Lightlark (Book 1)

by Alex Aster

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Fans of The Hunger Games will love this fantasy full of romantic complications, curses, and a centennial competition with the six rulers to break the curses plaguing their realms. And with secrets, lies, and betrayal only further complicated by killer love, it’s a fight to survive.

#BookTok phenomenon and award-winning author Alex Aster delivers readers a masterfully written, utterly gripping YA fantasy novel
 
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.
 
Filled with secrets, deception, romance, and twists worthy of the darkest thrillers, Lightlark is a must-read for fans of legendary fantasy writers Marie Lu, Marissa Meyer, and Leigh Bardugo.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647006310
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	08/23/2022
Series:	Lightlark
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	6,873
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Alex Aster is an author of YA fiction as well as award-winning middle grade fiction, including the Emblem Island series, which was published to critical acclaim. Alex graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied creative writing. Find out more on TikTok (@alex.aster) or Instagram (@byalexaster).

Editorial Reviews

09/05/2022

Every century, the island of Lightlark emerges from the tempest cloaking it to host the Centennial, a 100-day competition between the rulers of six cursed realms, in this beguiling series opener from Aster (the Emblem Island series). To break the curse, one ruler must die during the contest, thus also destroying their realm. In 500 years, none of the immensely powerful participants has ever volunteered their life, nor has anyone been bested, but now that the curses have rendered their lands irreparable, this Centennial is sure to end in bloodshed. The situation terrifies teenage Wildling realm ruler Isla Crown, who, unlike her predecessors, was born without the Wildlings’ innate ability to control or wield nature, making her vulnerable to the other participants’ powers. While relying on her wits and training to survive, Isla must hide her secret lest she become an obvious target. Though the novel’s mythology is murky and its supporting cast lacks depth, Isla’s courage, determination, and compassion invest readers in her plight, imparting tension and drive. The story hits many well-loved and familiar beats, and sumptuously detailed feints, twists, and betrayal lend vibrancy and intrigue. Characters have varying skin tones. Ages 13–up. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary Mgmt. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

If The Hunger Games was a dark fairy tale, you’d get the vicious and enchanting Lightlark. Get ready to be transported into a dazzling world where love is a death sentence and the romances between competitors are even fiercer than the curses plaguing the islands.

Adam Silvera

Alex Aster's Lightlark is an ebullient, fast-paced fantasy, with a beautifully rendered world that seethes with intrigue, romance and tension. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

#1 New York Times bestselling author of An Ember i Sabaa Tahir

Fantasy that reads like a breath of fresh air. Filled with secrets aplenty and enthralling magic, Lightlark will have you gasping then swooning while these valiant rulers fight to break their curses.

#1 New York Times bestselling author of These Viol Chloe Gong

Gorgeously lush and cinematic, Lightlark is the kind of fantasy that indulges all your senses, makes you swoon, and then knocks you sideways with twists. You won’t want to put this down.

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Skyhunter Marie Lu

Gorgeously lush and cinematic, Lightlark is the kind of fantasy that indulges all your senses, makes you swoon, and then knocks you sideways with twists. You won’t want to put this down.”—Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Skyhunter

“Fantasy that reads like a breath of fresh air. Filled with secrets aplenty and enthralling magic, Lightlark will have you gasping then swooning while these valiant rulers fight to break their curses.”—Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

“If The Hunger Games was a dark fairy tale, you’d get the vicious and enchanting Lightlark. Get ready to be transported into a dazzling world where love is a death sentence and the romances between competitors are even fiercer than the curses plaguing the islands.”—Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

“Alex Aster's Lightlark is an ebullient, fast-paced fantasy, with a beautifully rendered world that seethes with intrigue, romance and tension. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.” —Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes

"Grim, one of Isla’s love interests, is a total scene-stealer. . .their steamy scenes are a definite highlight." —Kirkus Reviews

"Isla’s courage, determination, and compassion invest readers in her plight, imparting tension and drive. The story hits many well-loved and familiar beats, and sumptuously detailed feints, twists, and betrayal lend vibrancy and intrigue."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

If The Hunger Games was a dark fairy tale, you’d get the vicious and enchanting Lightlark. Get ready to be transported into a dazzling world where love is a death sentence and the romances between competitors are even fiercer than the curses plaguing the islands.

#1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Adam Silvera

2022-05-25
A deadly game takes place on an island that only appears once every 100 years.

Isla Crown has trained for the Centennial ever since she was a child. When the island of Lightlark emerges from the storm that hides it and becomes accessible again after a century of isolation, a competition takes place wherein the rulers of this world’s six realms fight to undo the curses placed upon their people. The cost? One of them must die. Isla is leader of the Wildlings, a people gifted in nature-based abilities but cursed to eat human hearts and kill those they love. Once the game begins, Isla is quickly consumed by interrealm politics, life-threatening stakes, and a flirtatious rival. She’ll have to keep dangerous secrets close, however, if she wants to survive and free the Wildings from their suffering. This YA debut is deeply reminiscent of the era in young adult speculative fiction that produced the Hunger Games and Divergent series—for better and worse. Some readers will delight in the familiar beats and tropes, while others might find it all a little too predictable. Grim, one of Isla’s love interests, is a total scene-stealer, often making other characters seem flat by comparison; their steamy scenes are a definite highlight. Characters in this world are varied in physical appearance.

Follows a formula many have loved and will continue to enjoy. (Fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews