This Vicious Grace (The Last Finestra #1)

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. (June)