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bean0530's review
3.0
I feel bad giving this 3 stars. But that's what I felt. The story is great and the book wasn't bad. I did have trouble getting through it after about half way but it did pick up near the end.
That main character though. Sometimes I wanted to slap her or shake her! That part was frustrating. She made me feel that way in Skylark but in Shadowlark it was even worse.
The ending was perfect for me. It had enough action and it wasn't miserable and I definitely need to read the third book in this series because it really leaves you wondering what comes next!
Overall, I thought it was a good read.
That main character though. Sometimes I wanted to slap her or shake her! That part was frustrating. She made me feel that way in Skylark but in Shadowlark it was even worse.
The ending was perfect for me. It had enough action and it wasn't miserable and I definitely need to read the third book in this series because it really leaves you wondering what comes next!
Overall, I thought it was a good read.
dragontomes2000's review
3.0
Still a really enjoyable series so far, but this definitely felt like a bridge between books 1 and 3. I still really liked learning more about this post Earth kind of world and also how we got a more deep dive into the magic elements. Lark is still a really enjoyable lead but the romance which didn't really bother me in book one, bothered me in this one. I also found this installment to be just a tad predictable. It did end up going exactly where I thought it would go but I thought for a moment, just a moment I would have been proven wrong. Meagan Spooner though is an author who has such a talent for writing. This has so far been a beautifully written story that is really hard to hate but it falls into the trope trap and story mold of books that came out around the same time. I like to try and suspend my expectations for the books I have taken a long time to get to but it's hard. But I will say this I am really enjoying this series overall, I do believe it does the dystopian world story a little differently then most and that is why it seems fresh to me.
darlala's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I loved Skylark, and I really enjoyed Shadowlark, but it had some pretty big flaws that I had trouble seeing past. That said, I'm definitely still looking forward to reading book three.
The book itself was good - starts out pretty much right in the action and stays that way for quite some time. There's some plodding along in the second quarter or middle third, but overall, it was a page turner.
There was a lot more world building taking place in this book, which I appreciated, and I LOVE that it looks like the past of this world will actually be explored. I've always hated books that claim a war or a huge event for the way things are, but never explain said war or event. Cop out. I think we will get some explanations for once!
The character relationships in this book felt much more superficial than they did in Skylark. I cared less about people than I did in book one...I hope she can bring some of that emotion back in book three, because I was very emotionally invested in Skylark, but felt little to none of that in Shadowlark.
My major problem with this book was how incredibly obvious the plot twist was from very, very early on. I knew what was going to happen at like 10 or 15% of the way into the book. There was no shock, no surprise, and therefore very little emotion. In fact, I thought the characters were stupid for not figuring it out themselves.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I still love the series and can't wait to see where book three takes it.
I loved Skylark, and I really enjoyed Shadowlark, but it had some pretty big flaws that I had trouble seeing past. That said, I'm definitely still looking forward to reading book three.
The book itself was good - starts out pretty much right in the action and stays that way for quite some time. There's some plodding along in the second quarter or middle third, but overall, it was a page turner.
There was a lot more world building taking place in this book, which I appreciated, and I LOVE that it looks like the past of this world will actually be explored. I've always hated books that claim a war or a huge event for the way things are, but never explain said war or event. Cop out. I think we will get some explanations for once!
The character relationships in this book felt much more superficial than they did in Skylark. I cared less about people than I did in book one...I hope she can bring some of that emotion back in book three, because I was very emotionally invested in Skylark, but felt little to none of that in Shadowlark.
My major problem with this book was how incredibly obvious the plot twist was from very, very early on. I knew what was going to happen at like 10 or 15% of the way into the book. There was no shock, no surprise, and therefore very little emotion. In fact, I thought the characters were stupid for not figuring it out themselves.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I still love the series and can't wait to see where book three takes it.
readeraven's review against another edition
3.0
it really was much better than the first book but I still don't think this books are going to be great
I think it put me off a bit that I guessed right away all the plot twists
but I'll still read the third book
I think it put me off a bit that I guessed right away all the plot twists
but I'll still read the third book
nicolet2018's review
5.0
It has been a while since I gave a book full five stars. Really long time. But I found this was well deserved.
Usually the duration from when I read Skylark the first book, plays a part as to how I go into the sequel so I needed awhile to get where the story was and who the characters were haha
Lark has left the Iron Wood, continuing her search for her brother, Basil. She is accompanied by Renewable Tansy and her clockwork shapeshifting device, Nix. Upon reaching the vast ruins of a city, they encounter a family of Shadows and are forced to flee. But Oren saves them, Lark is surprised. She did not expect him to follow her while in his Shadow form. It is obvious there are complications between them.
Suddenly, they are captured by masked people and taken underground into a secret world of twisting tunnels. Tansy is taken away and when Lark and Oren escape their prison, they come upon an undeground city. Soon things escalate from there. A rebellion is discovered and they want Lark to help them but she is tired of being held against her will and being a weapon for others. The truth of what she is eats at her darkly.
I think this story with the plot of a rebellion and finding yourself are very common themes. But being able to write about a story in such an intricate way is uncommon. It is not often you find a book that just clicks with you, you read smoothly and are amazed by it. While I was annoyed with Lark at times, it did not seem so bad till I got really upset. She feels guilt for her decisions and thinks she is a fake. She also get jealous but she has the weight of many on her shoulders. For a sixteen year old, I find she handled everything pretty well. As always the heroine does stupid things like jump from the third storey to save everyone. I think this selflessness and fearless quality is prevalent in heroines in all stories like this.
The romance was not empathized on in this book, it was more geared towards Lark's quest to find Basil and saving the city. Also cultivating her relationships with others and her interactions. I find that Oren is perfect for her. They have their dark sides and they admit to it.
This has fantastic writing and did not disappoint.
Usually the duration from when I read Skylark the first book, plays a part as to how I go into the sequel so I needed awhile to get where the story was and who the characters were haha
Lark has left the Iron Wood, continuing her search for her brother, Basil. She is accompanied by Renewable Tansy and her clockwork shapeshifting device, Nix. Upon reaching the vast ruins of a city, they encounter a family of Shadows and are forced to flee. But Oren saves them, Lark is surprised. She did not expect him to follow her while in his Shadow form. It is obvious there are complications between them.
Suddenly, they are captured by masked people and taken underground into a secret world of twisting tunnels. Tansy is taken away and when Lark and Oren escape their prison, they come upon an undeground city. Soon things escalate from there. A rebellion is discovered and they want Lark to help them but she is tired of being held against her will and being a weapon for others. The truth of what she is eats at her darkly.
I think this story with the plot of a rebellion and finding yourself are very common themes. But being able to write about a story in such an intricate way is uncommon. It is not often you find a book that just clicks with you, you read smoothly and are amazed by it. While I was annoyed with Lark at times, it did not seem so bad till I got really upset. She feels guilt for her decisions and thinks she is a fake. She also get jealous but she has the weight of many on her shoulders. For a sixteen year old, I find she handled everything pretty well. As always the heroine does stupid things like jump from the third storey to save everyone. I think this selflessness and fearless quality is prevalent in heroines in all stories like this.
The romance was not empathized on in this book, it was more geared towards Lark's quest to find Basil and saving the city. Also cultivating her relationships with others and her interactions. I find that Oren is perfect for her. They have their dark sides and they admit to it.
This has fantastic writing and did not disappoint.
aprilbooksandwine's review
3.0
3.5
Last summer, I read Meagan Spooner’s debut novel, Skylark and fell in love a little bit. Then this summer I read her sophomore work, These Broken Stars, co-written with Amie Kaufmann and basically decided it was one of my 2013 favorites. And thus it was with great anticipation that I read Shadowlark, the sequel to Skylark. Friends, while I do not think Shadowlark is as good as Skylark OR These Broken Stars, I absolutely do not regret my time reading it and in fact I am super pumped up for the final book in this steampunk-fantasy-dystopia trilogy.
Read the rest of my review here
Last summer, I read Meagan Spooner’s debut novel, Skylark and fell in love a little bit. Then this summer I read her sophomore work, These Broken Stars, co-written with Amie Kaufmann and basically decided it was one of my 2013 favorites. And thus it was with great anticipation that I read Shadowlark, the sequel to Skylark. Friends, while I do not think Shadowlark is as good as Skylark OR These Broken Stars, I absolutely do not regret my time reading it and in fact I am super pumped up for the final book in this steampunk-fantasy-dystopia trilogy.
Read the rest of my review here
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved reading this book again, and now I really just need to know how it's going to end!
*First Read December 20th, 2013*
Oh, man, this was a fantastic book, really really great, can't wait for the 3rd one!!!
*First Read December 20th, 2013*
Oh, man, this was a fantastic book, really really great, can't wait for the 3rd one!!!
amalyndb's review
5.0
The second of the Skylark trilogy
Lark sets off after the events in the Iron Woods to try to find the city her brother was headed for. On finding it, it is a ruin, inhabited by people during the day - who transform into Shadow People during the night. She is captured by people in protective gear, along with her friends Tansy and Oren, and brought into the tunnels beneath the surface. From there, the underground city is found, ruled over by a tyrant, and Renewables face imprisonment/enslavement. Lark and Oren encounter and join the resistance. Inevitable showdown to take out tyrant.
I figured out pretty early on who the tyrant actually was, but was still a very enjoyable read. Concepts like moral slippery slopes, harm of one to prevent harm to many, harsh punishments being applied to lesser crimes as times goes by are all touch on through the narrative.
Lark sets off after the events in the Iron Woods to try to find the city her brother was headed for. On finding it, it is a ruin, inhabited by people during the day - who transform into Shadow People during the night. She is captured by people in protective gear, along with her friends Tansy and Oren, and brought into the tunnels beneath the surface. From there, the underground city is found, ruled over by a tyrant, and Renewables face imprisonment/enslavement. Lark and Oren encounter and join the resistance. Inevitable showdown to take out tyrant.
I figured out pretty early on who the tyrant actually was, but was still a very enjoyable read. Concepts like moral slippery slopes, harm of one to prevent harm to many, harsh punishments being applied to lesser crimes as times goes by are all touch on through the narrative.
starryoatmilk's review against another edition
4.0
Oh. My. God. THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD! At first I was kind of bored, but like ALL FANTASTIC BOOKS after the first couple of chapters I couldn't put it down. The whole Prometheus thing flew right over my head (I had to read that part a couple of times to understand what happened). I can't wait until I get to read the third book.