Gender-bending YA Fantasy

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This is a book that grabs your attention immediately. As soon as you meet Teo, you know that she is going to be a totally awesome and interesting character. As the daughter of a powerful family, she was raised to be cunning and clever. She uses her magic abilities to turn the enemies of her family into trinkets. But she has always felt like she doesn't quite fit in to the standards of a normal girl. Once she meets Cielo, however, her character and abilities begin to grow.

Cielo is such a fascinating character and seems to be the voice of reason when it comes to Teo's plans. He teaches her how to use her magic to transform herself into a boy, and from there Teo begins to discover her true self. I love the chemistry between the two characters, and how they clicked right from the beginning, as well as the diversity of a gender-fluid couple and the theme of being who you truly are.

The setting of the book also really drew me in. It's a world based on Italy, where the mafia is basically in control. Stregas (Italian for witches) are people who wield magic, and it comes in all shapes and forms. I just loved everything about this world and how everything worked.

My only complaints about the book were how fast certain big events happened (someone dies at one point and it felt like it was totally glossed over), and the ending. The story just didn't feel complete. I'm wondering if there will be a sequel, and honestly, I really hope there is. I want to go back to this world and these characters so bad! I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers who are looking for diverse characters and a story that is different from most.