Name: Nightbane
Series: Lightlark #2
Author: Alex Aster
Publisher: Amulet Paperbacks
Format: Paperback
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Noted Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Love Triangle
Steam or Spice: Spice-ish
Rating:
Synopsis: Goodreads
sla Crown has secured the love of two powerful rulers and broken the curses that plagued the six realms for centuries, but few know the true origins of her powers.
Now, in the wake of a crushing betrayal, Isla finds herself struggling to win respect as the newly crowned leader of two separate realms. Worse, her fellow rulers haven’t ceded victory quietly, and there are others in Isla’s midst who don’t believe her ascent to power was earned.
As certain death races toward Lightlark and secrets from the past begin to unravel, Isla must weigh her responsibility to her people against the whims of the most dangerous traitor of all: her heart.
Review:
Nightbane is the second book in the Lightlark series, and so there will be spoilers for Lightlark in the below review.
After the reveal that Grimshaw had removed Isla’s memories of their whole relationship in order to help with Celeste’s plan, I (along with all the other Team Grim Girlies out there) was deserpate for more information and more Grim-page-time. Alex Aster delivered in Nightbane. If you weren’t a Grim Girlie, when you went into Nightbane, I’d be shocked if you weren’t turned to our way by the end of it!
I was living for the chapters from the past because finding out what Grimshaw and Isla had been up to in the year of memories that were taken from her was was giving me life whilst reading this installment! It does mean that I did struggle with a lot of the present day chapters as there was a serious lack of Grim. I started warming to Oro by the sort of mid point of the book, but not enough to be preferring the relationship between him and Isla!
When I read Lightlark, one of my issues was that I occasionally felt like I couldn’t follow the story. I just felt like it was hard to follow! I’m pleased to say that I did not have the issue with Nightbane – even with the back and forth happening with the timing of the chapters – the story was easy to follow and I’m really pleased with that!
The plot however, didn’t really pick up for a while – there was a good portion of Nightbane where it felt like nothing was happening in the present day. But oh boy, when it did pick up – it really picked up! I quickly went from reading somewhat slowly, to not being able to read the pages fast enough. Now i’m just gutted that I can’t read skyshade because I have to wait for the paperback to be released!
I’m definitely enjoying this series, and the writing (at least in my opinion) is improving through the books. But I definitely feel like the author is playing with our hearts because this love triangle doesn’t seem like it is going anywhere yet. Though I speak for all other Grim Girlies when I say, the end game must be Grim!
“When you’ve seen something truly beautiful, everything else starts to look painfully ordinary.”
Reading With Tyler 
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