Oro

Lightlark

by Alex Aster

A new romantasy novella written from the perspective of Oro, from #1 New York Times–bestselling author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster

True love knows no bounds.

The novella is narrated by Oro and offers a window into his complex that of a king torn between desire for justice and passion for the woman he loves more than anything. It includes key moments from the ruler’s love story with Isla, told in his own voice.

Oro is certain to thrill listeners and test allegiances, leaving new and longtime fans second-guessing who they’re rooting for in the breathtaking battle for Isla’s heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Audiobook, Romance, Young Adult, Magic, Enemies To Lovers

10 pages, Audible Audio

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[alix flora 🌙 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always gonna be team oro for a number of reasons, one mainly because he’s hotter than Grimm imo. Grimm is just.. lowkey lil basic. I’m sick of the shadow daddies, they’re so overplayed. Gimme a brooding, sun king any day. ☀️

and yes, I’m going to completely spoil crowntide for myself the second it comes out because I NEED to know who she chooses 😭🙏🏻


UPDATE: ITS NOT THE END. SHE DOESN’T CHOOSE EITHER. KILL ME.

I want oro and Grimm to fu-

[Grayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I read this because it solidified that I will NEVER be Team Oro :) forever Team Grim. This just made me dislike Oro even more and rooting for his end 🫣

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Im not a fan of Oro, hence why I started with his perspective, to me, while hes good intentioned and honourable, he's a bit...plain. hes not passionate, not particularly interesting. It was nice to see more of his character though, and his backstory.

[Ashley Galletti · Rating 3 out of 5]

#TeamGrim

[Jordan Miner · Rating 3 out of 5]

even though I am team grim, no one can make me hate oro. I enjoyed reading about his past then his pov from lightlark.

[Brylee Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

ORO TALKS ABT ISLA THE SAME WAY ANDREW GARFIELD TALKS ABT EMMA STONE I CAN’T BE NORMAL ABT THIS

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

He’s a good book bf, but he’s not Grim.

I’ve never been team Oro, like he’s a typical book boyfriend. He cares for Isla and claims he’ll “burn the world down for her” but has he ever made her hot chocolate because he knows how much she loves it? I THINK NOT!

I swear I don’t understand team Oro, he’s too “righteous” and “Just” and “Merciful” to be Isla’s forever.

If Isla had just killed like 100 random people, Oro would say, “now why don’t we calm down and think about this for a second.” But Grim would be right by her side saying, “alright who’s next?”

I felt bad for this man for like .2 seconds when he and Grim became buddies, AND THEN HE STARTED YELLING AT HIM!?

LEAVE MY POOR BOY ALONE YOU BURNT BISCUIT!!

I’m sorry but the only thing I ever felt for Oro was pity, and let’s be honest, Oro has way too many problems to actually focus on loving Isla.

At this point she’s just his hot therapist.

Great story, but this hardly persuaded me to root for Oro.

#TeamGrim4Life

[SAMANTHA. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m still #TeamGrim. I read Oro’s POV first as that’s what Alex said we should. This novella served two purposes for me: a great refresher into the Lightlark world and secondly, interesting background into Oro and Grim’s connections and their fathers. So that was really enjoyable.

[kaleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't like books that give a different POV of a story already once told... but Alex did this one justice. This actually gave more depth to Oro than what was portrayed in the original story in such a personable way. Oh, and sneaking in my fave narrator almost got me to team Oro.... almost ;)

[KatorReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex wasn't talking to us Oro girlies when she said we would be switching sides.

[Audrey Gemme · Rating 4 out of 5]

My little Oro 💛 I love him so much. This just confirmed that I am in fact team Oro hehe

[Paulina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't hate the book, but I do hate Oro.
prior to reading this book, I was #TeamGrim, I had no feeling for Oro positive or negative.
after reading, I am still #TeamGrim. and Oro is kind of annoying, selfish, and hypocritical now in my eyes.

I originally was not going to read Oro; I was just going to Grims. But then Alex said to read Oros first and that Grim does show up in Oros book. So, I took a chance, and it was a fine read, I just did not need any of this information LMFAO

[Heathers_readss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This actually made me like oro less? What😅

[Jaiden Garden · Rating 4 out of 5]

[audiobook] GASP. I cannot WAITTTTTTTT for grims pov. BRB while i go reread the last two books. (Audible decided to lock the first one. Rude.

[Joleen Halloran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rating this novella at 3.5 stars (4 for Goodreads) - I liked this book a lot more than the last book in the series, Crowntide, which just felt a jumbled repeat of prior storytelling and confirmed that I just do not like Isla. This book is from Oro's POV and there is quite a bit about his childhood, his friends, and back relationship with Grim, which I found to be quite interesting. Even this novella lost me a bit when it became more about his growing feelings towards Isla during the Centenial, but it was an good perspective to see the Centenial events from book 1 (Lightlark) specifically from Oro's POV. There was no earth shattering reveals, but their was additional details that helped fill in blanks from the first book. Oro is my favorite character in this series, so of course, I would like to hear his story. I'm going to read Grim's story next and while I also like him in the series, even his dark side, I like Oro better and I'll take either one of them over Isla, who I just could not ever get attached to and did not feel she was worthy of either man, whoever she ends up with.

[Joelle Grady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not even Chase Brown’s most beautiful voice could save oro as a character. He is manipulative, a liar, and a huge hypocrite. Throughout this whole book, it just made it more evident that he truly does not put Ila above anything else. He says he has to save his people and his land but his one true love is right there and he keeps betraying her after she gives him her trust again and again and again. I know for one grim would watch his whole world burn for Ila. And that’s why you choose the shadow Daddy!!!

[Monet Daffodil · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oro
Author: Alex Aster

This book had me in a chokehold, y’all, and it was a novella! I’ve read all of the Lightlark books except the latest release (Crowntide), and while I’ve enjoyed the series overall, it hasn’t always stuck with me… until this one. I was not ready for it. Oro focuses on one of the main characters in the series, the ruler of Lightlark himself, and is told entirely from his perspective. We get to dive deep into his past: his family, his early relationships, his dynamic with Grim, and the choices that shaped him into the leader we know. His story was so compelling and emotionally layered, I was hooked on every single word. Honestly? I’m now contemplating a full Lightlark reread just because of this novella. 🫣

[dak ⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝖔𝖗𝖔 💛 ☀️ 👑 🌖

🎧 + 📖 જ⁀➴ 3⭐️

this was fine. i don’t hate oro but i just don’t like him for isla so im just meh about him you know??
ily chase brown though💓

[Sam Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

full plot recap coming to a bookmas near you but also nothing really happens in this lol

[Jazz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ the first half was a little confusing only because it took place 500 years prior to ‘Lightlark’ and I didn’t realise 🤣 however the second half when we finally got to ‘Lightlark’ was exactly what I expected

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Stars if I could. oh my heart ❤️

[Emily Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

He’s my vote but I know he’s not winning boooo

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a grim girl. I didn’t really like Oro much at all and found him an inconvenience. I read grim first and was still a grim girl. Then I read this and halfway through I was like “why choose”? By the end it was Oro all the way. I can’t wait for Crowntide and the final book to see how this all plays out.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way that Oro LOVES Isla and is completely devoted to her… say less. Loved this just as much as the Grim novella. ❤️❤️

[Brielle Roll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting to fall this hard for Oro… but I am obsessed. Seeing everything from his perspective completely changed how I see him as a character. He’s so layered, so controlled, but you can feel the emotion underneath all that restraint, the loyalty, the love, the guilt. It’s everything I wanted from his point of view and more.

I haven’t even read Grim’s side yet and I’ve already switched teams. Oro has my whole heart now. The way he sees Isla, the quiet devotion, the internal conflict… it’s beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

Alex Aster wrote his voice perfectly. It’s regal and precise, but full of emotion simmering just below the surface. This novella made me fall even deeper into the Lightlark world. It was so refreshing to read into this world in a first-person POV. I’d read a full-length novel from Oro’s POV in a heartbeat.

[Tiegan Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

ORO REDEMPTION ARC IMO !!
ok im not sure if i just loved the feeling of being back in book one but this book made my heart happy. i think i was too obsessed with grim to realise that oro is just a sweet lil guy 🤭💘 and i loved their story falling in love from his POV. no notes tbh had a great happy time x

[Samantha Carrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex said this would make us switch teams but 1000% she was talking to team oro… sorry #Grim for life😮‍💨

The wedding scene will forever be burned to my memory like the wedding from Crazy rich asians 🥹

[Kyla Azer of the hollow · Rating 4 out of 5]

TEAM ORO! 💛💛

3.5 stars rounded up bc why is this in first person POV when the main books are 3rd person 💀 and there are typos and some odd wording. But overall it was really good!

I actually LOVED reading this ESPECIALLY since I’m team Oro. I wish she would’ve chosen Oro he’s perfect. I love him and this novella made me love him more! So yeah overall very good and yeah. It’s better than the 3rd and 4th main books that’s fs.

[lifeasmegs_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I team Oro now? Still need to read Grim’s side so final decision tbd

[Winter Petteruti · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up
oro is still a snickerdoodle with not enough personality. i found the writing of this book kinda weird too - it was very flowery, but in a way that made it sound like alex aster was trying too hard to make it flowery. every sentence was describing islas eyes in a different way. like we get it… oro is ridiculously in love. and don’t get me started on the insane amount of self pity. i could barely take it. i will never be team oro. looking forward to grim