In a struggle to gain power, Sensitives created a horrific storm, creating the Long Winter and destroying over half the world's population and usable land. Humans hunted these Sensitives, marking them as a threat to their new fragile States. Lark Greene, a descendant of the State's Founders, knows it's her duty to follow the political path of her powerful family. Her path has been set from birth, but as long as she's with Beck, Lark knows she'll be happy. She and Beck have been engaged since birth and she's loved him for as long as she can remember. When Beck is accused of being a Sensitive, Lark's carefully planned world falls apart. Lark will stop at nothing to clear Beck's name but what if everything they said about Beck is true?

LARKSTORM by Dawn Rae Miller is a dystopian fantasy filled with the swirling uncertainty and powerful emotions of a compelling Young Adult novel. The characters themselves drive this story. Lark and Beck, because by the time you're finished reading they cannot be separated. They have dynamic voices that draw the reader into the story and they're strong enough to help overshadow less than believable dystopian world. Let me be clear, I really enjoyed this story. It's passionate and evocative and filled with beautiful emotions, but the world doesn't hold true for me.

The battle between humans and Sensitives is overly elaborate and complicated. The secret that keeps the States united isn't well kept from anyone but Lark. I can honestly say that while reading, I let myself be caught up in Ms. Miller's flowing prose and didn't question this world. It was only after I'd finished reading that they crept up on me.

Lark and Beck's relationship is the heart of this story and Dawn Rae Miller handles this deftly. The sexual tension is spot on, with just the right about of sweetness and need, to make their relationship about love rather than unquenchable lust. There are no graphic sex scenes and the language used to describe the physical encounters between Beck and Lark is modest and sweet. Part of this is because Lark and Beck are truly best friends. I love that their relationship is based upon friendship. I don't see this enough in YA novels. The lust comes first and the friendship comes second, but in LARKSTORM friendship and love are the core of their connection.

LARKSTORM by Dawn Rae Miller is a compelling dystopian YA that will keep you reading through the night. Lark and Beck are strong characters with passionate voices and I can't wait to see what happens to them in the next book of The Sensitives series.

Book Summary

In the years following the destructive Long Winter, when half the world's population perished, the State remains locked in battle against the Sensitives: humans born with extra abilities. As one of the last descendants of the State's Founders, seventeen-year-old Lark Greene knows her place: study hard and be a model citizen so she can follow in her family's footsteps. Her life's been set since birth, and she's looking forward to graduating and settling down with Beck, the boy she's loved longer than she can remember. However, after Beck is accused of being Sensitive and organizing an attack against Lark, he disappears. Heartbroken and convinced the State made a mistake, Lark sets out to find him and clear his name. But what she discovers is more dangerous and frightening than Sensitives: She must kill the boy she loves, unless he kills her first.

Read an Excerpt