The Unicorn’s Tale

Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist #4

by R.L. LaFevers, Kelly Murphy (Illustrator)

Is there no rest for the travel worn and weary? Not if you’re Nathaniel Fludd, the world’s youngest beastologist-in-training! All Nate really wants is to track down his missing parents, but when a unicorn falls mysteriously ill, Nate’s Aunt Phil makes it clear where a beastologist’s duty to the beasts.    And if taking care of the world’s beasts isn’t difficult enough, Nate and Aunt Phil must also keep them safe from the villainous Obediah Fludd, who intends to do them harm. With all this taking up every last bit of his energy and time, will Nate ever find the parents he is so absolutely convinced are alive?

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Unicorns, Young Adult

165 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

R.L. LaFevers (Robin Lorraine when she’s in really big trouble) grew up surrounded by shelves of old dusty books and a passel of brothers. She has also spent a large portion of her life being told she was making up things that weren’t there, which only proves she was destined to write fiction. She is the author of over fourteen books for young readers, including THEODOSIA AND THE SERPENTS OF CHAOS, (Houghton Mifflin, 2007) which received starred reviews and was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Booksense Summer Pick, and nominated for the Malice Domestic’s Agatha Award, and the NATHANIEL FLUDD, BEASTOLOGIST series. R.L. also writes the His Fair Assassin books using her full name, Robin LaFevers, but cannot get Goodreads to link the two, so you have to check out a separate profile for that. So sorry for the inconvenience!

Reviews

[Milliebot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unicorns are always fun to read about. The one in this book, like all the other beasts encountered in the series, has no problem communicating with English speaking humans and I do wish there had been a bit more difficulty in that aspect of the series. I know I’m nitpicking, but these books are cute and enjoyable and so short there’s not much to critique.

As I neared the end of this book, I began to worry. The plot does make some headway towards discovering what might have happened to Nate’s parents, but I knew there was no way it could all be wrapped up. Turns out I was right and yet there are no other books in the series!

In browsing LaFever’s website I found an old update regarding this and her other middle-grade series where she states that she’s not sure if any further books will be published, though she did plan for more. Unfortunately, this series ends on a rather big cliffhanger and while you could persuade yourself to think the author wanted it to be open ended, that’s clearly not the case.

[Fi's Journey · Rating 4 out of 5]

However, while Nate was staring at the Faun, the faun was staring at the dodo. His eyebrows rose up in puzzlement. "Have you brought me a" - he squinted - "a giant duck, then?"

I really enjoyed this series. I think this is the last book but I would actually love to know more about their adventures and If they do find his parents.

I enjoyed their journeys, adventures, meeting different types of creatures and their humour. From the characters I enjoyed Greasle (Gremlin) the most as she is funny and doesn't hold back what she's thinking.

The only criticism I would give is explaining some things like how did that other Unicorn appear in France? That type of Unicorn apparently is only found in Asian countries!

[Anne Patkau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oct 1928 France. Nate 10ish grumbles about news of Obediah, bickers with dodo Cornelius, defended by gremlin Greasle. Meanwhile aunt Dr Phil (really!) investigates dragon in a well. Nate whines constantly, falls for lies. Obediah promises to deliver Nate's parents in exchange for priceless Book of Beasts.

"It seemed kind of rude to just go up and blow in someone's face" p 59. But that is how one greets unicorn Luminesse. I like rounded faces in illustrations, though B & W misses ginger hair villain.

I don't like Nate; Aunt Phil is strong; Greasle is fun. I do like illustrations. I'll keep on with the series. Probably.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’all being a beastologist is 1000x better than being a monstrumologist, or so I’ve learned from picking up The Unicorn’s Tale, the fourth book in RL LaFever’s Nathaniel Fludd: Beastologist series. I sure as hell would much rather deal with a unicorn than an anthropophagi.

Read the rest of my review here

[•abigail• · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much and I finished it quick. I read and finished this before today but I wanted it to count towards my reading goal, because I forgot to write a review for it but I finished it a week prior to this

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved that rhinos are unicorns and the Narnia homage. Full review to come...

There's nothing Nate wants to do more than hunt down his odious cousin Obediah. He needs to find out if this feeling he's having, this hope that his parents are still alive, is justified. Beasts don't matter when he might get his parents back. But what does Aunt Phil do? Pack them all in her little plane, grumbling Dodo included, and head to France to deal with a Guivre! A little water spitting eel like creature that has quickly developed a fondness for soaking Nate. While wrestling with the wee beastie, Aunt Phil gets an urgent message from a Mr. Sylvan that the Unicorn he is the caretaker of is behaving oddly and he needs her help right away. So once again, instead of going back to England and trying to find out where Obediah has secreted himself, Nate is off to tend another creature with his Aunt. Luckily they are close by, and despite Nate's misgivings, Unicorns are pretty cool, especially when they are cared for by fauns! The torso of a man and the legs of a goat. Their arrival is rather later than the worried and harried faun would have liked... but after a good night's sleep they are all up at dawn and trekking into the forest to find Luminessa.

Aunt Phil quickly sees that Luminessa might pose a problem, that's until the unicorn recognizes the little Gremlin Greasle as a fair maiden. Maidens and unicorns go together like bread and butter, even if the maiden could use a bath. Also for the first time ever Phil realizes that perhaps Greasle is of use... diagnosing the unicorn is far easier with the calming influence of Greasle. They make a wonderful discovery and just as they are about to leave the forest to gather supplies, the odious Obediah appears. It is quite convenient to have your enemy show up when you've been wanting to have a bit of a chat... having that enemy show up on the doorstep of a rare and magical beastie... not good at all. Obediah has a deal to strike. Either they comply and not everyone looses, or they resist and he will make all suffer. Working against the clock they have 48 hours in which to foil Obediah and keep all mystical beasts safe from this madman and come out of this with the most precious of prizes.

Nathanial Fludd keeps growing on me. It's not just the message it sends about the preciousness of life and the danger of extinction. But it's the way Robin presents these lessons in a way that is a fabulous narrative with a heartwarming message at the center that is not beat into us or told to us in a condescending manner. I will admit, I did, when younger, have a weakness for unicorns. You can't fault me, I'm a child of the 80s and what with the Serendipity books and rainbows and Pegasuses being everywhere. And yes, there was a short time when I thought that if I wished hard enough I'd get to meet one. Here Robin brings us unicorns in all their glory! And rhinos are unicorns! This made me so happy and brought a smile from ear to ear. The classification of rhinos as unicorns made this a five star book hands down. Though I will admit, that Mr. Sylvan is a close second. He is a wonderful little nod to Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He has a jaunty red scarf and when it says he has an umbrella stand near his fireplace I actually held my breath a little, but of course he keeps forks for roasting bread over the open fire there, not a little umbrella. In the end though, these little joys aren't what make this book the best. What does that is we have significant plot movement on the odious Obediah and the disappearance of Nate's parents. Though it's going to be a painful to wait for the next installment, I want the confrontation with the nasty nanny to be now... but with everything Robin writes, it will be worth the wait.

[Nancy Butts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #4 in the Nathaniel Fludd Beastologist series, and poor R.L. LaFevers: for the second time in a row, it appears that her publishers have cut short a series before she was ready to finish it. [See the four-book Theodosia Throckmorton series.] This book, which was published several years ago in 2011, ends on a cliffhanger, so it’s clearly not the final installment. But it is also clearly the last book Houghton Mifflin intends to publish, which is sad.

[Gloriamarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is clearly a children's story, a chapter book for whatever age group that is. I love magical creatures, the paranormal, science fiction, fantasy and I don;t really care what age group it is aimed at as long as it is entertaining and well-written and that is true for all of the books in this series that are in my local library.

If you love Harry Potter, you will probably love these and might enjoy reading them to kids.

Trigger warning: Nathaniel finds out her is an orphan in the first chapter so if a child has experienced a devastating loss, these books might not be right.

[Jenni Jex · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids adored all four books in the beastologist series and they are so bummed that there is no more. The series ends on a cliffhanger, and the story is just getting really intense with Nate’s parents and we want to know what happens. In case the author ever reads these, my kids are begging her to find another publisher who will let her finish the series. Please, please, please!!!! They promise they will get all their friends to buy them!

[Kasia Olm · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fact that the book does not resolve the story of Nate's parent's disappearance and this is the last book of the series is a huge disappointment. That's the reason for the three stars. Otherwise, the story is fun.

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Obediah Fludd is left to bleed to death on the forest floor having been gorged by an indicus (unicorn)? I never know what to make of children's books that has someone killed and everyone else acts like nothing happened.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Unicorn's Tale is a decent book. I would give this book 3.3 stars.

[Erica Flory · Rating 4 out of 5]

very entertaining series

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathen goes to an interesting place where unicorns exist, but little do they know that shes pregnet and is really unhappy at times....

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so bummed that this was a cliffhanger! It doesn't appear that there are any more books happening. Bummer.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of info about unicorns, but says they are related to rhinos and valued for their horns. Perhaps not good for Suubi.

[Beka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable, quick read.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m bummed that it ends on a cliffhanger. I wish that there was a fifth book. But you can also use your imagination to continue the story yourself in a creative way. Written by Grandson age 8.

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Nathaniel Fludd series by R.L. LaFevers. This book was a great addition to the series and if you have enjoyed previous books you will enjoy this one.

Nathaniel and his Aunt Phil are called to deal with a problematic unicorn. When they get their they find that the unicorn may not have a problem...exactly. Nathaniel is eager to continue on the search for Obediah, in hopes that his parents might actually be alive. He is hoping that somehow the unicorn problem and Obidiah might be connected...and he may be right.

If you have liked the previous books in this series you will enjoy this one. This one doesn't have quite as much adventure as previous books and Nathaniel isn't really forced to deal with large decisions by himself. Because of that Nathaniel doesn't grow a lot as a character in this book. The issue of his missing parents is addressed though, so it was good to get more information on that.

It was fun to learn about the unicorns and their history; Nathaniel is slowly starting to catch on to being a beastologist. The over-arcing story makes some progress but not a ton. Definitely a story aimed at the younger age set, but older readers might enjoy this as a quick and amusing read. The pictures throughout the book are beautiful and add a lot to the story.

Overall, a good addition to the series. It was nice to get more of the story behind Nathaniel's parents, but the story doesn't progress a ton and there isn't quite as much adventure as in previous books. Learning about the unicorn is a lot of fun though and Greasle gets more of a front seat in the story.

[W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will be released in April 2011. I received an electronic copy from the publisher for review.

I have not read the first three books of the series so I’m coming into the story in the middle. In spite of that, I was able to make sense of most of the story. There are some blank spots, which may be covered in earlier books, but they didn’t detract from my being able to follow the story in this book.

Young Nathaniel is a beastologist in training. In fact, he is the youngest one of them all. It’s something his family has done for generations. Only, his parents are missing and he’s stuck with his aunt while she ministers to the world’s mystical beasts instead of helping him find his parents. On top of that, the evil Obediah Fludd may know where they are, and he’s the last person Nathaniel wants to run into.

When the rare unicorn falls mysteriously ill, he and his aunt have to go to her and play doctor. But things get bad when Obediah shows up and tries to trade Nathaniel’s parents for the beast’s.
This book was an easy read, even taking into account it’s meant for a younger audience. The story doesn’t have a lot of depth. It focuses on the main story line almost exclusively except for the occasional mention of the missing parents.

When I first saw the art, I found it equally simplistic. However, after scrutinizing several plates for a while, I decided it was quite masterfully done.

I enjoyed the story, but not enough to search out the other volumes in the series.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unicorn's Tale by R. L. LaFevers, illustrated by Kelly Murphy (2011)

Book 4 in the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series

Since I have already reviewed book 1, book 2 and book 3 of the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series I decided that for book 4 I didn't need to go in depth with background information. SPOILER: I loved all of the books. Much as it pains me to say this, we're really at the point in the series where you have to read the previous books to keep up.

In addition to featuring one of my favorite mythical creatures (I'm on Team Unicorn) this book gets back to basics established in book one. Nathaniel and Aunt Phil stay together for the entire story, Cornelius the Dodo is back. And we learn more about Nate's parents.

The mythological beast story was charming and worked well with the more ongoing story of Nathaniel's missing parents. We are also treated to an excerpt from the Book of Beasts (instead of a glossary) filled with information on the various kinds of unicorns. As usual Murphy's illustrations are gorgeous and add a fun dimension to the story.

I love this series and am kind of obsessed with it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an old fashioned adventure-fantasy for the younger set.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the fourth title in the series, Nate Fludd and his Aunt Phil must fly to the aid of an ailing unicorn who has a secret. Despite his keen interest in learning about caring for magical beasts, Nate is preoccupied with trying to find out the fate of his missing parents. When an evil relative tracks the two of them down, he offers to trade information about the parents for a magical book or the unicorn's horn, reputed to give longevity. The creatures in this imaginative book are unique and appealing, and Nate, despite his natural abilities, seems real and given to fits of temper that seem real, considering his desperation to solve the mystery about his mother and father. He sometimes seems to forget that as a beastologist, the creatures themselves are what should matter most of all. Anyone interested in worlds where magic exists and unusual creatures can be found will enjoy this short title.

[BrocheAroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

In book four, Nathaniel has a lot on his mind. With the hope that his parents might still be alive somewhere, all Nate wants to do is find his traitorous cousin, Obediah Fludd, and make him tell Nate where Nate’s parents are. Unfortunately, Nate’s starting to learn that when you’re a Beastologist (or Beastologist-in-Training), the animals come first.

Four new species of beasts are introduced in this adventure as Nate and Aunt Phil relocate a guivre, meet a faun, and save a unicorn (or two…or three…). When Obediah turns up in the most unexpected way (with the most unexpected companion), it’s time for Nate to once again save the day.

But with all this travel and adventure, how will Nate ever uncover the truth about his parents? Keep reading this series to find out more about how when you’re stuck, sometimes it’s best to go back to the beginning.

[Amy Eye · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth installment of Nathaniel Fludd's journeys brought us to the beautiful and well loved unicorns. The Fludds have documented several different types of unicorns several of which the Fludds have recorded and never seen again. But when Nate and his aunt trek out to help a unicorn in need, will Nate find the clues he needs in order to save his parents?

This is a cute story for any child who is interested in the fantastic world. It will introduce or make them a little more familiar with all sorts of fantastic beasts. This was a fun story, and leaves plenty of mystery to make the young readers wait in anticipation for the next book!! The action in this book is appropriate for a younger crowd, keeps the plot moving along without being scary for younger readers.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun addition, and the fourth book in the Nathaniel Fludd series. Nate, filled with hope that his parents might actually be alive, can't understand why his Aunt Phil isn't rushing off to find them. Instead, she is continuing her job as a beastologist and taking care of rare creatures. However, when a unicorn gets ill, not only does he have to wait longer for his search, but their evil relative Obediah shows up to cause trouble once again.

A very fun chapter book, especially good for 2nd or 3rd graders. Enough adventure to create suspense, but nothing to scary. My daughter loved it.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! Book 4 had the "what" the other three books where lacking. It was frustrating that Nathaniel Fludd had gone so many books with out any answers or even clues to the whereabouts of his parents. It killed me each book that he didn't open up the suitcase he has had in his closet since book 1 from his caregiver, Miss. Lumpton, an obvious person of interest for information about his parents. Nathaniel is starting to loose his patience with the waiting and has started to demand some answers. Really enjoyed this one, can't wait for book 5.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Nathaniel Fludd: Beastologist series, things are really picking up. Nate has some difficult decisions to make, he learns that his parents loved him very much and wanted him to join them, but for reasons unknown was never given their many letters by his governess who has since disappeared. Phil and Nate's odious cousin returns to wreak havoc as they care for a unicorn about to foal the first baby unicorn in decades. Also, Greasle gets an opportunity to be very helpful and earns Aunt Phil's respect and her place within the household of Fludd. Fun, enjoyable read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn read this one to me, and I will give it a 3.5 stars. Her books are very well written and entertaining. Great humour, fun story. Nate and Aunt Phil are great. Our beef with the book is the fact that it is book #4 in a series...his parents are presumed dead...he finds out they are likely alive in this one and they make plans to go search for them...and she hasn't written any more books. And it's been 4 years! You can't leave little kids (and their moms) hanging like that! Where are his parents???

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nate Fludd is getting closer to solving the mystery of what happened to his parents and meeting very interesting beasts on his way.

Unicorns! UNICORNS! Ethereal dreams of purity and healing. . . This is another book that I'd love to read aloud to 3rd or 4th graders. I would be jealous of having to let another teacher read one of the chapters in this book because of the gorgeous description of the unicorn.

I love these books and now I want to know when book 5 is coming out.

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this is it for the books that are currently out (as of February 2012) for the Nathaniel Fludd series, and I am excited to say there is more to come.

The books increasingly get better as the series goes on. The writing, once again, was spot on in terms of my expectations for children's books (thank you Ms. LaFevers for not writing dumbed down literature!!) and the storyline took an unexpected turn. I can't wait to see what is in store for Nate and his family!