Deacon Diverse Reads

Deacon Diverse Reads is a book club focused on exploring various genres by BIPOC authors, challenging readers to think critically about themselves and the world around them. By exposure to diverse voices, students, faculty, and staff can expand their minds to new forms of thinking and bring awareness to social, political, and cultural issues of people of color.

September: Nocturna by Maya Motayne

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Avatar: the Last Airbender meets the X-Men, similar to Mystique

A Dominican Republic historical fantasy, especially recommended if you enjoy the Shades of Magic Trilogy by V.E. Schwab.

To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.

As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.

After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.

But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts.

About the Author

Maya Motayne

Author’s Website:
https://www.mayamotaynebooks.com

Maya Motayne thought of herself as a writer long before she could even read. She spent her elementary school years carrying around a notebook full of what she called her “million dollar ideas”, though it was mostly full of doodles and scribbles.

She pursued degrees in English Language and Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Maryland, College Park. After that, she worked as an editorial assistant at Random House Children’s Books for just under two years before leaving to write full-time.

Though she was born and raised in Maryland, she likes to think that three years in New York makes her an official New Yorker now. She spends her days writing and pursuing her passions of petting as many dogs as possible and buying purses based on whether or not she can fit a big book in them.