The Storm of Life

by A. R. Capetta Narrated by Carlotta Brentan

Overview

The sumptuous and powerful conclusion to the gender-fluid duet begun by The Brilliant Death, hailed in a starred review by Kirkus as "a delicious and magical intrigue too tempting not to devour."

By turns thrilling, witty, and heartbreaking, this dramatic conclusion to the Brilliant Death duet transports us to a Vinalia on the verge of transformation and radiates with the electric power of love.

With her power over magic finally in hand, and her love for Cielo at last confessed, Teodora di Sangro should be on top of the world. But the country of Vinalia is in chaos as the dictator like Capo threatens to plunge them all into war and capture every strega in the land--including Teo and Cielo.

Teo knows she can't take down the Capo alone. She must convince a small band of streghe who have been hiding in plain sight to join her in the cause. But as she struggles to bring them together, she discovers a far deadlier enemy than the Capo has been hunting her all along. Now everyone--especially Cielo--is in danger. What lengths will Teo go to in order to unite her country and save the one she loves?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for The Storm of Life: 

"A highly satisfying conclusion to an original tale." —Booklist

"Wild with thrilling shifts and electrifying prose, this passionate storm carries the story to a worthy end." —Kirkus Reviews

Raves for The Brilliant Death:

★ "A delicious and magical intrigue too tempting not to devour." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "A highly original magic system and a protagonist who is as ruthless as she is fiery make for a fast-paced adventure." —School Library Journal, starred review

"Mario Puzo meets Ursula Le Guin in a gender and genre bending tale as lush as it is vivid, and as daring as it is dangerous. The hype is deserved and the magic is real." —Alex London, bestselling author of Proxy and Black Wings Beating

"The Brilliant Death is a mesmerizingly written tale of identity, courage and family, wrapped up in magic that feels both folktale-familiar and enthrallingly innovative." —Alwyn Hamilton, New York Times bestselling author of Rebel of the Sands

"Writing so good it will give you goosebumps, and a story that will sweep you into a wild adventure full of old magic, new love, and dark delight." —Alison Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of Eon and Eona

"This first in a duology is a luminously imagined, Italian-inspired fantasy that thoughtfully speaks to ideas of gender perception and identity. A rich world, with much left to be explored in the next volume." --Booklist

"One of the most artful, gorgeous, romantic books in the LGBTQIAP YA canon." - B&N Teen Blog
"A unique mashup of fantasy, historical fiction, and queer romance... the kind of book you won't be able to stop talking about." —Bustle 

Kirkus Reviews

2019-10-21
In this conclusion to an Italian-inspired fantasy duology, Teo di Sangro fights to save her home from invasion and to free other magic users from living in secrecy and oppression.

War and domination under the Eterran empire advance on the land of Vinalia from the outside while the regime of power-hungry men wounds the people from the inside. Streghe (magic users of Vinalia), like the ambitious "sun-browned" Teo, live threatened by subjugation or death at the hands of the Capo, the tyrant forcing Vinalia to unify under his banner. Having escaped the Capo once, Teo and her lover, Cielo (a white genderfluid strega), seek to stop Vinalia's cycle of violence. In the midst of sizzling schemes and fiery romance, Capetta (The Lost Coast, 2019, etc.) brings to light the pervasive damage that patriarchy inflicts on people and relationships. Another important theme throughout the progression of the conflict is that in war, "there is only a side that loses less." The dialogue is witty and full of cutting exchanges. Although the story's pace never slows, Capetta continues to expand on the world around Teo, showing glimpses of cultures beyond Vinalia and how magic changes based on who uses it. Wild with thrilling shifts and electrifying prose, this passionate storm carries the story to a worthy end.

A turbulent force driven by breathtaking, high-stakes suspense that resolves with a satisfying sigh. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173452856
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	01/28/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

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