The Brilliant Death - Hardcover

Capetta, A. R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0451478444 ISBN 13: 9780451478443

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers, 2018

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

Amy Rose Capetta has written several novels for young adults and holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from VCFA. She first dreamed of writing about Vinalia when she was younger than Teo. Once upon a time her father’s family lived in Italy, in a small town in the mountainside. Now Amy Rose lives in her very own mountains in Vermont, with her partner and their young son. To learn more, visit amyrosecapetta.com.

Reviews

Gr 9 Up{amp}mdash;Everyone in Vinalia knows that magic and the "streghe" who use it only exist in stories. No one knows that Teodora di Sangro is a "strega" who can change people into objects. For Teo and her siblings, family has always been fate, forcing them into roles they may not want. Teo is proud to belong to one of the Five Families. But she also knows that as a girl she will never truly have a place at the table. Desperate for her father's approval, Teo takes it upon herself to address any threats to the family. Instead of killing their enemies, Teo uses her secret magic to transform them into objects. When the Capo's latest bid for power leaves Teo's father poisoned and the heads of the other families dead, Teo knows she is the only one who can answer the Capo's summons to the capital and find an antidote. But first she will have to transform herself to look the part of a di Sangro heir by becoming a boy. Unable to learn this new magic alone, Teo enters into a bargain with Cielo, a mysterious strega who can easily switch between male and female forms. Teo's transformation and her journey bring her into the center of Vinalia's sinister politics as she tries to save her family. Vibrant imagery and vivid language imbue this fantasy with wonder and intrigue in a world inspired by Italian folklore. Teo explores her gender identity and what it means to be a girl (or not) in her world alongside her sexy genderfluid magic tutor Cielo, whose dry wit and charm only increases the chemistry between them. VERDICT A highly original magic system and a protagonist who is as ruthless as she is fiery make for a fast-paced adventure. Fans will be eager for the conclusion of this duology.{amp}mdash;Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library

Edition details

• Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0451478444
• ISBN 13: 9780451478443
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352