***Spoilers



Mixed Feelings



I was so excited for this book, but I don’t like the direction it’s going. Isla was insufferable for most of the book. Keeping secrets from people she supposedly loved and refused to see that’s what brought on most of her problems in the first place. At this point I’d hope to see some character growth but there’s little. At every turn she seems to make the wrong choice and refuses to let anyone help her. Going to other random characters more often than she asks for help from those close to her.

This whole love triangle thing is also pretty disappointing at this point. Isla willingly married Grim again and she still wants another man. If this is to become a “why chose” then we should have had a warning from book one. Not everyone enjoys books where others are torn apart because one character keeps hurting them. Telling Oro she left to save him thinking that would make him hate her is so naive it’s laughable. Grim deserves so much more. My heart absolutely broke for him as he watch Isla pine for another man.

Much of the story of Lightlark is drowned out by the drama of the love triangle.




Thank you so much NetGalley for the audiobook of Skyshade.

Skyshade, the third book in the Lightlark series, picks up right where Nightbane (book 2) left off, which is GREAT because Nightbane ended with the CRAZIEST cliffhanger (and might I say, this book is no exception to that trend 👀)! I felt like Lightlark was a book that establish the love triangle between Oro and Grim, book 2 focused on Oro, and now book 3 kind of focuses on Grim BUT of course, there is still interactions between all three and just Isla and Oro. There is a lot of back and forth between the two BUT this book seems a little less about the romance BUT more about Isla's growth (into herself BUT ALSO into her powers!!!)! And speaking of romance, I would definitely say that this book is a little more new adult than young adult (like Lightlark)!🔥
A lot of people are expecting this book to have the Grim vs Oro decision and if I had to, I'd say that I'm not entirely sure that this decision is made yet in this book BUT I will continue to look forward to the big decision to be made in the future!👀
This audiobook was very well done too! Lightlark was one of my FAVORITE reads of 2022 so I was SO excited to get early access to the third book in the series! My preferred format for this book was an audiobook and I am so grateful to RB Audio for an early copy in exchange for an unbiased review!💖

Thank you RBmedia for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book and found it to be such a fun fantasy/romantasy read. Isla is a strong female lead who has really come into her own throughout the series and I can’t wait to see where book 4 takes us! I think a lot of people will be happy about the relationship dynamic in this book (and probably some that won’t be hehe).

I had the pleasure of listening to this on audiobook and enjoyed Suzy Jackson’s narration. I would love to see a dramatized recording of this series in the future.

Sky shade is book 3 in Alex Aster’s Lightlark series. I went in thinking this was the last book in the series and it was going to clear up things and conclude the series, but getting closer to the end of the book and the crazy cliffhanger that left me speechless, definitely proved me wrong. Now I’m sitting here processing and I have so many more questions. I’m super excited to what’s going to happen in the next book.


Skyshade starts off where Nightbane book 2 left off, it was a little slower starting off for me personally, but the 40% mark it started picking up. There’s a few plot twists I wasn’t expecting it that really grabbed my attention. Closer to the end of the book the faster everything started to picking up. The action was fast paced, it had me locked in and then BAM it was the end of the book which ends with a cliffhanger. I had to listen to the last few chapters again to process what just happened. The last few chapters had me mind blown trying to process what had happened. Now I can’t wait for the next book and see what happens with the story and characters.

Also, the love triangle is still there but personally I don’t feel it is the main plot line of this book. Isla is more on a mission to figure out what she needs to do to save her people and loved ones without destroying everything. I know a lot of people are driven by the love triangle but I’m so glad this book is more geared toward the actual story line and Isla’s self discovery learning more about her past and what she is capable of and the adventure along the way!

This has been a pleasure to receive an arc of the audiobook of Skyshade from NetGalley and RBmedia. I’ve enjoyed listening to this audiobook to review, thank you so much!

Skyshade is interesting from the first page to the last. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, so I can’t wait for the next book. This book made me love Grim even more. There is something so romantic about him. He loves her for her. Isla’s character development is fascinating to watch unfold. If you liked the first two books, you’ll love Skyshade.

I got the privilege of listening to the audiobook before the release. Thank you! As with the other two audiobooks Suzy Jackson does a great job narrating the book. Suzy’s is great at invoking emotions.

One thing I didn’t like (if you know..you know)
I didn’t get the one answer I so desperately NEEDED. I’ll have to trust the process even if I can’t wait for the definitive answer.

Suzy Jackson does an absolutely amazing job bringing this story to life. Her narration is fabulous! This book had me on the edge of my seat, I just couldn't stop listening. It's that good y'all! And for being the third in a series there was still so much fantastic world building. Diving deeper into the wonderful lore of the series was thrilling. And seeing Isla grow and come into her own was great. This one had twists and turns that I didn't see coming but I loved every second of it! If you like young adult fantasy this book and the entire series is definitely for you. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for allowing me to listen to this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ok. Listen to me when I tell you… I LOVED THIS BOOK! Although I’m sad I’m done I’m glad I got to experience more of Isla, Grim, and Oro! If you want a book that has the perfect amount of action and romance this is for you! It’s so different from the first two books in the series, and I personally loved that because sometime especially in fantasy series later books tend to die off or this plot gets dry. But this book was not that! I was loving every second of it!
So good and did NOT disappoint Alex you did it again!!!!
I can’t wait to get my physical copy because the amount of tabs it will have is going to be GORGOUSSSSS!!!! So yes all I have left to say is this book is amazing, and I don’t know what to do now because I was so sucked into the her world.———————————————————————
I’m not going to lie I was so nervous on who Isla would end up with and when Isla was hooking up with Oro I kid you not I screamed! But thankfully it was a dream! The relief I felt… I can’t even put into words. You know it’s a good book when the author does such a good job in making what the create make readers react outwardly in a certain way! So yes I was obsessed. Once I started listening I couldn’t stop! I’m trying to think of what I disliked about this book but I can’t think of anything. While it was annoying Isla still had feelings for Oro, I’m glad that was included because she’s not just going to stop loving him out of no where.

That cliff hanger!!!! I don’t know what to say I need book 4 asap!
But my over all thought of this book were positive!

I’m not going to lie I was so nervous on who Isla would end up with and when Isla was hooking up with Oro I kid you not I screamed! But thankfully it was a dream! The relief I felt… I can’t even put into words. You know it’s a good book when the author does such a good job in making what the create make readers react outwardly in a certain way! So yes I was obsessed. Once I started listening I couldn’t stop! I’m trying to think of what I disliked about this book but I can’t think of anything. While it was annoying Isla still had feelings for Oro, I’m glad that was included because she’s not just going to stop loving him out of no where. And yes we don’t know for sure if she ended up with Grim, but that’s the vibe I got from this book.
This book was so fun! And sets up the plot for book 4 with a bang!

Skyshade is the third installment of the Lightlark saga, picking up where Nightbane left off.
Readers are thrusts back into the complex world of Isla centering on her journey of self discovery, becoming the heart of the plot.
Isla find herself at a crossroads torn between her duty to her kingdom while also being torn between her intense and confusing feelings for Grim and Oro, each representing different paths for her future. With the future of the kingdom uncertain the stakes heighten dramatically. The looming threat to her people and loved ones compels Isla to confront not only her fears and personal dilemmas but also the implications of trying to change fate. The dynamics between Isla, Grim, and Oro highlight the concept of love and sacrifice. *Heartbreak is inevidaible.*
Skyshade had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating how Isla's decisions will not only affect her relationships but alter the course of the future. The end left me wanting more. As the chapter closes on Skyshade, it's evident that the saga holds much more in store, leaving us anticipating Isla's next steps in a world filled with uncertainty and adventure!

Alex Aster’s storytelling ensures that the emotional weight of Isla's experiences resonates long after the final page is turned, making it clear that this series is not just about battles and romance, but also about the connections and the sacrifices that accompany love.
The story keeps readers captivated from beginning to end!

Quotes:
“Following me?” - “Always”
“Love kills kingdoms”

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Tropes:
✨Love Triangle
✨Heartbreak
✨Fantasy
✨Twist and Turns
✨Chosen one
✨Prophecies
✨Romantasy
✨Angst

Special thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for sending me this arc to listen to and review!

What the heck have you done to me, Alex?? I need to know if there will be a fourth book. If not, I will be left feeling like this series is unfinished. I can't find anything online about how long the series will be though. Grim never fails to disappoint, but I'm disappointed in her flip flopping because she very clearly has 0 chemistry with Oro, and Grim loves Isla but Oro loves the IDEA of Isla. Aside from the before chapters in Nightbane I thought this one was the best one yet though, and although I guessed the major twist I almost always do and I think there will be a fair amount of people that it will get. Overall, it was an enjoyable read/listen and I finished it in about 4-5 hours!

WOW - That’s it! Just kidding. In all seriousness I loved this book. I listened to it in one day. The ending had my heart pounding. I would pay to spend a day in Alex Asters mind. Skyshade is an excellent installment in this series, I say this because there has to be more! Like the previous books I loved the love triangle, #teamgrim. I will say that this book felt larger and higher stakes than the previous books. It was such a wild ride. Aster did an amazing job transporting us, the readers, into the world. Isla really comes into her own in Skyshade. She is such a force, we see her grow confidence and learn about her past. Overall the book was a fun and thrilling read plus Suzy Jackson did a wonderful job narrating and really helped bring the characters to life.

Ugh the hold this series has on me! I finished Skyshade in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed every second. The only reason it’s not five stars is I liked nightbane better and wanted some separation in the ratings. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series of the year!

Also- I was told this was a trilogy and abruptly learned it is not with that terrible(y awesome) cliffhanger!

Alex is the QUEEN of cliffhangers.
I like that the triangle isn't the main focus of this book and I can't wait for number 4!

I wrongly thought this was the conclusion. If that was the ending I quite this series. Working of the new assumption that the series continues at least for a fourth book, I cannot wait for the next book!!!! That ending was something. This is just a fun popcorn fantasy series and I’m here for it.

In the third installment of Alex Aster’s Lightlark series, we dive deeper into a world that’s uniquely hers, and it’s a thrilling ride! Aster really expands on the lore we’ve seen so far, giving us more context and richness that makes the story even more engaging.

The love triangle? It’s there, but it’s not the main focus, which is refreshing. Isla, our protagonist, is such a force! She’s confident and knows exactly what she wants, both in terms of her powers and her relationships. Her journey of self-discovery is inspiring, especially as she embraces her own sexuality.

The theme of trust is also a big player here, with characters facing some tough dilemmas that keep you on the edge of your seat. Aster does a fantastic job of weaving suspense into character development, making every twist feel satisfying.

And I have to mention Suzy Jackson’s narration—she brings the story to life! Her voice adds so much to the experience, making it not just a book but an enjoyable journey.

Overall, this was such a fun read! Aster has truly carved out a special place in the fantasy genre with Lightlark, and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next.