Larkstorm Review

“In the years following the destructive Long Winter, when half the world’s population perished, the State remains locked in battle against the Sensitives: humans born with extra abilities.

As one of the last descendants of the State’s Founders, seventeen-year-old Lark Greene knows her place: study hard and be a model citizen so she can follow in her family’s footsteps. Her life’s been set since birth, and she’s looking forward to graduating and settling down with Beck, the boy she’s loved longer than she can remember.

However, after Beck is accused of being Sensitive and organizing an attack against Lark, he disappears. Heartbroken and convinced the State made a mistake, Lark sets out to find him and clear his name.

But what she discovers is more dangerous and frightening than Sensitives: She must kill the boy she loves, unless he kills her first.”

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.

Larkstorm was published on 10th January, 2012.  To find out more about Dawn and her books, please click here to visit her website.