From BOOKTOK to Bestseller: The rise of LIGHTLARK

“The temptress and the ruler of darkness. A winning pair.”

WHO ARE THE RULERS

The Centennial may be the perfect occasion for the rulers to break their courses, but who exactly are those rulers? Basic info, and no spoiler! You will have to discover the rest by yourself.

• Isla Crown (Wildling): They may control nature, but they are also cursed to be deadly temptress who has to ensure the death of everyone they fell in love with. But differently to other Wildlings, Isla has no power, though sure enough this will not stop her from fighting and win the Centennial.
• Grim (Nightshade): His realm is made of shadows, and their power comes from darkness. But their curse makes the night impossible for them to live, going against everything their realm represent. He is a powerful lord, and also a loyal ally.
• Oro (Sunling): Their power comes from the sun, from fire and their curse is to never see the sun again. He is the king of Lightlark, the only one still living on the original land.
• Celeste (Starling): Their power comes from the star, from which they can get their energy to manipulate. But as enchanting as this power may seem, their curse force them to die as they reach their 25th year.
• Azul (Skyling): He and his people can master wind, and before the curse happened they were able to fly as they pleased. He may seem perfect, but what secrets are hiding behind his mask?
• Cleo (Moonling): Moonlings are water-masters, and so is their ruler. Their connection with the sea is so powerful, that the curse had to force them to stay away from its water or they would drown when the moon is full.
  

“There are lies and liars all around you…”

THE STORY

I have to say, I heard many things about Lightlark and I still was surprise. When I thought BookTok had already revealed everything to me, I discovered there were much more secrets within the story than what I expected. Lightlark is a quick book, you won’t spend too much time reading it, and is perfect if you just want a light story that is still able to surprise you. The ending caught me completely off guard. I expected everything, except the ending. Nightbane is already in my home, here in my mind. I’m just waiting for it to finally be published.

THE GOOD AND BAD

• I hated the ending. Which is great, so I loved it. But I also hated it. And that’s probably why I am so eagerly waiting for its sequel. I would like to say that I know what is going to happen. But in reality I’m just hoping to know it will happen what I wish.
• The surprises. There are lies and liars, says the book, and yet I expected every single lie except what Alex Aster wrote in her book. I should have expected, probably, but Alex was able to create a great story so I was much fooled and believed differently until the end.
• However, it is worth stating that if you heard about Lightlark on social media you may have some contrasting opinion about the book. I discovered Lightlark when it was already been released, so I have not been part of the main criticism behind the book. One of the main comment was about the lack of representation, while reader also reflected on some misleading video from the author. In reality, it appears those scene were removed after the editing and were originally part of the story. Some also focused on the comparison between Hunger Games and Lightlark, feeling the Centennials was not much like the Hunger Games. It is true that the game was not as deadly as the Hunger Games. However, it’s still not much of a lie. Only one can win the game, and people lost their lives during the first Centennials. As a result, Isla’s Centennials was much more of an upbringing of the past games.

Even so, Lightlark was still able to conquer its reader and is up for doing so much longer.

Would you be up for a reading?
Happy reading, Marianna

For other reading, you may be interested Fallen by Lauren Kate.
Soon to be a tv series.