Thank you netgalley for this arc.
On my Goodreads version of this post, I’m announcing that this will likely be my last formal review on Goodreads. Here, we’re still kicking. So if you want to keep up with my antics, well, this is the place to be.
On Goodreads, I have rated Skyshade three stars, which isn’t that bad. Well. The book is still bad. But this is book number three in the series, and it’s on par with the previous books. And honestly, I’d look like a fucking moron if I kept reading these books and rating them 1 star. 1 starring at this point feels mean. I’m not a hater. I’m a scholar. Ok, I’m a little of both. But mostly, I’m here to have fun.
Did I have fun reading Skyshade? Boy, did I.
As much as I wish I could tell you the plot of this book, I really can’t. Actually. I recorded a 20 minute audio message for my friends that will be exclusive blog content (with spoilers). Enjoy. Actually, relistening, that sums up most of my thoughts. LOL.
Yes, this book did not make any sense. Yes, each reveal was more confusing than the last. Yes, there was an expected lack of Oro content (my swatino king…). Idgaf about the love triangle anymore. We’re now living in a post-Challengers (2024) world, there are throuple cathedrals for all with eyes to see, and this back and forth now bores me immensely. Especially because I don’t like Grim. Though, to be fair, it’s clear the narrative does not give a FUCK about Oro because otherwise the author would be making 39483204 “You came?” “You called.” videos on tiktok. But it’s ok. I will support him enough for the two of us.
There isn’t really a “plot” here. There’s another goose chase. There’s more angst. There’s. Whatever makes the Lightlark books the Lightlark books. I will say that all the magical healing elixer got destroyed (which was a criticism from my Nightbane review because it lessened many of the stakes) so if Miss Aster really is reading these reviews and encorporating the feedback, then. First of all, I’m sorry. Second of all, you’re welcome.
In my first Lightlark review, I compared the nonsensical nature of these books to Supernatural, and at this point, we’re powerscaling at a Supernatural rate. You know in that show, the big bad is a demon that seems insurmountable, and by the end of the show they’re trying to kill (capital g) God? Yeah. Imagine that direction but in the Lightlark universe. And lore wise, the foundations of Lightlark are not equipped to handle such rapid powerscaling. Alarms are going off. The engines are melting. We’re not gonna make it.
Simply put, too much is happening in these books, and not in any sort of cohesive way. We need characters from point A to point B except we’re in a Windows XP screensaver maze to get there. Most of this book was lore backfill and just the stepping stone from Nightbane to getting to the other realm. Plot wise, it’s inconsequential. The only thing that happened was Grim and Isla falling in love again (after you saw her remember how they fell in love the first time in the last book). The only thing that’s keeping these books from feeling achingly repetitive are the batshit insane lore drops and twists every so often.
Back to Oro, truly some of the most Lightlarkiest work is done in his scene where he’s treking through the desert with Isla (more evidence to his mixed latino and middle eastern heritage). It’s kinda like Dune sort of but instead of the “spice” in the sand making you see visions, the sand makes you horny. I’m not kidding. They do the opposite of the fuck for warmth trope (getting naked and using ice powers through touch to cool down) which I think is real innovation. At this point she’s officially back with her husband Grim but like I said, this is a post-Challengers (2024) world, and cheating may be the first necessary step to true salvation (throupledom).
Throughout this book, there’s a traitor that’s hinted at. By the end of it, the traitor isn’t a traitor? They were never on Isla’s side to begin with. They can’t betray her. Man. LOL.
There’s one death that I will be holding a vigil for tonight at my house. You’re all invited.
As you can see, I’m losing my grip on reality a little. I wish I could sit down and peel back the technically unsatsifactory layers of this book, like I did with the others, but I run the risk of repeating myself, much like these books do. And, who wants that? I will be seated for Lightlark 4. I never thought this series was only going to be three books. I’ve analyzed these books so much, now I’m now tuned all the way into Alex Aster’s thought processes. I live between the layers of drywall in her mind palace. If only she would start listening to my subtle whispers and make swatino Oro canon.
existing ironically 