ARC Review: This Vicious Grace (The Last Finestra #1) by Emily Thiede
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Series: The Last Finestra #1
Author: Emily Thiede
Published June 28th 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton/Wednesday Books
Goodreads Synopsis
Her gift can save . . . or it can kill.
'Riveting, passionate, and full of high stakes danger' Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author
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?
Goodreads
Review
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!
Dates Read:
April 20-21, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
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