Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Lightlark

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Lightlark by Alex Aster

43 reviews

nicoley3's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This story needed to be more thoroughly developed and edited. Descriptions were often weird or nonsensical (someone drank spoiled water?), the world building was incomplete, and the magic system was kind of a mess. I felt like I needed a map for all the different kinds of powers each faction held because they all had so many. And on top of that, some characters had additional special secret powers unique to them. I actually couldn’t keep up with all the different powers each character had, so I gave up and kind of submitted to a feeling of deus ex machina every time each character exhibited a new useful power just in the nick of time.

The romance confounded me.

Right out of the gate, Grim was gunning for Isla but the only interactions they ever had seemed to involve him making comments about her body and insinuations about what he wanted to do with her. We find out later that they have been lovers and he just erased her memory so she wouldn’t remember him BUT THAT’S a whole other set of issues. For the vast majority of the book, I couldn’t understand what he saw in her or what she saw in him—because there were literally no interactions of substance. They never talked about anything remotely interesting. And he is 500+ years old while she’s somewhere south of 25 and had been completely sheltered/cut off from the world her entire life. Anytime she asked him if he’d do something for her, which happened quite a few times, he always immediately said “anything” even though he couldn’t follow through once or twice. I was happy when she ended up with someone else, but he is also 500+ years old. So I ended up being a little less repulsed because she actually got to know the other guy and he didn’t spend every breath hitting on her, but I am still confused as to how the other guy was interested in her.

The villain’s big reveal at the end actually made me laugh because there were so many inane plot twists shoved into one lengthy monologue. At least 7 and I’m deciding to stop counting there.

I finished the book, so that’s something.

Content Warnings

mypatronusisajedi's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

magiquek8ball's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I dare you to try and out-think this book! It was full of heart-breaking moments, twists and turns, and ULTIMATE plot twists. If you like fantasy and mystery I cannot suggest this book more fervently. Alex Aster paints a beautiful world, and her use of metaphors made the moments I spent inside it tactile. Even if I found my mind wandering during exposition I was immediately sucked back into the story by the intrigue of the plot. Yes, there's romance that's both steamy and comforting but Lightlark is so much more than that. The "more" comes from the amazing female characters and their relationships which - for me - makes this book not only good, but an important addition to the YA genre. I was lucky enough to meet Alex Aster in person at the Chicago/Sklying stop on her Lightlark tour. She is such a sweet person who is clearly honored to have the ability to share this story with the world. I can't for the next installment of this series.

Content Warnings

More...