Skyshade

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content and swearing.

The novel opens in the aftermath of the climactic battle in Nightbane. Isla and her allies fight against Grim, but she unleashes devastating powers to save Grim’s life, sacrificing herself in the process. Grim brings her back to life by binding their lives together, but he will have to use the portal that connects Lightlark to another world to keep her alive permanently. However, using the portal would doom Oro and Lightlark itself. Hundreds of people are dead because of Isla, and the horrified Isla considers herself and Grim monsters. She asks him to promise that he won’t use the portal, but he reminds her that he and the realm of Nightshade are now bound to her and will die if she perishes. Grim vows, “I will choose you over the world every single time” (10).

Isla resolves to gain Grim’s trust so that she will be included in all of his plans and, ultimately, be able to thwart his efforts to use the portal. She hides the golden necklace Oro gifted her and dons a black diamond necklace from Grim instead. Isla secretly teleports most of Nightshade’s healing elixir to Lightlark in the hope that it will save the lives of injured soldiers.