Lark and the Wild Hunt by Jennifer Adam

What worked:

The author crafts a mysterious adventure of Fae and magic. The Wild Hunt is supposed to return any lingering magic to the Fae world, but something has gone wrong this year. Lark’s brother disappears during the hunt, and she’s determined to find a way to bring him home. She’s the first to suspect there’s a bigger problem, but no one understands what’s actually happening. Wildkins shouldn’t be appearing the day after the Wild Hunt, they’ve taken an interest in what Lark is doing. Why are the Fae so interested in the broken pieces of metal she’s been given?

The author methodically develops the conflict, but I don’t find the plot slow-moving. The adventure reads like a mystery, as Lark tries to figure out the unknown problem with the Fae. Hints are dropped throughout the plot that point to a more serious problem humans have yet to learn. The border between the magical Fae world and the human world is getting weaker, and there may be violations of the Accord agreement that could lead to war. The tension and suspense grow, as this conflict worsens and the plot nears a deadline.

Lark is the protagonist, and she doesn’t have any superpowers or special abilities, except a talent for repairing things. As with many books, the main character keeps secrets from her family and other adults, because she thinks they’ll stop her from helping. Lark is supposed to build a Moonclock that can restore order to the border, but she has no idea how to do it or how to make it work. Her main motivations are to rescue her brother, protect her sister from participating in the next dangerous hunt, and repair damage to the border. She must deal with an internal conflict since all humans know that Faes cannot be trusted. However, a Fae boy named Rook offers help, so Lark’s not convinced he’s sincerely helping. The fact that Fae cannot tell lies forces Lark and readers to infer the truth behind Rook’s words.

What didn’t work as well:

Some readers might like a faster-moving story, and I normally do as well. However, the various subplots involving the Moonclock, Lark and her family, Rook, and the big conflict between the Fae and human worlds provide variety to readers.

The Final Verdict:

Keeping the peace. This book is much more than I expected, and I highly recommend you give it a shot. The blend of family, adventure, mystery, and magic is sure to entertain middle-grade readers.