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Lightlark

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Lightlark

By: Alex Aster
Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
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Summary
 #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.©2022 Alex Aster (P)2022 Recorded Books, Inc Fantasy Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Romance Romantic Suspense Science Fiction & Fantasy Thrillers & Suspense Fiction Exciting Suspense
All stars
Most relevant
Not to sound tacky… but I loved everything about this book! There were so many times that I was surprised, the world-building was beautiful, I love the characters

Magical!

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Love the story, love the characters, love the narrator. Can't wait to listen to the next book.

Just Awesome

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Isla is very naive and the romance doesnt feel that compelling to me but she is very young AND its only book one. I know this has been marketed for the romance aspects but personally I'm more invested in the magic system and politics which is what saved the book for me as they were quite interesting. I think my main issue with the book is there wasn't a single character that I liked enough to be attached to. Pretty much any of them could get killed off and I'd be alright with it. Hopefully there is more character development in book 2 as it was interesting enough for me to continue. Overall I recommend for an easy read 😊

Something Different

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The lies and betrayal, what a clever plot. Narrator was easy to listen to. Very enjoyable.

Great.

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I have been flirting with reading this book for a while. The conflicting reviews were a bit of a deterrent, though I have loved highly reviewed books before, our tastes are all different after all. Ultimately it was the YA thing that kept me back, it's not that I can't read a book that lacks spice, but I do detest books where love matches can't touch for some magical reason or so forth.
This was not that, the romance, developing romance, push and pull is all there, perfectly satisfying my need for a connection. On top of that, the world, the magical system, the adventures the must go on, the betrayal and constant uncertainty was very much enjoyable. Having a time limit on things and leaders that wanted to kill each other, but not everyone, secret alliances, grumpy men, it was fun, some confusing bits, some bits I am desperate to read more about in the next books, a love triangle where I might have a favourite, but it could go either way. Oh and the FMC didn't annoy me, I wasn't yelling at her, nor did she swoop in and win everything all by herself. Thoroughly enjoyable listen! (Audiobook wise, the voice was fine, but not a duet so …)

An easy 4.5

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