Oro is the protagonist and narrator of the novella named for him, Lightlark’s king, and Isla’s other love interest. In contrast with Grim’s morally dubious characterization, Oro sets strict ethical standards for himself. His integrity leads his best friend, Enya, to comment that he’s “too kind” and “[t]oo honest.” Oro proves his moral fiber by refusing to gild a criminal even though his father has him thrown into the palace dungeons.

Although Oro’s powers are associated with fire and the sun, he often behaves coldly towards others, such as when he betrays Isla’s trust to further his own plans. Aurora describes him as an “untrusting, cruel king” (541), and he’s alternately wrathful and aloof throughout much of his novella. His somber personality stems from his grief for his deceased loved ones, the gravity with which he takes his responsibilities as a ruler, and the self-hatred and shame he feels for his personal shortcomings. Although Oro strives to be morally upright, Aster gives him inner demons. This emphasizes how people cannot be tidily divided into “heroes” and “villains.”

Oro’s inner conflict and character arc illuminate the tension between duty and desire. As king of Lightlark, he bears especially heavy responsibilities, and he fears his feelings for Isla may doom him and his subjects: “My greatest desire might as well be a death sentence […]: love” (409). Aster’s decision to tell the story from Oro’s point of view reveals that his apparent apathy is actually an effort to subdue his desire for Isla.

Oro gradually learns to embrace his feelings and fulfills his duty to protect his realm with Isla’s aid. His growth facilitates his happy ending: He feels newfound hope for his world and commits to his relationship with Isla. These two things remain essential to his character in the main series.

Isla is the protagonist of the main Lightlark series and the love interest of Grim and Oro. Her primary trait is courage, which inspires Oro because she “is so afraid all the time, yet still shows up every day and fights” (485). The young ruler demonstrates resilience by enduring physical and psychological hardships during the Centennial to prove that “her realm is of value” (404). Despite the perils she faces, she remains boldly defiant against the odds. This is evident in her refusal to be intimidated by Oro’s harshness towards her: “I’m […] also a ruler of a realm. You will treat me with respect, King” (420). Her loneliness is another key trait because it helps both Grim and Oro recognize her as a kindred spirit and embrace their own vulnerabilities.

Aster uses Isla to develop the novellas’ themes about trauma, desire, and villainy. Because Grim alters her memories, Isla’s growth follows a similar pattern in each novella: She initially struggles with self-doubt because she can’t access her supernatural abilities, she gains confidence and strength as she falls in love, and she claims her power to protect someone she cares for deeply.

As a leader, she shares Grim and Oro’s concerns about whether it’s possible to reconcile her duties with her desires: “Do you think it’s possible for a ruler to love another ruler?” (481). Isla discovers a resolution. She helps her love interests save their realms, proving that duty and desire aren’t mutually exclusive.

In addition to experiencing her own dynamic growth, Isla is instrumental in the other characters’ development. She rekindles Oro’s hope after centuries of despondency and teaches Grim that he’s more than the villain much of the world sees him as. Like Grim and Oro, Isla is a survivor of trauma, and this shared understanding allows her to aid them on their personal journeys towards healing.

Grim’s father plays an antagonistic role within Grim’s life and the world of Lightlark. The ruler, who isn’t named, is characterized by his cruelty. For example, he “sentenced all the Covets to death after they bore his children” (72). He did this to prevent Grim and his other offspring from developing secure, loving attachments. Grim’s father also hungers for power, which spurs him to wage war on Lightlark as part of his relentless bid for world domination: “Cronan’s power will rise again. Our line will rule them all” (45). Ultimately, the ruler’s destructive, domineering tendencies bring about his own ruin when he tries to seize the Infinite diamond and becomes afflicted with a deadly curse. Grim’s father’s brutality and megalomania help to explain his son’s jaded outlook on life as well as Nightshade’s dreaded reputation among the realms.

Grim’s father figures prominently in his son’s characterization and the theme of trauma. He perpetuates brutal Nightshade traditions that he endured himself, like the Gauntlet that pits his children against one another in a battle for survival. His machinations and adherence to violent customs lead to Laila’s death, a tragedy that causes Grim to blunt his emotions for centuries.

Through Grim, the novella also explores The Clash Between Duty and Desire. Grim teaches his son that romance is forbidden to rulers: “Do you know what the biggest threat to our line is? [….] Love” (46). Messaging like this leads Grim to fight against his feelings for Isla.

Grim’s father’s obsession with securing Nightshade’s greatness shows the dangers of fixating on dynasty and destiny, two powerful forces within the Lightlark Saga.