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Ravenna has been sculpting since she was very young and her aunt took her to visit the quarries where she sourced marble for her own art. But since she discovered magic inside herself that led to someone’s death, Ravenna has tried desperately to not only hide that magic from others but to not let it out again.
When her brother is taken by their city’s enemies, Ravenna is powerless to help him. That is, until the powerful immortals the Luni family come to Volterra and announce a sculpting competition. Whoever wins will receive a boon — which she could use to free her brother. But the price to win is high: her entry reveals to all that she has magical ability. She is immediately kidnapped by the Lunis and taken to their home in Florence.
In Florence in the 1470s, the Medicis rule, and the pope, in Rome, is waging war against the city: including the Medicis, the Lunis — and magic.
Ravenna is kept prisoner at the grand home of the Lunis, though dressed finely and paraded occasionally to the city as a talented guest, and told she has 30 days to accomplish what seems an impossible feat.
And what complicates the situation more is that Ravenna is drawn to the handsome but cold Saturnino, one of the Luni family. He’s strong and ruthless and makes clear that he has no heart. Even as she is attracted to him, and at times he seems kind to her, he still occasionally reminds her he is an impossibility.
Every day, every action, is balanced on shifting sands of politics and power. And Ravenna has to make difficult choices: how to protect herself, her family, her city — and her heart.
Graceless Heart is a fantasy based on real history in Florence and Volterra, Italy, during the 15th century. I didn’t realize how much of the main events were based on history: I did appreciate that Ibañez explains some of that at the end of the novel. For me, I could have DNF’d the book; it just didn’t grab me, and in many ways, I simply didn’t enjoy it. I’m not sure why I did finish it. I think in part I simply couldn’t get behind the romance. Saturnino is presented for so long as cold and distant and incapable of love, and I just thought, Girl, be sensible. Sure, he’s handsome, but … no. I had a difficult time getting on board with the whole thing.
Others who won’t have that hangup will likely appreciate the romance and intense story of Graceless Heart.
Rated: High. Profanity includes 11 uses of strong language, around 10 instances of moderate profanity, about 15 uses of mild language, and a couple of instances of the name of Deity in vain. Sexual content is strong, with one lengthy, detailed spicy scene, and other shorter but detailed scenes, and instances of nudity. Violence is occasionally gory, and there are extended instances of deaths and brutal injuries particularly in a battle that occurs in Florence.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
