5 stars, 10/10 perfect in every way.

This is one of my most anticipated reads this year and miss Alex you did not disappoint. I feel so incredibly grateful to get to experience this as an ARC.

This love story is absolutely everything and I am team Grimm all the way. I am already dying to read the next book!

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5; rounded up to 5 due to the ending.

Read if you like:

- ACOWAR (this is giving me those vibes)
- Redemption arcs
- Rhysand - (Hello Grim)
- Love Triangle (this gives Twilight intensity)
- Complex world building
- Enemies to Lovers
- YA style writing
- Spice rating is 2/5 on 🌶️ scale
- Bonded animals
- Blood magic

Oooh that ending!!!

Thank you to RBmedia for providing the audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book and was thrilled to get this early after THE explosive ending of book 2 (if you know you know)! Please, someone, tell me there’s going to be a book 4 -that was the first thing I searched for after finishing!

The story picks up right where Nightshade left off, and now that I’ve noticed the title pattern, I have to say Alex has been brilliantly clever with them (no spoilers, though!). I loved the slow build, as it gave time to explore both the Nightshade realm and Isla’s character in greater depth. Being a fan of YA style writing, I didn’t mind some of the repetitive aspects of Isla’s decision-making. However, for readers less drawn to YA, that might feel a bit frustrating.

The pacing was spot on, with a great balance between action and character development. The love triangle definitely gave me a nostalgic Twilight vibe - I can’t decide if I’m Team Oro or Team Grim! Both love interests are developed in a way that feels familiar and comforting, though for some, it might feel a bit too predictable. I would have liked a bit more focus on Oro’s character, but I did enjoy getting to know Grim better in this book.

The narration by Suzy Jackson was excellent, as always. Having listened to all three books now, her voice feels wonderfully familiar, and I really hope she’s back for the next one (which I’m pretty sure will be announced soon, given that ending)!

Overall, I think this is the best book in the series so far- they just keep getting better with each release! It reminds me of the progression in the ACOTAR series: book one was good, book two was even better, and book three was outstanding. I can’t wait for book 4, though the one downside of having an ARC is the longer wait for the next installment! I’m hoping book 4 also has some dual POVs as I think it would be a wonderful addition to the story.

I enjoyed the book. However, I really wish that I would have re-read the first 2 books before reading the third. It jump right in to where the second book let off. No spoilers but I was confused at the end…. -still trying to figure it out.

This latest addition to the Lightlark series pulls readers even deeper into its world of dark magic and intrigue. As the third book in the series, it builds on previous events and character arcs, making it most enjoyable for readers who have followed the story from the start. The plot is packed with twists and turns that keep you hooked, and the world building remains as vivid and immersive as ever. Though a few parts feel a bit hurried, it still delivers a satisfying experience for fans who’ve been along for the journey. The audiobook version is a treat too, with expressive narration that really brings out the book’s mood and enhances the storytelling. Overall, it's an exciting, entertaining read ideal for fantasy fans looking for an adventurous escape in a beloved world.

This book was intense! As prophesies are foretold, Isla has difficult decisions to make. Not only do we learn more about the history of this world, but we are introduced to a new antagonist. I absolutely loved this book! I was sad through a lot of this book because of the decisions Isla needs to make, and she is torn between her love for Grim and Oro. She loves them both but can only choose one. There was a great deal of action in this book, and it moved quickly. I need the next instalment immediately!

Skyshade was such an emotional rollercoaster. I’ve been pro-Grim since the beginning, and I’m officially 3 books in and still have no idea who she will choose. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Alex Aster just decides to kill her off so there doesn’t have to be a decision. 😩
I don’t want to give any spoilers, so just know that each book keeps getting better. If you love Grim like I do, the beginning of this one will irritate you with Isla’s wishy-washy bs, but there is so much more going on, that the irritation does dwindle. I almost cried a couple of times. I can’t wait for the next one!!

This was definitely one of the most exciting ARCs I have received since joining netgalley. I was so excited for the conclusion to this series. I received the audiobook ARC and it was great. I enjoyed every minute of this book, however I was so confused because I was getting more and more questions and no answers. Also, one of the main characters was barely in this book (trying to avoid spoilers). As I got toward end I was starting to assume this is not the final book of the series, then it ended without giving any answers.

So, assuming this book is not the final book, I did really love it. I really enjoyed how Isla's character was written in this book. She's imperfect, makes a lot of mistakes (oops killed some people), but she is still strong and trying her best. I do love how Grim accepts all her crazy (#teamgrim). Even though I was expecting this to be a trilogy, this book definitely did not feel unnecessarily drawn out to me or just trying to drag things on for the sake of writing more books.

If this does end up being final book then I will come back and update my review to one star because I need answers! Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!

Skyshade by Alex Aster is, without a doubt, the best book in the series. The emotional depth and tension hit hard, especially with that jaw-dropping ending. I still can’t decide between Oro and Grim—they both have such compelling dynamics with Isla. Speaking of Isla, she’s a total weapon in this book, and I’m here for it. The stakes are higher, the twists are brutal, and my feelings are all over the place. A must-read!

Alex Aster continues to impress with her latest addition to the Lightlark series. Not onl is her worl building and writing style impressive who she is as a person with fan iteractions is incredible. This addition to her series is a great continuation of the story of Lightlark and drawn readers further into the wold and the stories it weaves within it. having the perfect amount of twists mixed in with the action keep the reader engaged through the story. I am already looking forward to the next addition to this series and all that Alex plans to bring to the world of Lightlark!

This book release was the one I was most excited to read this year after the ending of Nightbane had me dying for answers.

The narration of the audiobook was fantastic and I finished this in one day, as I couldn't stop listening. I physically read the first two books Lightlark and Nightbane but will now buy the audiobooks of both.

In Skyshade, we learn more about the history between Isla and Grim as she gains back her memories. Isla battles with the light and dark sides of herself and her feelings for both Oro and Grim while she struggles to control her powers. According to the prophecy, Isla will kill Oro or Grim, and she will either save or destroy Lightlark.

All can say is Alex Aster, the Queen of cliffhanger endings, has me out here ready to preorder the next book that she most likely hasn’t written yet and I'm still team Grim.

The third book in this series starts right where it ended in the second book. This book had a really good pace, I was never at a boring or dull part in the story and was interested in how the plot kept unfolding.

One of the things that really bothered me about this book was the love triangle. This is still happening in book three? It felt very drawn out and I was getting whiplash from her back and forth throughout the whole novel.

Cliffhanger at the end was a good one, so good to know the series will be continuing on!

One thing to note was I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. I liked the narrator except for Grim’s voice, the raspiness made me cringe every time she spoke his parts, but that could also just be me.

Wow, wow, wow!! This was my favorite of the first three books. The love triangle is heart wrenching. I literally love Grim, but I love Oro. My heart is literally breaking trying to work through who she is going to choose! This ends on a cliffhanger, that literally made me gasp when it ended because I wasn’t expecting it to end!

Overall I loved the story and the characters. I will say that it did get kind of discouraging throughout the book with how many conflicts Isla had to work through. It increased my anxiety because it seem like just when she would figure something out or get a breakthrough, something else would pop up that would deter her plans. Just maybe a few less conflicts in the future would make my mind more at ease while reading/listening.

Can’t wait for the next one!

"I will choose you over the world every single time"

Listen, I've always been team Oro, but Skyshade might have swayed me slightly to the dark side, aka Grim.

Grim accepts all of Isla, the good, the bad, and the ugly. They both understand and see each other for who they really are. Chapter 17 was my turning point. (It had me screaming!!) Both of them have a morally gray strand. Grim is, of course, misunderstood. We get to see a flash of his rough upbringing. However, he truly does love Isla. She's all he has.

I also loved seeing Isla's growth throughout. Not only as a person but in her powers too. I know deep down that Isla and Grim are endgame. They are meant to be, and I see that now. However, I'll always love Oro. He's such a sweet man who loves her deeply, and it showed in this book.

Skyshade is by far the best book in the series so far!! I couldn't put it down, and as always, the ending has me wanting more!!

Holy moly!!!!! My jaw still has not left the floor! Alex you genius. This is the best book of the series. 5 stars. Thank you all for the opportunity to be an arc reviewer. Isla is annoying for the most part of this book, but the storyline itself is the best.

I can not wait for Tuesday's announcements from Alex!!!

I really liked the first and second book. I liked the romance story but felt this drug on bit. And it doesn’t seem like an ending is coming soon.

This book was just what I would have expected from the author of Lightlark and Nightbane. Skyshade was everything I could have hoped for to continue the Lightlark Saga. There was a little bit of spice (but not too much) and the spice that was in there was *chef’s kiss* perfect. There was TENSION, and heartbreak. There was betrayal and mystery. Alex Aster is an author that will be added to my “read everything they write” list.

Really enjoyed this book! Alex did an amazing jobs trying to grasp the complexity of self (internal), and external expectations. I enjoyed reading about Isla's growth, history, and background. I also enjoyed the aspects of getting to know Grimm and Isla's history a bit more. I went into this book assuming that it was the last one, but the ending implies that there may more. Thank you net galley for the ARC copy!

I like this story and think that if you liked the others in the series, you would like this one too. I thought this was going to be a trilogy and there is a cliffhanger at the end so I think we can expect more books in the series.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Alex Aster for the ARC - these thoughts are all of my own"

Skyshade, the third installment of The Lightlark Saga, promises readers an exciting mix of fantasy, adventure, and romance. As the third book in the series, I was extremely excited to see how Isla, Grim, and Oro's stories progresses. However, the pacing of the novel struggles to find a consistent rhythm. Pivotal events are often overshadowed by the shifting of focus.

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The descriptions of the settings are immersive, I was quickly swept up in this fantastical landscape. The love triangle is a major piece of the series. Unfortunately, in Skyshade, the love triangle was not as compelling as the previous novels in the series. Isla kept claiming a strong anger towards Grim; however, her emotions towards him were inconsistent at a sped pace. Furthermore, even when she claims to love Grim and want to be with him "forever", she seems to continue her flirtation with Oro. We did not get much development to Oro and Isla's relationship, so their chapters together seemed rush and out of focus.

Ultimately, Skyshade is a book with great potential. The foundation for a sweeping fantasy saga is there, but the uneven execution in the love triangle and pacing detracts from its overall impact. Fans of the series may find enough to enjoy, but others may struggle with the fragmented nature of the narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Skyshade. I have thoroughly enjoyed this YA series. This book did not disappoint! Hoping for another installment as I am still reeling from the ending!