) that take away from a sense of originality.

The storytelling itself and the map of the world make it hard to avoid thinking of equivalents in the real world (OK, so Castallan is South America, and Englass is. Positive messages about accepting both the good and bad in yourself, learning to share your burdens, and that it's never too late to start making better choices no matter how much bad you've done in the past.Īuthor Maya Motayne's debut novel shows promise, especially when it comes to magical action and building to an exciting finish, but some areas unfortunately fall flat or quickly become tiresome. Tequila, sangria, wine, and spiced rum are mentioned, usually at parties and taverns. A couple of charcters drink heavily, one of them frequently to excess. Very little sexual content, just a couple of mentions of a same-sex relationship and some romantic thoughts in a relationship as the emotional connection deepens. Strong language in both English and Spanish includes 's-t,' 'pendejo' (stupid or a-hole), 'coño' (damn or hell, and in Spain, p-y), and 'maldito' (damn or damned). One of the two main characters is the victim of psychological abuse, with hints of physical abuse as well. There's a lot of fantasy violence that includes some gore and descriptions of blood, injuries, and pain. First in line for the throne after the disappearance of his older brother, Alfie is desperate to find him and bring him home, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.Īnd when Finn and Alfie's fates collide, they realise magic can be other things too, and the type they accidentally release into the world is something neither expects, or understands.Parents need to know that Nocturna is a magical fantasy with a strong Latinx influence from some of the names and a lot of Spanish or Spanish-derived vocabulary words. To Prince Alfehr magic is an escape, but one that comes with a price.

But when she gets caught by a powerful mobster, she's forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan's royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever. As a talented faceshifter, it's been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that's exactly how she likes it. To Finnian Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the throat of anyone who crosses her, and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks. Fates collide and darkness is unleashed in this lush, own-voices Latin-inspired fantasy, perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Leigh Bardugo and V.

Maya motayne nocturna