This Vicious Grace was one of my top reads of 2022 and I was super excited for this sequel. Unfortunately, due to the lack of response to St. Martin's Press for the racist, Islamophobic, and queerphobic comments made by one of their employees I cannot review this title.

I tried holding off on sending this "review" to give SMP time to do the right thing in response to this boycott, but I can't have this continuing to hurt my feedback ratio when it's out of my control.

I still love this author who had no control over their imprint's actions, and am upset that SMP would rather hurt their own credibility and authors rather than take accountability.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED the first book in this duology. I have read it 2-3 times already. I really think it could have wrapped up stunningly in the last book, and didn't love the bit that led into book two.

It was glorious returning to this world and the characters. I loved them. However, again, I felt it slightly unnecessary. It was not my favorite... It felt slightly more juvenile. But I will re-read book one a bunch more times... hahah

This was a really great ending to this duology! This Vicious Grace was a strong book, one of my favorites the year it came out, so the sequel had some high expectations to meet, and I feel that overall it did meet them well. We got to stay invested in our favorite characters, while meeting some new fun characters. There was a lot of romantic drama, with so many wonderful Alessa and Dante moments especially. For me Dante especially came out strong, Seeing his honest struggle with his identity and ghosts from his past was done so well, the best part of the story for me. In addition to romance and identity crises, there's also a new war to prepare for, with secrets and betrayals that could put everything at risk. I wouldn't say the way it ended was the biggest shock, but there were some things about it I didn't expect, and overall I think it was a great conclusion. I can't wait to see what Emily Thiede comes up with next!

It took a bit for me to settle into this book. I thought I'd jump right back into it because I was eager to see where book two would lead. Unfortunately, it felt a little sluggish to me at first. However, once it kicked in, I was pulled into the storyline and happily hooked.

It was fun to be back with the characters I'd grown to both love and some who I didn't necessarily like. All of the characters are well developed - - not just the main ones. In this book, there's a new batch of problems to deal with. Dante and Alessa are trying to figure out how to carry on with their relationship when her kiss is now potentially deadly to him. They also believe the world is in dire trouble again but no one else believes them. Forcing them to search for a solution on their own.

This book is a clever and worthy sequel to the first. It's inventive in its own way and had some unique and original twists that I didn't see coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

(Actual: 3.5⭐) I really loved the first installment of this series, so I was very excited to be approved for the ARC for its sequel. Alessa, Dante, and the romance between them felt like one of the cornerstones of Book 1/TVG, so I was a bit disappointed to see them reduced at times to petty arguments and useless banter in this installment. If a series continues after the main couple gets together, my hope (and one of the things I look for when reading) is that their relationship continues to GROW and be expanded upon, both positively and negatively, as opposed to the couple regressing. I also didn't care much about the myriad of side characters thrown our way - like, I just didn't have a reason to, so I didn't lol. That said, this book does wrap up its predecessor's plot points and characters arcs by the end in a passable way - I do wish it was slightly more satisfying to feel for me as a reader, but I digress - I'm just happy the ending didn't do a nose dive. I'd still recommend this duology out to others, and am excited for what the author puts forth in the future!

I unfortunately dnfed this title pretty early on. I could not get into the story as it felt disconnected from the first book and life is too short to read books that you don't like. Thank you for the opportunity!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This Cursed Light is the second installment within The Last Finestra series. Just like the first one, I absolutely loved everything about Dante and Alessa. Well, when they were communicating or flirting with one another. I'll admit that if they didn't keep things secretive or hidden most of the time, they would've had less problems to solve. Especially with the whole battle hanging over their heads.

Still, I was pretty excited to finally meet more of Dante's people. The ghiotte's didn't disappoint one bit. Sure, some were a bit harder to convince that they were all on the same side. When things were finally getting better, I was really happy because it seemed like hearts were mending for everyone involved. Alessa couldn't be held accountable for how they were all treated before she became the Finestra. It just didn't make sense to me.

Other than that, I went through a mini emotional roller coaster ride towards the end of this book. I wasn't prepared for what was coming even though I had a feeling it was going to come. It was hard to accept but I was pleasantly surprised with what happened next. In the end, I'm really happy I got the chance to read this, and I can't wait for everyone else to fall in love with this series.

While it was wonderful being back in Emily's world. I feel like this book was just meh. Everything wrapped up nicely, but it was just OK. I wouldn't NOT recommend it but I am not going nuts to recommend it.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There's so much I want to say about this book but need to think some more. For now, I'm just thankful I could gush over Dante and the writing directly to the author during our chat! chat! The story was sweet, amusing, vulnerable. Emily Thiede has found her flow in YA in it's amazing! I can't praise this romantic fantasy enough.

I hope more people pick up this duo, it really is a hidden gem and super underrated. Her prose and humor is the best and I had the best time watching Dante and Alessa's love bloom. I will return to update my review!

This was a great sequel! I love these characters and this unique story and can’t wait to read more from this author.

I did not realize that this book was a sequel. I will come back to do a proper review on this one after I read the first book.

This one was a decent sequel to This Vicious Grace. A very atmospheric read, like the first one, but it did leave me wanting more. You go through a WILD RIDE of ups and downs as relationships crumble and thrive at times. I did prefer the first one, but still a good read to finish the series.

{3.5 stars}

The first book of this series was pretty by the book light fantasy, I enjoyed it but wasn't wow-ed. That said, I was interested in seeing it through. I'm glad that I did. I liked Alessa a lot more than book one. There was a lot more character work than there was plot.

The ending brought this one down for me. I did not need the last chapter or epilogue. Not every book needs that kind of resolution.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

I will not be reviewing as SMP has failed to speak out against the racist actions of their employee.

After saving their city from scarabei hordes, Alessa and Dante travel to search for others like him who can win the next war.

The change in setting was refreshing - seeing such a different culture in this world kept things interesting.

The dynamic between Alessa and Dante evolved nicely after the will-they-won't-they in the first book. So many times I find relationships get boring after they finally get together, but that doesn't happen here. Their banter and tension stay golden.

In this reading landscape of so many romantasy trilogies, this duology was a breath of fresh air. The story didn't need another book, and I'm glad the author brought it to a satisfying end.

We need more duologies in the world.

4/5 stars

This series was ok for me. I did have a slightly hard time following along with this book. I think if you like a slower paced book this would be for you! I wasn't fully connected with all the new characters but this may be for you!

This was one of my most anticipated books last year, and it did NOT disappoint! This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede is the follow up book in The Last Finestra duology. Dante and Alessa have been apart for several months while he recovers from his injuries at the end of book one, and she tours the continent seeing the damage wrought by their war. Both Alessa and Dante are battling their own inner demons and have forgotten what made them so strong in the first book: working together.

I love that this book is dual POV. While we spend a majority of time in Alessa’s, Dante’s is an added bonus. We learn so much about him, his life as a ghiotte, and the struggles he feels after the events of This Vicious Grace. Dante’s powers of healing are gone, used up in saving Alessa and then her turning around to save him from death. Death haunts his movements. Little injuries seem big to him as he copes with living a normal life. But a normal life also means giving up the person he loves.

Alessa is oblivious to Dante’s inner turmoil at first as she deals with her own. Her mind is preoccupied with all the death and destruction that occurred at the end of book one and nightmares of Dante’s death, even though he is now living and breathing next to her. Learning of his predicament is heartbreaking for her. She has been alone, no one allowed to touch her for so long, and now her powers are just as strong as before and have not disappeared as promised. How can she live with herself if she causes Dante pain?

While they both are keeping these thoughts to themselves, not sharing with each other or their friends, Alessa and Dante heed the warning both have received from the gods: a new threat is coming and if they are to stop it, they will need the help of the ghiotte. The only problem is no one has seen a ghiotte in years. They were thought extinct or exiled until Dante showed up. The plot of this story follows Alessa, Dante, and their friends as they track down the ghiotte and hopefully find a solution to Dante’s problem and by extension Alessa’s. And maybe save the realm again too.

Overall, I really loved This Cursed Light! I read it in just a few days. Alessa and Dante are fantastic MCs to follow and root for. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug them as they lived heartbreak alone, refusing to share it with each other or their friends. Miscommunication plays a big role in the conflict between them in this book, which to be honest kind of sucks considering how well they communicated and worked together in This Vicious Grace. If you are a fan of YA fantasy, I highly recommend this one. Exciting and heartbreaking with a satisfying ending!

Thank you so much Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Publishing and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of This Cursed Light to read and review!

*3.75 stars, rounded up*

As a romance book, this book was top-tier. If you're into blushing and heart-wrenching romance, then this is the book for you. However, if you're looking for a fantasy book, this is . . . meh. While I loved the introduction of the ghiotte and the gods warring once again (though Dea and Crollo are NEVER really fleshed out, despite the world expanding), it seemed like the romance was what the story centered around rather than saving the world. While I liked the continued romance between Dante and Alessa, I missed the witt, sass, and humor that made me fall in love with them in the first book (it didn't help that they fell into my second most-hated trope: miscommunication).

That being said, as a romance lover, I enjoyed this book! I loved that it talked about many themes like the nuances of love, believing in yourself, finding who you are outside of your abilities, struggling with trauma after a life-changing event, and the importance of friendship and loyalty.

I also really liked that Thiede included Dante's POV in this (it was refreshing, and I liked to see him working through his mental/physical trauma along with Alessa after Divorando). I want to clarify, this was VERY much Dante's book.

However, as a fantasy book, this one was dull. The "villains" aren't introduced until the very end (just like in the first book) and the rest of the time, the characters are preparing for the "Final Battle" if you will. And the "Final Battle" was too short to even make me hate the villain. Additionally, the characters didn't grow; they just fell into their written roles and lacked the dimension that they had in the first book (except for Kaleb and Adrick; they grew a little).

Favorite interactions:
- Argument over who has the most tragic love story
- Groveling
- Round 1 of self-control (ft. a dagger)
- "How to be a true leader" - A TedEd by Alessa
- Lemonade war (not actual lemonade, but you'll see lol)

Favorite Quotes:
- "'Not even death can stop a guy from being a dumb*ss on occasion.'"
- "'And I finally accepted that I can't change who I am, but I can be kinder to myself and change how I feel about who I am.'"
- "'You can't be a hero without being scared. Courage doesn't mean you aren't afraid, it means you are and do it anyway.'"

One last thing, get your tissues ready y'all. One of those 4 stars is just because it made me cry.

Overall, if you liked the first book, you probably should read this to see how Alessa and Dante's story ends, BUT don't go expecting the same whirlwind romance from the first book. DO expect the lack of a true enemy until the VERY end though. That being said, I would really like to see a spin-off for Kamaria and maybe even Kaleb.

I really enjoyed this. Not quite as much as book one but still a decent amount. I think it was the relationship between our main couple and how everyone felt so paired up. A few plot points felt too easy I think because we’re fitting a lot over a few locations and there couldn’t be too much conflict or the book would be too long.

Alessa and Dante are back in the second half of Emily Thiede's The Last Finestra Duology.

This book picks pack up only 6 months after TVG's Diverando, and I am happy to report that we get much more from Dante in this book (from his POV *heart eyes*).

We follow Alessa, Dante, and a few of the other Fonti as they journey to find whomever may remain of Dante's people. Like the first book, this book is full of angst, cute scenes, and lovely friendships/found family (my FAV). I still love all of the characters and still swoon each time I read about Dante.

I'm so sad to leave these characters and their stories behind!