ADVERTISEMENT {REVIEW}
I received this book as a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. A big thank you goes here to Hachette Australia.
!!! SPOILER ALERT !!!
This is book #2 in the FORGERY OF MAGIC series.
A THIEF MADE A LORD. A PRINCE MADE A VILLAIN. A DEADLY GAME FOR POWER.
After joining forces to save Castallan from an ancient magical evil, Alfie and Finn haven't seen each other in months. Alfie is finally stepping up to his role as heir and preparing for an International Peace Summit, while Finn is traveling and reveling in her newfound freedom from Ignacio.
That is, until she's unexpectedly installed as the new leader of one of Castallan's powerful crime families. Now one of the four Thief Lords of Castallan, she's forced to preside over the illegal underground Oculta competition, which coincides with the summit and boasts a legendary prize.
Just when Finn finds herself back in San Cristobal, Alfie's plans are also derailed. Los Toros, the mysterious syndicate responsible for his brother's murder, has resurfaced-and their newest target is the summit. And when these events all unexpectedly converge, Finn and Alfie are once again forced to work together to follow the assassins' trail and preserve Castallan's hopes for peace with Englass.
But will they be able to stop these sinister foes before a new war threatens their kingdom?
Publisher : Hodder & Stoughton
Language : English
Paperback : 544 pages
ISBN-10 : 1473676045
ISBN-13 : 978-1473676046
Reading age : 14 years and up
The cover of Oculta by Maya Motayne is an absolute stunner. It blends in perfectly with book 1 of this series (Nocturna) and I fell straight in love with all the tiny details on this design. Once you read it, they all make sense and I couldn't imagine a more perfect cover for this story.
Even though there has been a bit of a wait between the publications of Nocturna and Oculta, I've been thrown right back into the story. Oculta doesn't start exactly where Nocturna left off but a little bit of time has passed in between these two adventures. I still had no issue at all when it came to finding my way back into the story. Quite the opposite as I got lured right in. I also love how I felt like I was right there, joining the characters on their adventure.
The author's writing style is stunningly outstanding. This story is full of adventures, excitement, friendship, loyalty, magic, and even love. The emotions are absolutely palpable and I might even have shed some tears while reading certain scenes. Maya Motayne also nailed the pacing of this book and the unexpected plot twists right-out killed me!
Another aspect that I really enjoyed again has been the authentic language as well as the Latino setting. The world building itself isn't too difficult to understand and is therefore easy to follow. The whole thing is noticeably based on a Latino culture and I quite enjoy that for a change.
The idea of the magic system in this story is quite original and is unlike any other I have read before. It seemed like there is always more to discover with each new character's personal magic.
When it comes to the characters, I'm utterly in love! They are wonderfully profound and authentic. Finn and Alfie are a total dream team and their character traits go perfectly with each others. Though especially Finn has my heart with her being such a badass and still showing so much kindness and love. She also always ends up doing the right thing, no matter what it costs her. And some of my favourite scenes are the ones that contain a lot of bickering between Finn and Luka, for sure. These two are just hilarious together!
Reading Oculta by Maya Motayne felt like coming home. This book convinces with its gorgeous cover, the stunning characters, a unique magic system and quite some exciting adventures. I can't wait to read more of Finn and Alfie and am curious about where their journey leads next.
I can highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys magic, adventures, and characters that will capture your heart.