Skyshade (The Lightlark Saga Book 3) (Volume 3)

!!SPOILERS AHEAD!! I was so excited to dive into Skyshade, the third book in the Lightlark series, and it did not disappoint! I finished it in less than 24 hours!! This installment takes us back to Grim’s castle on Nightshade, where Isla is slowly regaining her lost memories—and with them, a complex love-hate relationship with Grim. She’s trying to come to terms with the fact that she’s his wife, a revelation that feels even more complicated because she had fallen for Oro. The emotional tension is intense as she navigates her feelings for both Grim and Oro, making the romance feel both thrilling and bittersweet. The story starts with a slower build, but once it hits the halfway point, the stakes rise dramatically. Isla discovers that a long-lost family member, once thought dead, has returned with a vengeance, threatening everything and everyone she cares about. This revelation leads to an epic buildup toward a battle against an army of undead, and Isla proves herself to be a fierce and resilient heroine, keeping secrets and making tough choices to protect her world. The romantic tension here was unexpectedly spicy, with a solid 3/5 on the spice scale, adding an intensity that kept me hooked. The romance balances well with the plot, enhancing Isla’s character without overshadowing the action. While the beginning was a bit slow, the action-packed second half made up for it, and the ending left me both surprised and excited. I guessed the cliffhanger twist a few chapters before it happened, but it was still satisfying. Isla’s journey into a portal leading to another universe sets up for a new direction, and I can’t wait to see where this twist takes her next. Overall, Skyshade is a thrilling continuation of the Lightlark series, with romance, high-stakes battles, and a cliffhanger that promises even more. I’m giving this one a strong 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Great book! Cannot wait to read the next one!

So I’m rating this a 3. I did enjoy the book but honestly something was missing for me. I think this book was definitely more fantasy driven than romance, also way more spicy than the other two. But even the fantasy was a bit messy. I feel like we were introduced to new things all at once and if I’m wrong then that doesn’t bode well for the series because I either forgot or I completely missed it. Personally I was one of the Oro girlies at first just because Grim pissed me off so much but this book did change my opinion on him quite a bit since the majority of it was his story with Isla. Grim did THE MOST for her. My favorite character is definitely lynx. Lmao but I think that’s my issue with this book because the minor characters made me feel so much more than the mains did. I can’t fully explain why because there was spice with both MMCs but honestly I’m a bit over the love triangle after that conclusion. It’s becoming a little grating for me and idk how it happened but I no longer care for either men 💀 she doesn’t deserve either. The beginning I liked. The back and forth and isla helping with the little town and feeding into her darkness def got me interested. I like seeing her as a bad ass and not whining 🤣 but the flip flopping like good god girl. I wouldn’t be surprised if the author is planning to make this series like a throuple. Which considering how much they hate each other idk it may be interesting but idk how she’d pull that off. The scenes with grim in the town I get was supposed to make me feel like they were getting to know each other better like it was supposed to be cute but it just felt awkward? And a bit boring. Oro coming in through the window had me HOWLING omg I loved that scene but I feel like that sped things up with her and Grim which did not make sense to me because it felt forced? Her being like oh yes everything will be good again w grim especially after seeing oro. I will admit her chemistry with grim is way more than with oro, especially after this book but I just don’t feel the love connection between any of them anymore. Basically the character development I felt in the other books with these men, kind of fell short in this one. Which sucks because it makes me feel like they are becoming more forgettable and they were big reasons why I was so intrigued in this series. Now I DID ENJOY the ending. The plot twists are good and the battle scenes are cool. I predicted the last part with the portal as soon as she got the armor but the way it went down and lynx bringing her to her family’s home for the letter filled my soul back up. I loved that, and I’m really interested to see how the future thing plays out, but I feel like I would have enjoyed hints or tidbits to some of the twists more along the way bc I had to reread parts due to a bit of an info dump. These books are entertainment. I hate saying this but it’s pretty much exactly what I normally expect from a “booktok” book and don’t get me wrong I do not mean that in a bad way, just more in a fun way. I will most likely read the next installment in the series and continue with it but it’s something entertaining, not necessarily something I’d reread and analyze a million times because of its depth. On the other hand - if it takes a while to come out, me reading the next book may end up not happening depending on how much u retain from these books bc I can’t see myself rereading at all. Alex Aster is writing good books and I am happy to be able to experience them, I just don’t know that I would gush over them either. I just feel like meh. Which is a bummer. Hopefully with the next books things come together more and we get more of the romance and better explanations in the skyres or whatever for the magic. I’m assuming she put everything in at the end to set up for book 4 so ya. We shall seeeeee

5 Star 2 Pepper I Devoured this book as Audio via LIBBY! Love the triangle Isla, Oro and Grimm have. I'm shocked at the cliff hanger ending. So many secrets, lies, deceit, twist and turns. I am so sad it is finished! This entire series is EVERYTHING!! *SPOILER* The cliffhanger was brutal. I have not recovered yet. I cannot believe that there is a book 4. I mean there has to be right? This story had such a torturous build of tension between Isla, Grimm and Oro. One minute you love one, then you hate them and end up loving them again. UGH I cant even explain the emotional rollercoaster. Just when you trust someone, betrayal sets in! It was so well written and I ate this up very quickly!

Just like the previous two, I ate this book up. This did seem to have a rocky start (the scenes tended to switch abruptly, making the story feel very choppy at times), but I’m so invested that I couldn’t get enough 🤷🏻‍♀️ I absolutely LOVED Grim in this book (again). He was completely devoted to regaining trust that was broken, & did everything with Isla’s best interest in mind. Isla & Oro, on the other hand, drove me bananas. (Spoilers for book 2 ahead) First off, it was so hypocritical how Isla wouldn’t use the portal because she didn’t want any harm to come to Oro (& his people), but then every time Isla turns around she’s putting herself in deathly situations knowing damn well if she gets k!lled, so will Grim & all of Nightshade since their lives are all tethered to hers. Second, it gave me the ick how Oro kept perusing Isla after finding out she was married. I could understand if Grim just kidnapped her at the end of Nightbane, but she told Oro that she loved Grim too & went with him willingly (which Oro knew to be true bc of his little lie detector gift). Bro, she’s married. Just stop. I also hated how Isla acted later on with Oro bc I felt like it was so inappropriate & selfish. I loved the little bit of spice, but enough of the love triangle. At this point, I wish Isla & Oro would sacrifice themselves & just leave Grim please✌🏼

📚 Book Review: Skyshade by Alex Aster ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) “There are books that take you places, and then there are books that drag you by the soul.” Skyshade is absolutely mind-blowing. Alex Aster delivers a deliciously dark, addictive fantasy that flips everything you thought you knew about her worlds upside down. It’s rich with betrayal, survival, morally gray characters, and plot twists that hit like a freight train—especially THAT ENDING. I had to physically close the book and stare at the wall for a full five minutes. At first, you think you know where it’s going. You don’t. You never do. Every chapter peels back another layer, and just when you start to breathe—bam, chaos. It’s fantasy with teeth, heartbreak with wings, and a main character you’ll want to scream at and root for in the same breath. Perfect for fans of twisted destinies, court politics, and morally complicated love interests who make you question your standards. Final thoughts: This is not a light read. It’s a recovery-needed, ruin-you-for-other-books kind of experience. I loved every second. Goodreads tags: #FantasyRomance #MoralGrayCharacters #DarkFantasy #PlotTwist #Skyshade #AlexAster #BookHangover

It’s almost 3:15am and I just finished the book. I’m not okay, I think this may have been the best book yet but I am flabbergasted, Alex Aster step forward those last 100 pages you always manage to have me in a choke hold. WOW just wow, this series owns me and I can’t even explain my feelings cause it’s was everything I needed. I’m still Zaddy Oro!♥️ & There is spice in this book surprisingly and it didn’t disappoint it didn’t take away from the plot at all. This is definitely Isla’s awakening book. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Super interesting dont have anything to say really except maybe not enough plot details the face downs are kind of a letdown

Chegou tudo certo e antes do previsto, o livro é igual ao anúncio.A história é maravilhosa!

I am not a fan of cliffhangers and be warned that this one is terrible. The epic battle scenes, quests for salvation, and tortured love spin a tale that is enticing and addictive. The story of great loves, great battles, and a desperate need for redemption makes this series so easy to get lost in. I wanted a happily ever after, but this series is not that. Death and destruction are tearing the realms apart, and Isla feels like it is all her fault. She has so many decisions to make, and fighting fate is one of them. Wraith and Lynx were favourites of mine in this series, especially Lynx. All will be revealed soon, I hope.

I was really excited for this book to come out, and now that I have read it, it did not disappoint. I loved it just as much as the first and second books, now I can’t wait to continue reading the missions Isla goes through in the next books. I really can’t wait for the story to continue. AAAAAARG!!!!im so excited. And impatient. I want the next book already, I know this one is just out but…. 😍😍😍😍

I think I’m dying, I don’t have any words to describe this book. It was a wonderful, painful and such an emotional book. A journey who made me mad, happy. Thank you forever Alex, thank you for all the tears, for my smiles, for everything. I just can’t wait for the next 🤍

Prettyyyyyy!! 🫶🏽