Set in Italy during the Renaissance, this book follows Ravenna, a sculptor, who needs to help her brother and so enters into a competition set by an immortal family. This is dangerous because magic is forbidden in her city. Once she reveals her magical ability, she is kidnapped by the Luni family and taken to Florence, where she must contend with the family's heir, Saturnino. She must also contend with the Pope's anger as he wants to eradicate magic, the Medici name, and Florence itself, and who decides he can use Ravenna to help his cause.

This author has done a phenomenal job at research, easily placing readers into the setting, as well as the plot itself. This book is more intrigue than war, and while there is the romantic undertone, what shines best and most is the strength and character of Ravenna as she navigates tough choices that impact all. I loved magic, the Luni family, and Italy as secondary characters. It is hard to find an author that can make these different aspects come to life on the page.

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

Aspects of this book really tickled my brain, especially the part of my brain that still has some Catholic guilt left over from childhood. I loved the historical aspects, the religious trauma, the romance (the cat) and the conspiracy regarding the pope. But for every part I liked, there was something lingering that made it so difficult for me to really get into it.

The main character, Ravenna, really grated my nerves at times. I love a sassy, strong willed FMC, but a lot of times it came across as ignorance instead of a back bone. Her priorities confused me. I understand religious trauma, fear of being outcast etc but very little focus was given to developing that and she just constantly wanted this town and family to love her for…what felt like no reason.

Her family treated her so poorly and there was NO character development around it. Even after her brother does some crazy stuff (no spoilers) she’s still annoyingly loyal. A little bit of internal development regarding her family would have gone a long way for me.

As for the romance, I had moments of absolutely loving it and moments of just being…confused. They fall so in love so quickly and while I believed it in the moment, looking back I didn’t understand WHY. They interact but not in any meaningful way. Does she just love him bc he’s nice to her SOMETIMES??? She doesn’t know a thing about him and he’s, objectively, horrible to her the entire time. Idk, maybe I’m asking too much and should just chalk it up to them being tied by fate or something because, again, once they do get together I buy it, I buy Saturnino being so devoted to her and her risking everything in an attempt to change his fate…I just don’t buy the lead up I guess??? I’m not sure, I can’t put my finger on it.

I want more about the Courier and hope we get a spin off or something, I found his character so intriguing and the unanswered questions at the end of the story made me desperate for more.

So yeah, a bit of a mixed bag for me. She deserved better than the way she was treated by her family and town but nothing happened there, the romance was good but hard to believe at times, and the cat was by far my favorite character!

Another beautiful story from one of my auto-buy authors! Once again, the world-building is absolutely stunning and drew me in right from the start.

I do wish we had gotten more backstory about her powers and her aunt - it felt like there was so much more to uncover there. We were also introduced to different stones, but the story really only focused on one. I would have loved to see the others play a bigger role and add even more depth to the world.

Even with those small wishes, I adored this book. It’s another strong installment that proves why this author remains an auto-buy for me.

4.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really just didn't enjoy this and I had to skim the last 50%. Which is half the book! It was so boring and repetitive, I found myself falling asleep while reading. I'm sorry to say this just wasn't great.

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
Pub date 01/13/2026

Thank you to NetGalley & Saturday Books/St. Martin Press for the eARC of this book. And of course, thank you so much to Isabel Ibañez for writing another amazing book! (If you don’t already know I LOVED her Secrets of the Nile duology so so so much! And now we have another book to add to the love list).

In this new, standalone story, we follow Ravenna as she embarks on a wild journey to save her family, her town, and her soul from damnation and excommunication.

Ravenna has lived her entire life in the same town, working with her family at their locanda (inn). She worked hard at the inn, not just for the love of her family but also to keep herself from thinking about something terrible that happened when she was younger. Her Aunt was a sculptress and took her to the quarry to pick out stone for Ravenna to practice on. And that’s when Ravenna’s magic first appeared. She has hidden it since as Witches are evil and burned at the stake per the Pope. She wants nothing to do with her magic, she believes it is evil like the Pope says. And so, she keeps her head down and ignores it.

Unfortunately, magic does not like to be ignored. And war has come to her little town thanks to the Medici family. Her brother is locked up, several of his friends have already been sentenced and hung. Ravenna knows he is next but doesn’t know how to help him until the Luni family comes to town and announces a contest. The winner not only gets money, but a boon. Anything they want. Ravenna is determined to save her brother by winning the contest. She will put her sculpting skills to the test… and her magic.

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The story really takes off from there, it was the perfect amount of set up to get us into the world and history. And let us know about the magic and creatures that can be found roaming around. Will Ravenna be able to save her brother? Will showing that she has magic lead her to more trouble than it was worth? Why has the Pope lived a much much longer life than a normal man? Who are the Medici and Luni families? I won’t be telling you as I want YOU to read this book yourself and find out! Isabel Ibañez has crafted a wonderful story that has so much meaning and depth. I was happy it was a standalone, but I also could have been it be a 2-3 book series with all the magic and creatures that could still be explored more.

My favorite side character was Ombretta, my favorite scene.. you’ll know it when you read it! Graceless Heart is not to be missed, add it to your TBR and if you can pre-order it!

The pacing was a bit slow at times especially in the first quarter, but once I hit halfway I was sucked in. Normally I wouldn't be a huge fan of the almost dual personality type MMC that Saturnino was for most of the book but I loved how Ravenna approached everything. She was both levelheaded and pragmatic while also being hopeful and anticipatory of a silver lining. When she stops Saturnino from hurting Imelda by saying "she is me", that was so profound! I loved it! But it really was so in line with her character. I am still a bit confused as to whether or not this is a standalone or part of a series, the ending is a bit ambiguous (which could be intentional) but I would love to see more of the two of them especially as parents. I am very interested in the courier and his backstory, and would have loved to read more about the different stones. The page at the beginning of the book was helpful, but we rarely see any of the other stones and don't get any insight into how the magic works in the first place and I would've really enjoyed exploring that aspect of the world.

What I loved most about this book was how layered and immersive it felt. The historical detail brought Renaissance Italy to life in a way that felt both authentic and imaginative, and I found myself completely drawn into the atmosphere. The mix of magic and history felt seamless, giving the story a sense of danger and wonder at the same time.

Ravenna was such a compelling character to follow. She is not without flaws, but her vulnerability made her strength stand out even more. Her journey toward trusting herself and embracing her own power was incredibly rewarding to read. Saturnino, on the other hand, was a character I both loved and wanted to shake at times. His morally gray choices and the tension in his interactions with Ravenna kept me hooked, and their chemistry was one of the highlights of the book.

The pacing felt deliberate, building layers of intrigue, secrecy, and shifting loyalties. There were a few moments where the story lingered a bit longer than necessary, but overall it contributed to the slow build of tension. By the time I reached the end, I felt like I had truly stepped into a world filled with beauty, danger, and passion.

This is a lush and engaging historical fantasy that I would recommend to readers who enjoy romance with complexity, settings that feel alive, and characters who grow into themselves in meaningful ways.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this early copy!

This book was so well researched. The author does a fantastic job of setting scenes and transporting you to 15th century Italy.

The FMC Ravenna was interesting and I enjoyed her character. She was very competent and headstrong and I found her character to be very refreshing in a lot of ways. She was straightforward and didn’t play coy or hold back. If she didn’t want to feel something she just acknowledged her feelings, accepted that they existed and tried to move on.

A lot of the fantasy elements were unique and made this stand out from other fantasy romances out there, but I wouldn’t class this as a true Romantasy.

The biggest miss for me was the relationship between Ravenna and the MMC Saturnino. It felt a bit forced, I didn’t really feel a spark. Saturnino felt a bit bland and lacked both depth and consistency.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!

A gem of a book that seamlessly blends history with fantasy and magic. With a prologue that grabs readers from the start, this story has all the makings of a fantastic collision of immortal and mortal, of magic and historical tradition. Ravenna fights against her magic throughout the story, building anticipation for what she can do with it. There are so many unexpected twists to keep readers guessing until the end. I enjoyed the blend of history and fiction. Having recently learned about Medici history and their influence and power in Florence, I was able to predict some of the events before they occurred; but was intrigued by how Ibanez weaves these true events into her tale. However, readers who are not familiar with Medici history will be completely taken by surprise more than once.

I really enjoyed this Romantasy.. It was fun and it had a lot of world building and story life to it. The cover was beautiful and it did keep me intrigued although at times it was a little boring. I will give us author another chance in the future because the writing was fun!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I could not have timed the reading of this book more perfectly than with my trip to Italy! Reading about Florence and the Renaissance while in Rome was truly such an immersive experience. I really enjoyed this standalone that was full of intriguing characters, mystery, and magic. I love how expertly Isabel Ibanez weaved historical elements through the story, it made is feel more lifelike.

Ravenna was a wonderful protagonist to follow since she is at war with herself, as she despises the magic within her. Seeing her come into her own was truly a joy. I loved seeing her find her voice. Saturnino, my love. I adored how truly unlikeable he was at the beginning, cause that made Ravenna's effect on him all the more apparent. This book was flush with intriguing side characters whom I wish we got more time with, I honestly think this could've been a series as opposed to a standalone. I like how the ending left things a bit open ended in case Ibanez wants to return to this world. Overall I had a wonderful time reading this, especially in Italy!

What a delightful read! This was a very lush, atmospheric novel that made you feel like you were in 15th century Italy. There was loads of tension, which kept me turning the pages to see how everything would shake out. I loved the main characters and their story. My only complaint is I still have some remaining questions and there was a very large cast of characters and I felt like we didn’t fully get to see those side characters flushed out meaningfully. Another great read by this author, and she will continue to be a must read for me.

The author did a wonderful job setting the tone and atmosphere that will transport you to Italy. You can tell a great deal of research went in to the location of this book with the architect to the history involved really made this story great.
Ravenna was an amazing character and had me from the beginning. The love interest was just the right about of morally grey. A really well paced story that will keep you flipping through the pages can’t wait to see where this goes next!

Thank you Net Galley and the publishers for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

I will start by saying this is my first book by this author. So I truly have nothing to compare it to. That being said, I was hoping there would be a little bit more romance.I'm a romanticy girl but I feel like this was more of like a historical fantasy.I do love the backdrop of like italy and having the pope as the villain. it gave so much to the story, it was a slow start and then picked up, but the story itself had me captivated.And I really wanted more and more and more.I definitely wanted more from the love interest, but I thought ravenna's character was tremendously well.Done and overall I really enjoyed this book.

This was such a captivating read! Isabel Ibañez blends magic, history, and romance in a way that completely pulled me into 15th-century Italy. The atmosphere was so richly written, I could practically feel the marble dust from Ravenna’s sculpting and see Florence’s glittering beauty and lurking danger. The amount of research and detail Isabel put into the historical setting really shows, and it made the story feel both immersive and believable.

Ravenna was the perfect mix of strong and soft, and I loved watching her grow into her own power and finally trust herself. And then there’s Saturnino… that deliciously slow-burn, morally gray love interest. Their dynamic was everything. Tension-filled conversations, sparks flying, and the way they pushed each other to reflect and change. Honestly, I could’ve read a whole book just about their relationship!

The story itself had me hooked from the start, especially with the way magic is forbidden and Ravenna has to hide such a core part of herself. The competition, the danger, the shifting alliances - it all built so much suspense. I also really enjoyed the alternating POVs sprinkled in; they added so much depth and kept the pacing smooth.

There were a couple of moments that felt a touch drawn out, but overall, I was completely invested. A lush, dangerous, and romantic historical fantasy that fans of morally complex love stories and atmospheric settings will love!

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Saturday Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

✨ Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez is a lush, romantic, and utterly captivating standalone historical fantasy set against the intrigue of Renaissance Italy.
From the very first page, I was hooked by Ravenna’s voice, a talented sculptress whose hidden magic becomes both her greatest gift and her most dangerous secret. The worldbuilding is rich and atmospheric, full of immortal families, political maneuvering, and forbidden enchantments that kept me turning the pages late into the night.
The romance felt sweeping yet intimate, perfectly balanced against the darker undertones of power and betrayal. Ibañez’s prose is as vivid as a fresco, elegant, emotional, and immersive.
If you love historical fantasy with high stakes, magic woven seamlessly into history, and a heroine worth rooting for, Graceless Heart is a must read. ✨

Isabel has written another great historical fantasy book with the richest and vivid world building!! She is SO good at doing this when she writes. 👏🏼It’s so evident the amount of research she does when writing her stories- whether it be historical dates, languages woven in, naming characters, or iconic structures constructed during the time.

This story follows Ravenna, a female wannabe sculptor who enters a competition kind of against her families wishes. She wins, and instead of winning cash prize, she gets a spot to work for the Luni family in Florence. This is one of the wealthiest families in Italy, best buds with the Medici. The Luni family are fae, all powerful, and all super stunning haha. Ravenna is constantly at odds with the heir to the family, Saturnino 😏 He’s mysterious, murderous, and has this face Ravenna can’t seem to look away from ahahah.

There’s lots of magical elements woven into her work with sculpting, which I found super fun. The first half of the story was pretty fast paced actually, and then I found the second half to be more dragged out.

Our villain- the Pope. This was so interesting to vilify him. Knowing Isabel’s background as a Christian author, I don’t think she was making a dig at the faith as a whole. But everyone that was a part of the church/ attended had messed up morals and was super corrupt. I do think it’s very reflective of corruption that was present in the Catholic Church historically. Our pope was terrible and most of his scenes were a little graphic (this story was more graphic and explicit than expected, but it is listed as adult fantasy). I thought it was an interesting choice with how his story was told. You don’t like the guy, but you’re fascinated with his role in everything else going on.

The romance. Ok the romance happened preeeetty quickly. It didn’t really do much for me for most of the story until the ending. The ending did get me (although I’m a sucker for romance so it’s not that hard.) But this is part of the reason this wasn’t a 5 star read.

The characters- there are a lot of characters. Some of characters who are important are introduced at the end. I do wish we had a slightly smaller cast that I could focus on caring and being invested in more.

Thanks NetGalley for the e-arc!! Isabel is an auto buy author for me, so I was excited to get to read this one early.

thank you to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

the setting of this book in italy, with all the descriptions of the architecture and history, made the overall feel of this reading experience so fun from the start. isabel ibañez’s writing really immersed me into the story and made everything flow effortlessly!! it was soo easy to lose myself in it and imagine everything.

i really liked both the main characters. ravenna is strong, passionate, and so full of heart! i liked watching the relationship unfold. that being said, a few things fell flat. the romance could’ve used more build up as it jumped from hatred to obsession a bit too quickly for me, and i would’ve preferred a slower burn to really sell the “enemies to lovers” aspect. also, the immortal family, who should’ve been super intriguing, didn’t feel as fleshed out as i’d hoped. finally, some descriptions were a bit too repeated in my opinion.

the plot itself was super engaging, and the overrall pacing worked really well for me. the book still felt rich and layered, with so much potential. i've never read the author ya books but for an adult debut, this was such a strong start!!

I loved it! I’m obsessed with Italy and this was just what i needed in my reading slump. I will definitely be purchasing this when it’s published and will be recommending in my book club! Amazing job one of the best historical fiction/fantasy I have read in a long time ❤️

graceless heart is a terrific idea, but was executed poorly. The plot and world building were good and the plot twists had me gasping. HOWEVER I could not stand the writing! I loved the author’s YA books but her writing style took a turn downhill. I was cringing like crazy. What got me was the ‘romantic’ dialogue. I don’t know what to say besides that I reading it made me nauseous. My last major problem is that I hated the love interest THE ENTIRE TIME. Only some authors can pull off the immortal x moral love story and as much as I love Isabel Ibanez, she is not one of them. Maybe the second one will be better??