Nocturna
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4.5 • 8 Ratings
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
The first in a sweeping and epic debut fantasy trilogy—set in a stunning Latinx-inspired world—about a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince who must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed. Perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and Sabaa Tahir.
To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.
As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn 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.
After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.
But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
First in a trilogy, Motayne's debut introduces Finn Voy, an orphaned thief who can magically alter her appearance, and Alfehr Reyes, the crown prince of Castallan, who can see and manipulate magical threads that bind the universe. After Alfie catches Finn trying to steal the royal family's vanishing cloak to repay a vicious mob boss, he initially agrees to loan the cloak to her. Then his cousin, Luka, collapses suddenly after consuming poison intended for Alfie. Still reeling from his brother's recent murder during a failed coup, Alfie releases an ancient evil that claims it can heal Luka. When chaos ensues, Alfie modifies his offer: Finn can have the cloak if she helps him stop the dark force from ushering in eternal night. This fantasy set in a Latinx kingdom explores the lasting effects of childhood trauma, the destructive potential of grief, and the redemptive power of love. Some characters lack depth, and murky world building muddies an already complex plot, but the stakes are high, Finn and Alfie's reluctant attraction rings true, and a gratifying conclusion paves the way for book two. Ages 13 up.
