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anotherstoryreader's review
4.0
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Skylark’s Song is an enemy to lovers’ book about Robin who is a poor midflight mechanic in a war that has been going on for 10 years with no end in sight. She becomes an accidental hero pilot when she is the first to survive a mid-air flight (dance) with the Coyote the enemy’s most notorious pilot. She is shot down and imprisoned by him. But all is not as it seems.
Robin is a wonderful protagonist. She is strong both physically and mentally. She is kind and never stops fighting for freedom for the downtrodden. She is spunky and brave and isn’t afraid to tell someone off if they need it.
The Coyote, I sometimes had a hard time reading him. I was left guessing the whole book on that side he stood. I wanted him and Robin to get together but at the same time I thought he was unnecessarily cruel at times. I wished he would leave her less in the dark with what was really going on in this prison. (I’m trying to be careful not to give away any spoilers.) He tried to give her hints but they were so vague I’m not surprised she misunderstood some. In parts, I was sure Robin was suffering from a case of Stockholms Syndrome and It made me very mad that this strong woman was falling for this man who kept going a bit unhinged around her. There were times I wondered if he was a little bipolar. Don’t get me wrong. I was totally rooting for him being the secret good guy he seemed to be. I think the constant question about his allegiance was intentional. Man was the chemistry and anticipation between them HOT!
Overall this story was very well written, there were a few mistakes that I was easily able to get past because the story was so engaging. For example. There were quite a few times the narrative was cyclical. “I like him but I don’t trust him” for a page and a half. Or times where timeline seemed to jump around… Like she was working on fixing something for a few weeks into her captivity then it would jump to something that happened 3 days into her captivity then back again.
Not many books lately have had me up past my bedtime but this book and book #2 BOTH made me stay up way too late. I was extremely glad to be able to read and review book #2 Right away. Please see my profile for the review for my review of Skylark’s Sacrifice.
Skylark’s Song is an enemy to lovers’ book about Robin who is a poor midflight mechanic in a war that has been going on for 10 years with no end in sight. She becomes an accidental hero pilot when she is the first to survive a mid-air flight (dance) with the Coyote the enemy’s most notorious pilot. She is shot down and imprisoned by him. But all is not as it seems.
Robin is a wonderful protagonist. She is strong both physically and mentally. She is kind and never stops fighting for freedom for the downtrodden. She is spunky and brave and isn’t afraid to tell someone off if they need it.
The Coyote, I sometimes had a hard time reading him. I was left guessing the whole book on that side he stood. I wanted him and Robin to get together but at the same time I thought he was unnecessarily cruel at times. I wished he would leave her less in the dark with what was really going on in this prison. (I’m trying to be careful not to give away any spoilers.) He tried to give her hints but they were so vague I’m not surprised she misunderstood some. In parts, I was sure Robin was suffering from a case of Stockholms Syndrome and It made me very mad that this strong woman was falling for this man who kept going a bit unhinged around her. There were times I wondered if he was a little bipolar. Don’t get me wrong. I was totally rooting for him being the secret good guy he seemed to be. I think the constant question about his allegiance was intentional. Man was the chemistry and anticipation between them HOT!
Overall this story was very well written, there were a few mistakes that I was easily able to get past because the story was so engaging. For example. There were quite a few times the narrative was cyclical. “I like him but I don’t trust him” for a page and a half. Or times where timeline seemed to jump around… Like she was working on fixing something for a few weeks into her captivity then it would jump to something that happened 3 days into her captivity then back again.
Not many books lately have had me up past my bedtime but this book and book #2 BOTH made me stay up way too late. I was extremely glad to be able to read and review book #2 Right away. Please see my profile for the review for my review of Skylark’s Sacrifice.
mad_about_books's review
5.0
Sometimes you pick up a book to read knowing that it will whisk you away to a world well worth exploring. THE SKYLARK'S SONG is just such a book. How did I know? I've read the novels and stories that make up The Accidental Turn series, by the same author.
J. M. Frey is a master of world building and populating that world with interesting and intriguing characters. Saskwya and Klonn are at war; gliders are fighting against aeroships with bloody consequences to both sides. In such fights there are heroes and villains and, as is so often the case, these are muddied by circumstance.
There is nothing more satisfying than reading a well-written book. THE SKYLARK'S SONG has all the ingredients a great book must have… believable characters, vibrant settings, page-turning action, some steampunk gadgets, and just the right touch of romance.
Although the story does not exactly end on a cliffhanger, you will want to have the second book in the duology at hand when you finish this first book. I did and was able to continue as if it was all one book. Grab copies of both THE SKYLARK'S SONG and THE SKYLARK'S SACRIFICE… you won't be sorry.
J. M. Frey is a master of world building and populating that world with interesting and intriguing characters. Saskwya and Klonn are at war; gliders are fighting against aeroships with bloody consequences to both sides. In such fights there are heroes and villains and, as is so often the case, these are muddied by circumstance.
There is nothing more satisfying than reading a well-written book. THE SKYLARK'S SONG has all the ingredients a great book must have… believable characters, vibrant settings, page-turning action, some steampunk gadgets, and just the right touch of romance.
Although the story does not exactly end on a cliffhanger, you will want to have the second book in the duology at hand when you finish this first book. I did and was able to continue as if it was all one book. Grab copies of both THE SKYLARK'S SONG and THE SKYLARK'S SACRIFICE… you won't be sorry.
alexperc_92's review
5.0
I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
In a world torn by war and cultural differences, Robin Arianhod is a kick-ass flying mechanic. But the skies are plagued by the Coyote, a pilot who never leaves anyone alive behind him. But when an accident will make Robin a proper pilot, she will realize that there are more to the war than she ever imagined.
And that the Coyote has his own leash too.
Following the end of her "Accidental Turn" series, which will always be my top favorite (and if you follow me you know how much I rave about the books in my blog), J.M. Frey enters into the world of steampunk, bordering to slight mecha territory, and creates a complex relationship between the main characters which can be difficulty labeled correctly.
Robin doesn't give up easily and she will do anything to escape captivity. Even when she knows that she will probably die in the process. The Coyote's identity remains still a mystery to me after finishing the ARC. The first book does a great job establishing the world-building, giving a scope to the life and its characters, but it will leave you with a tiny cliffhanger.
"The Skylark's song" is a thrilling new story which will satisfy even the demanding. Frey's voice is vibrant through the plot and very compelling to make you demand more!
In a world torn by war and cultural differences, Robin Arianhod is a kick-ass flying mechanic. But the skies are plagued by the Coyote, a pilot who never leaves anyone alive behind him. But when an accident will make Robin a proper pilot, she will realize that there are more to the war than she ever imagined.
And that the Coyote has his own leash too.
Following the end of her "Accidental Turn" series, which will always be my top favorite (and if you follow me you know how much I rave about the books in my blog), J.M. Frey enters into the world of steampunk, bordering to slight mecha territory, and creates a complex relationship between the main characters which can be difficulty labeled correctly.
Robin doesn't give up easily and she will do anything to escape captivity. Even when she knows that she will probably die in the process. The Coyote's identity remains still a mystery to me after finishing the ARC. The first book does a great job establishing the world-building, giving a scope to the life and its characters, but it will leave you with a tiny cliffhanger.
"The Skylark's song" is a thrilling new story which will satisfy even the demanding. Frey's voice is vibrant through the plot and very compelling to make you demand more!
didsomeonesayviolin's review
4.0
[this ARC was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
The Skylark's Song is the first book in a steampunk duology by J.M.Frey. It follows Robin, a plane mechanic, during a war between her people and the Klonn, an enemy nation.
It took me some time to get into, but once I did, I sucked the rest in during one night. The reason for that was probably the info dump at the beginning, which wasn't critically long, but it still discouraged me. I simply got over not understanding half the terms and focused on the plot instead - which was a wise choice, because I still didn't really understand who the Benne and the Sealie were - I think it was the nation of Saskwaya, but they had two religions. Anyways, a better explanation of the hierarchy would be practical. Also, there was this war which it was basically all about, but they hadn't explained why they were fighting.
As for the plot, although the beginning was quite uneventful, I welcomed it, because it's really convenient to SEE the character's life before the big change happens (looking at you, The King's 100). Then, the "twist" happened, which brought an even bigger twist which I DID NOT ANTICIPATE at ALL. Thumbs up for that!! Then the rest was predictable again, but I liked it anyway.
I'd also like to bring up Robin's character. She was (even though not my favourite type of heroine) strong and admirable and most important of all, EXPLAINED. We got to know her motivation and her fears, yadayada, and it was so refreshing. After reading a few books where the heroine was either plain as paper so she needed no explanation, incomprehensible because the author offered no explanation or all over the place because the author themselves hadn't decided who she is, Robin was absolutely delightful to read.
I'd recommend this totally underrated fantasy to anyone, who likes steampunk or adventurous novels. You won't regret it!
→4 stars
The Skylark's Song is the first book in a steampunk duology by J.M.Frey. It follows Robin, a plane mechanic, during a war between her people and the Klonn, an enemy nation.
It took me some time to get into, but once I did, I sucked the rest in during one night. The reason for that was probably the info dump at the beginning, which wasn't critically long, but it still discouraged me. I simply got over not understanding half the terms and focused on the plot instead - which was a wise choice, because I still didn't really understand who the Benne and the Sealie were - I think it was the nation of Saskwaya, but they had two religions. Anyways, a better explanation of the hierarchy would be practical. Also, there was this war which it was basically all about, but they hadn't explained why they were fighting.
As for the plot, although the beginning was quite uneventful, I welcomed it, because it's really convenient to SEE the character's life before the big change happens (looking at you, The King's 100). Then, the "twist" happened, which brought an even bigger twist which I DID NOT ANTICIPATE at ALL. Thumbs up for that!! Then the rest was predictable again, but I liked it anyway.
I'd also like to bring up Robin's character. She was (even though not my favourite type of heroine) strong and admirable and most important of all, EXPLAINED. We got to know her motivation and her fears, yadayada, and it was so refreshing. After reading a few books where the heroine was either plain as paper so she needed no explanation, incomprehensible because the author offered no explanation or all over the place because the author themselves hadn't decided who she is, Robin was absolutely delightful to read.
I'd recommend this totally underrated fantasy to anyone, who likes steampunk or adventurous novels. You won't regret it!
→4 stars
stackattack's review
4.0
This was a very good book. I liked the story. I loved the way it was written. This was great. I would recommend this.
inkspitblog's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely adored this novel!
I had no idea this was self published when I picked it up but it was so so worth it. The pacing, characterisation, and plotting was doing so well. I was happy that the author gave me time to understand and become invested in the world before changing the setting of the novel. I feel like the conflict and confusion would not have been as impactful if we had not spent so much time getting to know Robin’s friends and family.
I would absolutely love to read the next book and I will be telling friends about this one!
While it’s not entirely perfect, I found very little that bothered me or that I could complain about. I would have enjoyed a bit more insight into the coyote and his country and how it worked though. However I assume this will happen in book 2 and would likely have ruined robins perfective.
A solid 4.5 stars and I can’t wait to continue the adventure!
I had no idea this was self published when I picked it up but it was so so worth it. The pacing, characterisation, and plotting was doing so well. I was happy that the author gave me time to understand and become invested in the world before changing the setting of the novel. I feel like the conflict and confusion would not have been as impactful if we had not spent so much time getting to know Robin’s friends and family.
I would absolutely love to read the next book and I will be telling friends about this one!
While it’s not entirely perfect, I found very little that bothered me or that I could complain about. I would have enjoyed a bit more insight into the coyote and his country and how it worked though. However I assume this will happen in book 2 and would likely have ruined robins perfective.
A solid 4.5 stars and I can’t wait to continue the adventure!
inkspitblog's review
5.0
I’d like to take a moment to thank the publishers and netgalley for a free copy in exchange of an honest review.
I absolutely adored this novel!
I had no idea this was self published when I picked it up but it was so so worth it. The pacing, characterisation, and plotting was doing so well. I was happy that the author gave me time to understand and become invested in the world before changing the setting of the novel. I feel like the conflict and confusion would not have been as impactful if we had not spent so much time getting to know Robin’s friends and family.
I would absolutely love to read the next book and I will be telling friends about this one!
While it’s not entirely perfect, I found very little that bothered me or that I could complain about. I would have enjoyed a bit more insight into the coyote and his country and how it worked though. However I assume this will happen in book 2 and would likely have ruined robins perfective.
A solid 4.5 stars and I can’t wait to continue the adventure!
I absolutely adored this novel!
I had no idea this was self published when I picked it up but it was so so worth it. The pacing, characterisation, and plotting was doing so well. I was happy that the author gave me time to understand and become invested in the world before changing the setting of the novel. I feel like the conflict and confusion would not have been as impactful if we had not spent so much time getting to know Robin’s friends and family.
I would absolutely love to read the next book and I will be telling friends about this one!
While it’s not entirely perfect, I found very little that bothered me or that I could complain about. I would have enjoyed a bit more insight into the coyote and his country and how it worked though. However I assume this will happen in book 2 and would likely have ruined robins perfective.
A solid 4.5 stars and I can’t wait to continue the adventure!
aggie24's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I really like this one. It has a wonderful blend of action, emotion, and worldbuilding. I don’t normally make lists in my reviews, but I think that’s the easiest way to explain how I felt about this book, so here you go.
Things I really liked:
1. Robin Arianhod. I know she’s the main character and I’m supposed to like her, but she was very well done. She showed a depth of emotion that I feel like I haven’t seen in a while. Her grief, confusion, and love were all clear to see, and well-written.
2. The way religion was portrayed. There are three major religions portrayed in this book, and I think Frey did a great job with them. The way people from each religion interacted with each other was painful but felt realistic. The different customs people had was fun to see, and I liked how it didn’t feel like the author was trying to convince me which one was right, but simply showed the way they are. They are not at all related to any religion I know of, which was refreshing.
3. Flying. The characters love the sky. Does anything else need to be said?
4. The way Robin puts herself first. Robin isn’t constantly trying to be a heroine. She is trying to survive, and that means she is looking out for herself first. She cares about her family and her friends, but she doesn’t sacrifice herself for no reason, which was a nice change from most YA these days.
5. The author’s style. I really enjoyed Frey’s writing. This book is written in third-person, but it still feels immediate and exciting without becoming rushed. I think that can be a difficult balance to find, but Frey did a good job of it.
But there are three major problems I had with this book:
1. The lack of explanations. I think the best way to explain this is to bring in the idea of hard and soft magic. Hard magic is where the magic is understandable; there are rules and limitations, and the reader knows what they are (for example Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson). Soft magic is when the reader doesn’t understand how the magic works or what the limitations are (for example Gandalf’s magic in the Lord of the Rings). Strictly speaking, there isn’t magic in The Skylark’s Song, but I think some of the same concepts apply. The entire plot is based on two countries being at war, but we don’t know anything about why the war started, who is winning, major strategy. All we know is that there are some skirmishes in the air, and the war is somehow about cultural domination. That’s it. This is a soft-magic kind of book. Suspension of disbelief is very necessary. There are a lot of holes, both in the worldbuilding and the plot. Which brings me to my next problem.
2. The romance. J.M. Frey says in the acknowledgements that her agent “demanded that there be” a love interest, so she had to include one, but it didn’t go very well. The romance feels more like Stockholm syndrome than anything else. We are told they fall in love, but all of the incremental steps showing how they got there -- conversations and jokes and the interactions that let us get to know a character -- are glossed over. I wasn’t shown why the love interest was a person that deserved Robin, why I should root for him to woo her. It made it feel like Robin was being manipulated into loving him, rather than mutual attraction. I didn’t like it.
3. The way Robin enjoyed it when boys made coarse jokes about her to her face. I understand that when you have a girl spending a lot of time with some of those boys every day, there might be jokes. I get that some of this needed to be included for the book to feel authentic. But I do not understand why Robin laughs when her best friend sticks his hand down her shirt or makes fun of her behind with no warning. Her opinion that “boys were stupid… a fact of nature and the will of the gods” just doesn’t cut it. With the way this is about a woman pilot and mechanic, I thought that the author would show some respect for women’s boundaries, but that doesn’t happen.
So, to conclude, if you like steampunk about independent heroines and don’t mind some worldbuilding holes and plot holes, this is for you. That sounds really negative, but this was still enjoyable. I finished it in less than 24 hours, and I’m pretty eager to get my hands on the next one. It’s unique and exciting, with action, romance, and some real-world issues thrown in for good measure.
3.5 / 5 stars
First off, I really like this one. It has a wonderful blend of action, emotion, and worldbuilding. I don’t normally make lists in my reviews, but I think that’s the easiest way to explain how I felt about this book, so here you go.
Things I really liked:
1. Robin Arianhod. I know she’s the main character and I’m supposed to like her, but she was very well done. She showed a depth of emotion that I feel like I haven’t seen in a while. Her grief, confusion, and love were all clear to see, and well-written.
2. The way religion was portrayed. There are three major religions portrayed in this book, and I think Frey did a great job with them. The way people from each religion interacted with each other was painful but felt realistic. The different customs people had was fun to see, and I liked how it didn’t feel like the author was trying to convince me which one was right, but simply showed the way they are. They are not at all related to any religion I know of, which was refreshing.
3. Flying. The characters love the sky. Does anything else need to be said?
4. The way Robin puts herself first. Robin isn’t constantly trying to be a heroine. She is trying to survive, and that means she is looking out for herself first. She cares about her family and her friends, but she doesn’t sacrifice herself for no reason, which was a nice change from most YA these days.
5. The author’s style. I really enjoyed Frey’s writing. This book is written in third-person, but it still feels immediate and exciting without becoming rushed. I think that can be a difficult balance to find, but Frey did a good job of it.
But there are three major problems I had with this book:
1. The lack of explanations. I think the best way to explain this is to bring in the idea of hard and soft magic. Hard magic is where the magic is understandable; there are rules and limitations, and the reader knows what they are (for example Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson). Soft magic is when the reader doesn’t understand how the magic works or what the limitations are (for example Gandalf’s magic in the Lord of the Rings). Strictly speaking, there isn’t magic in The Skylark’s Song, but I think some of the same concepts apply. The entire plot is based on two countries being at war, but we don’t know anything about why the war started, who is winning, major strategy. All we know is that there are some skirmishes in the air, and the war is somehow about cultural domination. That’s it. This is a soft-magic kind of book. Suspension of disbelief is very necessary. There are a lot of holes, both in the worldbuilding and the plot. Which brings me to my next problem.
2. The romance. J.M. Frey says in the acknowledgements that her agent “demanded that there be” a love interest, so she had to include one, but it didn’t go very well. The romance feels more like Stockholm syndrome than anything else. We are told they fall in love, but all of the incremental steps showing how they got there -- conversations and jokes and the interactions that let us get to know a character -- are glossed over. I wasn’t shown why the love interest was a person that deserved Robin, why I should root for him to woo her. It made it feel like Robin was being manipulated into loving him, rather than mutual attraction. I didn’t like it.
3. The way Robin enjoyed it when boys made coarse jokes about her to her face. I understand that when you have a girl spending a lot of time with some of those boys every day, there might be jokes. I get that some of this needed to be included for the book to feel authentic. But I do not understand why Robin laughs when her best friend sticks his hand down her shirt or makes fun of her behind with no warning. Her opinion that “boys were stupid… a fact of nature and the will of the gods” just doesn’t cut it. With the way this is about a woman pilot and mechanic, I thought that the author would show some respect for women’s boundaries, but that doesn’t happen.
So, to conclude, if you like steampunk about independent heroines and don’t mind some worldbuilding holes and plot holes, this is for you. That sounds really negative, but this was still enjoyable. I finished it in less than 24 hours, and I’m pretty eager to get my hands on the next one. It’s unique and exciting, with action, romance, and some real-world issues thrown in for good measure.
3.5 / 5 stars
alexandra_92's review
5.0
I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
In a world torn by war and cultural differences, Robin Arianhod is a kick-ass flying mechanic. But the skies are plagued by the Coyote, a pilot who never leaves anyone alive behind him. But when an accident will make Robin a proper pilot, she will realize that there are more to the war than she ever imagined.
And that the Coyote has his own leash too.
Following the end of her "Accidental Turn" series, which will always be my top favorite (and if you follow me you know how much I rave about the books in my blog), J.M. Frey enters into the world of steampunk, bordering to slight mecha territory, and creates a complex relationship between the main characters which can be difficulty labeled correctly.
Robin doesn't give up easily and she will do anything to escape captivity. Even when she knows that she will probably die in the process. The Coyote's identity remains still a mystery to me after finishing the ARC. The first book does a great job establishing the world-building, giving a scope to the life and its characters, but it will leave you with a tiny cliffhanger.
"The Skylark's song" is a thrilling new story which will satisfy even the demanding. Frey's voice is vibrant through the plot and very compelling to make you demand more!
In a world torn by war and cultural differences, Robin Arianhod is a kick-ass flying mechanic. But the skies are plagued by the Coyote, a pilot who never leaves anyone alive behind him. But when an accident will make Robin a proper pilot, she will realize that there are more to the war than she ever imagined.
And that the Coyote has his own leash too.
Following the end of her "Accidental Turn" series, which will always be my top favorite (and if you follow me you know how much I rave about the books in my blog), J.M. Frey enters into the world of steampunk, bordering to slight mecha territory, and creates a complex relationship between the main characters which can be difficulty labeled correctly.
Robin doesn't give up easily and she will do anything to escape captivity. Even when she knows that she will probably die in the process. The Coyote's identity remains still a mystery to me after finishing the ARC. The first book does a great job establishing the world-building, giving a scope to the life and its characters, but it will leave you with a tiny cliffhanger.
"The Skylark's song" is a thrilling new story which will satisfy even the demanding. Frey's voice is vibrant through the plot and very compelling to make you demand more!
pineapplefury's review
4.0
I had a lot of fun with this one!
Skylark's Song is a vaguely-steampunk fantasy about Robin, a pilot from a minority culture, who rises to prominence in her kingdom's army after surviving an encounter with the Coyote, a pilot for the kingdom they're at war with. She then has to prove herself to her fellow pilots, and stay ahead of the Coyote.
Honestly, my main critique of this book is that it feels like it takes a while to get started. The first half of the book isn't bad by any means, and it held my attention just fine, but when I got to about the midpoint and encountered what was ACTUALLY meant to be the main conflict of the story, I found myself wishing that there was more book left.
My favourite part of the book was the interplay between Robin and the Coyote, and the part where the book is almost a fake-romance intrigue is where it really shone. I could have definitely enjoyed a lot more of that line of plot.
This book was also surprisingly dark at times. I was definitely unprepared for the level of gore that some scenes had. This isn't necessarily a critique, just perhaps something to be aware of - if you're going in for a fun romp, just be aware that there's some other stuff in there as well!
All in all, I enjoyed my experience of reading, and I'm really interested to see what happens to Robin and the Coyote next!
Skylark's Song is a vaguely-steampunk fantasy about Robin, a pilot from a minority culture, who rises to prominence in her kingdom's army after surviving an encounter with the Coyote, a pilot for the kingdom they're at war with. She then has to prove herself to her fellow pilots, and stay ahead of the Coyote.
Honestly, my main critique of this book is that it feels like it takes a while to get started. The first half of the book isn't bad by any means, and it held my attention just fine, but when I got to about the midpoint and encountered what was ACTUALLY meant to be the main conflict of the story, I found myself wishing that there was more book left.
My favourite part of the book was the interplay between Robin and the Coyote, and the part where the book is almost a fake-romance intrigue is where it really shone. I could have definitely enjoyed a lot more of that line of plot.
This book was also surprisingly dark at times. I was definitely unprepared for the level of gore that some scenes had. This isn't necessarily a critique, just perhaps something to be aware of - if you're going in for a fun romp, just be aware that there's some other stuff in there as well!
All in all, I enjoyed my experience of reading, and I'm really interested to see what happens to Robin and the Coyote next!