Genre
YA Fantasy
Setting and Context
The novel takes place solely on the fantastical island of Lightlark during the Centennial games
Narrator and Point of View
Lightlark is told in the third person.
Tone and Mood
Tonally, Lightlark is powerful, vibrant, and tragical. The novel's mood is energetic, violent, tragic, and gloomy.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Isla Crown (protagonist); the Centennial (antagonist)
Major Conflict
The major conflict of Lightlark involves the rulers' attempts to survive during the Centennial.
Climax
When Isla Crown survives the Centennial and returns to her town a new person.
Foreshadowing
Isla's deception is foreshadowed by her behavior around the other rulers.
Understatement
Isla's deviousness is initially understated in Lightlark. She is initially portrayed as a strong and independent leader who was morally upright. But her deviousness is only touched on briefly.
Allusions
Lightlark has a number of allusions to various things, including Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology.
Imagery
As the Centennial draws to a close, violent imagery pops up more in the novel.
Paradox
Those who fall in love with people must kill them, something which is paradoxical.
Parallelism
n/a
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Centennial is a metonym for the once-every-century gladiatorial games which people from kingdoms across the world of Lightlark participate.
Personification
The Centennial games themselves are personified in the novel and frequently given human characteristics.
