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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Another fantastic installment to the Unicorn Chronicles!
This middle grade epic fantasy is such a breath of fresh air! Giving me Lord of the Rings vibes with its high stakes quests and fun cast of magically quirky characters we are introduced to. Along with our unicorns, we’ve got dragons, dwarves, geomancers, gryphons, little troll-like creatures called delvers, and many more!
Even though this is a middle grade series, it really doesn’t feel that way, other than being fast paced and easy to digest. Although the FMC’s age hasn’t been explicitly stated, I’m guessing she’s around 12, and seems very mature for her age.
I enjoyed the twists and poignant revelations in this book, and the evolution of Cara’s relationships with members of her family.
I also love the inclusion of Black characters. You didn’t often see that in fantasy books back when these were published.
This middle grade epic fantasy is such a breath of fresh air! Giving me Lord of the Rings vibes with its high stakes quests and fun cast of magically quirky characters we are introduced to. Along with our unicorns, we’ve got dragons, dwarves, geomancers, gryphons, little troll-like creatures called delvers, and many more!
Even though this is a middle grade series, it really doesn’t feel that way, other than being fast paced and easy to digest. Although the FMC’s age hasn’t been explicitly stated, I’m guessing she’s around 12, and seems very mature for her age.
I enjoyed the twists and poignant revelations in this book, and the evolution of Cara’s relationships with members of her family.
I also love the inclusion of Black characters. You didn’t often see that in fantasy books back when these were published.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just as fun and adventurous as the first book in the series! Deals with the complexity of family bonds, as well as unresolved hatred’s. Can’t wait to read the next one.
Once again I'm trapped within the wonderful world of Luster. I've been reading this series since I was a small girl and I have always felt that this story tapped on my heart. Re-reading this story before continuing onto the next book was a wise choice. Compared to the first book, this book is much more mature and adult. The characters remain the same, but you seem them differently. It's good. It's refreshing. It reminds me of The Harry Potter series because is seems the series matures with time.
I am beyond excited to continue this series (even if it is a "children's series") and I hope that you find as much joy in this story as I always have!
I am beyond excited to continue this series (even if it is a "children's series") and I hope that you find as much joy in this story as I always have!
adventurous
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:
No
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
I didn't have the experience of reading this first as a kid, so my reactions are entirely coming from adult Ashley on this one. I mentioned this in a status update, but having initially read that first book back in 1994, it felt incredibly strange to finally be picking up the thread of the story again after 28 years.
First, my main complaint on this one, and the reason it's getting 3.5 stars (rounded up): I wasn't a huge fan of the writing itself, which felt like it was trying too hard. It didn't feel natural, it felt like Coville was struggling to inhabit this world (which would make sense, as it took him five years to write this fairly short book). A lot of it felt overly formal.
But the story itself, I actually really liked, and I like where it seems to be going. We pick up directly after the events of the first book, with Cara being sent on a mission to retrieve her grandmother from Earth, to finally let the Wanderer return and rest. This means a quest! And traveling and adventure. We meet another dragon, another magician, and learn some more family secrets and lore of this world. I was genuinely surprised by not one but two plot twists in this book, one of which was reminiscent of how I felt as a kid learning that.
The title of the book comes from a song Cara's grandmother, Ivy, used to sing. I actually really liked the lyrics, but still got a bit tired of them when they were repeated so much. I wish he had been a bit more circumspect and subtle about that.
I'm still mostly holding off judgment on Beloved, who we get more of here. She seems a bit over the top for me, and didn't quite work as a villain. I do like the cultish atmosphere she's created, though, with her descendants. It's super creepy. I just wish she read as a bit more human in her motivations.
Hopefully on to books three and four in the fall! I'm holding off so I can read them both back to back. (Book four is out of print and looks like it's going to cost me more than I think it should, oh well!)
[3.5 stars]
First, my main complaint on this one, and the reason it's getting 3.5 stars (rounded up): I wasn't a huge fan of the writing itself, which felt like it was trying too hard. It didn't feel natural, it felt like Coville was struggling to inhabit this world (which would make sense, as it took him five years to write this fairly short book). A lot of it felt overly formal.
But the story itself, I actually really liked, and I like where it seems to be going. We pick up directly after the events of the first book, with Cara being sent on a mission to retrieve her grandmother from Earth, to finally let the Wanderer return and rest. This means a quest! And traveling and adventure. We meet another dragon, another magician, and learn some more family secrets and lore of this world. I was genuinely surprised by not one but two plot twists in this book, one of which was reminiscent of how I felt as a kid learning that
Spoiler
the Hunter was actually Cara's father, and that she was descended from BelovedThe title of the book comes from a song Cara's grandmother, Ivy, used to sing. I actually really liked the lyrics, but still got a bit tired of them when they were repeated so much. I wish he had been a bit more circumspect and subtle about that.
I'm still mostly holding off judgment on Beloved, who we get more of here. She seems a bit over the top for me, and didn't quite work as a villain. I do like the cultish atmosphere she's created, though, with her descendants. It's super creepy. I just wish she read as a bit more human in her motivations.
Hopefully on to books three and four in the fall! I'm holding off so I can read them both back to back. (Book four is out of print and looks like it's going to cost me more than I think it should, oh well!)
[3.5 stars]
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No