Rating: 3.5
I have to start off by giving some well deserved credit to Alex Aster. Not only is she able to write a frustratingly well done love triangle but there never seems to be a time jump between each of her novels. I love that it always picks up right where it left off and continues the story cohesively.

I will admit that I struggled with the love triangle especially after the bombshell that was dropped at the very end of Nightbane. I felt like at that point the choice should have been clear for her and there should have been an understanding of that commitment, or it should have ended right there and she made her life with the other. Towards the end of Skyshade I found myself questioning if we will ever find out if she will make the choice, or will this series morph into a ‘why choose’ trope. This could have been my struggle just because of my personal views and expectations of the bond made.

Skyshade brings forward many different prophecies for Isla, and really drives home how her choices could very well make or break the world. We also learn the extent of her power and the truth behind how she can wield it. At the end of Skyshade I felt that I had an understanding of how powerful and important she is to Lightlark, but who knows if she will save it all or doom it. This series has you thinking it could truly be split in either direction, and I still have NO idea who I would rather her with; I just think at this point she should choose already!

Wowza…. This story picked right up from the past book, and reels the reader in from the start. I love Grim. I hate Grim. I love Oro. I hate Isla. I love her. This entire story had me all in my feelllsssss!

Isla is reeling from guilt after the ruin and death she has caused. It’s changing her. Is it for the good or bad? Will the process of dealing with the guilt, a growing need for destruction and death, despite herself, and the deep need to save LightLark turn Isla into her own kind of monster, or into a savior for all worlds?

I received an arc copy of this title from the publisher and NetGalley and really enjoyed this one! However, it definitely leaves you with the… “But wait…. There’s more!” Feeling. Alex better write fast!

A great continuation of the last two books! Great twists and turns. Definitely darker than other books and some mind games.
Great ending, leaving me wanting more!

I love the idea of the story and the characters. I, however, find the prophecy ascent to be getting slow and drug out. I want to know the answer but having it go into the next book was a little bit of a let down. I love the series and want to know the answer.

"I will choose you over the world every single time" - ..........

I had an audio ARC (thanks to Recorded Books and NetGalley!) and the way I loudly yelled when the narrator said the end after that last hour…. I’m still here thinking what in the gods...We learned so much about little Grim and gosh my heart (hugs). I love both of MMCs and it makes it more heart wrenching as the story goes on, the way I screamed "noooooooo" for Oro ( No, I'm not spoiling this on you) I can’t describe the range of emotions I experienced within this book even though its not my favorite of the 3 but I can't wait for more.... Oro and his always forgiving loving selfless warm self and then shadow daddy Grim's infinite love for his heart ripper and the way he is with her….. SWOONS….

I thought this was the last book in the series, but from that ending it's clearly not the end game but ya’ll just wait…. I do feel like this could be a series dragged on and on but we shall see what Alex has waiting for us! We learned so much more about their lands, Isla, and her relationships in this one. .

Grim better be endgame, I see them as end game OR will she give us a why choose….
Does YA romantasy do\allow that??

OH MY GOD. Miss Alex WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US!

I absolutely loved everything about this book, as long as there is another one coming! It cannot end like this or I will never recover.

Read this book y’all.

This was an emotional rollercoaster that I wish I could ride again. My heart is torn in two!

I don’t think I’ve ever hoped for a book to change to a why choose trope so bad! My top series ever! I’ve never had a book make it so I could not choose between the villain and the hero and I never thought I would choose the hero love interest over the villain. I was on the edge of my seat for the ending and still can not stop thinking about it. Isla is one of my top favorite FMCs in a book, Oro is just perfect, and even though Grimm messed up I still love him. The only ending I will accept is if she ends up with both 😂

I've been so excited for this book to come out!
But I have to admit....I was a little confused with how much information was thrown at me all at once.
It was very fast pace and info dumping, I found myself having to go back a few times to full understand how we go from A to C from one chapter to the next.
I feel like this book had a lot of set up for the next book, but I wish it took its time.
I love! This series dont get me wrong. I seriously need to know what's going to happen, that Cliffhanger!! Was so unfair lol

I absolutely loved and enjoyed listening to this book! The plot was engaging from the very beginning as well as a good balance of the romance we are expecting. Alex Aster did an amazing job with keeping us on our toes and providing some plot twists we weren’t expecting.

Oro is still boring but his declaration of love was better than Grim in my opinion. However, "My wife" reveal part was done perfectly and it seems obvious who she is meant to be with. Curious how this other world is going to look

The best out of the series so far!!! Well done! 👏🏼 I wasn’t sure I was going to continue with this story after I read the first book because it felt slow and dragged out to me but, I’m glad I did. Each book in this series has continued to get better. Without any spoilers —- The story was a little slow at the beginning, it started picking up around 30-40% in. I enjoyed the FMC personal growth in this one. I’m also glad we got more answers from the past but some of those answers and plot twist, I could not have predicted!!! I will say that by the end of the book, I was not completely shocked with the ending. From where the book leaves off, there has to be another book in this series and I look forward to reading it!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for sharing with me an advanced copy of the audiobook for SkyShade to listen to and review.

This book did not disappoint. I love seeing Isla and Grim together. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, especially that ending. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the Lightlark series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Skyshade! Overall, I enjoyed this one, and it’s definitely on par with the other books in the series.

One of my main complaints about Nightbane was how it glossed over her trauma from book one, so I appreciated that Skyshade delved deeper into the complex emotions surrounding some of Isla’s internal conflicts. Though it felt repetitive at times, it offered a clear look into how torn she was, making her struggle feel authentic. The first half of the book was a bit confusing, with many moving pieces and storylines that seemed random, but they eventually came together with purpose. The main action in the last third felt sudden and chaotic, as if the main climax and action scene just came out of nowhere, though I was on the edge of my seat regardless. The audiobook reader did a great job bringing the story to life. While the overall storyline is original, some elements mirrored other books in the genre. Still, it was a solid addition to the series—3.75 stars!

This series continues to impress! I am deeply invested in the characters and find myself experiencing all their highs and lows, feeling every emotion. While some aspects of the storyline remind me of other books I've read, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall experience. I will eagerly await the next book. Please don’t keep us waiting too long.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

Skyshade is one of those books that you choose to read because Bookstagram suckered you into the first book (Lightlark) and then you’re stuck in the world because you want closure. And now you’re three books in and still don’t have it. (Special thanks to NetGalley for the early copy.) Which leaves me still without the answer, Grimm or Oro.

I didn’t give much love to Lightlark. And felt about the same for Nightbane. And here I am in the same court with Skyshade. Aster has done a better job at filling in the gaps from the first two books, which left me confused about the magic system and worlds. but I definitely feel like I understand more now. I do think I enjoyed this one the most, maybe? We learn more about Isla and her powers. We receive side and back stories and learn about Isla’s family. However, the tension remained with whether Isla would choose Grimm (hello this series’ morally grey villain) or Oro (safe, secure, not morally grey). But if you were hoping this book gives a solid answer in the love triangle department, you will be sadly disappointed. But it does end with another big cliffhanger so of course that means book 4. And maybe then we will have the love triangle answer we are hoping for.

5 stars, 10/10 perfect in every way.

This is one of my most anticipated reads this year and miss Alex you did not disappoint. I feel so incredibly grateful to get to experience this as an ARC.

This love story is absolutely everything and I am team Grimm all the way. I am already dying to read the next book!

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5; rounded up to 5 due to the ending.

Read if you like:

- ACOWAR (this is giving me those vibes)
- Redemption arcs
- Rhysand - (Hello Grim)
- Love Triangle (this gives Twilight intensity)
- Complex world building
- Enemies to Lovers
- YA style writing
- Spice rating is 2/5 on 🌶️ scale
- Bonded animals
- Blood magic

Oooh that ending!!!

Thank you to RBmedia for providing the audio ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book and was thrilled to get this early after THE explosive ending of book 2 (if you know you know)! Please, someone, tell me there’s going to be a book 4 -that was the first thing I searched for after finishing!

The story picks up right where Nightshade left off, and now that I’ve noticed the title pattern, I have to say Alex has been brilliantly clever with them (no spoilers, though!). I loved the slow build, as it gave time to explore both the Nightshade realm and Isla’s character in greater depth. Being a fan of YA style writing, I didn’t mind some of the repetitive aspects of Isla’s decision-making. However, for readers less drawn to YA, that might feel a bit frustrating.

The pacing was spot on, with a great balance between action and character development. The love triangle definitely gave me a nostalgic Twilight vibe - I can’t decide if I’m Team Oro or Team Grim! Both love interests are developed in a way that feels familiar and comforting, though for some, it might feel a bit too predictable. I would have liked a bit more focus on Oro’s character, but I did enjoy getting to know Grim better in this book.

The narration by Suzy Jackson was excellent, as always. Having listened to all three books now, her voice feels wonderfully familiar, and I really hope she’s back for the next one (which I’m pretty sure will be announced soon, given that ending)!

Overall, I think this is the best book in the series so far- they just keep getting better with each release! It reminds me of the progression in the ACOTAR series: book one was good, book two was even better, and book three was outstanding. I can’t wait for book 4, though the one downside of having an ARC is the longer wait for the next installment! I’m hoping book 4 also has some dual POVs as I think it would be a wonderful addition to the story.

I enjoyed the book. However, I really wish that I would have re-read the first 2 books before reading the third. It jump right in to where the second book let off. No spoilers but I was confused at the end…. -still trying to figure it out.

This latest addition to the Lightlark series pulls readers even deeper into its world of dark magic and intrigue. As the third book in the series, it builds on previous events and character arcs, making it most enjoyable for readers who have followed the story from the start. The plot is packed with twists and turns that keep you hooked, and the world building remains as vivid and immersive as ever. Though a few parts feel a bit hurried, it still delivers a satisfying experience for fans who’ve been along for the journey. The audiobook version is a treat too, with expressive narration that really brings out the book’s mood and enhances the storytelling. Overall, it's an exciting, entertaining read ideal for fantasy fans looking for an adventurous escape in a beloved world.

This book was intense! As prophesies are foretold, Isla has difficult decisions to make. Not only do we learn more about the history of this world, but we are introduced to a new antagonist. I absolutely loved this book! I was sad through a lot of this book because of the decisions Isla needs to make, and she is torn between her love for Grim and Oro. She loves them both but can only choose one. There was a great deal of action in this book, and it moved quickly. I need the next instalment immediately!