Review: Lightlark

 

Title: Lightlark 

Series: Lightlark saga

Author: Alex Aster

Release Date: August 2022

Welcome to the Centennial. 

Every 100 years, the island of Lightlark appears to host the Centennial, a deadly game that only the rulers of six realms are invited to play. The invitation is a summons—a call to embrace victory and ruin, baubles and blood. The Centennial offers the six rulers one final chance to break the curses that have plagued their realms for centuries. Each ruler has something to hide. Each realm’s curse is uniquely wicked. To destroy the curses, one ruler must die.

Isla Crown is the young ruler of Wildling—a realm of temptresses cursed to kill anyone they fall in love with. They are feared and despised, and are counting on Isla to end their suffering by succeeding at the Centennial.

To survive, Isla must lie, cheat, and betray…even as love complicates everything.

Ilsa is a young ruler of Wilding - a realm of temptresses cursed to kill anyone they fall in love with. They are feared and despised. But Ilsa has a secret. One that no one can know. And she is heading to the Centennial a deadly game that is played every hundred years to try and end the curses of all the realms. 

Ilsa must lie and cheat and even betray to survive... But each of the six ruler's coming into the Centennial this year has something to hide. Each curse upon the realms is uniquely wicked. And to destroy the curses... One ruler must die. 

"And I don’t know what I enjoy more. Replaying the image of my sword against your throat . . . or thinking about how your heart might look on my plate.” Grim’s dark eyes flashed with amusement. “Careful, Hearteater,” he whispered, towering over her, standing far too close. “I might just give it to you."

So I have been in a reading slump for weeks now, again, and decided to finally pick up Lightlark. I love a good fantasy and shadow Daddy, so this checked those boxes. I didn't know what to expect going in, because I didn't know anything about Lightlark. - I don't read the blurbs or anything about a book before hand & just dive in blind. 

But I loved this book. I loved how strong and fierce Ilsa was - she was a warrior, and stronger than even the best of the opponents that she was up against. While her secret could just be the thing that kills her, she didn't let that stop her or slow her down. She did whatever it took to try and save her people and the people she cares about. 

She made allies & enemies along the way during the Centennial. 

There was Celeste - Ruler of Starling, cursed to die at twenty five. Ilsa's friend she had made prior to the games. They kept their alliance a secret, trying to best not only their opponents but to break the curses. 

Grim - Ruler of Nightshade, cursed to perish if they are outside after nightfall, and one of the most powerful people Ilsa has ever met- but he has his own motives and agenda that Ilsa can't figure out. 

Oro - King and ruler of Sunling, cursed to burn in the sunlight. And he can't stand Wildings and all they have become. 

Azul - ruler of Skyling, whose curse was losing the ability to fly, but willing to do anything to break the curses. 

Cleo - ruler of Moonling, and cursed with the sea becoming deadly every full moon, but that hasn't stopped her realm from building ships and an army. 

All of them have something to hide, and all will do whatever it takes to break their curses. Can Ilsa trust any of the other rulers in the games, or will they fail at breaking the curses that has plagued them all for hundreds of years? 

I loved this story, this world and these characters. Although I did guess a major twist early on- it wasn't exactly as it had seemed. Overall, I enjoyed this book & cannot wait to see what happens next! 

If you love fantasy, shadow Daddy's & high stake games, I definitely recommend picking up Lightlark! 

4.5⭐ out of 5⭐. 

1🌶️ out of 5🌶️. - tame, sexual tension, fade to black with minimal details. 

Tropes: 

→ ya fantasy 

→ romantasy

→ Enemies to lovers 

→ shadow daddy 

→ trials/contest

→ forced proximity 

→ "who did this to you?" 

→ knife to throat scene

→ he falls first 

→ love triangle 

Trigger Warnings

Review: Say You Swear (reread)

 

Title: Say You Swear (bloom edition) 

Series: Boys of Avix

Author: Meagan Brandy 

Release Date: March 26, 2024

A College Romance...

For years, I’ve dreamt of what college life could bring and while some things changed, there was always one constant. 

It didn’t matter how wild I allowed my imagination to run, it always led me to the same place in the end. 

It led me to him. 

My future was clear, and he was it. 

Until suddenly ... he wasn’t. 

Now I’m a shell of who I was, on a path too blurry to follow, and I see no way out.

No way up. 

They say first loves last forever.

That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.

Oh my goodness! 

So I decided to reread Say You Swear when I got the bloom edition in - because I love this story (& wanted to read the bonus scene that is included in the bloom edition paperback). 

And I still love this story. 

It follows Ari, going to her first year of college, and navigating between friendships, first loves, and first heartbreaks. It is an amazing story, that still brings out sooo much emotion. And Noah Riley is book husband material. 

This book will break you & stitch you back together again. 

If you love college romances, and emotional angsty reads, you will love this book! 

5⭐ out of 5⭐. 

2🌶️ out of 5🌶️. - a couple scenes with some details. 

Tropes: 

→ NA romance 

→ college romance 

→ contemporary romance 

→ sports romance 

→ football romance 

→ love triangle 

→ angst 

Trigger Warnings: 

• drinking/alcohol 

• sexual content

• pregnancy loss

• death 

Review: Defenseless Hearts (reread)

 

Title: Defenseless Hearts

Series: Fumbled Futures 

Author: Meagan Brandy 

Release Date: May 2018

After months of silence, here she stands on my front porch, waiting to be let in again. But it's the same play every time, and I know how this ends - I give her all I have and she carries it with her on the way back to him. 

I should turn her away, but I won't. Couldn't do it if I tried. 

Because no matter how many times she pops back up, pulls me in and drags me under, it will never be enough. I'll always want more. 

More of her. 

More for us. 

And she'll always choose him.

Defenseless Hearts is book 2 in the Fumbled Futures series - about Nate & Lolli's friend Parker. 

Parker gives his all to her. Every time, she comes back taking a piece of him, but every time he leaves, choosing him. And every time, Parker breaks a little bit more. Would this be the time that Parker shatters completely for this girl, or will she choose him just once? 

Parker is Lolli & Nate's best friend. He has always been in love with one girl, someone he could never have. But she keeps coming back for a piece of him, before leaving again. 

Kenra is Nate's older sister. One who has a on-again-off-again relationship with someone else. Will she finally choose Parker or will she break him by leaving again. 

I love Parker's story. The angst & emotion that it pulls out. It is such a an amazing read & I definitely recommend it. 

4⭐ out of 5⭐. 

2🌶️ out of 5🌶️. A couple scenes with some details. 

Tropes: 

→ emotional read

→ he falls first

→ best friend's sister / brother's best friend

→ slow burn 

Previous review | Trigger Warning 

Review Fumbled Hearts (reread)

 

Title: Fumbled Hearts

Series: Fumbled Futures

Author: Meagan Brandy 

Release Date: September 2017

He’s the persistent playboy who refuses to walk away. I'm the impassive new girl with nothing left to give.
Things are about to get complicated...

After months of refusing, I finally agreed to make the move to Alrick Falls. My family thought it was best - that a new scene would be good for me—and I was sick of having the same conversation.
So here I am, and the plan is simple. Smile through each day and avoid her at all costs.
It's perfect.

Until the cocksure quarterback comes into play.

The last thing I want is his crooked grin and dark brown eyes focused on me.
Yet here he is, constantly in my space, pushing me, daring me to care. Telling me what I think and feel, as if he knows.
He doesn't know anything. And  I plan to keep it that way.

Nate is a cocky quarterback playboy- who never hears the word no. Kalani is the new girl, who is different from everyone else. She's impassive, closed off, mysterious. But Nate pushes her to open up, to care. 

Can the persistent quarterback get Lolli to open up, or will she do what she always does, and run from her emotions? 

So, it's been years since I last read this book, but damn, I still absolutely love Nate & Lolli's story! 

I figured because of the release of Say You Swear being picked up by a publisher (bloom books) I would reread Fumbled Hearts, Defenseless Hearts & Say You Swear all over again, & I still absolutely love this book, and this world. 

Nate may be the bad boy playboy who gets around, and may be alpha and boosy but he still is sweet for his girl. Kalani has been through so much in such a short amount of time, but she doesn't let that make her jaded. Closed off sure, but she's still honest, and genuine. She doesn't play games & everything is met at face value. Until Nate. He opens up something inside her- making her feel again. 

Fumbled Hearts is a sports romance heavily focused on football, not just for the MMC quarterback, but for Kalani as well, but it's so much more than that. It still makes me feel. I feel giddy and swoon for Nate, and still feel and cry for Kalani even after all these years. This book still draws out the emotion. 

4 ⭐ out of 5 ⭐. 

2🌶️ out of 5🌶️. - a couple scenes with some details. 

Tropes: 

→ Sports Romance/Football Romance 

→ persistent Playboy x new girl 

→ emotional read 

→ he fell first 

Previous review | Trigger Warnings 

Review: The Hawthorne Legacy

 

Title: The Hawthorne Legacy

Series: The Inheritance Games series

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Release Date: September 2021

Intrigue, riches, and romance abound in this thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Inheritance Games perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson.

The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions - including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons.

Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she's not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture - by any means necessary.

With nonstop action, aspirational jet-setting, family intrigue, swoonworthy romance, and billions of dollars hanging in the balance, The Hawthorne Legacy will thrill Jennifer Lynn Barnes fans and new readers alike.

This is book 2 in the Inheritance Games series & picks up where book 1 left off. 

Avery now living in the Hawthorne House had come to be accepted in part by most of the Hawthorne family - but it still doesn't mean she is safe. Inheritanting billions of dollars - in a Cinderella type story, there are still threats. But also still riddles, games and secrets as well. Including one secret that could answer why she inherited the money in the first place, and could bring her closer to the family she is residing with, or tear them further apart. But maybe some secrets should stay dead...

So I loved this book just as much as the last. Loved the stand between Avery and the Hawthorne's, loved the lies and secrets, the riddles and games. It was fun and suspenseful and an overall great read. I will be diving into the Final Gambit, to see where the story evolves & what riddles, games & secrets are in store for our characters next. 

4⭐ out of 5 ⭐.

0🌶️ out of 5🌶️.  - very YA, no spice.