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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I first started reading this book, I was a little confused by so many terms that I didn't personally know (had to Google them to picture the scenes better). The beginning was a little slow and it felt like it dredged on, but I was hooked a couple chapters in. The main characters grow on you pretty quickly. I went through so many emotions with this book, even felt like crying a couple of times! So glad I found this book on TikTok. Definitely recommend.
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 15+
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
ARC acquired at YALLWest.
Seriously. This book was amazing. I read the whole thing in under 48 hours, and I am chomping at the bit for book 2. The worst part of ARCs will always be having to wait extra long for the sequels. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to do it.
Thrice married, thrice widowed, 18 year old Alessa is the only one with the power to save the world from the impending apocolypse—but she can’t use those powers when she kills every person she touches.
THE ANGST IN THIS BOOK. Immaculate.
A heroine who’s desperate for affection, but whose touch brings excruciating pain and death to anyone she so much as brushes her finger against—until she meets him. Think Juliette from Shatter Me type trope. Alessa has all the angsty longing of Juliette, but she’s a little bit more mentally stable, a little less whiny, and a little more fully fledged as a character (in my opinion).
Dante—the one person she can touch—is the epitome of tall dark and brooding. He has all the essential perfect traits of your favorite YA love interests, but he’s dynamic, relateable. The mystery of his past draws you in and is revealed slowly but feels natural to the story. The suspense and intrigue around him builds as his secrets begin to come to light. It’s drawn out deliciously, but never to the point where it becomes overwrought or annoying.
But he has a personality outside of his brooding secretive side. A softness, humor, and a genuineness that lends an air of realism and unpredictability to his character.
And he and Alessa together absolutely wreck me. I’m obsessed.
Though not directly stated in the text, Emily Thiede has stated that Alessa has ADHD. The representation is #ownvoices and absolutely incredible. The ableism she faces broke my heart, especially when it came from the people who were supposed to love and protect her unconditionally. The way that she internalized and grappled with that ableism she’s been shown from those who claim to love her hit so hard in a way that both destroyed me and made me feel seen. And when Alessa chose to value herself as she is and trust herself and love herself… I nearly cried, it was so powerful.
This book was incredible, unique, powerful, angsty, amazing, swoonworthy and a bit steamy. I am obsessed, I tell you, and I cannot recommend this enough.
Age Rating: 15+
Over All: 5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
ARC acquired at YALLWest.
Seriously. This book was amazing. I read the whole thing in under 48 hours, and I am chomping at the bit for book 2. The worst part of ARCs will always be having to wait extra long for the sequels. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to do it.
Thrice married, thrice widowed, 18 year old Alessa is the only one with the power to save the world from the impending apocolypse—but she can’t use those powers when she kills every person she touches.
THE ANGST IN THIS BOOK. Immaculate.
A heroine who’s desperate for affection, but whose touch brings excruciating pain and death to anyone she so much as brushes her finger against—until she meets him. Think Juliette from Shatter Me type trope. Alessa has all the angsty longing of Juliette, but she’s a little bit more mentally stable, a little less whiny, and a little more fully fledged as a character (in my opinion).
Dante—the one person she can touch—is the epitome of tall dark and brooding. He has all the essential perfect traits of your favorite YA love interests, but he’s dynamic, relateable. The mystery of his past draws you in and is revealed slowly but feels natural to the story. The suspense and intrigue around him builds as his secrets begin to come to light. It’s drawn out deliciously, but never to the point where it becomes overwrought or annoying.
But he has a personality outside of his brooding secretive side. A softness, humor, and a genuineness that lends an air of realism and unpredictability to his character.
And he and Alessa together absolutely wreck me. I’m obsessed.
Though not directly stated in the text, Emily Thiede has stated that Alessa has ADHD. The representation is #ownvoices and absolutely incredible. The ableism she faces broke my heart, especially when it came from the people who were supposed to love and protect her unconditionally. The way that she internalized and grappled with that ableism she’s been shown from those who claim to love her hit so hard in a way that both destroyed me and made me feel seen. And when Alessa chose to value herself as she is and trust herself and love herself… I nearly cried, it was so powerful.
This book was incredible, unique, powerful, angsty, amazing, swoonworthy and a bit steamy. I am obsessed, I tell you, and I cannot recommend this enough.
A romantic fantasy set in in an Italian like setting. I loved Alessia and Dante and couldn't stop reading.
Excellent storytelling and plot/character development. A compelling and entertaining story that kept me hooked.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Excellent storytelling and plot/character development. A compelling and entertaining story that kept me hooked.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
dark
emotional
medium-paced
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have a lot of feelings about how good this book was. I love going into books not knowing anything about them because it’s more fun and this one absolutely hooked me from the very beginning (was it because Alessa is so similar to Alessia? maybe!)
I loved this book so much, the world building, the characters, the Italian in it, everything. I was literally crying on my lunch break while reading this. I cannot wait for book 2
I loved this book so much, the world building, the characters, the Italian in it, everything. I was literally crying on my lunch break while reading this. I cannot wait for book 2
This Vicious Grace follows Alessa, a girl chosen by the gods to ward off the upcoming demon apocalyptic war. To do so she must chose a Fonte, someone whose magical powers she can amplify and use against the demons. In the five years since she was chosen as the next Finestra, Alessa has chosen, married and accidentally killed three Fontes. With the threat of the demons getting closer, Alessa must learn to control her powers and pick her final Fonte. After an insider makes an attempt on her life, Alessa hires Dante, a street fighter from the city to be her bodyguard. Together they, alongside a group of Fontes, must work out how to win the upcoming war.
I absolutely loved this! Such a unique magic system and twist on the poisonous touch trope. Alessa was such a good main character and I really liked how she was forced into the role of Finestra by the gods and was still so determined to do the right thing. The bodyguard trope was perfect as always - I instantly fell in love with Dante and his sarcasm. The relationship they developed was so slow burn and intense and I loved every second of it!! The found family feelings I got from reading about Alessa and the Fontes was also a real highlight for me.
I need the sequel immediately.
I absolutely loved this! Such a unique magic system and twist on the poisonous touch trope. Alessa was such a good main character and I really liked how she was forced into the role of Finestra by the gods and was still so determined to do the right thing. The bodyguard trope was perfect as always - I instantly fell in love with Dante and his sarcasm. The relationship they developed was so slow burn and intense and I loved every second of it!! The found family feelings I got from reading about Alessa and the Fontes was also a real highlight for me.
I need the sequel immediately.