Lightlark by Alex Aster
Lightlark series, book 1
(2022) 416 pages

Lightlark by Alex Aster is a fantasy novel that transports readers to a lush, dangerous world where magic and deadly games intersect. The story centers on Isla Crown, the ruler of the Wildling realm, who must participate in a high-stakes competition called the Centennial, held every 100 years. This competition pits rulers from different realms against each other, all fighting to break a curse that has plagued their lands. With her own people’s lives on the line, Isla must navigate political alliances, deceit, and danger—all while guarding her own dark secrets.

Aster crafts a world that is both enchanting and brutal. The island of Lightlark is vividly described, with rich landscapes and fantastical elements that enhance the setting’s mysterious, almost surreal quality. Each realm—Nightshade, Sunling, Starling, Skyling, and Wildling—has unique magical attributes and weaknesses, adding complexity to the world-building and making the Centennial feel like a battle of strengths and vulnerabilities.

One of the book’s strengths is its engaging protagonist, Isla. She is a morally complex character, grappling with her own fears and desires while trying to live up to her duty to her people. Aster does an excellent job portraying Isla’s internal conflict and her navigation of precarious alliances with other rulers, each of whom has their own motives and secrets. This political and interpersonal intrigue drives the plot, keeping readers guessing about who can be trusted.

Romance also plays a prominent role, adding layers to Isla’s relationships. Her connections with the other rulers are filled with tension, attraction, and ambiguity, leading to unexpected alliances and betrayals. While some readers might find the romance predictable, others will appreciate the emotional stakes it brings to Isla’s journey and the way it impacts her decisions.

The pacing of Lightlark is fast, with twists and cliffhangers that propel the story forward, though at times this can feel overwhelming. Certain plot points could have benefited from more development, and the ending may feel abrupt to some readers. Nonetheless, the rapid pacing adds to the excitement and keeps the story from dragging.

Overall, Lightlark is an engaging, action-packed read that combines adventure, fantasy, and romance within a unique setting. Fans of magical competitions and morally complex characters will likely find themselves captivated by Aster’s world and eager to see where Isla’s journey takes her next. The novel’s imaginative world-building and intricate plot make it an appealing choice for readers seeking an immersive escape into a world of enchantment and intrigue.

Reckless by Lauren Roberts
The Powerless Trilogy, book 2
(2024) 396 pages

Reckless by Lauren Roberts brings readers into an atmospheric world of intrigue, hidden identities, and morally complex characters. Roberts has created a fantastical realm filled with adventure, where betrayal lurks around every corner, and alliances are as fragile as glass. The protagonist’s journey through a labyrinth of secrets and lies adds to the suspense, keeping readers eager to uncover each twist and turn. Roberts explores themes of power, love, and survival in ways that are both relatable and striking, drawing readers into the protagonist’s personal and often perilous journey.

One of the most striking aspects of Reckless is Roberts’ dedication to world-building. Each setting feels vividly alive, with landscapes and societies described in meticulous detail. This immersive style adds to the high-stakes environment in which the characters find themselves and enriches the reading experience. The novel’s pacing can vary; at times, readers may find themselves racing through thrilling scenes, only to find slower-paced sections where Roberts focuses on character development and backstory. While some may wish for a quicker pace throughout, these pauses contribute depth to the characters and bring greater emotional weight to their decisions.

The romance in Reckless is intense, laden with tension, and adds complexity to the protagonist’s character. Roberts avoids clichés, opting instead for a relationship that feels authentic and raw, shaped by the challenges each character faces. This makes the romantic element a compelling, rather than distracting, part of the story. Although Reckless may not be for every fantasy reader, fans of dark romance and high fantasy will find themselves captivated by its mix of danger, desire, and moral ambiguity.

The Wrath & The Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
The Wrath & The Dawn series, book 1
(2015) 416 pages

Final Rating: 1/10

Blurb:
One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she’d imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It’s an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid’s life as retribution for the many lives he’s stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Review:
The first thing I said after finishing this book was: “Oh my god, I’m so glad I’m done with this.”

This was an aggravatingly boring book, which was extremely disappointing considering how fascinating the plot sounded in the blurb. Not to mention that the plot line, despite its interesting premise, was far too weird and overly complicated for a healthy romance, even though nothing really happened in the book.

“‘He killed Shiva!’ Tariq exploded. ‘How could you want the boy who killed your best friend? How can you want a cold bastard who killed dozens of young girls and disappears on a lark while his city burns?'”

This, Tariq, is a very good question. Immediately, the set-up for this romance is incredibly poor. The male love interest, Khalid, has killed many girls before Shahrzad, including her best friend. Even though there’s a reason behind why he did it, and even though Khalid felt extremely guilty for doing it (which is a normal human response to consecutive murder without explanation), there are still many, many lives that died under his hand. His feelings or reasoning behind it does not change the fact that he killed many young girls.

It also doesn’t help that Khalid is the blandest human being throughout this entire book. He’s as dry as cardboard left in a desert, as dull as the edges of a sphere, and the only known two traits that are given about him are that he’s a master swordsman and he’s handsome. Even so, if someone asked me to describe Khalid to the best of my ability, I would only be able to say a few sentences at best. My brain is unable to imagine him whenever he has a scene in the book. That in itself is quite self-explanatory to how terribly personality-less Khalid is. He’s definitely not worth swooning for.

Shahrzad, the main character, got thrown around by all the characters as if she were a ragdoll. All of the male characters made choices for her despite her weak protests, and eventually, her entire personality became solely for her love for Khalid EVEN THOUGH HE KILLED HER BEST FRIEND. I don’t even know why Khalid was so immediately infatuated with Shahrzad, and why she was obsessed with him in turn. Shahrzad acts like she is “not like other girls” and is treated as such despite her sometimes being as stupid as a lout.

And again, the book had such an exciting idea, which was poorly executed. Nothing happened in this book. It was simply Shahrzad and Khalid playing a game of who can pretend that they don’t care about the other the quickest and then later beg for forgiveness because of the extremely complicated relationship they have.

I also found this excerpt to be really weird.

“‘Be with me tonight,’ she [Shahrzad] breathed. ‘In all ways. Be mine.’
His eyes turned to fire. ‘I’ve always been yours.’ He cupped her chin in his palm. ‘As you’ve always been mine.’
She bristled and started to protest.
‘Don’t.’ He returned her biting glare.
‘Your possessiveness . . . may present a problem.’ She knotted her brows together.”

So Shahrzad can say that Khalid is hers but he can’t say that she is his? And once Khalid says that Shahrzad is his she immediately says he’s being possessive?

Anyway, I did not feel the chemistry, nor did I grow any attachment to the characters. Many of the side characters lacked stories or personalities because Shahrzad was too busy fawning over Khalid most of the time to ask the side characters more about themselves.

I don’t know anything about Jalal, Despina, and the Rajput, which were all wasted opportunities to create an actual event in the plot line. I felt robbed that Shahrzad didn’t try to get to know these characters better, especially since they were always by her side and protected her constantly.

So overall, a really dull and boring book. It was disappointing.