ALA Booklist

The final book in the Skylark trilogy finds the escaped Larkand Oren surviving in the wilderness outside the Wall. Inside, the city is in chaos, with the rebels declaringopen war on the fallen Institute. Ready tolead the Resistance but unable to breach the city's magic barrier, Lark must relyon the very person who once betrayed her. Her reappearanceis overshadowed by Eve, a Renewal with powerful magic and an undeniable bondwith Lark. Eve promises to protect therebels and defeat the last of the Institute's architects, but dreams shared bythe two girls leave Lark unconvinced that Eve's intentions are true. Combining equal parts steampunk, magic, anddystopian thriller, this high-speed novel offers a compelling heroine and animaginative world. Several charactersfrom previous books make surprising reappearances, and shifting alliances willkeep readers guessing until the end. Those new to the series will be utterly lost, but readers familiar with Lark's storywill find closure in the satisfying conclusion.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

As a Renewable, Lark regenerates her magic, making her one of the few not affected by the generations-ago fracturing of the world's magic--and a figurehead for the resistance movement in the dystopian present. Surrounding Lark with old enemies, friends, and loves for maximum impact, this trilogy-ender fully realizes a clockwork fantasy world complete with rules, consequences, and human costs.

Voice of Youth Advocates (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

In this satisfying conclusion to The Skylark Trilogy, Lark is in the ascendant. Having fled the City behind the Wall and survived magical battles in Skylark (Lerner, 2012/VOYA December 2012) and fought her way into her full powers in Shadowlark (Lerner, 2013/VOYA October 2013), she has gained enough confidence to return to the City in Lark Ascending and go up against Gloriette and her minions. But when she and Oren arrive, the revolutionaries have found other help in Eve, a Renewable held captive by the Architects and used as a power source for years but now free and bent on revenge. Lark soon realizes that she and Eve are in opposition. The most powerful Renewable Lark has ever seen, Eve is bent on destruction and revenge. Lark, on the other hand, as a Power Well who can build magical shields, has already been exhibited in battles outside the city and wants to find a way to restore her world and repair the magical damage that resulted in the Shadowmen, even if it means working with the hated Architects. Eventually realizing that Eve's quest is driven by insanity and will lead to the extermination of all humans, Lark reluctantly takes the battle to her.Once again, the worldbuilding is superb, the characters fully fleshed out and intriguing, the battles riveting, and the edge-of-the seat suspense compelling. Teens looking for a well-written dystopian adventure with steampunk elements in the magical machines created by the Architects will enjoy spending time with Lark and her companions.Bonnie Kunzel.