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letsgolesbians's review
4.0
This surprised me! It was more suspenseful than I expected, with more danger. It's pretty short, so I think if I do any sort of synopsis I'll end up giving things away, but there's an interracial f/f relationship (which I am all about) and some political discussion about power and nature and technology. The end got kind of dark and made the rest of the book seem not as black and white, and while I don't think Ember plans on writing more, I'd be interested in seeing her team up with a black writer to continue the ideas expressed at the end of the book.
bookdeviant's review
5.0
See more of my reviews on my blog the Book Deviant
Rich, fantastical story
I at once knew that I was going to love this book. I knew because it was a F/F romance, yes, and I also knew because it was fantasy, with unicorns and a WOC, badass main character with a headstrong, beautiful companion.
The idea of taking all of these mythical creatures and putting them in a safari was a feat on its own, and one that was pulled off flawlessly. I believed the whole safari business, and wanted to know more and what each creature that was mentioned was. (And, there being a classification guide in the back really helped).
Mnemba and Kara were an amazing couple as well. While I was at first disappointed that they were more of an insta-love example if anything, I didn't find it as cheesy as I would if it were a male and female, in another stereotypical YA love story. Each character was their own person as well, each unique in their own way. Mnemba had a heartbreaking backstory, one that filled me with passionate anger, and while she was cautious, she was also willing to take risks. Kara, blended perfectly with her, being reckless but extremely caring. Kara was made all the more better when she was described as being 'heavier than fashionable', giving her a more chubby description. And she was proud of that, and Ember didn't go on and say how she struggled with the physical labor and exercise-because she was already fit.
Every character except two were POC. The main couple were both females, AND it was mentioned that it was normal and accepted to sleep with someone of the same gender in the Nazwimbe.
Unfortunately . . .
. . . all perfect things must come to an end.
I was extremely disappointed in seeing how short this novel was when I first got my hands on it. It almost felt as if the story was more or less restricted by a certain amount of pages, and couldn't go over 200. At 180 pages, to me at least, this was an extremely thin and short book.
It almost felt like Ember wanted the book to be longer, that she wanted it to keep going, because for a while, it felt like there might be a book 2 in the making with how close to the end of the book I was getting without the poachers being caught and the problem being resolved. Quickly realizing what happened, I once more realized why a few people had criticisms of this book that had nothing to do with the settings or characters.
The ending was extremely rushed. Ember quickly wrapped up the poacher problem in less then 10 pages, and used the remaining pages to fill up with resolution between Kara and Mnemba, Mnemba and her father and her cousin, and Kara with her father. I found these few pages amusing and sweet, but I was still getting over feeling stiffed with the poacher's ending.
Four and a half stars- Overall?
I greatly enjoyed Unicorn Tracks, and consider it a masterpiece all on it's own. I can't wait to read Julia Ember's upcoming trilogy, Ashes of Gold, which is focused on a genderfluid character named Tashi. This book has only helped but to bolster my excitement, and I have to say that Julia Ember is probably one of my favorite people. Ever.
Would I Recommend?
If you're looking for a unique, quick read fantasy featuring loads of diversity, yes. Go read it. You won't be disappointed.
Rich, fantastical story
I at once knew that I was going to love this book. I knew because it was a F/F romance, yes, and I also knew because it was fantasy, with unicorns and a WOC, badass main character with a headstrong, beautiful companion.
The idea of taking all of these mythical creatures and putting them in a safari was a feat on its own, and one that was pulled off flawlessly. I believed the whole safari business, and wanted to know more and what each creature that was mentioned was. (And, there being a classification guide in the back really helped).
Mnemba and Kara were an amazing couple as well. While I was at first disappointed that they were more of an insta-love example if anything, I didn't find it as cheesy as I would if it were a male and female, in another stereotypical YA love story. Each character was their own person as well, each unique in their own way. Mnemba had a heartbreaking backstory, one that filled me with passionate anger, and while she was cautious, she was also willing to take risks. Kara, blended perfectly with her, being reckless but extremely caring. Kara was made all the more better when she was described as being 'heavier than fashionable', giving her a more chubby description. And she was proud of that, and Ember didn't go on and say how she struggled with the physical labor and exercise-because she was already fit.
Every character except two were POC. The main couple were both females, AND it was mentioned that it was normal and accepted to sleep with someone of the same gender in the Nazwimbe.
Unfortunately . . .
. . . all perfect things must come to an end.
I was extremely disappointed in seeing how short this novel was when I first got my hands on it. It almost felt as if the story was more or less restricted by a certain amount of pages, and couldn't go over 200. At 180 pages, to me at least, this was an extremely thin and short book.
It almost felt like Ember wanted the book to be longer, that she wanted it to keep going, because for a while, it felt like there might be a book 2 in the making with how close to the end of the book I was getting without the poachers being caught and the problem being resolved. Quickly realizing what happened, I once more realized why a few people had criticisms of this book that had nothing to do with the settings or characters.
The ending was extremely rushed. Ember quickly wrapped up the poacher problem in less then 10 pages, and used the remaining pages to fill up with resolution between Kara and Mnemba, Mnemba and her father and her cousin, and Kara with her father. I found these few pages amusing and sweet, but I was still getting over feeling stiffed with the poacher's ending.
Four and a half stars- Overall?
I greatly enjoyed Unicorn Tracks, and consider it a masterpiece all on it's own. I can't wait to read Julia Ember's upcoming trilogy, Ashes of Gold, which is focused on a genderfluid character named Tashi. This book has only helped but to bolster my excitement, and I have to say that Julia Ember is probably one of my favorite people. Ever.
Would I Recommend?
If you're looking for a unique, quick read fantasy featuring loads of diversity, yes. Go read it. You won't be disappointed.
amyjoy's review
4.0
I thought I was going to give this three stars until I started telling a friend about how I *really* liked it and it was *really* good because "there's a tiny baby unicorn and lesbians!" Which pretty much sums it up for me. Also, it's quite short, which I always appreciate.
It's set in an alternate African savanna-sort of place, in, apparently, the late 1800's, which I didn't realize until someone wrote the date down at the very end of the book. I just thought it was ~*fantasy times.*~
It's set in an alternate African savanna-sort of place, in, apparently, the late 1800's, which I didn't realize until someone wrote the date down at the very end of the book. I just thought it was ~*fantasy times.*~
sanewberg's review
4.0
F/F romance, unicorns and other magical creatures, two gals on an adventure together. Definitely my kind of book. Loved the diversity and the action. I also really liked the main character, Mnemba. My only complaint is that it moved a little too fast, and could have benefited from a bit more length. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book.
pip94's review
3.0
*The author was kind enough to send me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.* - so thank you Julia Embers for giving me the opportunity to review your book.
3.5 This was a good YA fantasy book with a lesbian romance. I really liked the setting, the characters and the plot - I loved the use of mythical creatures. It was engaging and enjoyable throughout. I also loved the family dynamics in this book. My one main issue is that it was too short. It is 160 pages long, so that doesn't really allow from a lot of development and leads to an inevitable bit of insta love. I think the author did the romance as well as she could within the small book but with only 160 the plot, romance etc. are going to develop quickly. Overall I really enjoyed it and I would definitely recommend it. If you like fantasy and/or unicorns with a lesbian romance you should check this out.
3.5 This was a good YA fantasy book with a lesbian romance. I really liked the setting, the characters and the plot - I loved the use of mythical creatures. It was engaging and enjoyable throughout. I also loved the family dynamics in this book. My one main issue is that it was too short. It is 160 pages long, so that doesn't really allow from a lot of development and leads to an inevitable bit of insta love. I think the author did the romance as well as she could within the small book but with only 160 the plot, romance etc. are going to develop quickly. Overall I really enjoyed it and I would definitely recommend it. If you like fantasy and/or unicorns with a lesbian romance you should check this out.
galaxies's review
3.0
Unicorn Tracks is a strange little book. Mnemba and Kara are two likable (albeit reckless!) female characters and their romance is kind of sweet. The unicorn plot was strange and a bit confusing at times but easy to breeze through.
What was weird was the modern way characters talked to each other when the story was set at the end of the 19th century. That occasionally took me out of the story.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reade copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Spoiler
I also really appreciated that being queer wasn't a big deal and neither of the two struggled with their feelings in terms of having feelings for another woman.What was weird was the modern way characters talked to each other when the story was set at the end of the 19th century. That occasionally took me out of the story.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reade copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
dani_reviews's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I really, really, REALLY liked this book… I just wish there was MORE of it!
I think, above everything else, my favourite aspect of this book was the world-building. I don’t want to lump all of Africa into one continent; it’s something I personally hate, as South Africa (my country) is a far cry from the other end of the continent, like Morocco. At the same time, I don’t want to say that Nazwimbe was like a specific African country. So I shall just say that the story took place in a sub-Saharan-African-esque country very similar to Tanzania. AND I LOVED IT. One of my favourite things to do when I go home is go on game drives, seeing the kudu and zebra and rhinos and more, grazing on plains and wandering through valleys. Reading Unicorn Tracks made me feel wistful and a bit homesick. Add to that the fantastical creatures, blended in effortlessly, and I was in safari heaven! (Also, bonus points for the creature guide at the end.)
The other aspect of the world that I enjoyed was the contrast of the two societies. Building upon some existing practices and lifestyles, Ember still added her own flair. For example, I thought it was so interesting that people in Kara’s country were paired at birth by an astrologist and had no choice in who they married. On the other hand, no one batted an eyelash at same sex relationships in Mnemba’s country.
My only criticism is that I felt like the book was too short. If a bit longer, the plot could have developed a bit more, and issues could have had some more time to build and resolve. Some hurdles were a little too easily overcome. Conflicts between characters arose on one page only to be pacified a page or two later, when this could have been spread out to really build the emotional connection.
Ending on a positive note, can I just say that the cover is GORGEOUS? This is one of those books that I have to have on my shelf, not just on my Kindle. And so do you!
All I can say is… I can’t wait to see what Ember comes out with next.
I really, really, REALLY liked this book… I just wish there was MORE of it!
I think, above everything else, my favourite aspect of this book was the world-building. I don’t want to lump all of Africa into one continent; it’s something I personally hate, as South Africa (my country) is a far cry from the other end of the continent, like Morocco. At the same time, I don’t want to say that Nazwimbe was like a specific African country. So I shall just say that the story took place in a sub-Saharan-African-esque country very similar to Tanzania. AND I LOVED IT. One of my favourite things to do when I go home is go on game drives, seeing the kudu and zebra and rhinos and more, grazing on plains and wandering through valleys. Reading Unicorn Tracks made me feel wistful and a bit homesick. Add to that the fantastical creatures, blended in effortlessly, and I was in safari heaven! (Also, bonus points for the creature guide at the end.)
The other aspect of the world that I enjoyed was the contrast of the two societies. Building upon some existing practices and lifestyles, Ember still added her own flair. For example, I thought it was so interesting that people in Kara’s country were paired at birth by an astrologist and had no choice in who they married. On the other hand, no one batted an eyelash at same sex relationships in Mnemba’s country.
My only criticism is that I felt like the book was too short. If a bit longer, the plot could have developed a bit more, and issues could have had some more time to build and resolve. Some hurdles were a little too easily overcome. Conflicts between characters arose on one page only to be pacified a page or two later, when this could have been spread out to really build the emotional connection.
Ending on a positive note, can I just say that the cover is GORGEOUS? This is one of those books that I have to have on my shelf, not just on my Kindle. And so do you!
All I can say is… I can’t wait to see what Ember comes out with next.
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
hnmoore's review
5.0
5 stars. Loved the whole story, but especially the mythology and creatures. Fantastic world-building for such a short story (it somehow felt not at all short and way too short at the same time). Will definitely be keeping my eye out for this author in the future.
stolenbybooks's review
4.0
Overall opinion: This was a really fun and interesting read!! Very unique! It’s a young adult fantasy with a lesbian romance in it which you don’t see very often. So when the author, Julia Ember, asked me to read and review her book I was really excited! I have never read anything like this before which made it a unique experience! And I really liked it! :)
Writing: First of all, I really loved the writing style of this book! I had many great and meaningful lines and it really kept you hooked to the story! I love how the author really described the nature and animals with so much detail! It really brought the story to life!
Plot: I really enjoyed the plot as well! I mean Unicorns, romance and poachers!? How can that not be amazing! The plot was really good! It was interesting and very fast-paced. In my opinion it was a little too fast-paced at times which made it a bit less mysterious than it could have been. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good!
Characters: The characters were all amazing!! I really loved Mnemba! She is such a fierce and strong girl! Kara as well! I especially liked them together! My favourite character was Tumelo, Mnemba’s cousin! He was so funny! He could make everyone laugh, even in the most difficult situations! I always love those types of characters! Funny but really loving as well.
Relationships: ahhh the relationships! I absolutely loved the romance story of Mnemba and Kara! Everything was so sweet and genuine! Again, it was a little too fast-paced in my opinion but that’s because the book is so short. It would have been interesting to see how it would have turned out if the book was longer so that there was a little bit more time for the romance to slowly build up. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Mnemba and Tumelo! I loved their conversations! They were always so funny!
World: By far the best part of this book is the world it’s set in! It’s such a rich and interesting world with so many unique creatures. There are unicorns but also phoenixes, chimaeras, mermaids and so much more amazing creatures! The land of Nazwimbe was so mystical and magical! I would definitely travel there if it was real! :)
Layout: Look at that cover!! Isn’t it amazing!! And super unique as well! It is not often that you see a painted cover like that! (at least I have never seen it before :))
Sum-up: So in short, this was a really interesting and mystical read with an amazing and sweet romance between two wonderful characters! I do think it could have been even better if the book was longer but even though it was pretty short it was still really enjoyable and I absolutely loved it! Definitely worth your time! :)
Writing: First of all, I really loved the writing style of this book! I had many great and meaningful lines and it really kept you hooked to the story! I love how the author really described the nature and animals with so much detail! It really brought the story to life!
Plot: I really enjoyed the plot as well! I mean Unicorns, romance and poachers!? How can that not be amazing! The plot was really good! It was interesting and very fast-paced. In my opinion it was a little too fast-paced at times which made it a bit less mysterious than it could have been. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good!
Characters: The characters were all amazing!! I really loved Mnemba! She is such a fierce and strong girl! Kara as well! I especially liked them together! My favourite character was Tumelo, Mnemba’s cousin! He was so funny! He could make everyone laugh, even in the most difficult situations! I always love those types of characters! Funny but really loving as well.
Relationships: ahhh the relationships! I absolutely loved the romance story of Mnemba and Kara! Everything was so sweet and genuine! Again, it was a little too fast-paced in my opinion but that’s because the book is so short. It would have been interesting to see how it would have turned out if the book was longer so that there was a little bit more time for the romance to slowly build up. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Mnemba and Tumelo! I loved their conversations! They were always so funny!
World: By far the best part of this book is the world it’s set in! It’s such a rich and interesting world with so many unique creatures. There are unicorns but also phoenixes, chimaeras, mermaids and so much more amazing creatures! The land of Nazwimbe was so mystical and magical! I would definitely travel there if it was real! :)
Layout: Look at that cover!! Isn’t it amazing!! And super unique as well! It is not often that you see a painted cover like that! (at least I have never seen it before :))
Sum-up: So in short, this was a really interesting and mystical read with an amazing and sweet romance between two wonderful characters! I do think it could have been even better if the book was longer but even though it was pretty short it was still really enjoyable and I absolutely loved it! Definitely worth your time! :)
satrine11's review
4.0
You can also check this review on my blog!
Unicorn Tracks was a very enjoyable read that left me wanting for more. I found the concept of a 19th century safari with real and fantastical creatures very unique and I loved the representation that this book offered. Not only does this feature a positive lesbian relationship, but the couple is also interracial, which is not something we get to see in romance very often. When I finished this short novel, I hesitated between 3 and 4 stars because I thought there was a lot of potential still left to be explored, but I ultimately decided to go with 4 because it was a positive, fun, and creative read that made me smile.
As I said, I wanted more of this story because everything was really great, but the length didn't give it a chance to be the best that it could be. I enjoyed the characters and the worldbuilding, but if the novel had been longer, they would have been fully realized! For example, I definitely wanted to know more about the myths surrounding the unicorns. That being said, I thought that it was still all very well done. The characters had very distinct personalities and their motivations were clear.
Our protagonists, Mnemba and Kara, were both courageous and smart girls, each in their own way. They approach situations differently and complement each other. Sometimes they were too stubborn, but it worked in the story. As for their relationship, I think it was maybe too insta-lovey, but I appreciated that we do get to see it gradually grow. Again, I think this has to be with the length of the book, so I'm not actually complaining about it.
I really liked Mnemba as a narrator.She was smart and sensible, never angsty. She is introduced as a survivor of a brutal sexual assault, which is something that I believe was well incorporated into the story. It was a nice representation, very rare amongst the common uses of rape as a plot device or shock factor.
The plot was intriguing and fast paced. I wanted to see all the incredible creatures, especially the unicorns because they sounded rather mysterious. Learning about the setting and the different traditions was fantastic and I really really hope Julia Ember expands this world in another book someday.
Overall, all the small issues I had with this novel came from its length and how it didn't let it grow as much as I wanted to. Still, as it is, it's a great light read. I found it imaginative, sweet and refreshing and I can't wait to read more from this author!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unicorn Tracks was a very enjoyable read that left me wanting for more. I found the concept of a 19th century safari with real and fantastical creatures very unique and I loved the representation that this book offered. Not only does this feature a positive lesbian relationship, but the couple is also interracial, which is not something we get to see in romance very often. When I finished this short novel, I hesitated between 3 and 4 stars because I thought there was a lot of potential still left to be explored, but I ultimately decided to go with 4 because it was a positive, fun, and creative read that made me smile.
As I said, I wanted more of this story because everything was really great, but the length didn't give it a chance to be the best that it could be. I enjoyed the characters and the worldbuilding, but if the novel had been longer, they would have been fully realized! For example, I definitely wanted to know more about the myths surrounding the unicorns. That being said, I thought that it was still all very well done. The characters had very distinct personalities and their motivations were clear.
Our protagonists, Mnemba and Kara, were both courageous and smart girls, each in their own way. They approach situations differently and complement each other. Sometimes they were too stubborn, but it worked in the story. As for their relationship, I think it was maybe too insta-lovey, but I appreciated that we do get to see it gradually grow. Again, I think this has to be with the length of the book, so I'm not actually complaining about it.
I really liked Mnemba as a narrator.She was smart and sensible, never angsty. She is introduced as a survivor of a brutal sexual assault, which is something that I believe was well incorporated into the story. It was a nice representation, very rare amongst the common uses of rape as a plot device or shock factor.
The plot was intriguing and fast paced. I wanted to see all the incredible creatures, especially the unicorns because they sounded rather mysterious. Learning about the setting and the different traditions was fantastic and I really really hope Julia Ember expands this world in another book someday.
Overall, all the small issues I had with this novel came from its length and how it didn't let it grow as much as I wanted to. Still, as it is, it's a great light read. I found it imaginative, sweet and refreshing and I can't wait to read more from this author!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.