I've put off my review, trying to wrap my head around how I feel about this book. I liked some things and didn't like some things but overall, I did enjoy it. It was very unique for one. The magic didn't make a whole lot of sense though. It wasn't developed enough. All Teodora has ever done is turn "bad men" into objects. And then has little regard for them afterwards. "Don't throw that pillow, it used to be the baker's son." WHAT?! Are they dead? Suspended in life? If they are dead, how could they ever come back to life? There's too many questions surrounding just that one aspect of magic and then there are SO. MANY. MORE aspects of the magic!! Things I can't go into because of spoilers. Like the brilliant death. If the magic is just raw power then how come Teo can't control it better? I assumed when she inherited the sister's power (can't remember her name!), her breath would also become poison. But that's not how the magic works. Teo's own magic just becomes more powerful and also more chaotic. Magic usually has rules but not in this book/world. It's more raw power than how we usually see magic and it's more uncontrollable and more of its own entity.
In my head, I kept thinking of Teo as transgender but she's not. She's gender fluid, as is Cielo, another strega she meets. Together they are a WHIRLWIND of the sexes! Hell, if I had magic I would also go back and forth between genders! Just for the experiences! Because it would be easy! But I feel like when you make it because you have access to magic that you switch genders, it's less authentic than if this were set in a modern magic-less world where you truly feel you are.
Halfway through I wasn't crazy about the book but once I finished it, I really liked it. And then had to figure out how to express my feelings towards it! I look forward to the sequel and more of Teo and Cielo's relationship.
In my head, I kept thinking of Teo as transgender but she's not. She's gender fluid, as is Cielo, another strega she meets. Together they are a WHIRLWIND of the sexes! Hell, if I had magic I would also go back and forth between genders! Just for the experiences! Because it would be easy! But I feel like when you make it because you have access to magic that you switch genders, it's less authentic than if this were set in a modern magic-less world where you truly feel you are.
Halfway through I wasn't crazy about the book but once I finished it, I really liked it. And then had to figure out how to express my feelings towards it! I look forward to the sequel and more of Teo and Cielo's relationship.