Scan barcode
A review by courtofsmutandstuff
Nightbane by Alex Aster
3.0
There was so much hype for Lightlark and then it was a "oh, the second book came out?"
I didn't do a reread for this and I think Aster was really banking on me doing a reread. Even though I read Lightlark last year, I forgot several plot points (like Poppy and Tara killing her parents on Celeste's orders) and felt really disorientated at the beginning of the book. It wasn't until the "Before" sections started (which focus on what happened with Grim before the events of Lightlark) that I started enjoying the book. I feel like Aster shows ore of how she falls in love with Grim and their connection than she does with Oro, which is frustrating because she's directing Isla towards Oro, but that relationship feels underdeveloped (potentially because Aster is more focused on the enemies to lovers aspect). We do get like 4 "who did this to you"s and Azul is more flushed out as a character here, but the entire plot is centered on "oh no, Grim is going to destroy Lightlark! We must prepare!" in the present, but there doesn't seem to be the same emotional connection between characters in the present. Also, her relationship with Grim is definitely much more Romance than YA - and while I am definitely a spice fan, it definitely seemed like adult romance rather than YA, and I wonder why Aster then didn't place this as an adult romance.
I'll get the third book from the library but I won't be rushing to do it when it comes out.
I didn't do a reread for this and I think Aster was really banking on me doing a reread. Even though I read Lightlark last year, I forgot several plot points (like Poppy and Tara killing her parents on Celeste's orders) and felt really disorientated at the beginning of the book. It wasn't until the "Before" sections started (which focus on what happened with Grim before the events of Lightlark) that I started enjoying the book. I feel like Aster shows ore of how she falls in love with Grim and their connection than she does with Oro, which is frustrating because she's directing Isla towards Oro, but that relationship feels underdeveloped (potentially because Aster is more focused on the enemies to lovers aspect). We do get like 4 "who did this to you"s and Azul is more flushed out as a character here, but the entire plot is centered on "oh no, Grim is going to destroy Lightlark! We must prepare!" in the present, but there doesn't seem to be the same emotional connection between characters in the present. Also, her relationship with Grim is definitely much more Romance than YA - and while I am definitely a spice fan, it definitely seemed like adult romance rather than YA, and I wonder why Aster then didn't place this as an adult romance.
I'll get the third book from the library but I won't be rushing to do it when it comes out.