Alex Aster

#BookTok phenomenon and award-winning author Alex Aster delivers readers a masterfully written, utterly gripping YA fantasy novel
 
Welcome to the Centennial.
 
Every 100 years, the island of Lightlark appears to host the Centennial, a deadly game that only the rulers of six realms are invited to play. The invitation is a summons—a call to embrace victory and ruin, baubles and blood. The Centennial offers the six rulers one final chance to break the curses that have plagued their realms for centuries. Each ruler has something to hide. Each realm’s curse is uniquely wicked. To destroy the curses, one ruler must die.   
 
Isla Crown is the young ruler of Wildling—a realm of temptresses cursed to kill anyone they fall in love with. They are feared and despised, and are counting on Isla to end their suffering by succeeding at the Centennial.
 
To survive, Isla must lie, cheat, and betray…even as love complicates everything.
 
Filled with secrets, deception, romance, and twists worthy of the darkest thrillers, Lightlark is a must-read for fans of legendary fantasy writers Marie Lu, Marissa Meyer, and Leigh Bardugo.

Lightlark #1

Lightlark 

Ellie 

“She had always longed for more ... everything. More experiences, more places, more people.”

Harley Rae

“The full egg represented the moon," she said, her voice hoarse from singing. “The yolk ... is the sun." How many times had she thought the full moon looked like an egg? That the sun looked yolky?

“Everything in the library was on full display, shelves built into the walls. Isla started up the spiral walkway, forcing herself not to look too carefully at the books. If she saw any of their titles, she wasn’t she would be able to resist the temptation to sit down and read.

You will have plenty of time to read once your curses are broken, she told herself. After using the bondbreaker, she would have the freedom to pillage the library in the Wilding realm and devour every book of she wished.”

“Her greatest fear was the one she faced in Celeste's trial - not living.

Being trapped for eternity in a room without having done everything she dreamed of.”

Lizeth Esmeralda

Falling deeply and truly in love meant forming a bond that gave a beloved complete access to one’s abilities.

Belen Ochoa

And I don't know what I enjoy more. Replaying the image of my sword against your throat . . . or thinking about how your heart might look on my plate "

Grim’s dark eyes flashed with amusement. “Careful, Hearteater,” he whispered, towering over her, standing far too close. “I might just give it to you.”

Isla hadn’t worked for years for her efforts to be useless, to be a victim of this room and her circumstances. She hadn’t even known how much she was missing. Now that she saw how much the world had to offer, she wanted it all. She wanted everything. 

She was afraid. Though Terra had trained her not to fear death, she did. But it wasn’t what she feared most. Her greatest fear was the one she faced in Celeste’s trial - not living. Being trapped for eternity in a room without having done everything she dreamed of. 

“If anyone makes a move to harm you, I will ruin them and their entire realm.”

“Isla”, he said, her name so soft on his lips. She saw her own emotions reflected in his eyes. Confusion. Not knowing how it happened. Just that it did. Love was a strange thing. She wanted him in so many ways. Had for a while, though she had tried her best to deny it. More than anything she trusted him. Was that the basis of love?

Lightlark quotes

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