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A review by theshelfarchive
Lightlark by Alex Aster
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.5
Warning: I don’t hold back on my thoughts. Sorry, not sorry.
The synopsis of Lightlark promises a "deadly game" where rulers must fight to break their curses or risk destruction. What it actually delivers is a confusing, low-stakes story where nothing feels particularly dangerous or thrilling.
The so-called "trials" are laughably dull, lacking any real tension or challenge. Instead of gripping life-or-death moments, we get Isla showing off her blade-throwing skills and prancing around in revealing dresses. Meanwhile, the plot jumps from one underdeveloped idea to another—first the trials, then a search for relics, then the heart of Lightlark— without any real cohesion. For a book that’s been compared to The Hunger Games, the stakes are practically nonexistent.
The writing doesn’t help. It’s repetitive, overcomplicated, and reads like the author was trying too hard to sound poetic and "serious." Scenes drag on far longer than necessary, and the prose is bogged down by unnecessary flourishes. The whole thing feels like an early draft that never got the thorough edit it needed, and reminded me of the amateur stories I used to read on Fictionpress back in the day.
Then there’s Isla, possibly one of the most boring protagonists I’ve ever read. She has no real personality, which makes being stuck in her head for an entire book frustrating. The rest of the cast isn’t much better—Celeste’s "twist" is painfully predictable, and the two love interests, Oro and Grim, are forgettable at best . The romance feels forced, with little chemistry or build-up, making any supposed tension fall flat.
I genuinely don’t understand how Lightlark got a movie deal, but considering it’s being produced by the same team behind Twilight, I’m not holding out hope for the adaptation. This book had potential, but between the weak plot, lifeless characters, and clunky writing, it completely missed the mark.
The synopsis of Lightlark promises a "deadly game" where rulers must fight to break their curses or risk destruction. What it actually delivers is a confusing, low-stakes story where nothing feels particularly dangerous or thrilling.
The so-called "trials" are laughably dull, lacking any real tension or challenge. Instead of gripping life-or-death moments, we get Isla showing off her blade-throwing skills and prancing around in revealing dresses. Meanwhile, the plot jumps from one underdeveloped idea to another
The writing doesn’t help. It’s repetitive, overcomplicated, and reads like the author was trying too hard to sound poetic and "serious." Scenes drag on far longer than necessary, and the prose is bogged down by unnecessary flourishes. The whole thing feels like an early draft that never got the thorough edit it needed, and reminded me of the amateur stories I used to read on Fictionpress back in the day.
Then there’s Isla, possibly one of the most boring protagonists I’ve ever read. She has no real personality, which makes being stuck in her head for an entire book frustrating. The rest of the cast isn’t much better
I genuinely don’t understand how Lightlark got a movie deal, but considering it’s being produced by the same team behind Twilight, I’m not holding out hope for the adaptation. This book had potential, but between the weak plot, lifeless characters, and clunky writing, it completely missed the mark.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content