The Nora Theory

Skyshade by Alex Aster is the third book in the Lightlark series, a YA fantasy series set in a sweeping fantasy world, with an enemies-to-lovers love triangle that persists throughout the series.

*this review contains spoilers for Lightlark and Nightbane*

Skyshade picks up right after the final battle at the end of Nightbane, the second book in the series. Isla is back with Grim in his castle, with him to try to save Oro and his island, Lightlark, from certain death. Throughout the book, she struggles with the prophecy that states she will kill either Oro or Grim and with them all of their people, tied to their lives through magic.

Grim is trying desperately to win back Isla’s love and trust, but Oro still has half of her heart. To make things more complicated, a series of storms are devastating Grim’s people, and no one can find the cause. This trio is facing not only their increasingly complex feelings but an ancient evil that they have no idea how to vanquish. Oh yeah, and they’re dealing with that pesky prophecy that promises heartbreak and devastation for pretty much everyone.

This is the love triangle to end all love triangles. Generally by book three in a series, the heroine has made her choice once and for all, but Isla is still fully torn between Oro and Grim. Frankly, it grows rather tiresome. It is past time for her to choose. Or for the plot to choose for her.

I have known which of these guys I was rooting for since book one. This book makes it even clearer who the endgame should be. But alas, the triangle persists.

Throughout this book, Isla is a frustrating character. Like girl, what are you doing? Make up your mind about literally anything. I was rooting for you. She consistently does things that make no sense, things that make you just want to yell at her through the page.

Part of why the characters are forced into nonsensical decisions is because the plot is all over the place. At several points throughout the story, things aren’t making sense, in a way that doesn’t feel intentional. Most of the major plot points feel a little random. It’s all kind of disjointed and makes for a frustrating reading experience.

I almost chucked my Kindle at the wall when I finished this book. I thought it was the last in the series, and evidently, that is not true. It ends on a cliffhanger, a wild one at that. This series should have been a trilogy. There is simply no need to keep dragging this out.

I still love this world, and I still love some of these characters (okay, just Grim) but this third book in the series seriously dulled the shine. As much as this book frustrated me, I’m still going to read the fourth book because I just have to know who this damn girl picks, although it feels like an obvious choice to me, I can’t leave this one unfinished.

Writing: 2.5

Spice: 2