

✔️ Solo POV 

Content Warning/Trigger Warning: violence (war on page), death, self harm (not healing herself), toxic family relation

A Fate Inked in Blood follows our heroine (Freya), who's a hidden shield maiden blessed by a goddess. She is forced into battle and unwanted marriage with a power-hungry king while she starts to fall for his warrior son, Bjorn.

The plot has every elements I would love and enjoy, however, this was a miss for me. The romance was slow burn BUT it was very insta-lust and didn't really match the whole setting. Every time they are together, it pulled me out of the actual story, and vice versa. 

I listened to the audiobook and it was well-performed by Nina Yndis but I do wish this was dual POVs.