) that take away from a sense of originality. 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. Positive messages about accepting both the good and bad in yourself, learning to share your burdens, and that it's never too late to start making better choices no matter how much bad you've done in the past.Īuthor 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. Tequila, sangria, wine, and spiced rum are mentioned, usually at parties and taverns. A couple of charcters drink heavily, one of them frequently to excess. Very little sexual content, just a couple of mentions of a same-sex relationship and some romantic thoughts in a relationship as the emotional connection deepens.

Strong language in both English and Spanish includes 's-t,' 'pendejo' (stupid or a-hole), 'coño' (damn or hell, and in Spain, p-y), and 'maldito' (damn or damned). One of the two main characters is the victim of psychological abuse, with hints of physical abuse as well. There's a lot of fantasy violence that includes some gore and descriptions of blood, injuries, and pain. Parents need to know that Nocturna is a magical fantasy with a strong Latinx influence from some of the names and a lot of Spanish or Spanish-derived vocabulary words. Poison used a couple of times, as is a magical healing potion that gives a burst of energy.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. Tequila and sangria frequently mentioned at social occasions or in taverns. Another teen or young-adult character frequently drinks to excess. One character carries a flask and drinks tequila heavily to suppress emotions.

Nocturna motayne