Gorgeous photo by @bibliophile_nikki
Happy Sunday!
I can’t believe we have come to the end of this readalong; all that’s left are chapters 34-38! Shall we? š
PleaseĀ be warned, the following will include spoilers for chapters 1-38 of Nocturna by Maya Motayne. Read only if youāve finished those chapters!
-!SPOILERS!-
May I see your invitation?
Sure.
*Kicks the guard in the face*
hahah
Alfie sees his family, which is an emotional moment as he wasn’t sure he will get to. Finn turns Luka back to himself to ease the confusion and Paloma storms towards Alfie and slaps him. Chaos ensues from then on and we are on a roll!
Ignacius and his army are coming.Ā
The hands are escaping! I couldn’t stop myself from imagining the hand from the Adams family, somehow made the whole situation more humorous š
Of course! Luka has immunity from this magic so heās safe AND has his super strength to play with, I actually forgot that!Ā Yay – I didnāt want Paloma to be left behind.Ā
We have a little reveal that Kol was the one who sent the poison meant for Alfie, and she sent Finn in the castle to then be framed for this. I wonder what the motive is.Ā
Before we get to know the full answer Ignacio snaps her neck. Under a pretence of revenge for hurting his āchildā. What a sick bastard.Ā
Another thing villains do so well, they let go of all their armies for a one-on- one with their target. Theyāre so blind with power they always think thereās no risk in it. Well we know how that usually goes! š
A dragon???? That was unexpected!Ā
Thereās an ultimatum. She is to take the dark magic from the dragon necklace or he kills Alfie. By taking the magic she can only survive if she embraces her murderous side.Ā But itās Finn we are talking about. She takes the magic and makes it her bi*ch! You go girl.
When heās asking/telling her to love him like she used to, think highly of him like she used to, and she pretends she does and his eyes water. What a twisted sad man.
One of the saddest moments in this entire book must be Xiomara sacrificing so the vortex could never be opened again. Now of course she was an assassin but her life story seems very similar to Finns but with nobody there for her at all. How did this scene make you feel? Do you wish it had gone differently?Ā
I see what she did there! Finn guessed that Luka is unharmed because of the pact, she took control enough to harm him and the magic had to be contained once again because it broke the condition it was released on. I can only assume it wasnāt voluntary but that the pact was magical in itself. What a risk!
Damn Luka, I know he saw Finn with good intentions but his speech just pushed her to leave, it implied sheās not staying and sheās not welcomed. She might have stayed otherwise!Ā
Iām sad she has left but itās a very bitter sweet, not too happy ever afterĀ kind of ending, and there’s awesomeness in that!Ā
She shows her actual true face just before they hug goodbye, such a sweet scene to end on. Since she can be invisible, maybe she will secretly be keeping an eye on him. š
And that, my friends, is a wrap! If you have made this far, I bow my head to you, well done! Treat yourself to a piece of cake or chocolate, you deserve it!
What did you think? Did you like how it was all wrapped up? What were your favourite parts? What do you think will happen in the sequel if there will be one, and which character would you love to read more about?
Leave any and all of your thoughts down below!
Thank you so so much for reading with me, it’s been, as it always is, a pleasure <3
Until next time!
G
The first third of the book was rough for me, with all of the similarities to another series, it was hard not to compare. But the last two third really picked up and were enjoyable, and Iām interested to see what happens next.
Whatās the deal with aurora? I have to think she will matter in future books or what was the point of her exchange with Alfie?
Also, does anyone else think Dez is still alive, and will find the dragon and claim its power to come back? Maybe Iām still stuck on the ADSOM comparison, but I canāt imagine the author not circling back to Dezās fate in the next book since it was such a focal point in the beginning.
Either way, looking forward to what happens next! Hopefully the authorās storytelling continues to grow and develop into her own.
My favourite part of this book was Finn. She is the one who carrys the book forward for me. I’m not sure what I think about the great evil they fight. It’s creepy yes, but like I said before, I think it’s more thrilling when the bad guys are grey, not entirely black, evil. The turn to a dragon felt a bit to much and I didn’t really see the point of it. But still, I did enjoy the book. In the sequel I think that we get to know other characters more. That Luka will get a bigger part.
This book was really great, I loved the characters with their stories and personalities.
The humor in this is extra and just Finn and Luka are damn funny!
Also, I loved reading a book inspired by latinx culture and understanding the spanish words made me proud XD
I especially liked the relationship between Finn and Ignacio. NOT because it’s good but because it’s interesting to see that sort of relation in a book like that. It was disturbing yet realistic. I was really relieved when Finn succeed to escape Ignacio’s control thanks to Alfie’s words. It was emotional.
The feelings between Alfie and Finn are also a big yes for me. It’s was so sweet and warming. And more than that, it was sane.
The only “bad” point about that book is probably the lack of originality in the plot. The more I read and the more I thought the plot looked a lot like Shades of Magic : the thing with the dark magic and the toxic bond it create with his owner, the girl who takes the container to protect the guy, the end when the girs leaves, etc… Yeah, there was a lot of commun points.
But at the same time, it didn’t bother me that much because I loved Shades of Magic so, I sort of read it again.
Ps : Xiomara has a really tragic story and I was somehow glad she decided to kill herself. That way she can finally rest in peace. No one deserves what she had to lived and I hardly can imagine her living again in the Clock Tower or just without tongue and all those wounds that will never disappear from her heart and soul.
I wished that girl had a different past and future but I think she’s the only person who could “save” Alfie from his anger.
That was quite an end, right? I sure hope Finn and Alfie get back together again, but I completely understand Finn’s need to not be tied down. It must make Alfie kind of jealous, though. I bet he’d like to go running off from his responsibilities, too.
The only problem I’ve got with how everything wrapped up, is that now there’s a big city of pretty evil people out there! Most of the good people were killed by Sombra’s darkness, and the bad people got possessed, but now the magic has been taken away, there’s a lot more bad people than good left behind! And what about all those criminals? Will they escape now, or will they be rounded up and sent back to the prison? ? I’d love to see this addressed in the sequel.
Speaking of which, here’s my theory for what’s going to happen in the next bookāI think, this time, the book will focus on Dez and Xiomara trapped in the void. Maybe they can work together and find a way out of the darkness from within. It would be nice to see more of Xiomara. She sure didn’t seem too evil, so I would love to hear some more POV’s from her.
Of course, we need more Alfie and Finn. And Luka, too! Boy, the characters in this book were really easy to fall in love with! ?
Great readalong, as always. I really enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts and theories. Thanks so much for hosting again, G! You’re amazing! ā¤ļø
Oeh I liked the last few chapters! What a great way to end things! I think that in the sequel we will learn more about this whole coop thing and people who try to kill Alfie and why. I also think that Alfie and Finn will cross paths again!! It must!!
I did like this book, still not loved it. There where moments when I felt connected and there where moments I could āt care for. I really like Finn. I would have loved to see more of Xiomara. Maybe weāll find out more of her in the next book.
My favorite part was probably the card game in the beginning. I loved that! And the scene between Alfie and Finn warming up to each other where sweet! And I did love Ignacius and the dark magic, cause it matches my soul, hahahaha ?
A solid 3 star read for me. And I really do want to pick up the sequel to see where the story goes next!
It was lovely reading with you all! Thank you and thank you to G for hosting! ā¤ļø?
P.S. Yaāll saw Eurovision? Iām from The Netherlands and feeling so proud! ???
Also, my cat Lily turned 1 year old today and Iām such a proud mama! ??
I really enjoyed the book! It seemed heavily inspired by ADSOM, but it was still really interesting. I loved Finn, she was such an interesting character and Xiomara as well. I had honestly hoped that Aurora would come back with a plot twist, but unfortunately not. I wish there were more scenes with her.
I am curious what the next book will be about, I like the theory above about Dez!
Yes I do get the ADSOM vibes. Finn also makes me hink of Laila sometimes!
I really enjoyed this book! ? Iām a little sad Finn left but I think it makes sense for her to leave but I was a hoping for at least a goodbye kiss? ??
My favorite part is still the part where they share the tequila and things get a little heated up ??
I would like to see more of Luka ?? and also Xiomara, I liked that she sacrificed herself but maybe she will be back in the next book and also Dez. I would like to know the motive and who wants to get rid of he royal family ?
Iām ready glad Finn showed Alfie her real face ? Iām also glad to have joined this read along! I usually read books and have no one to talk about them cuz my friends donāt read us much ? so thank you! ??
I absolutely loved this book! A friend of mine told me that there are quite a few similarities to A darker shade of magic, so I have to pick that series up as well š
I wanted to see so much more of this world and the history of these two nations, hope that we will see more of that in the next two books.
Also loved the chemistry that the two characters built up through the whole story and that Finn still calls Luka Bathtub Boy =D
Xiomaras story was so sad and I hope the next book will focus more on the characters that are trapped in the void and what the hell it is. Another dimension? Just a dark place that exists without the rules of time? Are the people there “awake” or in a kind of stasis so that they can’t leave? Of course I don’t believe that they are dead, that would be too easy. And I really want to meet Dez, he seems like a really nice guy. So why kill him? Maybe that’s a trap and he is the main villain?!
Also Auroras tiny part in this book confused me. After she was introduced I thought that she would be at least in one other scene, so maybe in the next book… And they still have to find the servant that tried to poison the prince.
Oh my, that bittersweet ending of this book between Alfie and Finn <3 I loved it!
Hopefully we don't have to wait too long for the next book!
Oh my goodness. Am I the only one with tears by the end? I also loved that Finn showed Alfie her true face. Maybe he will draw it, so that he will remember. Maybe Finn will draw his in her journal to remember him. Who knows. I still have so many questions with these loose ends. If there’s a sequel, hopefully things can be cleared up. Until next time dearies–happy reading.
I was actually so broken but happy (sort of) after that ending that I took to Twitter and thank God!!! There is a sequel! I get to see more of the squad and maybe meet more amazing characters! So happy now but the wait ??
I really wanted to like this book. I was so excited to read it, the synopsis sounded so good! A thief whose magic can alter her appearance, a second born prince now in line for the throne after the untimely death of his brother, forbidden magic, possibly world-ending ancient power unleashed; sign me up! I was really enjoying the beginning of this book. I liked Alfie a lot, his insecurities and quest to bring his brother back really endeared him to me. Finn was brash but she had such cool magic and I always love a selfish character. However, as I got deeper into the book the similarities between Nocturna and A Darker Shade of Magic just could not be ignored. I couldn’t get them out of my head and my reading experience really soured.
I’m sad Xiomara died. I wanted more from her she seemed like such an interesting character. Luka was my favorite part of the big battle. My predictions for the next book are Dez gets possessed by the magic in the void and gets out. I think maybe being in the void for a while changes him and makes him a good candidate to be possed by the evil magic.
I really enjoyed this book and can not wait for the next one!
My theory about Dez is similar to one that has been said before. I think that he is alive and trapped someone in the void and I think that he and Xiomara will find each other, and hopefully work together to get out. I really hope that something like this happens because I would love to meet Dez and find out more about him, as well as Xiomara. She seems like an interesting character even though we didnāt get to know too much about her. I would love to see Alfie be reunited with his brother. I think it would be so sad yet so happy and it would make my heart swell.
Overall I thought the book was beautifully written and I really enjoyed reading it. Iām glad I picked it up and was able to join in on the readalong (my first one lol).
Lol ācan I see your invitationā boot to the face! I love the Queen ādonāt touch my sonā and Finn also defending him! Omg the crawling hands! Yikes! āBad hands!ā I love invincible Luka! āThe boy sounded like a Kingā heck yes! Ignacio was a great villain with an awesome power and manipulation. I wasnāt expecting a dragon though! Finn being selfless for the Prince what a good character move. The black magic fight and manipulation between the two was so good! I was so tense when Alfie almost killed her! So sad when Alfie finally grieves his brother ;( AHHHH WHEN HE HEALS HER AND SHE WAKES UP SAYING āPRINCEā!!! when he is staking care of her for so long and all the little āmomentsā my heart! All of page 468! Best ending ever! Her true face and her vanishing so SO perfect! Wow blown away by this book! I really hope there will be a book two!
I think this was the perfect ending for this book. It rounded up enough that you can leave it there if you don’t want to continue to the sequel, but left enough questions to make the next book compulsive reading!
I love the relationship that developed between Alfie and Finn, but feel it’s right that she walked away and vanished at the end after opening herself up to him with her true face. I think, now that Ignacio has gone, she needs time to work out who she is and what she wants from her life.
I also loved Luka throughout. I’d be really interested in seeing much more from him in the next book. But I’m also with some of the other posters above – I think Aurora has more to do, otherwise there was just no point in her presence. I consider her a likely candidate for the attempted poisoning of Alfie, but can’t figure out what her motivation might be.
Thanks for the readalong – it was fun as always x