My heart! I laughed. I cried. I swooned. Dante and Alessa and the whole cast of characters were amazing!! I was not ready to say goodbye!

DNF'd at 20%

I tried really hard to get into this now that I've read the first book. But I just couldn't. It was a struggle to really get into book one and I had hopes that this one would be able to get me more invested. It didn't. I think after awhile I just didn't want to read it and kept putting it off. I did try and I like certain elements, but the historical theme and the characters just don't keep me invested enough.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC. This is my honest review.

I was excited to read THIS CURSED LIGHT since the first book's ending left us with a few interesting unanswered questions. I was also unsure whether this sequel (and finale!) would be as good as the first book, especially given it has to stick the landing when it comes to wrapping everything up. And overall, THIS CURSED LIGHT was a skillfully rendered sequel... despite the fact that book one remains my favorite of the duology.

Our knowledge of this fictional setting, including its lore and history, grows a fair bit in this installment. There's brand new places visited, for one thing, and there's also more revealed about the ghiotte and their part to play in this conflict between gods. Being able to enlarge the setting and set-up for a book series is always something I enjoy encountering, and this was well-done to be in line with the plot. And speaking of the plot, I was also quite hooked! The stakes are higher (namely the fate of the whole world & humanity is now in the hands of our two main characters), and new characters are introduced (which also means additional character relationship dynamics). These new elements are balanced well with the existing found family (I really adore this group!) and the aftermath of everything that occurred in the first book (both physical and emotional). And catching some ways that the plot mirrors (in a distorted way because it's unique to this book) the previous book was fun as well! I also thought that this book ended the series on a note that felt right for the story, though it does feel a tiny bit rushed.

But once again, it's the characters that really stood out for me in THIS CURSED LIGHT. Alessa is still a main point of view in this story; her struggles have now turned towards figuring out what her future holds and what she wants for herself. Her relationship with Dante is going through some growing pains, and while that's a sensible occurrence given 1) they've both changed after what they went through, 2) there's still a fear of being completely vulnerable and honest with another person, and 3) there are unavoidable secrets in some of the precarious situations they're in , it does lead to some frustrating moments to read. Still, it does make their relationship feel more real and relatable outside of the fantastical circumstances they find themselves a part of. It's great to see that Alessa retains some of my favorite character traits - namely bravery, selflessness, intelligence and a genuine care for other people; but it's also nice to see that she's still just a very human girl with all sorts of feelings.

It's pretty clear though that THIS CURSED LIGHT is giving us readers the chance to see Dante's side of the story in a more intimate way since he gets regular perspective chapters in the book. It's his turn to grapple with his trauma, history and identity, especially since he's confronted with obstacles at every turn (including suppressed feelings he doesn't want to address). Much like Alessa, my favorite things about Dante still remain true, but he too is also very clearly just a human boy also having some very real intense feelings about all of the things. And that made me want to give him a big hug (or shake him hard, it depends on the situation) as he worked his way through it all, which I was totally rooting for him to do.

Even though I do think the ending is a little rushed and there are some characters and world bits that could have been revealed less bluntly, HIS CURSED LIGHT is still overall an effectively written sequel and ending for this series that I enjoyed.

Super delayed review because I must have pushed the wrong button somewhere. Anyway! I felt this sequel was a bit stretched in terms of plot, but I enjoyed the unique world from This Vicious Grace and the characters so didn’t mind spending more time with them. A little risqué, but age-appropriately so (mostly bawdy jokes and innuendos). A memorable FMC. Overall, a pleasant summer read best enjoyed with a slice of lemon cake.,

3.75 Stars This book made this series, I would even say better than the first. It is fleshed out and while the first novel is needed for the development of the characters, this one makes them come to life.

3.75 starrs
I really enjoyed This Vicious Grace, and really enjoyed how this book wrapped things up. I do wish there had been more with the fighting the villain, as it didn't take up too much page time despite being talked about so much. But otherwise, a good conclusion!

I enjoyed the angst between Dante and Alessa, and did really like the characters, but had a hard time getting into this one. The second POV was a great addition. I would've loved this to be a standalone! I really loved the first one, so I'd still recommend this duology to YA fantasy fans.

3.5⭐️

I have to say I enjoyed the first book more. The writing felt a little more amateurish this time around. I did still enjoy the side characters and wanted to see how the final battle would go. Glad the FMC and MMC had a happy ending as well. Overall it was decent!

This Cursed Light is a great YA fantasy read. I loved This Vicious Grace, and this sequel was just as nice. It was fun to return to this rich world that Emily Thiede has created with this duology.

This Cursed Light picks up six months after the events of This Vicious Grace, and finds Dante and Alessa dealing with the aftermath. Dante has lost his powers and without them he can no longer touch Alessa without being hurt or worse. Dante convinces Alessa and her Fonte friends to travel to find his people, the ghiotte, in hopes that they might know a way to restore his powers.

Dante also wants to find the ghiotte, and try to convince them to join Alessa to battle an ancient evil. When Dante was dead, the goddess Dea told him that the god Crollo would be sending another attack soon. When they find the ghiotte, it’s not the warm welcome Dante was expecting. Dante, Alessa, and their group must earn their right to be in the ghiotte town of Perduta. They have to act fast because the final battle with the gods is fast approaching, and without the help of the ghiotte, they don’t stand a chance.

This Cursed Light built upon the world of the first book and did a great job of expanding it with new characters and places. I enjoyed seeing some of the existing characters get more fleshed out and it was fun meeting new characters. The magic system and mythology of this series is fantastic and I’m actually sad it was just two books. This one seemed a bit rushed towards the end so it could be finished. Overall I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend adding it to your TBR.

3.75 rounded up. It was perfectly fine! There were moments I loved, especially the beginning chapters and the epic battle at the end, but overall, it just wasn't "for me" in the same way This Vicious Grace was specifically for me. I still love these characters with my whole heart, and I look forward to reading whatever comes next from Emily!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, even if it took me ages to get to.

This is the second installment in Emily Thiede's Last Finestra series. You really do need to read the first in the series, This Vicious Grace, to understand what is going on. The book picks up with Alessia returning home to find a lot has changed since she began her journey. Dante has spent his time apart building a new life and trying to figure out who he is without his powers. Alessia and Dante spend the book trying to figure out how they can fit back into each other's lives.

I was glad to get Dante's point of view in the second book. This Vicious Grace was one of my favorite books last year and I was excited to pick up the next installment. I feel like it had a complete story and wrapped up things nicely. This was a little more angsty than I prefer but that's kind of to be expected in a YA book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Theide, and St Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #netgalley #stmartinspress #emilytheide #ThisCursedLight #TheLastFinestra

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This Cursed Light releases December 5, 2023

3.5

Following the events of the latest Divorando, Alessa, Dante, & Co. journey to find the exiled ghiotte after they receive warning of a time-sensitive attack coinciding with the eclipse.

I really enjoyed the change of setting and the built up tension between Alessa and Dante.
The dual perspectives and sense of found family with the other ghiotte and Fonti made for a strong second installment.

I hope this isn’t the last we see of these characters! I’d love a queer spin-off series focusing on Adrick/Kaleb and Talia/Kamaria.

I thought I would forget everything since it's been so long since I read This Vicious Grace - I read an arc back in 2021! I picked this up as my commute ebook and I don't know why it took me so long to pick up this sequel finally.
This was so funny exactly my type of humour, I was giggling out loud a few times. Alessa and Dante's banter was great!
I was a little confused about the world but was mainly here for the vibes.
I probably should have reread book 1 before diving into this one... I thought this was a satisfying conclusion to this world, but felt kind of long...
3.5 ~ 4 stars
arc provided by Netgalley

I had so much fun with this one! I enjoyed This Vicious Grace and enjoyed seeing this conclusion to our characters!

Was halfway through reading but ran out of time to finish it last year! What I read was amazing though

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. Review previously withheld in support of the pro-Palestine St. Martin’s Press reviewer boycott. All opinions are my own. 

This Cursed Light is a great conclusion to Emily Thiede’s debut duology, The Last Finestra, with an equal balance of wider political stakes and swoony romance. There’s a lot going on, with the story picking up six months after the end of the last book, and the story revolving around Alessa and Dante helping to assemble an army to take on the gods. The politics and strategizing in particular was a lot of fun, and it made for a fast-paced read, even with its high page count. 

The character work was also pretty great. Alessa has changed due to what she’s been through, with her mental health taking a massive hit. Dante also intrigued me a lot more, due to him being a POV character, and being more fleshed out as a result. Their relationship also felt more complex, with them not being able to touch due to him having lost his powers, but that translated into solid romantic tension. There’s definitely some miscommunication issues here, which can be irritating to have introduced with a dual-POV romance, but there was enough going on and high enough stakes for them, that I wasn’t as annoyed as I sometimes might be. 

 I enjoyed this book and series overall, and would recommend it to readers looking for YA fantasy romance.

This Cursed Light is the sequel to This Vicious Grace and concludes the Italian-inspired YA fantasy duology The Last Finestra. Alessa and Dante have saved their island and its people, but not without consequences. Instead of getting their happy ever after, Dante has lost his power and is plagued by nightmares of another final apocalypse sent by their gods while Alessa senses a growing darkness within herself. Believing he must locate the exiled ghiotte to form a complete army, Dante enlists Alessa and the other Fonti and Finestra on a mission to recruit his long lost people before it’s too late.

Emily Thiede is amazing at creating authentic relationships in romance and just like the first book, I was so obsessed with this world. The way the main couple navigates their trials in this book is truly refreshing. Despite facing apocalyptic threats and constant external chaos, they manage to maintain open, honest communication. This stands in sharp contrast to many contemporary romances where even thirty-year-olds struggle with basic conversations. Watching these teenagers handle their relationship with such maturity is a poignant reminder of what genuine communication looks like.

I deeply connected with Alessa and her internal struggles, however, as the book illustrates, sometimes letting go of those we love is the best choice. While the romance at the heart of the novel is exceptional, the world-building felt somewhat lacking. I might not have recalled all the details from the first book, but I struggled to grasp the significance of the final battle and the stakes for Alessa until the very end. This left me feeling that the plot was more of an in-depth look at the couple's relationship dynamics than a gripping narrative. I also found the secret-keeping between Alessa and Dante a bit challenging to follow.

On a lighter note, the book’s humor was a delightful surprise. Even amidst the intense and serious themes, there were moments of levity that made me laugh, giggle, or even gasp in surprise. As someone who enjoys a good pun, I particularly appreciated the witty banter between characters. Their conversations, whether about their feelings or playful jokes about pirate ships, added a charming layer to the story and made the characters feel genuinely relatable. This book was an absolute joy to read and solidifies Emily Thiede as one of my new favorite authors.

I wasn’t ready to bid farewell to Alessa and her world. I resonated so deeply with her journey that I found it hard to let go.

*Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved the first book, and the second was just as good! The romance in these books is amazing, and you can't help but love Dante and Alessa 🩵 The fantasy/world building is so fun, and there is a lot of action to keep you Interested! The side characters are some of my favorites and they all have trauma they need to deal with.

Read if you enjoy:
• fantasy / folklore
• found families
• strong female lead
• intense magic
• forbidden love
• great side characters

I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book.

Thoughts: I want to preface this review by saying I absolutely loved This Vicious Grace. I read that book and I did not stop talking about it for almost a month after I read it. Needless to say, I was very excited about this book and my expectations were very high.

I was truly ambivalent about the first 50% of this book. I think that I struggled with the secret-keeping that was going on between Alessia and Dante. In the first book, you see them come together and collaborate on how to win a war. Now that they have won the battle for some reason I am supposed to believe that Alessia isn't as sure as Dante that things are unfinished and that they need to keep secrets from the other in the guise of keeping the other safe. It was a lot of emotional withholding and given the investment I already had in the characters from the first book a little frustrating.

That being said, I did enjoy that this book focused more on Dante and his history and perspective. It was a nice reflection of Alessia's story in the first book and it helped to endear me to the character further. Although I did expect that the search for his group of people would take a bit longer than it did in the plot it was nice to see a new cast of characters that were supportive of Dante, whereas, in the first book, he was very much an outsider. I also did think that a few of the instances with his family were a bit cliche, but Theide did convey their mutual love for one another.

The final 50% of this book really captured my attention and reminded me of all the things that I loved about the first book. The interplay between characters, the danger, the hope of survival. I cried at certain parts of the ending. Certain Godly aspects of the ending were a bit zany, but within the context of the world that Theide constructed did make sense to the plot.

I did not enjoy this book as much as the first one in the series, but I do think that this book did justice to the characters and the overall story. I would recommend this book. It's got adventure, romance, danger, political intrigue, and a cat.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Classism, and Deportation

*eARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I was hopeful for this sequel, but it really fell flat. Some series need to be standalones.

Plot- felt very weak
Characters- Same cast as before, but with different issues,