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The Brilliant Death

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The Brilliant Death

By: A. R. Capetta
Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan
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About this listen

 Teodora di Sangro is used to hiding her magical ability to transform enemies into music boxes and mirrors. Nobody knows she’s a strega—and she aims to keep it that way.

The she meets Cielo—and everything changes.

A strega who can switch outward form as effortlessly as turning a page in a book, Cielo shows Teodora what her life could be like if she masters the power she’s been keeping secret. And not a moment too soon: the ruler of Vinalia has poisoned the patriarchs of the country’s five controlling families, including Teodora’s father, and demands that each family send a son to the palace.

If she wants to save her family, Teodora must travel to the capital—not disguised as a boy, but transformed into one. But the road to the capital, and to bridling her powers, is full of enemies and complications, including the one she least expects: falling in love. Magic Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy Fiction Fantasy

Critic reviews

Raves for The Brilliant Death:

★ "A delicious and magical intrigue too tempting not to devour." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "A highly original magic system and a protagonist who is as ruthless as she is fiery make for a fast-paced adventure." --School Library Journal, starred review

“Mario Puzo meets Ursula Le Guin in a gender and genre bending tale as lush as it is vivid, and as daring as it is dangerous. The hype is deserved and the magic is real."--Alex London, bestselling author of Proxy and Black Wings Beating

"The Brilliant Death is a mesmerizingly written tale of identity, courage and family, wrapped up in magic that feels both folktale-familiar and enthrallingly innovative."--Alwyn Hamilton, New York Times bestselling author of Rebel of the Sands

"Writing so good it will give you goosebumps, and a story that will sweep you into a wild adventure full of old magic, new love, and dark delight."--Alison Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of Eon and Eona

“This first in a duology is a luminously imagined, Italian-inspired fantasy that thoughtfully speaks to ideas of gender perception and identity. A rich world, with much left to be explored in the next volume.” – Booklist

“One of the most artful, gorgeous, romantic books in the LGBTQIAP YA canon.” – B&N Teen Blog

“A unique mashup of fantasy, historical fiction, and queer romance… the kind of book you won't be able to stop talking about.” – Bustle
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I loved the setting and atmosphere of this book from the outset, the Italian mafia vibes and the vividness of the descriptions that made the landscape of the Ucelli seem like a character in its own right. It took me slightly longer to warm up to the characters but Teodora is an amazing protagonist, ruthless but loving, strong but unsure of her place, loyal but dreaming of more. She learns and grows so much over the course of the book! The genderfluid rep was just one more brilliant facet of the story, explored respectfully and naturally alongside the plot, and the romance was beautifully developed and perfectly balanced with the rest of the plot.

The audiobook narrator was also one of the best I've heard, perfectly suited to this book.

Beautiful & dangerous

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