This Vicious Grace

Thank you Emily Thiede, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.

I read the words. "Three weddings, Three funerals," and that was all it took for me to be hooked onto this.

I could try to come up with something to dislike, but it's not possible. The characters, their development, the way the love and betrayal and trust and loyalty is written, the way all of it is narrated: just about EVERYTHING, makes me happy.

This is one of the books I would want to read for the first time again. Or listen.

The cliffhanger tho, can we get rid of that suspense asap?

This Vicious Grace was a debut novel and it was for me a 5⭐️ read. I’m picky about YA and to be honest it didn’t feel like a young adult. And what I mean by that is, it didn’t have a childish, too overdramatic feel. This fantasy-paranormal story had a great world building and plot. And my favorite part was the very touching romance. *Sigh*
I’m just going to leave this here and highly recommend this novel. There’s no cliffhanger but there is another novel. YES!! I. Can’t. Wait.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and ebook form. I listened at work and read at home. Both were great but I think I liked listening to it. The narrators were Carlotta Brentan and Michael Gallagher and they were outstanding. I hope to hear more from them.
Thanks Wednesday Books and Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley.
I’m leaving my review on Instagram, FB, BB, Amazon and B&N

This was my first ever audiobook and what a way to start! The narrators had me feeling like I was living in the story. I was immersed from the very start and I found that it really helped to read and listen at the same time. This was easily a 5 ⭐️ Read.

The Book/story:
Excuse me. EXCUSE ME It’s almost rude how amazing this book is. It’s been a while since I last had a book that was near on impossible to put down and that kept me up all night but This Vicious Grace did just that.

I adored Alessa, she’s strong, smart and independent. Her loneliness endeared me to her straight away, we love reading about a strong female. Dante was… well there aren’t any words for Dante really, other thank DAMNNN.

This book is a guaranteed page turner that will have you gripped from the very first line. An addictive tale filled with witty banter, betrayals, found family and reluctant allies turned… well, you’ll have to read and find out 😏

I’m going to be honest. I went into this book knowing nothing about it, but my gosh… It blew me away. I think it may be one of my favourite reads this year. I adored the plot, the characters, just everything. Emily has written a truly wonderful fantasy debut and I just cannot fault it.

It is enchanting, thrilling and has that wonderful fall in love with the bodyguard trope. I just loved every moment.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Alessa has been the Finestra for Saverio for nearly 5 years now, and normally, she would've found her Fonte and be well trained for the Divorando by now. But her gift - which will be useful for the battle - is deadly to the three Fonti she has already chosen, and the island are slowly turning against her. Fearing assassination from those who should protect her, Alessa seeks out her own bodyguard, and street fighter and outcast Dante is perfect for the role. Alessa needs to train on how to control her gift, and when she learns more about Dante, it's clear he may be the only one who can bear her touch, and her love?

I honestly didn't know what to expect going into this book. I remember I first learnt about it on Twitter, so immediately requested it on NetGalley (and was approved by both publishers, and the audiobook too). I am glad I hadn't looked at the synopsis again when I started the audiobook, because I was immediately drawn into the tale. Alessa discovered the was the new Finestra just after she turned 13, when her touch started to draw power from others. In the five years between the finestra being found, and the divorando, normally the divine pairing would be discovered, and well trained for the battle against Crollo's scarbeo. But though Alessa has selected three different Fonte, and married each one, they've all succumbed to her power, and she's left with only month's to get a hold on her gift. It's clear that a radical cult is set against her, and that her guards are willing to turn a blind eye against assassin's, so Alessa needs to find her own protection, and Dante is the best bet. I just adored the banter and chemistry between Dante and Alessa, and the fact that he was the only person who could bide her touch, and allowed her to control her powers, just a bonus. So much happened in the book, from Alessa being quite and vulnerable and weak character at the beginning, alone for so long, to her discovering friendship, love, and strength, ready for the battle against Crollo's forces. The twists and turns, especially in the final chapters, were so gripping, and I couldn't turn it off until the book was completed. I'm in awe of this debut, and can't wait for the sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Alessa was chosen to be the Finestra. And with her role comes a great responsibility. She is destined to save her city from demons, but for that she needs a fonte, which is hard to find since her touch keeps on killing them.
When people start doubting Alessa's strength to keep the city from being attacked, Alessa's life is threatened and with the war getting closer, she has to figure out how to save the city and stay alive.

This story already starts off great with Alessa being the perfect protagonist. Like every so often, she fits into the role of the Chosen one who rather be ordinary, but she does it without being insufferably whiny about it. I loved the Italy inspired setting and the fact that the narrator could actually pronounce the words properly.
The romance made me swoon, because Dante was just the love-interest everyone loves and deserves.  I was intrigued all the way through the story, and I'm already anticipating the sequel.
If you enjoy fantasy books featuring demons, the chosen-one trope, magic and a swoon-worthy romance then this is a read you should pick up immediately.

A big thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this eArc!

One word: WOW!

I loved this so much. Bodyguard enemies to lovers romance. What more do you need?!?

I enjoyed this book way more than I expected. The story held a very interesting premise, and I found the characters to be really loveable. I definitely enjoyed the romance and friendships in this book more than the actual plotline, however, it was still a very enjoyable and fun read. The banter and blossoming relationship between Alessa and Dante was my favourite part. Really looking forward to reading the sequel!

Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC!

I just love listening to audiobooks, both narrators were excellent in this production and really brought the book to live. Told mainly from Alessa's voice it was good to hear Dante's voice at the end.

A gorgeous, slow burn fantasy romance Alessa can't touch anyone because her touch kills. With a traitor in her household and still without a fonte she hires Dante to be her bodyguard. She is falling for Dante and he shouldn't even be there. She longs for his touch, but that cant happen because of her powers. Armageddon is on its way and she needs a fonte to fight against the monsters but time is running out and how can she give herself to another when she's falling for her bodyguard. 

I just loved this story and the battles Alessa has to face. I loved how Dante helped her to control her power, such a tender moment. That ending! I need to know what happens next.  Brilliant start to the first part of this series and really looking forward to reading the next book.

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa’s gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill every suitor she touches.

Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island’s only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.
Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante’s dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?

A gorgeous and exciting fantasy debut by Emily Thiede.

This Viscious Grace is a beautifully written book that gave me everything I seek in a fantasy book - from brilliant characters, a fun bodyguard close proximity situation, found family, court intrigue, the perfect forbidden/ friends to lovers, slow burn romance that's full of gorgeous prose and dazzling, swoon- worthy chemistry!

Perfect! Perfect! Perfect! One of my favourites this year. That is all I can say, as my heart is full and my head is speechless.

“You can’t die tonight. You have to save the world.”

CW: Blood, death, violence, suicidal thoughts, war

I enjoyed This Vicious Grace much more than I was expecting to. I loved the characters and the magic, as well as the plot.
This Vicious Grace is full of Italian-inspired world building, demons and deities, and a religion/mythology based on them. There is a history to the island and a sense that this has happened before. Detail and history was offered slowly - although I think I missed some (I think as a result of listening to the audiobook), I don’t think I struggled with the rest of the book because of this.
There are was a political thread to this, which I wasn’t expecting, but didn’t mind.
Alessa was a really interesting main character. She was celebrated for so long as deity-chosen, but the book begins when her power has become a curse. She’s terrified of hurting the people around her and terrified of falling in love again. The difficulties she faces really challenge who she is as a person - she is kind and loving, but so lonely. She has to reassess the rules follows because they’re what she’s always been told versus what she wants to do.
I liked the relationship Alessa formed with Dante and the Fonte. They were friendships formed out of necessity and forced proximity, but they also felt genuine. Dante was sassy and cynical, but still understanding and protective. I liked his banter with Alessa.
I really enjoyed the slow burn romance and I didn’t mind that it seemed to be a focus of the book. I think, given Alessa’s history, it was important that she had the time to develop feelings. I love the “casual” touches that don’t mean anything, the chance to grow together.
I definitely enjoyed this and cannot wait to read more in the series.

Thank you so much for providing with this amazing audiobook. I absolutely loved it. Now I really want to listen to the next installment. The idea of the author to use Italian as the old language is just so funny.

Wow! I mean just wow! I can not express my love for this series into words…but I can sure try. From the first page I was intrigued as the story and Emily Thiede’s writing slowly dragged me further and further into the world of power, gifts, and a need for love. By the time I released how emotionally invested I was, I was so far in it was hard to stop listening. This amazing and beautiful character Emily created not only in your mind, but in your heart, was so relatable and realistic. It was so easy to love her, so much so that when wrong is done to her, I was shouting at the book wanting to argue with the characters (and the author) about why they were so ooo…ahhhh. I will say no more to not spoil, but ahhhhhh is an accurate expression.

This book for me is on par with These Hollow Vows with how amazing and wonderful and loveable it is and damn do I need the next one right now. I will be honest and had my doubts about this book, but wow were my expectation blown out the window and replaced by a need to create a space on my favourites books of all time shelf for when this beauty arrives in person.

A massive thank you to Hodder and Netgallery for sending me an early audiobook of this five star beauty.

Alessa, the chosen Finestra, has to protect her country from a demon attack that's coming. She hasn't found a partner, a Fonte, due to guilt as she's killed any previous ones due to her killer touch. She also finds herself in the middle of an assassination plot so it's all going on!!!!

Enter Dante who Alessa finds in town and hires as her bodyguard despite his seemingly dubious background.

Alessa is a fab leading lady, her character growth was amazing and all helped along by Dante.

Their banter, what they teach each other, his protective streak. Two lost souls finding each other. It was so exciting! I wanted to shout 'kiss' all the time!!!

The plot was so good along with the world building. The characters were well fleshed out and I loved all the side characters too! There was a small cliffhanger that made me go and look to see when the next book is out!

Fab read, would totally recommend.

Fantasy, magic, demons, apocolypse, tears and love... yes that pretty much sums it up!

I adored this book! It has a good start, a busy middle and an epic ending. The characters are so rich and full of life and we receive a fabulous storyline.

The narration was fantastic.

Admittedly I had to reach for the tissues. I look forward to book 2 (soon I hope!).

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to review this fabulous ARC!

Absolutely fantastic!

"This Vicious Grace" was unexpectedly awesome. I feel like it is the best book of the year.

I am trying to come up with something intelligent here but all I can think of is the feeling that I got after reading "A court of Mist and Fury". I feel torn. I want to read it again for the first time. The emotions during the reading and the emptiness after finishing it... It should be illegal. If the book can do that with you, than you know that you have a winner. The story is captivating, interesting world building and characters... I am speechless. Dante is my new book crush.

I always find it difficult to write a review of a great book. There is not enough words to describe how much I have enjoyed the reading. I fell in love with the writing and the author. Now I have to suffer and wait for the next part. And that will be difficult.

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, and now has people trying to kill her!?

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 Hodderscape for giving me an audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an interesting and incredible read, there was such depth and intrigue. I found myself completely entranced by the story.