Lightlark

This book had so much promise but ultimately was a big disappointment. The premise was ultimately a let down in the unclear and confusing stakes of the Centennial, which was often described as a contest or game but never actually manifested any competition or challenges. The world building was thoughtful and creative at turns but also jumbled and inconsistent. The author never seemed to be able to say what type of world it was: making it feel quite traditionally fantasy (ie medieval-y with castles and gowns) but also featuring many modern facets that were glaringly out of place (sweatpants?). It was clear that she thinks she was building a SJM inspired world when it was actually in better company with the likes of Stephanie Garber or Holly Black. Even the twist ending was mishandled and confusing.

Ultimately I wanted this to be better than it is and was let down by the authors clumsy handling of a pretty good set of ideas.

One thing I will note is that I had the privilege of reading this on audiobook and the narrator's skill and dynamic performance is ultimately what kept me from dnf-ing this book.