I am thrilled to have won a copy of The Brilliant Death because after reading the excerpt, I knew I was reading something special. Set in a Renaissance Italy-inspired world full of magic, power hungry families, and of course, romance, The Brilliant Death made for a fun, fast-paced read I won’t soon forget. I loved the writing style. It was descriptive and lyrical, but never overdone. I also enjoyed the setting and magic system. The symbiotic magic concept was something I’ve never seen before and I liked how it tied into different plot points. I have only one complaint. I wish the conflict resolution and some emotional moments in the story weren’t so rushed, especially the ending. I had so much fun reading this so I don’t mind too much, but I definitely hope there’s a sequel because there’s a few lose ends left I would love to see resolved. I want more Teo and Cielo, what can I say?
Lastly, I am a huge fan of the fantasy genre, but as a queer woman, I always felt disconnected from many of the characters and the worlds they navigated. However, Capetta creates a world where magic can be a tool to fully express oneself in a misogynistic, patriarchal, narrow-minded society. I can’t believe I read a fantasy book with two queer gender fluid main characters. This book will be a mirror, a gift and an adventure for so many readers.
Lastly, I am a huge fan of the fantasy genre, but as a queer woman, I always felt disconnected from many of the characters and the worlds they navigated. However, Capetta creates a world where magic can be a tool to fully express oneself in a misogynistic, patriarchal, narrow-minded society. I can’t believe I read a fantasy book with two queer gender fluid main characters. This book will be a mirror, a gift and an adventure for so many readers.