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Meagan Spooner has crafted a story and a world that just flies above
so many similar books available today. No, “similar” is not the right
word because it really isn’t anything like any other. First of all, we
have a heroine who isn’t particularly strong in temperament or physique
and she isn’t on a quest to save her world. She is, in fact, running
away from what appears to be a dismal, horrifying fate and her only
thoughts in the beginning are for herself. Actually, she isn’t always
very smart and does some pretty dumb things. How refreshingly natural!
Despite that, she doesn’t indulge in much self-pity and, brave enough to
try to get herself out of the destiny others would decree for her, she
forges on through all sorts of terrors and deprivations. Her journey to
find safe haven in Iron Wood becomes one of self-discovery and, out of
necessity, this teen matures beyond her years. Many of her childhood
illusions will vanish like a wisp of smoke but magic is still all around
and the future she’s seeking may not turn out the way she imagines.
Perhaps best of all, Lark recognizes her own shortcomings and fiercely
wants to be competent enough to take care of herself. Second, no
insta-love. You know what I mean if you read today’s young adult fantasy
and science fiction and you can rejoice that it isn’t to be found in
Skylark. Yes, there are hints and even some attachment, but Lark doesn’t
fall madly for the handsome dude (which one?) who may or may not love
her back. Perhaps that will come in the next book but that will be okay
because it means Lark has waited more than a nanosecond to let the
hormones take over. Then there are the other characters, main and
secondary. We meet the potential love interests, Oren and Kris, both of
whom harbor secrets and still manage to be intensely appealing. The
Architects control the City and are led by the Harvest Administrator, a
woman who is oily and smarmy and as unfeeling as they come but still
somehow intriguing. Friends Dorien and Tansy show Lark what humanity
should be all about and Nix, a mechanical pixie that looks and acts
something like a bug but can communicate, is one of the most original
and loveable characters I’ve ever come across. Ms. Spooner‘s
worldbuilding is among the best I’ve seen. While we don’t yet know much
about the magic wars that destroyed previous societies, the crafting of
Lark’s world and what is outside the force field enclosing her city is
meticulous. Much is left to the reader’s imagination but, at the same
time, the details we learn through Lark’s eyes and intellect take us
along the journey with Lark. Her fear of the sky she has never seen
before comes across as though that fear were alive and only a good
writer can create that kind of reader empathy. Another surprise is the
combination of a kind of steampunk with a sort of faery element, a
zombie-like threat and a large dose of magic. Taken by themselves, each
of those is seemingly only a small part of the story but, taken
together, they’re of huge importance. The result of all this is a story
that mesmerizes and chills the soul at one and the same time. Is it
fantasy, science fiction, maybe even mystery? It’s all of those ,
really, and trying to label it would be shortsighted. Twists and
betrayals, promises and friendships abound and a truth is revealed at
the end that is, quite simply, breathtaking. If I still had my
bookstore, I’d ask this wonderful author to trek a couple of hours down
the road for a visit that would have thrilled our customers but that’s
not going to happen so I’ll just have to tell everyone who’ll listen to
READ THIS BOOK!.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.AmieKaufman
Posted August 5, 2012
This beautiful, unique story is pure magic. The prose draws you in and weaves an incredible world, but the book doesn't dwell too long in description. Skylark draws you along and never lets you rest. Often dark, sometimes shocking, stunning the whole way through, this book will stay with you.
Lark is a fantastic protagonist -- she doesn't charge out of the gate ready to kick ass and take names. Instead, she's determined, but has almost none of the skills she needs to survive in the world she's entered. While sometimes a helpless heroine can drive you mad, in this case Lark's far more annoyed than we could ever be about her lack of survival skills, and fights to improve and save herself. She learns as much about herself as she does about the world around her -- she's been told lies about both.
The world is rich, and Lark's journey as she comes into her own is like nothing I've ever read. The supporting characters are wonderful, each of them fully developed -- I can't WAIT to see more of some of them in the sequel, as I'm sure I will.
As for the ending... well, there's not much I can say, but I've rarely, if ever, been caught out by a twist like I was this time! I'd say 'be prepared', but I guarantee you won't be!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.“Skylark” by, Meagan Spooner.
Lark Ainsley has grown up in a place where magic is real and it controls everything. This magic is called resource and it’s harvested from the citizens to help run the city. The story begins with Lark finding out that it’s her turn to be harvested and assigned a career. Lark is very excited and can’t wait to start her adult life. The citizens are born with a certain amount of resource and consequently are only harvested once. However there are rumors of renewables, special people who are born with resource that doesn’t run out. When Lark realizes that she is a renewable her life becomes a frightening fight for survival.
I want to start by saying that this book gripped me from the first page. Meagan Spooner’s storytelling is magical and gritty. I had a few moments where I had to put the book down and just take a breath because the story was so intense. I struggled right along with Lark as she traveled through a world that terrified her at every turn.
While fleeing, Lark meets Oren, a wild boy that is drawn to Lark and reluctantly decides to help her. Oren has been alone for a very long time and Lark makes him feel normal again. He is afraid to need her but he is undeniably drawn to her. Lark learns from Oren and through him she finds a new strength and purpose. The world building in this story is wonderful! “Skylark” is a perfect blend of fantasy and dystopian writing.
I have read and loved many books but not all of them make me want to take a sick day just so I can stay home and read. This book did! It would freak me out to have to live in this world but I can’t wait for the next book in this series so I can revisit it from the safety of my bed. Meagan Spooner is amazing and is a great addition to my favorite’s shelf.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 21, 2013
I loved this book since i am a fan of dystopian books. Skylark is different because it adds a steampunk environment. Lark is a strong female heroine but not with the same effect as Katniss. My favorite character, however, isNix. Nix just adds a nice vibe to this book. The author doesnt go into much detail about Harvesting but that is okay. She makes up for it with amazing description about Lark surviving outside the wall. Overall, I give Skylark 5 stars because I had to read it over and over again to be appealed. I mean that as a good thing. I would recomend this book to anyone. I cannot wait for the rest of this series!!!!!!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.KaribbeanIsland1
Posted January 25, 2013
**3.5 Stars**
MY OVERVIEW: I have no idea where this book takes place. It seemed like it was supposed to be earth in the future, and when everyone has magic… but there is so much that is wrong with that. The pre-war method of transportation was horse and carriage. This seems a little outdated even for a world that was full of magic.
PROS: OMG! I love Nix!!! I want it so bad! For a pixie who is just a program, he really builds up such a fantastic personality. I can’t wait to see more of him in the next book.
CONS: There were a lot of times where you really didn’t know what was going on. Especially when Lark is still in the city. I also didn’t understand how the magic thing happened to Lark at the end (not giving spoilers cause it is a big one), but I can just say that her magic didn’t really make a lot of sense through the whole book.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Ok, the twist with Oren at the end… did not see that coming. I won’t give any spoilers, but it really makes you stop and think, “What if?”. I look forward to reading the next book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.When I read the synopsis for Skylark I was immediately drawn to this dystopian type fantasy. I am delighted to tell you that it delivered a magical, dark dystopian world with a touch of steampunk. Spooner’s depiction of this world was refreshingly original with fleshed-out characters and a tale that kept me reading through the night.
I will be honest; the beginning however fascinating was a little rough for me. Rather than laying out the world in detail, Spooner has us learning as the protagonist does. This little speed bump was soon over as I dove into the story. We meet Lark Ainsley as she makes her way through the tunnels leading to her school. She is sneaking in to see if her name has been selected for Harvest Day. Does this sound eerily familiar to the very popular Hunger Games? Fear not because that is where the similarity ends. When she is discovered by a pixie-bot, she accidently uses her magic and kills it. Use of magic is forbidden within the city. Shaken she returns home only to discover she has been selected and is quickly taken to the city's institute. Once at the institute she is scheduled for harvesting. Lark soon discovers that thinks aren't as they seem, and that the institute has horrific plans for her. The tale that unfolds kept me completely spellbound as Spooner took me to a world I will not soon forget.
Lark Ainsley is brave, strong willed and snarky. She faces challenges head on and questions the world before her with such believability that she came to life on the pages. Despite her fears of the unknown she moves forward in her quest. I connected with Lark and felt like I experienced every emotion with her. Oren is raw, wild at times and complex. I eventually fell for this soft spoken, sensitive, quirky young man. We learn bits and pieces of his back-story giving an air of mystery to him. I adored Nix and laughed at her comments and loved her loyalty. She holds her own rightful place in this tale and I thoroughly enjoyed her. Kris is the son of the ambassador to the institute and he helps Lark. We never really know him but this adds to the mystery. Other characters added to the tale, creating suspense. I loved that even the secondary characters felt fleshed out and added to this gripping tale.
The world-building in Skylark is absolutely breathtaking. Spooner brings us a fascinating dystopian world unlike any I have visited. With only the power of her pen she brought this world to life. As I read, I could see this world unfolding before me and instantly connected with Lark as we both met it for the first time. Spooner slowly reveals this world and provides some back history. The Institute and sealed city was interesting and how the city survived fascinated me. The world outside of the city was absolutely amazing and Spooner’s depiction held me captive. The pockets of magic, the house in the woods were brilliant. The creatures Lark encounters were terrifying. One of the things I loved about this book was the way the author took elements of steampunk, fantasy, dystopia and other genres and wove them into such a delightful, believable and original tale. It is clear she has a true understanding of these genres and successfully integrated elements of each.
Skylark completely blew my mind and I cannot wait for the next book in this series. Fans of fantasy, dystopia and magic will love this tale.
I want to thank the publisher and netGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 30, 2012
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