Second in a Norse Gods Duology

 A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen 

BETRAYAL. I audibly gasped at the twist and had to close the book I was so shocked. This was an amazing follow up and a great conclusion. Snorri was not the bad guy like we were led to believe; it was Harold. He was a child of Loki, and he wasn't even the real Harold. No, he ate him so he could become him completely. He did the same with Saga and was going to do with same with Snorri, but got exposed before he could. He manipulated everyone. He orchestrated tragedies so he could then come in and be the hero so he could collect Unfated and gain their unwavering loyalty. He was a shapeshifter. He and Snorri both wanted Saga, but she loved Snorri and so he took on Snorri's shape which caused Bjorn to try to defend her with Tyr's fire, but it ultimately killed her, and he then pretended to be her for DECADES. The ghost that Freya was seeing was Saga, she was trying to help her all along. Harold tricked her into killing her own people and sending them to Hel's realm. Then he trapped her and Bjorn in some runes and left them to die after Bjorn killed Snorri and discovered Harold's trickery and truth. Then Ylva shows up, helps Bjorn get out, but leaves Freya to die. She goes to Hel's realm, sees her dead brother, apologizes, and gives the warriors a chance to get back to Odin's realm if they agree to fight for her, so she takes them out of Hel's realm because she has the power of Hel and she is the one that sent them there (this makes Hel mad but so what, she won't help against Harold since Loki is her brother) and they get out. Bjorn is in prison, about to be killed as a traitor. But then the bard shows up and finally sings her own song and realizes the truth. Before Bjorn is killed she performs and shows everyone the truth of Harold and his treachery. Bjorn doesn't die and he works to save everyone, but Harold disguises himself as Bjorn to trick Freya and it works for a little while, until he makes the mistake of saying he's cold. Freya and Bjorn battle him together and she takes him to Hel's realm. Saga holds him down there. Hiln shows up and helps Freya get out and she and Bjorn get married and decide to live a quite life and they are super bored. The book ends with a messenger from his brother, who is now laird, calling for aid from raiders, and they answer the call. This book had everything I could have wanted: action, adventure, love, battles, growth, and surprises. I will definitely be reading more from this author!