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Happy Pub Day to this gorgeous book! I was lucky enough to receive my (preordered) hardcover copy last week and the stamped hard case and blue gilded edges are stunning!!! 🩵

“Not all scars we earn are skin-deep, Freya Born-in-Fire.�� “There is no less honor in them.��

I’ll be honest, I knew I was going to enjoy this book, before even reading the first page. When one of my favorite authors announced she was writing a Norse inspired Fantasy Romance, with a shield maiden named Freya, as the main character�� I immediately preordered it. But I wasn’t expecting this to have everything I could ever want in a book, and some how even more.

“I will be at your back until I cross the threshold to Valhalla, Born-in-Fire, whether you want me there or not.��

The banter, with absolutely ridiculous humor (I’m pretty sure I actually snorted a few times), to the phenomenal Norse mythology elements, made me devour this book. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, and fell asleep clutching my kindle, because I just couldn’t put this book down. And don’t even get me started on the incredible sexual tension, the mutual pining, forbidden love, enemies to friends to lovers, SHIELD WALLS, and the revenge plot. 😈

“In our world, power is most often achieved with violence.��

This entire book was a thrilling adventure, with exceptional pacing, that barely gave me a moment to catch my breath. Considering the fact I was punching the air and yelling “F*CK YEAH�� by chapter 2, I knew this was going to be great. The rage and absolute need for retribution I felt from these characters, was noticeable very early in the story. But the devotion, determination, bravery�� and yet, heart breaking self doubt, you see through especially Freya’s perspective, made her one of my favorite and one of the most relatable characters I’ve seen in a while. And Bjorn�� he’s got BVDE, and I fell in love with him the second he stepped out of the fjord. 🫦The tension and respect between these two, was a delicious slow burn at its finest.

“Freya used to be a good and loyal woman.””She still is. You’re just no longer worthy of her loyalty.��

If you’ve read The Bloodsworn Saga by John Gwynne, and loved it�� but thought what if this was sexier? Or possibly you’ve enjoyed, another one of my favorites Wolf of the Sands by Amy Kuivalainen, or maybe you love the show, Vikings?!? This book is for you. It’s filled with strong female characters, epic Norse mythology, and although quite different writing styles, they both feature characters with “gods blood�� or that have been touched by the gods. I truly think this is a phenomenal book, and have already preordered the hardback first edition with gilded edges and a bunch of other stunning extras, from my local Indie bookstore.

“They say being given the blood of a god is a gift,"I whispered. “But it's a curse.��

Thank you to Danielle Jensen, and Random House Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

P.S. I absolutely recommend a glass of dry mead while listening to Hozier’s “Blood Upon the Snow��, after finishing this incredible book. 🍺⚔️🖤