Lightlark (Lightlark, #1)

by Alex Aster

#BookTok phenomenon and award-winning author Alex Aster delivers readers a masterfully written, utterly gripping YA fantasy novel

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.

Filled with secrets, deception, romance, and twists worthy of the darkest thrillers, Lightlark is a must-read for fans of legendary fantasy writers Marie Lu, Marissa Meyer, and Leigh Bardugo.

• ISBN10: 1419760866
• ISBN13: 9781419760860
• Publish Date: 23 August 2022
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Abrams
• Imprint: Amulet Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[writehollydavis]

What a wild ride! I was worried when I started this book because there was a lot of worldbuilding, history, and telling at the beginning and I didn't feel super connected to Isla. But I'm glad I stuck with it for the juicy plot and plot twists! Looking forward to watching this in movie form-- I think it'll carry over so well!

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

The world Aster paints is lush and beautiful. I struggled with the timeline, the age of the characters, and the romances (I think is was multiple - I was getting creeped out-see the spoiler below) that develop.

If the Centennial happens every 100 years and some of the players have been around since the Centennial's inception, and Isla seems to be one of the youngest players, how creepy is that two of the original players take a romantic liking to her. In a post #MeToo world, someone would be keeping a closer eye on this kind of thing in YA.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.