I hadn't heard too much about this book so I wasn't sure what to expect, and I was very happy to discover that this was a well written and entertaining novel!

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede, is about a young girl called Alessa who was chosen by the gods to save her home island of Saverio. These chosen girls, called Finestras, are magical as they work together with their chosen Fonte/magical companion to fight the demons who come to attack the island periodically. Unfortunately, as the novel begins, Alessa is attending the funeral of her third Fonte - she is having trouble controlling her power and instead of her touch amplifying her Fonte's power, she is killing them instead.

A desperate Alessa encounters a criminal who fights for a living, but she sees something in him after observing him helping a desperate girl. She hires him as her bodyguard, and he reluctantly agrees.

Part rom-com, part fantasy, part found family novel, Thiede has built an involving and interesting world. Her characters seem distinct from each other and mostly well drawn. Be warned, this novel ends with a promise of further adventures from this group. I hope the next book arrives quickly!

What’s the quickest way to get me to read a book? Telling me that it has the bodyguard trope. This book is also a fantasy thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next and I have to say that I was not the least bit disappointed. Dante and Alessa’s relationship was so beautiful and seeing him go from questioning how he got himself here to being as down bad as he is was so much fun. The plot was also fun and easy to follow, so overall I really liked this book.

I started off uncertain but quickly fell in love with This Vicious Grace. The bond between Alessa and her Fontes was the highlight since in the beginning the Fontes are uncertain of her but eventually learn to trust her. The romance took up a large portion of the book, but I didn't find Dante bothersome so I didn't mind the lack of action. I am eagerly looking forward to reading the next installment. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

First, thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. It was so good! Thiede excels in banter, tension, and characterization. The world she has built feels vibrant -- in fact, there's just enough worldbuilding so that a reader knows what is going on but not so much that it lags or feels dense.

Although this is high fantasy, it is at its heart a romcom. Readers largely interested in battles will see that as well, but the heart and soul is the relationship. And the relationship is SO well done. I highly suggest this book!

Alessa is thrust into the spotlight as the next Finestra of Severino. As Finestra, legend says she must marry a Fonte, a person with defensive magic—such as fire, wind, and water. Alessa’s gift is the ability to amplify her partner's power. This divine pairing must happen soon to defend their island from an impending attack. Reluctant in this role, Alessa must sever all ties with her previous life and is prohibited from having physical contact with anyone. And the last three Fontes she touched died from the contact. The pressure to find the perfect match, along with her isolation, has made Alessa desperate. Are the old teachings correct? Or have the doctrines been misinterpreted? Is there another way to fulfill her destiny while preserving her true self? Her struggle between duty, loyalty to her country, and the love she desperately seeks forces her to take unconventional actions and break tradition.

Keeping all the world-building and the legend straight was a little difficult. But the overall story and love affair were addictive. It was hard to put this book down. There is great chemistry between the reluctant hero and the forbidden love interest. The finale has a few loose ends—some are understandable as there will be a sequel, but others I wanted answers. I look forward to reading more of Alessa and Dante's story.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

Vague spoilers ahead.

I'm torn on a rating for this. Part of me wants to give it a 4 because there were parts of it I LOVED, and I flew through the first 50% so quickly. The other part is vying for a 3 because after that it dragged, and the little things like pacing and repetitiveness and the bits that felt contrived came more into focus because of it. It took me 3x as long to read the second half as it did to read the first.

But I loved the romance. The love interest is 10/10, he's all the best things wrapped up in one. He's broody, he's bored, he protects kids, he reads, he puts up a front to hide a tragic past, he looks good covered in blood. What else could you ask for? Our main character was also likeable, despite the fact that she spent much of the book complaining about her life. Tbh if I was in her situation I'd also complain a lot so this is one of the rare instances where I give it a pass, especially since she does grow by the end.

All in all it was a good debut novel! I enjoyed the majority of it and I will probably read the next one, but the problems it has makes it obvious it is one. I'll give it a 3.5 for now.

This sounded right up my alley, but it's really not hooking my attention. I find myself really not caring about the plot or the characters.

I'm so frustrated that I might have found my Best Book of 2022 and it's only February. I'm even more frustrated that this book isn't out until the end of June! How am I supposed to fangirl over it with friends if said friends can't read it yet?! (Though I suppose this gives me ample time to hype up the book to everyone I know and convince them to pre-order it, so there is that.)

This Vicious Grace is not a 5-star read for me, it is a freaking 10-star read. I had no idea when I started this that I would be in for an amazing ride with some of my favorite story elements. A powerful, touch-starved heroine? A bodyguard who is more bark than bite? A cast of side characters who irritated me and then made me fall in love with them? How dare this book prey upon my weaknesses like this!

And that ending. I could see something coming and I knew I was going to throw my Kindle across the room at least twice during the last 10% of the book, but That Ending. It's not quite as extreme a world shift as, say, Xiran Jay Zhao's Iron Widow, but it is certainly in that vein and I am so very here for it.

I truly hope that the publishers have some special editions of this book lined up with someone somewhere so I can buy multiple copies and gift them to everyone. Coworker who I only talk to when in line for the microwave? Random stranger on the street? My cat? All receiving copies of this book.

In short, anyone reading this review needs to read this book as soon as humanly possible. Preferably with a lemon-flavored dessert on standby.

Thank you SO much to Emily Thiede for sharing this incredible work of art with us, and to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

My actual rating for this book would be a 3.5

There was a lot about this book and the story that I found myself loving, which is the reason why I finished it in just a matter of a few days. But as much as I loved it, while reading this lovely book, I found myself craving more from the characters and the plot than what was being given. And although the story had plenty of twists and turns with an ending that was pretty satisfying, I have to honestly say that I was left a little disappointed.

The two main characters, Alessa and Dante, were both very likely characters and through the course of the book, I easily fell in love with them. However, despite the fact that the narrative heavily focuses on the both of them where their interactions take up a majority of the book, it still felt as if it was almost lacking with showing "on-screen" character development of them. The character development that they got was consistent and you could see it building, but it was hard to really see how it kicked off. One scene a character would be their normal self, then the next they'd be doing something out of character that is part of their growth but it comes off a bit disconnected as a reader. And although I quite loved the side characters, the focus of the story was so locked onto Alessa and Dante, that it felt as if everything and everyone else got the short end of the stick.

The pacing of the story definitely leaves something to be desired, as often-times I found myself feeling as if I skipped a chapter or a couple of pages. At other times, a transition or an action would happen in just a short amount of text, that I would kind of miss it and have to go back and re-read to figure out what was going on. An example would be the main characters waking up in their room and talking, then within a short sentence, would be like downstairs in the dining hall seated at the table.

Going into this, I was expecting a little more and the reality didn't quite live up to my expectations. I expected the conflict of the powerful priest to have been more pressing than it actually was.

Even with saying all this, I highly enjoyed the uniqueness of the plot and the story is being unraveled. The ending sets up really nicely for a sequel that I have a lot of high hopes for. I will definitely be continuing this series and am eager to see other projects the author has in store.

5 star review

**Releases June 28, 2022**

“Together, we protect. Divided, we unravel.” –Emily Thiede

This Vicious Grace is a YA romantic fantasy that centers on Alessa, chosen by the goddess Dea to protect her island home from an impending demon invasion. Alessa’s power as Finestra is meant to amplify the power of a chosen Fonte–a user of elemental magic, who is to be her partner in all things while fighting the demon horde. The island of Saverio has a long history of the Finestra and Fonte fighting and defeating the demons, beetle-like monsters called scarabeo, when they come every certain number of years. There’s only one problem with Alessa being Finestra: she keeps killing her chosen Fontes. It’s happened three times now, and she’s running out of time and options before the demons come.

Because of her failures so far as Finestra, a zealous religious sect wants Alessa dead and they almost succeed in killing her. So she hires the mysterious Dante to be her bodyguard to buy her time to figure out her powers and keep herself (and a Fonte) alive long enough to save the island.

I want to start off by saying I really, really enjoyed this book. It checked all the boxes of things I like in a romantic fantasy. It has an interesting world and magic system, lush descriptions, strong characters that have great development, an interesting plot, found family, and a delicious slow burn romance that has tons and tons of witty banter.

I can’t stress enough how delightful the banter is. If there’s one thing this author does well (and she honestly does many things well), it’s the banter. I found myself genuinely smiling and laughing throughout the book. Alessa is quick-witted and sassy, and the people who come to surround her are as well. There are so many funny one liners in this book that my Kindle is absolutely full of highlights from the whole book. Another plus is that the banter isn’t only between the romantic leads, it’s between almost every character.

The characters, character development, and relationships were all really strong in this book. The book thrives in its themes of loneliness, isolation, and found family. It emphasizes the importance of human connection, connecting with each other, empathy, and mercy. The characters show these themes in really strong and believable ways.

Another thing I really loved from this book was the worldbuilding. Sure, the terms and timelines were hard to grasp at first, but that’s to be expected of any new fantasy book. Things were repeated often enough for the reader to grasp them but not so often as to be annoyingly repetitive. I also enjoyed how the world building very directly ties into the plot. Alessa is Finestra and demons will be coming at some point very soon to try and harm her island home. Suspense is created just from the way the world works in this book, which makes the plot even more enjoyable.

And, of course, there’s the romance in the book. Dante is mysterious, grumpy, and a talented fighter. He challenges Alessa to fight for herself, and she challenges him to open up and be kind to others. I loved how much they teased each other back and forth. And their relationship felt really solid, too. It isn’t an instalove story, but instead is a slow burn where they really get to know and trust each other before they fall in love.

The things I didn’t like in this book are small and nitpicky because it is, overall, a really great read. I’ll mention them, though, so that readers know what to expect. For one thing, the pacing in the book is off sometimes with jarring time jumps or characters who are suddenly friends after very few interactions. Another thing that took me out of the story are the very random mentions of things that seem to suggest that the world in this book is a set in the very, very far future. Alessa mentions light bulbs at one point and says that they have blown out, but that they “lack the materials the ancients had” in order to replace them. I think these mentions should, in all honesty, be cut as they don’t really make sense. There is plenty of worldbuilding already without them.

The battle at the end also seemed to be over very quickly, but since there is going to be a sequel to the book it makes sense. The plot is building towards something that is, hopefully, even bigger.

All in all, I really loved this book! I was savoring it as much as I could, even though every time I sat down to read I ended up reading big chunks. If you like strong but emotional heroines, slow burn romance, banter of any and all kinds, lush worldbuilding, swift plots, found family, or YA romantic fantasy in general, you want this book. Definitely be on the lookout for it when it releases this June!



*I received a free electronic copy of this book from NetGalley
*Review also posted to Goodreads and The Book Keepers Blog (link on profile)

Initial Thoughts
This book was tagged as "for fans of Serpent & Dove" so this was basically a must read for me.

Some Things I Liked
All the tropes. The tropes in this book were spot on. Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, arranged marriage, reluctant chosen one. Need I go on? So many excellent tropes all perfectly rolled up into one book.
The romance and banter. I loved the relationship between the main characters. They were really more enemies to friends to lovers but they both needed a friend so I loved that transition for them.
Found family vibes. Again, another favorite theme of mine. It took a while for this one to really develop in the story but I loved how the crew really came together in the end and I can't wait to see them all again in the sequel.

Series Value
I need the sequel for this book. I will drop everything to read it when it becomes available.

Final Thoughts
This book was a perfect way to start out my 2022 reading year. It had everything I wanted and now I have a full six months to hype it up and tell everyone I know to add it to their TBRs.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alessa, the newest Finestra destined to save Saverio, that is if she can find a Fonte she doesn’t kill.

Every 5 years a new Finestra is picked by the Goddess Dea. The Finestra is like an amplifier destined to marry a Fonte who’s powers she can amplify to save Saverio on Divorando where the island gets set under attack by the demons sent by Crollo. The only problem is every Fonte Alessa has wed and touched has died. Her people turn against her and want her dead, even her own guards try to assassinate her. Until, she meets Dante, a homeless pit fighter, and hires him to be her personal body guard. This changes Alessa’s life. Through trials and tribulations, love, and friendship Alessa is determined to save Saverio and live her life happily ever after, but Crollo may have other plans….

At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book but like every good fantasy where you start off completely confused as to what is happening I learned the way of Saverio and fell in love. It was so hard to put this book down! I was intrigued and determined to figure out what Alessa was going to do next. She definitely turned into a rebel 😏 I highly recommend you check this book out when it releases on June 28th!

Thank you NetGalley, Wednesday Books and Emily Thiede for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!!

DNF @ 28%

While the premise is intriguing and the worldbuilding immersive, I found the prose a bit distracting (overly lush, and the jokes weren't particularly funny to me), the characters somewhat generic, and the plot slightly confusing.

This was such a fun book! The banter and the chemistry between Alessa and Dante is great. Dante is your classic broody love interest. And I loved reading about Alessa figuring out how to control her powers.

I especially enjoyed Alessa’s character arc. The story focuses on Alessa growing as a person as she overcomes loneliness and self-doubt. It’s a character-driven story, which I love, but just be aware going into it that it’s not plot heavy until the end. Because of this, the main plot didn’t feel as high-stakes as it could have.

If you’re looking for a book with the vibes of Kingdom of the Wicked and From Blood and Ash, then I definitely recommend it.

What a fun story! It's a unique blend of Italian influences, god-given magic and demon enemies, slow-burn romance, and strong main characters. Due to the way this is structured, I found myself more invested in the romance aspect of the story. It's a pretty main focus so, while I was enjoying the chemistry between Dante and Alessa, the other parts of the story tended to all away. But I'm not complaining!

And even though I did enjoy reading this, I couldn't help but notice little things throughout that make it obvious this is a debut novel. The world-building relies very much on surface level info-dumps, the pacing is inconsistent at times, and the side characters are pretty generic. Also, the fact that everyone literally calls the MC ‘window’ is so cringey. I get that the author may have thought ‘finestra’ might sound like a lovely title to readers who don't know the translation, but I just couldn't get over it.

But all in all, this story is a pretty good time. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if some book subscriptions put this in their boxes this summer!

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede was incredible! Such an imaginative amazing book and the plot was fantastic

Alessa is the Finestra, the divine weapon of the gods, chosen by Dea herself. As the Finestra, she is tasked with partnering with a Fonte, an individual with special gifts she will draw upon in order to defeat the scarabeo and protect her island. Unfortunately, Alessa has lost three of her chosen Fonte. Now, she needs to chose her final one, and learn to control her own power. After being attacked by those she should be able to trust, Alessa hires Dante, a streetfighter and outcast, to be her protector while she selects and trains her new Fonte.

It took me until around 25% to really start enjoying this book. I was intrigued from the start, the world building is well done and different enough to keep my attention, but I wasn’t completely sold until Dante and Alessa finally meet and the story starts to pick up. Their banter was so good! I had a smile on my face throughout any conversation the two of them had, and I loved their snarky wit and the back and forth between them. I wasn’t expecting much in the way of romance, but this is most definitely a romance. There is plenty of action, but I felt, at times, it took a back seat to the relationship between Dante and Alessa, which was totally fine with me! Aside from the romantic relationship, we get a good story of friendship and community. I ended up really falling in love with some of the secondary characters who, at the beginning of the book, I absolutely couldn’t stand. I wish the relationships with the secondary characters had been fleshed out a bit more, though. It did seem as if everyone just woke up one day and decided they all loved each other, and I’d have liked to have seen more interaction between everyone before that happened.

The book was a bit longer than it needed to be. There were a few points where I found myself skimming, anxious to get to the book’s climax and back into the action, but overall, it was paced well, and kept me engaged. While there is no major cliffhanger, the book ends with questions that will hopefully be answered in book two.

This book was amazing! It really has everything, fantasy, humor, high stakes, likable characters. The characters are really the star of this book, which I always prefer. Everyone was 3-dimensional and it never felt like anyone was written only to push the plot of MC forward.

This is actually my first time reading a bodyguard romance and it did not disappoint. The slow burn was just the right amount of burn and Dante was one of my favorite characters and I loved his banter.

This is a great standout debut and I will definitely be picking up the sequel and whatever else the author write!

This book gripped my attention and held it from the very first page. The Magic, the curse and even the slow burn romance were beautifully written! The authors world building and ability to keep you guessing, while anxiously waiting to turn the next page made this one of the best YA books I’ve read to date.

I loved This Vicious Grace. What an exciting, unique read. I love the plot, the Finestra and Fonte characters, all delightful. Alesssa was amazing, the way she grew throughout the story. Each obstacle making her more confident. I loved all the gifts they had. Dante is strong, fierce and loyal. The deadly battle was breathtaking and the ending was great. I'm looking forward to reading book #2.
#ThisViciousGrace #NetGalley

I give This Vicious Grace 5 stars for its amazing read.
I would recommend this book to Fantasy Fans.