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The Storm of Life

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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?
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 
A. R. Capetta is an acclaimed, bestselling author of novels centering magic, mystery, and queerness. Their Italian fantasy series begins with The Brilliant Death and moves to new heights in The Storm of Life. Their latest work is Rebel Robin, a Stranger Things prequel. Once & Future, their co-authored series with Cory McCarthy, was a finalist for the New England Book Award. Other YA titles include Echo After Echo, a Broadway story of love and murder, and The Lost Coast, a witchy mystery. A.R.’s books have been chosen for the ALA Rainbow List, Junior Library Guild Selections, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, Locus Reading List, and Booklist’s Top 10 SF/Fantasy and Horror for Youth.
 
A.R. teaches in the MFA program for Writing for Children and Young Adults at VCFA and lives in Vermont with their spouse, Cory McCarthy. View titles by A. R. Capetta

About

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?

Reviews

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 

Author

A. R. Capetta is an acclaimed, bestselling author of novels centering magic, mystery, and queerness. Their Italian fantasy series begins with The Brilliant Death and moves to new heights in The Storm of Life. Their latest work is Rebel Robin, a Stranger Things prequel. Once & Future, their co-authored series with Cory McCarthy, was a finalist for the New England Book Award. Other YA titles include Echo After Echo, a Broadway story of love and murder, and The Lost Coast, a witchy mystery. A.R.’s books have been chosen for the ALA Rainbow List, Junior Library Guild Selections, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, Locus Reading List, and Booklist’s Top 10 SF/Fantasy and Horror for Youth.
 
A.R. teaches in the MFA program for Writing for Children and Young Adults at VCFA and lives in Vermont with their spouse, Cory McCarthy. View titles by A. R. Capetta