Lightlark (The Lightlark Saga Book 1)

LoveReading4Kids Says

Alex Aster’s Lightlark, the first book in the The Lightlark Saga series, sees the TikTok sensation serve YA readers a feast of cinematic fantasy centred on a deadly game. Suffice to say, the concept is sure to entice fans of The Hunger Games, with the story also delivering the lushness, romance and twisting secrets of novels by Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J Maas.

In a richly-imagined world, Lightlark island manifests itself every 100 years as the stage for the Centennial — a game that rulers of six different realms are summoned to play. The game is deadly, but success means said rulers will break the centuries-old curses that have been thwarting their realms. But there’s a catch — a ruler must die if the curses are to be broken.

Into this, Isla — ruler of a domain of despised Wildlings who are cursed to kill those they fall in love in with — finds herself having to lie and cheat her way to survival, while grappling with high-stakes matters of the heart.

Alongside the central story, fans of YA fantasy romance will love the gadgets and potions, and the lush, glamourous settings and breathless encounters.

Reviewed by Joanne Owen
Joanne Owen is a writer, reviewer and workshop presenter whose lifelong love of books began when she was growing up in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
More reviews by Joanne Owen

About Lightlark (The Lightlark Saga Book 1)

#BookTok phenomenon and award-winning author Alex Aster delivers readers a masterfully written, utterly gripping YA fantasy novel.

Read the full description

Find This Book In