Unfortunately this sequel just didn't work for me. I absolutely loved the first book, but as with many sequels these days, I just didn't feel the same way. I felt a lot of characters lost their spark. The banter between the two leads lost its luster, which was such a bright light in the first book. The prose was still beautiful, but the tension seemlingly disappeared. Everything was resolved too neatly for my liking.

This vicious grace was one of my final reads of last year. I was so excited for this sequel and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the plot, meeting my favourite characters again and the compelling twists. Following Dante and Alessa as they navigated their relationship and their own struggles was engaging and seeing their individual character development was rewarding. The romance was so swoony and the battle scenes were not confusing (which was lovely because it is easy for some authors to lose me in them sometimes). This is definitely a satisfying sequel and finale to a great series. I definitely recommend that you pick it up if you are a fan of YA romantasy books.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, but I ADORED the second one. We pick up where we left off with our heroes trying to solve problems that have been around for a long time! It has the perfect balance of adventure, romance, and danger.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2023. And I think my expectations were way too high.

First of all, the plot was too similar to This Vicious Grace. I wanted it to dive deeper and to get more epic and tense. It didn't feel tense to me at all. And once again, the villain is so removed from the story that there's no tension besides an impending deadline. I liked this plot in This Vicious Grace, but it felt too repetitive and lackluster in This Cursed Light.

I also was disappointed with the romance. Alessa and Dante lost all their witty banter and their loyalty to each other. There was too much arguing for my tastes, and it felt like they were either mad at each other or lusting. I missed their old relationship!

I also was annoyed with the dialogue in general. It felt immature, especially with all the innuendos. The dialogue felt young adult, but the innuendos felt out of place. I also didn't love the side characters as much, and their dialogue came off as too cheesy for me.

In my opinion, I wished This Vicious Grace had been a standalone. There really is no need to continue their story with this sequel, and I think I'll pretend that this one doesn't exist. Maybe my expectations were just too high for this. I hope it finds readers who love it more than I did!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3
Plot/Movement: 2
Character Development: 2
Overall: 2

Thank you, Wednesday Books and NetGalley, for the arc!
Release Date: December 5, 2023

Trigger/Content Warnings: a couple brief open door scenes, fighting violence and death, swearing

I could say so much about this book. Dante and Alessa will always hold a special place in my heart. This story is all about family, healing, love, and so much more. I can’t recommend this enough, even without going too far into details to remain spoiler-free since this is the second book in the duology. I will say that if you are a fan of romance against all odds, self-discovery, and beautiful, witty writing, then this book is for you.

An absolutely stunning conclusion to the Last Finestra duology.

I will provide public feedback when St. Martin's Press addresses the recent actions of its marketing team on social media.

The sequel to "This Vicious Grace" takes place six months after the end of that book, and focuses on Alessa and Dante's search for the giotte to fight the (next) upcoming battle and hopefully restore Dante's powers. The setting remains strong, an Italian-inspired fantasy world, but I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first. Thiede does a good job alternating between Alessa and Dante's POVs as they each work through their individual past traumas, but the magic I felt between these two in book one was nowhere to be found here. They were way too angsty about each other and I missed their stellar book one banter and chemistry. I could have used a little less drama and worrying and more time with all the really enjoyable side characters. Also, the huge battle the book is leading up to is a major letdown - I think I was at 90% before it even started! I hope that Thiede writes some books or at least short stories featuring her side characters, as I will definitely come back for those. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for a digital review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed being back in this world, though I was having some difficulty remembering some of what happened in the first book. I think ET did a good job of referencing past scenes without detailing too much and I found myself remembering what was probably the most important parts.

But I'm having mixed feeling about this sequel. It started off pretty entertaining and I was intrigued by the storyline that was going to unfold, but the whole middle of the book just sagged for me. And I didn't end up connecting to this story half as much as the first. The writing felt very surface level with very little development. It felt like I was reading a play-by-play of what was happening without any of the emotion.

I enjoyed the end once everyone really started working together, but I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Since everything was very surface level for me, I can't tell if the ending was just an easy way out or if that was what was supposed to happen considering Dea and her godly mechanizations.

Overall, the characters were very enjoyable and I liked the overall teachings that this book was trying to impart, but it fell a little short for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this earc

I’ll start with the fact that I absolutely loved book one and couldn’t wait to read the sequel

Sadly, the sequel didn’t bring out the same feelings in me as the first book did.
The relationship between the main characters definitely felt off. Don’t get me wrong. I understand that they had to find they way back to each other. But they just lied so each other so much. Like Alessa’s blackouts. And Dante not really having his magic back.

The plot for this book also fell flat for me. Everything just felt a little too convenient. Exactly, the couldn’t find any ghiotte for years but it took Dante asking one person and there they are. They had a date when the big batter would happen? Just weird. Dante lost his powers but don’t worry. They got magic waters to fix that. Every time there was an issue, the fix came way too easily.

The ghiotte is no better. They barely let them in but then forgave all the lying? Didn’t feel right.

I also wasn’t a huge fan how every person had to be paired up with someone. Again, going back to everything just falling into place.

After the first book, which kept you on your toes the whole time, book two was very predictable and left very little to chance.

I didn't really enjoy the first book in the series, but was really hoping the second would win me over because I really do love the concept of this series... Sadly, that was not the case.

While I had a good time reading the first book in this duology, I found myself quickly losing steam with this book. While the prose is equally as well written and smooth as the first book, the general sense of the story feels much younger on the YA spectrum than the beginning of the story. It fell into more predictable traps and typical YA holes, which ultimately took a unique story and made it fairly run of the mill. The surprises were easy to guess and made the story feel like it wasn't heading anywhere exciting.

That being said, there were a lot of elements that I enjoyed, particularly the whole Dante and Alessa being unable to touch and building that tension between them. It added a nice extra layer to their relationship and kept me invested in seeing them through to the end. I also love a good queer found family, and being able to dig into Dante's backstory was very entertaining.

All in all I think this book is doing some things pretty well but not doing enough to really sell the whole package. As someone who has read a ton of fantasy, this one didn't stick out for me personally. The few bits and pieces that I liked weren't enough to really get me invested, but I can see younger audiences who are just finding their love of fantasy books really enjoying this duology. I'd give this a 2.5 for my own personal tastes, but I'll round up to a 3.

Thank you to St. Martians Press and Netgalley for the gifted eARC.

This is the second book in The Last Finestra series. While I didn’t wholly enjoy the first book I was rooting the the second one to put a little more skin into the game.

In this book we got to have multiple points of view which is refreshing. We also got more of Dante’s backstory which was nice. But I wasn’t a fan of how Dante’s and Alessa’s relationship progressed, it kind of annoyed me.

The first book wrapped up the major plot issue, they defeated the evil. But I’m wondering if this book was really needed. Overall I wasn’t thrilled with it sadly.

This Cursed Light is a fast-paced and intense conclusion to The Last Finestra duology. The story follows Alessa and Dante six months after the end of the first book as they search for the ghiotte to create an army that can win the upcoming war and, hopefully, restore Dante’s lost powers. With a darkness growing inside Alessa, secrets, lies, and an impending battle looming, danger is ever-growing and ever-present, and Alessa and Dante are tested at every turn.

I like that the story gives both Alessa’s and Dante’s perspectives in this book. Where the first book was more Alessa’s story, in this book we learn so much more about Dante’s character, and I like that the chapters switch perspectives. Alessa and Dante are such great characters, and their physical and emotional journey both individually and together are intense! However, I missed the proverbs that began each chapter in This Vicious Grace. I felt like those added so much to the story and was kind of disappointed they weren’t continued in this book.

The romance between Alessa and Dante is a main focus of this book, as the characters face major turmoil in their relationship. I loved the romance and the push and pull between them. The chemistry is every bit as electric and intense as it is in the first book. There’s definitely a shift in their relationship as the couple gets used to their new life, deal with issues of self-worth and fear of rejection, and face some other harsh realities. It’s interesting to see how they handle all of these new obstacles now that their dynamics have changed. Like the first book, both characters are forced to make life or death decisions, and the pair rarely has a minute to themselves, though they definitely take advantage of it when they do!

One of my favorite parts of the story is the found family element Alessa and Dante have with many of the dynamic side characters. Alessa and Dante travel with an amazing and loyal group, and seeing them support each other and stand in solidarity really highlights the themes of friendship and loyalty. I’d love to see a spin-off that focuses on some of these characters.

The world-building is strong too, and I enjoy Thiede’s immersive writing style. It’s so easy to visualize the world and characters, and though I didn’t love the ending and predicted a couple of the twists, it was overall an entertaining conclusion to the duology. Thanks to Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Alessa and Dante did it- they defeated the evil threatening their island. Yet their victory has come at a terrible cost. Dante barely escaped death and finds himself without his powers. While Alessa tries to help, she has her own struggles to deal with. Can their romance survive the traumatic events they went through? Soon, it becomes clear that the evil is spreading to other islands. Dante and Alessa must work together to rally their friends for one last epic battle.

This Cursed Light is a fantastic conclusion to The Last Finestra duology. I really enjoyed This Vicious Grace, but I loved This Cursed Light even more! Readers already know and love these characters, so the interactions are filled with even more heart and humor. In this book, the worldbuilding was expanded and interesting details were woven in. The writing was filled with witty banter and simply hilarious. I found myself highlighting multiple funny quotes and romantic sections.

Dante and Alessa’s romance is so heartfelt and I loved that we got to see what their romance looks like after the villains have been defeated (or so they think). They are both compelling characters who will do anything to protect the people they care about. I really loved seeing more about Dante’s past and what it means to have always been treated as different. The side characters are incredible! I particularly enjoyed Kaleb and Adrick’s relationship and character growth.

I would highly recommend this duology, especially for fans of Allison Saft and Rebecca Ross. I’m looking forward to seeing what Emily Thiede writes next! Thank you to Emily Thiede, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

A very solid follow-up and an HEA for the duology as a whole. I really enjoyed getting Dante's perspective and understanding his character on a much deeper level, and the queer found family surrounding the two MCs continues to be a delight. The main apocalypse plot and the resolution felt a little muddled to me and not quite up to the established stakes, but the epilogue was so cozy and a perfect note to end on.

I absolutely adored the first one, and while my memory of it was a bit fuzzy, this book definitely weaves in reminders seamlessly, so I think both people who haven't read the first one in a long time and those who just picked it up right after finishing the first one will both be able to read it without feeling confused or bogged down.

This Cursed Light picks up several months after Divorando, and while Dante is physically healed, he still doesn't have his ghiotte powers which is impacting his mental state negatively. Meanwhile Alessa is dealing with the aftermath of touching a scarabeo and there's a darkness creeping in her mind. Dante's still seeing visions from Dea, so they gather the gang to find the ghiotte stronghold and fight the final battle against Crollo.

This book is so good. I will say there's a lot of melodrama in here, but it makes sense and isn't pointless. There were a couple of miscommunication issues which are not my favorite. I love Alessa and Dante as a couple, and though Dante has softened, he still keeps that grumpy exterior we all know and love. Some of the quotes... I am a puddle of lovesick goo on the floor🫠

The gang is still great, the found family is strong here--they add needed levity to the whole "the world is ending" plotline.

I called some of the twists and turns, but that's not necessarily a bad thing! Some reveals just didn't shock me as intended.

My one pet peeve is that some of the language used is a bit too... modern? It felt a bit jarring to go from this land of no electricity and dresses and no technology to hear some descriptions that didn't fit with the implied time period. The ending was also a bit rushed, and I wanted to know if Kaleb and Alessa got a divorce/annulment? Was Dea giving them hints to save Alessa, or did that count as going against the terms of the bargain? Did Blaise live? Will Dante get some therapy? Will everyone get some therapy??

I cannot express how excited I was for this book, and the scream I scrumpt when I received this e-arc. I don't think this is a totally unbiased review because I really loved the first one! Regardless, I really loved this duology and it will always have a very special place in my heart.

Thank you so very, very much to Netgalley and the publisher for graciously allowing me to get my grubby little hands on this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

Very mixed emotions about this one.

I will say this: I liked it, but I feel like it was an unnecessary sequel.

This book was just okay in most areas to me. Like it was didn't have me dying to read more, or excited to see the ending. I felt very meh about it. To be honest, I didn't LOVE the first book, but I did enjoy it enough to the point where I was interested in reading this title as well. I feel like if you didn't LOVE the first one, you won't enjoy this one. This story and its characters are an investment that I couldn't bring myself to make. And I just couldn't get myself to connect to the plot. The overall writing was good, but I did think the pacing dragged. I just had a very meh feeling about this book.

Personally, I don't think it was the book's fault. I really do think it was because I didn't love this series. This wasn't one of those series I was crazy about. The book itself is good, and it does provide a decent conclusion to this duology. I don't think this sequel was the best fit for me as a reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Overall Rating 3.5/5

in this sequel to this vicious grace, we follow alessa and dante six months after the events of the previous book as they search for other ghiotte to create an army and hopefully restore dante’s powers.

this vicious grace easily became an all-time favorite of mine last year, and i have not-so-patiently been awaiting this sequel since. the angst in the last book was one of my favorite parts about it, and that was definitely not missing from this one! because dante’s powers were gone, he and alessa couldn’t touch, which of course led to lots of tension.

we also got to know dante a lot more in this book since his pov was included! i already loved him, but it was so great to get to know him even more.

overall, this was such a satisfying sequel, and although i’m sad to say goodbye, i loved going on this journey and can’t wait to read whatever emily thiede writes next.

This Cursed Light was a wonderful and beautiful conclusion to the Last Finestra duology. I adored this book and enjoyed every minute.

This Cursed Light picks up a few months after the events in This Vicious Grace, shortly after Divorando, where Alessa and her Fonti successfully battled the scarabei. The day was won, but not everyone came back from the battle unscathed. Dante's ghiotte powers seemed to have disappeared, and it has been difficult for him to accept losing such an integral part of his personality. Alessa is ready to pass on the powers of the finestra, wanting a simple life with Dante and her new found friends. But Dante is receiving visions, dreams, suggesting the Crollo is not done with them just yet, and they must seek out the remaining ghiotte who have gone into hiding if they wish humanity to survive what is to come. Will Alessa and Dante risk it all to save the world, even if it means losing each other?

This was a really beautiful conclusion to this fantastic YA series. I loved This Vicious Grace, and I felt that This Cursed Light was a perfect companion and conclusion to this duology. While This Vicious Grace followed Alessa and her struggle as finestra and the lead up to the Divorando, This Cursed Light is primarily Dante's story, and follows the team as they seek out the remaining ghiotte. Dante is struggling with the loss of his healing gift, and the strain it is causing on his relationship with Alessa. Meanwhile Alessa struggles with her own darkness since the battle, and worries about what will happen with these new and fragile relationships if she exposes the truth. The team travels to new lands in this story, which is an exciting change of pace, and we get to see the friendships between Alessa and her fonti grow deeper. It is also really wonderful to see how gaining the acceptance of the ghiotte affects Dante for the better, having been considered an outcast for most of his life in Saverio. It was fun to see some new characters too, like Talia and Matteo, as we learn more about the ghiotte and Dante's past.

The love between Dante and Alessa is at the heart of this story. Their love for each other is clear, but they also struggle to feel worthy of each other. Both Dante and Alessa experience a lot of growth and some hard lessons in this book, but their support and care for each other really shines.

Overall, I thought This Cursed Light was a really wonderful and engaging conclusion to The Last Finestra duology. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Duets are difficult to finish at times, they fall into tropes we readers see often in short series (e.g., “I’m not good enough for you” trope). While this trope does have its place in fiction, I wish it wasn’t a predominant theme in this book. I also wish there had been a little more to the villains.

Overall a very enjoyable series!