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yuidf's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
spatterson7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Sexual content, Torture, Vomit, and Death of parent
dearhaleynicole's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was such a page turner read for me! It had me from the moment Isla first stepped foot on Lightlark. But the plot twists in this book, y'all š I was invested and couldn't put the second half of the book down. I literally had to know what happened next. Such a thrilling read with an interesting world, curse & magic system, and some equally love-able/loathe-able characters. I definitely felt so many emotions reading.
Potentional relationship/love interest spoiler:
I have never been so conflicted with a love triangle before, truly. If you're a fan of believable love triangles...WHEW. Buckle up. This one's for you. At the conclusion of this book, I don't know who to cheer for. I am personally in love with both love interests. And also equally heartbroken. Read with caution š 'cause I need Alex to help pay my therapy bills now.
Cannot wait to read Nightbane. Like, currently restructuring my whole tbr list to accomodate as I write this...
Potentional relationship/love interest spoiler:
Cannot wait to read Nightbane. Like, currently restructuring my whole tbr list to accomodate as I write this...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit, Genocide, and Fire/Fire injury
jonghyun4life's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
4.75 āļø- Iām very pleased to have given myself a chance to read this book after all the review bombing. However, It captured my attention from the very beginning. It was a quick and easy read. This book gave me one of the biggest emotional rollercoasters Iāve had over a book. I would definitely re-read this again and proceed to think about it for years to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
zoe_faith's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
The intensity of fantasy themes within this novel does grip you until the end. However, the unfolding narrative and continuous plot twists make it a monotonous read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Vomit
ev_ve's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The plot twists WILL alter your brain chemistry. Be ready for everything to change in a split second
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Vomit, Blood, Cursing, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement and Death of parent
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 doesnāt have magic to offerā¦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 Iāve 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 doesnāt work.
-The romance. It seems awkward and forced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Cannibalism
Minor: Vomit and Fire/Fire injury
greystory's review
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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
2.75
2.5-3 stars
I liked the premise so I finally went for it. It was eh. The writing itself was alright. Not good, not great, but not bad either. My biggest complaint was the sheer YA-ness of it all which kind of isn't fair to hold against it. I was going to say this wasn't predictable like I thought it would be but in the end, it was, it just took longer getting there than anticipated.
I also don't love the sort of love triangle. Nor the massive maturity gap in the end relationship. I had unanswered questions at the end, which was a bummer given we had to sit through that extended antagonist monologue revealing stuff (unfortunately some of the same stuff more than once because Isla wasn't getting it for some reason).
Notes I jotted down while reading: (beware there be spoilers)
* She keeps referring to Grimm as having done her a favor when he implied there'd be a duel, but I find that to be a stretch. Everyone in the challenge had a sword so it wasn't like she would have been without one, right? And if you're preparing for this event your whole life, why wouldn't you have a suit of armor prepared or part of your plans? I found this really confusing.
* The severe training memories and reminders of being trained her whole life were at odds with Isla's general unpreparedness. Some of them training memories especially made no sense. These are regular humans with some magical abilities right? It's not possible to hang from something for 5 hours straight. Even if she could, doing it once like a decade ago does not prepare one for a swordfight. That does not translate, at all.
* The whole relationship with Grimm felt rushed and built on absolutely nothing. He flirted a little bit with her and she was so attention starved she was eating it up, apparently.
* She gets a secret from the secret dude Juniper and at 25% in, it's implied she can only ever get one secret from him. Why would she waste it on asking about getting around the moon guards? The answer was to wait until the full moon because the moon guards would have to be inside because all of the moonlings have to be indoors during it. How is that not basic information you already have about the moonlings? Shouldn't she or Celeste already know this??
* More of the Grimm relationship nonsense. Isla's making choices like I guess someone in their early 20s in their first ever romantic foray would but god is it frustrating and embarrassingly foolish.
* Isla is constantly telling herself she can't trust anyone and then going and trusting everyone.
* She will literally do things that make no sense. "Isla had to be quick!" then 2 seconds later she melodramtically kneeled on the floor, sighing and dwelling on her situation with emo lenses for awhile instead of doing anything. Ma'am. Ma'am, I can't with you.
* Isla is really not the brightest at times
I liked the premise so I finally went for it. It was eh. The writing itself was alright. Not good, not great, but not bad either. My biggest complaint was the sheer YA-ness of it all which kind of isn't fair to hold against it. I was going to say this wasn't predictable like I thought it would be but in the end, it was, it just took longer getting there than anticipated.
I also don't love the sort of love triangle. Nor the massive maturity gap in the end relationship. I had unanswered questions at the end, which was a bummer given we had to sit through that extended antagonist monologue revealing stuff (unfortunately some of the same stuff more than once because Isla wasn't getting it for some reason).
Notes I jotted down while reading: (beware there be spoilers)
* She keeps referring to Grimm as having done her a favor when he implied there'd be a duel, but I find that to be a stretch. Everyone in the challenge had a sword so it wasn't like she would have been without one, right? And if you're preparing for this event your whole life, why wouldn't you have a suit of armor prepared or part of your plans? I found this really confusing.
* The severe training memories and reminders of being trained her whole life were at odds with Isla's general unpreparedness. Some of them training memories especially made no sense. These are regular humans with some magical abilities right? It's not possible to hang from something for 5 hours straight. Even if she could, doing it once like a decade ago does not prepare one for a swordfight. That does not translate, at all.
* The whole relationship with Grimm felt rushed and built on absolutely nothing. He flirted a little bit with her and she was so attention starved she was eating it up, apparently.
* She gets a secret from the secret dude Juniper and at 25% in, it's implied she can only ever get one secret from him. Why would she waste it on asking about getting around the moon guards? The answer was to wait until the full moon because the moon guards would have to be inside because all of the moonlings have to be indoors during it. How is that not basic information you already have about the moonlings? Shouldn't she or Celeste already know this??
* More of the Grimm relationship nonsense. Isla's making choices like I guess someone in their early 20s in their first ever romantic foray would but god is it frustrating and embarrassingly foolish.
* Isla is constantly telling herself she can't trust anyone and then going and trusting everyone.
* She will literally do things that make no sense. "Isla had to be quick!" then 2 seconds later she melodramtically kneeled on the floor, sighing and dwelling on her situation with emo lenses for awhile instead of doing anything. Ma'am. Ma'am, I can't with you.
* Isla is really not the brightest at times
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: War
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
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
tiffanyfreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.75
I came into this with an open mind and make an opinion myself on this book. I felt like the pacing was off because so little was happening then all these twists came at the end. There were several plot holes I noticed which took me out of the story. I think this would be appealing for those who are dipping their toes into fantasy but it just wasnāt the right book for me.
early on part of Islaās supposed curse is the heart eating but of course we know she has no powers (or we thought so until plot twist) so how does she just eat chocolate with Grim and that isnāt weird. Cause that just gives away her secret to him. I also donāt fully like this memory erasing and the twists cause it just felt very strange. Grim felt so icky and then this romance with Oro is weird. The whole YA love triangle thing needs to end. I know teens canāt make decisions but can we just stop with it. I also just feel like this book definitely reads YA but I would say this is more NA so I wish we could make that distinction. Isla is supposed to be 19 so I donāt get why we have 19 year olds as YA leads what happened to a 16 year old. Leave those who are above 18 to the NA category. Anyway rant over just too many holes that I couldnāt get past
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Minor: Vomit