I thought this was a really solid debut, I enjoyed listening to the audiobook and found the writing and plot flowed really well. I only wish it was adult fantasy, not YA as I think the storytelling could have been more evocative if it was a little darker and more menacing. I think this title will do well commercially with my customers.

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa’s gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill every suitor she touches.

Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island’s only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.
Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante’s dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?

A gorgeous and exciting fantasy debut by Emily Thiede.

This Viscious Grace is a beautifully written book that gave me everything I seek in a fantasy book - from brilliant characters, a fun bodyguard close proximity situation, found family, court intrigue, the perfect forbidden/ friends to lovers, slow burn romance that's full of gorgeous prose and dazzling, swoon- worthy chemistry!

Perfect! Perfect! Perfect! One of my favourites this year. That is all I can say, as my heart is full and my head is speechless.

This Vicious Grace was such a fun YA fantasy! It's your classic good versus evil story, but with a great supernatural twist! It's such an epic apocalyptic story and I loved it.

The main highlight of this book for me was Dante! I loved everything about his grumpy badass attitude! He was so sweet and sensitive and adored him! His secret was also perfect and I didn't see it coming at all! His relationship with Alessa was also just everything! I love a good slow burn romance and this ticked all the boxes!

This Vicious Grace was such a fantastic apocalyptic fantasy, filled with strong Italian influences and mythology. I can't wait to see where this story goes next!

“You can’t die tonight. You have to save the world.”

CW: Blood, death, violence, suicidal thoughts, war

I enjoyed This Vicious Grace much more than I was expecting to. I loved the characters and the magic, as well as the plot.
This Vicious Grace is full of Italian-inspired world building, demons and deities, and a religion/mythology based on them. There is a history to the island and a sense that this has happened before. Detail and history was offered slowly - although I think I missed some (I think as a result of listening to the audiobook), I don’t think I struggled with the rest of the book because of this.
There are was a political thread to this, which I wasn’t expecting, but didn’t mind.
Alessa was a really interesting main character. She was celebrated for so long as deity-chosen, but the book begins when her power has become a curse. She’s terrified of hurting the people around her and terrified of falling in love again. The difficulties she faces really challenge who she is as a person - she is kind and loving, but so lonely. She has to reassess the rules follows because they’re what she’s always been told versus what she wants to do.
I liked the relationship Alessa formed with Dante and the Fonte. They were friendships formed out of necessity and forced proximity, but they also felt genuine. Dante was sassy and cynical, but still understanding and protective. I liked his banter with Alessa.
I really enjoyed the slow burn romance and I didn’t mind that it seemed to be a focus of the book. I think, given Alessa’s history, it was important that she had the time to develop feelings. I love the “casual” touches that don’t mean anything, the chance to grow together.
I definitely enjoyed this and cannot wait to read more in the series.

Alessa has a special gift that is revered throughout her people, but it is not functioning right. When her people turn on her, she enlists the help of cynical outcast Dante.😄

So, I have already forgotten everything about this story, and I have just read it.😅
I just thought it was pretty predictable and generic.😒

There are so many clichés, and I would love to list them, but I would get too close to spoiler territory.😕
And don't get me wrong, I love a good trope or two.😃
But please be original in how you incorporate them, or at least surprise me once in a while.😬
But nope.😔

I mean, the premise is: powerful, but very secluded girl, meets cynical outcast who has lived a difficult life.🫢
We all know how this story goes, right?🙄

Anyway, if you like the tropes, absolutely go for it!😄
It is just not for me anymore.😬

Self-doubt, love, companionship, demons and humour all appear in a well written story by author Emily Thiede. I enjoyed this fantasy story, of a girl chosen by the gods to save her island. But she has real problems trying to do so. Alissa is the next in line, chosen by her God to be her Island’s next hope against a swarm of demons, who rise up periodically. She should be able to use and multiply the force of her compatriot’s power to provide protection for the masses. But all she seems to be able is kill them. She has the power, it seems too much of it. Two dead from her touch, full of self-doubt and with the island populace turning against her, what is Alissa to do. Pick up this book and immerse yourself in the story as you find out what happens. This is the first in a series; this book does complete this part of the story, but at the first suggests where the story will go next. Can’t wait to find out where Alissa and her friends end up next. The audio version I listened to is perfectly presented. Thank you to Wednesday Books, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for letting me listen to an audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

This Vicious Grace was a lush and fast-paced YA Fantasy, that I enjoyed from start to finish! There a narrator did a great job. Her voice was easy to listen to and I love the way she pronounced all the Italian! Being part Italian myself I really love the Italian influence and language! I really adored Alessa and Dante’s romance throughout the story, and Dante is one of my new favorite book boyfriends! I also enjoyed her progressing relationships with the other Fontes. It was so heart warming to see them all friends (even Kaleb) working together by the end of the book! I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next in this series, but that was definitely a great start!

3.5⭐️

So I don’t knke if I struggled with this one because I’m in a slump, or because it’s a fantasy book or what but this just didn’t excite me as much as I thought it would.

I really did like some parts of this and I was smiling along with it but I also cannot remember a lot of it and I’ve only just finished.

This did remind me a lot of shatter me and from blood and ash which are two of most liked series, but I think I was just in too much of a slump to enjoy it thoroughly. Maybe I need to reread when I’m in a fantasy mood.

I really like Alessa and I felt quite bad for her. I really liked Dante and his humour and teasing. I liked the whole friend group and the sort of found family trope with them.

I did have to relisten to the ending because I couldn’t believe he died and gave her his power. I was not really expecting that!

Thank you for netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this arc in exchange of my honest review.

This Vicious Grace is a debut by Emily Thiede

Perfect for anyone who likes god given magic, fantastic banter, slow burn romance, and an impending apocalypse.

Alessa has been chosen by the gods to be the saviour of her village in the upcoming apocalypse, however she can’t do it by herself. Her power is meant to magnify her partner’s magic, but there is a problem, she kills every person she touches. After the death of her third partner the islands losing faith and her own soldiers try to assassinate her. Enter Dante *swoon* an outcast with his own dark past. Alessa hire’s him to be her bodyguard but he ends up being a lot more.

I cannot wait for the next book, I have so many questions that need answering!

Perfect for anyone who likes god given magic, fantastic banter, slow burn romance, and an impending apocalypse.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me a ARC.

Thank you so much for providing with this amazing audiobook. I absolutely loved it. Now I really want to listen to the next installment. The idea of the author to use Italian as the old language is just so funny.

Wow! I mean just wow! I can not express my love for this series into words…but I can sure try. From the first page I was intrigued as the story and Emily Thiede’s writing slowly dragged me further and further into the world of power, gifts, and a need for love. By the time I released how emotionally invested I was, I was so far in it was hard to stop listening. This amazing and beautiful character Emily created not only in your mind, but in your heart, was so relatable and realistic. It was so easy to love her, so much so that when wrong is done to her, I was shouting at the book wanting to argue with the characters (and the author) about why they were so ooo…ahhhh. I will say no more to not spoil, but ahhhhhh is an accurate expression.

This book for me is on par with These Hollow Vows with how amazing and wonderful and loveable it is and damn do I need the next one right now. I will be honest and had my doubts about this book, but wow were my expectation blown out the window and replaced by a need to create a space on my favourites books of all time shelf for when this beauty arrives in person.

A massive thank you to Hodder and Netgallery for sending me an early audiobook of this five star beauty.

This book was absolutely not what I thought it would be! When it started I was surprised by the tone, I expected it to be more in the vein of The Nightingale and the Bear and the Winternight series. It isn't and at least initially it starts off as a pretty straightforward enemies to lovers Hunger Games type scenario, The tone is puzzling, there are references to espresso and eyeliner that sit uneasily with a pre-tech/magic environment that are jarring and jolt the reader out of the world. As the story went on I began to suspect that this is the beginning of a series and we are in fact in some sort of post-apocalyptic version of Italy but in this first story it didn't quite sit right for me.
I'm all for romance, but in this case it felt like two or even three genres mashed together,

I think this is essentially a YA book masquerading as something for adults and that is absolutely fine. YA has some of the finest writing out there but that needs to be clearer from the off.
The book improves as the religion, culture and stories of the world are unpicked and as the Gods make an appearance and it became more compelling, On the whole though, it's good but I won't be rushing out to get the next instalment, for fans of this sort of initially awkward then empowered lone teen female warrior and broody dark male love interest in a fantasy setting then it will be an enjoyable read,

Headlines:
The evil saviour
Deadly touch
Connection and hugs

This Vicious Grace is a story with an Italian world at the centre. Pasta and baked goods feature but this isn't a recognisable world we know, it is one full of grey characters, a chosen fighter in the Finestra Alessa and a daunting day of reckoning ahead.

Alessa had a deadly touch and she was matched into coupledoms with chosen individuals to leech their powers. It was a pretty sick parasitic relationship but she was forced into it. It was a sad state of affairs witnessing Alessa's life, with no family who cared, guardians who had a job to do and no friends surrounding her. Her loneliness was palpable and sad. This made the appearance of a friend something meaningful.

The read was very ebb and flow for me. Early investment was there and it got more exciting for me when Dante appeared and from halfway but I didn't feel fully into the story or the characters and I can't quite put my finger on why.

I didn't love This Vicious Grace but I think many will.

The narration was very good, strong execution of accents for the dialogue and that delicious Italian intro for each chapter start.

Thank you to Hodder Books for the review copies.

This is the first book in a brand-new series – and by a debut author! That’s quite a lot of ‘firsts’, and well done to Emily Thiede. I was quite fascinated by this story. As a fantasy fan, I got quite used to world-building and magic, but to experience it with a strong Italian influence, was quite unique for me. Is Italian Lore a new sub-culture? I see it developing! A strong and determined heroine, a stoic and mysterious bodyguard, magical powers and the threat of an imminent demon attack, also incorporating a found family trope, what’s not to love? And I think most readers will be crushing hard on Dante. Intelligent, flirtatious banter does it to me, what can I say? The book started off a little slow, but I also then take into account that it usually is the case for world-building and necessary to detail the rules and characters. It is wonderfully written, with well-developed characters and beautiful prose. I am already looking forward to the sequel.

I listened to the audiobook version, and thoroughly enjoyed it! Great job by the narrators, Carlotta Brentan and Michael Gallagher

Alessa, the chosen Finestra, has to protect her country from a demon attack that's coming. She hasn't found a partner, a Fonte, due to guilt as she's killed any previous ones due to her killer touch. She also finds herself in the middle of an assassination plot so it's all going on!!!!

Enter Dante who Alessa finds in town and hires as her bodyguard despite his seemingly dubious background.

Alessa is a fab leading lady, her character growth was amazing and all helped along by Dante.

Their banter, what they teach each other, his protective streak. Two lost souls finding each other. It was so exciting! I wanted to shout 'kiss' all the time!!!

The plot was so good along with the world building. The characters were well fleshed out and I loved all the side characters too! There was a small cliffhanger that made me go and look to see when the next book is out!

Fab read, would totally recommend.

Fantasy, magic, demons, apocolypse, tears and love... yes that pretty much sums it up!

I adored this book! It has a good start, a busy middle and an epic ending. The characters are so rich and full of life and we receive a fabulous storyline.

The narration was fantastic.

Admittedly I had to reach for the tissues. I look forward to book 2 (soon I hope!).

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to review this fabulous ARC!

Definitely recommend listening to the audiobook, I really enjoyed both narrators.

For most of this book I was thinking it would be a solid 3 star read. I liked it but wasn't particularly invested. The worldbuilding was intriguing. There were some interesting character dynamics. The romance was really nice.
Then the last third happened. Everything, from plot to characters, fell into place perfectly and I ended up really enjoying it. My heart even broke a little there for a while. I will be picking up the sequel.

As far as descriptions go, this book has a pretty accurate one, so, I'd say if it speaks to you then you should give it a go.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely fantastic!

"This Vicious Grace" was unexpectedly awesome. I feel like it is the best book of the year.

I am trying to come up with something intelligent here but all I can think of is the feeling that I got after reading "A court of Mist and Fury". I feel torn. I want to read it again for the first time. The emotions during the reading and the emptiness after finishing it... It should be illegal. If the book can do that with you, than you know that you have a winner. The story is captivating, interesting world building and characters... I am speechless. Dante is my new book crush.

I always find it difficult to write a review of a great book. There is not enough words to describe how much I have enjoyed the reading. I fell in love with the writing and the author. Now I have to suffer and wait for the next part. And that will be difficult.

Poor Alessa can’t seem to stop killing every single person that she touches, and she has no idea why, but much to her dismay she’s been chosen by the Gods to stop the apocalypse that’s threatening to destroy everything and everyone. The catch? She has to have a magical partner to help her, but how exactly can she do that when she’s out there killing everyone she touches, and now has people trying to kill her!?

Enter Dante, a brooding street fighter who is more than reluctant to be her bodyguard while she searches for her magical partner but eventually agrees after Alessa won’t quit harassing him about it. But what are the secrets that Dante is hiding? Will he help her finally get control of her power, or will he end up being the person to kill her?

The world building was phenomenal (it’s set in Italy for god sake, how could it not be phenomenal?!), the characters were exquisite, and the banter and jokes between them were damn sexy. The plot flowed beautifully from start to finish and I found myself captivated and needing to read more, I was enthralled. I’m one of those readers that can find themselves bored if there’s not much happening in a chapter but I didn’t have an ounce of boredom in me throughout the entire book. What a fabulous read! This is a contender for a place in my top 10 2022 reads.

Did I also mention that Alessa has the funniest awkward social moments and comes out with the most inappropriate things in conversation? She’s fantastic and I love her.

If you like a good fantasy book filled with romance, humour, amazingly inappropriate jokes, and a fantastic apocalypse then this is the book for you. Thank you Hodderscape for giving me an audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book way more than I expected. The story held a very interesting premise, and I found the characters to be really loveable. I definitely enjoyed the romance and friendships in this book more than the actual plotline, however, it was still a very enjoyable and fun read. The banter and blossoming relationship between Alessa and Dante was my favourite part. Really looking forward to reading the sequel!

Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC!