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brenana's review
5.0
I thought this would read kinda childish based on the concept, but I was v pleasantly surprised by the use of language and some of the beautiful sentences. The plot was intriguing, the conflict exciting, and I am more than excited to read the rest of the series.
foggy_rosamund's review
3.0
Unicorns, as fantasy creatures, fascinate me, and this book is an enjoyable adventure in a world populated with dragons, unicorns, and pans (satyrs). Jan, the main character, is a young, hot-headed prince, running wild in the mountains, hiding from ferocious gryphons, little suspecting he is destined to be a hero. The fantasy elements are not unique, but it's nice to read a book that focuses solely on mythological animals, and it's so rare that this feels fresh. My main problem with this novel is that the unicorns feel too much like intelligent horses and not enough like magical creature. In "The Last Unicorn", unquestionably the best unicorn book, the myths and magic surrounding the unicorn are palpable. Whereas this story could work almost as well if it were about mustangs rather than unicorns. However, it's enjoyable, and I'm glad I picked it up.
evergreenashes's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jennswan's review
5.0
I first read this book over thirty years ago, as a young teen, and I couldn’t put it down. All this time later, the memory of the story was fairly vague, but knowing how much I loved it, and discovering that it was the first of a series, piqued my interest in reading it again.
While this edition, at least, has several mistakes that should have been caught in editing, I still feel after rereading it that this book is worthy of a positive review and rating. True to my middle school self, I’m giving it 5 stars, though I would probably choose 4 stars now. Still, a great book from the point of view of a unicorn and his people. I enjoyed the references to the circle, and natural rhythm of nature.
While this edition, at least, has several mistakes that should have been caught in editing, I still feel after rereading it that this book is worthy of a positive review and rating. True to my middle school self, I’m giving it 5 stars, though I would probably choose 4 stars now. Still, a great book from the point of view of a unicorn and his people. I enjoyed the references to the circle, and natural rhythm of nature.
emtees's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book started out feeling like pretty generic fantasy but it did some really interesting things by the end of the story. It is the story of Jan, a young unicorn prince who is rebellious and constantly getting into trouble, disappointing his father. Jan goes off on a pilgrimage with the other young unicorns of his tribe to be initiated as warriors and learn their destinies, and along the way his view of the world gets expanded and complicated, and the story gets more complex.
The thing that initially struck me about this story was the worldbuilding. This is a story with no significant human characters or presence. The main characters are unicorns, and there are also other sentient non-human species - wyverns, gryphons, pans, etc. Though we do eventually learn that humans exist in this world, at this point the story is completely about the animal characters, and the author sets up an interesting world where these creatures all have complicated histories and societies, with tribal divisions and wars between the different species. I especially liked that she made the concept of history just as messy as it is in the real human world - the unicorn Circle Jan belongs to has very specific ideas about their own history and their nature as a species, but over the course of Jan’s journey, those ideas are challenged, and we learn that much of the history is wrong, either because of deliberate lies or because of the degradation of memory. I really liked the handling of those themes; they aren’t simplified at all for a younger audience. As the story progresses, it expands from what seems like a pretty straightforward tale of war between peoples and a destined leader to one with a more nuanced view of destiny, leadership and war and peace. I’m curious to see where it’s going; the last couple of chapters are clearly setting up a story that did not feel complete at all in this book.
The main character, Jan, is likeable, even though he hits a lot of fantasy hero beats (other than, you know, being a unicorn.). But those beats are played out really well, demonstrating that solid execution of tropes can be just as enjoyable as subverting them. This is a Chosen One story - that’s not a spoiler, you learn that in the first chapter - and none of how that reveal happens will be shocking, but a lot of the details are still unique and interesting. Also, the writing itself is really beautiful in some places. A lot of this book felt more like mythology than fantasy, which I mean as a compliment.
The ending of the book has some clumsy info-dumping and deus ex machina execution, as well as a brief POV shift that didn’t work for me. But those are really the only criticism I have.
The thing that initially struck me about this story was the worldbuilding. This is a story with no significant human characters or presence. The main characters are unicorns, and there are also other sentient non-human species - wyverns, gryphons, pans, etc. Though we do eventually learn that humans exist in this world, at this point the story is completely about the animal characters, and the author sets up an interesting world where these creatures all have complicated histories and societies, with tribal divisions and wars between the different species. I especially liked that she made the concept of history just as messy as it is in the real human world - the unicorn Circle Jan belongs to has very specific ideas about their own history and their nature as a species, but over the course of Jan’s journey, those ideas are challenged, and we learn that much of the history is wrong, either because of deliberate lies or because of the degradation of memory. I really liked the handling of those themes; they aren’t simplified at all for a younger audience. As the story progresses, it expands from what seems like a pretty straightforward tale of war between peoples and a destined leader to one with a more nuanced view of destiny, leadership and war and peace. I’m curious to see where it’s going; the last couple of chapters are clearly setting up a story that did not feel complete at all in this book.
The main character, Jan, is likeable, even though he hits a lot of fantasy hero beats (other than, you know, being a unicorn.). But those beats are played out really well, demonstrating that solid execution of tropes can be just as enjoyable as subverting them. This is a Chosen One story - that’s not a spoiler, you learn that in the first chapter - and none of how that reveal happens will be shocking, but a lot of the details are still unique and interesting. Also, the writing itself is really beautiful in some places. A lot of this book felt more like mythology than fantasy, which I mean as a compliment.
The ending of the book has some clumsy info-dumping and deus ex machina execution, as well as a brief POV shift that didn’t work for me. But those are really the only criticism I have.
nannahnannah's review
5.0
Wow, I haven't read this for a long, long time, and I'm glad I reread it now. Meredith Ann Pierce has always been a major inspiration for me, and this book was probably one of my first favorite reads and favorite fantasy books.
At first, things seem a little stilted and awkward, probably because it's written in a very different language style than a lot of books written today (including fantasy - at least most of the ones I've read). :S I don't know that much about books in the 80s, and if there was a defined decade "style", but the book's language seems pretty distinct. Lyrical, evocative, and mesmerizing.
The plot is less amazing (unicorns traveling to somewhere and back, the mystery of the "firebringer" that's actually pretty obvious), but the way the story's told just makes it so beautiful.
At first, things seem a little stilted and awkward, probably because it's written in a very different language style than a lot of books written today (including fantasy - at least most of the ones I've read). :S I don't know that much about books in the 80s, and if there was a defined decade "style", but the book's language seems pretty distinct. Lyrical, evocative, and mesmerizing.
The plot is less amazing (unicorns traveling to somewhere and back, the mystery of the "firebringer" that's actually pretty obvious), but the way the story's told just makes it so beautiful.
bibliomaineiac's review
4.0
Short, enjoyable fantasy tale. The writing was very descriptive, and full of teasers of mystery. A coming-of-age story as well, about feeling caught between what you think you are meant to do, and what is in your heart. Looking forward to reading more in this series.
rxh05d's review
5.0
I accidentally read this trilogy backwards. When I was young, probably in middle school, I read the third book and it enthralled me. I daydreamed about unicorns for months. Several years later I checked out the second book from the library. Then I forgot about it until recently and just found the first book at HPB. I'm delighted to see that the storytelling is as enthralling as I remember.
dandelionfluff's review
5.0
This was an amazing take on unicorns and their magic. I was drawn in and wanted to read the other books as soon as possible!
unicornrhyfedd's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence