I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

I have to say, this novel started out quite slow and was easy to put down for some time. However, the last quarter of the book really got interesting and I liked that our Finestra and her Fontes began really thinking outside of the box for how to properly solve the pending apocalypse.

Initially, I would have said I have no interest in the sequel, but the last quarter changed my mind and I will likely read it now.

I would not recommend this for younger teens as it gets a bit risque with the romance.

I enjoyed this one a lot. A high fantasy with magic and lore, that contained a forbidden romance, a kind-of enemies-to-lovers relationship, forced proximity, and the added tension of impending doom. Add in new information the reader learns as the characters do to problem solve,you have a compelling adventure. With a fun cast of supporting characters I am excited for this story to continue. Though there was some predictability and one plot line I may not be as forgiving with, this is a fun read I enjoyed.

I’d love to say that the beginning was at least interesting, or that the magic system and presented conflict felt refreshing, but no. This felt way too similar to Kingdom of the Wicked and a lot of the issues I had with that book apply here as well. This was just so painfully slow and boring. There arent enough clever murder plots, there’s no political intrigue or strategy to this showdown we keep counting down to, and neither the MC or the romantic interest had any character depth. Basically the magic system was just vague and clearly not fleshed out, the dialogue felt rudimentary and flat out lazy at times, and the witty snarky banter this needed to seek the whole grumpy bodyguard and lonely sad girl never took off.

Alessa was just a bundle of anxiety but took no agency for herself, she had no personality, and even with Dante, I didn’t see any sparkling personality. Dante played the rogue mysterious, brooding love interest but he was also really flat and boring. He didn’t even make good eye candy or give us those possessive enemies to lovers or bodyguard vibe that we should have gotten. It’s bizarre there’s no sunshine character to counterbalance either the sad emo girl or the grumpy bodyguard, when you put those two together, you just get an overly dramatic and soapy teenage story.

Even 250 pages on, the romance and action still aren’t there. Nothing, NOTHING happens. It’s just Alessa hanging out with Dante but even that doesn’t seem to really move the needle forward on their relationship or even give us much to anchor and understand their backgrounds. Even that truth or dare game…there was so much she could have done with that game, made it raw and honest, given us some steam or pining, but no. We get….what’s your favorite color…The romance wasn’t believable and was too slow to pick up any steam.

None of the secondary characters have much to offer or even become central friends to help Alessa’s loneliness or even make her shine and look better. No one is memorable or has any complexity or nuance.

Then some of the alleged twists start coming. None were surprising, and none helped up the pacing or excitement. The brother listing her “failures” which include burning dinner, are you fucking kidding me? This is so damn drab and parochial. Dante’s identity reveal…meh. The ending also leaves much to be desired as the “climax” presented doesn’t even feel like we’re in a race against the clock to save the world.

This was such a fun read! I was immediately drawn in be the premise: a girl who kills anyone she touches? Hello, I am here for that! And it only got better from there!

Alessa is the Finestra, a woman blessed be Dea to magnify the magical gifts of others. She is to choose a Fonte, one who has elemental abilities, to help fight a plague of insect demons, if you will. But in order to use their power, she has to touch them. Thus, the problem.

The world-building in this book was so unique! I’ll admit, it took me a while to catch on, since a lot of details were shared quickly at the beginning, but I caught on eventually. Though I will admit, I do have a few questions that were never addressed.

Alessa as a female MC was great! I loved her big heart and her snark, and the way she was so strong despite her struggles. And Dante? I mean, he’s tall, dark, handsome, and full of self-loathing. Need I say more?

There was also a surprising little found family that I grew to love! Honestly, I need a novella about each of them—Kaleb, Kamaria, Saida, Josef, Nina. They were all so fun and interesting in their own way!

If you’re looking for a unique YA fantasy with slow burn, found family, and some good steam, check this one out!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I realy loved this book. The touch someone and they die troupe is not always my favoite but i really loved how emily crafted this story. I also loved this story was also super poltical elements at the heart of this read! It was suepr fast pace read. It also in addition to be it also had find your mate eleement with magical twist. I overalll loved this book. I think the world building had soem confusing moments but first books in the series it was very well done. I am really excitd to see where book 2 goes! i also really loved the main romance in this book and also really enjoyed the focus on friendship elements as wel!!

I was really excited by the synopsis but the writing felt juvenile. The first few chapters did a great job introducing the book but it became predictable once the love interest showed up

"We are flawed, imperfect, and often broken, but we all contain the potential to be more."

With danger looming near, Alessa (the Finestra who kind of kills everyone she touches) along with her broody bodyguard, and her rag-tag group of Fontes must band together to overcome the impossible and save the world ... before it's too late. Y'ALL. THIS BOOK. It SO GOOD. I loved it so much and I think it will definitely end up in my top favorites overall this year. I can't wait for book 2!! This book got me out of my reading slump - I couldn't put it down! I love when a fantasy pulls you in and immerses you in their world. The writing is absolutely beautiful, the story was powerful, the magic was fierce and the political drama was intriguing.

Read if you enjoy:

• fantasy / folklore
• found families
• strong female lead
• intense magic
• forbidden love
• second chances
• great side characters

“Cry. Rage. You deserve to. You’re angry, and you should be, but you get to choose whether it will make you bitter or make you better.”

Thank you Wednesday Books / St Martin's Press for this e-ARC. This review will be posted to my Instagram in a few days and has already been shared to retail sights!

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This Vicious Grace is the first novel in Emily Thiede's The Last Finestra series. If you love fantasy with a bit of romance and high stakes, this is worth checking out.

Alessa was given a gift from the gods – her powers were always meant to magnify the magic of her partner. Yet, here Alessa sits, having participated in three weddings and attended three funerals. Alessa has no choice but to continue looking for a new partner, as her people are at significant risk.

However, it doesn't take much for a corrupted priest to convince the people that Alessa is the source of the threat and that killing her will save them all. What happens next could be described as fate if you were so inclined.

I originally picked up This Vicious Grace because it had some serious Rogue (from Marvel) vibes, and I adore her. The concept of a magic-user having a deadly touch is admittedly not new, but it can be SO GOOD when done right. Yes, my friends. It is done right here, though there are several more twists to make this particular story quite complicated. It's a blast to read, to put it mildly.

A lot goes into setting the scene here, from Alessa's gift (curse?) to the dangers of the world and pretty much everything in between. It felt natural when the romantic interest was introduced, as he fits perfectly into the world.

Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed This Vicious Grace, but the sense of humor and wit it carried throughout the pages made me really love it. I adore it when books have a good sense of humor, especially about themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press, Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede in exchange for my honest review.

This Vicious Grace is the story of the last Finestra, Alessa, who supposed to save her people. But after 3 weddings and 3 funerals, people are starting to doubt her. What can Alessa do when everyone she touches, dies?

With time running out and a swarm of demons are on their way, Alessa is desperate to save her people, even at the cost of her life. Then she witnesses a strangers act of kindness and she offers him room and board to keep her safe until she chooses her new Fonte. 

I actually like Alessa and was pulled into her messed up world quickly. Dante was a fun character to meet and their slow burning romance was cute and snarky. The secondary characters are not as detailed and drawn out as the MC and her partner in crime, but some of them grow on you. I would have enjoyed learning more about them, other than the basic details.

The world-building, at times, was more info dumps than I would like. That said, by the end of the story I didn’t care because I was so invested in what characters and the story that I looked past it. Also my love of Italy, Italian food and the language helped too. I’d recommend to fantasy lovers who enjoy a side of romance and a sassy MC who isn’t afraid to do what’s best for everyone, even if it costs her everything.

4 1/2 stars

I always love a book that gives me a good broody bodyguard. Dante had that covered and then some. Needless to say, he was my favorite character. However, our heroine, Alessa is pretty impressive too....once she figures out just how bada@# she really is.

This book is a strong start to a new series. You meet Alessa who is expected to save not just her small island/country, but basically the world as they know it from demon-like bug creatures. But she can't do it alone, she needs the help of her Fonte (her magical partner) to succeed. She will need to channel their magic to fight the creatures. The problem is she can't find a match that can survive her touch. Time is ticking and they know an imminent invasion is coming.

This book was excellent. The author did a wonderful job creating a world where you actually believed this was all possible and then gave you characters that were struggling to find a way to save this same world. She gave them both strengths and weaknesses that are relatable. Alessa has many insecurities that plague her as she's trying to find a Fonte to match with. Things that haunt her from her past that have followed her into the current day.

The book also demonstrates how the human spirit can overcome a great deal. But sometimes it helps if at least one person believes in you. There were so many beautiful and subtle lessons woven into the storyline. I truly enjoyed this read and look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Oh my gosh, I need the next one! This was such a great and fun read. I always have a love hate with YA fantasy, but I just rushed through this and couldn’t stop reading. There was some small quibbles, like pacing and wanting more on the side characters, but great debut!

Alessa was chosen by the gods to help battle demons that will swarm her home. Only, why does she keep hurting everyone she tries to touch? The council and her people begin to doubt whether she is up to the task. Desperate, Alessa recruits a bodyguard to help her train and keep her safe from overzealous citizens. Dante and Alessa must use every strategy available to try and harness her magic in time. As doubt solidifies among her people, Alessa must access her powers or risk the destruction of everyone she loves.

This Vicious Grace was a fantastic adventure! I already can’t wait to reread it. There were so many delightful moments throughout, using some of my favorite tropes. Alessa is a fierce heroine, never giving up even amongst insurmountable odds. I loved how her relationship with Dante grew as they were forced to reveal secrets to each other. There is a strong sense of found family, witty writing, and it was extremely well-paced. Thiede knows how to end each chapter on a cliff, ensuring that readers won’t be able to stop turning the pages!

I would highly recommend This Vicious Grace! If you are a fan of Kerri Maniscalco, Shelby Mahurin, bodyguard romances, and action-packed adventure then you need to read This Vicious Grace. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next! Thank you to Emily Thiede, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

You know, I have no bad feelings towards this book. I started it last night, read half of it and finished it this morning. It’s easy to read and yet it wasn’t special at all. It’s the same story that I’ve read a dozen times before. We’ve got The Chosen One main characters, the I’m A Monster love interests and the ragtag team that saves the world. It’s a typical YA story. Painfully generic.

The writing was simple, the dialogue was poorly done, and their banter was simply there to propel the romance forward, but the romance wasn’t that believable to begin with. They started to banter from the first second they met, which is funny considering she’s the Finestra and he’s a paid killer, so the least she could’ve done was be a tiny bit careful. But no, she’s doing heart eyes at him from the second they met.

The characters weren’t developed that well other than a couple of main traits and it’s so obvious that the book is solely focused on the romance between Dante and Alessa. Nothing apart from them two got enough attention, so nothing is developed enough. The sibling dynamic got on my nerves so much. There’s no way your sibling actively tells you to commit and you just forgive them. Just like that. The cast of side characters were kind of one-dimensional, which is sad, because the potential was there. I feel like the author relied a bit too much on tropes to the point that nothing went besides their assigned trope. There’s a scene where one of the characters betrayed the MC and it was set up to be so dramatic, but these two characters have 5 interactions max. It's shocking to no one.

The plot is barely there, we’re left with a bunch of things unexplained, the world-building is non-existent, and the story is paced weirdly. The lore surrounding the two gods (were they gods?) did more bad than good, as it was severely underexplored, so nothing is explained properly. The magic was touched upon a bit and it’s a simple enough concept to grasp without much explaining, so there’s that.

Everything was always so convenient – oh, we need some conflict? The character that was against the Finestra from the start suddenly shows up and ruins the fun for everyone. Twice. It was predictable from start to finish. Somehow the pitch makes it sound like this is supposed to be a “high-stakes” fantasy and it’s so monotone. Not once was I on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened because it was so obvious what comes next. The stakes were non-existent. I was reading about the end of the world and didn’t feel a thing.
I’m not sure what the book meant by the Italian setting because the only Italian I saw were the quotes at the start and the random moments Dante decided it’s time for a proverb. You could’ve told me this was set anywhere else and I would’ve believed you.

So, there’s that. I didn’t enjoy it, but maybe someone else will, so give it a go, see if you like it.

Great worldbuilding that doesn't pull away from the heart of the story. The magic and romance blend well into the overall plot. Great read overall!

I'm usually not a fan of slow-burn romances but I really enjoyed this one. This book was filled with a rich story, great character development, and a romance that had a chemistry that pulled you in and made you care more about it than everything else that was going on. I feel like for this being her debut novel Emily Thiede produced something amazing. The world-building and character development were better done than some seasoned authors that I have read in the past. I highly recommend this to anyone.

Rating: 2.5 *

I was really excited about this book; however, it did not live up to my expectations. I found the plot to be confusing and the character development lacking. The backstory for Alessa was very interesting, but I wish we would have explored her personal relationship more with their deity. It would have been nice to delve into the relationship in another realm. Just to further explore why selecting her as The Finestra was integral to survival. Plus, give some insight into why she was chosen.

The magical aspects of this story did not hit hard enough, and the world-building fell flat. Also, the relationships within the story felt very surface level, and it would have been nice to explore them on a deeper level.

I think this book does a great job showing how ugly the world can be and people to others that differ from them. There was a lot of potential here, but I do not think I’d invest time in reading the sequel.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

This was a very solid read, and I can definitely see it appealing to teens. The world, characters, and relationships were all well-developed and I think it does a good job setting up for a sequel.

This Vicious Grace follows Alessa, the chosen Finestra, whose powers are supposed to amplify her partner’s magic—not kill them. People start turning on her, and after an assassination attempt, she hires Dante, a cynical outcast from the city, to be her personal bodyguard. Only, she couldn’t have known he’d become her friend—and the island’s only hope of surviving the swarm of demons on their way to devour everything.

This was a stunning debut novel with such a compelling plot! I was drawn in by the idea of someone longing for touch but unable to touch anyone without killing them. Of course, add in a bodyguard love interest who changes the game, and I’m in! The romance built slowly and authentically, and I adored that their relationship started off as a deep and important friendship for each of them. In the end, they saved each other in more ways than one. The book had beautifully descriptive writing, complex world building, high stakes, and a stellar cast of characters. I am ready for the sequel!

This Vicious Grace (The Last Finestra #1) by Emily Thiede is a YA fantasy novel that I'd been looking forward to and I'm so excited that I had the opportunity to read this series opener via NetGalley. It took a little while for me to get really invested in the story, but once I did I didn't want to put down the book. The characters are easily what kept me coming back for more. As much as I liked getting to know the determined Alessa, I really got a kick out of reading Dante. Together they made quite a team and their banter back and forth was pretty priceless. I also liked that we got to see friendships develop as well. On top of the character development, the action sequences was really cool too. Overall, I'm really looking forward to seeing where the sequel and Emily Thiede's future works will go.

In this upper YA fantasy romance, Alessa is blessed with the gift of magnifying a partner’s power to stop an impending apocalypse. Unfortunately, she keeps killing her partners with her touch instead, and after three weddings and three funerals, the people are starting to turn on her. With the help of her secretive new bodyguard, Alessa must get her power under control before the apocalypse arrives … or someone murders her first.

This book grabbed me from the first page and did not let go! Alessa’s predicament took me through a full rollercoaster of emotions that didn’t let up until the end. Just when I thought things were going well, something else terrible would happen, and I was LIVING FOR IT!

Alessa’s romance with her grumpy bodyguard, Dante, was so cute and felt like a rom-com nestled in a fantasy world <3 I personally wish the romance had been dragged out more because I’m a slow-burn fiend from slow-burn hell, but it made sense for the story and characters that their romance would develop relatively fast.

I loved the squad of characters that formed during the story. The themes of connection and community were beautifully woven in. There was also an interesting exploration of religion and myth that I’m excited to see expanded as the story continues!

While the ending was satisfying on its own, there’s a clear setup for a sequel. I, for one, am DYING to see what’s next for Alessa and her friends!