Larkstorm (The Sensitives, #1)

Feb 03, 2012 Phoebe added it

Shelves: intergalactic-academy-reviews, fantasy, paranormal, chick-lit, dystopian

Full review at the Intergalactic Academy.

Larkstorm opens like many mainstream dystopian novels. Lark Greene is a young student preparing herself for her job placement. She the daughter of a societal leader in a strictly regimented society where citizens hide away from mysterious, evil “Sensitives”–beings who were once known as witches. Though most of her school mates are also awaiting their marriage contracts, Lark herself has already been bound–at seven, to her best friend, Beck. But then Beck...more Full review at the Intergalactic Academy.

Larkstorm opens like many mainstream dystopian novels. Lark Greene is a young student preparing herself for her job placement. She the daughter of a societal leader in a strictly regimented society where citizens hide away from mysterious, evil “Sensitives”–beings who were once known as witches. Though most of her school mates are also awaiting their marriage contracts, Lark herself has already been bound–at seven, to her best friend, Beck. But then Beck is accused of being a Sensitive himself, and she’s plunged into an adventure that takes her far away from her school, her former life, and her comfort zone.

If all this makes you think that you’re in for a light SF, dystopian read, then think again. It does, in fact, open as a stock dystopian–and the first third is set in a world heavily redolent of novels such as Matched and Delirium. It also opens with many of the flaws inherent in such dystopian novels. There’s the hazy history, the strictures against sex or relationships that seem less sensible and present mostly to provide angst. But Lark is a fairly compelling character, with a strong voice and a lightly wry sense of humor, and her relationship with Beck–innocent, affectionate, charming–better rendered than what you find in most dystopian novels.

Then the book undergoes one of the most bizarre genre shifts I’ve ever seen in a YA novel.

Halfway through, we learn that all these Sensitives really are witches. And both Beck and Lark are actually completely enmeshed in witch politics. Lark enters a palatial summer estate that’s encased from the winter by a magical snowglobe-type barrier, and the witches there start to teach her how to harness her powers. Suddenly we’re in witch school! In the middle of a war between two types of witches!

I found this all very jarring.

I’d heard that Larkstorm was a fantasy. However, the ideas and worldbuilding are communicated in a way far more common to paranormal romance. It’s recounted in breezy conversation, or through training sequences. There are plenty of artificial, magical reasons provided why Lark and Beck cannot be together and a host of magically-driven (rather than, say, character-driven) conflicts. Though Miller does an admirable job in imagining the histories and even family trees of her universe, it never quite came together for me in a way that felt fully-formed and real.

I think this is, in part, because even in light dystopian, a reader has to piece together the rules of the universe slowly over the course of a book. I felt I had really only just begun to get a handle on the rules here when those rules were flatly negated. One-by-one, characters came out of the woodwork to assure Lark that everything she knew about them was a lie. But I simply didn’t understand their relationships to Lark well enough to begin with for such developments to feel shocking or resonant. I spent the middle third of the novel disoriented, putting the pieces back together, trying to locate myself–and Lark–within her universe.

By the end, I did recover–and by Larkstorm‘s end, the primacy of the tender relationship between Lark and Beck is once again asserted. It’s a genuinely sweet, healthy adolescent love (rare for PNR!), and the prose centered upon their relationship is some of the novel’s strongest. Once I accepted that yes, indeed, I was reading a paranormal romance, I found myself enjoying the book quite a bit.

But as a whole, I found the composition frustrating and disorienting. I’m not really sure whether the dystopian opening was necessary, and in some ways, it felt like the author’s heart wasn’t quite as invested in the world there as the one encountered later in the novel. I suspect that paranormal fans will enjoy this–provided they get past the first third, to Larkstorm‘s more fitting and heartfelt witchy world–and it’s certainly as strong as many traditionally published YA romances. But readers looking for a sci-fi flavored fantasy are likely best giving it a pass.(less)

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Dec 08, 2011 Debra Driza added it

I read an earlier version of this book and it was awesome! If you love stories about ill-fated romances, then this book is definitely for you!

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May 09, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm torn between giving this book three or a four stars. In the end, I'd have to say 3 1/2. When I first heard about Larkstorm I was super, super excited about it and obsessively searched everywhere for it. I expected this book to be a different kind of Dystopian(I don't know why, I just did.) and it was. I wouldn't count it as supernatural, but I'd say it falls more into that category than dystopian, I guess in the big picture it's dystopian, but anyway...I liked this book, but honestly, I thou...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Karekon rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book started out interesting then got progressively more icky.

(view spoiler)...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Kimberlee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

" 4.7 on the Bell Curve."

The pacing of this moves quickly. I sat down and read it start to finish with only two breaks because I had to know what happened next.

Larkstorm has a multifaceted plot that slowly unravels over the course of the book. The prose is thankfully more literary than sarcastic. Each line feels carefully thought-out and it balances showing and telling very well.

My first impression was that the story was reminiscent of MATCHED, and was glad to see the elements which I found to...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, dystopia, love, school, ya

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Seriously! I cannot say enough raving, fantastical, amazing things about this book!

I cannot wait to get my hands on a realy copy (I had to use Smashwords to get it). I want to reread it over and over.

Lark is one of those characters that you get sucked into, you see the world through her eyes, you are her when you read her. I pink puffy heary Miller for being that kind of author.

The entire concept of light and dark witches/sensitives, is one not touched much...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Sara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, hard-time-getting-into

I'm kind of surprised at all the 5 star reviews for this book. While it wasn't bad, I didn't see the WOW factor that it seems everyone else did. I thought the beginning of the book had promise. It seemed as things progressed that I had a good grasp of the dystopian society and I was enjoying the setting of the story. As the story continued it lost me.

Once Beck left and Lark set out to find him I was excited to see where the story would go. The whole encounter with Lark's brother at the train st...more I'm kind of surprised at all the 5 star reviews for this book. While it wasn't bad, I didn't see the WOW factor that it seems everyone else did. I thought the beginning of the book had promise. It seemed as things progressed that I had a good grasp of the dystopian society and I was enjoying the setting of the story. As the story continued it lost me.

Once Beck left and Lark set out to find him I was excited to see where the story would go. The whole encounter with Lark's brother at the train station and her getaway was fun. At least we thought she was running towards finding Beck as well as breaking away from everyone in her life who kept things from her. I thought Lark might find Beck and they'd hide out for a bit then fight and stand together... no such luck.

Come to find out she takes refuge in a "bubble" if you will. A bubble with a house and woods and loads of light witches in tents!! The entire technological society we read about at the beginning of the story was gone! Instead we were thrown into a political war with magic and too controlling witches. The story just got more frustrating after that. Time after time I was hoping to get answers, and the story just kept putting them off and Lark was literally kept in the dark. Her magic was encased and she basically turned into a whiner who was always trying to control her tantrums. I understood her anger because I too wanted answers, but never got them.

It seems as though the first part of the book and the last part were totally separate stories?! They didn't flow together for me and I was just frustrated in general. It was difficult at times for me to continue reading, but it was a short book so I pressed on. I didn't like the ending either. Lark left Beck standing there while she basically runs away. Why? To protect him? It didn't make logical sense. I'm being vague because I don't want to spoil the story, just saying it didn't really come together.

Altogether, I think (personally) for 4.99 the book is overpriced. I've read much better books at that price and I expected a lot more! I don't see myself continuing with this series. (less)

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Apr 07, 2012 Rachel Naddeo rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been wanting to read Larkstorm for a long time and most of the time when you expect too much from a novel, it can only disappoint you. But that was not the case with this one. With such an unique and exciting premise, Miller's novel is what everybody should be reading right now (if you haven't read it already)! Not to mention that Larkstorm has one of most beautiful cover I have ever seen (it will look SO good on my bookshelf)!

I won't tell you more about the story, since Goodreads' book des...more I've been wanting to read Larkstorm for a long time and most of the time when you expect too much from a novel, it can only disappoint you. But that was not the case with this one. With such an unique and exciting premise, Miller's novel is what everybody should be reading right now (if you haven't read it already)! Not to mention that Larkstorm has one of most beautiful cover I have ever seen (it will look SO good on my bookshelf)!

I won't tell you more about the story, since Goodreads' book description summons it all up and I would run the risk of giving too much away (you will thank me later)!
But what distinguishes Larkstorm the most from other novels is its plot. While it has many popular elements of the YA genre nowadays, this novel is something completely unique. It is a mix of dystopia, romance, magic and mystery and the outcome was utterly amazing. Furthermore I found Miller's writing completely to my taste, meaning: beautiful!

All character were so well-written making them exceptionally realistic, therefore easy to identify with. I loved the main character, Lark. She is a completely obedient person, who even though wishes she could do something rebellious like kissing Beck still doesn't break the rules. When she finds out that what she is, can destroy Beck, she does anything even become powerless to save him. She is so strong and determined, yet still compassionate and sweet, that she may as well be one of my favorite heroines. Beck, in the other hand, was a difficult character to judge. I admit that I had a hard times sometimes believing that he was looking out for Lark's best interest. Still he was completely swoon-worthy: extrovert, funny and sweet who made Lark feel good and safe.

The romance surprised me the most. It was rather sweet and slow, not superfluous and sickening. Lark and Beck have known each other since they were little, which means there wasn't any "insta-love" (refreshing!). Lark wasn't even sure that she loved Beck, so it was interesting to see her finding out that what she felt for him was something more than friendship. After finding out that their romance could be dangerous to Beck, everything started crumbling down and everything started being an obstacle. I can't wait to see what the sequel will add to their relationship, since they are meant to kill each other!

With its twists and turns and unexpected developments Larkstorm will leave you astonished and eager for its sequel, which will be released June 6th. Larkstorm has a freshness to its premise even though dystopia and witches are rather popular right now! This novel was enthralling; I couldn't put it down once! I can't emphasize enough: Larkstorm is a must-read!(less)

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Jan 03, 2012 Jayme rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I had high hopes. A neat concept, a dystopian mixed with magic. Sometimes, things I like apparently aren’t meant to be together. First, it felt like 2 books; one in the future with all these rules based in reality and then one inside...um...a snowglobe filled with witches. Okay.

Larkstorm suffered from ALMOST being good at every turn. Lark kept getting all the info she needed in long conversations with people who just show up wherever she went. I kept thinking, okay, THIS is a trick, a trap. Thi...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Singbarefoot rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just finished this book last night and I wish it hadn't ended. I love books where I feel a connection to the characters, and my heart is invested in their journey-Larkstorm is just that kind of book. The story pulled me in right away and I found myself immediately connecting to/becoming more curious about the characters-not just Lark and Beck, but their friends, their families, and as the story went on, even their enemies. The character development in this book is great-you want to know these...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Michelle Smith rated it 2 of 5 stars

Sadly, could only give 2 stars. I thought 4 at the beginning for its strong strong start, but it just degraded after that. I had high hopes for it, too, the story elements are all there - some might even say derivative (Uglies anyone? Matched anyone?), but it just turns into a jumble at the end.

I think it suffers from too much reveal. There are too many surprises, too many shocks. And they're all felt through Lark, who is just this messed up happy/sad split personality by the end. There's a lot...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Lynn Worton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lark Greene is a 17-year-old girl being brought up in a dystopian society. There had been a severe and destructive Long Winter, which has caused untold misery and death. This Long Winter was said to be caused by the Sensitives (humans with extra abilities). The Sensitives have been separated out of the general population and are kept at bay by fences. When Beck, the boy she loves, is accused of being a Sensitive and disappears, Lark is sure a mistake has been made and sets out to prove his innoc...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Steph (Poetry to Prose) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-dac, favorites-of-2011, read-in-2011, the-good-stuff

On first glance of the summary, I expected Larkstorm to be like the normal dystopian fare that is so popular nowadays. I was looking forward to seeing how Dawn Rae Miller would make her storyline fresh and unique, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the different approach she took with her book. Many dystopian elements are present in the story, but magic, the factions that broke apart because of it, and an unbreakable friendship are very much the central focus here.

After the Long Winter, the...more On first glance of the summary, I expected Larkstorm to be like the normal dystopian fare that is so popular nowadays. I was looking forward to seeing how Dawn Rae Miller would make her storyline fresh and unique, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the different approach she took with her book. Many dystopian elements are present in the story, but magic, the factions that broke apart because of it, and an unbreakable friendship are very much the central focus here.

After the Long Winter, the State has fought against the Sensitives, aka those with special powers. But not all is as it seems! I really liked the way Miller depicted the two groups at the forefront. On the surface they were initially given the usual "good" and "evil" characterizations, but as Miller peeled back the layers of her story, it was revealed that all of their motivations and actions weren't so clear cut. Lark was a very relatable main character and I appreciated the internal conflict that Miller had her go through in regards to Beck, her family, and her other friends. I was just as equally unsure of who to place my trust in and that made for an engaging read!

Although it was made clear that Beck and Lark have a strong connection, and that they would go to many lengths to protect each other, I do wish there had been a deeper development between the two. The circumstances of their situation made sense of the distance they had to keep, but I felt that Beck was mostly on the outside and that I didn't get to know his character as much as I would have liked. Still, in the moments the two did share, I did enjoy their chemistry. I found myself mentally willing them to break the rules just a little more for my sake and, while it didn't quite happen in this installment, I hold hope that Miller will push them a further in the next one.

Larkstorm will be released on December 6 and it will be available on e-book via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and, I'm sure, other retailers. I will update this post when I have the links. If you're looking for a different direction in your dystopian reads, definitely give this a go!

Original review: http://www.poetrytoprose.com/?p=731 (less)

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May 14, 2012 ASVY rated it 3 of 5 stars

well....I have to say that the story is interesting and the characters are creative, or at least the idea behind them is. Unfortunately, the follow through was not what i expected. The characters wound up very flat, and the story repetitive. I felt like the author ran out of ideas and kept repeating the same thing over again, she is angry, she sees him, she calms....over and over and over. Furthermore, the reasons for her anger are EXACTLY the same. I really cant see a bunch of witches treating...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Madilyn rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of dystopian fiction, witches, and fated-to-fail romance

Shelves: 2012-reads, ya, dystopian, giveaway

I really like the cover. It's pretty and unique. I liked the dystopian feel and saw potential, but overall.. it fell way flat for me.

I wasn't a fan of this. It was choppy and slow to start and the description on the back led me to thinking this story was going to be totally different from what it actually was. There were a couple of typo issues in the copy I had, but most of the confusion was towards the beginning of the book. I'm not a fan of either Lark or Beck.. didn't feel any sympathy for...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Book Whales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted @ Book Whales

She must kill the boy she loves, unless he kills her first

I love post- apocalyptic books and Larkstorm is one of my favorite. It’s not the typical zombie, asteroid, nuclear or alien invasion. I admit! I was surprised about it!! I don’t post spoilers so you have to read this book to find out what cost the destruction. You will be stunned! I like how the author created Lark’s world. It is very authentic; I can imagine myself living in there.

Lark Greene, lives a lif...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: released-in-2012, ya, dystopia, its-magic, cover-to-cover-challenge, 1st-book-of-a-series, read-in-2012, reviewed, color-purple

2.5*

I was so excited when I got my hands on Larkstorm. Unfortunately, this book did not hold up to my expectations.

Lark and Beck are descendents of the founders of their society. Lark goes to school with Beck, her birthmate. They live in a society where the state chooses their job and mate. The school they go to is like a safehold for the children in this society, guarded from the Sensitives, the outcasts of this world. They are thought to be a threat and evil.
The pace of the story gets faster...more 2.5*

I was so excited when I got my hands on Larkstorm. Unfortunately, this book did not hold up to my expectations.

Lark and Beck are descendents of the founders of their society. Lark goes to school with Beck, her birthmate. They live in a society where the state chooses their job and mate. The school they go to is like a safehold for the children in this society, guarded from the Sensitives, the outcasts of this world. They are thought to be a threat and evil.
The pace of the story gets faster when Beck is accused to be a Sensitive and disappears from school. Lark's perfect and quiet life as role model ends upruptly, she does not know what happens, no one tells her anything. She runs away and is desparate to find and get back Beck.

With the location shift I felt something falling apart and in my opinion the first and second part of the story don't fit together. It's not like I did no like what was presented but the dystopia disappeared and we end up in a completely different environment which disturbed me. The emphasis is now on the development of Lark, which ends up in non-development in my eyes and the life with the truth she is presented with in a cruel way.

The one red string throughout the book is the romance between Lark and Beck. When in the first part of the book I kind of liked their affection for each other I was annoyed for the most of the time of the second part of the book. Somehow the lovey-dovey style crushed everything what I had hoped for - action. I got more and more annoyed by the lame Lark, who is all whiny now and weak and not likeable at all. Frustration built up because the plot did not unfold as I wanted it to - I wanted a female kick-ass heroine - which Lark is not and all of the happening if one could say so was too predictable. I was also annoyed that so little happened in the second part of the book or at least so little that could be recognized as something happening.

In the end both of them were like "I love you so much and I give you up to save you". Really, try harder please.

I cannot help but think there are parts where it's plot is weak, disturbing and frustrating.

But I have hope for the second book, please don't shatter it.(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Stephanie Bibb rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Overall, not a bad read. It felt a bit slow to get started (but then, I've been reading some really fast-paced books recently), but it held my interest throughout.

I liked the concept of Light versus Dark witches and Sensitives, and the magic system was interesting. The whole encasing was interesting.

The main problem I had reading it was that the whole "she must kill him before he kills her" really didn't feel accurate. It's more to the effect of everyone saying she is going to kill him, but she...more

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May 13, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nookbooks-i-own

The first thing that I thoughts of when I read the synopsis for this book was “Matched and Delirium plus magic.” That’s one of the things that I love about YA Dystopians – all of them consist of the same bases, but each author adds something to it to make it unique to them. Larkstorm was much like this. It consisted of controlling and overpowering governments, in this case, the State. Of course it had an adorable romance. But then there was a twist, magic. Most dystopians that I have read haven’...more

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May 05, 2012 Dee rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, young-adult, magic, dystopia, coming-of-age, arc

**Review Copy Provided by Author**

I am always on the lookout for interesting books, so when this one popped up as an author provided book in one of my goodreads groups, I jumped on the chance to read it. this was back in December...and then for some reason I kept finding reasons to not read it, or getting distracted (although that is actually not that hard to really accomplish...), but this past week, I finally sat down and read it.

The premise was intriguing, 2 teens who are going to be mated wh...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Lucy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, already-out, i-should-read-you-properly, judge-a-book-by-its-pretty, y-a

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
I GIVE UP!!!

(Note: Please forgive any disjointed thought processes in this review. Not only was this read a little disappointing, but I've just reviewed two other books, and I'm a little... reviewed-out. But this has been sitting on my "currently-reading" shelf for months now, and I really just want to get it over and done with.)

First of all, I thought the pacing was off for this book. After reading 50 or so pages into this, everything was slowing down again after a promising start. I got bored...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Lynsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I first saw the beautiful cover and read the synopsis of Larkstorm by Dawn Rae Miller, I thought I might like this book but OMG I LOVE IT WITH THE FIRE OF A THOUSAND SUNS. I thought it was just another dystopian book but boy was I wrong as the “Sensitives” or humans with extra abilities are basically witches. Now, in some ways that might be considered a spoiler but in this case, I want you to know how the story will develop as it might be a deal breaker for some.

Larkstorm is basically all a...more When I first saw the beautiful cover and read the synopsis of Larkstorm by Dawn Rae Miller, I thought I might like this book but OMG I LOVE IT WITH THE FIRE OF A THOUSAND SUNS. I thought it was just another dystopian book but boy was I wrong as the “Sensitives” or humans with extra abilities are basically witches. Now, in some ways that might be considered a spoiler but in this case, I want you to know how the story will develop as it might be a deal breaker for some.

Larkstorm is basically all about light and dark magic with a boy and a girl at the heart of it all. Lark and Beck have been paired together since childhood and have an arranged binding which means that they’ll spend the rest of their lives together. At first, this reminded me a little of Matched by Ally Condie but the scene very quickly changes when Beck is accused of being a Sensitive and he disappears. Lark is understandably devastated but she can’t just let him go and so she goes after him to find out what the hell is going on. What she discovers will change both of their lives forever.

I LOVED Beck and Lark’s relationship and they have to be one of my favourite ill fated YA couples of all time. Their relationship is well established from the beginning of the book and I believed it from the get go. They might have different natures but opposites attract and they complement each other well. I love his undying optimism, his hope and ultimately his love for Lark which never waivers despite everything that happens and it’s a love that is reciprocated wholeheartedly by Lark.

Larkstorm is basically a book in two halves or a book with two acts, if you will and perhaps would have benefited from some kind of visual divider (like Julie Kagawa did with The Immortal Rules). The first half is very dystopian like, set in snow and ice whereas the second half is set in warmth and Summer sun and this is where the witchedy goodness happens. I really enjoyed all the witchy politics and the fact that not everything is as simple as light vs dark. I have to say that the ending was particularly gutting but paves the way for the sequel which I cannot wait to read! For reals.

Larkstorm is a gorgeous book full of angst, love, heartbreak and magic. It’s a little gem hidden amongst all the bigger titles and when you read it, you’ll see that the story pours into you, gets a hold of your heart and squeezes. (less)

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Nov 30, 2011 Angela S rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-book-list, indie-book

Larkstorm is a cross-over between dystopian and traditional fantasy. Witches and super trains. Dark magic and repressed societies. Perhaps I'm just not well-read enough (even though I try), but I thought this was a unique cross-over combination that allowed for a lot of unusual plot development. What if witches brought about a global catastrophe? What would that look like and how would society rebuild itself with magic at the helm? Miller brings that world to life with intricate detail and descr...more Larkstorm is a cross-over between dystopian and traditional fantasy. Witches and super trains. Dark magic and repressed societies. Perhaps I'm just not well-read enough (even though I try), but I thought this was a unique cross-over combination that allowed for a lot of unusual plot development. What if witches brought about a global catastrophe? What would that look like and how would society rebuild itself with magic at the helm? Miller brings that world to life with intricate detail and descriptive writing.

But at its heart, Larkstorm is a love story. Lark and Beck grow up believing they are destined to be together and the earlier scenes attest to their devotion. I loved the interactions between them - the tension! OMG, how does Lark manage to not jump all over that boy and eat him alive?? She definitely has more will power than I do! I also admired Lark's bravery for going against everything she was brought up to believe in order to find Beck and clear his name. When the two are reunited (well, that's a bit spoilery, but you knew it would happen), I admit I had an 'Ah, that's so sweet' moment. I was eager to see how the two would fight the system together and bring it down. At that point, Miller pulled the rug out from under me, and I learned things that I really wish I hadn't. I'm all for a good plot twist, but it all seemed so unfair! I felt Lark's frustration and anger through it all, which is a testament to Miller's ability to tug on the reader's emotions.

Secondary characters - I have a fascination with secondary characters because I believe they're one of the hardest story elements to get right. They're in the backround, always lurking, always adding their two bits. As an author, you want them to shine and feel "real", but giving them their own unique flavor and history without letting them take over the story is hard, to say the least. In Larkstorm, I loved the character of Bethina. She reminded me a lot of Mrs. Weasley with her warm, motherly demeanor, and no-nonsense attitude. She really stood out. Other favorites included Lark's best friend Kyra and the creepy Eamon. They each added something to the story that intrigued me and made the story richer.

I will admit that I wish Lark had been a more active character in the last third of the book. Given the strength that Lark displays in the first half I thought there would be more instances of her pushing against those who I'll call the enemy (for lack of a better term since again, I don't want to spoil the fun). I didn't get that. But what I did see, and actually loved, was Lark's inner conflict as she tries to figure out who she is. Imagine the frustration and doubts that build as people try to convince you that you will hurt the one person you love or die yourself. This is an effective plot device, and Miller utilizes it to its full advantage by including her own unique elements.

Overall, Larkstorm is a recommendation for me.

Contest link to win a copy of Larkstorm!! Ends Dec 9, 2011
http://addktd2books.blogspot.com/2011...(less)

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Dec 13, 2011 Ashelynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: recommend

This review appears on Gypsy Book Reviews.

LARKSTORM was an exciting, never-letting-you-go whirl ride. I read 70% of the book in one night, and would have finished, except I have an early morning class and most of the time I sleep through it. I HAD to sleep, even though all I wanted to do was see how Larkstorm turned out!

The story itself seems intriguing, yes? And for the most part it is… but there are some parts where there’s supposed to be a big twist that I saw coming miles away. When that hap...more This review appears on Gypsy Book Reviews.

LARKSTORM was an exciting, never-letting-you-go whirl ride. I read 70% of the book in one night, and would have finished, except I have an early morning class and most of the time I sleep through it. I HAD to sleep, even though all I wanted to do was see how Larkstorm turned out!

The story itself seems intriguing, yes? And for the most part it is… but there are some parts where there’s supposed to be a big twist that I saw coming miles away. When that happens, all I do is say, “called it” and am not impressed at all.

And if it’s confusing from the premise, Larkstorm is a crossover of a dystopian and a fantasy. There are witches—or as the State calls them “Sensitives.” The fantasy part. And the State is very controlling—they arrange marriages, you have to take tests for where you’ll be placed job-wise, etc. All the aspects of a dystopian.

Larkstorm is captivating. Like I said, I read 70% of the book in one night. I just HAD to find out what was going on in this world. The history behind it was also very interesting, and I’m dying to read book two… and book three. :)

The reason why I was so captivated by it was because of Lark. Lark Greene is the heroine, and she’s so confused when the shit hits the fan. Her future is marry Beck and become a Statewoman. That’s her future. That is what she wants, then it’s torn from her hands when the State accuses Beck of being a Sensitive.

I really did like the worldbuilding. It was intriguing, by the Long Winter, and even by the magic. I had a big long paragraph here about how far into the future I thought it was, but the author told me I was wrong and Larkstorm takes place 150-200 years in the future and then I was like "OHHHHHH. That makes a lot more sense now." It was like a light bulb blinked to life in my head. So yeah, if you're confused about how far it is in the future, realize it's at least 2211. ;)

And the ending. HOLY CRAP, the ending broke my heart. It was so… heart wrenching. I’m DYING to read the sequels! I just have to know what happens between Beck and Lark.(less)

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Jan 24, 2012 Rachael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Larkstorm is like no other book I’ve ever read. It’s a dysopian, with all the great world building stuff that goes along with that - wristlets, population control, fun new words like ping and heya, bindings (state chosen partners). But it’s also a fantasy – witches and quests and generation-spanning curses! The hybrid result is an amazing piece of fiction.

And while all that on its own would be enough to make me want to read this book, there’s also a star-crossed love story. Lark and Beck have b...more Larkstorm is like no other book I’ve ever read. It’s a dysopian, with all the great world building stuff that goes along with that - wristlets, population control, fun new words like ping and heya, bindings (state chosen partners). But it’s also a fantasy – witches and quests and generation-spanning curses! The hybrid result is an amazing piece of fiction.

And while all that on its own would be enough to make me want to read this book, there’s also a star-crossed love story. Lark and Beck have been friends their whole lives, knowing that they’ll be bound when they turn 18 (like being married). They’re always together, they’re completely in tune with each others emotions, “two halves of the same coin,” they even room together at school. But they can’t kiss. At all. Until their binding ceremony. So, as you might imagine, this book is packed with sexual tension.

When Beck leaves the school in a scandal that marks him an enemy of the State, Lark risks everything to find him and clear his name. She’s bold and brave and smart, but at the same time, she’s not your typical dystopian LI. As the daughter of a State leader, she’s a stickler for the rules. And she actually *gasp* cares about her appearance. I loved hearing about her clothes and shoes, but more importantly, I found this mixture of strength and femininity refreshing. I love Katniss Everdeen, but I love her in The Hunger Games. I don’t want to see her as the cookie cutter for every YA heroine from now until eternity. Lark Greene breaks the mold.

But back to the love story. Lark and Beck are doomed. DOOMED! To quote the blurb on the jacket, “she has to kill the boy she loves, unless he kills her first.” Be still my beating heart. I’ve been aching for a love story like this since Buffy killed Angel.

The only issue I had was that with all the huge reveals and Lark’s volatile reactions to them. While they are an important part of her character and the story as a whole, sometimes I felt overwhelmed with everything I had to process emotionally. There’s a trend in YA recently to make authors cut stories to the bone in order to achieve non-stop action, and sometimes I miss the quiet bits.

To wrap it up, I also loved Eloise, Kyra, Bethina, and Eamon. The cover is beautiful. And the pages have this lark detail at the top that I thought was really cool. Also, the ending is so intense that I’m pretty sure I’m going to go crazy waiting for the next book.

Recommended for: I think dystopia fans and fantasy fans would both like this book. Also fans of star-crossed love.
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Feb 04, 2012 Emily Ward rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, kindle, own, ya, dystopian-post-apocalyptic, self-published

I really wanted this to be 5 stars, but the second half didn't quite impress me as much as the first half did. I still loved it, though! Great premise, interesting characters, tragic love story. I just felt like the second half dragged a little bit and there were all kind of "revelations" that were either confusing or not that ground-breaking. I will definitely check out the next book in the series, though. I really want to know what happens and how everything turns out.

I'll write a longer revi...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Azirak&l rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love the romance between beck and lark, I hope Lark and Beck will not separate because my heart can not take any heartbreaks from them. I hope Lark will finally fight for something that only miracle can do because from the first part it is a miracle that they fall in love with each other even though they destined to kill each other. I can't really wait for the second book.:D and there's always a loophole.

I totally love it.♥

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Apr 15, 2012 AnathemaDevice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-ebooks

I didn't think I'd like this book at first, but after my lip stopped frowning, it grew on me. I actual welled up at parts. It's enjoyable though even I was a little frustrated with all the 'oh here is another thing we haven't told you', poor Lark! I definitely read sequels, thou I feel a bit sheepish that I didn't get her name until the end!

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Aug 03, 2012 Addy Rae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, favorites

This book was a very emotional read for me. There is a major shift (not spoiling) about a third of the way into the book, but I feel it was very well done and absolutely necessary to the story she was trying to tell. The relationship between Lark and Beck and the choice they faced just tore me up. They were so sweet, so meant for each other, and the choice was insurmountable (so far). I would recommend this book to a teenage audience, but I'm in my late twenties, and I loved it.

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Jan 07, 2012 Kaitlin added it

If you like romance at all, I would highly recommend this book.
Lark is a great main character. She has her flaws, and her moments of weakness, but this was a good thing. She made hard choices when she needed to, and I appreciated her well-roundedness. Beck is a wonderful love interest who clearly cares for Lark. Their romance pulls you in and yanks your heart around. Honestly, it's one of the more engrossing romances I've read.
And the setting! I am a lover of cool settings, and this one is awes...more

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Larkstorm (The Sensitives #1)

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