Lightlark (The Lightlark Saga Book 1) (Volume 1) (The Lightlark Saga, 1) Hardcover – August 23, 2022

I love this book. It made me love everyone and then it just ripped my heart out. It shook me and then broke me. The detail was wonderful and I love the steam it provided. I'm hoping the next book will heal me! Alex should be so proud of herself for this. I ate this up!

Alex weaves a story that fully immerses you into a new world. Her brilliant imagery makes you feel like you are living each scene while her dialogue makes you grit you teeth or laugh out loud. It’s one of my favorite worlds I’ve ever discovered — and that says a lot.For full transparency, this is the second time I’ve read this book, and I still don’t know where to begin or how I feel about it. Isla is strong, but also infuriating, but becomes stronger with each page. She’s someone you root for, despite also wanting to throttle her every one in a while. Grim made some absolutely revolting, despicable choices — and while I understand it was for the good of many — it wasn’t for the good of his one true love. That said, my loyalty still lies with him. There’s something about a bad boy with a heart that softens for a girl that gets me every time, and while Oro is somewhat likable, my gut says no thank you.

i want to begin this review by stating that many (not all) of the negative reviews i have seen are either from people who have not even finished the book, or people who were simply review-bombing it.putting everything aside that you may have heard or seen about it, i really enjoyed this book.yes, there were things that could've been better, such as the world-building and dialogue variety for the characters. however, this is the case with many books, which usually improves the more a writer writes over time. if i'm being honest, i did not have an issue with the slight lack of descriptors for characters' looks because tbh, the story matters more than what a character may look like.isla crown, our protagonist, has a lot of issues to overcome. she's a very strong character, but struggles with knowing who to trust, and who to avoid. as the rulers are pitted against one another to try and solve the riddle to break the curses, she grows into a person who is able to find herself and overcome her challenges. she's very smart, but tends to fall short most of the time and seem as if she is the opposite. it's okay isla, i still love you!! she must learn to form alliances, and avoid the discovery of her biggest secret.the story of Lightlark and the Centennial kept me turning page after page, always wanting to find out what the next twist will be. and i definitely was impressed and captivated by everything i read.*spoilers incoming*isla was born powerless, or so she thought...THE PLOT TWISTS!! absolutely amazing. alex aster really knows how to keep you on your toes throughout the story. i could never see some of the twists coming, and that made this book all the more worth the read to me. i think the biggest twist of all would have to be grim's "betrayal."let's talk about the love interests for a moment:typically, i am a huge hater of love triangles, BUT, this book really does it well.love interest #1: oro. oro is the King of Lightlark, and angry fellow who simply needs his walls broken down and to find someone who loves him for the person that he is. a ruler capable of anything and everything who must put on a brave and powerful face in public. he has many cute moments with isla, and she ultimately chooses him at the end of this book (which following the plot twists, makes sense.) oro is a character who you hate at the beginning, and gradually grows on you as the story progresses.love interest #2: grim. grimshaw, ruler of nightshade is full of mystery. he almost had a "relationship" with isla, but it fell through the cracks once she found out he had wiped her memories of them together prior to the Centennial. he wields shadows (my fav type of character), and will do anything to protect isla, and win her heart again.i cannot choose who i would rather she end up with, both are written really well so i wouldn't be angry regardless. grim has been my favorite throughout the book though, so i'm rooting for him in Nightbane (book #2).for what it was, this book really was an interesting and entertaining read. i think a lot of the times, people forget it's YA, and even the part that is not is something that has happened in other YA books too. YA doesn't necessarily equal no explicit content of any kind.i'm definitely excited to read Nightbane in November to continue isla's story!! <3

The Lightlark Saga 🫀🥀🖤📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖I had high hopes for The Lightlark Saga and truly wanted to enjoy it, but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations. The cover art initially captivated me during my research, and I was eager to dive in. Alex Aster certainly crafted a visually stunning series; however, I found the overall storytelling to be lacking depth. Throughout the three installments, the narrative felt incomplete, as if something crucial was missing. I found the protagonist, Isla, to be somewhat frustrating, and the portrayal of the love triangle did not resonate with me. It seemed that Isla’s affections were more dependent on her immediate circumstances than on any genuine emotional connection. Moreover, the “intended” romantic choice was glaringly obvious, which diminished the tension in the narrative. While the premise of the series was undeniably intriguing, the execution ultimately left me with a sense of indifference.There has been considerable comparison between Lightlark and The Hunger Games, particularly with regard to the trial elements, but I do not believe the series lives up to that comparison. While I can acknowledge its potential appeal, I would recommend it primarily for its binge-worthy qualities, as the storytelling is accessible and the central plot is clear. However, despite these merits, I personally did not find the series to be particularly engaging or memorable.Lightlark Rating: 3.75 / 5 ⭐️Nightbane Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐️Skyshade Rating: 3.5 / 5 ⭐️Spice: .5 🌶️

This book was a great start to an amazing series. Isla is the perfect blend of naive and badass. She has the MMC's of this world falling head over heels for her, she doesn't know how or why, and neither do they. The unique magic system is intricate and fun. There are twists and turns in every chapter that will keep you guessing til the very end.

Man this book took me on a roller coaster. You definitely need to pay attention to all the small details. I’m still so upset with Grimm but onto book two.