Nocturna
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Violent Latinx fantasy has magic but falls flat in places.
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What's the Story?
In NOCTURNA, Prince Alfehr (Alfie to his friends and heir to the kingdom of Castallan) strikes a bargain with a mysterious power to save his best-friend's life. That bargain unleashes a dark magic strong enough to destroy the entire world. Too afraid to tell anyone what he's done, Alfie sets out to contain and destroy the dark power himself. But not alone. Along the way he enlists the help of a thief with her own dark past, one that binds her to the newly awakened darkness. Hel'll also need the help of the one responsible for his brother's death, if he can confront her without exacting revenge, that is.
Is It Any Good?
Author 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. 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 ...) that take away from a sense of originality. And having characters use the word "maldito" over and over isn't a very effective way to inject Latinx flavor into the story.
That being said, Motayne has created a vast, deep, and believable world. She skillfully explores the abusive relationship between Finn and Ignacio, which is a good place to start talking about how and why others have so much power over how we see ourselves. Fantasy fans who can handle some gore and intense fantasy violence will enjoy the suspense leading up to the final confrontation; the strong, positive Latinx representation; and the bittersweet developments.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Nocturna. Does it make a difference if it's fantasy or real-life violence? Is reading it different than seeing it on videos, in movies, etc.?
Is there a difference between Alfie's and Luka's drinking habits? Are one or both of them alcoholic? Why, or why not? Are there any consequences for their drinking? What are the real consequences of alcohol use and abuse?
Why is it important for media like books, videos, movies, and games to represent a variety of cultures and viewpoints? How do you feel when you read about or see people like yourself in these media? And when you don't?
Book Details
- Author: Maya Motayne
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Balzer + Bray
- Publication date: May 7, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 17
- Number of pages: 480
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 11, 2019
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