Review: Skyshade

 

Title: Skyshade

Series: Lightlark 

Author: Alex Aster 

Release Date: November 2024

The pulse-pounding third novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Lightlark Saga, by acclaimed author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster

Love kills kingdoms…

Back in Grim’s castle on Nightshade, Isla is reeling in the wake of a brutal battle and the devastating truths it exposed. Her future—and the fate of the world—now hinge on a heart split in two.

Past Isla, who fell in love with the ruler of Nightshade, fights to resist feelings she considers treasonous. The Isla of the present, who has seen the ruin her powers can cause, will do anything to save Lightlark and its king.

As the line between enemy and friend is tested, Isla is more desperate than ever to understand the oracle’s final prophecy and change her heartrending fate. But a storm is coming. And with it, a long-buried evil greater than anything the realms have faced before.

With the clock ticking on her destiny and the survival of two warring kingdoms hinging on her own shattered heart, Isla Crown will either save the world—or destroy it.

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So, I finally got around to reading Skyshade. I was too lazy to go grab my copy from upstairs, so I borrowed the ebook from our local library the other day 😂😂. 

I enjoyed being back in this world, with these characters. This book picks up where book 2 left off. Isla felt betrayed - and Grim would do anything for her forgiveness. But could she forgive him for everything he's done? 

The gate of not only Isla but all of Nightshade and Lightlark - the two kingdoms at war with one another - hinged on Isla's heart which was split in two. She loved both rulers, but was a traitor to both - and was destined to kill one. Isla was either dragged to save the world or destroy it. 

I loved seeing now of Grim again, he is definitely my favorite character out of all of them. Overall the pacing was decent. Isla worked at trying to better understand the prophecy, she didn't want to be a monster, but instead wanted to save both of the men she loved. She warred with her feelings. And tried to better understand herself -& her past too. But the war, and storms that ravished the kingdom weren't the only dangers they had to face. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to see what is next for Isla, Grim and Oro. 

4⭐ out of 5 ⭐. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi, I’m Alex.

I’m the #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, #1 Publishers Weekly Bestselling, #1 Indie Bestselling, and USA Today Bestselling author of Lightlark, which sold in 30+ territories and in a major movie deal with Universal and the producers of Twilight pre-publication. I am also one of the most-followed authors in the world, with over 1 million followers, and 150 million views on my videos. My middle grade Emblem Island series was published to critical acclaim. I’ve been featured on Good Morning America, Kelly Clarkson Show, Business Insider, Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, Refinery29, The Today Show, The Guardian, and am a 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30.

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Review: Nightbane

 

Title: Nightbane

Series: Lightlark Saga

Author: Alex Aster

Release Date: November 2023

The seductive and action-packed follow-up to Alex Aster’s instant #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and internationally bestselling novel, Lightlark

Isla Crown has secured the love of two powerful rulers and broken the curses that plagued the six realms for centuries, but few know the true origins of her powers. Now, in the wake of a crushing betrayal, Isla finds herself hungry for distraction, preferring to frequent Lightlark’s seductive haunts instead of embracing her duties as the newly crowned leader of two separate realms. Worse, her fellow rulers haven’t ceded victory quietly, and there are others in Isla’s midst who don’t believe her ascent to power was earned. As certain death races toward Lightlark and secrets from the past begin to unravel, Isla must weigh her responsibility to her people against the whims of the most dangerous traitor of all: her heart.

Alex Aster’s intricate world expands after the riveting culmination of the Centennial games, delving more deeply into Isla’s memories of her past, as her futures hurtles toward two possible fates.

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The curses have been broken. But the trials have only just begun. Now Ilsa is faced with having to train, and rule not just one but two realms, and prepare for not only a possible war, but a impossible choice- hurtling between two fates, what would Ilsa do- not just to save her people, but everyone, again? 

"When you’ve seen something truly beautiful, everything else starts to look painfully ordinary."

Nightbane picks up where Lightlark left off, and must be read in order. 

Ilsa started off, locking herself away from everyone after the curses ended. She was not ready to face what she had done, not was she rest to face her memories that were stolen away and slowly trickling back. But as the book continued on, she came into her own. She trained, learned to weild her power. And she stepped up to become ruler of not just one but two realms. And she faced of against death, again and again, only to come back stronger each time which I absolutely loved about her. 

And of course I loved Grim - even though most of what we seen from him in this book was flashbacks and memories- I fell more in love with Grim that I was in book 1. He was still my favorite character through it all. I was impatient to see him in the present. 

And Oro was... Very much still Oro. He was patient and kind most of the time. He put his love for Ilsa ahead of even his own kingdom. 

But was was coming - not only was a battle destined to break out on Lightlark, but a war raged on in Ilsa's mind as well. Her love for Oro now, and her love she once has for Grim as her memories slowly came back. Her memories holding the key on how she may survive the war, and saving her people. 

So, I enjoyed this book. I loved watching Ilsa grow into her powers. And even though this book started a bit slow, it built up to the conclusion nicely. I would have loved to see more of present day Grim, but I loved the memories & falling more in love with him. 

And I liked Oro well enough. He was there for Ilsa, & was loving and kind. 

I loved the world, and the build up too. 

I cannot wait for the next book to see where the story takes us next. 

4⭐ out of 5⭐. 

1🌶️ out of 5🌶️. - tame YA with tension & a couple scenes with little details. 

Tropes: 

→ ya fantasy 

→ romantasy

→ Enemies to lovers 

→ shadow daddy 

→ forced proximity 

→ "who did this to you?" 

→ he falls first 

→ love triangle 

→ amnesia 

Trigger Warnings 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Alex Aster is a #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author as well as an internationally bestselling author and one of the most followed novelists on social media. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied creative writing, and is also the author of the critically acclaimed Emblem Island series. Explore the world of Lightlark at asterverse.com.

Website |  Instagram | Tiktok | 

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.

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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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Alex Aster is a #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author as well as an internationally bestselling author and one of the most followed novelists on social media. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied creative writing, and is also the author of the critically acclaimed Emblem Island series. Explore the world of Lightlark at asterverse.com.

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