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!

Such a perfect ending to the series! I love that we got to see more of Dante and Alessa as they deal with the aftermath and can’t wait for more of Emily Thiede’s work!

This book dragged a lot for me, especially in the beginning. I’m not sure there should have been a sequel, and I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as the first which was a massive disappointment for me. I will be posting my review to good reads with my full thoughts after St Martins Press responds to the boycott. Thank you very much for the ARC.

This was such a good wrap up to the duology.

I loved that it doesn’t have solely romantic themes but that those are centered around exploring and coping with self identity; and show strong character growth and solid development arcs.

I think I would have screamed and thrown up if what almost happened happened. But I think I would have liked that as the ending. Although I wasn’t unhappy with the ending.

I’m glad we got all of the side characters also. They’re hilarious and I’m going to need more Kaleb and Adrick and I’m so sad the duology is over.

Yepp everything I ever wanted in the sequel to This Vicious Grace 😭 the banter and the angst were very top level and the hea was everything >>>>>

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I would like to say that the current boycott on SMP is preventing me from leaving a review on this book on my social media pages. I would love to support Emily Thiede, so I would appreciate if SMP would speak up and address concerns so that I can rave about how much I enjoyed this book!

Alessa, Dante, and the Fonti saved their nation from the apocalypse, but not without paying a price. As Dante adapts to his mysteriously powerless state and Alessa her renewed isolation from human touch, new darkness looms on the horizon. Visions of a fast-approaching apocalypse from their cruel, trickster god. This time, it's not coming for Alessa's people, but Dante's.

Their precariously aligned team, which now includes a former Finestra, his Fonte, and Alessa's unpredictable little brother, must travel to a land that seems to exist only in myth. Their goal is to battle against the apocalypse with the ghiotte community that will be under attack— If the ghiotte can come to terms with the much-despised Saverians and their threatening powers. With reminders of his dark past lurking all over and a quest to regain his powers underway, even Dante struggles to find his footing. The team will be tested like never before, by both the gods and other people.

This Vicious Grace was a surprise delight for me when I picked up an ARC last year and while I still prefer the first book, the sequel did not disappoint. There's action, romance, tension, and some impressive twists throughout. The newly introduced characters, many of them ghiotte, came to life easily and I definitely felt some attachment to them. This Cursed Light never felt like unnecessary pile-on storytelling, but rather a true expansion of the first book, despite the first book wrapping up pretty neatly.

However, it didn't hit all the notes quite the same as book one. Alessa and Dante are going through some challenges in their relationship that lead them both to do stupid things in secret rather than… ya know… talking. It's a trope that's never worked well for me and it got a bit frustrating at times. With the exception of Kaleb and Adrick's interactions (no notes, would follow that ship to the ends of the Earth) and an occasional whip-smart line from Kamaria, the banter between characters just wasn't as fun and engaging in this round. The story still did plenty to keep me engaged, though.

The end of this novel (and the duology) was really satisfying in the sense that I never could've guessed how it played out in a million years, but it still made perfect sense. Nothing pulled entirely out of left field, no weird deus ex machina. I think the climax sequence was a little short and could have been drawn out for dramatic effect, perhaps adding some higher stakes as it went, but it was still a great conclusion to the action and the character arcs on the whole!

This book did not hold my attention like the first in the series. I think in part, I didn't enjoy Dante's brooding. But I still enjoyed following Alessa's adventures and mischief. Thiede's world building continues to delight as we explore more of the land and learn more about the curse.

The writing style is simple and a little repetitive, and the word choice sometimes felt odd, but I was able to overlook all of that because the dialogue between these characters are a delight. This duology became an immediate comfort read for me, following lots of tropes and familiar plot beats, with characters that had me smiling every on every other page. The humor and banter is a delight. The chapters are so short or consistently broken up, making the story easy to digest and keep reading "one more chapter". I love how the two main characters communicate with each other even when it's challenging and they are not always on the same page. The comedic relief makes this otherwise heavy story feel light, and made me want to pick up the book as often as possible. Overall this was a story that just felt good to read.

Can't wait to see what else this author comes out with!

Thank you to the publisher for my arc.

This felt like a big let down for me, I wasn’t as invested in the characters as I was in the first book and the story didn’t keep me engaged.

LUCE MIA I CRIED IN AN AIRPLANE

4.5/5⭐

I love this duology so much! This Vicious Grace was one of my absolute favorite books last year and I've been (not so patiently) waiting for the conclusion to the story ever since I finished it.

If you haven't read TVG yet, stop right here and go read it if you love any of the following:
- Italian inspired fantasy
- bodyguard romance
- banter and pining
- "we can't touch"

I adored being with all these characters again and honestly need a novella detailing the secondary romance that developed throughout this book. 😍 The setting continued to be a highlight: the lush descriptions and atmosphere were wonderful.

This one felt a lot more angsty than This Vicious Grace; Alessa and Dante were both STRUGGLING and it was definitely frustrating at times (teenagers!). Their banter was top notch as always though and I just love the "we can't touch" tension.

Everything came together so beautifully at the end, I was on a plane and definitely just cried for like the last 10%. I've loved going on this journey and I'm so sad it's over.

I highly recommend this duology and can't wait for whatever Emily Thiede writes next!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

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

When I saw that the sequel of this duology was out, I knew that I needed to read it right away! This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede is the final book in The Last Finestra duology. The story continues where the first book left off, and revolves around Alessa and Dante. The pair are dealing with the ramifications of their decisions in the last book, specifically regarding their powers. Will the pair be able to save the world and each other?

Here is a triumphant excerpt from Chapter 1:

"Alessa straightened her shoulders, pushing away the haunting moment with the captain. A cheer erupted as they waved to the crowd, and she basked in the adoration. This was right. This was what she'd been promised. Beloved. Victorious. Celebrated. Her reign was finished, and her time on Finestra's Peak was over.
No more demons. No more wars.
It was time to begin the rest of her life.
Happy.
Ever.
After."

Overall, This Cursed Light is an amazing YA fantasy that will satisfy all fans of the previous book. As I mentioned before in my review of the previous book, I loved how original the it was, and I could not wait to read the second book in this duology. One highlight of this book is the great world-building and Italian-inspired fantasy setting. Another highlight of this book is the amazing climax and ending, which I totally wasn't expecting. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that some dialogue and some of the humor felt a bit too YA for me, but that is the genre, so it's not the book's fault. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!

Thank you so much, St Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Six months are passed since Alessa, Dante and their friends save their island from the destruction and while Alessa is ready to move on with her life with her former bodyguard, Dante is sure the gods aren't over with them, yet. Besides, without his power, the next kiss from Alessa could kill him for good. Desperate for answers, they start looking for another ghiotte who could help him restore his powers and joining their powers to save them all. Also, Alessa is hiding another consequence of the battle herself, a growing darkness consuming her mind and their only hope is to find a long lost city. Uncovering secrets, learning more about Dante's past, fighting against the gods' test, all in order to save themselves and the world. But what if they are forced to choose between love and the world?

This Cursed Light is the amazing conclusion of the duology started with This Vicious Grace and I felt so lucky to have gotten the chance to read this book early!
Alessa and Dante are incredible characters and I missed so much their bickering and flirting. I was so excited to know more about the ghiotte and the long lost island, to discover what the gods had in store for them and I'm pleasantly surprised by this book. This Cursed Light is able to answer the questions of the first book, to add new worlds and answers and stories about these characters' lives and pasts. It was so good learning more about Dante and to witness his and Alessa's relationship growing even more.
I love them so much, the story was so good and so compelling I couldn't stop reading it. Such a perfect finale.

DNF pg 40

This is now the second time where I've loved a first book in a series and then dnf the sequel... I think it's because most of the plot was completely resolved in the first book and then there's something completely new for the sequel. I wish the main plot lasted two full books because it really felt like it could be a standalone with a spin off maybe instead of a complete series. I wasn't really interested in picking it up because I wasn't interested in this plot unfortunately

I really wish I loved this because I loved the first book so much :(

"This Cursed Light," the sequel to "This Vicious Grace," proves to be an enjoyable continuation of the captivating narrative introduced in its predecessor. The novel skillfully weaves together intricate plotlines, providing a satisfying resolution to the characters' journeys. While the story concludes on a note of closure, the ending feels somewhat lackluster, leaving readers craving a more resonant impact. Nevertheless, the overall experience remains engaging, with the author's adept storytelling and character development maintaining the same level of intrigue that made the first installment compelling. Despite the minor disappointment in the finale, "This Cursed Light" successfully delivers an entertaining and cohesive narrative that will leave fans satisfied with the culmination of the series.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an electronic Advanced Readers Copy of this book.

This Cursed Light is the sequel to This Vicious Grace. This book continues the story of Alessa, a teenager who is imbued by the god Dea to absorb other's magical powers to help fight evil demons. Alessa and Dante, now a proclaimed couple, are facing problems as Dante has lost his powers to heal after being brought back to life by Alessa.

A prophesy says that the fighting is not over, and Alessa and her friends set out to find the other gilottes to help, who have been hiding from the world. What will Dante do when he discovers parts of his past? Will Alessa be able to overcome the visions and evil thoughts she's been having?

I enjoyed this sequel and was quickly brought back into this world. Fans of the first book will not be disappointed!

Alessa and Dante are back in what is one of my most anticipated Sequels of 2024.

After consuming This Vicious Grace as my first read of the year I will say the sequel was just as easy to read. I was completely consumed by this story and unable to put it down. While Dante accompanied by Alessa and a few of their friends searched for the Ghiotte and a cure for Dante, I was so thankful to get more of his back story.


Honestly I am a sucker for a duology with a satisfying conclusion that wraps up all of the loss ends I had left pending after the first and I will say Emily Thiede definitely delivered.

3.5/5

An enjoyable follow up to This Vicious Grace. Wraps up the story nicely, the ending isn't anything mind blowing. Thank you for this arc!