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laceej88's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sleepingnerd's review against another edition
DNF at 64%. The ideas are interesting (specially the playing with gender!), but ultimately I just didn't feel as invested in this book as I thought I would.
lalexvp's review against another edition
4.0
This book made me feel seen and heard in a way that I rarely encounter. The way that the characters talk about and express relevant ideas and issues about gender and sexuality (in a fantasy setting, my favorite genre) earned this its 4 star rating. Honestly, though, the rest is fairly mediocre and only worthy of 3 stars.
swarmofbees's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This was first described to me as an Italian mafia fantasy with magic and a nonbinary main character. So, if this intrigues you, it's probably the book for you--it's filled with deception, mafia heads, men with a vengeance, and Teo, a girl who wants to take over as the head of her family but cannot, given the fact that she's a woman.
Personally, I wouldn't go so far as to say that Teo is nonbinary as much as she's pulling a magical Mulan--posing as a man, she's able to dissect and understand further her position as a woman in this society, learning just how and why she as a woman was so often prevented from such positions of power, knowing how and why women do achieve power in her society.
There's hidden plots and rivalries, and a good, surprising amount of heated kisses behind tapestries. (Funnily enough, one of my classmates considers this a romance first and fantasy second).
Most interesting for me, however, was the discussion of magic in this book, how each strega has a different form of magic that can only be transferred to somebody else through their death. How their magic can be shifted alongside a paradigm shift. Of course, this isn't to mention the disappearance of streghe in this world, the ways streghe are used to militarize their powers, or hide them.
I think this book would be best suited for those who like more traditional fantasy, where the magic is set in a different world filled with high societies...and a single masked ball. There's a good amount of tropes, a good amount of making fun of tropes, and a good amount of having a fun time.
Review cross-listed here!
Personally, I wouldn't go so far as to say that Teo is nonbinary as much as she's pulling a magical Mulan--posing as a man, she's able to dissect and understand further her position as a woman in this society, learning just how and why she as a woman was so often prevented from such positions of power, knowing how and why women do achieve power in her society.
There's hidden plots and rivalries, and a good, surprising amount of heated kisses behind tapestries. (Funnily enough, one of my classmates considers this a romance first and fantasy second).
Most interesting for me, however, was the discussion of magic in this book, how each strega has a different form of magic that can only be transferred to somebody else through their death. How their magic can be shifted alongside a paradigm shift. Of course, this isn't to mention the disappearance of streghe in this world, the ways streghe are used to militarize their powers, or hide them.
I think this book would be best suited for those who like more traditional fantasy, where the magic is set in a different world filled with high societies...and a single masked ball. There's a good amount of tropes, a good amount of making fun of tropes, and a good amount of having a fun time.
Review cross-listed here!
libreroaming's review against another edition
3.0
Fantasy heavy on Renaissance Italy court intrigue and shapeshifting characters is exactly my tastes, but it was disappointing in how it played out. The magic system is very much whatever is convenient for the plot at the time, and I couldn't get into the relationship between the two protagonists because their hot and heavy scenes always came at the heels of something that was meant to be deeply traumatic, a big mood killer for me.
lilyjoyner's review
3.0
Okay, I have some stuff to stay about this! First off I love the magic in this book, very unique! But where is the chemistry between Celio and Teo?? Every scene with them like no cute banter or gushy stuff. As a non-binary person I really do identify with Teo.
7ft_rat's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5