Point of View

Lightlark is told from the third-person point of view of Isla Crown. This is a very important choice considering the stakes of the book and the nature of the competition. With the Centennial being a game that encourages treachery and betrayal, focusing on other characters’ perspectives would undercut the drama which drives the novel’s plot forward. What makes narrative interesting in a book like this is the suspense of not knowing what is going through other characters’ heads. Just like Isla, the reader does not know who can be trusted. Since the book is so centered around intrigue and betrayal is an integral part of, this compliments the narrative strongly. As a result of this intense competition, Isla is a paranoid narrator, constantly fearing that she is going to be betrayed by someone. At the same time, there are some figures she unconditionally trusts...