A review by jacquelynjoan
The Brilliant Death by A.R. Capetta

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

A million stars! I have been longing for a book in my favorite genre (fantasy)(about witches) to be set in Italy or prominently feature Italian/Italian-American culture! It's like this book was written for me! Thank you Amy Rose Capetta! I read one of her other books, The Lost Coast, and I liked it and when I read the word "strega" in the description of this, I knew I had to read it! It did not disappoint! I can't wait to read the sequel! (Kind of disappointed it's only a duology, but it's better not to stretch it too thin if that's how it feels right). 
So many other great things about this book too, the gender stuff and owning your power and being yourself and carving a place in the world for yourself and figuring out what's right when things seem ambiguous, etc. Really good. 
As a mostly cis, mostly straight woman I still highly related to feeling boxed in by the gender expectations on girls and stuff.