Title: Graceless HeartAuthor: Isabel Ibañez
Pages: 488
Publication Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Publisher: Saturday Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
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.
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Graceless Heart was a book I went into with high expectations, because I’ve already read and loved several of this author’s previous books and her writing style. There is something about the way she writes that completely pulls me in every time. Her style is immersive and beautifully written, with layered characters, vivid world-building, and romances that I adore.
This story takes place in Renaissance Italy, which in itself was really interesting. I haven’t read many historical romantasies that take place in this period, and I loved how the fantasy elements were layered into real historical settings. The inclusion of real, recognizable people from that era as secondary characters was also great (I’m talking about you, Leonardo da Vinci!). Seeing them exist alongside immortal families, political power plays, and forbidden magic added so much depth and life to the story.
Ravenna was such a strong and compelling female protagonist, and I enjoyed her journey, both emotional and physical. I loved her determination, her talent as a sculptress (so cool!), and the way her love for her family propelled her. She is selfless and loving, and in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation, she never stops fighting. Saturnino, on the other hand, was a little tougher for me to fully connect with. He ran very hot and cold in how he treated Ravenna, which I didn’t always love. While I understood that his secrecy and emotional distance were intentional, there were moments where his shifts felt more confusing than complex.
The romance was a slow build with strong enemies-to-lovers vibes, and overall, I enjoyed it. Ravenna and Saturnino had a lot of chemistry, and the forbidden nature of their relationship, as well as Saturnino’s mysterious nature, added even more tension between them. Even with Saturnino’s hot and cold behavior, their connection was obvious very early on, and the shift from hostility to something deeper was great.
I also loved that I didn’t predict the major plot twists in the story. Political intrigue, constant danger, the Luni family’s manipulations, the Pope’s nefarious plans, Ravenna’s grasp on her magic, and so much more stand in her way. She’s repeatedly forced into impossible choices and situations without ever having the full truth, as she is taken, forced to help the Luni family and spy on them for the Pope, all while trying to find a way to help her home, save her family, and figure out the Luni’s secrets. It definitely kept the tension high and the story moving in directions that I totally did not see coming.
Overall, Graceless Heart was an intriguing and atmospheric standalone romantasy with a twisty plot and a slow-burning, forbidden romance. The pacing is a little uneven, and there were some slower parts, but I still ended up really enjoying it. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Saturday Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- political intrigue
- Who did this to you?
When the world is something frightening, surviving is its own kind of art form.
“You’re worth everything. All that I am and more than I deserve.”
“If it were up to me, I would spend eternity with you… Every sunrise and sunset, every precious moment in between… And all your nights would belong to me.”
Isabel 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.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one Julie, as I’ve seen some not so good reviews.
I’ve seen a bunch of mixed reviews, and it’s definitely not my favorite by the author, but I did like it.