Book Review – The Skylark’s Sacrifice

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – J. M. Frey https://jmfrey.net(AKA Peggy Barnett) is the author of more than a dozen books. The Skylark’s Sacrifice was published in 2019 and is the second book in her Skylark Saga series. This is the 4th book I completed in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature situations, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is 17-year-old Robin Arianhod.

Arianhod has escaped from the Coyote with the rocket pack and is on the run. She uses it to strike out against Klonn’s war efforts. She is surprised when the Coyote tracks her down. She is surprised and thrilled when he joins her anti-war efforts.

Soon it is not only the city guards that are after her. The Coyote is wounded in a struggle with the Night Watch. Arianhod struggles to get him and herself to the safety of Madam Rose. Rose is one of the leaders of the Klonn rebels. They seem to want the war to end as much as Arianhod does.

As the Coyote recovers and begins to assist Arianhod with her strikes against the Klonn war machine, they grow closer. Soon the two are married. Arianhod concludes that their efforts are having little effect on the war. There is only one option to bring the war to an end. The King of Klonn must die.

Arianhod and her allies devise a daring plan. For it to work, she must rely on Madam Rosa and the Coyote. But can she really trust them? A substantial reward is being offered for her capture. Her husband is an aristocrat. Will he be able to turn his back on the throne and support her plan to assassinate the King?

I enjoyed the 9 hours I spent reading this 356-page young adult, steampunk novel. I had the opportunity to read the first novel in the series, The Skylark’s Song in 2022. Both novels have been enjoyable reads. Before reading this novel, it would be best to have read The Skylark’s Song. The plot is a little slow, but there is an exciting ending with a twist. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Book Review – The Skylark’s Song

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – J. M. Frey https://jmfrey.net(AKA Peggy Barnett) is the author of more than a dozen books. The Skylark’s Songwas published in 2018 and is the first volume of her Skylark Saga series. This was the 101st book I completed in 2022.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this book/novel as R. The primary character is 17-year-old Robin Arianhod.

Sergeant Arianhod has grown up with the war raging between Saskwya and Klonn. As per the custom, she had begun her apprenticeship when she was only 11. She had finally earned her way to crew a glider. She was the flight mechanic responsible for aircraft maintenance. In combat, she rides behind the pilot and drops bombs when commanded. She also defends their ship with her gun.

That all changes the day that her pilot is confronted by the Coyote. The Coyote is a ruthless Klonn pilot that has brought many Saskwya down. After her pilot is wounded, Arianhod must take over. Amazingly she holds her own against the Coyote and lands their plane.

For that feat of courage, Arianhod is promoted to pilot, a mighty achievement for one of her class. Her exploits in the air against the Klonn grow, and she takes on the nickname of the Skylark. Eventually, she once again faces the Coyote. As good as she has become, her luck runs out, and she is shot down.

While Arianhod survives the resulting crash, her close friend and flight engineer Al does not. The Coyote makes her his captive. Instead of the treatment she feared, he treats her like an aristocrat. Their relationship develops, but as much as she is attracted to him, he is still the enemy.

When a strange, one-of-a-kind rocket pack falls into the Coyote’s possession, Arianhod decides she must escape. She has been repairing it, and now it is ready. If the Klonn can utilize the rocket pack, the war will swing in their favor.

Arianhod sees the rocket pack as her means of escape. She hopes she can then use it to bring the decade-long war to an end. But to do so, she must slip away. Once she has escaped, she will have to survive miles behind enemy lines. The odds are against her, but she always has been lucky.

I enjoyed the 9 hours I spent reading this 288-page young adult, steampunk novel. This novel mixes intrigue, romance, and courage in a teenage girl’s life. The plot is infused with steampunk tech to give it an interesting twist. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).