Lightlark by Alex Aster is a young fiction novel set on the magical island of Lightlark during the Centennial competitions. The novel's protagonist is Isla Crown. Isla participates in the centennial event for the first time. During the event, one of the rulers of the six kingdoms must die for a prophecy to be fulfilled. The primary conflict is between Isla and the other five rulers who want to survive at the end of the centennial event. The main themes in the novel include fantasy and sacrifice for the greater good.
The first major theme in the novel is doing something hard for the greater good of society. Every 100 years, the leaders of the six kingdoms in the world attend a Centennial event. During the event, the rulers duke each other in competition until one of them dies. Even though this game is painful, leaders must undertake it to protect their citizens from the curse of death. Isla Crown is the youngest female ruler attending the Centennial event for the first time. Despite knowing the looming danger of the event, she is ready to sacrifice her life for the sake of her people.
The other important theme in the novel is fantasy. The novel's setting is on a fantastical island of Lightlark, characterized by horrible curses and brutal monsters that destroy livelihoods at will. Most of the things discussed in the novel are unrealistic in an actual world, but the message is clear because leaders are expected to fight for their people.
Last but not least, Alex Aster wants readers to be confident and prove that they can achieve whatever they want in life. In the centennial event, rulers want to proof their vigor. The citizens of each kingdom want their leader to emerge victorious to save them from the curse of death. Aster alludes the novel Lightlark to gladiatorial competition in Rome in which the most fearless and bold participant wins the game. Isla Crown emerges as the most victorious and becomes the most powerful ruler of all the kingdoms.
