Graceless Heart: a beautiful, rich fantasy romance about Renaissance art and forbidden magic

(Paperback)

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Description

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.

Reviews

A breathtaking blend of intricate magic, riveting intrigue, and hypnotic romance, in a lush historical setting that flares to life on every page. I never wanted to leave the glimmering, immortally enchanting world of Graceless Heart * AVA REID *
A tour de force of historical fantasy. This fierce, romantic, wonderful book gripped my imagination and made my heart race at each turn. With an artist's eye for beautiful detail, Isabel Ibanez has created a gorgeous, intricate world peopled with fascinating characters. It's nothing short of compelling. Ibanez is at the height of her talent here * INDIA HOLTON *
In her adult debut, Ibaez delivers a fantasy teeming with political schemes, scandalous romance, and clever twists that make it a true homage to its Renaissance setting. Like flies to a web, readers will find themselves pulled into a world of tangling ambitions, ruthless power grabs, and fate-altering secrets. This one's a must-read for 2025 * AYANA GRAY *
A sumptuous and intoxicating standalone from the singularly swoonworthy imagination of Isabel Ibaez. Ibaez deftly sculpts a tale of magic, menace and mystery amidst the glittering backdrop of Renaissance Italy. Every page is a feast for one's daydreams * ROSHANI CHOKSHI *
Lush, evocative, and utterly enthralling - this is historical fantasy at its finest. With prose as sharp as a sculptor's chisel, a romance that burns slow and deep, and a world brimming with political intrigue and whispered magic, this book will carve itself into your heart and never let go * ADRIENNE YOUNG *

Author Bio

Isabel Ibanez is a USA Today, Indie, Sunday Times, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of whimsical historical fantasies for teens and adults. She has written many highly acclaimed novels, including 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, as well as the bestselling Secrets of the Nile duology, Together We Burn, and Written in Starlight. 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 books.