We are living in the golden age of romantasy books. Thanks in large part to BookTok, fantasy romance novels are dominating the publishing industry and have never been more at the forefront of the conversation. While TikTok can turn basically anything into a trend, this isn’t a case of inauthentic hype. Romantasy books are genuinely a good time, and they’re even better to enjoy with a community of like-minded (and sometimes dirty-minded) readers. And really, why should anyone have to choose between bodice-ripping romance and dragons, witches, or magic?
This year alone, we’ve already gotten new romantasy books from faerie smut queen Sarah J. Maas, Ali Hazelwood, Sarah A. Parker, and plenty more. But I firmly believe that the 2024 romantasy release not to be missed is A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen, the author best known for the Bridge Kingdom series. If you’re already a die-hard romantasy fan, A Fate Inked in Blood (out Feb. 27) is likely on your radar already. But even if you’ve never read a romantasy book before, it should be.
Set in a world inspired by Norse mythology, the first book in the Saga of the Unfated duology follows Freya, a restless young woman who has always dreamed of being a sword-wielding shield maiden. Instead, her family pushes her into a marriage with a cruel but wealthy husband, and she spends her days gutting fish rather than raiders. But when her husband betrays her to win the favor of Jarl Snorri, forcing Freya into a fight to the death, her long-held secret is exposed: Freya possesses a drop of the goddess Hlin’s blood, granting her the ability to repel any attack, magical or otherwise.
In Skaland, possessing a drop of a god’s blood is an honor, as it grants the chosen shades of the deity’s power. However, Freya was forced by her parents to hide her abilities, and once the truth is exposed she understands why: Years ago, a seer foretold that a shield maiden with Hlin’s blood would unite Skaland beneath the ruler who controlled
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