So we’ve reached the end of the Last Finestra’s story. I have to say this was good duology all in all, but I can’t help but be slightly underwhelmed by this final book.
This is in no way to say that it wasn’t good. I personally just feel like the build up from the ending of book one was slightly let down in this one. Loved the story, saw where it was going, but that’s just it. It was a touch too predictable for me. Of course the ending still had me all emotional sitting in a school pickup line, but I expected more.
There were a few characters I wish we could’ve gotten more time with. Tali was a love/hate relationship for me. I would’ve loved to delve in deeper with her and truly see where I stood with that, and I feel similarly about Leo. That was definitely a double edged sword for me, he was so gruff with Dante but almost teasing with Alessa.
I loved this duo. Will keep it and reread it again in the future.

I absolutely loved This Vicious Grace and was ecstatic to be approved for an ARC of This Cursed Light. I'm not sure if it was the time lapse between reading the two books or if the second book was truly lackluster, but I didn't enjoy This Cursed Light nearly as much. The characters didn't feel as relatable and the world didn't draw me in the way the first book did.

That said, I didn't hate the book and it was a quick, enjoyable read. It was more of a palate cleaner novel.

There is a boycott going on for all St. Martin’s Press books because of the refusal to address racist remarks made by an employee. The boycott is intended to generate a response from St. Martin’s Press. So I am unable to review and promote this book at this time.

*spoilers for This Vicious Grace (Book 1)*

Emily Thiede has a such a talent of bringing her characters to life. I think in both This Vicious Grace and This Cursed Light, her characters are what really stood out to me. They are vibrant and funny and distinctly their own.

In the first book, the main FMC, Alessa, struggled with her sense of self and Dante helped her overcome her insecurities, among other things. Because Dante lost his powers at the end of the first book, he lost a huge part of himself too. In addition to seeking and finding the other ghiotte, this book focuses on Dante’s search for his place in the world. There are a lot of secrets and Dante is so self-doubting and I hate it, BUT I can understand why his personality totally did a 180. It is very impactful in his character development and creates a clever parallel to Alessa’s character from the first book.

Which is great and also… not great. I think the characters’ growth in this book were well explained, but Dante’s was so drawn out. This made the pacing a bit weird. The plot kind of fell into the background and then rushed in the end. On top of that, a lot of it was told instead of shown which I was a bit disappointed in considering there were so many opportunities where this needn’t be the case.

Still, her characters, main and side characters alike, took center stage in this book and it was an adventure to find out more about the mysterious ghiotte and Dante’s past life.

I absolutely adored the first book: it had a perfect balance of plot, romance, and character growth. Although this didn’t hit me the same way, it was still a pretty good ending to the Last Finestra’s story. It is filled with love, friendship, and hope. If you are looking for a character-driven romantasy, this duology is for you.

thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved where this sequel picked up and where it brought Alessa and Dante. The world building was so interesting and I really enjoyed following their relationship through the course of the novel. I would definitely recommend this book as well as the first in the series.

Terrific follow up to the first book! Fans of the first book will enjoy this sequel and being swept up into the world created by Emily Theide!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books (and Emily!!) for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

How does one speak of an absolutely perfect duology? How does one describe the ways that a sequel defies the laws of second book syndrome at every corner? How does one write about a book that spoke to them over and over, touched their heart, broke it at times, and then sewed it back together with a warm hug? I shall attempt, but there are truly no words.

I was so worried that This Cursed Light wouldn't live up to how much I adored This Vicious Grace. But I was blown away at every single word, and I could not be happier. The symmetry of this book and the entire story arc is something that I cannot describe without spoiling it, but I have thought about it every day since I finished. It truly shows Thiede's artistry and the way that every single word of this duo is purposefully and perfectly placed to give the reader an epic, breathtaking story.

I didn't think that I could love anyone the way I loved Dante and Alessa, but Theide is a master at creating characters that tug at your heart and reflect parts of your humanity that you can't help but love. I found myself screaming about characters I never thought I would care for. This book is much more about the characters and their story arcs than it is about the action, but I think it never for a moment suffered from that. It is perfectly balanced in that aspect, and shows a particular skill in how Thiede gives you the best action in book 1, drawing you into these characters and their lives so that book 2 can teach you all about them and their hearts.

I thought I knew exactly where the book was going, and I was slightly disappointed at first, but then Thiede pulled out several twists I never saw coming, and I was so pleased to be on the edge of my seat despite having "known" all along.

And don't get me started on the Deaf representation and how sweet it was!

If you are looking for an absolutely perfect duology to binge this holiday season, pick up book 1 right now. I promise you will not regret it. You actually might regret it if you don't.

After saving the world once already, Alessa, Dante, and their merry band of friends are off to finish the war Crollo has declared on humanity. To prepare for an unknown enemy, Dante must find the banished ghiotte, earn their trust, and amass an army - all within two months. As Dante tackles a new land, Alessa struggles to keep her splitting mind together and worries whose side she’ll end up on during the next conflict. When the battle arrives, Alessa and Dante must make an impossible choice to save humanity once and for all.

This Cursed Light absolutely destroyed me emotionally while simultaneously giving me the ending I think everyone deserved. The hurt/comfort was top notch, Dante and Alessa’s chemistry was fantastic, and the sequel didn’t suffer from second book syndrome for a single moment. This duology is wrapped up nicely and it’s going to be on my mind for a long while!

I have a (positive) review of this book drafted and ready to go, but I am currently choosing not to promote books by St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books due to the racist actions and remarks of a prominent team member. There has yet to be a statement from SMP or Wednesday, and that silence speaks volumes. It's unconscionable, and completely against what the company says it stands for. I will be happy to release the review and continue promoting SMP books once an appropriate statement has been made.

Title: This Cursed Light
Author: Emily Thiede
Genre: YA
Rating: 5 out of 5

When the gods make the rules, the players must choose: Sacrifice their love to save the world, or choose love and let it burn?

Six months after saving their island from destruction and almost losing Dante, Alessa is ready to live happily ever after with her former bodyguard. But Dante can't rest, haunted by a conviction that the gods aren't finished with them yet. And without his powers, the next kiss from Alessa could kill him.

Desperate for answers, Dante enlists Alessa and their friends to find the exiled ghiotte in hopes of restoring his powers and combining forces with them to create the only army powerful enough to save them all. But Alessa is hiding a deadly consequence of their last fight--a growing darkness that's consuming her mind--and their destination holds more dangers than anyone bargained for. In the mysterious city of the banished, Dante will uncover secrets, lies, and ghosts from his past that force him to ask himself: Which side is he on?

When the gods reveal their final test, Dante and Alessa will be the world's last defense. But if they are the keys to saving the world, will their love be the price of victory?

I loved this so much! I loved the first book, This Vicious Grace, and this one was just as good. Alessa and Dante are great characters: both are flawed and struggling but learning and growing towards becoming better people. Their relationship is so much fun, with their teasing and bantering, and their friendships with those around them are just as vibrant and fascinating. I loved all of this!

Emily Thiede was born in New Jersey but grew up in Virginia. This Cursed Light is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 12/12).

THIS CURSED LIGHT was a great follow up in this duology. While there were still similar problems in terms of plot that I commented on in my review for the first book, This Vicious Grace, I felt that this book added depth and growth to the MCs that I really enjoyed.

This book was all about the relationship development of Dante, the MMC, and Alessa, the FMC now that they were no longer defined by their powers. A central part of each of their identities, the author does a great job of highlighting their growth as people beyond what they thought made them special in the eyes of their respective societies, I thought that this was one of the things that makes this book so special.

However, I will say that the issues I had with the first book are still here in the second. Parts of the plot are not forgotten here, but the big battle felt lackluster and underwhelming and leading up to the battle, the plot almost meanders. The two gods, Dea and Crollo are never much explained and, therefore, even though the world has expanded, the readers understanding of that world is not. I think that this book is a romance centered plot rather than a romance AND conflict plot, which is why I am rating it the way I am. There really is no urgency throughout. I don't think that is the author's fault, but rather something that needed to be fleshed out or reworked so that it has the same level of gravitas as the romance. I think it needed to do both rather than the conflict to be a plot device for the romance.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel and felt it was a great addition to the previous novel. If you love romance and character development in your YA novels, you should read this book.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Love the characters of Alessa and Dante. It did take me a bit longer to get into because it had been awhile from when I read the first book, however I still enjoyed. I liked that the relationships that are in the book aren't your most traditional relations so it gives me a different perspective that I don't see everyday.

It did bother me in the beginning that Alessa and Dante still had to ask for permission to do things. I mean they had just saved the world and now they have to ask permission to save it again? Didn't make sense to me.

This Cursed Light picks up 6 months after the events of This Viscous Grace. Dante is convinced the world hasn’t seen the end of the confrontation with the gods. The friend group sets out on a quest to recruit assistance for the impending end of the world battle. Their quest is complicated by Dante and Alessa’s relationship as they’ve struggled since he lost his powers and as a result is unable to touch and hold Alessa without experiencing a zap of pain.

For a book centering around an impending battle with large-scale implications, there just wasn’t any urgency to anything. It was just a date on the calendar and no one really seemed worried about it. They were all fixated on their own personal emotional turmoil and for that reason I found it all a bit hard to buy into. By 90% into the book and this being the second book in a duology, it still wasn’t clear if this battle would even play out. By this point any resolution would feel like it came out of left-field and was certainly rushed. The villain may be mentioned fleetingly but certainly doesn’t get the end attention they deserved.

The book really centres around the primary relationship of Dante and Alessa. It is closed door YA but certainly romance heavy. There together but we follow them trying to find their way in their relationship seeking support, healthy boundaries, communication skills and how to be themselves. The relationship part of this book was fine but then I would have rather it be set amongst a lower stakes quest. If the impending end of the world is coming and I’m surrounded by people scrubbing the floors of a house and throwing lemons at each other… I’m throwing my lot in with the demons.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An absolutely stunning continuation of This Vicious Grace and conclusion to The Last Finestra duology.
My hopes were high for this book because I loved the first one so much, but I was not disappointed. In fact, it exceeded my expectations.
The pacing is great, we get to meet new characters as well as see the rest continue to evolve.
It takes a lot for me to cry, but this is twice now that Emily Thiede has managed to make me sob my weary little heart out, and that makes me a little bit scared of her as well as leaving me in awe of her writing skills.
This is a very solid duology I will not hesitate to recommend to people.

Thank you so much for this arc

This was such a bummer because I really enjoyed the first one but this just felt different. I didn't like that she was married for so long and it just drug on. I couldn't finish.

I freaking loved This Vicious Grace and after finishing book two in the The Last Finestra series This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede it was just as amazing as the first book.
Such an enchanting tale. I was completely immersed in the fascinating world that Emily Thiede created. The plot was so interesting and the pacing was perfect.
The whole premise of this book was so incredible.
The world building was phenomenal, the pacing was perfect, and the romance was so beautiful.
Overall, this was a wonderfully written, action packed, romantasy filled with betrayal, romance and friendship.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

A suspenseful and moving continuation of the duology! It’s always hard to top “the end of the world” and I’m impressed with how the author handles that tension and stakes without turning the book into a DC superhero movie. Alyssa and Dante have their personal struggles to work through, as well as their relationship troubles. And the side characters continue to delight.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

..........This felt like a sequel book. But in a good way?

This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede is a YA fantasy novel that follows up the events of This Vicious Grace. Six months after saving their island from destruction and almost losing Dante, Alessa is ready to live happily ever after with her former bodyguard. But Dante can't rest, haunted by a conviction that the gods aren't finished with them yet. And without his powers, the next kiss from Alessa could kill him. Desperate for answers, Dante enlists Alessa and their friends to find the exiled ghiotte in hopes of restoring his powers and combining forces with them to create the only army powerful enough to save them all. But Alessa is hiding a deadly consequence of their last fight--a growing darkness that's consuming her mind--and their destination holds more dangers than anyone bargained for. In the mysterious city of the banished, Dante will uncover secrets, lies, and ghosts from his past that force him to ask himself: Which side is he on? When the gods reveal their final test, Dante and Alessa will be the world's last defense. But if they are the keys to saving the world, will their love be the price of victory?

Honestly, I didn't see quite the point of having a book two to This Vicious Grace. I feel like it was wrapped up nicely with an inconclusive bow. But at the same time, I didn't really see the point to this book. Save for Dante having more broody screen time. Which wasn't all that compared to his snark in the first book. I feel like this duology should have been standalone. A long one, but still just the one book. Still a solid read though.

***ARC received from Wednesday Book and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

This Cursed Light is the conclusion to the Last Finestra duology and the characters are left dealing with the aftermath of the Divorando and the sinking feeling that the gods are not done yet with our heroes.

Alessa and Dante are suffering after the outcome of what happened in the previous book. Dante’s death and revival have robbed him of his ghiotte abilities leaving his relationship with Alessa strained. Alessa’s abilities have also changed by her decisions in the previous book reminding her that her abilities are still something she is struggling to control. I really liked their fun banter in the previous book and that is missing for a good chunk of this book as both are a little more not really secretive but not as open. Yes it makes sense in how things have changed. Dante and Alessa are also pretty head strong with neither seeming to want to admit to the other that they are right or that there is something wrong with them. Yes I can understand why they may keep the information from each other and thankfully it does resolve itself quickly so it never feels unnecessarily drawn out I just wish they had been more honest with each other. But through it all they both love each other and want really only what is best.

The secondary characters are still a struggle for me but I did like the new characters that were introduced in this book. The ghiotte are a really interesting community, Dante is trying to turn them into an army for the threat they rightfully believe is on its way but how do you get people that are basically invincible to work together when they don’t really need others to survive. Watching how they managed to get them to work together was really fun. Talia is the best of the secondary characters, she had a lot of distrust and watching her walls slowly come down as she comes to accept not everyone is out to hurt her.

The middle of the book drags a little bit as it feel like nothing is really happening. I think it felt like tension of the upcoming conflict was missing as it was in the previous book, even though they had a dead line of what it will be arriving. When the conflict does show I liked how it was handled in compared to the previous battle, this being more of a psychologic battle.

Dea and Crollo left me wanting more, they were an interesting pair in this story and I just wish there was more of them. I know this is Alessa and Dante story but the little we saw of them together really did leave me wanting to have a story about them, maybe a short little novella of what they are up to and where this whole conflict started and what they will be up to after the conclusion of this book.

This Cursed Light is a satisfying conclusion that sees Alessa and Dante story come full circle in particular Alessa who went through a great deal of growth between the two books.

DNF 40%

I genuinely wanted to love this book. The first one was one of my favorite reads last year and I was genuinely so excited for this one, but it's been about a month since it started and at some point I have to admit that I'm just not enjoying myself. It's been such a slog trying to get through every single chapter that I found myself reading a few pages a day before I stopped. I genuinely do like the characters but I think the book struggles a lot with pacing, where I genuinely don't think anything too exciting is going on and I'm not looking forward to what is going to happen next. The larger cast of characters sure don't help.

Giving this two stars for now because I do want to get back to it. I just know that I need to take a break.