This Vicious Grace

April 15, 2022
A goddess-blessed young woman must find the perfect partner in order to protect her island from being devoured by demons. In the beginning, Dea created humans, and Crollo wanted to cleanse the earth of them. The deities came to an agreement: Crollo will send scarabeo--insectlike demons--to attack the humans in a calamity known as the Divorando, but Dea will send protection in the form of a pair of divine saviors--a Fonte blessed with defensive magic and a Finestra whose responsibility it is to amplify that magic. Alessa, Saverio's newest Finestra, craves to belong and to be touched. But her touch has already killed three Fontes, and her people are losing faith in her. When a rebellious preacher incites others to turn against Alessa and attempts are made to assassinate her, she hires Dante, a murderer, to be her bodyguard while she races to find another Fonte and save Saverio from the next Divorando. But she doesn't expect that Dante may be exactly the one she needs in order to control her power--or that his dark secrets could lead to their demise. Though the elemental magic system is fairly standard, Thiede's dramatic and fantastical debut is artfully colored with Italian-inspired lore. Determined yet unselfish, Alessa often questions her life and whether Saverio would be safer without her. With deeply cynical Dante, she explores self-love, passion, and belonging. The cast varies in skin tone. Readers will eagerly await the sequel. (content warning) (Fantasy. 13-18)

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May 2, 2022
Blessed by the gods, a thrice-married, thrice-widowed 18-year-old must learn to control her power to prevent calamity amid rebellion in Thiede’s mesmerizing debut. Cued-white Alessa Paladino’s blessing is also a curse. As the Finestra on the island of Saverio, she has little magical ability of her own but can amplify the mystical powers granted to individuals, called Fonte, by the goddess Dea. Finestra and Fonte are expected to collaborate, oftentimes through marriage, to save Saverio from Divorando, an apocalyptic day of reckoning on which Dea’s opposition, Crollo, would decimate the island with his “devouring minions.” Yet all three Fontes have succumbed to Alessa’s fatal power, and when her guards turn against her, convinced that her death will save Saverio, she hires outsider Dante, a “bronzed” muscled mercenary, for protection. His job is to keep her safe, and his presence helps Alessa wrangle her gift, but secrets from his past may yet lead to Saverio’s ruin. Though the worldbuilding is occasionally thin and familiar, it’s complemented by rich, descriptive writing and anchored by a clever heroine. Thiede weaves political intrigue, power struggles, and faith with intense romance in this immersive series opener. Ages 13–up. Agent: Chelsea Eberly, Greenhouse Literary.

May 1, 2022
Grades 8-12 Together, the Finestra and Fonte make a divine and powerful pairing, capable of fending off the demon army coming to attack the island of Saverio. Eighteen-year-old Alessa is this fictional Italian island's current Finestra, but rather than wielding a gift that increases her Fonte's own magical power, as she's supposed to, she possesses a lethal touch that has killed the first three Fontes she married. Now she needs to choose a new partner, one who will stay alive and help her keep Saverio safe. There's only a month left until the Divorando (demon invasion), and the chapters count down to that deadline, as Alessa attempts to select a new suitor while evading the treachery within the Citadella and growing close to her ruffian bodyguard, Dante. Secrets, action, and the looming attack create a taut atmosphere throughout, and Alessa and Dante's slow-burn romance simmers tantalizingly behind the scenes. Readers will be drawn to Alessa's kind and independent spirit as she grapples with duty versus agency, love and betrayal--all situated within a well-crafted world. An eerie, magic-infused debut.

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May 1, 2022

Gr 9 Up-Alessa is the Finestra, blessed with saving the people of Saverio. As the chosen one, it is her responsibility to locate her magical counterpart, a Fonte. By absorbing and magnifying the Fonte's power, the Finestra hopes to defeat the fated purge. Alessa has spent years training for this moment, but there is a problem: she has killed three Fontes already. Her touch so deadly, she is running out of time and options. As Saverio begins to lose hope, Alessa hires Dante, a bodyguard with a rough reputation, to help keep her safe until she can find another partner. While her protector's secrets are uncovered, Alessa attempts to find herself and her place as the Finestra. Thiede's world-building is complex and unique, sharing a story full of magic, danger and love. There is little background explanation at the start however, which can leave readers stumbling until they find their footing in the narrative. The slow-burn romance between Alessa and Dante is a focal point, and their banter is fascinating. Each chapter begins with a proverb, a creative way to foreshadow upcoming events. Thiede creates an array of dynamic characters and a suspenseful story that will leave readers ready for the next installment. VERDICT An Italian-infused debut novel recommended for collections where fantasy is popular.-Aliza Mangefrida

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