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Skylark
Earth, 2404 AD
Much of Canada has been annexed by an alien force known as the daemon. Raised in a Vancouver ghetto on the edge of daemon territory, Bennejin Skye is adopted into the United Space Corps and becomes the commander of the highly successful, if somewhat maverick, Strategic Team 6.
When the outermost interstellar Way Station suddenly ceases communications with Earth, Commander Skye and Team 6 are sent to investigate. They discover a new alien threat—the insectoid Ragnar, who move through space consuming resources like a virus.
Humanity and daemon-kind realize they must unite in the fight to protect Earth. However, there are those within the United Council who believe this aggressor is daemon, and this faction will go to any length to rid Earth of her newest inhabitants.
Overpowered within the United Council, Commander Skye and Strategic Team 6 must turn rogue to save the alliance, or Earth and all who call it home are doomed.
Much of Canada has been annexed by an alien force known as the daemon. Raised in a Vancouver ghetto on the edge of daemon territory, Bennejin Skye is adopted into the United Space Corps and becomes the commander of the highly successful, if somewhat maverick, Strategic Team 6.
When the outermost interstellar Way Station suddenly ceases communications with Earth, Commander Skye and Team 6 are sent to investigate. They discover a new alien threat—the insectoid Ragnar, who move through space consuming resources like a virus.
Humanity and daemon-kind realize they must unite in the fight to protect Earth. However, there are those within the United Council who believe this aggressor is daemon, and this faction will go to any length to rid Earth of her newest inhabitants.
Overpowered within the United Council, Commander Skye and Strategic Team 6 must turn rogue to save the alliance, or Earth and all who call it home are doomed.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2018
5 people want to read
About the author
S.M. Carrière
19 books56 followersWhen S.M. Carrière isn't brutally killing your favourite characters, she spends her time teaching martial arts, live streaming video games, and cuddling her cats. In other words, she spends her time teaching others to kill, streaming her digital kills, and cuddling furry murderers.
Author bio helpfully provided by Éric Desmarais.
Author bio helpfully provided by Éric Desmarais.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 2, 2018
Full disclosure: I was the first editor of this book in 2017, and this is what I wrote about it on my blog that year:
It’s Canada, in the future. We made alien contact years ago, and they kicked the snot out of us. We call them the Daemons. They conquered much of our land and live in their territory. We do, too, but our land might be full of diseased humans who come out at night and want to kill us. Enter a third enemy, another alien force that’s capturing our people stationed in space and literally stripping them to the bone. Worse yet, these bad aliens are getting closer to Earth. Okay, this is not good. Might be a time to join forces with the Daemons. They don’t want to eat us, at least, and seem to be warriors with beyotchin’ skills.
Skylark is the callsign of Commander Skye, a man I want to sleep with until I walk funny. (Yes, Sonia, he is dayyymn sexeh). His team of fighters is assigned to collaborate with the Daemons, lead by the Tahorah. The characters are endearing, funny, badass, and I want to be their friends. The adventure of Skylark will keep you glued to the last page. A great rhythm to a story that is still my favourite of all Canadian author S.M. Carrière’s works.
It’s Canada, in the future. We made alien contact years ago, and they kicked the snot out of us. We call them the Daemons. They conquered much of our land and live in their territory. We do, too, but our land might be full of diseased humans who come out at night and want to kill us. Enter a third enemy, another alien force that’s capturing our people stationed in space and literally stripping them to the bone. Worse yet, these bad aliens are getting closer to Earth. Okay, this is not good. Might be a time to join forces with the Daemons. They don’t want to eat us, at least, and seem to be warriors with beyotchin’ skills.
Skylark is the callsign of Commander Skye, a man I want to sleep with until I walk funny. (Yes, Sonia, he is dayyymn sexeh). His team of fighters is assigned to collaborate with the Daemons, lead by the Tahorah. The characters are endearing, funny, badass, and I want to be their friends. The adventure of Skylark will keep you glued to the last page. A great rhythm to a story that is still my favourite of all Canadian author S.M. Carrière’s works.
April 16, 2023
This book was exceptional.
The descriptions were intense, whether of the beauty of space or the grotesqueness of the horrors.
I was completely engrossed by this book.
The secondary characters were my favourites, specifically Teams 6 and 87, including their Daemon members.
The political background of this was fascinating and completely believable.
The descriptions were intense, whether of the beauty of space or the grotesqueness of the horrors.
I was completely engrossed by this book.
The secondary characters were my favourites, specifically Teams 6 and 87, including their Daemon members.
The political background of this was fascinating and completely believable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2020
Carriere has created an amazing sci-fi world full of adventure, fun, danger, laughter, and absolutely loveable characters. I couldn't put the book down! I highly recommend reading this novel!
October 3, 2018
Full Disclosure: I've read an advanced copy.
Skylark, which I can finally talk about, is now probably one of my all time favorite Science Fiction novels. This is a statement that I think says a lot as it's a genre that I grew up with and have become very, very, picky with and in the past few years have stuck to Fantasy whether Urban or Classic as I was bored with most Science Fiction.
Trying to sum it up neatly with as little spoilers as possible may not be the easiest as it's best read through on its own, BUT, the writing was fantastic. Quoting what I've already told the author, "The characters felt real. Love 'em, hate 'em, they weren't 2D." From start to finish, even the smaller to the side characters, not even the secondary, felt "alive" and gave the world a bit more credence than simply being there to serve a point. This rings true the most for the main cast that I truly fell in love with as they were all far from perfect but amazing in each of their rights.
For the story itself, the author has managed to blend in several styles which all work together in order to carry the events from start to finish. While there's no denying that this is a Military SciFi, you get that small specialized squad approach that can tackle everything from "zombies" to "demons" and "bugs". I put quotations around those as if I were to explain? I would be spoiling. Point being though, that each of these moments helps understand the characters and their motivations while simultaneously having kept my attention to continue forward. Which as a game reviewer and constantly having a few of those on the go? I put them all down until I finished this book.
*spoilers?*
The part that surprised me the most was how well the author can write about sex. Lately it seems like it's either taboo in the "gloss over it all and pretend it happened" or "let's try to make this as graphic as possible and be bad while we do it". Skylark, is neither of these two. Like a lot of the rest of the novel, it fits into the overall events and does not feel rushed or tacked on as a "gratuity". Instead, it adds and like above, it makes you appreciate the characters all the more. It is their story after all.
*end of spoilers?*
The last thing that I'm going to say, is prepare to cry. A few times. "When S.M. Carrière isn't brutally killing your favourite characters, she ..." <- is as true as a statement that can be made. George R. R. Martin may kill people you like off but S.M. Carrirère will kill off the ones you love. You've been warned.
Skylark is an amazing Military Science Fiction thrill ride that had me rooted from start to finish. If you read one last book before the end of the year? I would definitely recommend this one!
Skylark, which I can finally talk about, is now probably one of my all time favorite Science Fiction novels. This is a statement that I think says a lot as it's a genre that I grew up with and have become very, very, picky with and in the past few years have stuck to Fantasy whether Urban or Classic as I was bored with most Science Fiction.
Trying to sum it up neatly with as little spoilers as possible may not be the easiest as it's best read through on its own, BUT, the writing was fantastic. Quoting what I've already told the author, "The characters felt real. Love 'em, hate 'em, they weren't 2D." From start to finish, even the smaller to the side characters, not even the secondary, felt "alive" and gave the world a bit more credence than simply being there to serve a point. This rings true the most for the main cast that I truly fell in love with as they were all far from perfect but amazing in each of their rights.
For the story itself, the author has managed to blend in several styles which all work together in order to carry the events from start to finish. While there's no denying that this is a Military SciFi, you get that small specialized squad approach that can tackle everything from "zombies" to "demons" and "bugs". I put quotations around those as if I were to explain? I would be spoiling. Point being though, that each of these moments helps understand the characters and their motivations while simultaneously having kept my attention to continue forward. Which as a game reviewer and constantly having a few of those on the go? I put them all down until I finished this book.
*spoilers?*
The part that surprised me the most was how well the author can write about sex. Lately it seems like it's either taboo in the "gloss over it all and pretend it happened" or "let's try to make this as graphic as possible and be bad while we do it". Skylark, is neither of these two. Like a lot of the rest of the novel, it fits into the overall events and does not feel rushed or tacked on as a "gratuity". Instead, it adds and like above, it makes you appreciate the characters all the more. It is their story after all.
*end of spoilers?*
The last thing that I'm going to say, is prepare to cry. A few times. "When S.M. Carrière isn't brutally killing your favourite characters, she ..." <- is as true as a statement that can be made. George R. R. Martin may kill people you like off but S.M. Carrirère will kill off the ones you love. You've been warned.
Skylark is an amazing Military Science Fiction thrill ride that had me rooted from start to finish. If you read one last book before the end of the year? I would definitely recommend this one!
October 11, 2018
As usual from this amazing author, this was a wonderfully engaging story, the kind that keeps you reading until 3 AM even if you're working the next day. You'll absolutely fall in love with the protagonist!
April 22, 2019
The author creates a depressing and realistic future world. The main character is broken and fascinating.
Endlessly readable and compelling I highly recommend this book.
Endlessly readable and compelling I highly recommend this book.
May 5, 2023
This character first, sci-fi story is fast-paced and a fun read. Sometimes it's heartbreaking too. It would make an excellent film.
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October 2, 2018No review. I wrote the thing.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews