The Skylark's Song by J.M. Frey
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

I was really excited about The Skylark's Song because of its steampunk vibe, but it just didn't click for me. The main character felt kind of dull and hard to root for, so I ended up putting it down after about 20%. Even though the steampunk setting seemed cool, the story didn't really bring it to life—the plot felt slow, and I couldn't get into it.

I wanted to love diving into this world of mechanical wonders and adventurous possibilities, but the execution fell short. The pacing dragged, and there wasn't enough depth to the characters or their motivations to keep me engaged. It's disappointing when a book with such potential doesn't quite deliver on its promises. While The Skylark's Song may appeal to readers who enjoy exploring steampunk settings, for me, it didn't offer the vibrant storytelling or compelling characters I was hoping for.

This is such a great world! These books are fun and engaging, adventure with solid themes, heart, and soul in them. I’ll be looking for hard copies for my classroom library!

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

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.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

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I have elected not to read and review this book due to time constraints. Thank you for the opportunity.

I was one of the few people that did not enjoy the story. Robin was a little interesting, but Coyote was annoying. The characters were scowling all the time, and using wry smile ... Coyote was repeating "Dear" all the time. It just ended up being annoying and bored me.

DNF at 10% – ten percent, I tell you! I’m highly disappointed with this, because I really hoped the book would be a decent one, and I had even requested the next one as an ARC to make sure I would read them back to back.

Robin Arianhod is a young, patriotic mechanic (engineer? whatever, can’t remember), who believes in the Cause and dreams of one day becoming a pilot.

That’s as far as I got – according to the book’s blurb, she also meets a great enemy pilot from the other side of the war her country’s fighting. They become rivals and then get feelings for each other…? At least that’s what I gathered. But I couldn’t care less.

The reason for this was Robin herself. I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again – you want your story to be intriguing, especially when it’s a YA one? You need to get yourself a good leading character. One that will have the readers empathize with them and like them and WANT them to win and have a HEA.

Robin made me feel NONE of these things. She was obnoxious, and annoying to read about. I could try to keep up with her tomboy antics (I do love tomboys, but this one really got on my nerves), with the classic best friend obviously in love with her, and her playing the fool to avoid awkward conversations, because, ugh, feelings…

Honestly, do most steampunk YA stories feel the need to do that particular storyline? It’s sad!
But it got worse! She confused the officers who were clearly using her and would later discard her as a family of some sort, showing she had no brains whatsoever despite the book TRYING to sell her as a rather smart and cunning young woman. And she was such a self-centered fanatic, she saw everyone who didn’t share her reckless attitude and dared to tell her to be careful, as an enemy to her ideals, proceeding to bare her teeth at them and more or less roar. Honestly, the only thing she seemed to be doing was threaten others, and get into fights.

I’m sorry but I can’t follow the story of such a character, and the plot wasn’t enough at that point to keep me going – it just focused on her and her immature thoughts, and her waving her fists and supposedly “sharp tongue” around, snarling even at her best friend for daring to protect her and care for her, because she’s sooooo macho and such a warrior…. (I feel the need to roll my eyes again…)

It goes without saying, I dropped the sequel from my TBR list, too.

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

I always adore a good steampunk story, I really need more of them!! This was a thrilling story, filled with intrigue and I was desperate to find out the outcome of certain situations, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Boy was it worth it though!! I really loved the characters, especially Robin; she was strong and brave, and was just a generally great protagonist!! I definitely intend to reread this at some point!!

The world is a lot of fun. The basics of it is pretty simple and standard - two countries at war, with a massive inequality between the two people groups living in one of them - but it was the steampunk element that I loved. The enemy have fuel-powered ships in fight, but the hero's country have gliders. They're relying on updrafts and being lightweight.

Robin starts off as the in-flight mechanic, and seeing her attempting repairs during a fight was a really great sequence. It showed the tension, terror, and chaos of an aerial battle, as well as showing off the ships. The pacing was brilliant, and it sets up the stakes for the later sequences.

The time period is very vague, as there wasn't much technology shown. It helped keep it pretty real, as the only differences were names and the presence of these ships. It could have been set in the 20th century for all the other world building, which gave it some added texture.

I also liked that there was no "Robin's country is great and must win", rather she was dispirited and desperately wanting the pointless war to be over. The lack of explanation for the war or what might end it also added to the feel that it was a ridiculous war that was hitting the poor hardest.

I wasn't quite sure what to make of the romance. It's only in the end of the book, so there's not much time spent on Robin and the Coyote. Given she is his prisoner, it made me a bit uncomfortable when she started wondering about her emotions rather than being firmly opposed and resisting him. Not only was there not enough set up, but I really struggle to get behind romances where one party does not have the freedom to walk away.

The Skylark's Song (The Skylark Saga, Book 1), by J.M. Frey (REUTS Publications) and The Skylark's Sacrifice (The Skylark Saga, Book 2), by J.M. Frey

These two are really a single story, broken into two. After a great social and environmental collapse, two neighboring nations endure decades of war fought mostly in the air. Gliders from Saskywa take on motorized Klonnish airships, while the populations in each descend further into poverty. This is especially true for the indentured Saskywan underclass, the formerly nomadic Sealies, who must often rely upon scavenging the wreckage of the past for survival (shades of children picking through rag heaps in today’s desperately poor countries).

Robin, a Sealie mid-flight mechanic, lives for her time in the skies, resisting at every turn the relentless pressures to conform and bend to the will of others, particularly men, and always the ruling Benne class. When a brilliant Klonnish pilot dubbed “The Coyote” shoots down her ship, she ends up, by dint of skill, bravery, and luck, being promoted to pilot. Thus begins a battle of strategy, skill, and courage, fought first in the skies, then through captivity and escape.

The brilliance of this two-part novel lies in the skill with which Frey layers and echoes themes. The first, obvious parallel is the resonance between the situation of the Sealies in Saskwya and that of women in Klonn, although the latter live in a gilded prison of silken gowns. The Sealies are pantheistic, the rituals of their faith woven into the fabric of their lives, while the Klonn consider themselves as superior atheists, devoted only to rationalism and the practice of the Arts.

Robin is sick of taking orders and bowing to the expectations of others, whether it’s pressure to retire and marry, or become a “proper” Klonnish lady. She’s an exceptionally stubborn character, which is at times a bit exasperating, but is absolutely true to a world in which a woman of her talent and history must rely upon her own judgment and intuition above all else. Whenever pulled in different directions by the demands of duty, friendship, and love, she always manages to create her own solution moving forward.

A very unique concept. It is a good Young-Adult, kind of unique. But not much of an interest read. I messed some depth and the characters felt very flat. The setting on the other hand is great. It's amazing how well done the setting is. I also liked the writing style.

This was such an interesting series! Not at all what I was expecting but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the steampunk aspects and am looking forward to reading more of Frey's works!

In the long war between the Saskwyan and the Klonn, a Klonn pilot named the Coyote stalks the air and picks off damaged airships. Not a single Saskwyan soldier has encountered the Coyote and lived to tell it, until Robin came along. Robin Arianhod is a kick-ass protagonist who serves as a mid-flight in the Saskwyan air force. When Robin and her pilot Wade are able to fly back to Saskwya after their encounter with the Coyote, Robin is promoted to a pilot. But Robin has caught the Coyote's attention and after many aerial dances, the Coyote takes Robin prisoner after she crashed in Klonn territory. And as a prisoner of the Coyote, Robin learns that there's more to this war than she ever thought...

First of all, I. COULD. NOT. PUT. IT. DOWN. I loved Robins wittiness. She's a badass heroine and stands up for herself.

Robin decided then and there that everything would be just fine if people stopped deciding that someone else was just plain doing life wrong.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Unfortunately this world doesn't work that way, and neither does the world in The Skylark's Song. Even between Saskwyan soldiers, there's racism and prejudice. Robin worked her way up the ladder and deserved her spot as a pilot, but unfortunately the other pilots don't agree. The way the problems are written in The Skylark's Song is excellent. They're still unresolved and I hope that it will be addressed in the sequel.

The book was fast-paced, hard to put down and well-written. The plot isn't exactly clear at all times, but it didn't bother me that much. I do however, have problems with the ending. Lots of problems. Robin did something that took guts, but it didn't align with the way she usually handles things and I can't decide if it's character growth or not but I stg if it isn't quickly solved in the sequel, I am going to riot.

The Skylark's Song was the first steam-punk novel I ever read. If you're willing to try this genre, this is definitely a good book to start with. Readers who loved Celaena's personality in the Throne of Glass series, will definitely be able to appreciate Robin. I highly recommend reading The Skylark's Song, as it's a fun, quick-paced read with an enemies-to-lovers trope (which I'm totally a sucker for).

I absolutely adored this novel!

I had no idea this was self published when I picked it up but it was so so worth it. The pacing, characterisation, and plotting was doing so well. I was happy that the author gave me time to understand and become invested in the world before changing the setting of the novel. I feel like the conflict and confusion would not have been as impactful if we had not spent so much time getting to know Robin’s friends and family.

I would absolutely love to read the next book and I will be telling friends about this one!
While it’s not entirely perfect, I found very little that bothered me or that I could complain about. I would have enjoyed a bit more insight into the coyote and his country and how it worked though. However I assume this will happen in book 2 and would likely have ruined robins perfective.

A solid 4.5 stars and I can’t wait to continue the adventure!

I read this book in one go, it was that good. It hooked me from start to finish. I am eager for the second and mad I missed it on NetGalley. Nice world building. Steampunk!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

i thought this was a unique read in the young adult genre, it had a richness in mythology and I had a lot of fun reading it.

Thanks to Netgalley & REUTS Publications for my ARC.

I didn't quite know what to expect from this book other than steampunk but it's so much more.

It reminded me of The Hunger Games, but a bit lighter. We had warring countries, steampunk air craft, poverty, religious tensions, classism, enemies to lovers, a kind of beauty & the beast situation and a totally badass MC.

I absolutely loved our MC Robin; she was buff, an engineer, knew who she was, very skilled at her job, down to earth and funny. Although her actions could be questionable at times!

The plot is pretty standard YA Fantasy/Dystopia but it kind of felt like putting on a favourite comfy jumper. It's hard to explain but it was nice to have new characters and story without having to deal with too many plot twists, just a nice easy read.

There were some really cool and unique ideas regarding the machines and planes and I definitely have a soft side for steampunk so it really grabbed me.

My feelings for this book are a bit more complicated after finishing the second book in the duology but I'll try and go into that in my review for book 2 because they both left me feeling very different when I'd finished each one...

CW: kidnapping?, Imprisonment, death, war, violence, burning

The start of this book was very atmospheric, building the setting and the tone of the book. The main character Robin was a nice character to learn about but at times she felt a little one dimensional and bland. The element of flying and driving planes was interesting to learn about, but I wish there was more of it. I found that I didn't connect to the characters or their experiences very much, There were points that were meant to be emotional but I didn't feel any sympathy toward them or their situations. It was also pretty predictable and there was no sudden changes or revelations. That being said I liked the main relationship which was what kept me reading till the end. I also think the cover is very pretty and draws you in.. It was a quick and easy read, but I do not think I will be continuing the duology.

A flight mechanic named Robin Arianhod is being stalked by Coyote who intimidates fellow fliers. In this steampunk romance Robin take Coyote. It was a good book and thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

My initial interest in this book wavered for a while, but once I got into it, I just wanted to keep reading. I'm glad that I have the next book already on my Kindle (thank you, NetGalley & REUTS Publications) so that I can continue reading once I've finished this review . . . and, you know, gotten my kids through their remote learning for the day. Because that's the time I live in right now.

Robin (17) is Sealie, who are basically second-class citizens to the Benne in Saskwya, which is at war with the Klonn. The Sealie worship many gods, the Benne worship the one All Goddess, and the Klonn believe only in various Arts (Art of War, Art of Love, Art of etc., ). Why are they at war? I'm not really sure, except it seems that the Klonn's goal is to spread their beliefs and obliterate all deities. Back to Robin, though. She's intelligent, courageous, passionate, kind of reckless, stubborn, kind, and somewhat defiant, though not necessarily in a bad way. She's got goals and dreams and is unwilling to abandon them to societal expectations, or even those of her family and friend, Al. I like her. Al (I believe he's about her same age) actually grated my nerves. He had a very clear idea of what Robin should be doing with her life and couldn't understand why she didn't have the same vision. At times, he even appeared as if he was on the verge of forcing her to accept his ideas (very Klonnish, eh?). The Coyote (Robin estimates he is no more than 20), on the other hand, intrigued me from the start and won me over far more quickly than Robin admitted the same. His position was precarious, but it explains his actions throughout the story. Most of him is still a mystery (his name, for example), but who he was as a person would escape his mask in little bits--he's strategic, loyal, kind, considerate, intelligent, quietly rebellious, and hopeful. It's obvious he admires, respects, and adores Robin. He's gentle with her, when allowed to be. His attempts to earn her affection are little prodding encouragements rather than the selfish demands that Al made. I think it's obvious that I liked him.

Although there is a burgeoning love story in this book, it's not the main focus And I appreciate that even as the relationship between Robin and the Coyote is developing, their feelings don't erase their differences. They're still from opposite sides of the war, each wanting their own people to win. They have their beliefs, which it will be difficult to reconcile.

I'm interested to see what happens in the next book, both with the war and with the Saskwyan people's conflict with each other (Sealie/Benne). Oh, also, Robin's hair? There's got to be more of an explanation than what was given.

Note: Some swearing. A little bit of crude humor near the beginning.

I dunno. It took a while to actually get into this. It felt like the first three chapters were such a slog to get into. Is it because it’s steampunk? Is it because of the exposition? Is it because of the voice? I don’t know! It kinda bugged me a bit because I really wanted to like this book like super a lot because hey, it’s JM Frey. Lol (Sorry, I know I have biases). Maybe my head just wasn’t in the right place at the beginning, when it takes off, it takes off.

Robin Arianhod dances the sky with the Coyote despite all the factors against her: that she’s poor, female, and a Sealie. She knows she isn’t supposed to be there—but she’s fought her way through and she’s a survivor. She’s not going to let any Benne take her dreams away, now that she’s got it. But then the unexpected happens, and now the Klonn have her.

Frey delves into difficult themes in this duology, though it’s all very prettily packaged into an exciting adventure of one Sealie woman defeating the odds (and maybe falling in love). As much as wealthy white men try to tell the rest of the world that anyone can make it through hard work and grit, there are many factors that can keep a person down, no matter how hard they try. Wealth is one of them, and how its distributed. Education is another—and how much access someone has to it, which is usually due to wealth and opportunity. Talking about opportunity, that comes down to what is and isn’t open to you depending on where you come from (ethnicity), what you believe in (religion), or how much money you have to bribe your way in (oh look, wealth again). And luck, of course. Being in the right place at the right time, or knowing the right people—not just knowing, but having them like you as a person and not just as a token.

Aaaaannnywaaayyyy, Skylark’s Song is a fascinating dance of culture clashes, subterfuge and sabotage. There’s layer upon layer of meaning hidden between the lines, whether it’s marriage lines and honey, gliders and religious songs, or hairpins and chess. And then there is the hum of quiet respect, the buzz of distrust, and the tender pulses of new love. And the awful, awful question. Would you betray your country for love? Or would you betray your love for your country?

And how do you know if that love is real?

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from REUTS Publications via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.