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The Firefly's Strain
After a match ends in the death of his opponent, Derio “The Firefly” Capri retires from boxing despite being in his prime. Nearly two years later, in 1983, Derio and his wife become the guardians of Chiara Arcangeli, a seven-year-old girl, after her mother dies in the hospital weeks after a car accident.
Haunted by lingering Catholic guilt and unresolved trauma, Derio doubts his ability to help raise a child. Yet as he and Chiara struggle with grief in their own ways, they begin to form a genuine father–daughter bond, gradually guiding one another through their personal struggles.
At the same time, Derio is quietly drawn back into the boxing world by a local mobster who seeks to exploit him as a dark horse contender. Believing that Chiara is in danger, Derio agrees to return to the ring despite having renounced violence. Now, Derio must overcome his fears without losing himself in the process.
Haunted by lingering Catholic guilt and unresolved trauma, Derio doubts his ability to help raise a child. Yet as he and Chiara struggle with grief in their own ways, they begin to form a genuine father–daughter bond, gradually guiding one another through their personal struggles.
At the same time, Derio is quietly drawn back into the boxing world by a local mobster who seeks to exploit him as a dark horse contender. Believing that Chiara is in danger, Derio agrees to return to the ring despite having renounced violence. Now, Derio must overcome his fears without losing himself in the process.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 16, 2026
4.5 stars! 🌟
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Wow! This is not the typical book I would’ve picked up, but it took me completely by surprise! In the beginning there were a lot of names to keep up with, but once I got into the story, I was able to follow along better. I loved seeing Derio and Chiara’s father-daughter relationship bloom throughout this story! Both of them have gone through traumatic life-experiences, which ultimately creates a bond between them like no other. There are themes of forgiveness and redemption written through a Catholic-lens, which were well-written and uplifting. Several moments in this book had me emotional. If you’re looking for something thought-provoking and meaningful, I would definitely recommend this book!
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Thank you to Eric Felizardo for sending me an e-copy of this book, I have reviewed it voluntarily!
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Wow! This is not the typical book I would’ve picked up, but it took me completely by surprise! In the beginning there were a lot of names to keep up with, but once I got into the story, I was able to follow along better. I loved seeing Derio and Chiara’s father-daughter relationship bloom throughout this story! Both of them have gone through traumatic life-experiences, which ultimately creates a bond between them like no other. There are themes of forgiveness and redemption written through a Catholic-lens, which were well-written and uplifting. Several moments in this book had me emotional. If you’re looking for something thought-provoking and meaningful, I would definitely recommend this book!
•
Thank you to Eric Felizardo for sending me an e-copy of this book, I have reviewed it voluntarily!
Displaying 1 of 1 review