A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen is the second and final book in The Saga of the Unfated series. This Norse myth-inspired fantasy is a stunning tale of love and betrayal, of magic and war.
*this review contains spoilers for A Fate Inked in Blood*
After Bjorn’s brutal betrayal, Freya is trapped in a foreign land, with no one she can trust. Her only hope is to find the woman who holds the key to the truth about who she is, the seer who prophesied the destruction and death Freya would bring.
The journey is fraught with tension and danger, and the truth brings Freya more questions than answers. Everything is uncertain, and with no clear path forward, Freya and Bjorn are left reeling, and furious with each other. No matter what she does, it seems the darkness is her inescapable destiny.
While the complexity and depth of these characters were well established in the first book, it was even further developed in A Curse Carved in Bone. Freya is a true warrior, and Bjorn has earned his place in the Valhalla of book boyfriends. He is so deeply devoted to his love, even when Freya can’t see or understand it.
Freya and Bjorn balance each other so well. She’s stubborn and he is steadfast. They are both sharp and fueled by a ferocious kind of honor. The ferocity in Freya and Bjorn’s spirits leads to truly excellent banter. I would read four more books of these two just bitching at each other.
Betrayal is always a present theme in Danielle L. Jensen’s books, and this book is no exception. There is so much rage, fear, and deep emotion that comes from these heart-wrenching plot lines.
A Curse Carved in Bone has such beautiful writing. It really paints a picture of not only Freya and Bjorn’s surroundings but also their thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
It’s detailed and descriptive with a great deal of high octane action — battles and schemes, vicious magical creatures, and journeys both physical and emotional. The world-building is a perfect continuation of the previous book, and it remains a completely gorgeous magical system.
This is not a super spice heavy or spice forward book, which fits correctly with the plot and characters. This is a fantasy that is very much plot and character driven, with just a touch of spice in the romance that is very much present.
The spice does appear, though, and when it does, it is so filled with love and passion. It’s both incredibly sexy and deeply moving.
I wouldn’t necessarily call A Curse Carved in Bone fast-paced, but it is absolutely a page turner. I found myself so invested in these characters and this world. I simply could not put it down, and highly recommend it to every reader.
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