About the Book:

Title: Graceless Heart (The Spellbound History Quartet, #1)

Author: Isabel Ibañez

Publisher: Saturday Books

Release Date: January 13, 2026

Pages: 488

Genre: Adult Fantasy, Adult Romance, Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

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.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the publisher. Thank you to Netgalley and Saturday Books for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I love Isabel Ibañez’s writing, so it should have come as no surprise that I would enjoy Graceless Heart. Y’all, I LOVED it! I thought this was a fantastic adult debut, and it is one of my favorite books of the year!

I adored the setting of Renaissance Italy! I could tell that this was well researched, as I felt as though I was drawn back in time, and could picture everything quite vividly. There was a lot of political intrigue, and the Pope and the Medici family are among the cast of characters. Then add in magic, which made it chef’s kiss!

Ravenna is such a strong and fascinating female protagonist. I enjoyed watching her growth throughout the story. The love of her family is one of the things that drives her character the most, and I think that’s great. I would do just about anything for my family. Despite everything she comes up against, she doesn’t stop fighting, and she is truly inspiring. Saturnino gave me some whiplash, but I wound up adoring him.

Overall, this story was just beautiful and I highly recommend it! This is a standalone, but there will be future books set in this world, and I can’t wait for more!

About the Author:

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 books.