Grace arts takes place in the 15th century in Italy. Here we a historical fantasy romance. First off the cover of this book is so absolutely gorgeous. I am in awe.. however I am disappointed in the contents of the book themselves.

There is a magic system in this book. What is it? Who knows because we have witches, but we don’t get much world building in the sense of the supernatural paranormal fantastical beings of this book we get like a little snippets of witchcraft we have the night flame, which is one of I believe eight stones that have magical elements to them however, we don’t get a background on all eight of them And the book is mainly focused on the night flame. Apparently there’s vampires but the only vampire we meet, we don’t actually find out. He’s a vampire until the end of the book.. and I love that we added a little cameo of Leonardo da Vinci, but it didn’t really fit that well with the premise of the book. In my opinion like it was just added I don’t know it just nothing flowed right there wasn’t enough world building. There wasn’t enough fantastical elements.. The romance was OK. Like literally just okay. I know people are gonna try and use enemies to lovers or hate to love troops to describe this book and I’m telling you right now that the romance does not fit either of those.

Overall, this felt more like a book 1 of a series not a standalone.

I loved the yearning and the banter, and I loved that it took place in Italy. The pacing was great and I loved the dynamics between the characters!

Thank you NetGalley and Saturday books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book! *sigh* was so colorful and rich and decadent. You could hear and smell the backdrop (Italy) and I was truly transported in Isabel Ibañez's newest book Graceless Heart.
In this world, magic and magical beings are real, but the current (corrupt) Pope has outlawed and banned magic. Our main character, Ravenna, has magic and exposes herself to save her brother. She ends up on quite the adventure with a notorious family with an impossible task under the watchful eye of the annoyingly beautiful Saturnino.

This book has romance, magic, and twists and turns that I absolutely enjoyed. I loved the brief and hysterical lessons I got on Italian insult phrases. This book is filled with the magic that Isabel puts in her books, and I devoured it in all but one sitting. This standalone was amazing and I can't wait to have the physical copy in my grubby little hands.

Isabel has once again proven why she's a master at weaving together history, romance, and magic. Graceless Heart swept me away to Renaissance Italy-a world of marble, candlelight, and forbidden enchantments.
What stood out most for me was Ravenna and Saturnino's relationship. The tension between danger and desire, mistrust and vulnerability, was beautifully done. I loved watching their connection deepen. It felt tender, inevitable, and yet filled with the kind of stakes that make your heart race.
The historical richness of this book is unmatched. The details of Florence and Volterra are so vivid that I could almost taste the food, hear the bustle of the streets, and feel the weight of marble dust in the air. Isabel's descriptions don't just set the scene-they transport you.
Honestly, I wanted to book a flight to Italy with every meal Ravenna sat down to.
And the plot? Twisty, suspenseful, and utterly addictive.
Every chapter had me guessing, turning pages late into the night, desperate to see how Ravenna would survive in a world where magic could either save or destroy her.
If you're craving a lush, atmospheric fantasy romance full of history, danger, and a love story that lingers long after the last page, you need to read Graceless Heart.

Extremely slow to start, and the male LI has no personality. I was waiting for his interactions with our MC to get better from a writing standpoint, but they did not. The romance was so bad.

I was hooked from the cover and description and so glad I was able to read this, it had that historical romance element that I wanted from this type of book. I enjoyed how good the characters were and that it uses Ravenna's profession as a sculptress and was glad I got to read this. It was everything that I was wanting and enjoyed the way Isabel Ibañez wrote this, and how it worked well with the previous books that I was looking for. I'm glad I got to read this and can't wait for more from Isabel Ibañez.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

I loved Isabel Ibañez’s writing in What the River Knows which is what compelled me to read the eARC for her newest book, Graceless Heart. Honestly, I’m not sure what happened with this new book because the writing style I loved previously, didn’t translate as well into this Italian inspired world. It just wasn’t as fun of a read as I was anticipating. I will say though, it is absolutely clear that Ibañez puts in the work to research and build a world as accurately as she can and that effort doesn’t go unnoticed.

With that being said, the concept of Graceless Heart was overall well thought out and the I appreciate that it is a little more unique in comparison to other fantasy novels. This book contains many different paranormal/magical creatures which aren’t commonly included in other fantasy books currently on the market. Though, at times the addition of certain aspects seemed to be thrown in for no reason at all and the magic system should have been included more because it had potential. I understand the FMC’s reluctance to use her dark magic, but I wish we could have seen her use it to help her more often. It was frustrating to have to witness her refusing to do anything but use her magic.

The relationship between Ravenna and Saturnino was a highlight of the book for me. I always enjoy a true enemies to lovers trope, especially when the pair start off as true enemies. The slow burn between the two was executed perfectly creating so much tension. Their romance was a redeeming quality for a book that I otherwise struggled to read.

Big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt like stepping into a dream—slow-burn tension, gorgeous Renaissance vibes, and world-building that really stays with you. If you love political fantasy mixed with a touch of magic, you’ll definitely get hooked. The romance, though, is a bit of a rollercoaster. One minute it’s “are they or aren’t they,” the next it’s eye-roll worthy back-and-forth. But honestly, if you can just sink into the atmosphere and let the flaws slide, it’s still a rich, emotional, and super satisfying read.

Graceless Heart is a lush and atmospheric romantasy set in Renaissance Italy, full of political intrigue, forbidden magic, and slow-burn tension. Isabel Ibañez’s writing is gorgeous—every detail feels vivid and immersive, from the artistry of Ravenna’s sculpting to the dangerous glitter of Florence’s courts.

I loved the blend of history and fantasy, and Ravenna was a fierce, determined heroine whose journey kept me hooked. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Saturnino brought great intensity, though at times the pacing in the first half felt a little slow, and I wished their chemistry had sparked earlier.

Still, by the end, I was completely invested—the mix of intrigue, romance, and high stakes really pays off. A beautifully woven story that will definitely appeal to fans of richly detailed historical fantasy with a romantic edge.

First I want to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to participate as a member of the ARC team for this work! I LOVEEEEE Isabel Ibañez’s work so this was an absolute privilege.

This being said, this got a lower rating from me than I expected! I REALLY loved the plot twist regarding the dei Luni family origins (as I always say, it is very difficult to find a plot twist that catches me completely unaware), and the storyline was quite interesting from the beginning! I think the character development was pretty well-done. All of the characters had well-developed personalities and behaved true-to-narrative.

I’m unsure of why exactly this fell a little flatter than expected from me, but I think it was a few small things that added up in the long run. First, this literally did not read like historical fiction. We’re talking about CENTURIES-old characters with extremely modern day mannerisms. It probably would’ve been okay for a one-time slip-up (or even a few times), but I think it happened too frequently and was jarring for me every time. Think “you better run” coming from a character who’s supposed to be centuries old. Second, the characters came up with “grand plans” that were…stupid? Like literally talking about a plan and as the reader you’re like….terrible idea, no shot of success. And that by itself was okay but after being revealed as a ‘master plan,’ accepted by a large group, and then (predictably) not being successful, it felt a little anticlimactic. Speaking of anticlimactic, I also did not love the ending. Just a run-of-the-mill “build up too dramatic, resolution too simple” mismatch.

When seeking a book by Isabel Ibañez, I’d recommend picking up ‘What the River Knows’ if you haven’t read that first, so you can grow to love the author first as much as I do. After that, if you’re in the mood for a book with a very cool storyline/premise and could see yourself getting past the SMALL (pet peeve-like) things I described, absolutely choose this one!

Incredible!!!!! The pacing was really slow and there was lots of information in the first half but I honestly thought the pacing was perfect to really grasp the book and I had the best time!!! The writing was so well done, very easy to follow along, the plot kept thickening and at no point did I guess what was going on. The cliffhanger is crazzyyy

What I loved: Mystery and magic and art and romance laced through the story keeping my attention riveted! I loved Saturnino's character arc, as he discovered what it means to truly live.

What I didn't love: open door scenes and language definitely spoiled this one for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc.

**SPOILERS**

While I did enjoy the book, I felt the story could've used more context and would definitely benefit from a glossary at the front of the book to reference characters. I was attracted to this story from the premise of Renaissance Florence and the use of magic, however I think the magic system and the stakes of the plot left me wanting more.

The world building is very descriptive and the research into Florence was well done. I could see the city and marketplaces in my head which made the visual learner in me extremely happy. The characters all start off strong but I felt we needed more context to fully fledge out who they are and their purpose. Ravenna - she read more YA than she did adult. I did find her more reliable when she interacted with Saturnino. I would've liked to understand her magic a little more or at least give context of the kind of magic she is carrying in her blood. We really only get a generic "this is strong dark magic. It has killed someone." but nothing of how she calls upon this magic? Why does no one else in her family have this power? Her aunt tried to teach her about magic but Ravenna refuses so she is extremely unprepared to control and harness her magic. Did her aunt wield magic? I wish we got more history of the magic that would've give us some context to how it worked especially in regards to the stones. Perhaps this is to save for reveals down the line but unfortunately it left me confused and needing to understand what the stakes really are for Ravenna.

I really enjoyed the romance in this story and the yearning felt believable to me. I appreciated the moments of tension to finally their reconciliation and union. I loved these characters together. I really appreciate how the twists are revealed in this story and the pacing is great - I did gasp and cry at certain reveals! The additional POVS of the other characters were so fun!!! Every time we were in the other POV I felt we learned so much more and I wish we would've sprinkled some of that information earlier. I found myself wishing I had some of this knowledge to help carry the story.

Overall, I thought this book had all the ingredients that make an adventurous romantasy and while some parts did make an impact on my read, I think it fell in other parts. I wish we had more background context on the magic and perhaps on characters. I didn't feel the ending satisfied everything and it left me feeling like there were holes in the plot. It felt at times that the reader was expected to already have information of the world but instead it left me feeling like I was missing something.

Graceless Heart is set against the backdrop of the Italian Renaissance—a period bursting with sculpture, art, science, and political upheaval. We follow Ravenna, a young woman from a small Italian town who helps her family run an inn while secretly honing her talent for sculpture. In a time when the Pope holds all power and dissent can mean death, she’s encouraged to hide her gift and keep her head down.

When Ravenna enters (and wins) a sculpting contest to save her brother, her life is forever changed. Swept into the orbit of a wealthy and powerful family, she suddenly finds herself navigating court intrigue, political drama, and her own conflicted heart.

I’ll admit, Ravenna tested my patience at times—her immaturity made her a bit frustrating early on—but she grew on me as the story progressed. What Ibañez excels at, though, is painting an incredibly vivid world. The level of detail makes you feel like you’re walking the streets of Renaissance Florence. Clearly, the research and passion poured into this book paid off.

The magic here is subtle but lovely—woven not just into Ravenna’s unique abilities, but also into the characters’ layered identities and the very spirit of artistic creation that defined the Renaissance itself.

And then we have Saturnino—brooding, enigmatic, and giving off major Edward Cullen vibes (seriously thought he might be a vampire at first). He’s actually something even cooler, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between him and Ravenna hits hard. He’s a classic broody love interest who falls way faster than he wants to admit, and watching their tension play out was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Beyond the romance, there are messy family dynamics, political schemes, glimpses of real historical figures, and even a dash of heat (handled tastefully with some fade-to-black, but not all 😉 ).

Overall, Graceless Heart is a lush and immersive historical fantasy. It blends romance, intrigue, and art into a story that feels both magical and grounded in history. Not a perfect read for me character-wise, but an undeniably enjoyable one that swept me away to another time.

I love the world building and the slow burn that takes place within this book. It is a book I could not put down especially with the enemies to lovers aspect. Did I mention the cover because it is gorgeous. This book is historical fiction with a fantasy twist set in Italy.

Thank you so much to Isabel Ibañez and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A sumptuous romantasy set in Italy, with a fierce protagonist, hidden magic, a stoic and dangerous love interest, and a world that feels expansive beyond the pages. Lots of twists and high stakes. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

I think the first half of this book felt very mundane… and like it was missing something. Just like okay, cool, this girl can carve statues and now she’s gonna chisel some rocks. Got it. The thing I struggle with is that having read the whole book, I get it. I get why it was mundane and why it felt like it was missing something. It quite literally was. It wasn’t nearly as simplistic as it felt for the first half. But I don’t know if finding out the truth actually made me think the first half of the book was worth it. And weirdly, her profession felt kind of pointless.

Also, I actually really liked the MMC and the FMC, but I do not think they had chemistry, which is unfortunate.

Not my favorite book by her.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

Whenever I read a book by Isabel Ibañez, I know to expect an extremely well-researched story that throws the reader right into the heart of historical conflict. This book is no different. I loved the setting, and I felt like Ibañez did a phenomenal job showing the reader all of the rich culture Florence has to offer.

The plot was well thought out, with some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Some chapters were told from other characters’ points of view, which I think added great background information, and provided more insight into where these characters’ values came from.

Unfortunately, our FMC Ravenna fell a little flat for me. I found her to be a bit immature at times. I really wish she was more strong-willed and calculating. Her romance with Saturnino was fine, but I would’ve loved some more yearning on his part (iykyk).

The ending was a bit confusing. It felt like there were too many different events going on at once that it was difficult for me to stay focused. However, I loved the reveal at the end, and the resolution was a great way to finish the story. I also liked how the ending left an opening for a potential sequel/related standalone.

Overall, another good book from Isabel Ibañez! Though this one wasn’t my favorite, I’m still looking forward to reading whatever she publishes in the future.

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
I loved this book, from the politics, to the incredible plot and the slowest of slow burns. Truly, so unique and such a beautifully woven story.
Isabel is the queen of well researched historical fantasy.
¡ The scenery, clothes and art are so well described.
You can see the effort she put into this book on every page. Beyond the research, the main characters are unforgettable. Ravenna is strong and smart, eldest daughters you will relate to her! Saturnino is a mysterious immortal knight but as his character develops you see his own motives and that maybe he does have a heart. Seriously, every interaction between these two l was holding my breath or kicking my feet.
The side characters were so unique but I can't reveal too much about who I liked because I feel it would spoil!
This book was truly amazing but the last 30% a MASTERPIECE. I made the mistake of reading before bed and ended up finishing the book.
I also loved the authors note at the end explaining the history and connections we may not know.
preorder this book if you like
-multiple POVs
-rich politics in fantasy
-historical elementals in fantasy
-enemies to lovers (emphasis on enemies)
-unique magic
-renaissance Italy
-twists and betrayals
-who did this to you

I have been really trying to read outside of my usual picks lately. I tend to struggle with some historical books. I did struggle some at the start. I don’t think that is the fault of the book, more that this is a different style of writing for me. I’m glad I kept at it because ultimately I enjoyed it.. If you are feeling burnt out on the typical romantasy genre, this was a great palate cleanser!