Janni Lee Simner is a prolific writer of short stories and novels for young readers. She's the author of the
Bones of Faerie trilogy, comprising
Bones of Faerie,
Faerie Winter, and the forthcoming
Faerie After.
Here, Janni poses with an origami
Triceratops made by her husband
Larry Hammer. She and Larry live in Tucson.
SPOILER ALERT!! If you have not read Bones of Faerie continue at your own risk!
Publisher: Random House (April 5, 2011)
ARC: 288 Pages
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Faerie # 2
Book from: Publisher*
The long-awaited sequel to Janni Lee Simner's breathtaking YA fantasy debut, Bones of Faerie.
Liza is a summoner. She can draw life to herself, even from beyond the grave. And because magic works both ways, she can drive life away. Months ago, she used her powers to banish her dangerous father and to rescue her mother, lost in dreams, from the ruined land of Faerie.
Born in the wake of the war between humanity and Faerie, Liza lived in a world where green things never slept, where trees sought to root in living flesh and bone. But now the forests have fallen silent. Even the evergreens' branches are bare. Winter crops won't grow, and the threat of starvation looms. And deep in the forest a dark, malevolent will is at work. To face it, Liza will have to find within herself something more powerful than magic alone.
Here at last is the sequel to Bones of Faerie, for all those fans of dark fantasy and dystopian adventure who thrilled to Janni Lee Simner's unique vision of a postapocalyptic world infused with magic.
Review by Jess
FAERIE WINTER, by Janni Lee Simner continues the tale of Liza and her fight with herself and others to protect the ones she loves and also the town she lives in. Without a dull moment in the novel this is a fast pace read that leaves you smiling.
I was really surprised at how much I was able to relate to Liza. She has a strong will and a protective personality while she also struggles with her own demons. She is a summoner, with more power that she realizes she has. I was really impressed by the development of Liza's thoughts of herself throughout the novel.
The relationship between Liza and Matthew was not dominate during the story, it wasn't the main line of thought but it was there, and for the first time I wasn't bothered by that. I find that usually I need the romance aspect there fully, or at least consistently. Liza and Matthew's relationship was mostly on the back burner but so much is happening in the novel that it's wasn't a bother.
Overall, I was really impressed with this novel, and Janni Lee Simner did a wonderful job portraying characters and keeping the novel contantly interesting. I had not read Bones of Faerie when I started this, but it didn't take anything from the story and I still thoroughly enjoyed this.
*FTC Disclosure: I received this finished copy from the publisher. I do not receive payment of any kind in exchange for a review. I do not receive monetary compensation from any book links in my review.
Bones of Faerie Janni Lee Simner
Its been a generation since the war between Faerie and us. Although humans won, magic is still everywhere around. Trees attack and crops fight back at harvest time. Magic kills. Magic is dangerous and those born with hints of magic are immediately destroyed. That's what happened to Liza's sister. She had clear hair and silver eyes, so obviously touched by magic.
After her sister is left on the hillside to die, Liza's mother disappears. Then, Liza starts to fear she has abilities and notices a few clear strands in her own hair. She runs away and finds that not everyone deals with magic the same way her town does and that what she has always held as true might not be so.
I loved the idea of a post-apocalyptic dystopian America caused by faeries, though their fate was so much worse. In addition to a great concept and good adventure/quest story, the writing is what truly makes this one special. I'm odd in my fantasy reading and don't always enjoy the genre, and an adventure/quest story isn't something that will automatically draw me in, but the language in this! Oh! The lyrical writing just drew me in and held me there. This was one of the rare books that I slowed down to read, so I could savor every page.
The opening has been quoted several times throughout blogland, so here's something from the second page.
We knew the rules. Don't touch any stone that glows with faerie light, or that light will burn you fiercer than any fire. Don't venture out alone into the dark, or the darkness will swallow you whole. And cast out the magic born among you, before it can turn on its parents.
Towns had died for not understanding that much. My father was a sensible man.
But the memory of my sister's bones, cracked and bloody in the moonlight, haunts me still.Copy from: the library
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This almost always seems to happen to me. I read a bunch of fabulous reviews about a book, wait patiently for it to appear in my hands, and when I finally get to read it, I don't really like it. It's happened again! Bones of Faerie was just disappointing to me. Not necessarily a "bad" book or one I wouldn't recommend to teens, however it did not live up to all the expectations I had after reading the love so many had for it.
It's been over 20 years since the War. The War between the Faeries and humans that destroyed the United States as we know it. Liza is a teen, having grown up believing that magic only kills, it does no good, and any person possessing it must be destroyed. When she discovers the tell-tale silver roots in her hair, meaning she too is one that has some sort of magic, she flees her home, afraid her father will kill her as he did her baby sister.
After almost dying on her journey through the Faerie infested woods, Liza and her traveling companion, Matthew, find shelter in a town where magic is common and not viewed as evil. As Liza gets ahold of her own power, visions, she decides she must go in search of the mother that left her...a long and incredibly dangerous journey that may not even give her the chance to see her mother or give any answers to the millions of questions she has. Oh... she'll probably die. There's that too.
Bones of Faerie held the characteristic of being written about a popular topic right now. Faeries are popping up in books all over and unfortunately, with this particular one, I was left pretty disappointed. I felt Liza was a really flat character, she was whiny at times when she didn't need to be and I had so many questions throughout the entire book that I felt went unanswered. Not a whole lot seemed to happen...it was unfortunately like I was reading just to finish, not because I wanted to. Bummer.
Argue with me if you loved it, maybe I need another point of view again!
To learn more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.
Bones of Faerie
Janni Lee Simner
256 pages
Young Adult
Random House
9780375845635
January 2009
By: Greg Leitich Smith,
on 2/15/2013
By: Jess,
on 4/6/2011
By: Jennie,
on 11/19/2009
By: Amanda,
on 5/10/2009
*nods* I wanted to like this one much more than I actually did... I think for me it was because a lot of stuff seemed to happen or be explained through her visions and I'm just not a big fan of visions/dreams as a device. I did think the setup of the world (magic apocalypse!) was really cool. But, yeah it fell flat for me a little bit.
Me, too, Amanda. I didn't like this one as much as I expected to. I ended up not reviewing it, not because I disliked it, but because I just didn't have that much to say about it. I think it might have been not connecting with the main character, as you mentioned. And a vague feeling that things were being artificially kept from the main character by the other characters.
That is a bummer!! It happens to us all just not everyone is honest about it and I'm glad that you shared your true feelings with us!! thanks!
Well, I won't argue with you :-) Every book always has those who like it and those who don't but I am one of those who *was* really taken with the book. I don't know why. I really liked the characters and it just really was a lot of fun for me. I thought it was different from the norm.
http://back-to-books.blogspot.com/2009/02/32-bones-of-faerie.html
I have the same problem! Not loving books that other people love. I haven't got a copy of this one yet, so I will be curious to see what I think when I get a chance to read it!