I have no words. This series. This book. Wow. Just when you think there can't be a worse cliffhanger than the last book we are left with this... I am going to need a week to recover. I truly think Alex Aster's writing keeps getting better and better with every book. This world that she has created and formed is just incredible, especially with the added component in this book.

Another incredible installment to the Lightlark series, now I have to go back to waiting for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Aster, and the publisher for providing me with and ARC for honest review.

This is the third book in the Lightlark series. This book definitely made me feel things. Anger? yes. Happiness? Yes. This story continues on the brink of war and Isla struggles to make decisions that can affect everyone. We learn a lot about Isla's past and more about her parents also. I did enjoy how much we learn in regards to the lore. It is a really well thought out plot/storyline and there are some plot twists that did surprise me. I understand Isla's struggle about making the right decisions, because every action does in fact have a consequence. At times her decisions did seem almost impulsive or not well thought out. Her emotions did get the best of her at several points in this book which her guardians warned her about.

I found the first half of the book really slow, then the next 15% was heavy sexual tension, then went right back into the storyline. The jump between her hate for Grim to her love for Grim happened very quickly, and I would have liked to see some more development between the two before jumping right into being so infatuated with him.

The thing that I found most frustrating, was Isla's lack of ability to pick a romantic partner. She hates Grim so much mainly because of him betraying her and erasing her memories. However, Oro does something equally as bad in the second book. Yet she turns a blind eye to that and is so head over heels for Oro. She continuously goes back and forth throughout the book and is so "in love" with both men. While I do believe that she can have feelings for the two of them, the lengths that she describes her love for both of them is just unrealistic in my opinion. While everyone seems to be almost evenly split between the two love interests, I am team Grim. I think they have so much history and their bond is so strong compared to her and Oro. While I do believe that Oro truly does love Isla, I don't think Isla deserves him.

I will say that I enjoyed the first book more than the second, and the second more than the third. I think that the series is slowly declining and I truly hope that it picks back up in the fourth one and gives the impact that I am waiting for. This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see what Aster has in store for the next one!

Thank you to Netgalley, RBmedia, and Alex Aster for an ARC of this audiobook. This is my honest review of the book.

GUYS HOWWW! I’m actually in shock I need time to process and come back to the review but holysh**t this was all I ever needed ok sorry but not sorry Grim forever
I just have no words rn 5 outta 5 brain has turned to mush

Imagine my surprise when this WASNT THE LAST BOOK 😭

Wow, I have so many feelings about this book. I’ll start by saying that I love how the love triangle isn’t the main focus in this one, it’s very much on the back burner. After having two books that were very dedicated to each man, I was a little worried about this dragging out the romance.

I think I enjoyed this book more than the second - where I really lived for the flashbacks. There was so much action and plot in this story that I was amazed by!

That being said, I feel like I can’t even remember the main point of this story because there are now so many points and so many added layers to the adventure.

This next book is going to take us in a completely different direction, I can feel it!!

First off - thank you thank you thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audio arc! I am a big audiobook girlie, and listened to lightlark and nightbane on audio so I was very excited to listen to number 3 on audio. I was unsure where they were going with this plot for a while, and it did seem kind of boring/mundane/monotonous at some points, but it did pick up in my opinion, and I'm a sucker for a big action sequence, which we definitely get in this third installment. Aster is also notorious for ending her books on a cliffhanger, and Skyshade is no exception. You can tell her writing has matured a bit and I'm enjoying the way she is fully fleshing out some of these characters. I will be excited to read her adult romance debut when it comes out in Summer 2025.

*thank you so much netgalley for this arc! (all thoughts are my own).*

➳ 2.5 ☆

skyshade is the third installment in the lightlark trilogy, and unfortunately this was the worst book thus far. this book picks up immediately after the events of nightbane. we continue to follow isla, grim, and oro, as they navigate this life of love, secrets, and perfidy. while this series has ended on cliffhangers—making the next book a direct continuation of the previous events—this novel emphasizes the cracks and extraneous side quests that are irrelevant to this overall story.

➺ isla : isla is our main character in this series. i was cognizant of what this story entailed especially, pertaining to her character. aster uses a lot of arbitrary plot devices for isla making her a weak lead. in this novel, she continues to explore a way to find a solution to the oracles prophecy, while continuing to lust after both grim & oro. isla was always a very incredulous character, but the jarring nature that was portrayed in this novel was by far the worst aspect of this book. there was not one ounce of inducement for isla's idiosyncrasy. isla has always been a self insert fantasy female lead, however, there was a lot of wasted potential here. she had good qualities to delve into, sadly nothing was explored and she remained the same after three books.

➺ grim : grim is one-half of the love triangle for this series. he was always written as the morally grey + villainous character who kills everyone just for the sake of fulfilling said archetype. while grim is the man i prefer, it does become blaring when the author clearly has favorites. she has always written this series through the scope of ⌞the villain gets the girl⌝ — putting grim on the forefront of this narrative. while there is nothing erroneous about using such facile plot devices, there is no need to market your novels as an “enchanting love triangle”, when the obvious choice has always been exalted. there was a lot of theatrical drama that was redundant and superfluous.

➺ oro : there will always be one character that receives the short end of the stick and this is oro. due to the fact that i am comprehensive that there are a lot of isla + oro shippers, i am unsure why aster did not allow them to go through any real development with each other. if there is a presented trope in which one girl has to choose between killing two of her so called love interests, there needs to be more of an indication and credence to this plot device. while oro is not mundane and futile, he has no genuine reason to be a part of these novels after book one. in addition, he was present in this novel for about ten minutes, and sadly was abrasive and useless the entire duration of his time on page. complete wasted potential on this part.

all in all, there is only so much repetition of comprehensible & stereotypical script that can be displayed. while i am aware this is YA, that does not warrant the novel to be banal and glib. i would recommend checking this out if you have read the first two, but aster herself seems to be unsure of her wants. this book somehow also ends with the potential of numerous sequels to follow.

This is an amazing and fitting end for the series!! Amazing! I look forward to more of Alex’s work and what she will do in the future. This series has been great!

I was so excitied to finally hear more of Isla, Grimm and Oro. This was Isla's villain era and I am here for it. But the ending was another major cliff hangar or was that the end? I hope there is a book 4 coming because woah that cant be how it ends. I laughed, I cried, and enjoyed the story.

This book was easily ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of my most anticipated reads this year. The way Alex Aster wrote this trilogy has me longing for MORE of this world and their stories!
The love triangle isn’t the main focus and it is so refreshing to read something that has a romance SUB PLOT. Key word: sub. The romance is a nice balance but not overwhelming and there’s more about the world and adventures around Lightlark.
The way Alex put in components of suspense for most characters while we’re still getting to know them is phenomenal. One of my favorite trilogies I’ve read EVER.
Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media and Alex Aster for providing me with this ARC for my honest review.

Alex, you have some explaining to do! I finished my ARC audio copy of Skyshade this morning and now I don’t know how to get through my work day. I need the rest of you to get this and finish it so we can talk about it. I HAVE QUESTIONS!

She would either end the world or save it.

“She had told him about the prophecy, she trusted him. The pain twisted in his gut like a sword.”

The realization of how much she loves both of them.

Isla is a bad ass!

Just finished the advanced reader audiobook and I. Am. Shooketh. Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley and Amulet Books for allowing me the opportunity to be an advanced reader/listener to the Skyshade release.

Now, when I say this book will leave you questioning all the things but in a fun way… I mean it. I thought this series was to be a trilogy, but if that wasn’t a cliffhanger of an ending I don’t know what is. I am not going to spoil any of the details, but my jaw hit the earth’s core. Am I the only one who thought this was a trilogy? I see what you did there Alex Aster, you sneaky sneak, and I’m not mad about it.

I think it is exceedingly hard to keep momentum through a fantasy series. I’ve read over 350 books now in 2024 and the majority of them have been fantasies or fantasy series; so, when I say Skyshade holds its own in this already memorable series, I mean it. The characters keep the things you already loved about them, but somehow make you love and root for them even more as the tale unfolds.

The love triangle still stands, but while the plot from Nightbane was very Oro-centric, this book picks up right where that book left off and you get to have time with our dark and broody Grim, once again.

There are a lot of plot twists and turns throughout this book and it will have you guessing at what comes next and who is on the side of good vs. evil until the bitter end. Isla really comes into her own and discovers herself in this book, which is both painful and beautiful to experience.

This book makes you feel all the things, but it also has the same charm and wit that we’ve grown accustomed to with Aster. I’ll give you one of my favorite lines from Skyshade that is not a spoiler, but gives you a sense of what I mean….

“I love chocolate in a way that is probably concerning.”

Well, I love this world, characters, series, and book in a way that is probably concerning too. Suzy Jackson did a phenomenal job in narrating this audiobook, just as she did books 1&2. She really does an awesome job making you experience each character. Kudos. I listen to A LOT of audiobooks and not all narrators are created equal.

I think everyone who enjoyed Lightlark and Nightbane will also really dig Skyshade…. But be prepared to have your mind blown 🤯.

Thank you again for the opportunity to advance listen/read Skyshade. It was a privilege. ❤️📚

Skyshade
***ARC thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia ***

Skyshade picks up right after the disastrous conclusion of book 2, Nightbane. Isla awakens on Nightshade with Grim and she is broken and confused. She battles her two hearts, attempting to push away Grim’s affections (and her conflicting feelings) while longing for Oro, willing to do anything to save him and Lightlark. She is fearful of her power and desperate to understand the prophecy. She seeks answers to her destiny and as the storms intensify, it’s clear a greater evil looms and that she holds the fate of the world in her hands. Annnnnd, we all want to know, who the heck is she going to choose?!

Firstly, I want to touch on the fact that this is a very entertaining read (listen). The voice actor, Suzy Jackson, is a fantastic narrator and although male voices are always a tough sale with a feminine reader, it was done well.

This much anticipated sequel was satisfying -and frustrating - as only a story of an intense love triangle can be. Though not perfect and still decidedly YA in writing style and content (mostly!), it was still a solid read. It’s not deep or thought provoking, but essentially a light read of pure entertainment. Just what I needed!

The world building has improved and the romance took a little bit of a backseat to the story and that impressed me. (Don’t worry there’s still lots of steam!) I was happy to see more filled out characters, lore, and context but I still feel that it has a lot of room to grow.

Our MC Isla is not the most likable in my opinion. She’s of course beautiful and I think she is humanized on purpose to not be ‘perfect’ on the inside. That’s endearing but how it’s done rubs me the wrong way at times. I love that she just doesn’t seem to know how to give up and she’s desperately trying to redeem herself. I find myself irritated with how juvenile, illogical and lacking in confidence she is at times. By the end she is more confident and pieces might be falling into place.

As a side note, this was the first audiobook I’ve listened to of this series and I cannot stand the pronounciation of her name as Eyes-la. (Yes, I know that’s how the author meant it to sound but I just can’t).

Grim is his over protective possessive dark puppy-in-love self, with a heavy dash of slight her and die. He is desperate to make Isla happy and you can see how hard he tries. He’s still hot of course and makes you want her to choose him, what can I say.

Oro is his golden good boy wholesome love self that would do anything for Isla. He is utterly broken without her and desperate to have her back, and it pulls the heartstrings big time. He’s still hot and the ‘good guy’ and of course makes you want her to choose him, what can I say?

This book has lots of slow burn and tantalizing longing centered on looks and touches that stimulate desire, regular flash backs and direct allusions of spice. The spice is definitely written for young adults but the storyline is decidedly written for teens. The amount of semi-smut pushes the envelope for the teen audience in my opinion. Isla and her men are too horny and it shows regularly with noncommittal spiciness. There’s almost always some excuse or barrier to stop the spice, and not that I’m specifically looking for spice, it just became predictable and tedious for an adult reader as the YA label is on full display. However, there were spicy scenes where Isla fully takes charge of her sexuality and it was satisfying to see her make choices rather than avoiding them. Although there are few moderately explicit scenes, I have to mention this spice seems borderline at best for teens - but I sure liked it!

Now I do have a main complaint I’ve made with the other books in the series and this one is no different. I feel like the storyline jumps and doesn’t have great transitions. It is in the flavor of a writer still solidly honing their craft, and that’s okay.
Alex Aster has written a fantastic sequel and overall this was an entertaining read with room to mature. Of course we’re left wanting more with another cliffhanger. Here’s to book four!

I can honestly say I’m at a loss for words right now. I knew this was going to be good, but I was honestly not expecting it to be my favorite book of the series!

Isla really gave main character energy in this book, she was more confident, her powers were intriguing, and she is far from the timid, secluded girl we met in Lightlark. The world in this book was so well put together, and I feel like Alex really evolved with this book as well. Not that I didn’t love the first 2 books this one was just overall so much more well rounded. It was fast paced and there was truly no good stopping point to put this down.

The love triangle while definitely still there was not the main focus of the book, we got a lot more back story for Isla, lots of unanswered questions were answered. I loved the different characters we got, honestly I wish this book was even longer because Alex really just had me wanting more of even side characters, she really knows how to make you love them. The plot twists were done so well, they’re not anything I saw coming based on the last 2 books. I am so excited to see the world building Alex creates with the next book.

I honestly thought this was a trilogy so after the pain staking ending we got I don’t know whether I’m happy there will be more or devastated we have to wait. Alex truly put her whole entire authortussy into this book and I cannot wait to read the next book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, RB media and Alex Aster for the opportunity to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review

First let me say I read this book in a little over 24 hours and I can’t describe the range of emotions I experienced within that period of time. By the end I was left speechless. The author does such a great job capturing Islas mixed feelings over Oro and Grim I felt the conflict for her ! One minute I’m convinced I want to to pack my bags and go relax on a beach while while golden god Oro massages me with his sun warm hands. Then the next minute I’m swooning over Grims declaration of infinite love for his heart ripper, because deep down every woman wants a partner who is still going to love you if you become a crazed killer ripping the hearts out of evil men and earning the name “heart ripper” because if that is what makes her happy go for it.
This so far was my favorite book in the series. I was expecting this to be the end but I’m happy it seems we will have another book coming.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to RBMedia for providing me the audiobook as an ARC through NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. In this third book of the Lightlark series, we pick up right where book 2 leaves off. A journey of lies, death, betrayal, and love. In the first two books, Isla goes on quests with the two men she falls in love with, but in this book she finally goes on her own quest to find a solution to an impossible prophecy. Which man will she choose to kill to save the lives of many?

I think this book does a good job in tying in other elements from the previous books to give us clearer answers to everything that has happened. Also, the progression of powers in this book sets up for an epic ending to come. Because there HAS to be another book with that cliffhanger.
I think my biggest gripe is the whiplash I get with Isla indecision between Oro and Grimm. It makes her come off as very selfish even though her main goal is to save as many lives as possible. We’re 3 books in and she can’t give make a choice with enough conviction to let one of them go. I don’t know how much more of that I can take.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
***I received a copy of this as an audio ARC via Netgalley for my honest review ***

- Fantasy - YA - Love triangle - Third in series -

While Lightlark and Nightbane had me in a chokehold needing to know what happens next, Skyshade fell a little short in comparison. It felt like we were jumping (or portaling if you will) from one place to the next and was a little larder to follow along than its predecessors. Now, this isn't to say I won't be pre-ordering and reading a fourth book in this series if it were to come out(I have not seen any announcements of a fouth as of yet). Throughout book 3 Isla is still torn between her feelings for both Grim and Oro (I myself have been and always was #teamgrim ) while trying to understand the Oracles final prophecy and still searching for a way to save her world. As with the first two, Aster leaves us on a major cliffhanger, leaving this series wide open for at least one more book.

#skyshade #netgalley #audioarc #arcreview #lightlark

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC review.

I honestly have no words. I listened to the last chapter twice to ensure that I was hearing it right and am still questioning my life choices. This was the wildest rollercoaster ride I have ever been on. It has you laughing, crying, annoyed at some characters and wanting to throw the book. I am seriously questioning everything. This is the final book in a series but I feel like Alex Aster just ripped my heart out stomped on it and gave it back to me. I feel like her response would be sorry about that.

Isla finds out so much about her that she tries to find ways to fix it. I feel this lead to the outcome of how everything ended. I am just so at a loss for words. EVERYONE needs to go get this book so they understand what I am going through.

My goodness, I don't have words. I started Skyshade, with a couple of hopes -- that this book would bring Isla another step closer to the only man who I think deserves her and two, that she would find her strength and self-confidence to handle all that is thrown at her. Lets' just say, I'm still full of hope but also full of a lot of questions! I thought this would be the conclusion, but in the brilliance of Alex Aster, she's left me hanging on again.

The world of Lightlark is so vast; the relationship dynamics, have me begging for more. I love that she writes in such a way, that I feel connected to the characters and invested in their emotions and lives. At times, I found myself sad and grieving along with Isla, then not a couple chapters later angry at Isla and begging that she go a different direction. ;) However, you cannot say that she's not relatable and strong. We got to see such fierceness in her, in Skyshade and I'm desperate for more of her and this love triangle in the future!

I have a list of quotes that shook me and will stay with me long after this read. I can't wait to share all the quotes that had my heart entangled!

You won't regret diving into this series!

Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media for providing me with this advanced copy and the chance to be emerged in Lightlarks' world all over again.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Aster, and the publisher for allowing me access to the audiobook.

I definitely should have re-read Nightbane. It would have made my experience better. Overall, I did enjoy Skyshade. It did feel like a different series. There was a lot more spice in this one. I did like how strong and vengeful Isla is. The audiobook was great! I would highly recommend it!

Alex does it again! This book was amazing. I was able to listen to the audiobook early and I am so grateful to have been able to. Thank you NetGalley for sending me the audio.

I won't lie, Isla can drive me insane. I get where all over her reasoning comes from. And frankly she doesn't deserve either Grim or Oro. But I will forever be team Grim. The devotion that he shows for her is the sort of unhinged love I gobble up! Oro is definitely a swoon worthy good guy, but I like my men morally grey.

The plot twists in the book were fantastic. I did not see Lark coming out of all of this. I truly thought her cousin was the betrayer. And poor Isla had some hard truths to swallow this book. But the darkness within her only has you rooting for her more. It makes her feel more approachable within the book. The cliffhanger at the end has me itching for the next book already!