The way I am obsessed… I never doubted my girl Isabel but wow I loved this! The tension, the YEARNING, THE ROMANCE, the magic, the world, the storyline, the STRESS this book caused me.. Ugh 10/10. Everything you could possibly want out of a renaissance Italian fantasy. Spectacular. Gimme 14 of them right now

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley for the arc!!

Isabel has such a penchant for words! A standalone presented through impeccable prose with expert pacing, 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 is a magical delight and fantasy reader's dream.

Ravenna, desperate to save her brother from imminent death in Renaissance Italy, reveals her magical talent in a sculpting competition. She's swept away with the Luni family, forced to reside in their Florence palace and tasked with an impossible assignment to keep her life. Saturnino, a son and assassin for the family, draws Ravenna's eye despite his dangerous, cold exterior. She quickly finds herself caught in a fragile political web, unsure of true motivations as her life, and the fate of the country, is in grave danger.

I adored every word of this book! Isabel's extensive research is clear through the intricate historical details. The writing style perfectly captures the atmosphere of 15th-century Italy; each sentence is crafted with care and intention. 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 is written with masterful pacing! I simultaneously yearned to consume the tale in a single sitting, but I also wished to savor every word, never wanting it to end.

I cared for the characters from the start! Ravenna is resourceful and determined, and I admire her strength and intelligence as she fights for survival and explores her terrifying magic. Saturnino is a complex villain, and I was desperate for him to reveal his secrets. Ravenna and Saturnino share addictive banter full of tension and chemistry, and the pair evoke more yearning and longing for the story. I loved the push and pull, hot and cold side of their relationship that kept me at the edge of my seat. I would also be remiss to not mention the adorable feline sidekick!

Like the contents of the book itself, the cover design is a work of art! It is so fitting, and I cannot wait to have the finished product on my shelf.

I would like to sincerely thank Isabel for creating such a strong standalone. I'm already looking forward to what she's going to pen next! Until then, I'll be dreaming of Renaissance Italy. I am forever grateful to Saturday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of my most anticipated 2026 release! 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 is a frontrunner for my favorite book of the year, and it's a book that fantasy romance readers cannot miss.

♾️⭐

I found this book beautifully written, cleverly plotted, and an engaging read. I was sold on the romance (we get both the “good girl” and “who did this to you” tropes, and I was swooning over the villain who said ‘em) and I was captivated by the magic, the historical setting, the food descriptions, and the political and religious intrigue. But, personally–and contextually within the story itself–I found the spicy content unnecessary and frustrating. In my opinion, sex scenes are not beautiful, clever, or engaging, and I truly believe the story would have been better off with poetic intimacy which felt lyrical and passionate, but remained verbally vague. Otherwise, I truly loved this NA romantasy from Isabel Ibañez.

This was just alright. The story was interesting but the world building was lacking, the magic was very base level, and there wasn’t any exploration of the world aside from repetitive mentions of mythical creatures and magic stones. The writing wasn’t bad; however, the continual use of Italian was tiresome and unnecessary. The narration threw me off - I’m a huge fan of third person but it felt like there was a barrier between the characters and the reader and I didn’t feel connected to any of them. I was hoping this would be similar to the Rose Bargain but it fell flat for me. The FMC read much younger than her actual age however she did actually have agency throughout the book. Overall the story wasn’t for me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC.

4.5 rounded down

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

Graceless Heart is a breathtakingly atmospheric, romantic, and action-packed adventure set in renaissance Italy. Packed with the art of sculpting, the complexity that comes with immortality, and dangerous magic, this story is one that readers will fall in love with.

When I think of adventure I always think of Isabel Ibañez. The way she can place twists and secrets into a story is incredible. You never know what reveals are coming or where the story may go. I was so constantly shocked by the things that were happening in this book. It is an unbelievable amount of fun to follow Ravenna as her story plays out.

As well as secrets and betrayals, Ibañez has perfected bringing magic to life in her books. It feels like magic is woven within every part of the world--from the people to the walls of the building they walk through. It's always interesting to see how authors bring magic to our world, and I think it's hard to find someone who does it better than her.

One of the elements I was most excited to see in this story was all the different POVs. There are quite a few in this book, but they all work so well. Each character has their own unique voice and their own individual story. Watching their paths cross and connect throughout the book is so much fun.

Speaking of the characters, I obviously have to take a moment to discuss the main two. Ravenna Maffei is a sculptor who dreams of a safer life for her loved ones. Saturnino is a lot of things, and I won't say most of them to avoid any spoilers. He has some of the classic "romantasy book boyfriend" traits, but he still feels like so much more. He's sure of himself and faces the world with strength, though he gets even better as you see more of him. I loved how complex the dynamic between Ravenna and Saturnino was, but something was missing for me. Looking back now, I can see how their relationship works and why it was written the way it was. I think I just didn't fully connect to their relationship from the start.

Graceless Heart is a true gem from the mind of Isabel Ibañez. This is a book that you could reread over and over again and always find something new. It's atmospheric and emotional and so full of life. And you should be prepared to shed a few tears over this. Isabel Ibañez isn't afraid to steer clear of a formula or whatever tropes are popular. She is always ready to give her readers a story they can't find anywhere else. Any romantasy lover who doesn't pick this one up will be missing out.

Review on Goodreads (sophreadingbooks https://www.goodreads.com/sophreadingbooks) as of 7/10/2025
Review on Instagram (sophiesreading https://www.instagram.com/sophiesreading/) expected 12/16/2025

3.5/5!!
I am such a huge fan of Isabel Ibañez's writing - it's not even funny. The way she is able to transport her readers into her books is magical.
Having medieval Florence as the setting was something I didn't know I needed. I loved it as the backdrop. Also, the plot twists in this book absolutely got me. Every single one of them. I gasped multiple times. That being said, I didn't love the magic or romance elements. The romance development felt a bit fast and the magic system, while cool, was not as full-fledged as I wanted it to be. The pacing seemed a bit off to me as well. I really enjoyed the beginning, kind of got lost in the middle, and then really liked the ending.
Regardless, I am excited to see what Isabel Ibañez writes next!
Thank you to St. Martin's for the e-arc!!

Ravenna's skills as a sculptress secure her brother's freedom while condemning her to captivity set against the backdrop of a fictionalized 1478 Florence where the Pope wages war against magic. As she begins to sculpt, Ravenna begins to chip away more than just stone revealing secrets of her own deadly abilities, the Pope's hidden past, and most of all the immortal dei Luni family who holds her captive, including Saturnino, the stoic and statuesque son who hatred and resolve slowly crumble along with her own.

Adult fantasy romance with historical elements.
Ravenna is twenty three and Saturnino is about one hundred years old.

Also, Isabel Ibañez delivers a true enemies to lovers. Not misunderstanding to lovers, not she thinks he is her enemy and he is obsessed with her. Actual enemies. That alone is a ringing endorsement.

This book was unnecessarily convoluted, repetitive, and not romantic in the slightest. I was honestly just bored out of my mind reading, and I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book.
I was really excited to see the adult debut of Isabel Ibanez. She really has a way of making her setting so immersive. In graceless heart, Ravenna, a sculptress, has magic in her, which makes her powerful and wanted by the Dei Luni and the Pope. She is tasked with unearthing 5 Nightflames (magical rocks) for the Dei Luni. But the pope also wants them., which puts Ravenna in between two enemies. I loved the setting in Renaissance Tuscany. Saturnino, the MMC is so great. The banter between him and Ravenna is unmatched. It was a really great book, the pacing was good and packed with action. Hopefully there’s a sequel because I need more !

Graceless Heart stands out in the fantasy genre by daring to be different. With a plot that weaves together the Pope, political power, and faith, Isabel Ibañez creates a rich, emotionally layered story that feels both fresh and grounded. The protagonist’s journey—torn between duty, identity, and love—is deeply personal, while the romance stays thoughtful and never overshadows the bigger themes. This isn’t your typical fantasy; it’s bold, thought-provoking, and full of heart. Definitely worth a read.

A story full of plot twists, enemies to lovers done beautifully, and a strong female protagonist. Three of my favorite book tropes, all found in Graceless Heart! A triumph.

When I first read the synopsis I was fixating in the mention of the pope and thinking how can this be a sexy romance book 😆😆 but look at that cover art!!!! I literally could not say no solely based on that and im so glad I was persuaded because this actually turned out to be a great read. It is my first book by the author although I am familiar with her other books and will likely go back to read them at some point.

The setting is renaissance Italy which is such an aesthetic vibe within itself. The plot follows a world where magic is deemed to be scary and dangerous and so the FMC has been hiding and keeping her magical abilities a secret her whole life, until she accidentally lets her abilities show during a sculpting competition. This immediately peaks the interest of a questionable family who take it upon themselves to essentially kidnap her and try to use her abilities for their own quest.

The magical elements are really fun, the unhinged family storyline is entertaining and the banter between her and the broody love interest is really enjoyable. I was imagining a hot moody Italian man the entire time 😂

Thank you to St Martin’s Press #partner for the #gifted copy!!

Im sure this book will gain popularity when it publishes in January 13th 2026 (long wait I know sorry guys 😪)

I dropped everything on my TBR to read this and it was so worth it. The setting was captivating as someone who is interested in history. I knew a little bit about the Medici family and the tumultuous situation in Italy so it held my interest the entire time. Ravenna is possibly my favorite FMC ever. She is strong, smart and capable. She had her flaws and I was rooting for her completely. Saturnino - where do I begin? What a captivating figure. It kept me on my toes wondering who exactly he was and I was not disappointed. Their tension was immaculate. I was obsessed with their relationship as it grew. I have zero criticism of this book - just praise. It was so unique and spun history in such a masterful and respectful manner. Wow. Just wow.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC! My life is forever changed (for the better).

Isabel just keeps putting out 5 stars after 5 stars. The plot was amazing and fresh, the characters were easy to connect with and the pacing was perfect!

Tl;dr: Awesome setting, fast enough pacing, inventive elements, amuses with multiple narrators. This will be great for readers that liked "The Familiar" and for people that dig "Beauty and the Beast".

Fantastic cover art drew me to this one, plus having read Ibáñez's Nile duology I know she can do twisty almost telenovela-worthy binge reads. This one also delivered on that front, although with one element I liked more: the Florence setting felt to me so much more lived in, in terms of additional characters and in descriptions, than the Egypt one of Secrets of the Nile. In part because there are *several narrators*, which works great.

What also worked most for me:
- The novel's interesting mix of fantasy elements (cool magic stones, fae, vampires, witches) and of historical fiction (Da Vinci's there! It plays around with the Pazzi conspiracy and isn't afraid to characterize Vatican leadership as let's say morally complex; a boon from the fact that this trends more New Adult than YA).
- The concept of who the mysterious Luni family are felt novel —there's initially talk of fae, like in a lot of modern romantasy, but the mystery ended up being something else quite inventive.
- Some phrasings are pretty cool. I.e. "When the world is sometimes frightening, surviving is its own kind of art form".

What I didn't quite love:
- the magic felt lacking to me. We're introduced to all these awesome sounding magic stones; however, what is shown to have been done with most of them is little more than decorative, tbh
- the sense of timing was kinda confusing: prologue and first chapter have dates, then the rest maybe takes place within two weeks at most? (Makes the central romance feel kinda insta-lovey). Then we're told that a lot of characters apparently have interacted for many many decades, but only a few are supposed to be 100 year-old people, so I didn't fully get the fantastical logistics and that pulled me out of it while reading.
- Same with some of the story details, like one character being able to heal within seconds except when they have busted up knuckles for hours and a scar on their shoulder

All that said, the premise of a spunky young woman winning a contest and being swept up in nobility affairs reminded me of "The Familiar", which I liked well enough, so I'd recommend this for others that also did. Like that other book, this was a 3-3.25 for me.

Graceless Heart stands out in a sea of fantasy books because it actually dares to be different. I was not expecting a plot centered around the Pope, political power, and faith, but somehow it works so well within this lush and emotionally layered story.

Isabel Ibañez blends magic, culture, and religion in a way that feels grounded and fresh. It is not every day you see a fantasy book dive into the complexities of power, belief, and legacy with this much care.

The main character’s journey is deeply personal. She is caught between duty, identity, and heartbreak, and you feel every bit of that struggle. The romance is slow, emotional, and never overshadows the larger themes of the story.

What I appreciated most is that this book does not follow the usual fantasy formula. It asks bigger questions, and it lets the story breathe in unexpected ways. If you are craving something with heart, depth, and a truly original premise, this one is worth the read.

Beautiful dark fantasy that felt ethereal and tragic with fantastical magic flowing throughout the worldbuilding in this story. The way magic was portrayed and the eventuality of the characters within the plot was amazing and really felt the tension of how they would end up. The romance was my favorite, two characters who seem doomed or inevitable trying to overcome the obstacles in their way toward an eventual relationship. The chemistry was sizzling I loved every moment.

I loved every second of this and it’s now a new a favourite of mine! Isabel Ibañez’s writing in this was beautiful and really immersed me into the story, making the magic of it come to life. The setting and vibes of this story, taking place in Italy, was something I really enjoyed.
The characters are wonderful and real and the romance is full of yearning and angst. This is the kind of longing romance I’ve been looking for in fantasy. The magic system kept me wanting to know more and I truly loved Ravenna as an FMC who is strong and full of heart, and Saturnino as a villain, which created such unique dynamic between the two. The banter here? Perfectly done. I laughed and gasped and was on the edge of my seat with the plot.
I can’t believe this is a standalone because I didn’t want it to be over!

Thank you St. Martin’s press and Netgalley for this e-arc💕

This was my first romantasy and it was such a page-turner!

I loved how natural and subtle the world-building was, it kept me waiting for the next tidbit of lore to come out without ever feeling lost. The backdrop of old Italy felt simultaneously romantic and foreboding. I was worried Raveena would be a Mary Sue, so conveniently perfect at everything she's unrealistic, but her character was grounded and human. From when we first meet her to the end, she never stops being fun to follow.

There is so much tension in this book, from the romance to the action to Raveena's relationship with her family. It made it impossible to put this book down!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Ibañez can never do wrong with a standalone fantasy. She is the queen of standalone fantasies. She knows exactly how to wrap up the story in every sense from start to finish and leave us still wanting more after.