"Passionate and Compelling"
Reviewed by Jennifer Barnhart
Posted July 26, 2013
Young Adult
In a struggle to gain power, Sensitives created a horrific
storm, creating the Long Winter and destroying over half
the world's population and usable land. Humans hunted these
Sensitives, marking them as a threat to their new fragile
States. Lark Greene, a descendant of the State's Founders,
knows it's her duty to follow the political path of her
powerful family. Her path has been set from birth, but as
long as she's with Beck, Lark knows she'll be happy. She
and Beck have been engaged since birth and she's loved him
for as long as she can remember. When Beck is accused of
being a Sensitive, Lark's carefully planned world falls
apart. Lark will stop at nothing to clear Beck's name but
what if everything they said about Beck is true?
LARKSTORM by Dawn Rae Miller is a dystopian fantasy filled
with the swirling uncertainty and powerful emotions of a
compelling Young Adult novel. The characters themselves
drive this story. Lark and Beck, because by the time you're
finished reading they cannot be separated. They have
dynamic
voices that draw the reader into the story and they're
strong enough to help overshadow less than believable
dystopian world. Let me be clear, I really enjoyed this
story. It's passionate and evocative and filled with
beautiful emotions, but the world doesn't hold true for me.
The battle between humans and Sensitives is overly
elaborate and complicated. The secret that keeps the
States united isn't well kept from anyone but Lark. I can
honestly say that while reading, I let myself be caught up
in Ms. Miller's flowing prose and didn't question this
world. It was only after I'd finished reading that they
crept up on me.
Lark and Beck's relationship is the heart of this story and
Dawn Rae Miller handles this deftly. The sexual tension is
spot on, with just the right about of sweetness and need,
to make their relationship about love rather than
unquenchable lust. There are no graphic sex scenes and the
language used to describe the physical encounters between
Beck and Lark is modest and sweet. Part of this is because
Lark and Beck are truly best friends. I love that their
relationship is based upon friendship. I don't see this
enough in YA novels. The lust comes first and the
friendship comes second, but in LARKSTORM friendship and
love are the core of their connection.
LARKSTORM by Dawn Rae Miller is a compelling dystopian YA
that will keep you reading through the night. Lark and Beck
are strong characters with passionate voices and I can't
wait to see what happens to them in the next book of The
Sensitives series.
SUMMARY
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.
ExcerptLark? Are you okay?" He stands in the shadow of the trees,
hidden from view.
I shake my head and hope he'll go away. I don't want him
to see me like this.
"You need to leave, Beck. You can't be around me."
He ignores my order and crosses the expanse of sand. "I
need to talk to you."
"I don't think this is a good idea. They're probably
already looking for you." I hide my face from him.
"Doubt anyone is looking for me," he says. "They sent me
to find you."
So that's how it is. Beck's here to do what I know he has
to: send me away. Tell me he doesn't want me.
He's here to tell me things we both know are lies.
I twist the chain of my necklace around my fingers and
wish this moment away. Even though I know he doesn't mean
it, I still don't want to hear those words. I take a deep
breath and prepare to have my heart ripped out.
But instead of doing what he needs to, Beck sits next to
me. His warmth envelops me and pushes some of the sadness
and worry away.
"Not the best day, is it?" His voice is heavy, but
there's not a trace of sorrow.
"You could say that." I stare out into the night. Tears
stain my cheeks and I pray he doesn't notice. I hug my knees
to my chest and rest my head on them.
Beck's hand strokes my hair. He tugs at the ends and
wraps them around his fingers. I close my eyes and savor the
feeling of being close to him again.
With that one gesture, I realize he's not going to do it.
Beck won't tell me to leave. He won't lie to me.
I turn my head toward him, my hair falling across my
face. Through the strands, I study him, trying to discern
whether or not it's really him or Henry again. His eyes look
hopeful, not sad.
Not at all worried. I sigh. Only Beck would be optimistic
when everything seems hopeless.
He's making this worse.
All my life, I've turned to him when I haven't known what
to do. But now, it's my turn to lead. I need to be strong
and do the right thing: If Beck won't let me go, I'm going
to have to make him not want me. I'm going to have to force
him away.
I fumble with the clasp of my necklace. When it falls
away, I gather it in my hand and force it into his. A faint
tingle runs along my skin when my hand brushes against his.
Beck stares at the necklace before clenching it in his
fist. He holds it for a moment, closes his eyes, and then
drops it into his pocket. When my lip trembles, I realize
I'd been hoping he'd refuse it, or maybe even clasp it
around my neck again.
"What do you want, Beck?" My flat voice sounds empty,
like I feel.
"You."
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