#BookReview: Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1) by Maya Motayne

Synopsis: Set in a Latinx-inspired world, a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed.

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.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 1 Star
My Review: Although, the magic system in this story was one of the best that I have found. The rest of the story and its characters were just a no for me.  I felt like I kept putting this down to do other things and decided to give up around 40%. 

Review

“What makes Motayne’s debut title singular and special is that her kingdom is Latinx, with brown-skinned, curly-haired people and Spanish sprinkled throughout…. Cinematic, plentiful action as well as intriguing protagonists will pull many a fantasy reader, and the richly detailed world will keep them reading.” — ALA Booklist

“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…. the stakes are high, Finn and Alfie’s reluctant attraction rings true, and a gratifying conclusion paves the way for book two.” 
— Publishers Weekly

“A promising debut with unique magic and two strong protagonists among a varied ensemble cast.” — School Library Journal

“This searing, magical Latinx-inspired fantasy pulled me in from the first page and did not let me go. I loved adventuring with brave Alfie and brash Finn, and I held my breath until the end. Nocturna is a magnificent debut, powerful and true.” — Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

“Nocturna is an exhilarating adventure, bursting with lively, inventive magic and characters who charmed me the instant they appeared on the page. If you want to get swept up in a story, pick this one.” — New York Times bestselling author Margaret Rogerson

“Fantasy fans will embrace the creative worldbuilding and welcome these flawed and multi-layered characters into their hearts.” — Cinda Williams Chima, New York Times bestselling author of the Shattered Realms series

From the Back Cover

To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her . . . and a disguise she shrugs into as easily as others pull on cloaks. As a talented faceshifter, Finn hasn’t seen her own face in years, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when she gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legend-ary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.

After the murder of his older brother, Dezmin, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But he can’t help feeling that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring Dez back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.

But when Finn’s 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, the two must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, though it will mean facing the deepest darknesses in their pasts.

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Posted in: 1 Star, Balzer + Bray, Edelweiss, Review, Young Adult