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blewballoon's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Oh dear. I really wanted to like this. I have a nostalgic fondness for the 1982 animated film and I was hoping the book would have the same mesmerizing quality. From my recollection, the film actually follows the story and dialogue pretty accurately, if abbreviated. I wonder if it's this abbreviation that worked for me? The art style of the movie is so striking, and tonally works with the sometimes unnatural, meandering, and riddle-like way the characters often speak. In the text though, it feels like a bit too much. It almost feels like the characters are just reciting segments of nonsense poems like the Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll to each other sometimes, they barely feel like people. The whole book is sort of like reading an epic poem that spends a lot of time describing things rather than on anything happening. Sometimes these descriptions are clever and well-placed, and sometimes they are just slowing an already slow story down. I wish this type of writing worked for me, and I wish I had enjoyed listening to this audiobook, but I know I didn't by how much I actively avoided listening to it. I found myself folding my laundry in silence rather than putting this on. I'm sorry, Peter S. Beagle, for not being able to properly appreciate the whimsy and imagery you cultivated here, and I'm sorry Patrick Rothfuss because your intro to the book was lovely and I wish I felt the same way about it as you do.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, and Confinement
Minor: Animal death, Violence, Blood, and Death
theothergrl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The last unicorn is such a simple but sweet story of courage and love. The characters love each other in the truest sense, not for any role they play, not for any expectation on who they should be, but for the joy or comfort their presence brings. They support and encourage one another, even when it hurts themselves.
I loved the prince's character, he's so devoted to his cause as to be a martyr to what is right. He holds compassion for everyone.
The courage and strength of the unicorn to keep going despite every single adversity is very moving. She is not immune to wavering, she wavers constantly, but she has such a persistent faith.
Thr exploration of emotion and morality in this book is very interesting and done incredibly poetically that it inspires you to look beneath the surface. I really enjoyed that, it made it more fantastical.
I loved the prince's character, he's so devoted to his cause as to be a martyr to what is right. He holds compassion for everyone.
The courage and strength of the unicorn to keep going despite every single adversity is very moving. She is not immune to wavering, she wavers constantly, but she has such a persistent faith.
Thr exploration of emotion and morality in this book is very interesting and done incredibly poetically that it inspires you to look beneath the surface. I really enjoyed that, it made it more fantastical.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Death, and Grief
Minor: Fatphobia
palebluehorse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood and Animal cruelty
Minor: Animal death and Self harm
princesscurio's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I had wanted to read The Last Unicorn for years. Now I have I'm glad to say it was worth the wait! Beagle has such a poetic way with words. It's a delight to read.
What I didn't expect was how funny the book is. Mixed in with the poetry are one-liners and jokes that are so silly and yet not at odds with the overall tone of the story. Utterly fantastic book.
What I didn't expect was how funny the book is. Mixed in with the poetry are one-liners and jokes that are so silly and yet not at odds with the overall tone of the story. Utterly fantastic book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Violence, Animal cruelty, and Confinement
Minor: Fatphobia, War, and Genocide
annablume's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Beautiful writing, was a tread to get through in the 2. half, Characters could habe been more fleshed out
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty and Abandonment
the_bees_books's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
Great for fans of the film!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Gaslighting, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Mental illness, Confinement, and Grief
orchidlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
A timeless classic, what more can I say?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Grief
Minor: Violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Body horror, Alcohol, Murder, Ableism, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
kaziaroo's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Fairy tales aren't really my thing, but this one grew on me as it went on. It has a very wistful, meditative mood which I almost wish I could hold in a bottle to go back to whenever. The atmosphere and visual descriptions, especially of the weather and unicorn, were beautiful and I could visualise it all clearly as if it was in front of me.
At the start, I didn't much like the nonsense rhymes, riddles and silly characters, and I didn't quite feel like I "got" it. But as the book went on and the main characters became more familiar, I enjoyed it a lot more and could appreciate the messages of the story and each character's growth. I love the idea of the unicorn, this perfect creature that lives in blissful blandness, maintaining an idyllic forest yet knowing that nothing is as beautiful as itself, but then being confronted and diluted by humanity with its sharp edges and bitter tastes. On the flipside, we see the humans' different reactions to meeting the unicorn and what that tells us about themselves. It's not quite my favourite, but it's a lovely if bittersweet book which I'm sure I'll revisit and will find fresh richness in upon rereading – and maybe I'll understand it a bit more then too.
At the start, I didn't much like the nonsense rhymes, riddles and silly characters, and I didn't quite feel like I "got" it. But as the book went on and the main characters became more familiar, I enjoyed it a lot more and could appreciate the messages of the story and each character's growth. I love the idea of the unicorn, this perfect creature that lives in blissful blandness, maintaining an idyllic forest yet knowing that nothing is as beautiful as itself, but then being confronted and diluted by humanity with its sharp edges and bitter tastes. On the flipside, we see the humans' different reactions to meeting the unicorn and what that tells us about themselves. It's not quite my favourite, but it's a lovely if bittersweet book which I'm sure I'll revisit and will find fresh richness in upon rereading – and maybe I'll understand it a bit more then too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Grief and Blood
Minor: Animal death and Murder
monicalaurette's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
“I did not know that I was so empty, to be so full.”
As many young children, I once had a large unicorn phase. If we’re being honest I still love unicorns. As this young child in this phase, my aunt introduced me to the cartoon movie The Last Unicorn. I've even done my first cosplay as Molly Grue! However, only about two years ago did I realize that it was based off of a book. So of course I had to purchase it and read it.
Since I love the movie and have seen it so often, I was able to essentially replay the whole movie in my head as I was reading. The scenes & plotlines of the story that were not able to be included in the movie I very much enjoyed and now want a new adaptation that can include those. The curse was so interesting and the backstory of the skeleton & guards was fascinating.
“And the brightness answered her with a bellow like the sound of ice breaking up in the spring.”
The only thing in this book that I didn’t like as much in the movie was Prince Lir, he seemed just annoying and spoiled in this book while in the movie he was more of like a himbo just wanting the pretty girl to say hello to him.
But besides that, I loved it. So much that I’m debating having either a 4.75 or 5 star rating. Each time I think of the book I switch it. All I want to do now is watch the movie and spruce up my Molly cosplay so that it looks better the next time that I go to wear it. But, off to get my copy of the book to my aunt & cousin because they love the movie too and didn’t realize it was based off a book either. Time to spread the love!
“I wonder if any man before us ever thought his time a good time for unicorns.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Violence and Emotional abuse
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