Reviews tagging 'Cannibalism'

Lightlark by Alex Aster

24 reviews

scribesquadrant_sierra's review

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

 Overall Rating: (2.5/5 stars)

Spice Rating: (0.25/5 peppers)

Summary: Every 100 years Lightlark, an island that hosts a deadly game, appears for the rules of the six realms to compete in a deadly game to free the mysterious curses that have plagued their land. Isla, the Wildling ruler, is unlike the rest of the realm rulers. She doesn’t have magic to offer…or to protect her. This book follows her journey filled with curses, magic, books, and romance.

What I loved:

-Not much. This book was difficult to read.

What I hated:

-Isla, the FMC. She is one of the most unintelligent FMC I’ve ever read.

-The story. The game rules are confusing in some cases and repetitive in others. Not only that, Isla keeps breaking the rules and no one seems to care at all.

-The love triangle that doesn’t work.

-The romance. It seems awkward and forced.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Cannibalism

Minor: Vomit and Fire/Fire injury

bronzel's review

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, and Gaslighting

Minor: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

elislittlelibrary's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

2.0

Unfortunately, I wasn't really a fan of Lightlark. My library has a copy, so I decided to read it to see what everyone was talking about. Now, the book is an easy and fast read, so that was good! However, both plot and characters failed to connect to the reader (or at least to me). There were quite a few potholes, etc. as well. The premise was interesting - a game on an island that appears every 100 years. However, I feel like this marketing is misleading.

Yes, there is an island, but it doesn't just appear, many live on it. Essentially, the rulers of the realms are just brought to the island every 100 years. Also, I'd say that the games aren't what I expected. There are games (kind of?), but they are not the main focus of the plot, they are just there.

It should also be noted that romance is a really big part of the plot. If you're looking for an easy read with mainly romance and a little plot as well, this might be for you, but if you're expecting a dangerous game and plotting around that, this will probably not fulfill that.
That being said, will I read the second book? Probably, if I find myself wanting an easy and quick read. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cannibalism, Blood, and Death

mythian's review

mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship

faeriefox's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This rating was hard to decide on.

I absolutely loved the first 80% of the book. I thought the prose was lovely and that the premise and characters were very interesting and unique. The plot twists made sense while still being unpredictable, and the story was all in all very well done.

However, later on in the book, it felt like the writing and story was less thought-out and just done in a rush. The plot twists were out of nowhere and completely outlandish, and the story could have been taken in so many different, better directions.

All in all, I'd say the book is definitely worth a read, and I will be reading the second one. It doesn't deserve all of the hate it's getting, but it didn't quite live up to my hopes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, and Gore

Minor: Genocide and Gore

grace_9613's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

I am confused…. 😅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Cannibalism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Fire/Fire injury

mixxroxy's review

adventurous slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Cannibalism and Death of parent

gayelfboi's review

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

Begging people who think this is good fantasy writing to get better standards lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Xenophobia, Blood, Violence, Classism, and Death

Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Genocide, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

_ohheyisabella_'s review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I was entertained by this book the way that I was watching Twilight, knowing that it was no great masterpiece but was endlessly entertaining.

While some of the descriptions and names of objects/places were childish, it was fun to read. I did not need to think too hard and could relax while following along the plot with the main character. Yes, the book has its faults, but I liked it and will most likely be purchasing the next book in the series.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Genocide, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Cannibalism, and Medical content

love-triangle

anushar's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I read this for my sister and it’s pretty standard YA. I feel like it’s definitely not well written enough to deserve the hype it has but the story was still enjoyable and I liked some of the characters. i did predict a plot twist from like 40 pages into the book though, so it definitely wasn’t the most surprising novel. all the plot holes at the end were also a choice but oh well, ig you can just publish anything and people will still read it. If you don’t really want to think at all, this book may be fun for you— but don’t have high expectations for it or you won’t enjoy it.
3/5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Violence, and Blood