Shadowlark (Skylark Trilogy, 2) - Hardcover

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"In this second book of The Skylark Trilogy, sixteen-year-old Lark's quest to find her missing brother takes her to the city of Lethe, a safe haven against Shadowmen attacks. Lark discovers, however, that once again humans with innate magic, known as Renewables, are being harvested, drained of their magic and their lives to fuel the machines protecting the city. Upon joining the resistance, Lark finds a journal written by her brother, proof that Basil reached Lethe and designed the machinery used to protect it. Since the journal also contained sketches of her, Lark is hailed as a hero by the resistance and agrees to lead an attack on the city's leader, Prometheus, the man she blames for her brother's death. Unfortunately, her unnatural talent as a magic well who can drain the magic from others is revealed during a Shadowmen attack. In spite of the mistrust Lark now faces, she still battles Prometheus and discovers the truth about the city and what happened to her brother. In the end, Lark and her companions, the feral Oren and mechanical guardian Nic, have a new quest--to return to her city for a long overdue confrontation with its administration.
This intriguing dystopian adventure's depiction of the stand this strong female protagonist takes against the horrors of her world is fast-paced, compelling, and un-put-downable. Fans of the first novel will be delighted; those new to the trilogy will be as well, assisted by enough backstory to follow the action, and both groups will eagerly await the concluding volume." --VOYA

"Having fled from the horrific dangers of home straight into the potentially horrific dangers of an outside landscape, Lark Ainsley is back (Skylark, 2012) and still searching for her brother, Basil, while trying to make sense of what her life will be in a world ravaged by old wars, terrifying technology, and magic gone wild. Joined by friend Tansy and mechanical 'pixie' Nix, Lark's journey is the classic hero's quest. Her love interest, Oren, is an intriguing blend of light and dark as he struggles with his literal shadow side, the violent darkness that overtakes him every night as one of the Shadow people slowly driven insane by the rigors of living amidst uncontrolled magic outside the protected cities. Set largely in a mysterious, vaguely menacing underground city called Lethe, the plot unfurls quickly and steadily with good pacing. Lethe is ruled by a harsh founder called Prometheus, who soon challenges Lark in ways she didn't expect but must meet in order to find Basil. With its blend of dystopian, steampunk, and generally fantastical elements, Spooner's follow up is even stronger and more gripping than the debut and is sure to ensnare further loyal readers." --starred, Booklist