Oculta (A Forgery of Magic #2)

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4.7

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Author(s)

Maya Motayne

Publisher

Balzer + Bray

Genre(s)

Age Range

13+

Release Date

April 06, 2023

ISBN

978-0062842763

Buy This Book

The exhilarating sequel to the #1 Sunday Times and Los Angeles Timesbestseller Nocturna, about a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince who must reunite when a deadly enemy threatens their kingdom’s chance at establishing a global peace. An epic fantasy perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Sabaa Tahir, and Stephanie Garber.

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 syndicates.

Just when Finn finds herself back in San Cristobal, Alfie’s plans are also derailed. The mysterious organization responsible for his brother’s murder has resurfaced—and their newest target is the summit. And when these events 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?

Editor review

1 review

Who can you trust?

December 10, 2023

Overall rating

4.7

Plot

5.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

What I liked:
Oculta follows the events of Nocturna by a few months, and we are now about to embark on the summit that Dez, the dead brother, was in the works long ago to make peace between Castallan and Englass. In this world, both countries view magic differently. One values it for everyone, while the other thinks the royals should control it. There is a lot of bad blood between Englass and Castellan, but Alfie wants to achieve his brother's dream of peace. There are a lot of twists and turns in this second book, including things I guessed and did not think about. The ending will leave you on the edge of your seat, and since it has been a while since this one was released, a reread will set you up nicely for the final book, which is due out at the end of this month.
Final Verdict:
Oculta did not suffer from second-book syndrome. I think, in some ways, it might outshine book one since it doesn't wrap things up nicely and propels you to the final book. The characters have grown and are well-defined, and the author does an incredible job of hiding things to tell the big plot twist. It's a fantastic ya fantasy not to be missed.