Lightlark By Author’s Name

“A few conversations with you and I was ready to make the most disadvantageous trade. All of me in exchange for any part of you you’d be willing to spare.”

I’ve been sitting here wondering how I am going to write this review to do this debut novel justice. And I feel I just need to dive in…

First off thank you NetGalley and RB Media for honoring me with an Audiobook ARC. I am forever grateful.

Isla Crown (our FMC)- Strong, resilient, stubborn, beautiful, smart, cunning, loving, adventurous, witty, loyal, trusting, and a little naive sometimes.. ruler of Wildling. You are forever printed onto my heart. She is a female character that is a part of my soul now. I connected with her on so many levels. She will be a part of my personality FOREVER and I guarantee it will be the same for you when you read.

Oro (our first MMC)- insufferable, loyal, leader, strong, wise, powerful, non-trusting, distant, gorgeous, golden ruler of Lightlark and Sunling!!!! Let me tell you I’m such a SIMP for this man. He has me in a chokehold, respectfully, and I’m glad to be there. His character development was sheer perfection throughout the book.

Grimshaw aka Grim (our second MMC)- morally grey, dark haired, powerful, snarky, flirty, broody, strong, and cunning ruler of Nightshade! He is another character I am absolutely obsessed with. His character is so complex and I couldn’t get enough of him.

The side characters were very much needed to the story. Even when they infuriated and upset me so much. They just made everything click into place.

Alex is a pure goddess with her writing in Lightlark. It is a dark YA Fantasy, and when I mean YA it’s because Isla and a few other characters are younger.. the remainder of the characters are not. Lightlark is reminiscent of The Hunger Games; but again not really the only reason they are alike is because of the games and trials. But all of Alex’s ideas are original. I’ve never read a novel like this. It is beautiful and poetic. There is no information dumping which is a huge plus. Because so many fantasy novels do this. Everything came out organically and what can I say Lightlark is a MASTERPIECE. I literally don’t want to say anymore because I don’t want to spoil anything. I want you to read and feel and discover everything I did. Please, just go read it and be lost to this world like I am.

Suzy Jackson narrated the book. She was so soothing and calming. And the inflection her voice would go up at the right times. The guys voice I wish was a little deeper but it doesn’t deter you from listening.

What To Expect:
•YA Dark Fantasy
•Adventure
•Forced Proximity
•Love
•Romantic Tension (the spice was very much what you would expect for YA and it was perfect to be honest)
•Betrayal
•Found Family
•Loss
•Who Did This To You!?! (Which is one of the GOAT tropes we all know it)
•Heartbreak
•Morally grey dark hair character
•LGBTQ+ Representation
•Banter
•Magic
•Curses
•Lies and Liars Everywhere 😉

Again to reiterate this book is a masterpiece and it must be read by the world. This story deserved to be told and I am so thankful Alex told it. It has made my life richer!!!!

“Lightlark” mi ha sorpreso in positivo! La storia è davvero affascinante, con una trama che ti tiene incollato dalla prima all’ultima pagina. L’ambientazione magica dell’isola è ben costruita, e i personaggi, sebbene inizialmente sembrino stereotipati, diventano via via più complessi e interessanti. Mi è piaciuto il mix di mistero e azione, anche se alcune scelte della protagonista mi hanno lasciato un po’ perplesso. Comunque, è un libro che mi ha coinvolto e che consiglio a chi cerca un fantasy avvincente e ricco di colpi di scena.

This was a whole vibe, and I loved it. I don’t understand all the hate about this book because it was written exceptionally well for a first time author. Some notable writing achievements: the plot developed the story rather than the writer using internal monologue to develop it. There was very little of the typical endless world building that most fantasies have. She gave a little, then let the rest of the world unfold along with the plot (which was perfect). And most importantly, she didn’t fall into typical lazy writing devices which are so prevalent with new fantasy authors, like using an unreliable narrator to fill an obvious plot hole, THANK THE GODS! So touché to Alex Astor for doing the dang thing!!

Now onto the book. It was definitely YA. The only spicy scene was fade to black. I normally like my books heavy on the spice but I was OK with this one being one 🌶️. This was fantasy with a romantic subplot. Like it was always there waiting in the background but never the main point of the story.

I adored both Grimm and Oro for different reasons. Grimm definitely gave Rhysand vibes, though his actions left me super salty. Oro was NOT Matt Donovan like some reviews have suggested. He was broken and dying and I think that impacted his personality a great deal in the first book. I’m excited to see how the romance plays out in the next book.

I adored Isla. She was two sides of a coin in nearly every aspect of her personality: strong and weak, skilled and unskilled, trusting and untrusting, ruthless and too compassionate. She was very relatable, and I loved that her personality wasn’t built around an MMC. She was truly her own person with her own agendas and struggles.

I enjoyed the plot a lot. Honestly the “competition” thing was a turn off when I was was hesitating to start the book, but once I got into it I didn’t mind. It wasn’t“hunger games” like I was expecting. It was more a series of demonstrations with a lot of scheming and plotting between. It wasn’t super high action. I did find the rules of the Centennial confusing but it sorted itself out in the end.

Overall I just really enjoyed the book.

My daughter ordered it and she read it in just a few days. (As far as I know there are 3 books). Daughter says: Recommend if you are into sci-fi, romance, enemies to lovers, spicy, powers and plot twists.