Bones of Faerie {book review} * * * 1/2

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

- fantasy, YA, dystopian -

reviewed by Tara SG

purchased eBook

Book Order

1. Bones of Faerie * * * 1/2
2. Faerie Winter (April 5, 2011)

Links

Author’s Website : www.simner.com

Author’s Twitter : @innaj

Amazon : hardcover / paperback / eBook

Add To Your GoodReads TBR List (1,300 ratings : 3.57 avg)

In Six Words

induced fear of magic and trees

Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

This is another YA that doesn’t shy away from gruesome or tough situations. We start the story with Liza’s new baby sister being born with the markings of one with magic and therefore being taken out and left in the woods to be eaten. This definitely opens our eyes to how harsh life is in her town. In this post-war middle America people are left without modern technology and surrounded by forests containing not just vicious animals, but trees and plants that attack as well. I found this to be unique and terrifying.

For such a short book, the author does a great job at building characters and developing an edge of your seat story. I was eager to start the next book and will be looking for more by her.

Brief Summary

The war between humanity and Faerie devastated both sides. Or so 15-year-old Liza has been told. Nothing has been seen or heard from Faerie since, and Liza’s world bears the scars of its encounter with magic. Trees move with sinister intention, and the town Liza calls home is surrounded by a forest that threatens to harm all those who wander into it. Then Liza discovers she has the Faerie ability to see—into the past, into the future—and she has no choice but to flee her town. Liza’s quest will take her into Faerie and back again, and what she finds along the way may be the key to healing both worlds.

- via GoodReads.com

Plot/Pacing/Writing Style

I really enjoyed this take on a dystopian Midwest. We don’t get to see the war between humans and the Faerie, but the aftereffects for both worlds are devastating. I believe the author did a great job of building the world, characters, and plot in such a short period of time. That being said, the story only received 3 1/2 stars because it is shorter and not particularly complex.

Characters

I was very quickly drawn into Liza’s world and cared for her almost instantly. Her emotions and reactions were both realistic for her age and the setting. We get to see her life torn to shambles and her attempt to set things right.

The secondary characters and psuedo-love interest are also well-rounded. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more of them in the next book.

I really loved the characters that forced her to realize that good and evil isn’t black and white. This is further explored in the second book.

Recommendations

If you enjoy darker fantasy YA with a dystopian feel, then this should definitely go on your TBR. Since it’s the first  in a series and a shorter book, maybe see if the library or a friend has it for your to borrow.