This Vicious Grace is a YA fantasy romance at its finest, I couldn‘t put it down once I got sucked into it. With a beautiful Italian-inspired setting, a swoon-worthy interest, a fierce heroine, great mythology, and lots of banter, this was a fresh reminder why I inititally fell so deeply in love with this genre, and I won‘t let it go.

Honestly, grab a bottle of limoncello yourself when you binge this one (if you‘re at legal age to do so, of course). This one served me everything I am looking for in this genre: I laughed, I (almost) cried, I wanted to throw the book against the wall, I spammed the group chat, I screamed, and I obsessed endlessly. While I loved what Emily Thiede did with the Italian-inspired setting (and therefore, almost making me book a trip to Italy because it‘s been long enough already since my trip there last summer), what really stood out where the characters, and their dynamic. Individually as well as together, there was not a single dull moment of them. Some I loved throughout the whole book, some I loved only to hate later, and some I unexpectedly fell for as I read further on. Of course, Alessa and especially Dante occupied most of the spotlight, and I‘m pleased to have met another YA protagonist that I enjoyed, and even more for a new book boyfriend to add to the club. Because Dante will make it on everyone‘s list, trust me. Oh, trust me. The development of their relationship was so fun to observe. You get banter, emotional and deep conversations, bonding, support, and some more banter - and there‘s no way you ever feel you had enough. You simply crave more. The fact that this book had one of my favorite tropes (do we call this a trope?) of the protagonist‘s touch being deadly only enhanced the tension, and excitment I felt as I watched these two getting closer.

As I have been rather a hard time lately to truly find joy in the YA fantasy category, it was a suprise and a gift to come across This Vicious Grace as it offered all the aspects that made me love this genre this strongly in the first place while it gave us a great new world and story. A true gem that I can only highly recommend!

The only downside to me reading this? The painful wait for the sequel to release! I‘m already coming up with all sorts of theories on what can happen next, and feel strongly for what Dante and Alessa had to face at the end of the book. My excitement and impatience are on a high level - the wait can‘t be over soon enough as I can‘t wait to see all the characters again, and wherever their journey will lead them and us.

Oh, and to all the Italians cringing at the language usage, and maybe contemplating dnfing because of it. Don‘t! Put your trust in Dante, this man got your back!