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Noctua
Win a free print copy of this book!
11 days and 10:04:12
5 copies available
U.S. only
Alex Kelton believes in second chances.
For herself, most of all. Accepted into the prestigious boarding school of her dreams, Noctua, and abandoning the group home she had been raised in; things seem to be looking up for Alex. That is, until she finds herself half drowned in the lake of her new school clutching on to the body of her classmate with a mysterious letter left in her room.
Alex appears to have found herself thrust into a dangerous mystery rather than a rigorous course schedule, and she must find a way to satiate a note leaving stalker.
Luckily, there are still some upsides to Noctua; the classes Alex loves, the delicious foods, and—perhaps most of all—her new relationship with the enigmatic head of school’s son, James Arison, and his eccentric group of friends.
Together, they uncover new realities about Alex’s supposedly dead parents, learn necromancy may hold more truth than fiction, and do some good old fashioned grave digging—a great way to bring friends closer.
At least, that’s what Alex hopes.
Through her time at Noctua, through the riddles and twists she encounters, Alex must decide whether she still believes in second chances.
For herself, most of all. Accepted into the prestigious boarding school of her dreams, Noctua, and abandoning the group home she had been raised in; things seem to be looking up for Alex. That is, until she finds herself half drowned in the lake of her new school clutching on to the body of her classmate with a mysterious letter left in her room.
Alex appears to have found herself thrust into a dangerous mystery rather than a rigorous course schedule, and she must find a way to satiate a note leaving stalker.
Luckily, there are still some upsides to Noctua; the classes Alex loves, the delicious foods, and—perhaps most of all—her new relationship with the enigmatic head of school’s son, James Arison, and his eccentric group of friends.
Together, they uncover new realities about Alex’s supposedly dead parents, learn necromancy may hold more truth than fiction, and do some good old fashioned grave digging—a great way to bring friends closer.
At least, that’s what Alex hopes.
Through her time at Noctua, through the riddles and twists she encounters, Alex must decide whether she still believes in second chances.
450 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2025
2 people are currently reading
3356 people want to read
About the author
Dayna Bhatti Roberts
1 book36 followersDayna Bhatti Roberts is an obsessive girl above all else; and what is more methodologically consuming than the self worship that is writing. She has lived in Illinois, Singapore, New York, and London and hopes to continue bouncing around once she acquires her creative writing degree from Syracuse University. Noctua is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 28, 2025
I wrote this book and I love it…totally not biased. 5 stars. Self love.
December 30, 2025
Everyone needs to read this book right now. One of the most exquisite debut novels one could read, such beautiful writing and imagery and the most lovable characters. Every twist and turn kept me entirely tuned in and excited to what comes next. So yeah read Noctua if you’re cool and hot and the best.
January 13, 2026
had me hooked and turning the pages reallll quick. noctua is full of lovable characters with something new happening every few parts which kept me engaged with the story. the parts towards the end genuinely made me feel like i was there and made me forget i was reading. can’t wait to read the author’s next novel ;)
November 25, 2025
Simultaneously comforting and thrilling. This book is perfect if you want to sit down and get lost in another world. it doesn't hesitate to pull you in, the second you start reading.
March 2, 2026
Dayna’s debut novel is truly amazing. From the very first pages, the story pulls you in and keeps you hooked with twists and turns you don’t see coming. Just when you think you have it figured out, another surprise keeps the momentum going. The characters feel vivid and real, and the pacing makes it hard to put the book down!
February 5, 2026
this was such a fun one! i am honored to have met the author before & was so excited to pick this novel up. there were so many moments where i was deep in the plot & found myself staying up later than necessary just to get to the next chapter!
i loved the characterization & the emphasis on found family. the FMC was very believable for her age, which i feel a lot of authors lose when writing about girlhood & the high school experience. the dialogue between the characters felt very natural & believable, which furthered my interest in the plot development. the foreshadowing from part one to part two was extremely well done: if you’re looking to put the pieces together, you can find the planting of ideas or theories as the story continues to unfold.
the pacing though, fell a little flat for me. since this was written to take place over the course of two school years, there were moments where the passage of time felt either extremely quick or dragged on. it was hard to visualize the spaces as well as the characters, which i think is a very fun editorial choice & leaves it to the reader to decide what they imagine, but doesn’t have a lot of guardrails for solid world building.
loved the last two chapters! such a cute read!
i loved the characterization & the emphasis on found family. the FMC was very believable for her age, which i feel a lot of authors lose when writing about girlhood & the high school experience. the dialogue between the characters felt very natural & believable, which furthered my interest in the plot development. the foreshadowing from part one to part two was extremely well done: if you’re looking to put the pieces together, you can find the planting of ideas or theories as the story continues to unfold.
the pacing though, fell a little flat for me. since this was written to take place over the course of two school years, there were moments where the passage of time felt either extremely quick or dragged on. it was hard to visualize the spaces as well as the characters, which i think is a very fun editorial choice & leaves it to the reader to decide what they imagine, but doesn’t have a lot of guardrails for solid world building.
loved the last two chapters! such a cute read!
November 29, 2025
I often scour sites such as these for things that pique my interest. It could be something atypical, such as a familiar author's name, a maximalist cover, or even reviews that urge me to seek out what this book entails. Although this novel had none. A simplistic navy blue cover with one Latin word. Barely any reviews, and a short in-depth synopsis. It piqued.
A dark, brooding, melodramatic tale with hints of unexpected humanity in a book about the dead was something beyond any prenotation I could've imagined before reading the first page. An author's ability to sew emotion into adjectives should never be devalued, and this is the proof of pudding. Noctua tackles tropes refreshingly and strays towards its plots in utmost zeal without allowing the light to overtake the dark too much.
In all honesty, I’m not very fond of novels that include romance combined with other genres, and at that, nonsensical love is another pet peeve of mine. As in my past, I’ve realized it begins to get difficult not to allow the love to overtake the genre, without either sacrificing the integrity of a character for this plot device, or leaving the mixed genre to fall flat for the name of love. Although Noctua allows me to see past that. They amalgamate without issue, and at that, add another level of moral questioning for the reader and the characters.
And to end. It is unbelievable that this is the author's first book. Dayna Bhatti Roberts gives a refreshing breath of air to the dark fantasy genre. That has now been oversaturated with the nonsensical love I so dislike. She reads similarly to Margaret Atwood, with frail tablespoons of Christopher Buehlman and Carol Ann Duffy to compensate. I’m excited to see what comes next from her.
A dark, brooding, melodramatic tale with hints of unexpected humanity in a book about the dead was something beyond any prenotation I could've imagined before reading the first page. An author's ability to sew emotion into adjectives should never be devalued, and this is the proof of pudding. Noctua tackles tropes refreshingly and strays towards its plots in utmost zeal without allowing the light to overtake the dark too much.
In all honesty, I’m not very fond of novels that include romance combined with other genres, and at that, nonsensical love is another pet peeve of mine. As in my past, I’ve realized it begins to get difficult not to allow the love to overtake the genre, without either sacrificing the integrity of a character for this plot device, or leaving the mixed genre to fall flat for the name of love. Although Noctua allows me to see past that. They amalgamate without issue, and at that, add another level of moral questioning for the reader and the characters.
And to end. It is unbelievable that this is the author's first book. Dayna Bhatti Roberts gives a refreshing breath of air to the dark fantasy genre. That has now been oversaturated with the nonsensical love I so dislike. She reads similarly to Margaret Atwood, with frail tablespoons of Christopher Buehlman and Carol Ann Duffy to compensate. I’m excited to see what comes next from her.
February 18, 2026
DBR’s Noctua may look like a classic dark‑academia thriller—with its eerie boarding school, grave‑digging, and hints of necromancy—but beneath the gothic atmosphere lies a surprisingly tender exploration of empathy and grief. The novel uses its supernatural elements not for shock, but as a metaphor for the desperate lengths we go when we can’t let go of those we’ve lost.
What makes Noctua a standout is its emotional intelligence. Roberts grounds the mystery in a raw, intimate study of grief, especially the devastation of losing a sibling. Each character embodies a different facet of loss—sibling, parent, friend, child—and together they form a found family that offers both solace and hope. Exploring themes of forgiveness & betrayal, classism & exclusion, found families & belonging, and a touch of supernatural, Roberts touches a myriad of motives, angles, and tropes to hook in readers.
Verdict: A darkly compelling debut with a powerful emotional payoff. Perfect for young-adult readers who like their supernatural mysteries rooted in the very human struggle to find light in the shadows.
What makes Noctua a standout is its emotional intelligence. Roberts grounds the mystery in a raw, intimate study of grief, especially the devastation of losing a sibling. Each character embodies a different facet of loss—sibling, parent, friend, child—and together they form a found family that offers both solace and hope. Exploring themes of forgiveness & betrayal, classism & exclusion, found families & belonging, and a touch of supernatural, Roberts touches a myriad of motives, angles, and tropes to hook in readers.
Verdict: A darkly compelling debut with a powerful emotional payoff. Perfect for young-adult readers who like their supernatural mysteries rooted in the very human struggle to find light in the shadows.
December 18, 2025
Magical, suspenseful and emotionally rich!
The book is a captivating blend of magic, young romance, friendship and adventure that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The author creates a world where enchantment feels real. What truly stands out is how the story balances suspense with tender emotional moments. The relationships between the characters feel authentic and it is beautifully developed. This is a gripping novel and a must read for anyone who loves fantasy filled with heart and unforgettable characters.
The book is a captivating blend of magic, young romance, friendship and adventure that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The author creates a world where enchantment feels real. What truly stands out is how the story balances suspense with tender emotional moments. The relationships between the characters feel authentic and it is beautifully developed. This is a gripping novel and a must read for anyone who loves fantasy filled with heart and unforgettable characters.
November 16, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
One of my favorite reads of the year! This book had everything…romance, mystery, found family and magic! I absolutely loved it. The friend group’s dynamic is so well written and so genuinely heartwarming. It was one of those stories where I had a hard time leaving the characters behind! The mystery part of the novel - wow I did NOT see that plot twist coming. Also the romance plot was done so so well. I highly recommend reading this book!! Can’t wait to read more from the author :)
One of my favorite reads of the year! This book had everything…romance, mystery, found family and magic! I absolutely loved it. The friend group’s dynamic is so well written and so genuinely heartwarming. It was one of those stories where I had a hard time leaving the characters behind! The mystery part of the novel - wow I did NOT see that plot twist coming. Also the romance plot was done so so well. I highly recommend reading this book!! Can’t wait to read more from the author :)
October 30, 2025
Absolutely the most amazing, wonderful, whimsical, book of all time ever and written by one of my best friends who could not write anything less than insanely wonderful even if she tried. Genuinely, I had the privilege of reading this while it was in the works and I want to relive it every day because it was so amazing I CANT WAIT FOR IT TO OFFICIALLY RELEASE❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
November 3, 2025
Loved the book. The story is super engaging, the crew in this book is just awesome. It’s hard not to love Alex and James, and really the whole crew.
It’s a book with many surprises, there are plenty of twists and turns you won’t see coming, which is my fav kind of book.
All in all, Noctua is a cozy book. The story, the characters, the romance, and the unexpected moments all come together to make it something special.
It’s a book with many surprises, there are plenty of twists and turns you won’t see coming, which is my fav kind of book.
All in all, Noctua is a cozy book. The story, the characters, the romance, and the unexpected moments all come together to make it something special.
March 3, 2026
Noctura pulls you into a richly imagined world from the very first page! It balances emotional depth with magic and real suspense. The pacing keeps you hooked, and the heart at the center of the story gives it weight and staying power.
A compelling, immersive read from a truly gifted storyteller. I highly recommend it!
A compelling, immersive read from a truly gifted storyteller. I highly recommend it!
March 7, 2026
Noctua is the perfect magical read for a cozy day! The author has beautifully crafted the world and makes you fall in love with the characters. I love books that combine magical realism with suspense and this was the perfect combination of that, and of course a sweet romance. With this being the author’s very first book, I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
March 5, 2026
I love audiobooks on CD.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
This book was the best cozy read at any time of the year. I ordered the print and also Kindle version because I could not put it down. It was super easy to get caught up in the characters and all the drama! It gave me those familiar High School friends vibes and it was so easy to believe I was living this experience along with Alex. The magical elements in this read only made me love this read even more. I can’t wait to see whats next for this author.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews