Lark Rising

Guardians of Tarnec #1

by Sandra Waugh

Full of romance and nature magic, this debut fantasy is perfect for fans of Shannon Hale, Juliet Marillier, and Kristin Cashore.

Lark has foreseen two things—she will fall for a young man with sage green eyes,and he will kill her.

Sixteen-year-old Lark Carew is happiest close to home, tending her garden and gathering herbs for medicines. But when her Sight warns her that monsters called Troths will soon invade her village, Lark is summoned on a journey to seek help from the legendary Riders of Tarnec. Little does she suspect that one of the Riders, Gharain, is the very man who has haunted her visions. Or that the people of Tarnec have called her there for another reason: Lark is the Guardian of Life, the first of four Guardians who must awaken their powers to recover four stolen amulets. Together, the amulets—Life, Death, Dark, and Light—keep the world in Balance. To take back the Life amulet, Lark will have to discover her true inner strength and give in to a love that she swears will be her downfall.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic, High Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult Fantasy

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Sandra grew up in an old house full of crowded bookshelves, in walking distance of an old library that allowed her to drag home a sack of six books at a time. It goes without saying, then, that she fell in love with the old house in Litchfield County, CT, because of its many bookshelves, and she lives there now with her husband, two sons, and a dog who snores. Loudly.

LARK RISING is her first novel and the first in the GUARDIANS OF TARNEC series. SILVER EVE follows in 2015.

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 30%

This is Lord of the Rings fan fiction written by a 13-year old Halo fangirl.

Only worse. What the fuck did I just read? This is the biggest Mary Sue I've ever encountered.

I'm gonna write the actual review when I'm drunk. I can't do this shit sober.

----

Drunk review:

“Lark! Lark!” Quin was hissing at me. “Your face! Your beautiful face! Do you sense something?”

Ok, so I'm druhk right now. I've downed 4 ounces of gin, which, in restrspcect, was kind of a bad idea, and this was orignially supposed to be a short lol-filled review, but then I just logged onto my laptop for the first time in a frucking week because, hello, 60 hour work week again, to see THIS lovely comment from an anomymous troll.



Look, I knpw that my orinfinal review was short, but I don't think that person even READ my 100 word review, in which I clearly said, to quote mysefl.

I'm gonna write the actual review when I'm drunk. I can't do this shit sober.

Again, I re-emphazise. I;M GOING TO WRITE THE ACTUAL REVIEW LATER. MY REVIEW WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE FUCKING 20 WORDS.

So now I'm angry. And drunk. And tired. THis is not a fuckingg good combination, because like any good self-respecting drunk, I'm gonna fucking priove my point, dammit.

This is not a good book. This is not even a bad book. This is an atrocious book that sounds like a 13 year old with aspirations to be JRR TOlkien wrote it. Or maybe it was J KK Tolkien? Maybe I confused her with JK Rowling. Oh, wait, I used her. JK RR Tolkien is a guuy. Was a guy. My bad.

The writing is terrible. The person below accused me of never having written a book. No. I don't fucking write books, but that doesn't mean I am not qualified to fucking express my fucking opinion. Thanks, anonymous reviewer. YOu just made sure that I, being extremely furious and drunk and pissed off, am going to rip this book a new one. An angry drunk?! SUCH A THING HAS NEVER BEFORE HAPPENED IN THE HSTORY OF THE WORLD. I never!

THe writing is terrible. I said that lreasdy, but it's true. It sounds like some super super fuckong pretentious child wrote it. Now, I;ve read plenty of terrible, TEERIRBLE Tolkien fanfiction, I don't want to drop names but Terry Brooks and RA Salvatore. Whatever. This book puts them all to shame. The dialogue is laughable. It sounds like someone is trying to imitate archaid language and failing absolutely miserably at it. Here are some exceedingly painful examples.

“I’ll go instead!” shouted Quin. “I am quick and strong.”

“With what, Sir Farrin?” It was Rula Narben, who made sweets for market. “I have but wooden spoons to stir the treacle.”

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHSLJSFLAKJF;OIEHFOEIHFOIJF FUCK MY LIFE

tHIS is bad LOTR fanfic. THere is no denying it. And it has the worst fucking Mary Sue I've ever had the encountering of misfortune to read. Mary Sue. Yeah. YOu haerd me. I don't like haphazardly accusing characters of being a Mary Sue, but there is no fucjing denying the fact that she is one.M

LARK CAREW IS AN ORPHAN.

LARK CAREW IS FUCKING SPECIAL, BEING BORN AS A CHILD OF TWIN SISTERS, WITH HER COUSIN BEING BORN ON THE SAME DAY.Cousins, born on the same day, in the same hour; single daughters of twin sisters.Fucking OOOH.

No, pOor little Lark only has hair the color of acorns.

fucking ACORNS, man.

SHe is beautiful. As is evident by the first fucking quote I presented. Even when she makes a face, it has to be remarked upon as BEAUTIFUL FACE. OH MY GOD KHANH, LOOK AT THE EXPRESSION ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE WHEN YOU'RE DURNK AS FUCK. DOES ANYOE EVER FUCKING SAY THAT? I DON'T FUCKING THINK SO.

Lark Carew is special. She has the Sight. Everything she sees come to be. Which makes it all the more alarming that she dreams of ahandsome young man who will kill her.

For in that half sleep I’d seen the young man again. And this time, with drawn sword, he slew me.

...AAAAAAAAAAND CUE INSTA-LOVE. But he didn't mean to kill her, oppa! Oh yeah, he did. Meet your love interest, bitches!

“Thank me? For what?”
“For saving me. Last night. From the Troth.”
He turned slowly, looking at me fully for a moment, though we were now far apart and little could be seen. Then his voice came quiet and clear from across the way. “Save you? I meant to kill you.”

OH. UUUUUUH. MOOOOOOOAN. I'M SO TURNED ON RIGHT NOW. KILL ME HARDER. FASTER. PLEASE.

Please.

Lark Carew is sooooo fucking special. Her town gets attacked! Like fucking FRODO, she volunteers to go find the riders, THOUH SHE DOES NOT KNOW THE WAY. ;_;

For a fucking shy little fucking flower who grew up in the Shire, she gets confy with the king really fucking fast. His Council suddenly turns into HER COUNCIL.

“Go on,” repeated Nayla. “Your Council.”

Dude, you grew up in a little tiny ass town. How the fuck did you gather the counrage to do that when literally 5 minutes ago you were flying towards a rowan tree to give it a hug. No, really. She trief to fucking hug a tree.

And then, in a radiant welcome, the sun sank below the top of the rowan and beamed out through its leaves like golden arms reaching to embrace me. I laughed and opened my arms wide in turn.

All of a sudden now she's schoozing with the king, and lest we forget, WE ARE LKIKE 25% INTO THE BOOK. THE KING HAS JUST MET HER. ALL OF A SUDDEN. OH MY FUCKING GOD SHE IS THE CHOSEN ONE. OMG SHE HAS A SIGN ON HER BODT. HER BEAUTIFUL BODY, MIND YOU

“And you carry the sign.”
The sign. I shook my head, gulping. “No, I am sorry. I do not remember what happened to the feathers. I must have left them back in the forest. The Riders saw them—Wilh and Brahnt, and Gha—”
“That is not the sign I speak of. You carry a mark on your body. The mark of Balance.”

SHE HAS THE SIGHT! OMG THE SIGHT! I WISH I HAD THE SIGHT. THEN I COULD HAVE TOLD MYSELF THIS BOOK WASN'T WORTH MY TIME.

“ ’Tis only a small circle. An outline. It is not unusual. My cousin has the same mark—”
“But you bear the Sight. You hold connection with Earth’s creatures.”

AND WHY ELSE?! wHY? A WHITE HORSE CHOSE HER. OMG GANDALF.

“You have the mark of Balance, and the Sight, and the white horse chose you.” He closed the book gently, pressing on the cover as if to seal it for good. “We have been waiting for you, Guardian.”

FUCK YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU

sO there we have it. Beautiful. Special. Blessed. Insta-love. Too stupid to live. Special qualifties. Special talents that was given to her. Special heritage that she never earned. Special powers that she never worked for. The chosen one for no other reason than BECAUSE SHE IS. Can you fucking tell me that that is not a motherficking Mary Sue? I fucking dare you.

ANd the LOTR references are just too fucking much. The hobbit-like village. The orc-like Troths. The white horse. The Riders, men who live for a long time, sworn to roam and protect the lands. A meeting in a village. A sacred tree. A Council. A journey with a group of companions. A dying king.

And I DNFed the fucking book at 30%. Tell me I'm wrong at giving this book a 1. I Fucking dare you.

Good fucking job, troll. You pisssed off a drunk reader. This is what you get.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Lark Rising by Sandra Waugh
Book One of the Guardians of Tarnec series
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 23, 2014
Rating: 5 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lark has foreseen two things—she will fall for a young man with sage green eyes,and he will kill her.

Sixteen-year-old Lark Carew is happiest close to home, tending her garden and gathering herbs for medicines. But when her Sight warns her that monsters called Troths will soon invade her village, Lark is summoned on a journey to seek help from the legendary Riders of Tarnec. Little does she suspect that one of the Riders, Gharain, is the very man who has haunted her visions. Or that the people of Tarnec have called her there for another reason: Lark is the Guardian of Life, the first of four Guardians who must awaken their powers to recover four stolen amulets. Together, the amulets—Life, Death, Dark, and Light—keep the world in Balance. To take back the Life amulet, Lark will have to discover her true inner strength and give in to a love that she swears will be her downfall.

What I Liked:

It's been only two days since picking up this one to read, and I've already re-read it. GOSH, THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD!! I was worried that it would be a little unoriginal, not fresh or different from other fantasy novels, but there was no need to worry. This book was interesting and unique, not cliche or typical at all!

Lark has been summoned to face her destiny: she is the Guardian of Life, one of four Guardians with incredible powers... but stolen amulets. Life is a balance of light and dark, and at the moment, the darkness - the chaos - has Lark's amulet. Lark had no idea what she was (a Guardian), so imagine her surprise at being summoned from her village, and told that she cannot return to save the village. Lark has the Sight, and she sees visions of death (her own), a beautiful man (a Rider and an aide of the Guardians), her village being destroyed... Lark must realize her fate and find her amulet, before everything is lost.

I love this book! I love the story. This is fantasy at its finest, epic/high fantasy like The Lord of the Rings, or something. I love The Lord of the Rings. I don't know any series that can compare to that one, but let's just say this one may come close.

Lark is an awesome protagonist. You can totally see her character development, from start to finish. At first, she is a bit naive and maybe a little timid, but when she is thrust into the dangerous world of Guardians and Riders and Breeders (the bad guys), she matures and understands. I liked Lark in the beginning, but I really liked her by the end of the book.

I love the male protagonist, Gharain. Oh, he is so swoon-worthy. LET ME TELL YOU. At first, he totally despises her (when they very first meet). And for good reason! He was fooled the last time (by a Breeder), and it resulted in the death of an important noble. But then Gharain falls in love with her... and she him... and it's lovely. I love it when the characters go from "hate" to love. Although neither ever really hated the other. Gharain is brave and loyal, fierce and intelligent. Loveeeeeee.

I thought the romance would be insta-love-y, at first, because Lark sees Gharain in a vision, before she meets him. He is killing her in the vision though. But she sees him, and he interests her. Mentally, I was like, groan, insta-love. But it wasn't so! I promise! I know it sounds doubtful, but there was no insta-love, in this book. I HATE insta-love, almost as much as I hate love triangles, so trust me, I would never lead you astray!

The writing. The prose. OH MY GOODNESS. I love the voice of this book. The writing is gorgeous and beautiful and so NOT modern and I loved it so much! Seriously, it was so lyrical and beautiful! I don't know how else to describe it - poetic, maybe. But NOT poetic, because this book read like fiction, not like poetry. It's hard to describe, but basically, the writing was very distinct and very WONDERFUL.

If nothing else attracts you... well, let me tell you that this book is all sorts of exciting and maddening and heart-tugging and fabulous! I definitely caught a case of the *feels* in this one, which is pretty rare, for me. Every scene with tender moments between Gharain and Lark (which were few and far between, but totally worth each one). When certain friends had to leave. When Lark had her second round of visions about Gharain. It was like Waugh was piercing my soul!

Basically... if you haven't understood by now, know that I loved this book! And I will shout about it from the rooftops! And push it on everyone, fantasy lover or not!

What I Did Not Like:

I have to wait for book two. Boooo.

Would I Recommend It:

YES! Oh my goodness, yes! If you didn't get that feeling from my review, then shame on you, because I WANT EVERYONE TO READ THIS ONE!! Epic fantasy lover or not, you can't miss this one! Go go go!

Rating:

5 (rare and very well-deserved) stars. I don't even know how to coherently and thoroughly describe my love for this book! Oh wait - be right back, going to re-read it, AGAIN!

[cc · Rating 1 out of 5]

***there will be spoilers***

Why I bought Lark Rising:

"Full of romance and nature magic, this debut fantasy is perfect for fans of Shannon Hale, Juliet Marillier, and Kristin Cashore."

And I swear I wanted to love this book and become a crazed Guardians of Tarnec fangirl but bleh... not happening. Why, you ask?

Reason #1. Boring characters, especially Lark, the heroine. She's your typical fantasy Mary Sue who thinks she's a nobody and turns out to be the savior of all the land and beyond. She just needed a boy to touch her special birthmark, and voilá! It's Lark, Rising.


Reason #2. Cheesy scenes and dialogues. Example: there's this scene after Lark finds out she's a Guardian, where she rides away screaming "GUARDIAN OF LIFE!!" and the whole time I could only think of this:


Reason #3. Instead of feeling like I was reading a fiction book, where things happen naturally and for a reason, I felt like I was reading a checklist of things that had to happen to Lark.

Which leads me to Reason #4. The extremely predictable plot. If, like me, you read fantasy on a regular basis, nothing that happens in this story will be new.

Reason #5. Jerk love interest and extremely dull romance. I *adore* hate-to-love type of relationships, and when they're well written they're my absolute favorite---so not the case with this book. The guy spends half of the story acting like an asshole, and looking like he ate something extremely sour when Lark is around, meanwhile Lark keeps falling in love with him. (HOW.) And then *suddenly* he loves her, because they're meant to be.

Also at some point Lark has the nerve to say "It was good that he was going to kill me. At least all this pain would be short-lived", "he" being the guy she likes, who she believes is destined to kill her and fall in love with her cousin, so Lark is in pain and doesn't care if the guy puts a sword through her heart. What the...?? Girl, love yourself.

Initially I gave this book 2 stars, but then I sat down to write a review and couldn't think of one think that I had enjoyed about it, so, sadly, this is a Didn't-Like-It-Can't-Recommend-It 1 star book for me.

[Alicia Batista (Addicted Readers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars


LARK RISING was a breathtakingly beautiful, and utterly unputdownable adventure, that will have you turning the pages faster then you can read them! The magical blend of fierce characters and unforgettable romance, intertwined with the earthly essence of the world building, and the spark of evil that thrives in background, made for one epic, thrilling story, that is sure to make it's way into many hearts.



I was swept into a journey of one girls awakening throughout discover of herself, and the true nature of the outside world, both unknown to her. The pureness and darkness intertwined, made a balance that evened the story with enough of both to have you entertained and enthralled to the very end.

BUT... all that awesomeness aside, I must fair warn you. I struggled with the beginning of LARK RISING. While I absolutely LOVED this book, the beginning was slow starting, with aspects that had me tempted to put it down. But I was so intrigued with synopsis, that I KNEW it had to get better, so I held on waiting for it to grab me and pull me in. And sure enough, shortly after thinking this, the book pulled me under and captivated me in every possible way!! So if your tempted like I was to put the book down, DON'T, please don't, because it get so SOOO much better, and is sooo worth the wait!!

THE PLOT

"Circle of Balance, chosen of White;
Power of hand renders dark into light.
Sun in earth proves her worth,
And rises the Lark, set free by sight."

Their is great darkness on the horizon, and Lark has foreseen many things, but this is the most disturbing of all. The Troths are returning to finish what they started many years ago when the they invaded their village, killing many, her parents included. To save her village of Merith, Lark must travel to gather aid from the Riders of Tarnec who once came to the rescue those many years ago when they were in need. But what Lark doesn't know, is that she has just been summoned to fulfill her destiny. And she has been... awakened...

Lark thought she was just a seer that foreseen the future, but she was mistaken. She is the Guardian of Life, and has more power then she's ever imagined. She is one of four Guardians who must be awaken in time of need, and now more then ever, the Guardians are needed. She is the first to be awakened...

Lark has foreseen two things—she will fall for a young man with sage green eyes, and he will kill her.

When the Amulets of Life, Death, Dark and Light are stolen by the Breeders, the leaders of the evilness that thrives on chaos and destruction. The beings that want to turn their world into nothing of light and all of dark. Lark will have to except her path and put everything aside to fulfill her destiny as Guardian of Life. Because if her part is not played out and succeeded, then all will be lost to the darkness.

When Lark comes face to face with the man with sage green eyes that she will most definitely fall in love with, and that will ultimately kill her. She will have to put her feelings aside and work with him in order to save the people of Mertih, and the kingdom of Tarnec. But with a fierce growing attraction, and the upcoming betrayal that is for sure to come, Lark realizes the grave sacrifice that her heart is sure to make. With no other option, Lark is determined to uphold her part in saving the kingdom. Even if she must sacrifice the love of her life, that is also her murderer...

The shy, naive, timid girl from before is gone—replaced is a strong, loyal, fierce girl, determined to complete her mission and return peace and balance to her new-found world. Lark will have many test along the way, with the aid of many. But the ultimate battle is Lark's, and Lark's alone, and something she is not sure she is ready for. But with the weight of their world in her hands, she knows letting them down is not an option.

Sandra Waugh crafts one of the most fascinating and intriguing fantasy that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Between the rich earthly essence, and the thick-plotted darkness, with vivid writing that painted images like a movie, LARK RISING has succeed in becoming one of my new favorite books of the year! It was an unforgettable adventure that I am more then eager to continue.

Overall, if your looking for a unique, YA fantasy, that is sure to stick out from the rest, with layers upon layers of world building and a bitter-sweet romance, then LARK RISING is sure to please!!! I would HIGHLY recommend LARK RISING if you're a fan of fantasy. And even if your not, I think anyone with the desire for an unforgettable and utterly amazing adventure, should quickly pick it up, because I am sure it will not disappoint!!

NOTE: I received a physical ARC from Random House for reviewing purposes! All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

FIVE stars. What?!? I don’t think I’ve loved a fantasy book this hard since Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) or maybe even Daughter of the Forest. And trust me, I picked up Lark Rising with no small amount of caution.

Why I almost didn’t pick this up

(a) Lark starts off a timid and shy heroine.
(b) The writing is decidedly unmodern, flowery even.
(c) The suspiciously high number of 5-star reviews.

Why you should pick this up

1. Lark
Let me start by saying there is nothing wrong with a sword-wielding heroine. But there are times when a heroine’s infallible fighting skills and seeming imperviousness to death is too darn unbelievable.

Lark is a wallflower. She avoids crowds, shies from human contact and prefers healing and tending her garden to any kind of adventure. But when she is uprooted from the familiar and sent out to fight for her village, her family, herself, she transforms into a hero, a fighter, a leader.

“Trust what you know, what you feel. What do you feel?”

“I feel I want a sword.”

and later, “Merith has no idea how to defend with force. But I will not stand calmly unarmed to face Troths, or anything else that can be sent to destroy my family and neighbours. I want to learn how to use a sword so that I can help when we reach the village.”

2. The writing
I think other reviewers hit the nail on the head when they called Waugh’s writing lyrical. Poetic. Admittedly, it did take a while to get used to. The way the characters spoke, their customs, the elaborately descriptive way Waugh paints the world of Merith and Tarnac might be more labour intensive reading-wise than your usual YA book, but trust me. It goes together like PB & J. And I never joke about food.

3. Gharain aka the love interest
With my reading resume, I often feel like I’ve read every romantic scenario out there. But every now and then, a book manages to surprise me and put a huge big goofy grin on my face. This was just such a book.

Star-crossed lovers, a forbidden romance, a love-hate relationship are all fitting labels for Gharain and Lark but it doesn’t even begin to describe the connection that these two had. Gharain and Lark are drawn to each other from the minute they meet, but it’s their interactions after that and their achingly rare tender moments that sealed their fate as one of my favourite romances.

4. The plot
Last but not least, the story ensnared me. It’s simple in theory but made complicated by the relationships between the characters, the intertwining stories and the slow release of the truth about the Guardians and the Breeders. I won’t say anymore except to say, WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK!?

[Kimberly (Book Swoon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first things that grabs your attention while reading Lark Rising is the beautiful writing and world-building, both of which draw you into the story easily. From the simple and peaceful daily life Lark experiences gathering herbs and helping her grandmother in their village Merith to the rolling Hills of Tarnec where the wild horses roam free to the Dark Woods where deadly creatures and dark magic have taken over, each setting is brought vividly to life with words that capture your imagination.

Lark is the type of heroine who at first appears timid and unsure, but as the story unfolds and her quest begins, it soon becomes clear that she is a heroine of quite, inner strength, determination and resilience. She is both gifted and tormented by the sight and the consequences it brings along with her unique ability to read energies. Therefore, being able to see and feel a person's histories and intent-both the good and the bad. Often overwhelmed by her gifts and their intensity she avoids contact with others, and rather remain hidden among her grandmothers medicinal gardens. All that soon changes. When she receives three separate signs and a vision that warns against the impending doom and devastation that troll like creatures known as Troths will wreak among her village, Lark is chosen to seek the help from the Riders of Tarnec, the legendary warriors who have battle the Troths before.

I loved the way author Sandra Lark gives us a heroine that does not necessarily have to fight physically to be strong and resilient, though she does so when needed. But instead, gives us one that grows from unsure and timid to a heroine awakening to her magical powers as a Guardian and learning her own strengths. The quest she ends up on time and again thrust her into the heart of danger, and each time she grows stronger in character. I sympathized with her self-sacrificing nature as well, and understood her need to expose herself to dangers rather than risk others. Imperfect, this was one of Larks traits that put her in danger more than once. Going from a simple country girl with the gift of sight to finding out that you are a Guardian of Life and re-awakened, you're bound to make mistakes, and it was this growth in Lark, her learning to trust in herself and her magic that held me captivated and rooting for her throughout.

There's no shortage of fantasy elements in Lark Rising. Readers are given hints through the folklore and once Lark embarks upon her quest the reader is introduced to plenty of fantasy elements to keep fans happy. Evil Troths, magical horses that bond with their riders, spirit/totem like animals and creatures that guide Lark on her quest,  and malevolent magic from Breeders as well as positive magic of the Guardians and their amulets There's a wonderful balance between the magic, the quest, and the characters that really kept the story and pace flowing.

There is a romance in Lark Rising, and is one that slowly unfurled and worked perfectly for the story. Lark has foreseen two things that set the tone for the possibility of a romance. She will fall for a young man with sage-green eyes ... and he will kill her. There's a connection between Lark and Gharain, as a Guardian and Rider, and though there is obviously some sort of mutual attraction between the two, they both fight it. Gharain is fierce, loyal, and has been devastated by a betrayal which causes him at first not to trust his feelings for Lark. Protective, gentle and courageous, I thought he was a perfect complement to Lark, and loved the way Sandra Waugh explained why these two were connected. Despite all this, the reader is never sure though if the romance will really work, a vision and the nature of her Lark's quest threatens all, and I held my breath in anticipation until the last page with these two.

Secondary characters that nearly broke my heart and I ended up loving! There's some wonderful interaction between Lark and the Riders of Tarnac that I enjoyed, and one in particular I can't wait to hopefully see his story. But, there are two very special characters who came as such a surprise, so unique and heartfelt that I just fell in love with them both. Rune and Twig, I'm looking at you both and Lark Rising is a better book with you two in it.

Lark Rising hit all the right buttons for me, and I loved every moment I spent with it! For me it was the perfect balance of magic, fantasy and world-building. Strong, but imperfect characters who show growth are my favorites and Lark is a wonderful heroine that I really enjoyed.

My Rating: 5 Stars. I loved it!

PLEASE NOTE: A courtesy review copy of this book was provided by  Random House Books in exchange for my fair and honest review. Thank you  Random House Books the review opportunity!

[Jaime (Two Chicks on Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I loved this so hard!!!! Beautiful writing, world building, and an amazing story! I adored Lark and fell in love with Gharain! And I can't wait for Evie's story in book 2!

[Gail Nall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book is beautiful -- the language, the cover art, the story. It's a thoroughly engrossing read. I especially loved the folklore elements, which is what I felt made the book so unique.

[Lisa Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A LUSH ROMANTIC FANTASY TO CURL UP WITH!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! What a treasure awaits you! This is a beautifully crafted fantasy, filled with romance, suspense and a heroine of tremendous courage and heart. It is a novel to get lost in, and when you reach the end you will marvel at Waugh's lyrical prose and rich storytelling. I'm so glad this is just the first in what clearly will be a stellar series. Bring on the GUARDIANS OF TARNEC!

[A.G. Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Of course, that could be because it reminds me so much of Juliet Marillier's work, and she's one of my fantasy author heroes. But this book was good on its own with a strong heroine who made mistakes but learned from them, and a hero who did the same. The magic and world building drew me in and made me want to learn more. I've already bought/read the second installment of this series, and liked it even more than the first. ;)

[Paula M]

Please don't mind me. I'm just glad that I got this out of my way. Thank you to Lola's review.

I managed to finish 3 chapters though.



Yeah, I tried.

[booknuts_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

full review to come...

[Kelesea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Lark Rising

Author: Sandra Waugh

Age Group: Teen/Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Guardians of Tarnec, book one

Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The bottom line: A lush, gorgeous fantasy with fantastic world-building, swoon-worthy romance, magic and danger around every corner, Lark Rising completely enchanted me--highly recommended!

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In the gorgeous land of Tarnec, evil is commonplace. But when Lark Carew receives a sign from nature to go and find the Riders to protect her village, she begins to realize that though she longs for the simple life of a Healer, fate has other things in store for her: She is the Guardian of Life, the only person in the whole of Tarnec able to retrieve it from the evil Breeders. Forced to undertake a dangerous quest, she finds that love may not be too far away, and that she must find strength in herself if she is to save those she loves..

What I enjoyed:

-I loved the world-building of this novel--it was absolutely fantastic, rich, and real--it was well-thought out and it made the story even better

-The pacing of this novel was breakneck--I really couldn't put it down when I started reading it

-Lark, the young woman who is at first timid, quiet, and overall almost plain, but her character development was worth it--she was a great hero and I really enjoyed her

-Gharain, the boy that Lark falls for, and sees as a threat, almost--the chemistry between him and Lark was electric

-The magical elements that made the novel even more punchy--it was a great magical adventure I really enjoyed

-Evie

-Twig

-Emera

-I especially liked the way the good and evil balance worked in Waugh's unique world

-The ending--it was perfect

What could've been better:

-There was absolutely nothing I didn't love about this gorgeous fantasy tale! Wonderful, I can't wait for more from this promising author!

Overall, Lark Rising was just perfect--a story that I will treasure forever, and a world I love to live in! Next on deck: Secret of Omordion by Nande Orcel!

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my.....
This book you guys. This book.
Lark Rising is an amazing start to a really promising series. I loved everything about it. It was SO beautifully written. I mean is this REALLY Sandra Waugh's debut novel? This woman CAN WRITE! It was unputdownable, beautiful and simply amazing.
Now to the bad parts.....I have to wait a whole year for the next book :(((((

[Chris Meads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read. I hated to put it down to do other things and always came back to it. I wished the book didn't end.

It starts out about a young girl, Lark, who has the "sight" or visions. She helps her grandmother with gathering herbs and her cousin who was born on the same day--the each have the same type mark on their shoulder. Lark has gotten three feathers which means she has been called, but she doesn't know what. She also dreams of a man who tries to kill her. Then a man from the village has been found dead in the dark forest. Lark finds out what happened and through her vision, knows that the village will be attacked by troths (evil beings). The people hold a meeting in the village square to pick who is to go to the Rowan tree to summon the Riders. A crow flies in and grabs a stone and drops it into Lark's hand. She has been chosen.

She travels alone and makes it to the Rowan tree but is chased off. A white stallion comes to her aid. The riders appear and Gharain, one of the riders, tries to kill her. But the horse stops him.
The riders and Lark travel back to Tarnec and she finds out, she is a Guardian. She doesn't understand and is upset when Gharain touches her to "open" her up. The king tells her that 4 amulets (Life, Death, Light and Dark) have been stolen and she must retrieve the Life orb.

Tarnec is attacked and Lark tries to run off--she wants to go back to her village because she has seen the vision that the town is destroyed. Gharain gets her and they meet up with the rest of the riders heading to her towm.

A rift in the earth separates her from the riders and Gharain jumps, barely making it and Lark rescues him. They travel with Twig toward the Myr Mountains. Gharain is taken by the troths and Lark must journey on alone. She makes it the mountains and with the aid of the gifts given to her by Twig, she finds Erema who has the amulet. They battle and Erema is destroyed.

Lark brings back the amulet and finds out the real story of the Guardian--she becomes Queen of Tarnec.

This was one of the best books I have read and wish for everyone who likes this kind of story to read it. I won it as a free book from the goodreads giveaway.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Avid Reviews: http://www.avidfantasyreviews.wordpre...

It has been a long time since I have read a novel that has the elements and tone of a fairytale, but when reading Lark Rising I was suddenly transported back to my youth when my mother would read to me out of the big book of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Lark Rising is being labeled as YA, but it felt much more like a middle grade novel, and I would definitely not recommend it to adults looking for an epic fantasy, as the characters and plot are oversimplified, and the battle between good and evil in the story is strictly black and white, containing not a single shade of grey. However, this is a novel that would be perfect for a middle school or high school student, especially one that is looking for an introduction into the epic fantasy genre. Despite its simplicity, it is a fun story and an easy read, with plenty of imaginative elements and a tone that will transport you straight into the fairy tales of childhood.

The story follows Lark Carew, a sixteen-year-old girl who possesses the Sight. She lives a simple life, tending her garden and always staying close to home, until one day her Sight reveals that the monsters known as Troths will soon invade her village. Lark is chosen to go on a journey to find the legendary Riders of Tarnec and ask for their help, but little does she suspect that one of the riders is a boy she has seen in her visions; a boy that the Sight has told her she will fall in love with. Unfortunately the Sight has also told her that one day this boy will kill her. Suddenly Lark’s world changes from the simple pleasures of life in her village to the burden of saving her home from ultimate destruction. For Lark is the Guardian of Life, and it is up to her to find her own inner strength and keep her world in Balance.

Lark’s tale is very typical for an epic fantasy, and she almost follows the concept of “Hero’s Journey” to the letter. Though this novel is filled with common fantasy tropes, it is still a fast paced and easy read that would be a perfect introduction to the fantasy genre. I would also recommend this novel to any fantasy fan who is looking for a nostalgic excursion to the bedtime stories of their youth, where good and evil clash, politics are absent, and a walk into the dark woods is never as simple as it sounds.

If, however, you are looking for a book that contains depth, nuance, and character development, I would not recommend Lark Rising. This is the kind of story where the details and fine distinctions do not make an impact on the plot. For example, the ecologist in me cringed when Lark took a day and a half to walk through numerous distinctive ecosystems: grasslands, woodland, swamp and mountains high enough to have snow on them. In addition, the fact that an entire Kingdom being hidden and completely secret from villages that were with in a few days walk makes no sense politically or geographically. But that is how fairy tales are told. If we let ourselves put aside the details and tell us a story that will take us away to a magical land, then we can read a story with the eyes of the innocent. This is nice to do sometimes; be transported to a place without the complications of moral ambiguity, petty cruelty, and ambition. Seriously though, this is not a novel for any reader looking for an intellectual or challenging read. You must be able to sit back and let the protagonist make mistakes that would have been obvious to avoid and not worry about the reasons the “bad guys” are evil (they just are, OK?). Lark Rising should definitely be labeled as a middle grade novel, but it will be a fun, fast paced, and easy read for anyone looking for a simple tale of magic and adventure.

My rating: 6.5/10

I received a copy of this book from Random House Children’s Books in return for an honest review.

[Kerry Cerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit I'm not a huge fantasy reader, but this book stole my heart and just might turn me into one. Lark is a wonderful heroine who sports fear, yet finds her inner courage; who prefers to stay close to home, yet finds the journey of a lifetime when a task takes her outside of her safe garden walls. This is a magical story with incredible world building and sentences so beautiful, you won't want the book to end. Lucky for all of us, this is the beginning of what promises to be a classic series for all ages.

[Spigot · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF: read through ch.15
Alright, I give up, I'm done with this.

Maybe a 1 star is harsh, but at this point I don't even care. I've decided to be less lenient towards books that don't do anything for me and this one definitely doesn't do anything except infuriate me. I may come back to it later, but right now nope.

Aside from the piss poor, plot tumor romance (which I've detailed extensively below), we also have Lark's character, or her lack thereof, which made this book unbearable.

Girl starts off incredibly shy and a little timid, and due to how her powers affect her around other people she tends to avoid large groups. She lives a very simple, slightly sheltered, but incredibly peaceful life in a village that she loves very much, and while she has friends, she mostly keeps to herself and her family. Then fate calls and forces her to take a fairly daring journey, and while Lark is anxious about going out in the world she gathers her courage and does her duty because "she's been called."

And this is all very admirable - a young girl who is in no way a typical brave, swashbuckling adventurer going out into the world to save her village because she holds her powers and magic in such high regard. I like this Lark.

But then she meets the Riders and Lover Boy and things go downhill very fast. Her character becomes inconsistent and wishy-washy. One moment she's scared and confused, but the next she's defiant and talking back. She views her powers as a curse, but no, wait, the next page she joyfully embraces them. She's appalled by violence and destruction, but then demands to be taught how to fight with a sword. She's timid and wary of being around many people, but is instantly best buddies with the Riders. She's never even seen a horse before and is not depicted as naturally athletic, but after sitting on it one time she can suddenly ride bareback at high speeds through a dark forest like some freaking horse whisperer.

Okay, that last one is being nit-picky, but I ride horses and lemme tell you it doesn't matter how well you get along with animals, that type of balance is learnt and practiced; you don't magically know how to sit a horse after one time. And that goes along with the other trend, that things are just kind of easy for Lark. She doesn't have to learn about riding, she can magically do it. She doesn't really have to learn about her Guardian powers, she just has them now to play with willy-nilly. She doesn't have to work through her personal issues, they just magically disappear once she realizes she's "The Chosen One."

Hell, I might have let that go if her powers had even been explained at all, or if the narrative ever explored them properly. But any time the plot gets going, any time the baddies do something or start to look like an actual threat, the narrative gets derailed by Lark's angsty romance issues. That's the only consistent thing about her character, is her mooning over Lover Boy. It's derailing and doesn't add anything character or storywise, and since Lark's character is already so inconsistent it just makes her impossible to care about which is kind of important if you want me to invest in your novel.

And because Lark is narrating in first person, and because she is such an erratic character, our understanding and feelings about her world and her problems are confusing at best, and just plain poor most other times.

It's bad. This book is bad. I've read many high fantasy novels of this style, and even if many of them are far from perfect they usually have at least have one aspect that keeps me engaged, that makes finishing the book worth it. Lark Rising has nothing of the sort.

I'd rather take my chances with the other books on my ever growing To Read list than waste my time finishing the last half of this.


----------

Still currently reading this, but it's taking longer than expected because this is not as good as expected.

Have some notes on my thoughts so far, at the halfway point:

This book could have been very, very good. I like the world, I like the lore, and after some initial hesitation I actually like the writing quite a bit.

Sadly, as is the case with many YA books, the romance aspect is the issue here. Let me count the ways...

First and foremost: Insta-love.
Now, insta-love in and of itself is kind of hit or miss with me. Sometimes, if the end relationship is done well, or the plot isn't overtaken by the romance, or the characters are just awesome, I'll roll with it. Not ideal, but I can let it slide, depending. And sometimes it's just so laughably horrible and expected, it doesn't even annoy me. Because it's become such a staple in YA novels, I've gotten to the point where I'm just like "WELP" and I'll either continue the story or drop it in accordance to other factors.

The problem here is that, A) I had high expectations for this book and was prepared to love it, and B) the insta-love is paired with a bunch of other cliches that I am getting damn tired of:
- it is solely on the girl's side
- that girl is a generally timid, quiet, shy, but overall sweet individual
- the recipient is a complete douchebag who doesn't deserve the love of anyone, let alone someone as sweet as the protagonist
- but OH his behavior is totally justified because he went through some traumatic experience regarding a previous romance with "the wrong girl" before meeting the protag so it's totally understandable that he takes all his hate and frustration and anger from that experience and pins it on her
- and because of this, no one calls him out on his dick behavior, especially not the protag because "it's not his fault, he's hurting, it's totally reasonable", so he gets a free pass to treat her with hostility

Seriously, upon Lark first meeting broody moody dick Lover Boy IN HER DREAM NOT EVEN IN REAL LIFE, all she can think of is his "beautiful smile." Even after she dreams that he will also kill her - which, you know, would be a major concern for most normal people no matter how smiley he is before sticking a sword through her gut - and even after she meets him and he's an asshat, she still fantasizes about his "beautiful smile." "How can someone with such a beautiful smile be hurting so much?" "I wish I could bring back his beautiful smile." "The room lights up when he smiles." These aren't exact quotes but you get the idea. The term "beautiful smile" comes up so bloody often, you'd think there was nothing to Lover Boy except a big mouth stretched over his face.
It is also the only concrete reason given for her "love" of him: his smile. Because she definitely doesn't love him for almost killing her, and she definitely doesn't (or shouldn't) love his personality after how he treats her.

There are a few - very few - moments were Lark does seem to realize that Lover Boy is being a dick and kind of sort of gets close to calling him out on it. But the weight of those moments of external dialogue is quickly nullified by the significantly more moments of fluttery blushing heat she feels and her internal narration whenever she's around or thinks about him. Which is a lot.

Bringing us to Point #2, even more horrendous than insta-love - the romance takes over the plot. There's a lot of unnecessary angsting on Lark's part over Lover Boy, to the point where her acceptance of her Guardian role and the implications of her unlocked powers is glossed over super fast. It's like, "Oh, Lark needs to feel trepidation about her powers and then accept them and learn about them, but dang nabbit, she's also got this difficult boy she's in love with and that's super important! So here, we'll deal with the whole plot-significant character development quick-like in the span of say one or two chapters so we can let Lark get back to mooning over Dickbag as fast as possible."

And then of course, Dickbag eventually pulls a complete 180 in the middle of the novel and starts to like Lark. No build up, no gradual change of opinion, just a quick conversation where he tells Lark he will "Do her no harm" (sorry Dickbag, you forgot the 'more' between 'no' and 'harm'), "It is not how I wished it" (cause you totally had no control over your own actions when you acted so horribly), and "Do you forgive?" Which Lark being Lark, sweet and perfect and accepting of everything especially the boy she loves, she of course forgives him and now they're "friends" except who needs friendship let's jump right into unresolved sexual tension! And then like two pages later Lark has a "vision" of Lover Boy and her cousin being all lovey dovey and jesus christ this story is interesting enough without all the goddamn relationship drama.

And that's where I'm at so far. Still got half the book left, but I'm not very hopeful of it making a comeback.

It's weird, because I have undoubtedly read more horrible books and I've read bigger disappointments, but I have very little forgiveness for this book's faults. Maybe I've just finally snapped and my tolerance is shot.

But I think, maybe, it's because the story itself doesn't feel cliche or fall into the more stupid YA tropes, but the romance does. I mean, there are issues with Lark's characterization too which I'll get into in the final review, but it is literally a case where, if the romance had been even a little less cringe-worthy, a little less exasperating, or even just a little less IN YOUR FACE PLOT WHAT PLOT?, I would probably be all ready to give this book 3 stars and I would have finished it in one sitting and I would have been looking forward to the sequel and everything would have been sunshine and kittens.

Instead, it is currently sitting at 2 stars and I highly doubt it'll be able to rectify itself. I already dislike the love interest, and I don't really have much respect for Lark because of how she acts around him. And characters really can't come back from that kind of initial negative opinion, especially when the narrative paints the characters as right or reasonable when I feel like they're being stupid or dicky.

[Erin Cashman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured every page of LARK RISING. The world building is unique and so vivid – at times achingly beautiful and at other times terrifying. Lark, a timid young woman with the Sight, bravely leaves her village, her home and her family in order to save all that she holds dear. On her heart pounding journey, filled with danger, intrigue and romance, Lark learns to master her powers and face her destiny head on. LARK RISING is a beautifully written high fantasy novel that you will not be able to put down.

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁]

There was absolutely nothing remarkable about this book. There wasn't even anything that bordered on interesting.

Not once you got more information, anyway . . .

Of course it seemed like it'd be interesting in the beginning. Why would I bother otherwise? But as soon as the particulars started coming out . . . meh.

An angry and distrustful prince b/c betrayed by beautiful, EVIL woman who disguised herself as his fated one-true-love, but was really enemy #1. So (of course) Prince doesn't trust (and is abominably rude) to Lark, who is (of course) his real fated one-true-love. But even if Prince wasn't angry and distrustful, they still couldn't be together b/c REASONS. Who cares about the "fated" one-true-love part of their relationship? NOT these two.

Blah, friggin' blah.

[🥀 Rose 🥀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely YA story, finally. A book for both the younger and older teens. Such wonderful writing and strong world building using highly imaginative scenery, along with just enough romance that did not take over and overwhelm and make it the main story line.

My only little grumble would be that I wanted Lark to be a bit more strong. At times I found her floundering and weak like a babe in the woods. However perhaps that is just how she should be. Looking foward to the next book and seeing how she progresses. Recommended for all ages. There is no inappropriate content for kids.

[Jen Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this book as a member of the Fearless Fifteeners. As the tagline for this book says, Lark has forseen that she’ll fall for an as yet unknown guy who will kill her. What I won’t spoil, but is equally important, is that she receives a second vision even more devastating. The book has the feel of a classicly done fantasy, with rich settings, magical objects, and a cast of unique characters. Lark’s suffering and strength make her an endearing character.

[Carina Olsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm unsure about this book. When I first saw that cover I knew I had to read this book. And I thought it sounded pretty awesome as well. So when I saw the details for the blog tour at Rockstar Book Tours I had to sign up. So happy to get accepted. <3 Thank you so much to Jaime for the gorgeous print review copy of it :)

But oh. This is where the heartbreaking part of it begins. As I did not love this book. I tried so hard to like it. And I wanted to, I wanted to love it so much. As I have seen others love it and it just looks so stunning. But I had issues with it. Because of that I did not love it. Sniffs. It must be a two star from me. I'm sorry.

I want to begin, though, with saying what I did like about this book. Because while I didn't love it, I didn't hate it either. There wasn't a single thing that I hated. I just didn't like it. Which makes me depressed. But it is what it is. I was thinking about giving it three stars, but I cannot. Because I didn't like it that much. But yes. What I did like about it. I enjoyed the plot. I found it to be quite interesting and I wanted to know what would happen next. And.. well. That might have been everything I liked about this book. Which makes me even more sad. I'm trying to think what I liked about it, and that is all that comes to mind. Well. I didn't want to quit reading it at least. I wanted to know how it ended. And I am curious about the next books, as I still want to know what happens next. I just wish I could have liked it more. But I didn't.

Then to try to explain why I disliked Lark Rising. It is different, true, which is a good thing. And I do not doubt that others will love it. It just was not for me. I knew from the very beginning that I didn't like the writing. I had huge issues with how the book was written. How the characters were speaking. It just bothered me a whole lot and I was never able to forget about it. Which sucked for me. It isn't an awful writing, just written in a way I didn't like. I couldn't connect with it. Meaning I didn't connect with Lark.

Sigh. Lark. I did want to love her. And I didn't dislike her. I just couldn't understand her. She has the Sight. Which is a bad thing, apparently. As it leaves her in pain and weak and whatnot. And because of this she hasn't been around people other than her cousin and her grandmama. So she is very shy. Yet she is chosen for a mission, and then she meets a bunch of Riders and other people. And they all like her right away and she is not shy at all and it bothered me a lot. Because it happened so fast, to be honest.

And then. I didn't like the way Lark was as a person. She is sweet enough. But she changes so fast in a small amount of days. And she acted like a child all the time. Shouting and running and being a bit weird. It just bothered me a little bit. Though I also adored it. Then there is the romance. Thankfully, no love triangle, but kind of insta-love. They meet and she likes him right away. Though he tried to kill her. Then days later there is talk of love. And it didn't make sense to me. They never get to know each other.

I just. There were a bunch of things that bothered me in this book. I wish they hadn't. I really wish I had loved this. But I didn't. I was annoyed at just about everything. Sigh. And at the others things I just didn't care. Another thing that bothered me were all the weird names. I have not heard any of them before, and they sounded weird to me. Sigh. I'm sorry. But Lark Rising just didn't work for me. But I do think others will love it. Hopefully. Because I did like the story for the most part. Thank you Jaime. <3

---

Preview post here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2014/0...

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

16 year old Lark is happiest at home and because of her power of sight she cannot cope being near large crowds. But when her sight warns her that her village will be attacked by Troths soon, she has to go on a journey to seek help from the legendary Riders of Tarnec. When she find the Riders of Tarnec, she realises that one of them, Gharain, is the man who she has foreseen that she will fall in love with but who will end up killing her. Lark discovers that she is one of the most important people, the Guardian of Life, the first of the four Guardians who help keep the world in balance, but will Lark discover her true inner strength in time?

I liked Lark Rising as it is an enjoyable YA fantasy book but I did feel it lived up to its hype. It was slow to start but a sweet if a bit typical fantasy novel with nature, magic and a quest. It had decent world building but I could have improved as it lacked some depth.

Lark is a Mary Sue and I did get irritated at her but she develop more as the book went on as she grew more courageous and confident. While I do sometimes like the strong silent type, I did hope Gharain would warm up as I would have like to get to know him better but he was brave and loyal. I did role my eyes at the Gnome, Twig as I just didn’t like his character as I felt it was too cheesy.

Seems to be a Marmite book but I will want to read the next book Silver Eve. I would recommend Lark Rising to fans of Ever Darkening by Janeal Falor and Broken Aro by Jen Wylie.

This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm

[Tracy Reasner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply magical. This book pleasantly reminded me of McCaffrey's The Dragonriders of Pern -- one of my fantasy favorites as a young girl. Lark is an admirable heroine - strongly written and quite round. I'm glad to see this title labeled as book 1 in the Tarnec series - three more Guardians to go!

[Holly Bryan]

GAH!!! I pretty much need this RIGHT. NOW!!!

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Waugh is making her debut into the world of Young Adult Fantasy with a strong kick. Lark Rising will take her to soaring heights!!!

Lark is not your average heroine. She is shy, timid, and not looking for an adventure. In fact her idea of a perfect day includes tending to the weeds in her garden. But Lark has a gift. A gift that has left her bound for things greater than she could ever have imagined. And despite her lack of an adventure bone, Lark has been called. So when trouble is sensed in her village and she receives a sign, she is tasked with enlisting the help of legendary group of fighters called the Riders to protect the village. But what should have been a simple task turns into a crazy adventure. because she learns the actually reason that she was called: she is the Guardian of Life, one of four guardians who are to retrieve their stolen amulets after awakening their powers or the world will fall into chaos. But it’s not a true adventure without a trusty steed, an emotional, over-bearing protector, and a grouchy woodland creature. Lark doesn’t know it yet but she is bound for greatness, but only I’d she can stay alive that long. With the help from the guy of her dreams, temperamental gnome, and her own intuition Lark will answer her call as a guardian, or die trying.

Lark’s changes from the beginning to the end of the novel are not as obvious in most book. She did not all of a sudden become this loud, strong, unbeatable guardian. She was still the quiet, humble, reserved Lark she was at the beginning of the novel, she just had more confidence in herself. And for that Sandra Waugh deserves a big pat on the back, because unlike most heroes in stories you find today, she keeps Lark more real simply because she keeps Lark a hero in her own terms. You have to be paying attention to notice how Lark grows. She goes from a girl who wouldn’t take a chance to girl literally taking leaps of faith off mountains and hoping for the best. Most importantly for Lark, she learns to trust in herself, her visions, and–as sappy as it sounds–the power of love.

Even though I love Lark and she is great, I can say my absolute favorite characters are the three shining men in Lark’s life: Rune, Gharain, and Twig. Rune is her loyal steed, her faithful companion, and he’s just so cute. He protects Lark more than once and is fully dedicated like an oversized dog. He brings out the delightful humor in the novel with his great timing and personality–even though he is a horse. Twig was one of the best things that happened. He appeared out of thin air practically and from that moment just causes chaos (unintentionally) in his attempts to guide Lark towards the right path. He’s sharp, self indignant, and absolutely very lovable. He comes of as grouchy but he is really a sweet and caring gnome. And finally there’s Gharain. He is the man of her dreams, (literally), the guy destined to kill her, and the guy she can’t help but love (even though she doesn’t want to). Gharain’s hot and cold attitude also drives Lark crazy. Their witty banter, and awkward encounters bring a lot of comic relief. And who doesn’t enjoy a little sexual tension?

Lark Rising has a special characteristic you just can’t forget. The beautiful development of the world, draws you in and holds your attention. A thing I notice with Rising Lark is you just can’t power through it. It forces you to stop and enjoy the moment, and compared to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it was a nice change of pace.

Lark Rising was full of adventure, wit, and a soft-spoken young girl with a strong will ready to do what is necessary. The thoughtful descriptions of this enigmatic and lush world make everything so vivid! One sees the brilliance in the colors of the town, the grass, the sky, the mountains, the castle; And they taste the crisps fresh air of the atmosphere. Every moment was splendid. Lark Rising is a rising star in its own way.

[Reading Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was delighted to win this in a giveaway and it proved to be a decent book which was enriched by the high quality of beautiful writing where the descriptions easily painted an image in my head of what was going on. The opening fully immersed me into the wonderful setting of Tarnec and immediately drew me in with my growing curiosity about the setting.
 
Lark Carew is delightfully curious at the start and her sense of adventure is gripping. The relationship between her Grandmama, Evie and herself is sweet and you can almost physically feel the sense of love and care the three of them share. Gharain, is nicely introduced along with some of the background characters like Wilh and Branht which are greatly entertaining. I love the fact characters were introduced throughout the novel and each had a certain purpose to add and shaped the story. My favourite was Twig.
 
The writing was definitely my favourite part, if I was to highlight all the great descriptions a lot of the book would be covered, the standard of Sandra's stunning writing never dropped. The fineness of her writing created a lovely setting which held many mysterious and scary places. I loved the small reveals in the story which I never saw coming and the bigger twists were also fantastic as I would never had guessed them like the truth behind Lark's visions.Also, there was no love triangle which was great and I did like the ending.
 
However, there were quite a few faults with the book which ruined moments of it.
Some of the dialogue was bad like "Thom did they not.." or explaining what a splash was "And then I heard the splash from the pool-the sound made when an object is plunged in water." Nothing happened for about 50 pages and then this happened again. Lark became really boring after the opening and I really didn't care for her or her cringe worthy romance which made me roll my eyes most of the time "Your touch," I said very softly. "You affect me." Ugh, cringe. It was too fast and awkward and I really didn't like Gharain, he was just as boring and incredibly demanding. There was some stupid bits too like when Gharain asks Lark for medical advice since her cousin is a healer but his sister is a healer! They revive dead flowers with water? I know it's fantasy but come on!
 
I would read the next book out of curiousity but I hope she focuses on improving her main characters as they completely lacked personality. I haven't read much fantasy but I suppose this is a good start.
 

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I really wanted to like this book, and I tried very hard to make that happen. But this heroine kept getting in my way. I struggled a lot with Lark's character, and just to like her in general. I felt like we would make some progress, and then she'd do something new that irritated me. She just had this underlying sense of self-doubt and feelings of unworthiness that permeated her character in a very negative way. Lark didn't trust herself and was very immature at times. Plus on top of all that she was stubborn. It was a bad combination and just didn't connect well for me at all. I thought the romance was interesting at first, until Lark's immaturity/stupiditly got involved and she convinced herself that Gharain would fall for her cousin. For no real reason. I don't think her excuse of having a vision was strong enough. Especially the little bit that she Saw in the vision - it was completely inconclusive. Lark KNEW that visions could be misinterpreted. The fact that she gave into Gharain, told him she loved him and was still "saving him for Evie" was just ridiculous.

The story started off pretty slowly, but overall the plot was fine. Though, honestly, I was so distracted by Lark that I don't feel like I can analyze it properly. But the fantasy world was interesting and I liked the idea of Balance as a major theme. I also liked Twig's role in the story; he was a highlight. And it's not like Lark did anything that crazy, it's just the underlying reasons why she acted in certain ways, and some of her thought processes made it difficult for me to stand her. And because of the way she acted, I didn't believe this ending for her. Now Lark is queen? I wouldn't want her ruling me.

I was so excited about this series before I read this book: I love fantasy, it was blurbed by Juliet Marillier, and the series is supposed to be four books without love triangles. But now I'm super bummed. I'm not completely ruling out reading the next installment, especially if the heroine reads differently, but my expectations have dropped tremendously.

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Low. This story is wrapped, but some indication of where the next is headed, especially the main heroine and hero.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exciting, romantic, heartbreaking, interesting, and beautifully written--everything a fantasy novel should be. Waugh did a spectacular job building the world--the Dark Wood, Merith, Tarnec, the Troths. It was a very visual book with lots of description, and yet I wasn't starved for dialogue like I usually am in description-heavy books. Bravo, Sandra Waugh. Bravo.

I loved Lark and how she grew throughout her journey. She began somewhat timid, though she had a quiet strength simmering beneath the surface. She gracefully accepted her summons, her responsibilities, and her fate. She loved Gharain but tried to stifle her feelings for him because she had seen that he would kill her and that he would fall in love with Evie. Though I believed deep down that she was wrong, that she would end up with Gharain, my heart still hurt for her. Although she outwardly balked at the idea of so many others making sacrifices, she made sacrifices that broke her heart. She became stronger and learned, as many told her, to trust herself.

Gharain. Such an odd name for such a hero, but it grew on me. He was imperfect, but he was wonderful. I loved his persistence, loyalty, bravery, and faithfulness. Regardless of what Lark claimed, he knew himself. He insisted that her Sight could be misinterpreted, that he would never hurt her and would only love her. And he was right.

The supporting characters didn't have a lot of page time, but I really liked them. My favorites were Wilh and Quin.

Although this story has a resolution (Lark retrieves the Life orb and returns it to Tarnec, where she becomes queen after the king dies, Gharain agrees to rule with her--she is the Life Guardian, and he is her Complement since he awakened her mark, and now Lark needs to find and guide the remaining Guardians to retrieve their amulets), there is more to be done. It looks like each book in the series will follow a different Guardian. I hope, though, that these characters will still make appearances in the other books. I really want to see Lark and Gharain's story continued. Depending on the rest of the series, I may want to own these books.

Note: I can't recall anything bad.