Lightlark | Review

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.

This book was sadly not great, but also not horrible. There were a few things to like…but truly only a few. The Hunger Games meets Bone Crier’s Moon in one of the most controversial books of 2022.

Honestly, it was very difficult for me to finish this book because I was so bored. I thought the concepts and world were interesting, but the plot was not pulling me in. Every so often a quick sequence would be interesting and then I’d be stuck dying of boredom once more. Eventually, I just started skimming until I got the end.

The love triangle was unexpected. I didn’t know there was going to be one but it quickly became clear there was definitely one brewing. The hard part was I actually really liked both the guys! Grim was my perfect dark, shadow boy. He was flirty and seemed a little evil, but so stinking kind. Then Oro was the mysterious golden boy that worked with her yet still had a little enemies to lovers thing happening. I didn’t want either of their hearts to get broken! And then the surprise at the end, coupled with a bonus scene at the end of the book, made my heart absolutely break. I might have to skim through the second book when it comes out just to get some closure from this love triangle.

Overall, I was surprised by the ending, heartbroken by the love triangle, and bored through 80% of the book.

Rating

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