The Nocturne Abyss by Dakota Wilde
The Nocturne Abyss is an annual event, set by the Gods in Paris. Each year, 16 people are summoned, and once summoned, there is no way out; you must compete or be killed, and your family is killed too. The games are set in the catacombs of Paris, and the goal is to be the first to reach the end. Each participant receives a gold mask that contains a drop of the God’s power it represents. To collect other powers, you must kill the other contestants for their masks. The contestant who wins gets to keep their power along with lots of riches.
Odessa Devereaux, you are cordially required to attend The Nocturne Abyss. Beware that not all who play will make it out alive.
⚫️ Dark Fantasy ⚫️ Hunger Games Vibes ⚫️ Magic ⚫️ Gothic Vibes ⚫️ Enemies to Lovers ⚫️ Monsters ⚫️ Gods ⚫️ War ⚫️ Cliffhanger
🔴 Decapitation 🔴 Gore 🔴 Mortal Peril 🔴 Claustrophobia 🔴 Common Fears such as spiders and heights 🔴 Attempted SA 🔴 Murder 🔴 On page sexual scenes 🔴 Cheating 🔴 Manipulation 🔴 Magical Powers 🔴 Mutilation 🔴 Killing of feral animals 🔴 Burning Alive 🔴 Betrayal 🔴 Family Illness
In this year’s event, Odessa has been summoned; she is less than thrilled about this but has no choice, knowing that if she were to flee, she would bring about the death of her family. During the ceremony in which they pick their masks, Odessa picks the Onyx, which is the God of Shadows mask, thus giving Odessa the ability to control the shadows.
Odessa has a love-hate relationship with another participant named Dex, who loves to annoy her, but in all reality, they are attracted to one another. In the games, the only person you can trust is yourself, but Odessa and Dex find themselves leaning on one another to get to the end.
You’re a scoundrel
I’ve been called many things, but being called a scoundrel might be my new favourite
I loved this book; it reminded me of The Hunger Games in the way there is only one winner, and to win, you need to kill the other players. However, the difference is that this book has magic given by the Gods. There is no dystopian setting either; this book is set in Paris, which, since the Gods arrived, has been walled off from the rest of the world. The Gods themselves remind me of the Greek Gods in that there are a fair few of them, we don’t get a thorough introduction to them all, but we know that there are 16.
Also at the beginning of the book is a list of the masks and their powers.
🎭The Onyx Mask, which is the ability to control shadows.
This is the mask Odessa picks.
🎭The Stag Mask, which has the power to animate bones.
This is the mask that Dex picks.
🎭The Crown Mask, which has the power to create light.
🎭The Floral Mask, which has the power to create flowers.
🎭The Bird Mask, which is the power of flight.
🎭The Gear Mask, which has the power to manipulate metal.
🎭The Triplet Mask, which has the power to duplicate.
🎭The Medusa Mask, which has the power to turn things to stone.
🎭The Pyro Mask, which has the power of fire.
🎭The Timepiece Mask, which has the power to stop time.
🎭The Spider Mask, which has the power to create webs.
🎭The Enforcer Mask, which has the power of strength.
🎭The Manipulator Mask, which has the power to influence emotions.
🎭The Ghost Mask, which has the power of invisibility.
🎭The Mender Mask, which has the power to heal.
🎭The Siren Mask, which has the power to control liquid.
I loved seeing Odessa transform from the meek girl who did whatever she was told into a strong, dark warrior throughout the games.
I loved the dark, mysterious nature of Dex, and I know that there is a big back story to this that we haven’t gotten yet, and I can’t wait for that.
I disliked Odessa’s sister; she seemed very self-centred and cold towards how others were feeling, and I have major respect for Odessa in that she didn’t lash out at her.
I also disliked Theo, Odessa’s fiancé and was very happy when Odessa and Dex gravitated towards each other.
This book ended on a cliffhanger, and not just a little one but a BIG one. I need Book 2 like immediately. I won’t ruin it for anyone but WHAT?! I have many questions.
Thank you, Dakota Wilde, for sending me the ARC of this book. Although this is an ARC, my review is entirely my own opinion.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
