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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
So objectively I know this isn't that good but like while procrastinating on studying I read this in a single morning in a manic fugue and I loved it.
This kind of blew me away?? Idk I just had a really good time with this all around, I really can’t fault it at all. A very solid debut, can’t wait for the sequel and anything else this author writes!!
People saying the storyline was predictable must be clairvoyant because whew!!! What a wild, sweet, aching ride. Seriously cannot wait for book 2!
Will add review later but loved everything about this book!
i was being super aesthetic and read this on the plane instead of watching in flight entertainment
Many thanks to Wednesday books and NetGalley for a gifted early copy of this book! It is Emily Thiede's debut and I was really excited to read it. I was promised banter and wit and it delivered on that!
Alessa is the chosen Finestra to help her country battle against this evil beetle demon bug things that come every few years. She's had to leave her family and life behind to live in the castle and get trained on Finestra life. As a rule, she is supposed to pick a Fonte and marry them to help amplify her power and be a success in killing the bug demon things. Unfortunately, Alessa is so powerful she has killed multiple partners and is running out of time.
When someone tries to kill her, she goes looking for someone outside the palace to be her bodyguard and well, you can see where this is going. They trade some verbal barbs but he sees her for who she is and isn't afraid to be honest which is exactly what Alessa needs. Dante becomes the single most important person in Alessa's life and even when a secret is revealed that changes things, Alessa doesn't give up on him.
In the mean time, there are several characters who end up in Alessa's circle of friends and I loved them all. Even the ones I hated at first. It has such a nice sense of found family and I enjoyed it.
I will say the book took a while to get going and once it got going, it stopped too soon. That's the reason for my 3.5 star rating. I wanted a little less on the front end so we could have more on the back end. And woah there cliffhanger ending that I immediately screamed give me book two now please.
Anyway, This Vicious Grace comes out on June 28 and it's a YA Fantasy with some romance in it. I enjoyed it.
Alessa is the chosen Finestra to help her country battle against this evil beetle demon bug things that come every few years. She's had to leave her family and life behind to live in the castle and get trained on Finestra life. As a rule, she is supposed to pick a Fonte and marry them to help amplify her power and be a success in killing the bug demon things. Unfortunately, Alessa is so powerful she has killed multiple partners and is running out of time.
When someone tries to kill her, she goes looking for someone outside the palace to be her bodyguard and well, you can see where this is going. They trade some verbal barbs but he sees her for who she is and isn't afraid to be honest which is exactly what Alessa needs. Dante becomes the single most important person in Alessa's life and even when a secret is revealed that changes things, Alessa doesn't give up on him.
In the mean time, there are several characters who end up in Alessa's circle of friends and I loved them all. Even the ones I hated at first. It has such a nice sense of found family and I enjoyed it.
I will say the book took a while to get going and once it got going, it stopped too soon. That's the reason for my 3.5 star rating. I wanted a little less on the front end so we could have more on the back end. And woah there cliffhanger ending that I immediately screamed give me book two now please.
Anyway, This Vicious Grace comes out on June 28 and it's a YA Fantasy with some romance in it. I enjoyed it.
This is the first book in a brand new series - and by a debut author! That's quite a lot of 'firsts', and well done to Emily Thiede. I was quite fascinated by this story. As a fantasy fan, I got quite used to world-building and magic, but to experience it with a strong Italian influence, was quite unique for me. Is Italian Lore a new sub-genre? I see it developing! A strong and determined heroine, a stoic and mysterious body guard, magical powers and the threat of an imminent demon attack, also incorporating a found family trope, what's not to love? And I think most readers will be crushing hard on Dante. Intelligent, flirtatious banter does it to me, what can I say? The book started off a little slow, but I also then take into account that it usually is the case for world-building and necessary to detail the rules and characters. It is wonderfully written, with well-developed characters and beautiful prose. I am already looking forward to the sequel.
I listened to the audiobook version, and thoroughly enjoyed it! Great job by the narrators.
Planned publishing date 28 June 2022.
I was chosen to receive this ARC audiobook Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley, in exchange for a honest review. (This specific edition details are not currently available on Goodreads yet)
I listened to the audiobook version, and thoroughly enjoyed it! Great job by the narrators.
Planned publishing date 28 June 2022.
I was chosen to receive this ARC audiobook Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley, in exchange for a honest review. (This specific edition details are not currently available on Goodreads yet)
Maybe the real Fonte is the friends we made along the way.
Jokes aside, it's been a long while since I've last thoroughly enjoyed a YA fantasy like this. The concept wasn't exactly unique but the execution made up for it, plus the writing was immaculate and the slow burn romance was exquisite. It checked all the fantasy must-haves in my list.
Nevermind that the middle chunk of the book was weird because it focused a little too much on the romance but once you realize this was written as a romantic fantasy, reading through the rest of the book was a breeze. I was literally up until 3 AM because I was that invested (in both the romance and plot, obviously!)
I can't believe the author expects me to wait until August 2023 for the sequel. Waiting with bated breath as we speak.
Jokes aside, it's been a long while since I've last thoroughly enjoyed a YA fantasy like this. The concept wasn't exactly unique but the execution made up for it, plus the writing was immaculate and the slow burn romance was exquisite. It checked all the fantasy must-haves in my list.
Nevermind that the middle chunk of the book was weird because it focused a little too much on the romance but once you realize this was written as a romantic fantasy, reading through the rest of the book was a breeze. I was literally up until 3 AM because I was that invested (in both the romance and plot, obviously!)
I can't believe the author expects me to wait until August 2023 for the sequel. Waiting with bated breath as we speak.
Not at all what I was expecting but I loved it. It made me laugh, cry, and scream. I need book 2 yesterday as the ending just killed me.
The main characters have such growth that you can't help but cheer for them.
The main characters have such growth that you can't help but cheer for them.