As an enjoyer of the Lightlark series, I’ll fully admit I was hoping Crowntide would go in a different direction. Where Skyshade left us felt like the perfect setup for a deeper dive into the worldbuilding, something the series has desperately needed. But instead of expanding the lore, Crowntide once again skimmed the surface and introduced even more questions without offering many answers.

A large portion of the book follows Grim and Oro as they team up (again) for the shared goal of saving Isla and bringing her back to Lightlark. Along the way, they uncover more history about the island… but with twists that only added more new information, more mysteries, and a lot of side quests that were either resolved too quickly or didn’t land with the impact they deserved.

One thing I did genuinely love was the way Grim and Oro discussed their love for Isla and how it shaped their past friendship, and how it influences their lives and kingdoms now. Earlier books really left the love triangle up to the reader’s interpretation, but in Crowntide, I finally felt like I could understand the different kind of love Grim has for Isla versus Oro. Whether that love is better or stronger, or even good for Isla, is a whole other question, but this part of the story felt fresh and added a perspective I appreciated.

And then we get to the plot twist…

Without spoilers: Isla’s love is tested in a huge way after she makes a choice--only for another obstacle to knock everything off balance. This should have been the perfect setup to dive into the villains, the worldbuilding, and Isla’s internal conflict. Instead, the story spins in circles for much longer than it needs to. At first, the repetition works, but eventually it stalls the momentum so much that when the final twists arrive, they feel underwhelming.

My biggest frustration is that Isla’s development just didn’t feel strong enough to drive her ambitions or goals. Because of that, the ending twist didn’t land the way it should have.

One thing I’ve always loved about Aster’s universe is the interesting side characters. Across the series, they’ve added richness and charm to Lightlark’s world. But here, they really take a backseat and that only heightened the feeling of repetitiveness and slowed progression. Characters who were once important were barely mentioned, sometimes only by name, making Lightlark feel strangely empty.

All that said, I’ll absolutely be reading the final entry. Aster has proven she can make her writing fun and her characters lovable and compelling, so I’m hopeful the conclusion will finally deliver the worldbuilding depth and character growth I was craving in Crowntide.

"Remarkably Bright Creatures" is a heartwarming read of showcasing multiple lives and how their paths interwine, all due to the aide of an octopus.

We are introduced to Tova, a widow in the later years of life, who works cleaning in the evenings at the town's local aquarium. Throughout the book, readers will come across a unique point of view from the pacific octopus - Marcellus. Marcelleus describes his short, but fulfilling life and his observance of all humans. He grew a fondness for Tova who in turn was also fond for the octopus. Tova has had her fair share of grief in her life and the parallel perspective of youth and aging brought a lot of depth to the narrative. Other characters from the small Washington town emerge throughout the novel and it helps bring the story to life. I was easily able to get lost in the story and live through the characters simple day to day lives while simultaneously catch glimpses of their pasts in the form of grief, happiness, sadness, and longing. The human experience is a simplified way to describe what this story embodies.

Never did I think an octopus's words describing humans and humanity would resonate so deeply. The perfect "grab a blanket and beverage then snuggle in" kind of book, it is an easy, quick read that will make you feel something.