Isla Crown is the 19-year-old protagonist of Lightlark and the ruler of the Wildlings, an isolated group with fantastical nature powers. She is destined to represent the Wildling realm at the Centennial, but she is at an immediate disadvantage to the other participants because of her youth, her sheltered childhood, and, most importantly, her secret lack of magical ability. At the beginning of the novel, Isla feels shame and fear about this powerlessness. The two advantages she’s honed in the absence of magic are her beauty and her swordplay. However, her Wildling beauty brings her unwanted attention and prejudice, and she isn’t sure whom she can trust.

As Isla learns more about Lightlark and the other realms, she also learns more about herself. This self-knowledge—about her greatest fears and her greatest desires—motivates her to form tentative alliances with Oro and Grim to help her break the curses. These relationships develop into a love triangle, and Isla is put in a position to compare the men and evaluate how each of them makes her feel. Oro values her for her knowledge of nature, while Grim inspires her sensual side. She begins to trust each of them slowly, and this trust allows her to make progress in her quest.