I really enjoyed this one and am a little upset that I left it on my shelf this long. But, the good news is that I'll get to read the next book and not have to wait for it to come out. This is a new adult book following the books protagonist Alessa. Alessa is deemed a divine savior of sorts but the catch is that she is supposed to save her island from a divine attack by funneling another's power. Her problem so far is that anyone she touches she can kill and her first three attempts at finding someone's power to funnel has resulted in three funerals. As you might guess this is making people a little nervous.

This book deals with the importance of connection, feeling seen, and also human touch. I work in a hospital and I recently had a patient that said he lived alone and rarely got to see people. He said one of the nice things about being in the hospital and doing physical therapy was that he was able to touch people. It was heartbreaking and really stuck with me, so when Alessa came along, I felt for her even more.

I can’t believe this novel—the first in a new series— is Thiede’s DEBUT novel. An incredible story based in a fantasy, Italian-inspired realism, it is told from the perspective of the Finestra, Alessa, who is expected to ascend to power with the assistance of her partner, or Fonte, but Alessa can’t stop accidentally killing her Fontes. And that’s a huge problem. Her power can’t be controlled and it seems like she just might end up losing everything. She cannot fulfill her birthright without her Fonte, which means she won’t be able to save her people from the impending doom that history foretells.

Enter, Dante. Found in the slums of the city, these hard-edge street fighter sparks something in Alessa. Below his solid, cold exterior, she seems hints of something good buried deep within him. She’s in desperate need of protection and the only way she can ensure her safety is to hire someone outside of the Citadel. Dante provides all the answers that she’s looking for. However, no matter how much Alessa tries to truly understand him, she can’t seem to get to the core of who he truly is. The secrets that he hides keep him walled off from everyone around him. Alessa trusts blindly—could he be her greatest asset, or will he be the source of her demise?

Gods, magic, romance, touches that kill, impending apocalypse, there’s nothing more needed here. Excellently written prose, gorgeous setting, incredible world-building, enchanting characters, and forbidden romance? Yes please! I’m all for this series, and I can’t wait to see where it’s going next. My biggest complaint is that I have to wait for book 2!

This book was an entirely unique fantasy tale that dealt with themes of grief, isolation, sacrifice, and what it means to love selflessly. The characters are well-rounded and believable, and the ending was a twist I did not see coming. Absolutely recommend for fantasy lovers of all ages!

this was an interesting read! I really liked the banter between Alessa and Dante and I thought the characters were pretty well fleshed out. I wasn’t as invested in the plot though but I do think I will be reading the sequel!

I really enjoyed the storyline in world building in the novel. I also really liked the characters. I thought this was a solid read, and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

I wholeheartedly recommend this amazingly crafted, emotionally moving, action-packed fantasy novel to any reader. The world-building, coupled with the rich culture and language, provides a beautiful backdrop, and the writing is captivating.

Alessa, the female main character, resonated with me deeply. I loved how she was able to still have humor despite everything that is happening, it makes her a compelling character. I also loved how grumpy Dante was. His honest and straightforward approach, coupled with an intriguing and heart-wrenching backstory, makes his relationship with Alessa feel authentic and genuine – a dynamic that I thoroughly loved. I especially loved their banter and interactions.

Literally no one talks about this book, and I am offended by that. I loved the setting, the characters, the world-building. Just everything!!

This Vicious Grace was such a lovely romantasy, I had such a fun time reading this. Alessa and Dante absolutely gave what they were supposed to give and I know a lot of people didn't love that there wasn't much of a plot beyond the romance but I ate it up. I'm looking forward to the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fascinating premise! I did find the pacing a bit distracting, as it wasn't all that consistent, with some real infodumping especially around the worldbuiling - though I must say, very immersive. And the side characters could definitely have used a bit more depth and development. Still, a fun read!

Rating : 4 out of 5
Blurbs :
Emily Thiede's exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, the first in The Last Finestra duology, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa’s gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill every suitor she touches.

Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island’s only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.

Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante’s dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?

Thoughts :
A pretty solid debut book! I'm very very interested and into this whole plot. Love Alessa and Dante! Thanks Netgalley for the early copy!

While I did enjoy the audio of This Vicious Grace, I felt like the romance aspect of the story was pushed at the expense of the magic system. I wanted more of Alessa training for the looming war and taking on her role as The Chosen One instead of chasing Dante. For me, I missed the fantasy elements of the story but if you are a fan of romantasy that leans heavily on the romance, you will like this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The characters in this story were like a well-oiled machine! Alessa, our leading lady, starts off with a severe case of self-doubt, but boy, does she overcome it. She's your classic YA protagonist, chosen by destiny and wielding incredible powers. But, let's be real, who doesn't love that? The secondary characters had some meat on their bones too, making them feel more human and less like cardboard cutouts. The love story was written with care and didn't feel rushed or forced. The chemistry between the characters was so intense, I could almost feel the sparks flying!

Now, let's talk about the big battle scene. Yeah, it was a bit of a letdown. The writing didn't quite nail the tension, and I found my thoughts wandering. I mean, the whole book was building up to this moment, but it felt like a dud. I also felt that the urgency of the situation was mentioned but not really felt. Maybe a countdown wasn't enough to keep me on the edge of my seat? Regardless, the characters were so charming that I still enjoyed the ride.

I DNF'd this book as it just wasn't my style. The writing was good, but just didn't capture my attention right away. It, overall, felt very predictable and the fantasy element was almost overshadowed completely by the romance element. I typically LOVE romance but in fantasy I feel that it shouldn't compete with the fantasy element otherwise I would just read contemporary romance.

I don't know why I put off reading this for so long because it was *so* good! Exactly my favorite kind of YA fantasy with a healthy dash of forbidden romance.

The characters were engaging and sympathetic and felt like real people. Even the side characters had distinct personalities and felt real.

I wasn't sure about the plot at first but in the end I loved it. I can't wait to read the next one.

The audiobook was performed beautifully and the narrator really breathed life into the characters.

I liked the touch of having all of the proverbs be in what I am assuming to be Spanish (or its equivalent) and then translated. It somehow made the story more immersive. Also Dante's tendency to have a proverb for every situation was charming and an excellent detail.

I loved seeing Alyssa learn to finally trust her power and not be afraid of it as the book progresses. Even though it seems at first to bring nothing but death and destruction.

Alyssa's posse of Fontes were funny and added needed comic lightness to the tenser moments.

And everything about Alyssa and Dante's relationship was perfection. Their banter, their grudging tolerance of each other that morphed into fiery attraction, their trust in one another. Absolute peak romance.

That final reveal made me even more intrigued to continue the story.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an early copy for review.

This Vicious Grace follows Alessa, a young girl singled out by the gods to save the people on her island. Alessa's gift is supposed to work in tandem with a partner so that she can be the weapon that saves her people, but instead, she kills everyone she touches. Alessa has already killed three suitors and her people are turning on her. Alessa becomes desperate to prove that she is going to save her island...she just has to do it in her own way.

This Vicious Grace sounds like a few other YA books so I was hesitant going in. I ended up really enjoying this story for it's magic system, characters, and Italian inspired world. While the magic might seem familiar, This Vicious Grace was more unique than I expected it to be. I really enjoyed the friendships and the romance Alessa finds throughout this book.

I wouldn't say this is the best book ever, but it is definitely and enjoyable YA fantasy with a great romance component.

I loved, loved, loved this romantic fantasy. This is a tale of power, love, forgiveness, staying true to who you are, and going against the norm. This book was full of great characters and a PG-13, steamy romance. Once I got a couple of chapters in, I couldn’t put this delicious book down. I hate that I have to wait four more months before the next book comes out.

This book caught me by surprise! Magic and Fantasy with romance sign me up! The world building is fantastic! At some points some of the stories were a bit confusing and a lot but easily kept reading. It is the first book of two so it was a little bit heavy with information. Alessa and Dante were just perfect! I can’t wait for the second book!

I was torn between 3 or 4 stars but had to go with 3 because of how long it took for me to get into this. I wasn’t fully invested until around half way through however, This Vicious Grace was beautifully written and the pacing was perfect. I really liked both Dante and Alessa. The romance was honestly the best part for me - the banter and chemistry between them was absolutely amazing!
I wish there had been a bit more world-building but the ending sets up very nicely for more so I am excited to see where this series will go!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Loved the romance aspect of this book and felt like that was well written, love the witty back and forth banter that the two MC’s had.

I feel like the rest of it was just okay. Could’ve used more world building and some “before” scenes maybe. That would’ve fleshed things out more and made the world it’s set in not feel so far away.

honestly surprised that most of this worked for me. was dante a little too stereotypical moody broody for me? yeah. but the prose was decent for a debut and the story made sense