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A Fellow booktoker recommended me this book. She talks about it all the time and makes really catchy videos featuring this Duology. I got interested and purchased this book. Lightlark is the first book in the series written by Alex Aster. I got to know some pretty interesting facts about the Author and how this book was published. You should learn it too this is not my story to tell 😅. Anyhow I started reading this book in March and finished it one week. Somehow I got late in writing and reviewed all the books I read in March. So now I am starting again. This is the brief of this book on Goodreads;
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.
GENRE
Young Adult Fantasy Fiction Adventure. Hunger games kind of Vibe but not too much that vibe
THEME AND TONE
Adventurous, Mysterious
LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
Easy to Read
CHARACTERS
Multilayered Characters
TROPES
☙ Deadly Games (not so deadly)
☙ Curses and Myths
☙ Betrayals
☙ Memory Loss
☙ Falling with the Villain
☙ Adventure
☙ Mystery
☙ Drama
MY REVIEW
All realms were cursed some 500 years ago and since then every ruler has participated in Centennial on Llightlark; the island that appears every 100 years so rulers play games and try to break the curses. Every realm has its own twisted types of curses. You have to read to know about it. I don't think I can explain it very well here. Af reading half of the book I started understanding what curses are plaguing the realms.
Isla is the main character and she is ruler of the Wildling realm and she has her own list of curses. the biggest of them all is she has no magic and no powers, which make her super vulnerable during the centennial. Her guardians had worked very hard to conceal this fact and she has to play the part. She has her own plan of breaking the curses and throughout the book she works on that with the Starling ruler.
The story goes on very smoothly until the end and everything we get to know throughout the book turns to 360 degree angle 😂. I don't know if this phrase is right but the twist that comes at the end is massive. It shocked me and I was like what the what. and then the book ends....lol.....yeah it's a cliffhanger too 😅.
The world-building was nonexistent. I would have liked to see more about this world. there were some bits in between the dialogues about history and stuff but I like more through worldbuilding in my books.
The characters seem a bit bland, to be honest. There was no personality. Only Isla Crown was There should have been something to spark the interest in the characters.
On the whole, the book is good for young readers. The concept was different but the plot and story could have been made much much stronger. But considering the fact this is targeted to young adults and cannot be made more complex I am not complaining. It's a 3-star read for me but for the ending and before ending I could give it 5 stars 😅.
Overall: ★★★ | 3 Stars
Plot: ★★★ | 3 Stars
Characters: ★★★ | 3 Stars
Ending: ★★★★★| 5 Stars
Spice Level: Nada
Book Cover:★★★★| 4 Stars
THE BEST PART
☙ Isla ❤
☙ Every Ruler has their own set of powers
THE WORST PART:
☙ I mean there is no worst part but there are parts I do not like. I wanted to know more about the characters and why they are the way they are 🤷♀️.
☙ Only Isla 🤷♀️
WORST CHARACTER
☙ No one
“There are lies and liars all around you...”
“Lightlark was a shining, cliffy thing.”
“I’m not sure what I enjoy more. Seeing the way you grip a sword . . . or the way your dress grips you.”
“I have never lied to you, Isla.” He took a step closer. “Even though you have lied to me repeatedly.” Another step. “You told me your secret. Now let me tell you my flair. No one can lie to me.” She remembered his words from the cave. “Because I know when people are lying.”
Happy Reading!!
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