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Graceless Heart
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A lush, atmospheric and achingly magical standalone adult fantasy romance set in Renaissance Italy from a #1 New York Times bestselling author.
In 15th-century Volterra, sculptress Ravenna Maffei enters a competition hosted by a secretive, immortal family who offer an invaluable boon to the victor. Desperate to win so she can save her brother, Ravenna reveals a rare magical talent-a dangerous act in a city where magic is forbidden. Her revelation makes her a target, and she is kidnapped by the Luni family and taken to Florence, a city of breathtaking beauty and cutthroat ambition.
There, Ravenna is forced into an impossible task where failure means certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the family's enigmatic and merciless heir. But under his cold reserve hides a vulnerability that draws her closer than she ever intended.
Meanwhile, Ravenna's forbidden magic does not go unnoticed. The Pope, waging war against Florence, the Medici, and magic itself, has his own interest in her abilities, seeing her as a potential weapon in his ruthless campaign.
As alliances shift and war brews on the horizon, Ravenna must navigate the treacherous line between survival and betrayal, between love and duty. With time running out and her every move watched, the choices she makes will determine the fate of not just her own life, but the fragile balance of magic and power that could unravel Florence itself.
In 15th-century Volterra, sculptress Ravenna Maffei enters a competition hosted by a secretive, immortal family who offer an invaluable boon to the victor. Desperate to win so she can save her brother, Ravenna reveals a rare magical talent-a dangerous act in a city where magic is forbidden. Her revelation makes her a target, and she is kidnapped by the Luni family and taken to Florence, a city of breathtaking beauty and cutthroat ambition.
There, Ravenna is forced into an impossible task where failure means certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the family's enigmatic and merciless heir. But under his cold reserve hides a vulnerability that draws her closer than she ever intended.
Meanwhile, Ravenna's forbidden magic does not go unnoticed. The Pope, waging war against Florence, the Medici, and magic itself, has his own interest in her abilities, seeing her as a potential weapon in his ruthless campaign.
As alliances shift and war brews on the horizon, Ravenna must navigate the treacherous line between survival and betrayal, between love and duty. With time running out and her every move watched, the choices she makes will determine the fate of not just her own life, but the fragile balance of magic and power that could unravel Florence itself.
488 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 13, 2026
25489 people want to read
About the author
Isabel Ibañez
9 books4,766 followersIsabel Ibañez is a USA Today, Indie, Sunday Times, and #1 New York Times bestseller and the author of the Secrets of the Nile duology, Together We Burn, Written in Starlight, and Woven in Moonlight, which is listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time and was a finalist for the William C. Morris award. She is the proud daughter of Bolivian immigrants and has a profound appreciation for history, traveling, and writing stories where her characters are often running for their lives. She currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with her family, their adorable golden doodle, and an overwhelming amount of of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
September 10, 2025
Graceless Heart is nothing short of brilliant.
This was the opposite of a case of right place, right time, my attention span is not ideal, I’m leaning towards short and quick books, the easiest the writing the better and Graceless Heart is nothing like that. Despite it all, this book took me by storm and became one of my favorites of the year.
I haven’t read anything from this author, but I loved the cover and it was about time I started because I’ve heard good things about her books.
Graceless Heart is a historic fantasy, but coming from someone who hates historic books it didn’t bother me at all, that’s not to say it wasn’t well researched, the work was done beautifully, but it just wasn’t present in a way that I dislike. We follow a young woman named Ravenna as she is trying to win a competition to save her brother, on doing so she discovers she’s basically being kidnapped by a really weird family because they want something from her.
The family was what grabbed my interest initially, it had a resemblance to bury our bones, interview with the vampire, that kinda stuff, and that’s something I’m very intrigued by. However, I soon realized this was what I crave from fantasy and romantasy these days. It was more political intrigue than war(and I’m so damn tired of reading about war in fantasy), the research came through and from language to setting to historic figures this was just all around great. The story is told mostly from Ravenna’s pov but we also get short chapters from other characters and it helped the book so much without impacting the pace, it was a very smart decision. If you are also bored of reading the same book over and over try this, it is fresh and just expertly done from writing to characterization to actual good plot.
Another thing that was a surprise is that I didn’t foresee any plot twists. I can’t remember the last time that happened to me. Looking back the hints were there, but I didn’t see it coming.
If you want a good book that will keep you engaged from beginning to end, with great characters, a well constructed plot and romance that is more than just smut every single chapter, this is for you. I can’t recommend it enough.
Thank you Netgalley and Saturday Books for the ARC!
This was the opposite of a case of right place, right time, my attention span is not ideal, I’m leaning towards short and quick books, the easiest the writing the better and Graceless Heart is nothing like that. Despite it all, this book took me by storm and became one of my favorites of the year.
I haven’t read anything from this author, but I loved the cover and it was about time I started because I’ve heard good things about her books.
Graceless Heart is a historic fantasy, but coming from someone who hates historic books it didn’t bother me at all, that’s not to say it wasn’t well researched, the work was done beautifully, but it just wasn’t present in a way that I dislike. We follow a young woman named Ravenna as she is trying to win a competition to save her brother, on doing so she discovers she’s basically being kidnapped by a really weird family because they want something from her.
The family was what grabbed my interest initially, it had a resemblance to bury our bones, interview with the vampire, that kinda stuff, and that’s something I’m very intrigued by. However, I soon realized this was what I crave from fantasy and romantasy these days. It was more political intrigue than war(and I’m so damn tired of reading about war in fantasy), the research came through and from language to setting to historic figures this was just all around great. The story is told mostly from Ravenna’s pov but we also get short chapters from other characters and it helped the book so much without impacting the pace, it was a very smart decision. If you are also bored of reading the same book over and over try this, it is fresh and just expertly done from writing to characterization to actual good plot.
Another thing that was a surprise is that I didn’t foresee any plot twists. I can’t remember the last time that happened to me. Looking back the hints were there, but I didn’t see it coming.
If you want a good book that will keep you engaged from beginning to end, with great characters, a well constructed plot and romance that is more than just smut every single chapter, this is for you. I can’t recommend it enough.
Thank you Netgalley and Saturday Books for the ARC!
Want to read
July 26, 2025That cover is so stunning 🤩 I need it on my shelves!!
Want to read
July 12, 2025⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 (7/7/2025): I GOT THE eARC! Just as a PSA to US NetGalley users, Graceless Heart is currently READ NOW on NetGalley as of July 7th, 2025, at 7:43 AM EST! (AKA the time I'm writing this.) (Update: NetGalley's punking everyone again. The book was taken off of Read Now, and now it's back up as of July 11th, 2025, at 11:33 PM EST. I'm still not sure how long it's going to stay up like that, but I'll update this (again) once it's request-only.)
(I also want to add that this is huge considering when the book FIRST went live on NetGalley a month or two ago, I think so many people requested it that it became an ARC you had to wish for and hope you got because most, if not all, of the ARCs were given away. The fact that it's back as Read Now for the time being is quite the opportunity!)
This is one of my 2026 most anticipated books! I honestly wasn't the biggest fan of Isabel Ibañez's YA works, so I'm curious to see how her adult debut will go! It seems to have everything I want in a book: Renaissance Italy, it's a romantasy, and a magical competition? Sign me up! The premise honestly sounds like The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo to me, and I loved that book, so I'm hoping it has that same "wow" factor. I won't be reading this until it gets closer to the publishing date, but I'm still excited nonetheless!
BIG thank you to NetGalley, Isabel Ibañez, and St. Martin's Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Graceless Heart will be officially published on January 13th, 2026!
(I also want to add that this is huge considering when the book FIRST went live on NetGalley a month or two ago, I think so many people requested it that it became an ARC you had to wish for and hope you got because most, if not all, of the ARCs were given away. The fact that it's back as Read Now for the time being is quite the opportunity!)
This is one of my 2026 most anticipated books! I honestly wasn't the biggest fan of Isabel Ibañez's YA works, so I'm curious to see how her adult debut will go! It seems to have everything I want in a book: Renaissance Italy, it's a romantasy, and a magical competition? Sign me up! The premise honestly sounds like The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo to me, and I loved that book, so I'm hoping it has that same "wow" factor. I won't be reading this until it gets closer to the publishing date, but I'm still excited nonetheless!
BIG thank you to NetGalley, Isabel Ibañez, and St. Martin's Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Graceless Heart will be officially published on January 13th, 2026!
September 9, 2025
A huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book!
Alexa, play "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus....
"I can almost see it, that dream I'm dreaming, But there's a voice inside my head saying, you'll never reach it"..
my "dream" became reaching the end of this book and honestly I was starting to think I wouldn't see it. Overall I did love this book but I felt it could be told in half the pages. That's just my useless opinion however.
This book offers beautiful ambiance. I loved the dose of rich Italian history being brought to life, I love a good church conspiracy (especially when it's high up involving the Pope). I loved the fae being woven into Italian history. There aren't many books out there where the fae come across Italians and I really liked that combination. Being Italian with an extra special interest in witchcraft gave this book an extra special place in my heart.
And the ENDING!?!? Oh mio dio, era assolutamente meraviglioso! Perfezione in ogni modo, uno dei migliori che abbia mai letto!!🤌🏻
Shout-out to the Author! In reading the about the Author, we learn this was the first book our author has given us after having TWINS!.. I'm sorry.. I had 1 kid at a time & could barely remember to wipe my butt, as she's just casually out here dropping masterpieces! GO GIRL! 👏🏼 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Because other than my personal feel that this was a little too long, it was an otherwise PHENOMENAL read!!
I will definitely be purchasing a hardcopy for myself. While there might be parts I skip through, there are also as many parts i'd like to relive forever!!
Alexa, play "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus....
"I can almost see it, that dream I'm dreaming, But there's a voice inside my head saying, you'll never reach it"..
my "dream" became reaching the end of this book and honestly I was starting to think I wouldn't see it. Overall I did love this book but I felt it could be told in half the pages. That's just my useless opinion however.
This book offers beautiful ambiance. I loved the dose of rich Italian history being brought to life, I love a good church conspiracy (especially when it's high up involving the Pope). I loved the fae being woven into Italian history. There aren't many books out there where the fae come across Italians and I really liked that combination. Being Italian with an extra special interest in witchcraft gave this book an extra special place in my heart.
And the ENDING!?!? Oh mio dio, era assolutamente meraviglioso! Perfezione in ogni modo, uno dei migliori che abbia mai letto!!🤌🏻
Shout-out to the Author! In reading the about the Author, we learn this was the first book our author has given us after having TWINS!.. I'm sorry.. I had 1 kid at a time & could barely remember to wipe my butt, as she's just casually out here dropping masterpieces! GO GIRL! 👏🏼 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Because other than my personal feel that this was a little too long, it was an otherwise PHENOMENAL read!!
I will definitely be purchasing a hardcopy for myself. While there might be parts I skip through, there are also as many parts i'd like to relive forever!!
July 7, 2025
WAIT THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY FAVOURITE READ OF THE YEAR I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT OMG.
It's been a while since a book had me transfixed like this!! I literally read for 6 hours straight on the day I finished. Don't even get me started on the ROMANCE specifically, the tension and yearning and banter was absolute perfection. I already knew Ibanez's writing was amazing from her Secrets of the Nile duology - and it continued to be masterful in this standalone. The worldbuilding, magic system, and plot were all clear enough to follow but interesting enough to keep me thinking without being convoluted or messy. Pacing was flawless, truly no boring moments.
As for the story itself, it follows Ravenna, a sculptress who also happens to be the oldest daughter of a not so well-off family. When she hears about the opportunity to enter a contest with one of her sculptures to help her family (and save her brother who's been imprisoned) she jumps at it and also exposes her magical abilities oops (in a world where magic is considered dangerous and bad, and so she's been mostly suppressing and in denial of it her whole life). Her magic and sculpting talents catch the eye of the mysterious Luni family who essentially kidnap her. They need her help to gather these mysterious and seemingly magical objects, but give her no information and threaten her if she doesn't comply. The broody, scary (no really I was scared of him for a good chunk of the book lol) oldest son of the Luni family, Saturnino has made it his personal mission to keep and eye on her. While essentially held hostage by the Luni family, a mysterious courier (enemy of the Luni family) also finds Ravenna and essentially asks her to be a spy for the other side and instead help them (he works for the powerful Pope).
Ravenna is caught in between these two dangerous sides, has limited information on what's going on, and despite Saturnino being unhinged and terrifying - the two have an undeniable connection. Despite threatening her every chance he gets, he also seems to be helping/saving her and showing her parts of himself he doesn't show others?? As you can imagine, it made for the most tension and yearning filled romance I truly couldn't get enough.
Ravenna is my favourite type of FMC. Strong, intelligent, level-headed while still being loving and understanding. The MMC Saturnino was just the right amount of redeemable, endearing villain.
The unhinged family dynamics, mysterious plot, wonderful writing, beautiful characters and hilarious banter made for an absolutely perfect read. Loved this so much and I would be delighted if the author revisited this world some day!
Thank you Saturday Books for the eARC!
It's been a while since a book had me transfixed like this!! I literally read for 6 hours straight on the day I finished. Don't even get me started on the ROMANCE specifically, the tension and yearning and banter was absolute perfection. I already knew Ibanez's writing was amazing from her Secrets of the Nile duology - and it continued to be masterful in this standalone. The worldbuilding, magic system, and plot were all clear enough to follow but interesting enough to keep me thinking without being convoluted or messy. Pacing was flawless, truly no boring moments.
As for the story itself, it follows Ravenna, a sculptress who also happens to be the oldest daughter of a not so well-off family. When she hears about the opportunity to enter a contest with one of her sculptures to help her family (and save her brother who's been imprisoned) she jumps at it and also exposes her magical abilities oops (in a world where magic is considered dangerous and bad, and so she's been mostly suppressing and in denial of it her whole life). Her magic and sculpting talents catch the eye of the mysterious Luni family who essentially kidnap her. They need her help to gather these mysterious and seemingly magical objects, but give her no information and threaten her if she doesn't comply. The broody, scary (no really I was scared of him for a good chunk of the book lol) oldest son of the Luni family, Saturnino has made it his personal mission to keep and eye on her. While essentially held hostage by the Luni family, a mysterious courier (enemy of the Luni family) also finds Ravenna and essentially asks her to be a spy for the other side and instead help them (he works for the powerful Pope).
Ravenna is caught in between these two dangerous sides, has limited information on what's going on, and despite Saturnino being unhinged and terrifying - the two have an undeniable connection. Despite threatening her every chance he gets, he also seems to be helping/saving her and showing her parts of himself he doesn't show others?? As you can imagine, it made for the most tension and yearning filled romance I truly couldn't get enough.
Ravenna is my favourite type of FMC. Strong, intelligent, level-headed while still being loving and understanding. The MMC Saturnino was just the right amount of redeemable, endearing villain.
The unhinged family dynamics, mysterious plot, wonderful writing, beautiful characters and hilarious banter made for an absolutely perfect read. Loved this so much and I would be delighted if the author revisited this world some day!
Thank you Saturday Books for the eARC!
August 1, 2025
The setting of this book in Italy, with all the descriptions of the architecture and history involved made the overall feel of this reading experience fun from the start. Isabel Ibañez’s writing really immersed me into the story and made everything flow so well.
I really liked both the main characters. Ravenna is strong and full of heart and Saturnino is now my favorite villain. I love how he opened up to Ravenna and was vulnerable with her despite appearing cold and terrifying at first. I loved how their dynamic unfolded with a romance full of tension, yearning, and amazing banter.
I found the plot interesting with great pacing that had me needing to keep reading to find out what happens next.
I would love to read more of this world and characters in the future!
Thank you St. Martin’s press and Netgalley for this arc💕
I really liked both the main characters. Ravenna is strong and full of heart and Saturnino is now my favorite villain. I love how he opened up to Ravenna and was vulnerable with her despite appearing cold and terrifying at first. I loved how their dynamic unfolded with a romance full of tension, yearning, and amazing banter.
I found the plot interesting with great pacing that had me needing to keep reading to find out what happens next.
I would love to read more of this world and characters in the future!
Thank you St. Martin’s press and Netgalley for this arc💕
August 9, 2025
4.5
huge thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
· · ─ graceless heart is nothing short of brilliant. every single word, every single page was lucious and filled with the most beautiful description ever. even a month (or so) after reading this, i still can remember every single detail about this book, about these characters. Ibañez is a masterful storyteller and her adult debut shows that. ─ · ·
࿔‧ ֶָ֢˚˖ Saturnino is not likeable at all at first, and it's not supposed to be that way. i mean i have a soft spot for hot characters who are lowk rude (i know, i have issues) but he drew me in. maybe it was his described looks (again, sucker for a hottie) or maybe it was i could tell that the redemption of him was gonna be GOOD and boy was it. him and ravenna's relationship was so complex and so twisty that it made me turn the page over and over again. the TENSION. the YEARNING. omg the yearning in this book was insane. ˖˚ֶָ֢ ‧࿔
⋆༺𓆩this book had the atmosohere, because Ibañez dropped us into ancient italy with such good storytelling that i felt like i was there. like yes i will be meeting my own saturnino on the street. hola signore i am but a poor hopeless maiden. but i digress. the plotline was so woven through perfectly that i could go paragraphs on it but i won't, instead i will say that there were a few things that happened that made me so mad but also i was rooting for ravenna because can i just say she was such a likeable fmc??? she girlbossed in such a steady way. and the plot twist at the end ?? it had me mouth dropped before i realized that i called it earler lollll anwaysss.𓆪༻⋆
this book is beautiful. go read it.
[ a note to my spice free girlies, there are a few spice scenes in here but they are easily skippable < 3 and a few are fade to black. just a heads up !! ]
full review to come after i finish my thoughts
this cover is stunning? and its set in italy? say no more
huge thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
· · ─ graceless heart is nothing short of brilliant. every single word, every single page was lucious and filled with the most beautiful description ever. even a month (or so) after reading this, i still can remember every single detail about this book, about these characters. Ibañez is a masterful storyteller and her adult debut shows that. ─ · ·
࿔‧ ֶָ֢˚˖ Saturnino is not likeable at all at first, and it's not supposed to be that way. i mean i have a soft spot for hot characters who are lowk rude (i know, i have issues) but he drew me in. maybe it was his described looks (again, sucker for a hottie) or maybe it was i could tell that the redemption of him was gonna be GOOD and boy was it. him and ravenna's relationship was so complex and so twisty that it made me turn the page over and over again. the TENSION. the YEARNING. omg the yearning in this book was insane. ˖˚ֶָ֢ ‧࿔
⋆༺𓆩this book had the atmosohere, because Ibañez dropped us into ancient italy with such good storytelling that i felt like i was there. like yes i will be meeting my own saturnino on the street. hola signore i am but a poor hopeless maiden. but i digress. the plotline was so woven through perfectly that i could go paragraphs on it but i won't, instead i will say that there were a few things that happened that made me so mad but also i was rooting for ravenna because can i just say she was such a likeable fmc??? she girlbossed in such a steady way. and the plot twist at the end ?? it had me mouth dropped before i realized that i called it earler lollll anwaysss.𓆪༻⋆
this book is beautiful. go read it.
[ a note to my spice free girlies, there are a few spice scenes in here but they are easily skippable < 3 and a few are fade to black. just a heads up !! ]
full review to come after i finish my thoughts
this cover is stunning? and its set in italy? say no more
Want to read
June 25, 2025Pre-release: ROMANTASY SET IN RENAISSANCE ITALY?? YES PLEASE 😍😍 Florence is my fav city in Europe!
THAT COVER IS GORGEOUS 🫠
THAT COVER IS GORGEOUS 🫠
July 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.
Before I start, I just want to preface that I recommend this book. It had several new aspects I’ve never read before and the world building was MAJESTIC. 10/10 for the world building.
Whilst the world building & setting were marvellously done - the romance part of this story is where it lost some points for me. It was insta-lust ; the repetitiveness of his attractiveness was intense. The MMC went back & forth as wether he liked/tolerated the FMC or not - and then he kissed her when he had been very rude the chapter prior… I got whiplash. The interactions between them were awkward and stilted. I couldn’t feel the chemistry.
The magic system was really interesting and several new elements were presented to the readers - which hooked my interest. Character wise, I did go back and forth as to wether I liked/tolerated the FMC. She was very whiny and impulsive. On another note - I don’t normally like religious settings but this was well done! The impact the religion had on the FMC was well depicted & you could feel the pull. I do wish she’d have her character development sooner than the 75% mark though.
I saw some twists coming and some shocked me. The plot was well written and made me curious despite the romance & relationships being lacklustre for me.
Before I start, I just want to preface that I recommend this book. It had several new aspects I’ve never read before and the world building was MAJESTIC. 10/10 for the world building.
Whilst the world building & setting were marvellously done - the romance part of this story is where it lost some points for me. It was insta-lust ; the repetitiveness of his attractiveness was intense. The MMC went back & forth as wether he liked/tolerated the FMC or not - and then he kissed her when he had been very rude the chapter prior… I got whiplash. The interactions between them were awkward and stilted. I couldn’t feel the chemistry.
The magic system was really interesting and several new elements were presented to the readers - which hooked my interest. Character wise, I did go back and forth as to wether I liked/tolerated the FMC. She was very whiny and impulsive. On another note - I don’t normally like religious settings but this was well done! The impact the religion had on the FMC was well depicted & you could feel the pull. I do wish she’d have her character development sooner than the 75% mark though.
I saw some twists coming and some shocked me. The plot was well written and made me curious despite the romance & relationships being lacklustre for me.
Want to read
November 25, 2024I don’t know what this is but I want it
July 18, 2025
I really, REALLY wanted to fall head over heels for this book. Like, I was practically vibrating with excitement when I saw “Renaissance Italy” and “historical romance” in the same sentence. I mean, come ON. Give me all the marble sculptures, political intrigue, and swoony "you are the bane of my existence and the object of my desires"-esqe declarations against backdrops of cathedral spires. I was so ready to be transported to a world where everyone speaks in iambic pentameter and looks like they stepped out of a Botticelli painting.
And honestly? The setting absolutely delivered. Ibanez clearly did her homework because Renaissance Florence practically leaps off the page in all its chaotic, artistic glory. When we witness the Pazzi Conspiracy unfold and watch poor Giuliano de’ Medici meet his brutal end during what should have been a peaceful Easter mass, I literally gasped out loud.
But here’s where my Renaissance dreams started crumbling like old fresco paint: the romance. I kept waiting for that spark, that moment where I’d be clutching my chest and sighing dreamily, but it just… never came? The main characters felt like they were going through the motions of being in love rather than actually, you know, being in love. Their conversations read like a checklist of romantic beats rather than genuine connection.
The frustrating thing is that all the pieces were there for something absolutely magical. The political intrigue, the gorgeous setting, the life-or-death stakes... It should have been the perfect storm for an epic love story. But instead, it felt like the romance was competing with the historical elements rather than being woven seamlessly together.
Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t a bad book. If you’re looking for a well-researched historical fiction with decent characters and beautiful descriptions of Renaissance Italy, you’ll probably enjoy it. The writing is solid, the historical details are fascinating, and there are definitely moments that shine. But if you’re hoping for a romance that will leave you swooning and dreaming about Italian sunsets, you might want to adjust your expectations.
Would I recommend it? Maybe, with caveats. If you’re more interested in the historical aspects than the romance, go for it. If you’re desperately craving that enemies-to-lovers Renaissance tension, you might want to keep looking.
Three stars because sometimes beautiful settings and solid historical research can’t quite save a lackluster love story, but they can definitely make it worth the read.
And honestly? The setting absolutely delivered. Ibanez clearly did her homework because Renaissance Florence practically leaps off the page in all its chaotic, artistic glory. When we witness the Pazzi Conspiracy unfold and watch poor Giuliano de’ Medici meet his brutal end during what should have been a peaceful Easter mass, I literally gasped out loud.
But here’s where my Renaissance dreams started crumbling like old fresco paint: the romance. I kept waiting for that spark, that moment where I’d be clutching my chest and sighing dreamily, but it just… never came? The main characters felt like they were going through the motions of being in love rather than actually, you know, being in love. Their conversations read like a checklist of romantic beats rather than genuine connection.
The frustrating thing is that all the pieces were there for something absolutely magical. The political intrigue, the gorgeous setting, the life-or-death stakes... It should have been the perfect storm for an epic love story. But instead, it felt like the romance was competing with the historical elements rather than being woven seamlessly together.
Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t a bad book. If you’re looking for a well-researched historical fiction with decent characters and beautiful descriptions of Renaissance Italy, you’ll probably enjoy it. The writing is solid, the historical details are fascinating, and there are definitely moments that shine. But if you’re hoping for a romance that will leave you swooning and dreaming about Italian sunsets, you might want to adjust your expectations.
Would I recommend it? Maybe, with caveats. If you’re more interested in the historical aspects than the romance, go for it. If you’re desperately craving that enemies-to-lovers Renaissance tension, you might want to keep looking.
Three stars because sometimes beautiful settings and solid historical research can’t quite save a lackluster love story, but they can definitely make it worth the read.
July 6, 2025
This was so good!! This is the book I’ve been needing in my life. The yearning, the setting, the characters! Flawless. This book doesn’t release until *2026* but keep it on your radar. I’ve been super bummed and let down by anticipated reads this year, AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS ONE IS WORTH IT!
tbr-2
July 31, 2025
Want to read
March 3, 2025ONE DARK WINDOW meets EVER AFTER, with hints of EMILY WILDE and UPROOTED
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Legacy & Bloodlines
✨The Cost of Ambition
✨Forced Proximity
✨Whimsical Magic
✨Forbidden Love
✨Political Intrigue
✨Magic vs Religion
✨RAVENNA: Eldest Daughter with the soul of an artist
✨SATURNINO: Youngest Son, dangerous Knight
✨Renaissance Florence
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Legacy & Bloodlines
✨The Cost of Ambition
✨Forced Proximity
✨Whimsical Magic
✨Forbidden Love
✨Political Intrigue
✨Magic vs Religion
✨RAVENNA: Eldest Daughter with the soul of an artist
✨SATURNINO: Youngest Son, dangerous Knight
✨Renaissance Florence
July 23, 2025
4.5
i want to preface this review by saying, this book has multiple open door spice scenes that i was not expecting and that frustrated me. but, everything else about this book was MAGICAL.
it’s set in renaissance italy with an artist FMC who gets taken by an influential family to be their sculptress. the MMC is an angry villain knight who is tasked with keeping her in line.
the story takes place in a divided italy with curriot religious leaders & lots of political intrigue.
this is truly enemies to lovers, romantasy GOLD!! the slow burn and tension is written so well. i was eating up every little glance between the two of them. the quotes about the arts were so awesome & the nods to art history were EVERYTHING. seeing leonardo da vinci as a character in a romantasy was so rad & there was also references to botticelli & venus. that made me art teacher heart so so happy.
the yearning?? SO GOOD
idk how i’ve gotten this far into my review without mentioning is has “ WHO DID THIS TO YOU? “ & that scene is literally TOP TIER i was screaming inside.
sooo many highlights & quotes i underlined.
lots of plot twists that i didn’t see coming & a super cool ending as well.
this would be five stars if not for the spice.
🤐LANGUAGE🤐 11 uses of the F word
🔥SPICE🔥 3 1/2 -4 open door scenes that are fairly brief. some of it is just foreplay but still explicit. i don’t have the page numbers because it was a digital ARC.
i want to preface this review by saying, this book has multiple open door spice scenes that i was not expecting and that frustrated me. but, everything else about this book was MAGICAL.
it’s set in renaissance italy with an artist FMC who gets taken by an influential family to be their sculptress. the MMC is an angry villain knight who is tasked with keeping her in line.
the story takes place in a divided italy with curriot religious leaders & lots of political intrigue.
this is truly enemies to lovers, romantasy GOLD!! the slow burn and tension is written so well. i was eating up every little glance between the two of them. the quotes about the arts were so awesome & the nods to art history were EVERYTHING. seeing leonardo da vinci as a character in a romantasy was so rad & there was also references to botticelli & venus. that made me art teacher heart so so happy.
the yearning?? SO GOOD
idk how i’ve gotten this far into my review without mentioning is has “ WHO DID THIS TO YOU? “ & that scene is literally TOP TIER i was screaming inside.
sooo many highlights & quotes i underlined.
lots of plot twists that i didn’t see coming & a super cool ending as well.
this would be five stars if not for the spice.
🤐LANGUAGE🤐 11 uses of the F word
🔥SPICE🔥 3 1/2 -4 open door scenes that are fairly brief. some of it is just foreplay but still explicit. i don’t have the page numbers because it was a digital ARC.
July 10, 2025
Isabel has such a penchant for words! A standalone presented through impeccable prose with expert pacing, 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 is a magical delight and fantasy reader's dream.
Ravenna, desperate to save her brother from imminent death in Renaissance Italy, reveals her magical talent in a sculpting competition. She's swept away with the Luni family, forced to reside in their Florence palace and tasked with an impossible assignment to keep her life. Saturnino, a son and assassin for the family, draws Ravenna's eye despite his dangerous, cold exterior. She quickly finds herself caught in a fragile political web, unsure of true motivations as her life, and the fate of the country, is in grave danger.
I adored every word of this book! Isabel's extensive research is clear through the intricate historical details. The writing style perfectly captures the atmosphere of 15th-century Italy; each sentence is crafted with care and intention. 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 is written with masterful pacing! I simultaneously yearned to consume the tale in a single sitting, but I also wished to savor every word, never wanting it to end.
I cared for the characters from the start! Ravenna is resourceful and determined, and I admired her strength and intelligence as she fights for survival and explores her terrifying magic. Saturnino is a complex villain, and I was desperate for him to reveal his secrets. Ravenna and Saturnino share addictive banter full of tension and chemistry, and the pair evoke more yearning and longing for the story. I loved the push and pull, hot and cold side of their relationship that kept me at the edge of my seat. I would also be remiss to not mention the adorable feline sidekick!
Like the contents of the book itself, the cover design is a work of art! It is so fitting, and I cannot wait to have the finished product on my shelf.
I would like to sincerely thank Isabel for creating such a strong standalone. I'm already looking forward to what she's going to pen next! Until then, I'll be dreaming of Renaissance Italy. I am forever grateful to Saturday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of my most anticipated 2026 release! 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 is a frontrunner for my favorite book of the year, and it's a book that fantasy romance readers cannot miss.
♾️⭐
Ravenna, desperate to save her brother from imminent death in Renaissance Italy, reveals her magical talent in a sculpting competition. She's swept away with the Luni family, forced to reside in their Florence palace and tasked with an impossible assignment to keep her life. Saturnino, a son and assassin for the family, draws Ravenna's eye despite his dangerous, cold exterior. She quickly finds herself caught in a fragile political web, unsure of true motivations as her life, and the fate of the country, is in grave danger.
I adored every word of this book! Isabel's extensive research is clear through the intricate historical details. The writing style perfectly captures the atmosphere of 15th-century Italy; each sentence is crafted with care and intention. 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 is written with masterful pacing! I simultaneously yearned to consume the tale in a single sitting, but I also wished to savor every word, never wanting it to end.
I cared for the characters from the start! Ravenna is resourceful and determined, and I admired her strength and intelligence as she fights for survival and explores her terrifying magic. Saturnino is a complex villain, and I was desperate for him to reveal his secrets. Ravenna and Saturnino share addictive banter full of tension and chemistry, and the pair evoke more yearning and longing for the story. I loved the push and pull, hot and cold side of their relationship that kept me at the edge of my seat. I would also be remiss to not mention the adorable feline sidekick!
Like the contents of the book itself, the cover design is a work of art! It is so fitting, and I cannot wait to have the finished product on my shelf.
I would like to sincerely thank Isabel for creating such a strong standalone. I'm already looking forward to what she's going to pen next! Until then, I'll be dreaming of Renaissance Italy. I am forever grateful to Saturday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of my most anticipated 2026 release! 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 is a frontrunner for my favorite book of the year, and it's a book that fantasy romance readers cannot miss.
♾️⭐
July 9, 2025
When I first read the synopsis I was fixating in the mention of the pope and thinking how can this be a sexy romance book 😆😆 but look at that cover art!!!! I literally could not say no solely based on that and im so glad I was persuaded because this actually turned out to be a great read. It is my first book by the author although I am familiar with her other books and will likely go back to read them at some point.
The setting is renaissance Italy which is such an aesthetic vibe within itself. The plot follows a world where magic is deemed to be scary and dangerous and so the FMC has been hiding and keeping her magical abilities a secret her whole life, until she accidentally lets her abilities show during a sculpting competition. This immediately peaks the interest of a questionable family who take it upon themselves to essentially kidnap her and try to use her abilities for their own quest.
The magical elements are really fun, the unhinged family storyline is entertaining and the banter between her and the broody love interest is really enjoyable. I was imagining a hot moody Italian man the entire time 😂
Thank you to St Martin’s Press #partner for the #gifted copy!!
Im sure this book will gain popularity when it publishes in January 13th 2026 (long wait I know sorry guys 😪)
The setting is renaissance Italy which is such an aesthetic vibe within itself. The plot follows a world where magic is deemed to be scary and dangerous and so the FMC has been hiding and keeping her magical abilities a secret her whole life, until she accidentally lets her abilities show during a sculpting competition. This immediately peaks the interest of a questionable family who take it upon themselves to essentially kidnap her and try to use her abilities for their own quest.
The magical elements are really fun, the unhinged family storyline is entertaining and the banter between her and the broody love interest is really enjoyable. I was imagining a hot moody Italian man the entire time 😂
Thank you to St Martin’s Press #partner for the #gifted copy!!
Im sure this book will gain popularity when it publishes in January 13th 2026 (long wait I know sorry guys 😪)
August 18, 2025
3 ⭐️ Review to come. 💜
wants
August 26, 2025Hopefully this delivers what I was hoping to find in THE FAMILIAR, but never really got. Fingers crossed.
July 11, 2025
I do have to admit I only picked this one up because of cover. This was dreadful read for me because it was so boring to read. I literally read for days and I think I’m in book slump because of it. I’m sure people will like this but not me.
August 8, 2025
Graceless Heart is a very unique fantasy romance. It tackles themes of sexism, politics, art, and most notably, religious corruption. The story takes place during the Medici era in Florence, and I was captivated by the role that the Catholic Church plays. The pope is sinister, eerie, and wholly corrupt. Magic users / witches are treated as the embodiment of evil in the book, often killed, imprisoned, and forced into hiding.
Ravenna is a young witch who reveals her magic when competing in a sculpting competition, where the winner is promised any boon that they wish for. The competition is hosted by the Luni family — an immortal family that wields immeasurable power and magic. They force Ravenna to come with them back to Florence and away from her family, and is tasked with a job that seems utterly impossible. If she fails to complete her task, she will be killed.
The Lunis are nothing short of cruel and distant, but Ravenna can’t help but be drawn to the eldest son and most powerful member of the family — Saturnino — despite his apparent hatred and apathy for Ravenna.
The element of hypocrisy is astoundingly well done — the pope uses wizards and sources of magic as a tool despite condemning magic as evil. Ravenna herself is coveted for her powers and caught in the crossfire of a war between two opposing sides. The Pope and the Medicis and Lunis all fight over her to use her as a weapon. The Pope is such a multifaceted character, and his hypocrisy was a perfect commentary on religion as a whole, because it is often hypocritical in what it teaches. In general, most of the characters in this book were morally gray, caught between what is deemed morally good and morally bad.
My main issue with the story was its pacing. The middle dragged on and was a bit hard to get through at times, especially when Ravenna is trying day after day to withdraw the magic from the stones as per the Luni’s demand. Saturnino’s dark humor and mercurial attitude helped break up the slower parts — the enemies-to-lovers dynamic was excellent and didn’t dissolve into love too quickly! This isn’t your typical fantasy romance novel, and while I think the plot needed a bit of a boost, I really enjoyed the story!
Thank you so much to St. Martin's and NetGalley for this ARC!!
Ravenna is a young witch who reveals her magic when competing in a sculpting competition, where the winner is promised any boon that they wish for. The competition is hosted by the Luni family — an immortal family that wields immeasurable power and magic. They force Ravenna to come with them back to Florence and away from her family, and is tasked with a job that seems utterly impossible. If she fails to complete her task, she will be killed.
The Lunis are nothing short of cruel and distant, but Ravenna can’t help but be drawn to the eldest son and most powerful member of the family — Saturnino — despite his apparent hatred and apathy for Ravenna.
The element of hypocrisy is astoundingly well done — the pope uses wizards and sources of magic as a tool despite condemning magic as evil. Ravenna herself is coveted for her powers and caught in the crossfire of a war between two opposing sides. The Pope and the Medicis and Lunis all fight over her to use her as a weapon. The Pope is such a multifaceted character, and his hypocrisy was a perfect commentary on religion as a whole, because it is often hypocritical in what it teaches. In general, most of the characters in this book were morally gray, caught between what is deemed morally good and morally bad.
My main issue with the story was its pacing. The middle dragged on and was a bit hard to get through at times, especially when Ravenna is trying day after day to withdraw the magic from the stones as per the Luni’s demand. Saturnino’s dark humor and mercurial attitude helped break up the slower parts — the enemies-to-lovers dynamic was excellent and didn’t dissolve into love too quickly! This isn’t your typical fantasy romance novel, and while I think the plot needed a bit of a boost, I really enjoyed the story!
Thank you so much to St. Martin's and NetGalley for this ARC!!
August 19, 2025
⚜️ first read - advanced reader's copy
⤿ finished 08/14/25
as an isabel ibanez stan, i only stan her ya books apparently 😫 i wanted to like this so bad
⤿ finished 08/14/25
as an isabel ibanez stan, i only stan her ya books apparently 😫 i wanted to like this so bad
unreleased
April 16, 2025this woman always writes the most delicious, chemistry-filled, insane romances, and that’s when they’re YA. an adult romantasy?? oh i’m SEATED.
August 17, 2025
Graceless Heart is set against the backdrop of the Italian Renaissance—a period bursting with sculpture, art, science, and political upheaval. We follow Ravenna, a young woman from a small Italian town who helps her family run an inn while secretly honing her talent for sculpture. In a time when the Pope holds all power and dissent can mean death, she’s encouraged to hide her gift and keep her head down.
When Ravenna enters (and wins) a sculpting contest to save her brother, her life is forever changed. Swept into the orbit of a wealthy and powerful family, she suddenly finds herself navigating court intrigue, political drama, and her own conflicted heart.
I’ll admit, Ravenna tested my patience at times—her immaturity made her a bit frustrating early on—but she grew on me as the story progressed. What Ibañez excels at, though, is painting an incredibly vivid world. The level of detail makes you feel like you’re walking the streets of Renaissance Florence. Clearly, the research and passion poured into this book paid off.
The magic here is subtle but lovely—woven not just into Ravenna’s unique abilities, but also into the characters’ layered identities and the very spirit of artistic creation that defined the Renaissance itself.
And then we have Saturnino—brooding, enigmatic, and giving off major Edward Cullen vibes (seriously thought he might be a vampire at first). He’s actually something even cooler, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between him and Ravenna hits hard. He’s a classic broody love interest who falls way faster than he wants to admit, and watching their tension play out was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Beyond the romance, there are messy family dynamics, political schemes, glimpses of real historical figures, and even a dash of heat (handled tastefully with some fade-to-black, but not all 😉 ).
Overall, Graceless Heart is a lush and immersive historical fantasy. It blends romance, intrigue, and art into a story that feels both magical and grounded in history. Not a perfect read for me character-wise, but an undeniably enjoyable one that swept me away to another time.
When Ravenna enters (and wins) a sculpting contest to save her brother, her life is forever changed. Swept into the orbit of a wealthy and powerful family, she suddenly finds herself navigating court intrigue, political drama, and her own conflicted heart.
I’ll admit, Ravenna tested my patience at times—her immaturity made her a bit frustrating early on—but she grew on me as the story progressed. What Ibañez excels at, though, is painting an incredibly vivid world. The level of detail makes you feel like you’re walking the streets of Renaissance Florence. Clearly, the research and passion poured into this book paid off.
The magic here is subtle but lovely—woven not just into Ravenna’s unique abilities, but also into the characters’ layered identities and the very spirit of artistic creation that defined the Renaissance itself.
And then we have Saturnino—brooding, enigmatic, and giving off major Edward Cullen vibes (seriously thought he might be a vampire at first). He’s actually something even cooler, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between him and Ravenna hits hard. He’s a classic broody love interest who falls way faster than he wants to admit, and watching their tension play out was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Beyond the romance, there are messy family dynamics, political schemes, glimpses of real historical figures, and even a dash of heat (handled tastefully with some fade-to-black, but not all 😉 ).
Overall, Graceless Heart is a lush and immersive historical fantasy. It blends romance, intrigue, and art into a story that feels both magical and grounded in history. Not a perfect read for me character-wise, but an undeniably enjoyable one that swept me away to another time.
September 9, 2025
Beautiful writing, as always from Isabel Ibañez. But the story did not hold my attention. I think it was too much political and religious intrigue for me. I also wasn't in love with the romance. But I still really enjoyed it and the historical aspect, and the magic was really cool.
August 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
let me tell you…. the tension in this book was tensioning. it took me a lot longer to get into this book then usual, probably half way through. once I was invested though, it got sooo good! also didn’t guess a single plot twist, shocker.
going to be extra nice to my cat after reading this book 😅
thank you net-galley for the arc!!
let me tell you…. the tension in this book was tensioning. it took me a lot longer to get into this book then usual, probably half way through. once I was invested though, it got sooo good! also didn’t guess a single plot twist, shocker.
going to be extra nice to my cat after reading this book 😅
thank you net-galley for the arc!!
July 19, 2025
this started off so strong! mostly i think this is still very much in the draft stage. (it releases half a year away so maybe this is just a veeery early arc and improvements are intended!?!) there’s a lot of repetition, some phrases on the same page. the amount of times the name “saturnino” was used as a single word sentence was intense and quickly lost its effective power. i felt like there were so many character pov’s that weren’t needed (were used soley to explain other characters motivations and detracted from the main story). i have a lot of thoughts, but to sum up i loved the story, it just needs a lot of polishing. this could easily be five stars if executed more succinctly.
August 8, 2025
I skimmed so much of this 🥴
2.75 ⭐️
I was so looking forward to this book because the first edition is gorgeous, but the story inside doesn't match the cover.
The FMC, Ravenna, was a sculptress who sculpts stone despite the criticism from the town. To save her brother, she enters a competition to sculpt a statue worthy of capturing the attention of the city's most infamous family where the prize is a boon of the winners choosing.
To be blunt, this wasn't my cup of tea. The synopsis sounded more intriguing than the book ended up being. It fell flat for a few reasons, the biggest being that the "immortal family" was dull, and the MMC, Saturnino, was described as "devoid of emotion" and "sardonic" at LEAST 500 times. I was about to pull my hair out simply from reading those two words so many times. He's a half-lidded grump, we got it.
The inclusion of the Pope was meh, I didn't enjoy the chapters related to him. We were introduced in the beginning to a long list of magic stones but essentially those are all irrelevant save for one. And the romance between Ravenna and Saturnino felt too jumpy for my liking; it was basically a "I hate you" one minute, and "I'm obsessed with you" the next type of scenario. A true enemies-to-lovers is a slippery slope, because if an author is going to commit to that trope, then they need to be able to merge the enemies into lovers seamlessly, and that didn't happen in Graceless Heart.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advanced digital copy.
2.75 ⭐️
I was so looking forward to this book because the first edition is gorgeous, but the story inside doesn't match the cover.
The FMC, Ravenna, was a sculptress who sculpts stone despite the criticism from the town. To save her brother, she enters a competition to sculpt a statue worthy of capturing the attention of the city's most infamous family where the prize is a boon of the winners choosing.
To be blunt, this wasn't my cup of tea. The synopsis sounded more intriguing than the book ended up being. It fell flat for a few reasons, the biggest being that the "immortal family" was dull, and the MMC, Saturnino, was described as "devoid of emotion" and "sardonic" at LEAST 500 times. I was about to pull my hair out simply from reading those two words so many times. He's a half-lidded grump, we got it.
The inclusion of the Pope was meh, I didn't enjoy the chapters related to him. We were introduced in the beginning to a long list of magic stones but essentially those are all irrelevant save for one. And the romance between Ravenna and Saturnino felt too jumpy for my liking; it was basically a "I hate you" one minute, and "I'm obsessed with you" the next type of scenario. A true enemies-to-lovers is a slippery slope, because if an author is going to commit to that trope, then they need to be able to merge the enemies into lovers seamlessly, and that didn't happen in Graceless Heart.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advanced digital copy.
July 27, 2025
I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a free copy of this.
I didn't realize who the author was until I had already read a couple chapters. I had problems with the previous duology of hers (couldn't finish it, the male and female protagonist in that irked me). So I say this: if you had problems with the female and male protagonist in that book you will have a problem with these, too.
Why I gave it two stars is for the setting. It was easy to envision Italian Renaissance. The use of historical figures was interesting too (Medicis, looking at them in particular). When the author started playing outside the box of historical figures, and adding fantasy to them (the Pope chasing after some magic stones and blocks) and having them interact alongside her own creations ... well, that was rough. Honestly, it's a hard thing to do and I haven't read many stories that pulled off historical fantasy (but my praise for Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell stands).
At first, I was following the protagonist and her aim at freeing her brother. Apparently she has magic. The world building of the magic and the reason why it exists was simply non-existent. But of course, there are fey. And vampires. And witches. And they all connect somehow in this world that you just have to accept the fact they exist. So our protagonist has magic and she can carve things really well. She then carves a likeness of the male protagonist (because she found him hot from the moment she saw him), thinking that this will attract his family's attention and grant a boon. Well, it happens... but they hold her ransom and take her to their estate and simply tell her to chisel five stones to extract some magic stones inside them.
This is where the story falls apart. Our male protagonist should have been 100% a villain. He should have used her, and at most, stayed a middle ground guy. Played her to get the end game. She was dumb enough to simp over him, and as much as she kept saying she wanted nothing to do with him, she found him too hot to function and wanted to kiss him. Of course she sees him do some intense stabbing (and murdering), puts through with him toying with her, insulting her, and absolutely near assaulting her. He tells her he has no heart, but of course, he hasn't met our female! She's going to change his view, because no other woman in the past 100 years has! Please. Honest to god, she whined through the whole book while he lounged against doors, gazed at her through half lidded eyes, and manhandled her. Meanwhile, he demanded (and his family for the few times they made their appearance) to get carving those stones. She asks him constantly what is the purpose but they don't really come fully clean.
There is also some plot with the Pope after the stones and trying to take over the city. Our characters get mixed up in this - she has to spy, he has to protect the Medici family. Further and further the story started to slip from its historical grounding and it became obvious the whole thing was simply a background for a poorly written romance between this guy who apparently found our protagonist kind, honest, and special. Barf.
Of course, there will be people who enjoy this - like her last book - because they focus on the romantasy and nothing else. Plot and schematics come first in a story, then character, then romance. So, if you're like me, you're gonna have a rough go with this because it's like puzzle pieces grabbed from several different puzzles all about the same topic / image, and they're being forced to fit together in this story.
All in all, I think I'm done with this author.
I didn't realize who the author was until I had already read a couple chapters. I had problems with the previous duology of hers (couldn't finish it, the male and female protagonist in that irked me). So I say this: if you had problems with the female and male protagonist in that book you will have a problem with these, too.
Why I gave it two stars is for the setting. It was easy to envision Italian Renaissance. The use of historical figures was interesting too (Medicis, looking at them in particular). When the author started playing outside the box of historical figures, and adding fantasy to them (the Pope chasing after some magic stones and blocks) and having them interact alongside her own creations ... well, that was rough. Honestly, it's a hard thing to do and I haven't read many stories that pulled off historical fantasy (but my praise for Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell stands).
At first, I was following the protagonist and her aim at freeing her brother. Apparently she has magic. The world building of the magic and the reason why it exists was simply non-existent. But of course, there are fey. And vampires. And witches. And they all connect somehow in this world that you just have to accept the fact they exist. So our protagonist has magic and she can carve things really well. She then carves a likeness of the male protagonist (because she found him hot from the moment she saw him), thinking that this will attract his family's attention and grant a boon. Well, it happens... but they hold her ransom and take her to their estate and simply tell her to chisel five stones to extract some magic stones inside them.
This is where the story falls apart. Our male protagonist should have been 100% a villain. He should have used her, and at most, stayed a middle ground guy. Played her to get the end game. She was dumb enough to simp over him, and as much as she kept saying she wanted nothing to do with him, she found him too hot to function and wanted to kiss him. Of course she sees him do some intense stabbing (and murdering), puts through with him toying with her, insulting her, and absolutely near assaulting her. He tells her he has no heart, but of course, he hasn't met our female! She's going to change his view, because no other woman in the past 100 years has! Please. Honest to god, she whined through the whole book while he lounged against doors, gazed at her through half lidded eyes, and manhandled her. Meanwhile, he demanded (and his family for the few times they made their appearance) to get carving those stones. She asks him constantly what is the purpose but they don't really come fully clean.
There is also some plot with the Pope after the stones and trying to take over the city. Our characters get mixed up in this - she has to spy, he has to protect the Medici family. Further and further the story started to slip from its historical grounding and it became obvious the whole thing was simply a background for a poorly written romance between this guy who apparently found our protagonist kind, honest, and special. Barf.
Of course, there will be people who enjoy this - like her last book - because they focus on the romantasy and nothing else. Plot and schematics come first in a story, then character, then romance. So, if you're like me, you're gonna have a rough go with this because it's like puzzle pieces grabbed from several different puzzles all about the same topic / image, and they're being forced to fit together in this story.
All in all, I think I'm done with this author.
July 16, 2025
Looking at this book from a high level, it’s a book I want to read: set in Italy during a time of unrest, a relevant and interesting soft magic system, promise of strong character interactions. However, something about how these topics flowed into this book didn’t quite work for me.
Starting with the setting, I thought the author did a great job with the research of the novel. Some other reviews mention that it’s not 100% historically accurate, that’s fine - it’s a fantasy book! When you start to add faeries and magic into the mix, I can forgive a little deviation from actual recorded history. Additionally, this setting served as a wonderful backdrop to the fast paced and engaging plot.
For the magic system, I was so excited reading the intro page on the pietra magiche. I was expecting all of the magic described to appear in a meaningful way in the book, but only one or two stones were heavily featured throughout the novel, the others simply mentioned/shown in passing. Advertising itself partially as a fantasy book, I was really hoping for more involvement with the magic system. That said, the magical elements woven into the book (I won’t spoil!) were well done.
Finally, the character interactions. For me, this was the weakest point of the book. Some of conversations didn’t quite make sense, the development of particular characters and certain relationships felt rushed and didn’t quite follow a logical progression, and I really disliked how our protagonist was repeatedly shoved, grabbed, pushed, slapped, etc. to drive the plot forward. Female main characters can still show their strength without needing to be assaulted by a string of men. I recognize this is an ARC, so I am hopeful that there may be some revisions that will strength the overall character development.
This book has a great premise and a strong foundational idea. With a bit more work on the characters and their interactions, I could see this book being a very solid read.
** Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley but all reviews are my own **
Starting with the setting, I thought the author did a great job with the research of the novel. Some other reviews mention that it’s not 100% historically accurate, that’s fine - it’s a fantasy book! When you start to add faeries and magic into the mix, I can forgive a little deviation from actual recorded history. Additionally, this setting served as a wonderful backdrop to the fast paced and engaging plot.
For the magic system, I was so excited reading the intro page on the pietra magiche. I was expecting all of the magic described to appear in a meaningful way in the book, but only one or two stones were heavily featured throughout the novel, the others simply mentioned/shown in passing. Advertising itself partially as a fantasy book, I was really hoping for more involvement with the magic system. That said, the magical elements woven into the book (I won’t spoil!) were well done.
Finally, the character interactions. For me, this was the weakest point of the book. Some of conversations didn’t quite make sense, the development of particular characters and certain relationships felt rushed and didn’t quite follow a logical progression, and I really disliked how our protagonist was repeatedly shoved, grabbed, pushed, slapped, etc. to drive the plot forward. Female main characters can still show their strength without needing to be assaulted by a string of men. I recognize this is an ARC, so I am hopeful that there may be some revisions that will strength the overall character development.
This book has a great premise and a strong foundational idea. With a bit more work on the characters and their interactions, I could see this book being a very solid read.
** Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley but all reviews are my own **
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