Nocturna by Maya Motayne - OPTIONAL

Nocturna by Maya Motayne, 480pgs. Balzer + Bray, 2019. $19.

Language: R (100+ no ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use); Violence: PG-13 (combat, assault, murder (off-page), mention of torture and child abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS—OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Prince Alfehr returns home after three months away to take up his duties as the crown prince. He was never supposed to be king, but when his brother was assassinated, he was forced to take on the mantle. Deep in his grief he begins to dabble in dark magic in an effort to bring his brother back. Finn Voy has the ability to alter her appearance at will and uses this magical ability often to commit criminal acts that enable her to survive. When Alfie’s dark dealings collide with the illicit exploits of Finn, they unlock true evil that threatens everything and everyone. With the future of the kingdom at stake, they must find a way to work together to vanquish the darkest of powers.

An intriguing premise gets quickly bogged down in a wordy and overwrought book. What could have been an exciting journey through a land full of magic becomes tiresome as simple conversations drag on for pages and violent confrontations between good and evil rapidly become stale. It is notable that a fantasy book has Latinx characters and settings, which is important and much needed for the representation that is lacking across all genres. Readers of fantasy will be able to find enough redeeming qualities to see the book through to the end; however, patience will be a necessity.

Reviewer: AEB