Lightlark Review

Whether you're looking to share your thoughts on Bookstagram, TikTok, or Reddit, a "good" post about Lightlark usually leans into its status as a polarizing "love it or hate it" read.

The release of the sequel, Nightbane (2023), marked a turning point for the franchise. The second book pivoted heavily toward the romance elements, leaning into the tropes that the core fanbase adored: "touch her and die" protectiveness, possessive alpha males, and high-angst relationship drama.

To break the curse, Isla must travel to the ephemeral island of Lightlark and participate in the Centennial. The rules are brutal: every 100 years, the island appears for 100 days. The rulers must compete in dangerous trials. If no one wins, they all die. If one wins, only their curse is broken, often at the expense of the others.

Is the Lightlark hype real, or is it just BookTok magic? ✨ lightlark

The protagonist is Isla Crown, the ruler of the Wildling realm. Like the rulers of the other five realms (Sun, Star, Moon, Sky, and Night), Isla is cursed. Her curse kills anyone she falls in love with—a twist on the classic "fated mates" and "star-crossed lovers" tropes.

The video exploded. Millions of views later, the publishing industry took notice. What followed was a heated auction for the manuscript, eventually landing Aster a deal with Amulet Books (an imprint of ABRAMS) and a reported seven-figure deal for the film rights from Universal Pictures and the producers of Twilight .

I went into this nervous because of the mixed reviews, but I actually found it to be a fast, fun "trash read." Yes, the world-building is a bit simple, but that plot twist around the 40% mark had me in a chokehold. Whether you're looking to share your thoughts on

Despite a 14% score on Rotten Tomatoes (for the audiobook) and a 3.3 on Goodreads (low for a hyped YA fantasy), Lightlark succeeded in its primary goal: it sold. It debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Aster signed a movie deal with Universal Pictures. A sequel, Nightbane , followed quickly.

Possesses plant and animal control but is cursed to kill anyone they fall in love with.

Alex Aster, a previously published author of children’s graphic novels, spent two years pitching Lightlark to publishers, only to be met with rejection. In a last-ditch effort, she turned to social media. In early 2022, she posted a series of videos pitching the book’s concept: an island that appears once every 100 years, six cursed rulers, a deadly centennial, and a romance that threatens to break everything. To break the curse, Isla must travel to

Each ruler possesses distinct magical abilities and suffers under a specific, wicked curse:

Controls ice and water, but the ocean becomes lethal to them during every full moon. Key Themes and Appeal