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jennicareads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
3 stars
Sex: none
Language: none
This story felt like an amalgamation of a bunch of different stories I’ve read and enjoyed over the past decade. At different times I picked up STRONG vibes of City of Ember, The Giver, Shatter Me, Fuse, Under the Never Sky, Chaos Walking, Finnikin of the Rock. (And I recommend all of those books if dystopianish fantasy is your jam). Unfortunately ALL of those books are better than this one. It was very simple and very short and written like a middle grade story in a lot of ways. The world building is okay, but I wanted more details overall. I did find the story interesting and the world interesting enough. I’ll finish the series because I’m hopelessly attached to Oren.
Sex: none
Language: none
This story felt like an amalgamation of a bunch of different stories I’ve read and enjoyed over the past decade. At different times I picked up STRONG vibes of City of Ember, The Giver, Shatter Me, Fuse, Under the Never Sky, Chaos Walking, Finnikin of the Rock. (And I recommend all of those books if dystopianish fantasy is your jam). Unfortunately ALL of those books are better than this one. It was very simple and very short and written like a middle grade story in a lot of ways. The world building is okay, but I wanted more details overall. I did find the story interesting and the world interesting enough. I’ll finish the series because I’m hopelessly attached to Oren.
iamasam28's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. there were parts that felt a little either hurried or too drawn out but since this is a new author I going to it slide.
lizzcraighten's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good, warning - I didn't love the conclusion of the series, but it's well written and the main character is not an idiot. No stupid love triangles either-phew!
bkowalczik's review against another edition
4.0
I just really enjoyed reading this dystopian teen book! Had a few twists to the end that I should have seen coming but was too greedy reading along.
shadownlite's review against another edition
4.0
I am a bit torn on if I liked this book a lot or merely liked it. The story was interesting but felt a bit distanced to me. It may have been just me not totally connecting to the characters and it certainly did not keep me from enjoying the story. I just didn't feel that deep caring for the characters I like to have so, I give the book 4 stars.
The story was very interesting. It approached the idea of magic and witches in a very unique way. It also mixed in a post-apocalyptic world. All this made the story interesting to read. Add a touch of "werewolf/ghoul-like" people who were changes by the radiation when the world ended, and it makes for a really cracking read.
I am curious to see what happened next and will probably read the next book in the series when it comes out. I am just hoping the world building is expanded in the next book because it felt a bit flat here.
The story was very interesting. It approached the idea of magic and witches in a very unique way. It also mixed in a post-apocalyptic world. All this made the story interesting to read. Add a touch of "werewolf/ghoul-like" people who were changes by the radiation when the world ended, and it makes for a really cracking read.
I am curious to see what happened next and will probably read the next book in the series when it comes out. I am just hoping the world building is expanded in the next book because it felt a bit flat here.
yabytheway's review against another edition
5.0
OREN.
That is all. Also, SPOILER:
That is all. Also, SPOILER:
Spoiler
I totally called Kris' role from the beginning. I definitely did not like him at all.caffeinatedreviewer's review against another edition
4.0
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 things 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. Shadowlark book two in the trilogy is expected to release in 2013 and I cannot wait.
I want to thank the publisher and netGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
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 things 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. Shadowlark book two in the trilogy is expected to release in 2013 and I cannot wait.
I want to thank the publisher and netGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
golden_lilies's review against another edition
5.0
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
Won from http://thebooksmugglers.com/
I’ll admit, I’d heard nothing, seen nothing, and had no knowledge of Skylark until someone retweeted Meagan Spooner’s “Sky’s the Limit” contest, in which every entrant would win a prize. I, being a sucker for free stuff, entered and the author herself tweeted me a list of other contests she was running to promote the novel. I entered those too and won a prize pack from thebooksmugglers.com, a signed hardcover, bookmark, postcard, tattoos, pin… I swear the swag multiplied. But it’s not the gift of free stuff that earns Skylark a 5 star review, nor is it its drop-dead gorgeous cover. Skylark is practically engineered to be everything I love about YA fantasy, and it does it very, very well.
Lark Ainsley is 16. In her city, the last city left after the wars, young teens are taken to a rite of passage. Their innate magic is harvested at a banquet before they are given their grown-up job assignments. Lark has never been chosen and is therefore stuck between childhood and adulthood, a dud with no magic. That is, until harvest day when she accidentally uses a large amount of “the Resource,” first to free herself from being stuck in a tunnel and then to destroy a pixie, clockwork creations designed to sense magic use and bring the user to the authorities. For those keeping score at home, that’s an older female teen protagonist in a steampunk/dystopian society discovering the power within her. If we had a “Danielle’s Faves” checklist, we’d be going for the full monty. (Additionally, someone going full monty concludes that checklist, and therefore keeps Skylark from being perfect. Much the pity.)
This display changes The Institute’s plans for the year, abandoning the other harvests and picking Lark as the sole lucky citizen. If you smell a trap, you too have read a book this century. As the book blurb says, Lark can regenerate magic, making her the first Renewable in the city and the greatest source of power ever. The first third of the book, which is so well plotted that it could be its own novel, details Lark’s journey though the Academy: their experiments, her torture, and, finally, her escape. It’s tense and emotional, with imagery that is utterly horrifying.
From there we embark on a journey outside the city. Spooner does a fantastic job of creating realistic emotions in her characters. Lark’s agoraphobia when faced for the first time with the sky is a genius move that most authors would have missed. Her loneliness and isolation seem palpable and explain her headlong rush to join up with the few side characters met. Of the side characters, Oren the wild boy and Nix the reprogrammed pixie, I fell in particular love with Nix. I want whole novellas of Nix flying around, learning new words, commanding armies of other pixies... Nix rocked. (We can now check off the snarky sidekick box.)
Lark is searching for other Renewables like her, crossing forests and plains to find a place she learned of during her time at the Institute. She gets dirty, battered, goes hungry, and fights to survive. What first seems like a blessing, there is no magic outside the city, is a curse that drives non-Renewables mad. Luckily there are pockets of magic to hide from the shadow-creatures in. Unluckily, those are filled with perils of their own. The entire second third of the novel is Lark struggling, and often failing, to adapt to a new life in the wilderness and find where she belongs.
The last section is, of course, the climax. It won’t surprise anyone that Lark does, in fact, find the Renewable’s city. From there surprises and twists came pretty fast and furious. Some I saw. Several, surprised me. (Check.) The final confrontation was exciting, although Lark does mysteriously get a new power in the 11th hour that feels a bit deus ex machina. The end managed to satisfy while still leaving room open for the sequel.
The first 95 pages of Skylark are my favorite, of the novel and of the year to date. I loved the glimpses of the world we got, from the mechanical sun to the lack of strong family units. Lark is incredibly likable. She’s resourceful and brave, but also frightened in a real and appropriate way. She doesn’t make perfect decisions and is entirely too trusting. She’s tenacious, but thinks about taking the easy way out. In short, she’s, again, a realistic heroine with flaws beyond “clumsy”. (Checky check.) And in a refreshing change of pace, I’m not sure she’s ever physically described, except for things like “dirty” or “blood-soaked”. If she was, her looks don’t define her. Lark’s not graceful like a gazelle, with eyes that burn like emeralds. She’s just a girl, which made her struggles at the hands of the Institute so much more affecting. Her rush to escape kept me up well past my bedtime.
I was left with some questions that unfortunately were never answered, mostly with regards to the world and society. I’m a big proponent of show, don’t tell, (check,) but there is a balance required. We really have no insight into daily life in the city, how the class system works, or how roles change after harvest. Questions like “how do the pockets effect time,” or “how are the shadow-people made,” those I can see answered in the next books. I can’t imagine we’ll ever get back to “what DOES happen to duds,” or “wait, is there even a central government?”
In all, I thought Skylark was practically perfect. It’s imaginative and well written. It avoids so many YA tropes, (no insta-love here, folks,) without seeming try-hard. I fell in love with the characters and their struggles. While I have seen negative reviews that it didn’t live up to it’s promise, and I can respect that, I’ll be over here, waiting with bated breath for Shadowlark.
Won from http://thebooksmugglers.com/
I’ll admit, I’d heard nothing, seen nothing, and had no knowledge of Skylark until someone retweeted Meagan Spooner’s “Sky’s the Limit” contest, in which every entrant would win a prize. I, being a sucker for free stuff, entered and the author herself tweeted me a list of other contests she was running to promote the novel. I entered those too and won a prize pack from thebooksmugglers.com, a signed hardcover, bookmark, postcard, tattoos, pin… I swear the swag multiplied. But it’s not the gift of free stuff that earns Skylark a 5 star review, nor is it its drop-dead gorgeous cover. Skylark is practically engineered to be everything I love about YA fantasy, and it does it very, very well.
Lark Ainsley is 16. In her city, the last city left after the wars, young teens are taken to a rite of passage. Their innate magic is harvested at a banquet before they are given their grown-up job assignments. Lark has never been chosen and is therefore stuck between childhood and adulthood, a dud with no magic. That is, until harvest day when she accidentally uses a large amount of “the Resource,” first to free herself from being stuck in a tunnel and then to destroy a pixie, clockwork creations designed to sense magic use and bring the user to the authorities. For those keeping score at home, that’s an older female teen protagonist in a steampunk/dystopian society discovering the power within her. If we had a “Danielle’s Faves” checklist, we’d be going for the full monty. (Additionally, someone going full monty concludes that checklist, and therefore keeps Skylark from being perfect. Much the pity.)
This display changes The Institute’s plans for the year, abandoning the other harvests and picking Lark as the sole lucky citizen. If you smell a trap, you too have read a book this century. As the book blurb says, Lark can regenerate magic, making her the first Renewable in the city and the greatest source of power ever. The first third of the book, which is so well plotted that it could be its own novel, details Lark’s journey though the Academy: their experiments, her torture, and, finally, her escape. It’s tense and emotional, with imagery that is utterly horrifying.
From there we embark on a journey outside the city. Spooner does a fantastic job of creating realistic emotions in her characters. Lark’s agoraphobia when faced for the first time with the sky is a genius move that most authors would have missed. Her loneliness and isolation seem palpable and explain her headlong rush to join up with the few side characters met. Of the side characters, Oren the wild boy and Nix the reprogrammed pixie, I fell in particular love with Nix. I want whole novellas of Nix flying around, learning new words, commanding armies of other pixies... Nix rocked. (We can now check off the snarky sidekick box.)
Lark is searching for other Renewables like her, crossing forests and plains to find a place she learned of during her time at the Institute. She gets dirty, battered, goes hungry, and fights to survive. What first seems like a blessing, there is no magic outside the city, is a curse that drives non-Renewables mad. Luckily there are pockets of magic to hide from the shadow-creatures in. Unluckily, those are filled with perils of their own. The entire second third of the novel is Lark struggling, and often failing, to adapt to a new life in the wilderness and find where she belongs.
The last section is, of course, the climax. It won’t surprise anyone that Lark does, in fact, find the Renewable’s city. From there surprises and twists came pretty fast and furious. Some I saw. Several, surprised me. (Check.) The final confrontation was exciting, although Lark does mysteriously get a new power in the 11th hour that feels a bit deus ex machina. The end managed to satisfy while still leaving room open for the sequel.
The first 95 pages of Skylark are my favorite, of the novel and of the year to date. I loved the glimpses of the world we got, from the mechanical sun to the lack of strong family units. Lark is incredibly likable. She’s resourceful and brave, but also frightened in a real and appropriate way. She doesn’t make perfect decisions and is entirely too trusting. She’s tenacious, but thinks about taking the easy way out. In short, she’s, again, a realistic heroine with flaws beyond “clumsy”. (Checky check.) And in a refreshing change of pace, I’m not sure she’s ever physically described, except for things like “dirty” or “blood-soaked”. If she was, her looks don’t define her. Lark’s not graceful like a gazelle, with eyes that burn like emeralds. She’s just a girl, which made her struggles at the hands of the Institute so much more affecting. Her rush to escape kept me up well past my bedtime.
I was left with some questions that unfortunately were never answered, mostly with regards to the world and society. I’m a big proponent of show, don’t tell, (check,) but there is a balance required. We really have no insight into daily life in the city, how the class system works, or how roles change after harvest. Questions like “how do the pockets effect time,” or “how are the shadow-people made,” those I can see answered in the next books. I can’t imagine we’ll ever get back to “what DOES happen to duds,” or “wait, is there even a central government?”
In all, I thought Skylark was practically perfect. It’s imaginative and well written. It avoids so many YA tropes, (no insta-love here, folks,) without seeming try-hard. I fell in love with the characters and their struggles. While I have seen negative reviews that it didn’t live up to it’s promise, and I can respect that, I’ll be over here, waiting with bated breath for Shadowlark.
jessiedoesstuff's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on The Daily Bookmark
Skylark has been a highly anticipated dystopian meets sci-fi with a little fantasy and some steampunk tossed in. When I was approved on NetGalley to read the ARC, I was ecstatic. And, for the most part, that excitement carried throughout the book.
The beginning of this book was so intense. My heart was palpitating at every turn of the page. The tortures Lark endured were described in detail and I felt my own spine ache, my own stomach rumble. Her despair and anguish was heartfelt, as was the hope inspired by an unlikely friend. I had lots of questions early on, but as they were answered, I became slowly more invested in the story and Lark's journey.
I have to admit, I lost connection with Lark at some point during her wanderings. I can't really say what happened to cause the break but just felt myself less interested. I was still creeped out for the most part and stunned at the inventive nature of this world, but I just didn't care about the heroine's journey. I wanted more Nix and Oren and relished when they took the spotlight. I wanted more trips through magical pockets with the horrors contained and more discovery of this world. Fortunately, I was granted all of that and my relationship with Lark improved as she battled her way through untraveled territory.
Near the end, Spooner drops readers off a cliff and watches to see how they fall. I have never experienced shocking twists like that while reading and it was so good. As a "veteran reader", I tend to spend a lot of time plot guessing. No matter what I thought was going to happen, that didn't matter because Skylark took a total dimension jump for me. People in this book are not what you expect, events have repercussions unlike you might imagine and the journey was splendid.
Skylark ends with a promise for more of Lark Ainsley's journey but done so in a way that doesn't end with a "That's It?!" feeling. There are still questions concerning this society's background, but, nevertheless, I'm so very much looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.
Skylark has been a highly anticipated dystopian meets sci-fi with a little fantasy and some steampunk tossed in. When I was approved on NetGalley to read the ARC, I was ecstatic. And, for the most part, that excitement carried throughout the book.
The beginning of this book was so intense. My heart was palpitating at every turn of the page. The tortures Lark endured were described in detail and I felt my own spine ache, my own stomach rumble. Her despair and anguish was heartfelt, as was the hope inspired by an unlikely friend. I had lots of questions early on, but as they were answered, I became slowly more invested in the story and Lark's journey.
I have to admit, I lost connection with Lark at some point during her wanderings. I can't really say what happened to cause the break but just felt myself less interested. I was still creeped out for the most part and stunned at the inventive nature of this world, but I just didn't care about the heroine's journey. I wanted more Nix and Oren and relished when they took the spotlight. I wanted more trips through magical pockets with the horrors contained and more discovery of this world. Fortunately, I was granted all of that and my relationship with Lark improved as she battled her way through untraveled territory.
Near the end, Spooner drops readers off a cliff and watches to see how they fall. I have never experienced shocking twists like that while reading and it was so good. As a "veteran reader", I tend to spend a lot of time plot guessing. No matter what I thought was going to happen, that didn't matter because Skylark took a total dimension jump for me. People in this book are not what you expect, events have repercussions unlike you might imagine and the journey was splendid.
Skylark ends with a promise for more of Lark Ainsley's journey but done so in a way that doesn't end with a "That's It?!" feeling. There are still questions concerning this society's background, but, nevertheless, I'm so very much looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.