This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede is the first book of the Last Finestra. The story follows Alessa, a girl with a gift from the gods. As the Finestra, this gift is meant to magnify her partner’s—the Fonte’s—magic. The only problem is her power seems to kill every one of her Fontes. There are only days left until a swarm of demons overtakes the land. A powerful priest has convinced the people that Alessa must be killed for the real Finestra to rise, and even Alessa’s soldiers turn on her. Out of desperation, she hires Dante, a boy marked as a killer, as her personal bodyguard. It is soon revealed that Dante has a dangerous secret that holds the key to Alessa’s survival and mastering of her gift. He also holds the key to her heart.

This book is delicious. I loved everything about it: the magic, the romance, the characters. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel!

This book was a nice read. The story managed to keep me interested until the very last page. The main character, Alessa, was a nice and lovable character. Her relationship with Dante was fun and interesting. They had so many scenes that just made me smile behind my book.

The worldbuilding was interesting but a little underwhelming. Similarly, the writing wasn’t very solid and sometimes fell flat. This is definitely something that needs improving, although I am sure the author keep improving (this is, after all, a debut).

In conclusion: this book didn’t have any big WOW factor for me, but it was still enjoyable.

grumpy but sweet bodyguard love interest, touch that can kill, wholesome romance, stunning character development—ALL OF THIS <3

I had zero expectations going into this like I genuinely thought it'd be a boring book and look how wrong I was??? IM IN LOVE. Everything about This Vicious Grace was spectacular.

"She might be but one stitch in the tapestry, but every stitch had a purpose, and threads couldn't become art without them."


For years, Alessa has been known as the Finestra—a figure blessed by the god Dea with powers meant to fend off demons who will attack her island on the day of Divorando.

This power though... well her touch can kill anyone it comes in contact with so it's not really a blessing she considers.

Alessa must find the right partner who can contain all the power that's stored in her and so far she's killed all three of her potentials. With little time remainining until Divorando, Alessa must find the one for her asap while also worrying about being assassinated by her own people, and dealing with her ✨dark and alluring✨ bodyguard, Dante👀

"And you keep saying you aren't the hero."
"I'm not. You're the hero. I'm just asking a girl to hold my hand."

GUYS THEM. ALESSA AND DANTE ARE EVERYTHING. I adore them so so much. Each are unique in their own way and just how they support one another ohmygod the love I have for these two is unexplainable.

Alessa's longing for physical contact and even just being able to talk to someone🥺 My heart broke for her so much especially with the way people feared (and some hated) her, my precious girl didnt deserve any of that. The way she bloomed into who she wanted to be was so beautifully written and I couldn't be more proud. She's such a relatable character and it's not a "throw-in-your-face" kind of relatable but written so naturally of the feelings many of us had at times. Alessa is actually just so kind, funny and bold I love her so much <3

Dante !! Literally from the moment he appeared I knew I'd love him. He was acting all grumpy in the beginning but even then he was never actually a jerk but instead it was the little things he did that were so sweet and caring. And my love just grew from there. Dante is basically that one person who keeps saying "Im CrUeL" but literally all his actions and what he says are the exact opposite.

“Sympathy, kindness, love, and friendship—all those precious human experiences that made for a full life—those were for other people, not her.”

THE ROMANCE. THEIR RELATIONSHIP. THE CHEMISTRY. THIS. I swear it's the definition of precious. I didn't realize how much I loved two characters *just* cuddling until I read this book. I was literally dying of happiness and squealing like a fangirl as if thats not what i am in all their cuddling and interactions with one another.

That moment where Dante offered to give Alessa a hug knowing how much it would mean to her after not having contact at all with anyone for years and him pretending that he was grudingly offering this hug but we all know he wanted it just as much—that. my friends, was one of the sweetest moments I've ever read.

OH and then Dante and Alessa getting drunk together and playing truth or dare + Alessa blatantly ogling shirtless Dante >>> PLEASE there were too many funny moments with these two I literally reread these scenes like 10 times. An excerpt:
"Ever since you called yourself stale bread, I've had wicked cravings."
He paused, shook his head, then pushed back up.
"I adore bread. Especially baguettes. Long, thick, hot and slathered with—"
He hit the ground, shaking with laughter. "Enough. Mercy. You're a champion of lewd baking metaphors."

I could go on forever talking about every amazing scene + the bantering with these two but I'm sure you get the idea and plus you'll want to see them for yourself hehe

The side characters were also super interesting, and my opinion changed on many of them compared to first impressions *cough* thinking of two people especially. I adore Kamaria and Kaleb ksdhfksghs also I feel like I sense something between two characters that might develop (??) in the 2nd book.

Now the only reason why this didn't get 5 stars was because even though my heart stopped for second because of that ending... some of the things that happened were pretty underwhelming? It also felt sudden and kind of rushed thinking about the build-up that led to that moment. But something small like that wasn't really a big deal for me hence the deduction of 0.5 stars.

ANYWAYS EVERYONE NEEDS TO TRY THIS. If me gushing about the romance didn't convince you (although how could it not smh) then go for the character development in Alessa or miss out on falling in love.

If This Vicious Grace is only a debut novel I can only imagine how amazing the author's future books will be.


(4.5⭐)


Thank you Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!

This was a gorgeous book full of magic, fantasy and romance. Thiede creates a gorgeous world full of texture and colour that makes you feel like you're stepping onto the page.

My excitement level for Emily Thiede’s new fantasy series knows no bounds!
I’ll be the first to admit, I was drawn to this title solely on the fact Thiede built a world around Italian culture. And if you’re wondering, YES- she delivered!

Alessa is a strong female lead who I instantly connected with. Her tenacity to find her footing in the chaos surrounding her was engaging!
For someone who normally does not connect with intertwined love-stories, I ended up completely invested in Alessa’s relationship with Dante!

As for the cliffhanger… WOW! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Atmospheric and ethereal - This Vicious Grace will be a book that I continuously recommend to my friends and family!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book! It was definitely a little out of my comfort zone, but I loved the storyline and the characters. It actually made me gain a little more perspective, which is rare in a book. All in all, it was a great read once it sped up a bit.

This was very hard to get through. The writing and characters were too childish and the circumstances never felt dire enough for me to care and continue. The female mc was the only developed character. Everyone else were cardboard caricatures. The dialogue felt dead and one-dimensional. The sudden talk over consent and adult things was so out of blue. Not these kids?!?! Overall, not impressed, which is surprising because everyone else seems to love it. The premise was promising but it did not deliver.

This was a very enjoyable read. A very Italian influenced, apocalyptic fantasy about a young heroine who seems to keep killing her magical partners by her touch alone. In order to save her home and her people, Alessa, the chosen Finestra, must figure out how to not kill her next partner, her Fonte, without being killed herself.

I found Alessa to be a very likable heroine. She’s witty, perfectly flawed and her magical power was unique in that she could magnify her partner’s power.

My favorite part of the book was of course Alessa and Dante’s relationship. Dante is hired by Alessa to be her bodyguard while she finds her next Fonte and their interactions and witty banter had me adoring them.

This being a debut novel, the world building was very surface level and I wished there was more detail in the magic. I did like the secondary characters, except for her brother Adrick he can go kick rocks, but I hope that they would be more developed in the next book.

Overall, a strong start in the series! Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

the moment i saw the word bodyguard in this book's description, i knew i had to seek it out. and i was NOT disappointed! this vicious grace is about alessa, our magical protagonist who is racing against the clock to find a partner and prevent an invasion looming overhead. with her people out to kill her (as an apparent solution to said invasion), alessa hires a bodyguard (insert smirking emoji here). what follows is a swoon-worthy, grumpy/sunshine, banter filled, passionate romance (taking place in a lush and high-stakes fantasy setting).

this was a really solid opener for a fantasy series in every way imaginable. alessa was a fiery protagonist, and one i really enjoyed reading about. her relationship with dante was mesmerizing and captivated me throughout the entire story. the plot was intricate enough to hold my attention while staying clear and concise. i am really looking forward to the next installment, to see what happens to some of my new favorite characters.

thank you so much to both netgalley and st. martin's press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a wonderful debut fantasy. It was refreshing and new world to dive into. I enjoyed the slow romance of Dante and Alessa. The world building was still a bit lacking but I can see how book 2 will take off even stronger.

This Vicious Grace was refreshingly dark and beautiful and the subtle hints/descriptions of the creatures they were to battle at the end definitely gave the story some build-up. I not only enjoyed the premise, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters and look forward to seeing more of them in the next book.

The prose in this book was stunning. I kept reading little turns of phrases, sentences, sometimes whole paragraphs that I wanted to stuff into my pockets and take with me.

It was a unique story, the combination of the unique world building with its Italian influence created a really atmospheric setting. The idea that Alessa was unable to touch others without hurting and killing them gave me strong Shatter Me vibes and it did not disappoint. Alessa as a character was very strong and admirable while fighting with some real internal struggles. I loved the way she connected with Dante over their shared conflict—even if he was keeping secrets.

The prose used to describe the magic in this book made it that much more powerful and *vivid*. And it didn’t lack in emotion, this story brought me to the edge of tears multiple times with its raw vulnerability.

Overall this was an enjoyable and unique fantasy grounded in emotion and woven with vivid prose. It feels like it could have been a standalone, but the ending left it open for more and I believe there is a sequel to come. I would read it just for more Dante and Alessa.

This is a really good book, and I'm a picky reader. "This Vicious Grace" is a young adult/teen fantasy novel with our main character, Alessa. Alessa has a gift sent from the Gods where she has the power to enhance her partner's magical powers by a single touch. Sadly, her last three partners have died from her touch. The people in her town are relying on her to save them from the yearly raid from the demons. To save her town she needs a partner with magical powers, called Fontes, to live long enough to help her defend her town. Many of the townsmen are starting to lose faith, including the people and guards that are meant to protect her. Alessa decides to take fate into her own hands and hire her own bodyguard, Dante, who is already marked for death. There is more to Dante than meets the eye, and Alessa learns that she may not truly be alone. This book is about friendship, slow-burn romance, family. fantasy, and filled with action. I look forward to the sequel!

I gobbled up this wonderful fantasy novel and am in love with the rich Italian-inspired fantasy setting Emily Thiede creates.

The main character Alessa is everything I love in a heroine. Clever, determined, and compellingly flawed. I was immediately rooting for her from page one.

I love a good slow burn romance and if you do too, let me tell you, this is the book for you! Off-the-charts chemistry and some truly excellent banter that is right up there with your favorite romcom. I also loved the found family element of this book! Warmed my heart.

I would definitely recommend this debut. It’s the perfect blend of fantasy, adventure, and romance told in with gorgeous, immersive prose.

I can see fans of royalty/fantasy/magic loving this book. Typically, this genre isn’t my vibe. The romance aspects intrigued me the most. I’d be interested to read more from this series and author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy.

This was a fun read and the main characters were great.

I thought the plot was easy to follow and really well written.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book

i really enjoyed this book and loved the main character. it was a fun and interesting story that i can see a lot of people enjoying

My review will be publicly available on June 21st, 2022 on giareadsbooks.com. You will be able to access my review by following this link: www.giareadsbooks.com/book-reviews/this-vicious-grace

Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
Spice Rating: 1 Star*
*Some innuendos, but nothing graphic or detailed.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Emily Thiede, and NetGalley for sending me a copy of This Vicious Grace in exchange for an honest review.

Alessa is the youngest in a long line of Finestras, tasked with defending the island against an approaching swarm of apocalyptic monsters with her god-gifted magic. The only problem is that she keeps accidentally killing her chosen magical partners, aka her Fonte. After a couple assassination attempts, Alessa decides to hire Dante, a mischievous and secretive outcast, as her bodyguard. In an astonishing debut, Emily Thiede delivers a unique and immersive fantasy world, jam-packed with love, betrayal, hope, and forgiveness in the heart of the end of the world.

I don’t say this often, and even less so about the Young Adult genre, but this is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Thiede is magnificent in her storytelling and creative in her magic system, which is one of my favorite things about This Vicious Grace. If you’ve dabbled in the YA Fantasy genre, you know that magic systems tend to be repetitive throughout different book series’, but Thiede offers a new take in this novel, which was refreshing as a die-hard YA Fantasy fan.

I honestly can’t think of anything I disliked about this novel, other than the slightly weird pacing towards the end, though this aspect wasn’t distracting enough to remove a star from my rating. Supposedly, this is the first in a duology, and I am incredibly excited to see Thiede’s growth as an author. Alessa and Dante are charming and enigmatic as our main characters, and I’m eager to see their growth as a duo as well.

Finally, I would be interested in seeing more development of the secondary characters in the sequel. Personally, I felt like they got an appropriate amount of character development in this novel, especially since the story focused mainly on Alessa’s faith and growth.

Overall, this fantastic debut earned an easy 5 stars from me. If you like the bodyguard trope, a unique magic system, or the YA Fantasy genre, This Vicious Grace should be on the top of your TBR.

Touch her and you die trope but make it literal. This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede is a stunningly atmospheric, Italian inspired fantasy debut.

This book starts off with three weddings that are followed by three funerals as all the grooms die when the touch our main character, Alessa. Alessa has magic that is supposed to amplify her partner’s magic but it doesn’t work if she can’t touch them without killing them. When people start to turn against Alessa, including her own guards, she seeks out protection in the form of Dante, an outcast from society. Dante becomes Alessa’s bodyguard but as they grow closer and secrets come out, Alessa isn’t sure if he is someone she can trust or someone that could kill her. On top of everything, the countdown to an apocalyptic demon invasion is also in play.

The best part of this book is hands down the rich, Italian inspired setting. The scenery that is described along with the food and language will really transport the reader. The banter between Alessa and Dante is perfect. The stakes feel very high and the magic system is unique and interesting.

That being said, this book does really read like a debut. There is a lot of info dumping throughout the entire book which makes it really hard to read at times. It would take me out of the story to the point where I would quit reading the book and just forget about it.

I do think there is potential for the next book now that the groundwork has been laid. Readers who don’t mind large information dumps throughout the book will love this book. I really found the characters, especially Dante to be very interesting. I look forward to reading the next one when it comes out.

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: death of parents (past), grief, parental abandonment, suicidal ideation, physical injury, attempted murder, war themes

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f NA fantasy romance
-bodyguard romance
-only one room
-close-proximity
-he hates everyone but her
-chosen one
-so much yearning

Be prepared when you read this book because it will leave you with such a book hangover. Wow, just wow. Every time you think you are coasting along it takes things up another notch. The world building is so beautiful with clear Italian influences that also gave me For the Wolf vibes in the best way. This book is just smart, and witty, making me laugh in surprising ways, and hurt my heart.

Alessa has been the Finestra for almost five years when we meet her, and is in the height of her loneliness. To protect herself and others she can't touch anyone. Not a hug, a brush of a hand, anything. The weight of her world rests on her shoulders and you can't help but feel for this girl who is putting on a brave face. And in order to help herself she goes out to find a protector. Which is where chip on his shoulder grump Dante comes in. Because of course her bodyguard must protect her by staying in her room.

I loved how they recognized something in the other. The attraction was sizzling, both of them frustrated by it. Fighting it. How Dante became the only person she could touch, could give her a hug, just hold her hand. Oh these two own my heart seriously. I won't say anything more but seriously every time these two are on the page is just amazing, banter filled and makes you want more. I loved how the friendships developed, the twists, the turns. and that ending, OMG. It's not a cliffhanger, there is a resolution but things are also clearly left open for book 2 which I need immediately. NEEED.

Read this amazing debut, seriously, you won't regret it.

Steam: 2 (you are aware they are having sex but it is very vaguely written, all about the emotion and closed door)