Teo is a Strega, only she's kept it hidden from her family since she was a young girl since most people in the village don't believe them to be real. A member of a powerful family, she's used her powers to turn people who do not pledge loyalty to her father into charms and trinkets.
One evening, her father receives a formal letter from the Capo - a ruler who claims to have the desire to unite the country. After reading the letter, her father drops, coming dangerously close to death. On a mission to find help for him before it is too late, Teo sets off to the capital, using her powers to disguise herself as a son of the DiSangro family.
Along the way she meets a fellow Strega, Cielo, who can transform himself into anything he wishes, including a woman. Together they venture to the capital and Cielo helps Teo with her powers along the way, the two forming an unbreakable bond.
This book sends off a very clear message. There's a lot of obvious female empowerment which (don't hate me), although I appreciate, it felt a little at times like 'okay get off the soap box, we get it'. It was a little trite.
This book also includes a gender-fluid couple as well as the struggle Teo herself faces with accepting who she is and who she loves. I think a lot of young people out there will feel good reading books with characters like these as it gives them something/someone to relate too, and that's never a bad thing. The world could probably use a little more of that. This is why I gave it three stars.
Unfortunately, the story itself just felt...underwhelming. There wasn't a lot of character or world building and for most of the book I kept wondering when something really interesting was going to happen. The plot moved to quickly and had it slowed down a bit, I think there would have been more time for the characters to develop. I skimmed a lot and didn't feel like I missed anything in doing so.
Overall, I didn't love it but I appreciated it. I think there is a lot of room for improvement though and I do hope the author writes more. I love magic, stregas, and battles!
One evening, her father receives a formal letter from the Capo - a ruler who claims to have the desire to unite the country. After reading the letter, her father drops, coming dangerously close to death. On a mission to find help for him before it is too late, Teo sets off to the capital, using her powers to disguise herself as a son of the DiSangro family.
Along the way she meets a fellow Strega, Cielo, who can transform himself into anything he wishes, including a woman. Together they venture to the capital and Cielo helps Teo with her powers along the way, the two forming an unbreakable bond.
This book sends off a very clear message. There's a lot of obvious female empowerment which (don't hate me), although I appreciate, it felt a little at times like 'okay get off the soap box, we get it'. It was a little trite.
This book also includes a gender-fluid couple as well as the struggle Teo herself faces with accepting who she is and who she loves. I think a lot of young people out there will feel good reading books with characters like these as it gives them something/someone to relate too, and that's never a bad thing. The world could probably use a little more of that. This is why I gave it three stars.
Unfortunately, the story itself just felt...underwhelming. There wasn't a lot of character or world building and for most of the book I kept wondering when something really interesting was going to happen. The plot moved to quickly and had it slowed down a bit, I think there would have been more time for the characters to develop. I skimmed a lot and didn't feel like I missed anything in doing so.
Overall, I didn't love it but I appreciated it. I think there is a lot of room for improvement though and I do hope the author writes more. I love magic, stregas, and battles!