Skylark - a story of defiance and bravery set in two timelines 300 years apart.

Set in Paris, two stories separated by 300 years are connected by the city's hidden underground tunnels. In 1664, Alouette Voland watched as her father created beautiful dyes for the Gobelin Tapestry Works. As a woman, she was denied the opportunity to be recognized for her own creative talents. When her father is imprisoned, Alouette attempts to defend him and is sent to Salpêtrière, an asylum for women deemed insane, where she finds other courageous women. In 1939, Kristof Larson, a psychiatric resident, lived on the Rue de Gobelins. His neighbors, the Brodsky family, had come to Paris from Poland only to face grave danger as the city's Jewish residents were being forcibly taken from their homes to prisons and concentration camps following the German occupation. Kristof is determined to help their teenage daughter, Sasha. The skylark, a symbol of freedom and courage, is creatively woven into this tale of defiance and bravery. 

Skylark by Paula McLaine is a moving story that presents the enduring quest for freedom across the ages. Despite the presence of cruelty and injustice in both timelines, courage and determination also prevail. The incorporation of the hidden tunnels provides a fascinating glimpse into this secretive Paris setting. The book begins in 2019, following the horrific fire at Notre-Dame de Paris. After the embers cooled, a conservator uncovers a shard of glass with an etching of a skylark in one of its corners. It's a beautifully written book by an excellent storyteller.

Many thanks to Atria Books for the advance.

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: January 6, 2026.

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