This Vicious Grace

This fantasy, set in a reimagined Italy, literally made me want to dive into the world.

I am still thinking about the romance of the book and the predicament Alessa finds herself in. Oh, and did I mention all the delicious food within the book? I could basically taste the gelato.

While I was heavily invested in the romance, I thought the plot was so interesting and well-woven into the story.

In This Vicious Grace the main character Alessa is the Finestra, a position designed for the one who can save their island from a terrible enemy.

She’s been kept in isolation, only allowed to interact with her suitors, people whose powers should compliment her and make it possible for her to fulfill her destiny. Except Alessa’s powers are so strong that she keeps killing her partners.

Now Alessa must grapple with the fact that if she can’t figure this out, everyone on the island she’s meant to protect will die. So, instead of accepting her faith, Alessa steps outside of… show more.

I read this high-stakes YA fantasy late into the night, finishing it around 3 AM. In a fantasy world inspired by Italy, it follows the story of Alessa, chosen by the gods to save her people… except she’s really bad at it (relatable). Now her people are wondering if they’d be better off with her dead. To protect herself while she figures out how to save the world, she hires Dante, a gorgeous, surly street fighter as her bodyguard. The banter between these two will have you laughing long into the night, while the slow-burn attraction comes with its own… show more.