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A review by talon1010
The Brilliant Death by A.R. Capetta
3.0
Okay, I lied; I'm not finished; I'm on page 243/330 (EDIT: done now). But Goodreads won't let you post a full review on an update, and I'm gonna cut myself off if this current scene doesn't get interesting or resolve the plot, anyway. I've been moving through it SO. FUCKING. SLOWLY. It's really killed the streak I had going, and I'm pretty bitter about it, but I refuse to return it, because it's also compelling. And I think I've cracked it.
The gender is incredibly deep and nuanced; the characters are pretty great and interesting, and their interplay is fascinating. But the plot SUCKS. It's cliche, underdeveloped, overambitious, and poorly written; floral language abounds in saccharine quantity. The whole thing is overkill.
(NOTE: This is speculation, and wrong)So I've come to believe that I think the author must have been big in, I don't know, Assassin's Creed fanfiction, got a big head about it, and wrote a novel. AC is a guess, it could have as easily been something steampunkier or less related, it just feels like the tone and skill of someone who hasn't written anything for an audience that wasn't interested in plot, only in seeing their favs in cafes. It would explain the lack of color in anything except what would pop in smut online. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd be shocked to find that Capetta has other, well written, published books outside of this one. It's kind of fascinating from this angle; perhaps there should be a forward inviting readers to think of Cielo and Teodora as whomever they like. Probably that would tear down what legitimacy it retains, but in a vacuum, this book really sucks (ha).
I want to say also that fanfiction, and any small-time LGBT fiction aren't bad. I've met extremely avid readers who have read exclusively online, unoriginal content for years. Hundreds of thousands of words of it, and they can be picky as you will. I get it, to an extent; I like some characters a lot, and I'd love to see where they'd go in less severe circumstances. It is an interesting take on the art of writing, and not an invalid one. But please, if anything, know that there is good, legitimate, original fiction with fantastic LGBTQIA representation. Check any of my shelves; any and all contain books with nonbinary, gay, lesbian, and any other queer characters. Not all, but a lot.
Graphic Novels specifically thrive with representation, but plenty of excellent novels, too. To anyone else disappointed by this book, check out Black Sun, or Miranda in Milan, two of my favorites from book club that prominently feature tertiary genders and lesbianism at the forefront (respectively), and in a somewhat similar setting to this one. You might also like Angel Mage by Garth Nix, or any number of graphic novels: Heartstopper, Saga (series), The Wicked + The Divine (series), The Girl from the Sea, I am Not Okay With This (not as gay as you think, but it's worth it, trust me) and so many more. All the good Image books have gay folks. But let me know if there are any others with trans shapeshifters, that bit was really cool.
PS: To any concerned: my opinions stand, largely (the plot isn't so bad, it's really the language that got me, and almost entirely in the first half), but I was completely wrong about my fanfiction conspiracy. Capetta is apparently an MFA with multiple novels. She just didn't learned to moderate metaphor, I guess. Have an extra star in apology.
I'd also qualify that I'm sure this book is a great read to someone young enough to fall in love with curly YA language; there is value in "okay? okay." and other various turns of phrase that end up in brushstroke fonts on Instagram or whatever. I'm only of the opinion that YA readers, be they children, teens, or proper YA's, deserve the best writing you can give, not the most marketable. John and Hank Green, Rainbow Rowell, Maureen Wagner, Chris Paolini need hardly advertise for a reason. You don't accumulate ethos like that without bloated marketing for nothing.
I'm pretty tired of reading over-advertised books; it's lead me to some places I wouldn't have gone, for which I am thankful. But they're also not, generally speaking, that good. This from someone who's read two John Green books in the last year (i.e., I like him, despite similar reviews): you deserve the writing you like. Put a bad book down if it doesn't make you happy. Your time and mind are valuable, regardless of economy or compulsion. Be, and let be.
The gender is incredibly deep and nuanced; the characters are pretty great and interesting, and their interplay is fascinating. But the plot SUCKS. It's cliche, underdeveloped, overambitious, and poorly written; floral language abounds in saccharine quantity. The whole thing is overkill.
(NOTE: This is speculation, and wrong)
I want to say also that fanfiction, and any small-time LGBT fiction aren't bad. I've met extremely avid readers who have read exclusively online, unoriginal content for years. Hundreds of thousands of words of it, and they can be picky as you will. I get it, to an extent; I like some characters a lot, and I'd love to see where they'd go in less severe circumstances. It is an interesting take on the art of writing, and not an invalid one. But please, if anything, know that there is good, legitimate, original fiction with fantastic LGBTQIA representation. Check any of my shelves; any and all contain books with nonbinary, gay, lesbian, and any other queer characters. Not all, but a lot.
Graphic Novels specifically thrive with representation, but plenty of excellent novels, too. To anyone else disappointed by this book, check out Black Sun, or Miranda in Milan, two of my favorites from book club that prominently feature tertiary genders and lesbianism at the forefront (respectively), and in a somewhat similar setting to this one. You might also like Angel Mage by Garth Nix, or any number of graphic novels: Heartstopper, Saga (series), The Wicked + The Divine (series), The Girl from the Sea, I am Not Okay With This (not as gay as you think, but it's worth it, trust me) and so many more. All the good Image books have gay folks. But let me know if there are any others with trans shapeshifters, that bit was really cool.
PS: To any concerned: my opinions stand, largely (the plot isn't so bad, it's really the language that got me, and almost entirely in the first half), but I was completely wrong about my fanfiction conspiracy. Capetta is apparently an MFA with multiple novels. She just didn't learned to moderate metaphor, I guess. Have an extra star in apology.
I'd also qualify that I'm sure this book is a great read to someone young enough to fall in love with curly YA language; there is value in "okay? okay." and other various turns of phrase that end up in brushstroke fonts on Instagram or whatever. I'm only of the opinion that YA readers, be they children, teens, or proper YA's, deserve the best writing you can give, not the most marketable. John and Hank Green, Rainbow Rowell, Maureen Wagner, Chris Paolini need hardly advertise for a reason. You don't accumulate ethos like that without bloated marketing for nothing.
I'm pretty tired of reading over-advertised books; it's lead me to some places I wouldn't have gone, for which I am thankful. But they're also not, generally speaking, that good. This from someone who's read two John Green books in the last year (i.e., I like him, despite similar reviews): you deserve the writing you like. Put a bad book down if it doesn't make you happy. Your time and mind are valuable, regardless of economy or compulsion. Be, and let be.