"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."-- Provided by Amazon
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The Lightlark Saga
2 books in catalog
Young adult fantasy romance and middle-grade fiction have been significantly shaped by high-stakes worldbuilding and folklore-infused storytelling. Alex Aster, born Alexandra Pierson on August 4, 1995, achieved widespread commercial recognition with her bestseller series Lightlark, which reached the #1 spot on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Indie bestseller lists, as well as appearing on the USA Today bestseller list.
Before reaching adult and young adult audiences worldwide, Aster established her foundation in children's literature with the Emblem Island series. Her catalog features celebrated titles such as Lightlark and Starside, expanding into romantic fantasy, middle-grade fiction, and contemporary adult fiction.
Alex Aster graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in English with a concentration in creative writing. She made her publishing debut with the middle-grade fantasy novel Emblem Island: Curse of the Night Witch, which was named one of Amazon's Top 20 Children's Books of the Year in 2020 and recognized as a most anticipated release by Good Morning America and Seventeen Magazine.
In 2022, Aster published Lightlark through Abrams, selling over two million copies in the United States, remaining on the New York Times Best Sellers list for over 100 weeks, and translation rights selling in more than 30 countries. Prior to the book's publication, Universal Pictures acquired the rights to adapt Lightlark into a feature film, with Aster serving as executive producer. Following her commercial success, Aster was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2023. She has since expanded her literary work into adult contemporary romance with Summer in the City, while also maintaining a career as a musician in New York City.
Aster's fantasy writing draws heavily upon Latin American myths and folklore, specifically inspired by the Colombian bedtime stories told to her by her grandmother during childhood. Her narrative structure often combines romantic fantasy elements with deadly competitions, ancient curses, complex magic systems, and time shifts.
Across her young adult fantasy, middle-grade, and adult contemporary fiction, Aster explores core themes of identity, memory, self-growth, and emotional resilience. Her characters regularly face high-stakes dilemmas while navigating personal relationships, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and intense loyalty under pressure.
