Name: The Brilliant Death
ISBN: 9780451478443

Amy Rose Capetta

A young shapeshifter has to learn to control her powers, while simultaneously using them to disguise herself as a boy and confront the people who murdered her father.

The Brilliant Death

Izza

3.25 stars | I think this is the first book I read with genderfluid characters :) I'm interested in reading the sequel.

Isabela H 

Yep... those "Dates read" are right... I finished this book in one day. ONE DAY.

I simply could not put it down. From the very beginning, I was fascinated with the world that Capetta created, filled with such vibrant characters. Although set in a land full of mysterious magic, the dynamics of the country, as well as the characters themselves, are so real and relate so well to contemporary times. 

Though a few plot points were fairly predictable, and the book was quite obviously fairly simple to read, the characters kept the book alive with their vibrancy. 

I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for characters to absolutely fall in love with!

A. R. Capetta

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.

Nicole Dykeman

Really cool & unique setting. We need more Italian mafia fantasy stories with non-binary mcs.

Allie Herrington

Librarian: I really want to suggest that you order this book. After all, we always have need of more books with transgender/genderfluid main characters. And this is a Queer Historical Mafia Fantasy. I mean how often do you get to have a book described like that on your shelves? 
The problem is there have been SO MANY fantastic fantasy novels in the last couple of months (including one that released today). I'm worried that even putting this one out with the new releases will just cause this one to be lost in the shuffle. We're all gonna really have to talk this one up if we're going to see it take its place as a popular part of our collections.
Reader: I wanted to like this book. On paper it sounds amazing. Unfortunately it just never really drew me in. Which is too bad. Still I'll be curious to see if she chooses to continue with the series, and I'll definitely be checking out her next book.

Toni Turner

I know this looks like it took me a long time to read but it actually just took me a long time to get my hands on again. I only started it in November but I listened to the whole thing just these past two weeks maybe? I ended up listening to the audiobook on my way to and (mostly) from work. 

I’ve loved this concept and the setting and the atmosphere from the beginning but it just gets better as you go. I love the friendship and family and love and violence and strategy and magic! Ugh!! So good! And the ITALIAN in the audiobook mhmm! Beautiful! I wish I could speak Italian so bad!

Lea de Sousa

2/5 ⭐

The blurb made this book sound so promising. Italian mafia, gender neutral shapeshifter, strong female protagonist... and yet it all went so wrong. 

The pacing was off, characters were dropping like flies before the reader could make any emotional connections. The character's actions fluctuated so it was difficult to get a feel for anyones personality. Man oh man. I will stop here.

Laura Springall

This is literally everything that I’ve ever wanted in a book and I’m so happy this exists! I really really hope we get a sequel!!

Moth

Abi Baker

Zoey Mikalatos

Christian Huss

Archer

Ambreen Hasan

Elizabeth Lyle

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.