This is the final book in the Last Finestra duology. If you haven't read the first one (This Vicious Grace), you should definitely read it because it was in my top 10 books that I read last year. If you have read it, you should definitely finish this duology!

This was a good finish to this duology. It wasn't quite up to par with the first one just because of the amount of miscommunication between the characters in this one. The miscommunication trope is super frustrating for me to read. But the storyline was beautifully written.

Learning to accept people's differences is something that I think a lot of people in this world need to do. This book was a masterclass in this concept. The characters journey in love and acceptance was beautiful. The end was very predictable, but this was a YA book so I kind of assumed it would be. Overall, this was a lovely conclusion for this debut duology!

Thanks @netgalley for a copy of this book! All opinions shared in this review are my own.

It was such a pleasure to be around the characters of This Vicious Grace again. Particularly Alessa and Dante, but the rest of the cast was equally delightful.
The romance part isn’t always easy to land when our MCs already got together, but the premise of the romance plot in this book worked great to build and maintain the tension between Alessa and Dante. Making them unable to touch each other was genius (and I wish Emily Thiede had leaned in the UST even more!!). While it was crystal clear they loved each other, it was also wonderful to read about this perfect/imperfect relationship, Alessa and Dante are extremely endearing characters for that—strong yet filled with very human flaws, so in love with their partner yet unable to see what the other loves so much about them.
As it was the case with the first book, I felt like the build up to the final “battle” was a bit longer than necessary. As a result, my reading of the book grew much slower past the second half.
It doesn’t really change my overall appreciation for the world Emily Thiede created (mixing in her Italian roots to create a place and culture that was familiar yet unique) nor her characters. I enjoyed this duology a lot and will recommend it to fans of fantasy and romance alike, as these books strike the perfect balance between the two genres.

This Cursed Light
Emily Thiede
Pub Date: December 5, 2023
St. Martin's Press
YA/TEEN
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I recommend This Cursed Light to my book list especially those who have read book one. You have plenty of time to read that one if you haven't read it yet. I can't wait to see what Thiede publishes next and if you can grab these books on audio, I can vouch that the first one is really well done so look forward to grabbing This Cursed Light in that format as well! Thiede does a great job on writing this book. I highly recommend it.

I absolutely loved the first book and was so excited to be able to read this one before the release. It was a nice tie up for the characters! There is a lot of details but it was well done and I enjoyed the setting, the theme and the characters’ development! The angst and banter were just so on point!

This Cursed Light is book two in the The Last Finestra duology and if you haven't started book one yet, now is a perfect time to do it so you can just slide right into this book when you finish. Here's my warning - don't go any further with this review if you haven't read as while I won't intentionally give spoilers...it won't be possible to talk about my feelings without saying a few things.

I loved this series and I'm sad the journey for these characters is over but Thiede definitely took them through enough that they earned their HEA's! I can't say too much here as I don't want to give anything away but Dante and Alessa have made it onto my list of favorite couples...that's for sure.

This book picks up shortly after the end of This Vicious Grace and Alessa and Dante have been on separate paths for the last few months. As they come back together, they have to get reacquainted with each other and I'm happy to report that they didn't lose any of the love they have for each other...the banter is also still there which is one of my favorite parts. That's not to say things haven't changed. With Dante's powers gone, it creates quite a conundrum on how they will make things work.

This book has more to it than the relationship piece (even though that's always a favorite). If you recall, Dante had a vision at the end of book one and as this book picks up, we find out it is supported by visions Alessa is having and they realize they have another mission. They need to find the exiled Ghiotte and convince them to fight this last battle alongside the Finestra and Fonti and this is the core of the story.

I thought Thiede did a great job of giving us more on Dante. Yes, we saw pieces in the first book but when they find the Ghiotte, I felt like he truly became a main character as we got to learn so much more about the Ghiotte and his history with some key people.

As I mentioned, A LOT happens in this book and I almost thought I was going to have heart issues but Thiede ended this one perfectly and while I experienced almost every feeling you can imagine in the last few chapters, I'm happy with the closure.

I recommend book one to everyone I know and will now add This Cursed Light to that list! I can't wait to see what Thiede publishes next and if you can grab these books on audio, I can vouch that the first one is really well done so look forward to grabbing This Cursed Light in that format as well!

Content Warning: violence

I enjoyed the first book in this series, This Vicious Grace a lot and was very interested to see where the story would go.

+ Alessa and Dante are back together with their banter but there are many challenges between them. Dante has lost his powers and Alessa’s powers hurt when they touch so they can’t be together physically which makes the tension between them rise. But I like how they can also focus on the matter at hand and that is trying to defeat Crollo. There is a few steamy scenes between them but it lacks the details to make it spicy so I’d say it’s pretty PG-13.

+ We get to learn more about Dante’s past and present and people who used to be in his life. He takes on a leadership role as he tries to make the ghiotte into an army that can help them in their fight. It takes a lot of trust and revisiting his feelings about his past though but Dante really overcomes and rises to the challenge.

+ The found family with Alessa and the side characters are one of the things I liked about book one. They are here again supporting Alessa and the fight against Crollo.

~ So this happened with me in the first book where the whole story is a lead up until the battle that lasts only a few chapters at the end of the book. It happens in this book as well where all we hear is Crollo is coming, the chapters even tick off the days leading up to the battle but I feel like nothing much is happening during those days except relationships being fixed. Yes they are building an army but there is so much going on like: Alessa and Dante’s relationship and not being able to touch, and the secrets they are both are keeping from one another. Also Dante’s past and being with his people again conjuring up all kinds of feelings that he has to work through. I felt like the battle again was anti-climatic after the whole book being so much about the build up to it.

This Cursed Light is one of my most anticipated releases this year. I had a high expectation with this one but it just fell short. The pacing was too slow and full of discussions scenes for the first half, and the plot basically followed the previous book where everyone was busy training only for the battle to end in a few pages.

Dante really shined in this book, I enjoyed following his story finding his true self and home. In the contrary, Alessa didn't get to show her improvement in power and her ability. I only remembered that she and the others were always kept inside, waiting for Dante to come and join them.

Even though this final book felt so underwhelming to me, I would still recommend this book to those who enjoyed This Vicious Grace. I will still be looking forward to Thiede's next projects in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I was offered a chance to read an ARC of this book, I jumped at the chance. Ever since I finished This Vicious Grace I have been dying for more of this series. And I was absolutely not disappointed with This Cursed Light.

As far as second books go, this one wrapped everything up so nicely. Closing up some of the questions that I had at the end of the first book and building on the relationship I had only just fallen in love with. Alessa and Dante are some of my favorite book couples right now. I didn't even mind the small romances that took place in the background of the story they were well written and honestly a perfect addition. All of the characters jumped out of the page at me and the pacing was perfectly done.

The big twist at the end left me so shocked that I could not put the book down until I was finished because I could not let the thoughts of how it was going to go settle.

Overall, I adore this book and I adore this series.

It was what i wanted after the first book. It was just amazing, I liked it and the story continued. I can say I like the first book more but this one was good.

An amazing sequel. Emily Thiede's writing captivated my heart in book 1 and also with this book. I loved seeing the continued journey of Alessa and her powers. Dante had an interesting character arc, and I thought Emily wrote it brilliantly. The natural progression of their relationship was sweet and genuine and I appreciated the slow, but healthy romance. Of course there's drama and obstacles, it a story and its fantasy so there's a lot going on. However, it was all balanced wonderfully and nothing felt too overplayed or dramatic for no reason.

The other characters really shined in this book too. Seeing Adrick's arc was surprising but pleasant. Kaleb was once again a delight in this story, his humor is a breath of fresh air.

The tension in the plot started off thin and slow but as the story progressed, the tension grew into a great climax and the story ended in a satisfying way. There were twists but it felt subtle which was nice. I didn't get whiplash from the sudden twists and turns.

I adore these characters and these books absolute favorites.

The end could've been better. Alessa and Dante, dealt with their shared and separate traumas, switching perspectives seamlessly. But the romance lost its spark, getting stuck in a constant "I'm not good enough for you" loop. The battle was way too short after all that build-up and the side characters deserved more. But if you liked the first book, you might still have fun with this sequel, just go in with lower romance expectations.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the early copy.

4.5 stars

What a great duology! The conclusion was beautiful and heartbreaking and I’m really pleased with how it all turned out. I loved that in this one we had the team getting out of Saverio and into a new setting, their little found family is the best. The build up to the final battle was really good and I had no idea what to expect, but the last 15% or so was when it got extra exciting.

I do think the first book was a bit stronger which is why I took off a half star - I love Dante and Alessa and I didn’t really want to see their relationship struggling for most of the book. I also thought there was too much focus on a certain new character who I wasn’t a fan of.

But again, I loved this duology overall and highly recommend it. The ending definitely brought a few tears to my eyes and the epilogue was perfect!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

The romance in this is as satisfying as fanfiction, in the best way! I love how the author doesn't rely on contrived breakups, but instead finds all kinds of tricksy ways to keep the couple from being able to touch each other, to keep the tension high and their love feeling forbidden, even in book 2. The banter and antics of the rest of the crew added a lot to this book, and the stakes and "save the world" stakes as big as book 1!

Really enjoyed the atmosphere and romance.

This is such a fun, quick paced romantic fantasy duology! I liked how the author expanded the world beyond the island and we got to see more of this Italy inspired world. Also Dante and Alessa are just so stinking cute, the first 80% of this book is basically just cute fluff for them with the last 10% being that battle scene. I did think the plot was a bit lacklustre and the ending felt a tad rushed but overall this was an entertaining read.

[Warning: Spoilers below]




This one was a disappointment for me. I loved This Vicious Grace so much -- and part of the reason I loved it so much was because it was such a deeply feminist book, focused on Alessa's journey to harness her powers and save her people. This one focused largely on Dante and ... the "Dante has to save the world" vibes just were not it for me. A lot of the new characters introduced were annoying and underdeveloped (like why would Dante's childhood bff who he last saw when he was *six* be so obsessively protective of him?)

It was really disappointing to go from a book where Alessa is reclaiming her power and leaning into the badass she is to a book where she's basically just simping for Dante and her big contribution is to die (which is a trope I *hate*). I never thought there was a world where she stayed dead so it made the ending anticlimactic (also the way Dante "saved" her... doesn't entirely hold together).

I'll still read whatever Thiede writes next but this was a disappointing ending to this duology.

“A year ago he would have let the world burn. Now he had a month to save it. For her.”

I’ve had the pleasure of reading some really fun and exciting sequels this year, so This Cursed Light is in great company.

Alessa and Dante were supposed to finally live in peace after saving the world and overcoming death, but the gods were nowhere near finished with them. They are both plagued by strange visions in the wake of Divorando that suggest another battle is yet to come - one they cannot win without the help of a fabled army.

I was so pleased that we finally get Dante’s POV because it added such depth to his character and the trauma he’s endured. And finally understanding how dedicated he is to Alessa, regardless of their circumstances, made my heart swell. Despite all they’ve already been through, there are still shades of the witty snark that made me fall in love with them as a couple in the first place. But they felt more insecure in their relationship than ever before, which led to more than a little miscommunication. In fact, it felt like they hid everything from each other and spent more time apart than together.

So much tension and effort is put toward preparing for an inevitable battle that I was slightly disappointed the fighting scenes weren’t longer. The whole cast spent so much time training that I would’ve enjoyed exploring exactly Alessa and her fontes could really do in a fight, especially with the aid of an army of ghiotte. Though I suppose in the end, it was never about the actual violence for the gods of this Italian-inspired fantasy world and their wager. The stakes have always been tied to the choices of the characters and the lengths they'd go to for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars!!

I loved This Vicious Grace so much and was delighted when I was sent an e-mail saying I was pre-approved to read the sequel, This Cursed Light!

It’s always hard for sequels to live up to the original story - especially when the original is so incredibly well-loved, the stakes are high! I believe that Emily Thiede did a phenomenal job making sure this story could stand on its own two feet.

It was so nice to be reunited with Alessa, Dante and the posse as they team up with the ghiotte to save the world once again post Divorante. I loved the adventure that we were able to go on with our familiar friends and the ups and downs we chased with the new characters introduced. There’s plenty of witty banter between Dante & Alessa - and there was huge character development for Kaleb and Adrick especially.

There are a lot of surprises throughout this installment that I don’t want to spoil for readers - so please just trust me when I say this duology is absolutely worth it! It’s such a fun read that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish - there’s so much growth that we see from the first book and unexpected twists and turns that will keep you turning the page to find out what’s going to happen! The epilogue is absolutely beautiful and I think this story wraps up in a satisfying way.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for providing the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading more from Emily Thiede - I love her writing.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. This Cursed Light was a fantastic read, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I must say I did love This Vicious Grace a touch more, but I still thought that this was a fantastic end to the duology. Ms. Thiede made me both love and hate characters, and feel entirely engrossed in the world she spun. My formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

This Vicious Grace was one of my favorite books of the year in 2022. I loved it and have been impatiently waiting for This Cursed Light. The is indeed one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year, and it does live up to that excitement, even if it is not quite as compelling as the first book.


I loved being back with these characters and getting to see many of the side characters back together and working together was great. I enjoyed the development of Alessa's brother and her fonte (fonti?). I also loved much of the banter and dialogue that drives most of the story- this is very much Dante's story and it is nice to get to see him explore his past and his identity. Without spoilers, there is also a lemon fight that is "chef's kiss" perfection, and overall the dynamic between Alessa and Dante remains true to the original book, though I'm always frustrated when characters don't talk to each other.

Unfortunately, it is the source of the conflict between the god's in this world and the reason for the main conflict that is the weakest part of the story. On the one hand the resolution has all the feels and got me invested despite the weakness in the world building, But it still came up a bit simplistic to me and underwhelming.

But what makes me keep reading is Alessa and Dante, and they do not disappoint, though they both have moments that frustrated me. This is a solid YA romantasy and a satisfying ending to the duology.

Thanks to Wednesday Books, St, Martin's press and Netgalley for allowing me access to an eARC in exchange for this fair review.

This book was good until the end. For most of the book, I was satisfied and a bit relieved. Mainly because Dante was more of his own character versus a supporting role like he was in the first book. I wish the other characters had more purpose other than supporting Alessa. The storyline was interesting and I was very curious to see where it was going. I kept questioning where the author was taking it but I believed the end would tie up all the loose pieces and everything would finally make sense. Unfortunately, I didn't get the closure I was waiting for. The ending made sense but it also made the entire book seem pointless at the same time. I had a lot of questions left when I finished the book. Why have them searching for the ghiotte and building an army that was never supposed to fight only for it to really serve no true purpose? Why does sacrificing Alessa's life benefit the majority of the people and why did Dante need to lose his powers? Why did Alessa's touch destroy the fountain? I don't understand how Alessa's sacrifice teaches anyone a lesson as Crollo and Dea said it should, especially when no one would ever know the truth and Alessa lives anyway. Dante and Alessa kept secrets from each other for most of the book but when they were finally revealed it was very anticlimactic. The grand finale I was waiting for was quite underwhelming.