Skyshade Study Guide

Nightshade woman, distant cousin to Isla through her father. Commander in Grim's army. Helps Isla to understand more about her father although Astria never fully trusts her. 

Ruler of Skyling.

Left Lightlark before the impending battle with Nightshade in order to safeguard his realm, as his people decreed he should. Gives Isla several rings containing pieces of storms to use and shows her how to trap a storm so she can find the portal opening. 

Moonling man and one of Oro's oldest friends, defected from Moonling long ago.

Young Starling ruler, best friends with Isla. Eventually discovered that she is not young at all, but has been living a lie for five-hundred years. Is actually Aurora, who ruled Starling when the curses were cast. Has a flair: can change her appearance. She has used her flair to stay undetected for hundreds of years. She cast the curse because the person she loved, Egan Rey, fell in love with her best friend, Violet Crown, and she was unaffected by the curse as the person who started it. Killed by Isla, who takes her power and saves the rest of the Starling realm.

A young Starling girl, cousin to Maren, who is incredibly strong and a natural at using her magic. 

Ruler of Moonling, eldest of all the rulers. Isla distrusts her from the start. Once the curses are broken, she breaks the bridge connecting Moon Isle to the Mainland and sails away with her people.

Sides with Nightshade against Lightlark and it is revealed that she had a son who died. She wishes to go through the Wild Isle portal to find a way to bring her son back to life. 

Allies with Lark to destroy the world, since if Lark was more powerful she would be able to bring Cleo's son back to life, but later betrays Lark. She allies with Isla instead, who has promised to bring Cleo's son back after she takes Lark's power. 

Moonling attendant assigned to Isla at the beginning of Centennial, who becomes loyal to Isla because of the kindness Isla shows to her.

Sunling woman and one of Oro's oldest friends, helped the Sunling learn to survive during the years of the curse and helped the Wildling to rebuild after the curse was broken. Fights with Isla against Lark. 

Nightshade resident who followed the Prophet and is still a member of the Prophet's order. Officiates Isla and Grim's second wedding.

Ruler of Nightshade and descended from Cronan Malvere, who helped to create Lightlark. Has a flair: can teleport and can take at least one person with him. 

In love with Isla from before the Centennial, although she does not remember that they are in love since her memories have been taken away. 

Plans to attack Lightlark in order to use the portal on Wild Isle to find a way to save Isla's life but is convinced not to travel through, bringing Isla back to Nightshade. Together they investigate the storms that plague Nightshade and try to find a way to close it. Fights with Isla against Lark, even tentatively allying with Oro and fighting with him on the battlefield. 

Young Wildling ruler descended from Lark Crown, who helped to create Lightlark. Attending the Centennial for the first time. Best friends with Celeste and develops feelings for both Oro and Grim as they spend time together during the Centennial. 

Has a secret: she does not have any Wildling powers but finds out that she does have power: from both her Wildling mother and her Nightshade father. At some point before the Centennial, she had met and fallen in love with Grim but her memories had to be taken away before the Centennial started. Her relationship with Grim is ruined by his keeping information from her. Finds the heart of Lightlark with Oro, the two of them fall in love with each other. Isla breaks the curse by killing Celeste, but manages to save the Starling realm by taking Celeste's power from her.

She originally fights against Nightshade with Oro and the rest of Lightlark, but slowly regains her memories of falling in love with Grim and leaves Oro to go with Grim back to Nightshade, convincing him not to use the portal on Wild Isle. Was told by an Oracle that there was a prophecy that should would kill either Oro or Grim. Upon living in Nightshade, she finds out that there is an additional prophecy that she will either save or destroy the world. Realizes that her true flair is absorbing the flair of the people she's killed, and that she killed her parents when she was born. Discovers a portal on Nightshade that is causing terrible storms that bring disease and ferocious creatures, she vows to find a way to close it and takes its power to save her own life - she is destined to die in a few months' time. Starts using skyres to increase her own power. Discovers that Lark Crown is still alive and wants to destroy Lightlark to create a new world from scratch again. She forces Lark through the portal on Nightshade and follows her through it, closing the portal from the other side. 

A bartender in the Mainland agora who trades in secrets. He and Isla become aqcuantances and he is killed by Celeste because he knows who cast the curse. 

Giant panther bonded to Isla, who used to be bonded to her mother.

Starling girl, cousin to Cinder. Stands as a figurehead for Starling during any meetings. She works with Isla to help defend the isle. Part of the group of rebels who wants to break the nexus curses.

Ruler of Sunling and King of Lightlark, descended from Horus Rey, who helped to create Lightlark. An Origin, meaning he has some power from all the other isles still residing on Lightlark: Moonling, Starling, and Skyling. Has a flair: can tell when someone is lying.

Falls in love with Isla as they search for the heart of Lightlark together and saves her from dying after she breaks the curse. Hates Grim and has hated Grim since they fought on opposing sides during the Sunling/Nightshade War. 

Leads Lightlark against Nightshade, but is left injured on Wild Isle when Isla and Grim go through the portal. Helps Isla find the god bone to draw her skyres. Fights with Isla against Lark, even tentatively allying with Grim and fighting with him on the battlefield. 

Isla's charm teacher and one of the only people that knows Isla doesn't have power. Isla believes Terra killed her parents. 

Imprisoned for betraying Isla yet again, but is later found to not have betrayed her at all. Reveals that Isla killed her parents. 

Ancient being that looks like a large, blue bee man. Helps to train Isla in her Nightshade powers and fights against Nightshade. 

Helps Isla to fight Lark, even cursing a dagger that is tied to his life that will hopefully kill Lark. They are discovered and Lark kills him, leaving his dagger ineffective.

Deceased

Nightshade resident who Isla saves one night when Sairsha is attacked by a man. Isla kills Sairsha's attacker. Sairsha begins to leave little treats and snacks for Isla while she hunts and they eventually start to hang out together afterward, Sairsha introduces Isla to her friends. Sairsha and her friends are part of an organization believing that Isla will save the world, they commit suicide by forcing Isla to kill them and give her their power. 

Moonling man who acts as a emissary for Cleo before she leaves Lightlark completely. He chooses to stay and fight when the other Moonling people join Nightshade. He helps Isla to find a cure for the Vinderland. Joined Cleo when she allied with Lark. 

Isla's fighting trainer and one of the only people that knows Isla doesn't have power. Isla believes Terra killed her parents. 

Helps the Wildlings to move to Nightshade, betraying Isla. 

Imprisoned for betraying Isla yet again, but is later found to not have betrayed her at all. Reveals that Isla killed her parents. 

Nightshade resident who can read blood and has a pool of blood in his cave. 

Nightshade man who was originally from the Old World, cursed to live for eternity so that Nightshade would never be without his power of being able to use someone's blood to create fantastical items. Makes Isla shackles that bind her power, as well as armor fabricated from Isla's father's armor. Asks Isla to kill him since she is immune to curses. 

Deceased

Three sisters encased in ice, one of which wakes and gives Isla information about breaking the curses. She later reveals to Isla that she will kill either Oro or Grim although it is not clear which. She dies and her two sisters kidnapped by Cleo, who kills them. 

Nightshade man and Commander in Grim's army that dislikes and distrusts Isla, trying to kill her while she sleeps. She kills him instead and presents his head to the other Nightshade elites as a warning. 

Deceased

A thief that Isla questioned in order to find the sword needed to defeat the dreks.

Dragon that Grim and Isla find at the thief's cave and Isla forces Grim to adopt. 

Now big enough for them to ride, bonded to Grim, and especially fond of Isla. 

Leader of a Wildling village who helps to train Isla in her Wildling power.

Isla gives Wren the starstick and orders to portal all the Wildlings off of Nightshade where they have been living. Wren does so but goes back to Nightshade and is killed and resurrected by Lark. 

Deceased

Skyling man and one of Oro's longest friends. Helped Grim to steal the Nightshade sword - again - with an aquantance that is even better at thieving that Zed but he gets in an argument with the other thief and Zed and Grim get captured. Fights with Isla against Lark. 

A bunch of curses created by a Nightshade for the old Sunling King specifically designed to keep the common people of Lightlark weak while concentrating power within the King's line.

Curse was cast by Cronan Malvere

Moonling -

Power: control of water and ice, healing power, resistant to cold.

Curse: the ocean tries to kill them during the full moon.

Nightshade -

Power: create illusions and power over curses, can manipulate shadows.

Curse: they die if they go outside during the night.

Skyling -

Power: control of wind, can fly.

Curse: can't actually fly anymore.

Starling -

Power: control of light.

Curse: they all die when they turn twenty-five.

Sunling -

Power: can manipulate fire, some can gild items.

Curse: can't go outside during the day.

Wildling -

Power: control over the wild (plants and animals both), very seductive.

Curse: they kill anyone they fall in love with and they must eat human hearts to survive.