just finished this masterpiece and im literally sobbing. it isn’t the most unpredictable book but the romance is definitely one of the best i’ve read in quite a while !! alessa is basically a living amplifier ( if you’ve read the grishaverse books you know ) so she has to find a suitor to magnify their magic and save the island, but she keeps killing every possible partner just by touching them. after a group guided by a priest threatens her life she hires dante, giving us my beloved bodyguard trope <3 the development of their relationship has some moments that got me laughing to tears, the tension was chefs kiss and the last chapters got me bawling my eyes out. dante, luce mia, is my fav sarcastic brunette ever. there is also a little bit of found family trope that always makes me so soft. and last but not least, i need more of our sapphic girlboss kamaria <3

*thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange of an honest review*

This was an undemanding read, that engaged with a lot of the tropes I enjoy: grumpy boy who likes to read, gathering of found family, ensemble pulling together to SAVE THE WORLD--all very nice. The dialogue was a bit clunky, the romance was a bit obvious, but it was good-hearted and sweet, and I did enjoy the way our sweet innocent heroine employs innuendo so expertly, all learned from her romance books. I don't see myself continuing the series, but the cast of characters and world-building is rich enough that I can imagine some people being really taken with it, and following the sequels avidly.

4.5

Alessa is meant to be the saviour, but she keeps killing her Fontes - whose power she is meant to draw from in order to do the saving. The apocalypse is nearly upon them, and she is no closer to being able to draw power and not kill her Fonte at the same time. But along comes Dante, her new bodyguard - and I have to admit, Dante is one of the best love interests I've seen in a long time. He puts her first, he truly cares for her, and the friendship they establish first of all is so sweet. There are some of the best tropes in this book - you've got forbidden romance/friends-to-lovers, which is done SO well, and you've also got a bit of found family in here, with the pack of Fontes that Alessa has to choose from. I really loved all the characters in here, Emily Thiede has a fantastic, funny writing style that lends itself really well to her characters. The ending felt a bit too quick, considering how long of a build up we had to this big apocalyptic battle, but I really can't wait to read the sequel!

Excuse me. EXCUSE ME It’s almost rude how amazing this book is. It’s been a while since I last had a book that was near on impossible to put down and that kept me up all night but This Vicious Grace did just that.

I adored Alessa, she’s strong, smart and independent. Her loneliness endeared me to her straight away, we love reading about a strong female. Dante was… well there aren’t any words for Dante really, other thank DAMNNN.

This book is a guaranteed page turner that will have you gripped from the very first line. An addictive tale filled with witty banter, betrayals, found family and reluctant allies turned… well, you’ll have to read and find out 😏

This Vicious Grace is a unique and brilliant fantasy that had me on the edge of my seat!

The first thing I loved about this book were the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter, which were very beautiful and really drew me in.

I liked Alessa as a character and thought she was very realistic. She was rebellious but also hopeful and selfless, which made her a very loveable character. I loved the dynamic between Alessa and Dante, her bodyguard, friend and love interest. Their banter was humorous but I also loved the more serene moments where they slowly fell in love.

Whilst I found that it started off rather slow, the pace quickly began to pick up and the romance, danger and anticipation completely drew me in. There wasn't much worldbuilding of what was beyond the island where this book takes place, however I enjoyed the mystery and am excited for it to be explored in book two.


Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reminiscent of Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, This Vicious Grace is an excellent romantic fantasy debut.

I can't review it better than the message I sent my friend,

"Its more politics, banter, streetwalks, cuddling and almost kisses with the monster while the world is ending in a month vibe. Very laid back but very fun. Not groundbreaking fantasy romance but it does the formula well"

So go read it. It had its flaws with lackluster battle scenes and the Perfect love interest but overall, I enjoyed it very much.

Thanks to Hacchette UK and Netgalley for the e arc

The plot follows Alessa, the Chosen Finestra of Saverio. As Finestra, she has the ability to grasp and magnify the gifts of a Fonte - a person blessed by the goddess Dea with a supernatural Gift. Alessa is expected to marry and train with her chosen Fonte in order to protect the island of Saverio from Divorando - Doomsday, initiated by the gods - when a horde of demons will attack.

Divorando is drawing closer, and Alessa’s life is in danger as word starts to spread about her deadly touch. She still hasn’t found a Fonte. So she hires Dante, an outlaw, to protect her.

I liked the writing style of this book - it matched the atmosphere and the setting beautifully. It added a lot of richness to the mood and the emotions, and that’s what really brought things to life for me.

Overall, I did not expect to be so drawn into this book the way I was. It was described as a lush romance combined with a fantasy, and for some reason I didn’t realize what that meant until I finished.

The only reason I didn’t give it a full five stars is because it just didn’t have the same feel as my five-star books. It was good, but not quite on that level for me to scream and rave about it

What a superbly written debut!

This Vicious Grace is the story of Alessa, the Finestra, a kind of magical divine warrior who is relied upon to save her home island of Saverio. Alessa must rely on a Fonte, a human similar to herself, using and amplifying their magic and making it her own. Only her strength is too much, and so far she has killed three Fontes.

This fact has destroyed her reputation, making her a pariah with many questioning whether she is actually a fake. It all comes to a head when assassination attempts are made on her life and Alessa takes matters into her own hands, hiring a bodyguard to protect herself. But Dante the bodyguard has his own secrets, ones which could pose more of a danger to Alessa than those after her life...

I absolutely adored This Vicious Grace. Thiede is a beautiful writer and there were so many quotable pieces. Alessa is an inspiration, there was so much against her even from the beginning and the loneliness she feels is crippling and so well described. Her fear of killing another has her understandably hesitating, and it sets her apart from the other characters even when she wants to be near them. Her isolation makes her awkward with other people and I loved how that was portrayed when she tries to talk and connect with the Fontes.

The world building is lush, the picture Thiede paints of Saverio is so vivid you can almost smell the lemons in the air (haha). The Italian aspects were well handled and I loved all the interspersed proverbs. Especially when a certain bodyguard was saying.

And speaking of Dante, aka my new book boyfriend...I adored him right from their first antagonistic meetibg. His banter with Alessa was pitch perfect and their slow development from grudging respect to love was beautifully done. I absolutely adored their friendship, the way Dante teased Alessa out of her shell, and how she in turn, didn't allow him to remain the closed off, damaged young man he is at the beginning. Whilst this isn't a dual pov book Dante's feelings are clear on the page, and Alessa's bemusement to some of his reactions (which were obvious to the reader) were so delightful and bought a lovely touch of humour to some of the darker moments.

I finished the book in one sitting, immediately pre-ordered it and then sat cursing myself for not lingering in this world more. Especially because now I have to wait a whole year for the next book?! (Please tell me it's a year 😂) That ending was so good it hurt and I NEED to know what happens next for Alessa, Dante and the others.

This Vicious Grace will undoubtedly be one of my favourite releases of the year. If you're looking for a lush fantasy, with an intriguing magic system, a beautiful found family dynamic, gorgeous setting and the swooniest of romances, look no further than This Vicious Grace.

A fun and immersive debut from Emily Thiede. I couldn’t put this boom down. Filled with witty banter, unlikely friendships, a swoon-worthy romance, and high stakes tension.

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!!

This was such a unique book! I love it!! Whoa!! I can’t wait to read more by this author!

4.5 stars
I utterly adored This Vicious Grace . From the synopsis itself, it sounded like exactly the type of book that I would love and I did. It’s an incredible fantasy with such diverse and gorgeous worldbuilding. The world has some Italian elements involved and while certain terms were a little confusing for me at first, I was able to fully immerse myself in the story with ease. Emily Thiede’s writing is beautiful and there were so many quotes across the story that I saved in my notes.

I loved the main character, Alessa, so much. She’s strong, determined and without spoiling anything, I absolutely loved the development she goes through throughout the course of the plot. Of course, I have to mention Dante here. His and Alessa’s banter was just *chef’s kiss*. And it was so cool seeing their overall dynamic grow from him being her bodyguard, to being friends and to slowly developing romantic feelings. While the story is told from Alessa’s perspective, it was quite easy to see how Dante was slowly falling in love with her.

The ending left me screaming and craving for book two already. If you’re looking for a fantasy with easy to understand worldbuilding and magic system, found family and a swoon worthy romance, then This Vicious Grace is the perfect book for you!

This book was such an incredible fantasy debut. I fell in love with the characters so quickly, and the dynamics between Alessa and Dante were just perfect. Loved the witty sarcastic banter between them.

The slow burning romance was a perfect compliment to the pace of the plot.

Speaking of the plot - what a story. It was a little confusing at first but once get your head around the concept, it flows really well and I was completely addicted.

So glad I picked this up and cannot wait for book 2!

I think as a debut novel this was super well written some of the world building could have been a little more but overall it was a great book! I really enjoyed to unique storyline! Thank you to netgally and the publisher for early access to this book!

3.75 stars
The plot: Alessa has been blessed by the Goddess: she left behind her previous life (her family, her friends, her name) to become the new Finestra, a window to the divine. With the gift she received, Alessa is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic and stand between the people of Saverio and the monsters that will soon swarm the island. Such a pity that she has already killed three potential Fonti, becoming the worst Finestra in the history of Saverio.
Now, with only weeks left before the coming apocalypse, Divorando, Alessa is running out of time. If she wants to stop the invasion, she has to find a Fonte, and, meanwhile, deflecting the murder attempts of those convinced her death is the island’s only hope.


Let me first start by saying there are parts of This Vicious Grace I really enjoyed, but also parts that I thought were weaker or could be reworked.
Namely, I think that the author did a great job in depicting how lonely Alessa was, deprived of any kind of close relationship and forbidden to be touched by anyone but her Fonte - this was also a solid premise for her blossoming relationship with Dante. The worldbuilding was quite unique, with an exotic touch, and not overly complex to become overwhelming.

However, some elements did not convince me:
◾ as much as I loved Alessa and Dante together, I felt their relationship developed a bit too fast from mutual trust to friendship to love... I would have cherished a more slow-burn romance;
◾ I didn't dislike the side characters but, with the focus so locked on Alessa and Dante, I didn't get to know them enough to really care for them;
◾ the major twist was a bit predictable and therefore underwhelming, spoiling a bit the climax. I don't know if it was the synopsis that gives away too much or at least hints in that direction, but, sadly, I saw it coming from the beginning...
◾ I don't know if the author speaks a bit of Italian, but at times the quotation opening each chapter are seriously grammatically messed up. It really bothered me and made me wish the book had gone through proper proofreading by a native speaker.

That said, although I enjoyed This Vicious Grace, I don't know if I will stick around for book two, but I will keep an eye on it.

**Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.**

OH MY GOSH i enjoyed this book. It was a slow burner to begin with but as tension incresed so did the pace and I was completely hooked. It is well written with a really interwsting and totally compelling storyline with an incredible setting and well developed characters that jumped off of the pages. The world building is simply stunning honestly I felt like I could just jump in and be in the world in amongst the storyline.
This book had everything that I look for in in fantasy books and more, there was so much in this book that it made my head spin - in the best way.
I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me this ARC!

The story follow Alessa, a Finestra, trying to find her Fonte, her partner to work together to save Saverio from Divorando, a doom. But, it is not easy for because her Fonte, for 3 times, all dead because of her, because they touch her. No one but her Fonte can touch her, because she can kill them. Desperate and need to find her new Fonte, Alessa also disturbed by people who wants her to die, because they believe Alessa is not the right Finestra. Because of that Alessa hired Dante, mysterious but strong man to become her bodyguard. Now, Alessa need to find a way to choose her Fonte without killing them and save Saverio.

The plot offered is quite unique, where they already know when the "apocalypse" will come to them and only Finestra and Fonte can save them. Imagining we know when the destruction of the world and they can prepare for it, but of course in this book it is not easy. Although the plot is quite slow, this book is able to explain in full, starting from the origin / legend that causes this to happen, why there are terms Finestra and Fonte, Alessa's long journey to get used to her powers is also described here.

The world buildings are also well explained and detailed, so it's easy to imagine what their world would look like, what Saverio was like.

For the character, Alessa is a very sad character. Her lonely life, having no friends, no family, people are afraid of her, she can only be locked up alone without anyone to share warmth with. While reading this I constantly feel sorry for what Alessa is going through, she can't be the least bit happy. Likewise with Dante, a mysterious character who also has a sad story in his life. Just like Alessa, he is alone with no one he can make friends with. Maybe this is what makes Alessa and Dante have such strong chemistry.

I really like the dynamics of Dante and Alessa's relationship. Starting from bodyguards, becoming friends until finally love emerges between them. However, their relationship is also very difficult, cannot be approved and can only be hidden. Moreover, Alessa must be careful so that she does not kill Dante. But, there are so many sweet moments between the two, especially seeing Dante and Alessa protecting each other. Their relationship here is really the best even though there's a lot of sadness too!

The story of this book contains a lot of sadness, especially when it comes to Alessa, Dante and their relationship. But, I also like seeing the friendship that appears between Alessa and her Fontes. This book can be said to be complete and not too hanging, although at the end we can see that something else will happen and it will be worse. Can't wait for the next book!

Full review will post in my blog www.tikbookholic.com on publication date of this book!

well, it was certainly a book.

it contains a lot of well-loved tropes that i would usually love, yet it seemed to rely too much on this. the worldbuilding was interesting, yet the plot was predictable and the characters were not very well-developed. i wouldn't have minded the predictability of the plot, had it all been well-executed, but i found it quite mediocre, and frankly too much of a drag.

but maybe i read it wrongly, so i will probably try reading it again to see if i'll like it better.

One of my favourite reads of the year so far!

Alessa is the Finestra - a powerful magic-amplifier tasked with finding a Forte whose power she can use to defeat an impending demon invasion. The only trouble is, she keeps accidentally killing her Fortes (Forti! Sorry, Dante).

The world building was phenomenal, and the characters made this novel really something. There is a believable romance and an element of found family and everything about this book completely blew me away. I even found myself wiping away a tear towards the end!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed This Vicious Grace! although it seemed to have started rather slowly as soon as Alessa met Dante I knew we were in for a treat! I adore these characters and their relationship (we’ve got to love the bodyguard trope!) but i also came to love the group of fontes, it was lovely to see Alessa’s relationship with people grow as she learns more about herself too!
Overall, i loved this book, i thought the concept was really cool and the Italian influences just made it even better. I can’t wait for the rest of the series!

Don’t you just love when you don’t quite know what to expect from a book and it turns out to be absolutely amazing? I certainly do.

This Vicious Grace was more or less everything I want a young adult fantasy book to be. It’s fast-paced without ever feeling rushed and lots of details which makes both setting and story come alive without ever even risking to drag. Reading this book truly was like being transported back to another time and place. I could feel the sun and hear the buzz from the people milling about in the city.
The plot is unique and intriguing with several twists and revelations throughout the book. All characters feel so authentic as well,

It has a great and intriguing plot with a strong main character and lots of interesting supporting characters, some of which I truly hope we’ll see more of in the future.

And don’t even get me started on the romance sub-plot. I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers kind of thing and although I’m not quite sure if This Vicious Grace actually counts as enemies-to-lovers, it has all the slow-burn tension and witty banter I could ever want. Pure perfection.

Authors (like pretty much everyone else) tends got get better with practice and I don’t know about you, but I for one cannot wait for what else Emily Thiede has in mind for the future. I mean, if her debut novel is this good…

I know we’re only in the beginning of March but I can already tell that This Vicious Grace will be one of my top reads this year. So add this to your tbr right away, you don’t want to miss out on this one. Trust me!

***Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for providing an eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!