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The Storm of Life
(The Brilliant Death #2)
by
The sumptuous and powerful conclusion to the gender-fluid duet begun by The Brilliant Death, hailed by Kirkus as "a delicious and magical intrigue too tempting not to devour" (starred review).
Teodora diSangro and Cielo, the strega she loves, are on a mission to save their country of Vinalia from its manipulative leader, who wants to exploit streghe and use them as his weap ...more
Teodora diSangro and Cielo, the strega she loves, are on a mission to save their country of Vinalia from its manipulative leader, who wants to exploit streghe and use them as his weap ...more
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Start your review of The Storm of Life (The Brilliant Death, #2)
2020 Popsugar Reading Challenege
Read a book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
Pretty forgettable but still enjoyable. I still love Teo and Cielo. I just wish we got more of those two. I feel like they were separated a lot. But when they were on page together 🥰🥰🥰
Read a book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
Pretty forgettable but still enjoyable. I still love Teo and Cielo. I just wish we got more of those two. I feel like they were separated a lot. But when they were on page together 🥰🥰🥰
Okay can someone please explain to me WHY this is... not listed as a sequel to The Brilliant Death on goodreads, despite the blurb making it very clear that it is??? Because I totally though The Brilliant Death was a standalone...
I'm all of a sudden a whole lot more satisfied with how The Brilliant Death ended...
Anyways I NEED THIS ASAP. I need to see how my darling Cielo and Teo are doing! And ahhhhhh how am I supposed to wait?!?!?! I NEED IT. NOW PLEASE. ...more
I'm all of a sudden a whole lot more satisfied with how The Brilliant Death ended...
Anyways I NEED THIS ASAP. I need to see how my darling Cielo and Teo are doing! And ahhhhhh how am I supposed to wait?!?!?! I NEED IT. NOW PLEASE. ...more
3.5 stars
I have around the same feelings about this book that I had about the first in the series, The Brilliant Death. This series is fun, it's queer, it's bloody, and it's romantic. While I remember The Brilliant Death was marketed as a kind of mafia-inspired fantasy, having finished the duology, it seems more like it's based on the Italian unification (going off of my limited knowledge of the Risorgimento), which made the concept way more interesting.
I did feel like the execution felt a bit ...more
I have around the same feelings about this book that I had about the first in the series, The Brilliant Death. This series is fun, it's queer, it's bloody, and it's romantic. While I remember The Brilliant Death was marketed as a kind of mafia-inspired fantasy, having finished the duology, it seems more like it's based on the Italian unification (going off of my limited knowledge of the Risorgimento), which made the concept way more interesting.
I did feel like the execution felt a bit ...more
4 stars
I really enjoyed this conclusion to the Brilliant Death duology. I absolutely loved reading about nonbinary people falling in love and saving their kingdom and I thought this was a really solid installment in this series. It wasn't my favorite, as I thought there were definitely some things plotwise that hadn't been tied up as neatly as they could have been and I found myself still harboring some unanswered questions at the end of the story.
That said, I did really enjoy all the developme ...more
I really enjoyed this conclusion to the Brilliant Death duology. I absolutely loved reading about nonbinary people falling in love and saving their kingdom and I thought this was a really solid installment in this series. It wasn't my favorite, as I thought there were definitely some things plotwise that hadn't been tied up as neatly as they could have been and I found myself still harboring some unanswered questions at the end of the story.
That said, I did really enjoy all the developme ...more
I read The Brilliant Death earlier this year and loved it. I thought it was so creative and unique and I couldn't wait for the next book. So, you can imagine my delight when I was approved for an ARC of The Storm of Life. I started it immediately, but somehow I wasn't connecting with the characters and the story as much as I did with the first book.
I read The Brilliant Death in one sitting. I stayed up all night eager to see what would become of Teodora and Cielo. This time I read in starts and ...more
I read The Brilliant Death in one sitting. I stayed up all night eager to see what would become of Teodora and Cielo. This time I read in starts and ...more
5/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: fantasy, court intrigue, magic, genderfluid characters, pansexual characters, LGBTQ rep, fantasy, fantasy Italy
Teo and Cielo are back with even more action, and trouble, than before. After the ending of the last book, this one opens with the two of them traveling to warn other streghe of the Capo's plans to kill them to acquire power. There's definitely some romantic and magic shenanigans on the way, but true to form they rather quickly end up in an eve ...more
Recommended for people who like: fantasy, court intrigue, magic, genderfluid characters, pansexual characters, LGBTQ rep, fantasy, fantasy Italy
Teo and Cielo are back with even more action, and trouble, than before. After the ending of the last book, this one opens with the two of them traveling to warn other streghe of the Capo's plans to kill them to acquire power. There's definitely some romantic and magic shenanigans on the way, but true to form they rather quickly end up in an eve ...more
this was a mixed bag, but I think despite how much it dragged and the problems I had with it, I'm happy with it and I'm glad I read it so that I could get to their happy ending 💕
...more
All of the stars
This duology is EVERYTHING. the magic system and the way it works in this series is so cool, and the romance is just so beautiful I could cry
This duology is EVERYTHING. the magic system and the way it works in this series is so cool, and the romance is just so beautiful I could cry
I'm rating it even though it's a DNF at page 260 because abuse is completely unacceptable. This book unconvinced me of Teodora and Cielo's love.
P.S. It's weird when there's sex scenes with underage characters and it's not fade to black. I don't care how vaguely put it is I do. not. wanna. read that!! If you want to celebrate genderfluid love and sex simply make your characters not underage and actually in love with each other cause this ain't it. ...more
P.S. It's weird when there's sex scenes with underage characters and it's not fade to black. I don't care how vaguely put it is I do. not. wanna. read that!! If you want to celebrate genderfluid love and sex simply make your characters not underage and actually in love with each other cause this ain't it. ...more
I was not in the right mood for this, to be honest. I would have given this a higher rating had i been in the mood for such a story...
But I really didn’t feel Cielo and Teo’s connection, though I was told repeatedly how and how much they felt, and some of the writing was flowery and grand when I would have appreciated simpler more direct writing. Just the mood I guess
But I really didn’t feel Cielo and Teo’s connection, though I was told repeatedly how and how much they felt, and some of the writing was flowery and grand when I would have appreciated simpler more direct writing. Just the mood I guess
4.5 stars rounding to 5. I loved The Brilliant Death and the many original ways the story is told. Book 2 is no different; the author tells this gender fluid story in a beautiful, interesting and creative way, I can’t help but fall in love more with Teodora and Cielo. The magic is new and the romance and twists worth a slow read. I loved this book and is a great follow up and completion to the story.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
TW:
physical abuse, attempted kidnap & murder of an infant
3.6
It's always so hard writing reviews for sequels- especially when the first book takes up space in your mind. I really liked The Brilliant Death, and I was excited to read this book when I realized there was going to be a sequel. Unfortunately, it didn't hit quite how I wanted it to, but it was the same characters I loved, and I'll pretty much read anything Capetta writes, so I didn't dislike it either.
I think the main problem I had ...more
3.6
It's always so hard writing reviews for sequels- especially when the first book takes up space in your mind. I really liked The Brilliant Death, and I was excited to read this book when I realized there was going to be a sequel. Unfortunately, it didn't hit quite how I wanted it to, but it was the same characters I loved, and I'll pretty much read anything Capetta writes, so I didn't dislike it either.
I think the main problem I had ...more
3.5/4 stars
I loved this series, though my attention span during the book did waver a lot I feel that's more on me since I've been going through a reading slump.
The Storm of Life explores more about a person's gender identity. There is a difference between being gender fluid and being non-binary, which I remember people's reviews of the first book seemed to miss understand.
The magic in the book is expanded upon and so is the world.
One of the things that I felt that could have been expanded upon ...more
I loved this series, though my attention span during the book did waver a lot I feel that's more on me since I've been going through a reading slump.
The Storm of Life explores more about a person's gender identity. There is a difference between being gender fluid and being non-binary, which I remember people's reviews of the first book seemed to miss understand.
The magic in the book is expanded upon and so is the world.
One of the things that I felt that could have been expanded upon ...more
So 3.5/5 stars. Allow me to explain. This was a lovely little fantasy book with plenty of fantasy politics. It’s about love, family, and new beginnings. Teo and Cielo explore their relationship as well as the path they plan to take after The Brilliant Death. I really did fall in love with their love. It was a nice book, though it did take me a bit to get through. The first seventy pages or so of the book felt very scattered and a little confusing, like having to play mental catchup. Maybe it was
...more
I haven't read the first book, which is usually a huge detractor for me. However, Capetta does a good job of smoothly introducing the magic system and integrating past plot points into the narrative. Less effective, in my opinion, is the establishment of previous relationships—I don't think I got the full emotional impact of Teo's feelings toward her family members, for example, though we certainly got a strong enough sense of Teo's physical feelings toward Cielo and vice versa.
Ultimately, I enj ...more
Ultimately, I enj ...more
This is the second book of the series...
On the first couple of chapters were so good, but after teo die everything went wrong and strega had to cover him and Teodora it is just so sturborn and it doesn't help at all for his father to control his magic and her personal life, Cielo it is a good guy even if he change into a girl he always loves Teodora, and Teodora lover her or him whenever for he is taking...I Really liked so far the book, but I wanted more action into cielo's relationship with Te ...more
On the first couple of chapters were so good, but after teo die everything went wrong and strega had to cover him and Teodora it is just so sturborn and it doesn't help at all for his father to control his magic and her personal life, Cielo it is a good guy even if he change into a girl he always loves Teodora, and Teodora lover her or him whenever for he is taking...I Really liked so far the book, but I wanted more action into cielo's relationship with Te ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Sequel to "A Brilliant Death" (which I have not read)
Teo and her love Cielo are streghe (strega), powerful witches. They are trying to keep their beloved out of a war and out of the hands of a power crazed individual who has an agenda against all streghe.
It took me a while to get into the story - because I didn't realize it was a sequel. Then it made more sense.
Lots of sexual references and situations. Teo and Cielo cannot keep their hands off each other. Non-graphic sex on page. Violence. But ...more
Teo and her love Cielo are streghe (strega), powerful witches. They are trying to keep their beloved out of a war and out of the hands of a power crazed individual who has an agenda against all streghe.
It took me a while to get into the story - because I didn't realize it was a sequel. Then it made more sense.
Lots of sexual references and situations. Teo and Cielo cannot keep their hands off each other. Non-graphic sex on page. Violence. But ...more
#TheStormofLife #Edelweiss
A genderfluid novel that has a unique feel. It will find an audience of teens and young adults that will love the balance of individualism. The backdrop is descriptive and blends harmonically with the characters. I could not get over the unique feel of the novel. The novel is a sequel to A Brillant Death.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Viking Books for the opportunity to read and review the E-arc copy of this novel.
A genderfluid novel that has a unique feel. It will find an audience of teens and young adults that will love the balance of individualism. The backdrop is descriptive and blends harmonically with the characters. I could not get over the unique feel of the novel. The novel is a sequel to A Brillant Death.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Viking Books for the opportunity to read and review the E-arc copy of this novel.
Not a bad ending to the two-part series. Much of it, however, I barely paid attention to because it just dragged on. I also was not impressed with the sex scenes. It's a fantasy novel. Romance happens in fantasy novel, but full on sex scenes? It's also a YA nivel un that the protagonists are young adults. With these sex scenes, there's no way I could recommend this to a student. The sex scenes added absolutely nothing to the story.
...more
Hi. If anyone knows of any other fantasy novels where gender-fluidity and magic are explored please share!!! This is all I want!! It’s so beautiful and exactly the kind of fantasy I crave. This story was so perfect I love these characters so much I’m. Basically I’m dead now so thanks! Cory and Amy are my hero’s and I would die for them.
I was a huge fan of this second installment in the series and I really liked how the duology ended. The series balances wonderfully between action, slow moments, and romance. It has a villain that you did not expect at the beginning. The storyline between Teo and Cielo is fantastic and I definitely wanted more from them.
GENDERFLUID WITCHES! GENDER IS MAGIC!
Four stars instead of five because, just like with the first book in the duology, sometimes it felt like plot points and emotional beats were moving really fast and could’ve used moments to breathe? BUT love found family, love radical world-shaping based on acceptance and freedom, love the Teo-Cielo relationship so much.
Four stars instead of five because, just like with the first book in the duology, sometimes it felt like plot points and emotional beats were moving really fast and could’ve used moments to breathe? BUT love found family, love radical world-shaping based on acceptance and freedom, love the Teo-Cielo relationship so much.
I loved this book. It wasn't quite as good as the first one, but still. I loved the world, it was engaging and fun. The characters were well developed and relatable. The downside of this book was that it fell flat compared to The Brilliant Death, and the climax wasn't that exciting. Other than that I would recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy worlds with magic and fun characters.
...more
beautiful beautiful writing and the representation is immaculate;
however, i think the pacing and plot is a tiny bit distracting for the whole picture
either way, i highly recommend this duology (would love to see it adapted!!)
however, i think the pacing and plot is a tiny bit distracting for the whole picture
either way, i highly recommend this duology (would love to see it adapted!!)
I definitely enjoyed the first book more. I could never quite figure out the timelines if this book. It felt like it should have taken weeks or months but I think it might have only been days? I honestly have no idea and it definitely made it a less satisfying read overall.
I love Cielo and Teo and I so wish there was a third book to this series so it didn't have to end so soon, but it was so good I flew through both books within two days. This series definitely made it into my list of favourites!
...more
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A. R. Capetta (all pronouns), the author of Echo After Echo and The Lost Coast, has lived in Austin and worked as a professional baker, and holds a master of fine arts in writing for children and young adults from VCFA. A.R. Capetta is married to author Cory McCarthy; they live in Vermont with their young baker.
Other books in the series
The Brilliant Death
(2 books)
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