Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Shadowlark by Meagan Spooner

Shadowlark by Meagan Spooner

eARC received from Carolrhoda Lab via Netgalley

Available Now

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Fantastic, Fun, and Full of Adventure

Ever since she escaped the city within the Wall, Lark Ainsley's wanted one thing: to find her brother Basil. She's always believed he would be the one to put an end to the constant fear and flight. And now, hidden underground in the chaotically magical city of Lethe, Lark feels closer to him than ever.

But Lethe is a city cowering in fear of its founder, the mysterious Prometheus, and of his private police force. To get the truth about what happened to Basil, Lark has no choice but to face Prometheus.

Facing her fears has become second nature to Lark. Facing the truth is another matter.

Lark never asked to be anyone's savior. She certainly never wanted to be anyone's weapon. She might not have a choice.

I really do love this series. Even though I have read so many paranormal dystopian novels, this one feels completely different from anything that I have read before.  There is just something completely magical about it that sucks me straight into the world. 

This one starts just a little bit after Skylark leaves off, and Lark is out searching for Basil.  Megan didn’t leave any time to waste, as the action begins straight off for Lark and Tansy.  Even though it’s the creepiest part, I am fascinated by the “shadow people.”  I’m still a bit lost about how the lack of magic turns them into empty cannibals, but it still fascinates me, especially when they seem so normal at times.  Anyone could be a “shadow person,” and that intrigue really drives the tension in the story.

I did have a bit of a hard time remembering everything that happened at the end of the last book, so I do wish that Megan had put in a few more reminders to clear my memory.  I couldn’t remember exactly why Lark left without anyone’s help, and I had somehow forgotten that she wasn’t a renewable.  She’s a drainer, of sort, and the institute is responsible for her ability to drain the magic out of other living beings.  It took me a few chapters in before I realized this again, so I think a few reminders would have helped me get into the book faster.

One of the things I was worried about before starting was whether or not Oren was going to come back.  I figured he would, but I didn’t want to have to wait more than half the book for him to show up like you do in so many other novels.  Megan didn’t disappoint as Oren makes an appearance in the first few chapters!!! YAY!!!!  And he’s just as wild and mysterious as ever—gotta love him for that.  Oren doesn’t speak much, but there is still something about him that just steals my heart.  I think it’s his leap first, look later attitude when it comes to protecting Lark.  That instinct is just so heartwarming for me!

Be ready for some great new discoveries in this book in the city of Lethe.  I was completely drawn in to this underground city, and I was fascinated with the society that had been built.  Sinister and secretive, the city gives more questions than answers. 

Overall, this is a great second novel.  It is slow at times, but I actually enjoyed the pace.  It was rhythmic, and just seemed to work well with the plot.  Now, I just have to sit around and wait for Book 3—come quick, please!!!

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And, of course...you need the password, right?

YA Sisterhood Blog Tour Password:  Renewable

 

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Giveaway Time!!!!! 

 US/Canada residents can win a signed copy of Skylark AND Shadowlark.

International residents can win (unsigned) copies of Skylark AND Shadowlark sent via Book Depository.

The winner will also win either a query critique (if an aspiring author) OR a pre-order copy of These Broken Stars (her new series co-written with Amie Kaufman). 

 

 

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Skylark by Meagan Spooner

Skylark by Meagan Spooner

eARC received from Carolrhoda Lab via Netgalley

Release Date:  ON Shelves Now

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Mystical, Macabre, and Mesmerizing

Sixteen-year-old Lark Ainsley has never seen the sky.

Her world ends at the edge of the vast domed barrier of energy enclosing all that’s left of humanity. For two hundred years the city has sustained this barrier by harvesting its children's innate magical energy when they reach adolescence. When it’s Lark’s turn to be harvested, she finds herself trapped in a nightmarish web of experiments and learns she is something out of legend itself: a Renewable, able to regenerate her own power after it’s been stripped.

Forced to flee the only home she knows to avoid life as a human battery, Lark must fight her way through the terrible wilderness beyond the edge of the world. With the city’s clockwork creations close on her heels and a strange wild boy stalking her in the countryside, she must move quickly if she is to have any hope of survival. She’s heard the stories that somewhere to the west are others like her, hidden in secret—but can she stay alive long enough to find them?

Influenced by magic, inundated with death, and riddled with betrayal; Meagan Spooner creates a world that straddles the lines of good and evil.  Under every rock lurks a secret, behind every cloud hides the truth, and around every corner awaits destruction—watch where you tread, or you just might get lost in her world.  But then again, that might not be such a bad thing.

Before I started this book, I glanced through the reviews and noticed that most of them were mixed.  So, I was hesitant to start reading, however, once I did, I couldn’t put this book down.  I loved the mystery surrounding this world, and with every page, I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the darkness, forgetting to ever look up for the light.

Before I jump into what I enjoyed about this book, I want to address what many people are having are complaining about—the history of the dystopian society.  Just like many other dystopian novels, people are questioning how the world got that way to begin with or, with Skylark, where did the magic come from.  In my opinion, none of this matters.  The story doesn’t rely heavily on the past, in fact, it looks to the future—how to fix the present.  So what does it matter how the world got that way.  There was a war; it changed things.  That’s all we need to know in my opinion.  And the magic?  The book never says that this takes place on Earth—just a world with magic.  Its magic is inherent in their world—like gravity is in ours.

My favorite part of this book was the world outside of Lark’s city.  Lark’s world was once full of magic, but since the wars, magic has been drained.  As a result, there are patches of the world where magic is concentrated.  What is so unique about it is how the world reacts to these concentrated areas of magic.  Sometimes, the magic twists its surroundings into dark and malevolent creatures, bent on blood and death.  Other times, the magic creates a fantasy world—full of life and beauty.  I loved how the magic itself twisted the world into the dark or light, humans had nothing to do with it.  It was a pleasant difference from most dystopian worlds—where magic is good, but humans bend and break it to create darkness.

Lark, the main character, is strong but not overly confident.  She is determined to get to freedom, and that desire is what drives her.  But she is not the poof! I’m a super-strong warrior who can survive everywhere type of mc.  Instead, she relies heavily on the mysterious and wild Oren, who comes to her rescue more than once.  I liked Lark, but I wasn’t wowed by her.  Still, she was realistic, and I liked watching her push aside other’s perceptions to find her own truth.

And Oren—he’s as wild as any dangerous animal.  He was the strong, silent type; and would be super sexy if he wasn’t covered in blood and mud all the time.  But still, I couldn’t help but like him.  You could see in his actions how much Lark meant to him, and he puts himself in fatal danger more than once to come to her aid.  Plus, there’s that whole Tarzan kill bad guy persona.  And let’s face it…that’s just a little hot.

I was swept away by Meagan’s world and her characters.  Every time I thought I had something figured out, I was thrown for a loop by an out there twist.  Dripping with menace, Meagan’s world will take you on a dangerous journey through the heart of the wild to discover that freedom is fleeting, truth is relative, and love is perilous.

I will leave you with my favorite quote from the book: (said by Oren to Lark)

"'Even in the dark--' and I knew he did not mean nighttime when he said dark--"I can see you.  You shine.'" ARC Location 3517-3518