'Richly imagined and full of heart' REBECCA ROSS 'A lush and dangerous story' MARY E. PEARSON 'A breathtaking blend of intricate magic, riveting intrigue, and hypnotic romance' AVA REID
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.
TROPES TO DIE FOR . . . enemies-to-lovers slow-burn magic vs religion political intrigue
EARLY READERS LOVE IT! 'The prose is lyrical, lush and inviting, the setting is unique and so engaging' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'If you only read one book in 2026 let it be this one' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Spellbinding! Bewitching!' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'That tension? That yearning? The mistrust? Absolutely amazing' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'I was on the edge of my seat multiple times, praying for a resolution' ¿¿¿¿¿
Interessante Idee, Umsetzung hat mich nicht überzeugt.
Der einzige Grund, wieso ich das Buch nicht 1*DNF'ed habe, war die Grundidee und das Magiesystem. Und dann war ich schon zu weit , und wollte es einfach hinter mich bringen. Leider wurde auf das Magiesystem quasi null eingegangen. Der Schreibstil hat mir nichts gegeben und die Handlung war absolut chaotisch, keine sinnvollen Szenenübergänge, Zeiten waren unklar. Ich bin einfach froh, dass ich es jetzt wegstellen kann.
3 days ago
2.0
Interessante Idee, Umsetzung hat mich nicht überzeugt.
Der einzige Grund, wieso ich das Buch nicht 1*DNF'ed habe, war die Grundidee und das Magiesystem. Und dann war ich schon zu weit , und wollte es einfach hinter mich bringen. Leider wurde auf das Magiesystem quasi null eingegangen. Der Schreibstil hat mir nichts gegeben und die Handlung war absolut chaotisch, keine sinnvollen Szenenübergänge, Zeiten waren unklar. Ich bin einfach froh, dass ich es jetzt wegstellen kann.
In der schier endlosen Menge an Romantasy- Reihen ist fantasy historical fiction das Regenbogenglitzereinhorn, das man zufällg gefunden hat und allein seiner Einzigartigkeit wegen mögen muss. Das war endlich mal was anderes!
Neue story, neue characters, eine Katze… Was will man mehr?
Allerdings habe ich das Gefühl, dass man entweder historisch bewandert sein muss, um sich im Italien der Renaissance heimisch zu fühlen oder es gibt da irgendwo ein Prequel, das mir entgangen ist.
Apr 6, 2026
3.5
In der schier endlosen Menge an Romantasy- Reihen ist fantasy historical fiction das Regenbogenglitzereinhorn, das man zufällg gefunden hat und allein seiner Einzigartigkeit wegen mögen muss. Das war endlich mal was anderes!
Neue story, neue characters, eine Katze… Was will man mehr?
Allerdings habe ich das Gefühl, dass man entweder historisch bewandert sein muss, um sich im Italien der Renaissance heimisch zu fühlen oder es gibt da irgendwo ein Prequel, das mir entgangen ist.
What I learned from the author's previous books: her stories are all vibes coming from historical settings. And if you loved The Secrets of the Nile duology, you will love this one too.
Graceless Heart is placed in Renaissance Italy - and the picture Ibañez is painting is so colorful and intriguing that I couldn't help but vibe along. In combination with her marvelous prose, this is already everything I needed from this book.
Add to it plots surrounding the Medici, the Pope and Leonardo da Vince - and I'm truly satisfied.
The MCs are Ravenna and Saturnino, the former with secret magic and kidnapped by the latter for her abilities. The romance is not what I came for, and it would not have made me stay. Both characters are likable enough, but the author's character descriptions and arcs have never been what hooked me in her books.
What hooked me again though, was her way of placing women who "should not be seen" in settings where they just aim to reach their goals despite society (aka patriarchy) wanting them to stay small. The only thing that can make them stray from their path are...well...men.
That said, I would love for the author to write a book xwhere there's no male to distract them from their path. But that's just me.
I'm wholeheartedly recommending this book if you loved any of the above.
4/5 stars
Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC!
#GracelessHeart #Italy #Netgalley #Bookstagram
Aug 6, 2025
4.0
What I learned from the author's previous books: her stories are all vibes coming from historical settings. And if you loved The Secrets of the Nile duology, you will love this one too.
Graceless Heart is placed in Renaissance Italy - and the picture Ibañez is painting is so colorful and intriguing that I couldn't help but vibe along. In combination with her marvelous prose, this is already everything I needed from this book.
Add to it plots surrounding the Medici, the Pope and Leonardo da Vince - and I'm truly satisfied.
The MCs are Ravenna and Saturnino, the former with secret magic and kidnapped by the latter for her abilities. The romance is not what I came for, and it would not have made me stay. Both characters are likable enough, but the author's character descriptions and arcs have never been what hooked me in her books.
What hooked me again though, was her way of placing women who "should not be seen" in settings where they just aim to reach their goals despite society (aka patriarchy) wanting them to stay small. The only thing that can make them stray from their path are...well...men.
That said, I would love for the author to write a book xwhere there's no male to distract them from their path. But that's just me.
I'm wholeheartedly recommending this book if you loved any of the above.
4/5 stars
Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC!
#GracelessHeart #Italy #Netgalley #Bookstagram
