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Ella is dead, dying shortly after her stepmother killed her father.  Now, she is the ghost that haunts her house, visible only to those tied to it.  As part of the house, Ella has a compulsion to keep things tidy and do repairs, much to her stepmother and stepsister's delight.  Ella grows with the house, testing the limits of her bounds and finding new ways to explore.  Ella finds ways to go into town for short periods and develops a kind of friendship with a fey, but is always pulled back to the house by midnight. One of Ella's stepsisters has also developed magical powers, using them mostly to indulge herself and keep Ella in line.  Ella decides to take a chance to feel alive again and makes a deal with the fey: she can attend the prince's ball for three nights to dance, be touched and eat again, but only for those three nights. 


Cinder House is a unique take on the Cinderella story creating a magical and Gothic atmosphere. I loved the idea of Ella being part of the house and how she could sense when something was wrong or off within it through her own body. Since magic was a large part of Ella's world, her presence felt natural, as did her stepfamily's acceptance of her and her stepsister's development of powers.  Ella's fairy friend, Quaint was an interesting friend and godmother. The two enjoyed each other's company, but Quaint couldn't go against her mischievous nature. The Prince's dancing curse was another interesting element that led to a surprising relationship only he could have with Ella. It seemed Ella almost had her fairytale ending, if only she weren't dead. Ella, the Prince and his new Queen create a surprising trio; however, and are perfectly suited to each other along with a few unusual accommodations. 

Ravenna Maffei is a talented sculptress in 15th century Volterra, Italy.  Ravenna is also hiding her magical abilities because they are forbidden in the city.  However, Ravenna combines her magic and sculpting abilities to win a contest and gain a boon to save her brother.  Carving a sculpture of a god using a magical nightflame stone, Ravenna wins the contest and gains her boon, but she is taken by the immortal Luni family. Ravenna is kept hostage in Florence by the Luni's in order to complete an impossible task.  Ravenna must extract five nightflame stones encased in rock, a task that has killed countless others.  While Ravenna attempts the extraction, Saturnino Luni watches her every move; they learn each other's secrets.  Meanwhile, the Pope wants to use Ravenna as a pawn against his enemy, the Medici.  As Ravenna is pulled in separate directions, she must decide where her allegiances lie and how to best use her magic. 

Graceless Heart is a historical romantasy featuring strong characters and an intense plot. From the beginning, Ravenna's magic and her reasons for hiding it pulled me in.  I wish she had learned something about her magic, especially with all the power it carries.  I enjoyed the incorporation of history into the plot including Medici's rule over Florence, the takeover of Volterra, and even da Vinci's designs for war machines.  Ravenna and the Luni family are all strong characters.  Ravenna's passion for her work and her family is admirable.  Her work with stone is intriguing and only enhanced by the magical abilities she is so scared to use.   The Luni family is mysterious and powerful, using their strength and immortality to dominate the city.  Saturnino and Ravenna's romance is an enemies-to-lovers story.  A slower paced romance that continually asks, "Will they or won't they?" Ravenna and Saturnino's reluctance to trust one another builds tension until they finally reveal their true selves.  The ending blends magic, danger and romance for a wonderful conclusion.