There are few YA novels I get excited for anymore. Emily Thiede'sThiede's debut fantasy novel ""This Vicious Grace"" is at the top of my list for 2022.
Alessa has killed each of her three partners. Not out of malice–her God-given power meant to magnify her partner's magic has killed each of them the moment she touches them. After receiving a literal sign of the apocalypse that will destroy her island home and people, Alessa realizes she's run out of time to find a new partner and save her people. Assassination attempts follow her everywhere she goes, so Alessa hires Dante, a brooding bodyguard with secrets of his own. With Dante'sDante's help, Alessa must learn to master her gift in time for the apocalypse or die trying.
Inspired by Catholicism and Italy, the setting and worldbuilding are lush and larger-than-life. Many YA writers bog down their novels with worldbuilding. Still, Thiede balances the story well without dumping the details of the island. The premise as a whole is remarkable, and unlike any other I've seen–reading ""This Vicious Grace"" is a cinematic, stunning experience.
From Alessa and Dante to the conniving priest and mentors, the characters are wonderfully nuanced without being too dramatic. Alessa'sAlessa's narration is poignant and deeply resonates with the struggles of a teenage girl–namely, acceptance and desire in a world that pushes unattainable expectations onto the shoulders of teenagers. Thiede'sThiede's inclusion of the found family trope warms this cold, dead heart. Alessa and Dante'sDante's dark humor matches perfectly with the absurdity and drama of their situations.
Not to mention, Alessa and Dante'sDante's romance isn't the usual melodramatics of YA literature–their chemistry is palpable but youthful without all the utterly depressing conversations other YA book couples have. The team also follows my favorite trope: the grumpy love interest whose walls crumble when they're around the sunshiney protagonist.
Thiede'sThiede's debut has little to no issues; nevertheless, the ending and the climactic battle scene felt rushed and lacked the same tension as the rest of the novel. The magic system–although imaginative–thought it was missing key details to understanding how Alessa and her partners use their powers and left more questions than answers.
With its suspenseful cliffhanger and secrets revealed, I'mI'm practically giddy for the sequel to "This Vicious Grace." Lush, imaginative and full of my favorite tropes, put Thiede'sThiede's debut at the top of your 2022 wish lists.

This book kept me glued to the pages. I love the lemon-scented Italian island setting, the metaphors in the worldbuilding, and Alessa’s sense that she was always trying but never quite good enough and not sure what to do about it. The Italian proverbs at the start of every chapter added a kind of gravitas to the narrative I appreciated.

Mostly, I could have read ten thousand pages of Alessa and Dante together. Him being gruff and reluctantly, backhandedly sweet and exactly what she needed. Their breath held, world changing touches. The stakes started high and got higher and it was a good plot frame for an addictively beautiful romance.

However, at the climax sequence things started to get a bit rushed and a little too far zoomed out, so I didn’t feel as immersed in the reality of the world as I had been before. That was disappointing after I’d enjoyed every syllable of the rest of the book, but could only knock it down from 6 stars out of 5 to a 5-star read. Hoping for sequels just to see more of Dante and Alessa and also to see more of the very wise metaphors about religious texts, rigidity, and discrimination woven into this fantasy world.

This Vicious Grace is a YA Fantasy about a girl chosen by the gods to save her island home, with a power that kills with her touch. It's got an interesting world with complex political and religious conflict, a fun romance with a mysterious bad boy, a spirited heroine, and feels like a complete story even though its the start of a series. A delicious story that will hook readers of Kingdom of the Cursed.

Me: There's no way I can finish another book before 2022.
This Vicious Grace: Hold my limoncello.

Saying 'I loved this book' doesn't begin to express how I'm still buzzing from the high of having read it. It was everything I love in a YA F, the romance was *chef's kiss*, and THANK YOU for the satisfying conclusion leading into book 2 instead of the horrible cliffhanger I was dreading. I can't wait to come back to these characters and this world again!

I'd like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this one. They reached out to me to see if I was interested and with that type of summary, gotta say I was.

I will tell you - this book will split a lot of people in the camp of good and excellent. For a while, I was almost gonna give this 5 stars. Then midway, it started to waver to 4, and then by the end of the book ... it became a three star read.

This book is NOT a bad book for being someone's first. It's actually pretty solid. I felt the descriptions and prose very strong in conjuring images of what I was reading on the page. For being an Italy inspired book, it was quite lovely. I could picture the locations, dresses and foods.

The other reason I rate this so highly is that the main character and her bodyguard have true chemistry. However, as much as I like them together... I felt that I could read more of their slow trust to friendship. Sure, I love them together, but in some books when the lead hooks up with the main characters they kind of loose the umph. I think this book could have used another book (or three) building this. ...

... which then brings me to the crux and what a lot of other reviews touched upon. The villain? The evil that is threatening to come at them? Non-existent. Much talked about and becomes a threat at the very end. So. Lets see if I can get an image here: Long ago, a goddess cursed the islands that people with power must use a single person as a conductor for their powers. Together they will fight and slay the big bad... for them to retire, and a new person to be chosen and the same thing to happen. Kind of like Buffy (in every generation there is a slayer). Our main character is the new conductor and she seems to be draining people she pairs with and has killed three of them. You see, it was not very well developed about why she kept killing them and if she was drawing too much power. I think she was but it was not really conveyed for the writing and the readers sake.

So, there are people who religiously believe that she is not the savior and is trying to turn the people against her. So she has to try to have people believe she is the chosen one - because we know she is and also protect her life. So she finds this amazing fighter (who has a scene a lot like X-Men's Wolverine in the first film). He kicks the crap out of the guy he is paid to fight and she decides to hire him as her bodyguard. He doesn't want to do it, and he begrudgingly does so. Cue some really good tension and learning to get along with one another. Probably the best I've read in a book in a long time.

I feel that this book, with stronger world building, could not have to be a YA book. It could be a normal fantasy book. However, we have to have a group of people that are attempting to be her other half (because we have that bit to touch on) and they are both male and female. They seem to have mannerisms and tone that would fit in a modern day story (or in SJM COTR series). It bothered me because soon enough the main character and the bodyguard character started acting that way too.

Back to the evil. So this evil that reoccurs every so many years comes in a swarm of locusts. These locusts are huge. They are sent by this by Callos. We never see Callos, have any baddies come. ... But we are treated to a battle that is so... lame and void of any real fighting or intensity that you would think they are just bored being there. It was probably the most unfulfilling fighting scene I've seen since Bilbo hitting his head on a rock and napping through the battle of the Five Armies.

Oh. Like I kind of touched upon, there are other islands. But we hear nothing from them, and we feel like they don't matter in the huge scheme of things. We know nothing else about them other than them also having their own powerful duo.

So... you see why it is such a mixed bag for me. Poor development of an evil that isn't really present. Characters that don't live in cars or other modern utilities, but they have kitchenettes and talk modern-y and act too current for a world that is supposed to invoke periodesque Italy.

It's getting a sequel. I don't know if I will stick around for book two, but I will keep an eye on it.

The bad thing about ARCs is that when you really enjoy them, you have to wait sooo long for the rest of the story.
I truly enjoyed this book and loved the MC. She was realistic and relatable, not too cliche. There were so many twists and turns and just when you think that things are going to calm down something else happens that causes more trouble.
I love a book that leaves you wanting more and this one sure did that, in the best way!

THIS BOOK! So good. It hits all the good notes of a chosen one story, but the author really shows a realistic side of being responsible for the safety of everyone! The MC doesn't shy away from her feelings of inadequacy and it makes the character so much more relatable. Plus, the end? Oh man. I can't wait for more.

Wow!! This was an amazing book that grabbed me by the heartstrings and wouldn't let go. I went through so many emotions while reading this and just love Alessa. The author does an amazing job of drawing the reader in and making you identify with Alessa and how lonely she is. I may have cried a few times because no one should feel so alone.

The pacing of this is well done and we jump right into the story. I enjoy learning about the world and what is going on as the plot progresses. It's a natural feel and helped keep everything easy to understand. Alessa is a great main character, she's likeable and sweet and stuck in a terrible situation. Dante is snarky and closed off, but a great protector and friend. The chemistry between Dante and Alessa is strong and I just wanted them to be happily together by the end.

There's also a strong theme of friendship and having a few strong ties over many shallow ones. Alessa makes some great friends who are there for her when she needs them and push her to open up to others. It's sort of a found family aspect and I adored it.

I cannot wait for the sequel already. Don't miss out on this book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy

4.5/5 ✨.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a free review :)

Wow what a book! I actually really enjoyed this wild ride. Every time I thought it would even out for our MC something else popped up! I was interested to see how this would end and I now can’t wait for the next book! As this was an ARC I will be waiting for awhile. I really enjoyed this and will recommend it to all my friends who like fantasy. Can’t wait for book two!

While I was intrigued by the blurb, try as I might I just could not get into this one... I seem to be in the minority, so this appears to be a simple case of wrong book, wrong reader... I can't point to any problems or issues I had with it per se, it just didn't resonate with me and I never connected to the character or story enough to continue. reading it

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Holy Cannoli! This Vicious Grace was so freaking good. I honestly didn't have any expectations set before diving into this. I was just really intrigued by the lady looking at a lemon and the synopsis. After meeting Alessa, well, it was pretty easy to see how awesome she was. Bring Dante into the mix, and I had little heart eyes the entire time.

It's safe to say that I shipped these two with my whole heart. The sarcasm and bantering between them gave me life. I also just liked how protective they were of one another. It made my heart pitter patter with all kinds of joy.

Then on top of all that chemistry and tension, we get the cliffhanger of my freaking life. I wasn't expecting so much to happen before reaching the last page of this. I have so many unanswered questions and wish the sequel would just magically appear. Seriously, I will trade my unborn child for it. Maybe even throw in a lottery ticket for fun.

In the end, I'm beyond grateful that I got the chance to dive into this. I loved every second and page of it. Definitely recommend it to all readers.

This book is amazing. I was lucky enough to receive an early ARC of this, and I'm glad I took the time to read it, because everything about this book: the worldbuilding, the characters and their development, the romance...etc, was just perfect. From the very first page, I was invested in Alessa and her struggles, and I loved how the relationship between her and Dante developed.

THIS VICIOUS GRACE tells the story of Alessa, the Finestra of Saverio. Alessa takes and magnifies the gifts of anyone she touches, and she needs to find a way to master those gifts before Divorando, when monsters called scarabeo will swarm over Saverio. But so far, Alessa hasn't been able to find a partner that she can touch without overwhelming and killing them, and she's running out of time. After killing her previous three partners, Alessa has to deal not only with her own doubts but also the doubts of the citizens of Saverio, and those doubts are fast turning deadly.

I'm having a hard time thinking of which parts of the book I enjoyed the most: the characters, the world, the plot, the romance, or the book's emphasis on friendship and connection. All of those elements blended together seamlessly to make an incredibly compelling whole. I went from being worried for Alessa at the beginning to cheering for her at the end, and I can't think of any complaints I have about where things ended up. All I can say is that this is a debut you won't want to miss.

Alessa is desperate to find a partner who can help her fulfil her role as a savior for her people. She has exactly one week left until a swarm of demons infiltrates her island. Alessa’s already wed three partners and killed them all with her powerful magic and the prospect of finding another partner who can balance her magic isn’t looking good.

The story was a little rough at the beginning. I hadn’t quite decided if I cared about the plot and characters before I was being overloaded by a history lesson.

The story really changed for me when Dante entered. He really sparked Alessa’s personality and initiated the plot. The dialogue between the two and the tension was superb. Alessa’s character was less interesting until Dante entered the picture simply because he challenged her. It was through their dynamic that Alessa was able to find confidence and grow and with that the ability to open herself to friendships with others.

Overall, this book was a big win for me. From Dante’s entrance onwards I got lost in this world amongst the magic, the demons, the socially isolated mysterious bad-boy and the girl carrying the fate of a world on her shoulders.

The problem with ARCs is that you get them well before a book is released, In this particular case it is not being released until summer 2022 (!!!). Which means I will have to wait years for more Dante! If anyone needs me I’ll be consoling myself with a bunch of rom-coms and a so-big-it-barely-fits-in-my-mug latte. In the meantime, I definitely recommend adding to your books to read in 2022 list!

Thank you to #StMartinsPress and #Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As far as the writing goes, I can honestly say I enjoyed this debut immensely.

I love the unique take on the magic system. I love Dante. I love the banter. The Fonti grew on me, undoubtedly. Kaleb especially. My heart goes out to Alessa. She was awkward and unsure (at first) but time and again she proved how big of a heart she has. She cares, always. She may not be the typical Finestra they expected and sometimes her recklessness may cause more trouble than not, but I love how real and honest she felt. And she always tried to do what she believed was right.

As much as I wanted to love this, however, I can’t say that I do. At around the 60% mark, I can’t help but feel that the story became repetitive and dragging. I was bored. (I contemplated DNF-ing but for some reason pushed through.) I should have known from the “countdown to Divorando” that the big battle scene will happen at the last 5%. No action whatsoever until the last four (three?) chapters. Fortunately, the dreaded and decidedly deadly battle was a bit satisfying. And is it just me or did the people of Saverio seem so chill for an island with a looming end-of-the-world-as-they-know-it threat. (Maybe they got used to it, having dealt with it for years? And thank the gods for sticking to a schedule, I guess?) I never felt the urgency of the danger that the cronies of Crollo posed. I don’t know… it just seemed like an afterthought. Something that needed to be crossed off the to-do list.

I’m definitely here for the slow-burn romance. There’s something to be said about the strangers to reluctant allies to friends to lovers trope. I loved it! This was also more humorous than I expected, which was a nice surprise.

I’m not sure if I’ll be reading the sequel. But I think I’ll just leave that to future-me.

This Vicious Grace is comped to the Bodyguard and Serpent and Dove, rightfully so because of the spicy banter between our heroine, Alessa, and her bodyguard, Dante.

Alessa is the chosen Finestra. What this means is she has to leave her family and start training for an apocalyptic event set to happen in 5 years. She has no power of her own. What she has is the ability to enhance the power of a Fonte with a touch. Except she keeps killing all of her Fontes.

A sect of the city has turned against her, calling her a false Finestra. After multiple attempts on her life, she hires Dante to be her personal bodyguard until she can get control of her abilities and prove herself. If she can't, everyone on the island will die.

This was a fun and heartfelt story with an imperfect heroine who is easy to root for, and even more damaged hero who will make you smitten.

Magnifying a partner’s power to save your people may be a significant ask, but it seems simple enough on the surface; however, in This Vicious Grace by Emily Theide, keeping the partner alive long enough to battle the impending threats is an ongoing struggle.

With three weddings and funerals following in quick succession, Alessa’s gift of magnifying her partner’s power seems unable to be used without causing death. As a threat of demonic beetles devouring everything in their path looms ever closer, Alessa, the god-chosen Finestra, has a few weeks to find a new partner from a small group of unwilling Fontes for the upcoming battle to save her people while simultaneously facing assassination attempts as a priest has convinced the people that killing Alessa is key to their salvation. To protect herself, Alessa hires a marked killer, Dante, to serve as her personal bodyguard until she secures a new partner. Dante has secrets of his own to keep and agrees to help Alessa as doing so could prove helpful in furthering his own agenda, so long as it doesn’t become the cause for a deadly rebellion first, either from his secret becoming public or from Alessa finally deciding to defy long-held traditions.

A curious and detailed world is presented and developed within this story that fosters thought about connections with others, particularly in conjunction with mandates that dictate, often in a restrictive manner in accordance with religious interpretations, “acceptable” behaviors. The narrative throws the reader into a detailed world where you learn on the go, though there’s not enough explanation of the powers and their manifestation within the Fontes, and it took a while to get acclimated as the story slowly ramped up to a point where the impending action and doom was present instead of a whispering shadow, after which the action took off, racing to the edge of a cliff, where the next installment is needed after the sudden introduction of a new opportunity, and threat, within the last few pages. The dynamic between characters were well-portrayed and captivating, if a bit too reliant on tropes (especially when it came to the romance aspect), and the exchanges between Alessa and Dante were entertaining to behold as they maintained witty banter that often lightened the rather dark, and seemingly impossible, situation they found themselves in.

Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a delicious experience from start to finish, I loved how quickly I was drawn into Alessa’s mind and life. She had a vivid voice who leapt off the page and I’ll be thinking about her and Dante for a long time.

5/5 and I’d give it more if I could!

I loved this book. It felt new in all the best ways with deeply beautiful world-building and a great romance. I am very excited to read more from Emily!

Emily Thiede has debuted with a thrilling fantasy filled with battling gods, unlikely heroes, heart-burning romance, unyielding hope and humor, and an ending that will have you in a frenzy for more. THIS VICIOUS GRACE is a must-read that kicked off The Last Finestra series with the most swoon-worthy, epic, fantastical, binge-worthy story. Look, all I really know is that it hit the sweet spot when I read it and refused to let me walk away until I'd read every page.

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?!

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 NetGalley for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.