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The Last Unicorn #1.5 & 1.6
The Way Home
My father cleared his throat. He began to say, "They took her," but he never got past the first word, and had to start again. He said finally, "The Dreamies took her. She went with the Dreamies."
Sooz was an extraordinary little girl.
She grew into an extraordinary woman, with a gift given to her by a unicorn, after a battle with a griffin.
The gift is more precious than she could have imagined but sets her on a dangerous path to rescue the sister she never knew she had from a land to which humans never go.
But Sooz is no ordinary human. She may not be human at all.
The one thing this changeling child does know is love, and courage.
Combining the Hugo award-winning novelette Two Hearts with brand new story Sooz, The Way Home returns us to the world of The Last Unicorn. Peter S. Beagle brings the same humanity, poignancy and wisdom that makes his writing so magical.
Sooz was an extraordinary little girl.
She grew into an extraordinary woman, with a gift given to her by a unicorn, after a battle with a griffin.
The gift is more precious than she could have imagined but sets her on a dangerous path to rescue the sister she never knew she had from a land to which humans never go.
But Sooz is no ordinary human. She may not be human at all.
The one thing this changeling child does know is love, and courage.
Combining the Hugo award-winning novelette Two Hearts with brand new story Sooz, The Way Home returns us to the world of The Last Unicorn. Peter S. Beagle brings the same humanity, poignancy and wisdom that makes his writing so magical.
216 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2023
190 people are currently reading
11244 people want to read
About the author
Peter S. Beagle
221 books3,879 followersPeter Soyer Beagle (born April 20, 1939) is an American fantasist and author of novels, nonfiction, and screenplays. He is also a talented guitarist and folk singer. He wrote his first novel, A Fine and Private Place , when he was only 19 years old. Today he is best known as the author of The Last Unicorn, which routinely polls as one of the top ten fantasy novels of all time, and at least two of his other books (A Fine and Private Place and I See By My Outfit) are considered modern classics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
April 14, 2023
I picked up The Way Home because I absolutely adored The Last Unicorn when I finally read it for the very first time back in January. So I had high hopes for The Way Home. Very, very high.
Those hopes were, unfortunately, only partially met, and I’m more than a bit sad about that.
The Way Home is not a single story as The Last Unicorn was, although it is set in the same world. Rather, this is two stories, the previously published Hugo Award winning novelette, “Two Hearts”, and the new and more recently written novella “Sooz”.
Sooz is the protagonist of both stories. In “Two Hearts”, she’s a nine-year-old girl, but by the time of her own story, she’s seventeen and on her first solo adventure as part of her passage into adulthood.
I have a lot, and a lot of good things, to say about “Two Hearts”, but less and not so much about “Sooz”. So I’m going to start at the end, with “Sooz”.
As a story – as opposed to the character – “Sooz” did not work for me. While I was not expecting a happy ending, as this world tends toward bittersweet on the happiness scale, I was expecting this story to feel like it was part of the continuum from The Last Unicorn through “Two Hearts”, which features Sooz as a child, to Sooz’ own story.
But it didn’t.
It’s very much a coming of age and finding your identity story, and a story about learning that your parents – and yourself – are not exactly who you thought either you or they were, and dealing with that knowledge. It’s also a quest story, as Sooz takes herself off to the Fae Lands to find the lost sister that she never knew she had.
As a story, it felt like the themes had been dealt with before – and dealt with better. Beginning Sooz’ journey with a gratuitous – but at least not overly graphic – rape scene did not endear me to the rest of the story. Sooz was already experiencing plenty of angst, her rape read like piling on for no good reason except that she was a lone female and had to experience all the dangers of that state possible.
I’m up on a soapbox, I know. Because it just felt like sloppy storytelling. There is the potential for plenty of angst in the female experience, even in fantasy, without raping the audience surrogate. (I’ll climb down now before the soapbox gets any taller.)
I dragged myself through “Sooz” in the hopes that it would get better. I’m not sure whether I didn’t feel like it did or just couldn’t get the awful taste out of my mouth (so to speak)
But I want to end this review on a higher note than I started, so let’s switch to the book’s opening story, the award-winning “Two Hearts”.
Where “Sooz” read as if it was barely connected to the world of The Last Unicorn, “Two Hearts” read like a combination of coda and swan song to the beloved classic. It’s the ending that the reader knows was out there, somewhere, at the end of The Last Unicorn, both dreaded and inevitable and so, so right.
Young Sooz’ village is being ravaged by a griffin who has graduated from taking sheep and goats to snatching children. The king has sent increasing numbers of men at arms to slay the griffin, but to no avail. Sooz runs away to fetch the king himself to take care of her people, who are, of course, his people. Along the way she runs into Schmendrick the Magician and his partner, Molly Grue. It’s been a LONG time since Schmendrick and Molly have been to the castle to see their friend, King Lir, so they decide to escort Sooz on her way.
The years that have passed lightly over the magician and his partner have not been kind to the purely human King Lir, and neither has Lir’s lifelong devotion to the unicorn Amalthea. But he rouses himself for one last quest, one last job that he knows is his and his alone. He goes with his friends, and Sooz, to slay the griffin.
“Two Hearts” is a beautiful story because it fits right into the world of The Last Unicorn with all of its lyrical language and utter heartbreak, and sits right on top of the pillar of “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”.
I got a little weepy anyway. The ending is the right ending, the necessary ending. It’s the perfect swan song for an immortal hero in a mortal’s body.
In short, “Two Hearts” is a marvelous, if heartbreaking ending for the beloved classic, The Last Unicorn. “Sooz” read like more of an afterthought, or an attempt to get the lightning back in the bottle one last time.
So the Escape Ratings on this book are very much split. “Sooz” was a dragging D of a read, while “Two Hearts” was a tear-spattered A+.
Originally published at Reading Reality
Those hopes were, unfortunately, only partially met, and I’m more than a bit sad about that.
The Way Home is not a single story as The Last Unicorn was, although it is set in the same world. Rather, this is two stories, the previously published Hugo Award winning novelette, “Two Hearts”, and the new and more recently written novella “Sooz”.
Sooz is the protagonist of both stories. In “Two Hearts”, she’s a nine-year-old girl, but by the time of her own story, she’s seventeen and on her first solo adventure as part of her passage into adulthood.
I have a lot, and a lot of good things, to say about “Two Hearts”, but less and not so much about “Sooz”. So I’m going to start at the end, with “Sooz”.
As a story – as opposed to the character – “Sooz” did not work for me. While I was not expecting a happy ending, as this world tends toward bittersweet on the happiness scale, I was expecting this story to feel like it was part of the continuum from The Last Unicorn through “Two Hearts”, which features Sooz as a child, to Sooz’ own story.
But it didn’t.
It’s very much a coming of age and finding your identity story, and a story about learning that your parents – and yourself – are not exactly who you thought either you or they were, and dealing with that knowledge. It’s also a quest story, as Sooz takes herself off to the Fae Lands to find the lost sister that she never knew she had.
As a story, it felt like the themes had been dealt with before – and dealt with better. Beginning Sooz’ journey with a gratuitous – but at least not overly graphic – rape scene did not endear me to the rest of the story. Sooz was already experiencing plenty of angst, her rape read like piling on for no good reason except that she was a lone female and had to experience all the dangers of that state possible.
I’m up on a soapbox, I know. Because it just felt like sloppy storytelling. There is the potential for plenty of angst in the female experience, even in fantasy, without raping the audience surrogate. (I’ll climb down now before the soapbox gets any taller.)
I dragged myself through “Sooz” in the hopes that it would get better. I’m not sure whether I didn’t feel like it did or just couldn’t get the awful taste out of my mouth (so to speak)
But I want to end this review on a higher note than I started, so let’s switch to the book’s opening story, the award-winning “Two Hearts”.
Where “Sooz” read as if it was barely connected to the world of The Last Unicorn, “Two Hearts” read like a combination of coda and swan song to the beloved classic. It’s the ending that the reader knows was out there, somewhere, at the end of The Last Unicorn, both dreaded and inevitable and so, so right.
Young Sooz’ village is being ravaged by a griffin who has graduated from taking sheep and goats to snatching children. The king has sent increasing numbers of men at arms to slay the griffin, but to no avail. Sooz runs away to fetch the king himself to take care of her people, who are, of course, his people. Along the way she runs into Schmendrick the Magician and his partner, Molly Grue. It’s been a LONG time since Schmendrick and Molly have been to the castle to see their friend, King Lir, so they decide to escort Sooz on her way.
The years that have passed lightly over the magician and his partner have not been kind to the purely human King Lir, and neither has Lir’s lifelong devotion to the unicorn Amalthea. But he rouses himself for one last quest, one last job that he knows is his and his alone. He goes with his friends, and Sooz, to slay the griffin.
“Two Hearts” is a beautiful story because it fits right into the world of The Last Unicorn with all of its lyrical language and utter heartbreak, and sits right on top of the pillar of “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”.
I got a little weepy anyway. The ending is the right ending, the necessary ending. It’s the perfect swan song for an immortal hero in a mortal’s body.
In short, “Two Hearts” is a marvelous, if heartbreaking ending for the beloved classic, The Last Unicorn. “Sooz” read like more of an afterthought, or an attempt to get the lightning back in the bottle one last time.
So the Escape Ratings on this book are very much split. “Sooz” was a dragging D of a read, while “Two Hearts” was a tear-spattered A+.
Originally published at Reading Reality
December 23, 2023
This compilation includes two novellas that take place in the world of The Last Unicorn and includes many of the same characters in the first story called Two Hearts. Two Hearts was the best of the two and is really exceptional. Sooz is a nine year old girl whose small village is being decimated by a Griffin. The monster steals and eats children every night. When Sooz's best friend. Felicitas, is killed, she decides to go implore the king to come kill it.
On the way, Sooz meets Shmendrick the magician and Molly Grue who are also on their way to see King Lir. The king has grown old and neglects his duty, but is happy to take on this quest. As in The Last Unicorn, not everything goes to plan and much suffering awaits them.
The other novella, is called Sooz and relates her adventure when she is a teenager of seventeen. Molly Grue has taught her a song to sing in the forest by herself that is to upend her world and send her on a dangerous journey. I didn't like this story too much and would give it a two as a standalone. Five stars for Two Hearts and two for Sooz, rounded up to four overall, because Two Hearts is so wonderful.
On the way, Sooz meets Shmendrick the magician and Molly Grue who are also on their way to see King Lir. The king has grown old and neglects his duty, but is happy to take on this quest. As in The Last Unicorn, not everything goes to plan and much suffering awaits them.
The other novella, is called Sooz and relates her adventure when she is a teenager of seventeen. Molly Grue has taught her a song to sing in the forest by herself that is to upend her world and send her on a dangerous journey. I didn't like this story too much and would give it a two as a standalone. Five stars for Two Hearts and two for Sooz, rounded up to four overall, because Two Hearts is so wonderful.
April 8, 2023
3.5 Stars
The Last Unicorn is one of my all time favorite fantasy stories. I love the novel and the animated movie adaptation. So I was thrilled to learn that the author returned to the world with these two novellas.
These two novellas are interlinked, following the same characters. I enjoyed seeing several of the key characters again, but I did not consider the stories themselves to be the most interesting aspect of the world to explore. Personally I would have loved to see a backstory to the Red Bull or King Haggard (I like villains).
I would recommend this one to die hard fans of the Last Unicorn. You will want to spend more time in the world with your favourite side characters. You will want to read the full length novel before reading these.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
The Last Unicorn is one of my all time favorite fantasy stories. I love the novel and the animated movie adaptation. So I was thrilled to learn that the author returned to the world with these two novellas.
These two novellas are interlinked, following the same characters. I enjoyed seeing several of the key characters again, but I did not consider the stories themselves to be the most interesting aspect of the world to explore. Personally I would have loved to see a backstory to the Red Bull or King Haggard (I like villains).
I would recommend this one to die hard fans of the Last Unicorn. You will want to spend more time in the world with your favourite side characters. You will want to read the full length novel before reading these.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
July 30, 2023
Stop using r*pe as a plot device!
There will be spoilers.
.
.
.
.
.
I loved The Last Unicorn. I loved Two Hearts! I did not love the pretentious drivel that was The Way Home. And it was mostly because the main character was gang raped by four fairies, then it became an integral part of her personality, because she is very much written by a man.
Hate to break it to you sweetie, but a penis--let alone four--does not fundamentally change a woman. We don't "fall asleep every night for the rest of our lives seeing their faces". To be perfectly honest with you, I can barely remember the men who have assaulted me! It's been years since, and I rarely see their faces in my head anymore. Sure, I get triggered sometimes, and thanks to PTSD the Nice Man in the room shuffled too fast and I saw The Bad Man instead, but other than that... Healing happens, ya'll! And it takes ages!
Basically, this girl wonders around the forest, gets tortured in every way by fae, then walks back home. It's trippy, but I've read better second hand acid trips.
Don't bother buying it in hardcover. Borrow it from a library. Thank God I did.
There will be spoilers.
.
.
.
.
.
I loved The Last Unicorn. I loved Two Hearts! I did not love the pretentious drivel that was The Way Home. And it was mostly because the main character was gang raped by four fairies, then it became an integral part of her personality, because she is very much written by a man.
Hate to break it to you sweetie, but a penis--let alone four--does not fundamentally change a woman. We don't "fall asleep every night for the rest of our lives seeing their faces". To be perfectly honest with you, I can barely remember the men who have assaulted me! It's been years since, and I rarely see their faces in my head anymore. Sure, I get triggered sometimes, and thanks to PTSD the Nice Man in the room shuffled too fast and I saw The Bad Man instead, but other than that... Healing happens, ya'll! And it takes ages!
Basically, this girl wonders around the forest, gets tortured in every way by fae, then walks back home. It's trippy, but I've read better second hand acid trips.
Don't bother buying it in hardcover. Borrow it from a library. Thank God I did.
January 2, 2023
I applaud the publisher's and Beagle's decision (and whoever else was involved) to republish "Two Hearts", the 2007 Hugo and Nebula award winning short story sequel to The Last Unicorn, here to accompany the novella "Sooz". ("Two Hearts" was previously published in The Line Between.) "Sooz" could stand on its own, but reading it directly after "Two Hearts" made the experience more special and exciting. As a lifelong fan of his 1968 classic, The Last Unicorn, I was thrilled to learn about this book, and Beagle wonderfully delivered. He is a master at writing fantasy that captures the reader and feels like it could even happen in our world while clearly being set in another. The hero's journey aspect through both the short story and novella gave me a fond remembrance of Schmendrick and Molly Grue's original journey all that time ago. Admittedly, I did not expect a story of the fae from Beagle, but it feels strongly his at the core and not like simply another faerie retelling.
This book is especially for fans of The Last Unicorn but can also appeal to readers that like stories about finding your way home again and the importance of home and family. The Way Home CAN be read without having read Beagle's first unicorn tale, because he expertly recounts necessary bits of that through Sooz's narrations. I will absolutely buy a physical copy of this and have already preordered it.
Much thanks to Berkley Books within PRH and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a very anticipated book of mine early as E-ARC.
This book is especially for fans of The Last Unicorn but can also appeal to readers that like stories about finding your way home again and the importance of home and family. The Way Home CAN be read without having read Beagle's first unicorn tale, because he expertly recounts necessary bits of that through Sooz's narrations. I will absolutely buy a physical copy of this and have already preordered it.
Much thanks to Berkley Books within PRH and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a very anticipated book of mine early as E-ARC.
January 11, 2023
Because Peter S. Beagle, that's why.
Always with the bittersweet endings that leave me somewhere between wonder and tears.
Thank you Netgally and Edelweiss for the ARC.
Always with the bittersweet endings that leave me somewhere between wonder and tears.
Thank you Netgally and Edelweiss for the ARC.
March 2, 2023
The first story was wonderful, the second I struggled through.
April 26, 2023
Als Fan von Das letzte Einhorn hat es mich natürlich sehr gefreut, dass die Fortsetzungsgeschichte jetzt endlich auch im deutschen erscheint.
Allerdings beinhaltet das Buch auch die Kurzgeschichte
"Zwei Herzen"
die auch schon in einigen Ausgaben von Das letzte Einhorn abgedruckt war. Es geht hier um die kleine Sooz, deren Dorf von einem Greifen angegriffen wird, der immer wieder Kinder stiehlt. Mit dem Mut der Verzweiflung macht sich Sooz auf zum Schloss des Königs, um ihn um Hilfe zu bitten.
In dieser Geschichte treffen wir die bekannten Figuren Molly Grue und den Zauberer Schmendrick wieder, die der kleinen Sooz auf ihrem abenteuerlichen Weg helfen.
Sooz erzählt in sehr liebenswerter Weise aus ihrer Sicht eines Kindes und man verfolgt ihre Hoffnung und bewundert ihren Mut, sich einfach auf den Weg zu machen. Noch nie ist sie bisher aus ihrem Dorf herausgekommen und klammert sich an die Vorstellung eines wackeren, tapferen Königs, der ihr im Kampf gegen den Greifen beistehen wird und die Menschen keine Angst mehr haben müssen.
König Lír allerdings ist nicht das, was die kleine Sooz sich erhofft hatte. Eine bedrückende Einsamkeit umgibt ihn, eine Traurigkeit ob des Verlorenen. Nie konnte er die wunderschöne Lady Amalthea vergessen und dieser Verlust quält ihn noch immer... Doch er war auch ein Held, ein unbesiegbarer Held und das kleine Mädchen holt ihn mit seiner Bitte aus seiner Lethargie.
Eine wunderschöne Kurzgeschichte mit Sinn fürs Abenteuer und dem Entfliehen der Trauer, in dem man zur Tat schreitet weil man gebraucht wird.
Diese Geschichte kannte ich schon, hab sie aber gerne nochmal gelesen und sie hat mir sogar noch besser gefallen als das erste Mal. Es war auch eine gute Einstimmung auf die folgende Geschichte:
➹➹➹➹➹➹➹➹➹➹➹
"Sooz"
Mittlerweile ist Sooz 17 geworden und kann sich noch sehr gut an das Abenteuer mit König Lír, Molly Grue und dem Zauberer Schwendrick erinnern; vor allem an die Vorhersage, dass sie an ihrem 17. Geburtstag jemandem begegnen wird, ohne zu wissen, wer das sein könnte.
Es ist eine traurige, von Melancholie durchtränkte Geschichte. Diese sanfte Wehmut und ja, auch die Trostlosigkeit kennt man ja schon - gerade Das letzte Einhorn ist ja trotz witziger Einlagen sehr von Leid geprägt. Hier geht es jetzt aber eher um die Bande zur Familie, die auf verstörende Weise in Frage gestellt werden. Aber auch um eine ungewöhnliche Freundschaft, um Verlust und Trauer - und Sooz muss all ihren Mut und ihre Beharrlichkeit durchsetzen, um sich auf die Suche zu machen.
So richtig begeistern konnte mich dieses Abenteuer leider nicht. Während man Sooz durch das Feenland begleitet kriecht einem die trostlose und eintönige Szenerie unter die Haut und mir hat ein bisschen der feine Humor gefehlt oder auch das märchenhafte Abenteuer, dieses Gefühl einer zwar unterschwellig traurigen Geschichte, die aber dennoch ihre schönen Momente hat.
Auch fand ich einen Vorfall, der so überhaupt nicht in eine Kindergeschichte passt, völlig überflüssig.
Auch wenn Sooz ja mittlerweile 17 ist, hab ich vom Gefühl und vom Stil her nicht mit einer so schwermütigen Geschichte gerechnet, die dann schon eher für Jugendliche bzw. Erwachsene ist.
Die Idee des Feenreiches und dem alten Mythos des Wechselbalgs fand ich originell umgesetzt. Da passt dieses düstere und unheimliche sehr gut, auch wenn man sogar noch etwas mehr herausholen hätte können. Es war schon sehr auf Sooz und ihre Begleitung fixiert, dabei wäre da noch einiges Potenzial gewesen, denn das Gefühl für diese heimtückischen Figuren, die man nicht einschätzen kann, war schon sehr faszinierend.
Insgesamt konnte ich nicht so eintauchen wie erhofft und hatte einfach völlig andere Erwartungen an diese Geschichte.
Weltenwanderer
Allerdings beinhaltet das Buch auch die Kurzgeschichte
"Zwei Herzen"
die auch schon in einigen Ausgaben von Das letzte Einhorn abgedruckt war. Es geht hier um die kleine Sooz, deren Dorf von einem Greifen angegriffen wird, der immer wieder Kinder stiehlt. Mit dem Mut der Verzweiflung macht sich Sooz auf zum Schloss des Königs, um ihn um Hilfe zu bitten.
In dieser Geschichte treffen wir die bekannten Figuren Molly Grue und den Zauberer Schmendrick wieder, die der kleinen Sooz auf ihrem abenteuerlichen Weg helfen.
Sooz erzählt in sehr liebenswerter Weise aus ihrer Sicht eines Kindes und man verfolgt ihre Hoffnung und bewundert ihren Mut, sich einfach auf den Weg zu machen. Noch nie ist sie bisher aus ihrem Dorf herausgekommen und klammert sich an die Vorstellung eines wackeren, tapferen Königs, der ihr im Kampf gegen den Greifen beistehen wird und die Menschen keine Angst mehr haben müssen.
König Lír allerdings ist nicht das, was die kleine Sooz sich erhofft hatte. Eine bedrückende Einsamkeit umgibt ihn, eine Traurigkeit ob des Verlorenen. Nie konnte er die wunderschöne Lady Amalthea vergessen und dieser Verlust quält ihn noch immer... Doch er war auch ein Held, ein unbesiegbarer Held und das kleine Mädchen holt ihn mit seiner Bitte aus seiner Lethargie.
Eine wunderschöne Kurzgeschichte mit Sinn fürs Abenteuer und dem Entfliehen der Trauer, in dem man zur Tat schreitet weil man gebraucht wird.
Diese Geschichte kannte ich schon, hab sie aber gerne nochmal gelesen und sie hat mir sogar noch besser gefallen als das erste Mal. Es war auch eine gute Einstimmung auf die folgende Geschichte:
➹➹➹➹➹➹➹➹➹➹➹
"Sooz"
Mittlerweile ist Sooz 17 geworden und kann sich noch sehr gut an das Abenteuer mit König Lír, Molly Grue und dem Zauberer Schwendrick erinnern; vor allem an die Vorhersage, dass sie an ihrem 17. Geburtstag jemandem begegnen wird, ohne zu wissen, wer das sein könnte.
Es ist eine traurige, von Melancholie durchtränkte Geschichte. Diese sanfte Wehmut und ja, auch die Trostlosigkeit kennt man ja schon - gerade Das letzte Einhorn ist ja trotz witziger Einlagen sehr von Leid geprägt. Hier geht es jetzt aber eher um die Bande zur Familie, die auf verstörende Weise in Frage gestellt werden. Aber auch um eine ungewöhnliche Freundschaft, um Verlust und Trauer - und Sooz muss all ihren Mut und ihre Beharrlichkeit durchsetzen, um sich auf die Suche zu machen.
So richtig begeistern konnte mich dieses Abenteuer leider nicht. Während man Sooz durch das Feenland begleitet kriecht einem die trostlose und eintönige Szenerie unter die Haut und mir hat ein bisschen der feine Humor gefehlt oder auch das märchenhafte Abenteuer, dieses Gefühl einer zwar unterschwellig traurigen Geschichte, die aber dennoch ihre schönen Momente hat.
Auch fand ich einen Vorfall, der so überhaupt nicht in eine Kindergeschichte passt, völlig überflüssig.
Auch wenn Sooz ja mittlerweile 17 ist, hab ich vom Gefühl und vom Stil her nicht mit einer so schwermütigen Geschichte gerechnet, die dann schon eher für Jugendliche bzw. Erwachsene ist.
Die Idee des Feenreiches und dem alten Mythos des Wechselbalgs fand ich originell umgesetzt. Da passt dieses düstere und unheimliche sehr gut, auch wenn man sogar noch etwas mehr herausholen hätte können. Es war schon sehr auf Sooz und ihre Begleitung fixiert, dabei wäre da noch einiges Potenzial gewesen, denn das Gefühl für diese heimtückischen Figuren, die man nicht einschätzen kann, war schon sehr faszinierend.
Insgesamt konnte ich nicht so eintauchen wie erhofft und hatte einfach völlig andere Erwartungen an diese Geschichte.
Weltenwanderer
March 15, 2024
The first story, Two Hearts, was alright, but Sooz was incredibly disappointing (and enraging).
***TRIGGER WARNING***
There is a rape in the story Sooz. It is, in my opinion, completely unnecessary and cruel. It came out of nowhere, and was often mentioned throughout the rest of the confusing story. I'm upset, as this was a follow-up I was excited to read, as The Last Unicorn is a childhood favourite story of mine.
Incredibly disappointed and angry that I picked this one up. I was looking forward to reading more of Beagle's works but may not continue now.
***TRIGGER WARNING***
There is a rape in the story Sooz. It is, in my opinion, completely unnecessary and cruel. It came out of nowhere, and was often mentioned throughout the rest of the confusing story. I'm upset, as this was a follow-up I was excited to read, as The Last Unicorn is a childhood favourite story of mine.
Incredibly disappointed and angry that I picked this one up. I was looking forward to reading more of Beagle's works but may not continue now.
May 25, 2023
I still can't find The Last Unicorn book, so I tried two novellas from the same universe. In my latest BookTube review, I go into why I gave it 3.5/5 stars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXdKo...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXdKo...
January 15, 2026
Audiobook (5.5 hours) narrated by Orlagh Cassidy
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Orlagh Cassidy expertly narrates these two short stories, whisking us away into the land of The Last Unicorn.
The audio is flawless.
I picked up this book on an Audible sale due to it being a new book by Peter S. Beagle in the world of The Last Unicorn.
While the world is already set, Beagle gives enough details to bring everyone in, new readers as well as those returning from a time long ago. The characters are very much fable, fairy tale, fantasy.
Two beautiful stories. I am happy that I purchased this one as I will revisit this one again.
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Orlagh Cassidy expertly narrates these two short stories, whisking us away into the land of The Last Unicorn.
The audio is flawless.
I picked up this book on an Audible sale due to it being a new book by Peter S. Beagle in the world of The Last Unicorn.
While the world is already set, Beagle gives enough details to bring everyone in, new readers as well as those returning from a time long ago. The characters are very much fable, fairy tale, fantasy.
Two beautiful stories. I am happy that I purchased this one as I will revisit this one again.
April 8, 2023
Five stars for "Two Hearts" and three stars for "Sooz" average out to four. "Two Hearts" remains a perfect sequel and a perfect revisiting of my friends, even if it breaks my heart every time. "Sooz" is a story about finding out who you are, and it is good, but. But.
...I wish Sooz hadn't been raped. I wish Mr. Beagle hadn't been yet another author who decided that their female character needed some excess trauma. It's not graphic, Sooz has support in the aftermath...but it wasn't needed as part of the story, I hate it as I hate every time it happens in fiction (and nonfiction/RL), and I wish it hadn't happened.
...I wish Sooz hadn't been raped. I wish Mr. Beagle hadn't been yet another author who decided that their female character needed some excess trauma. It's not graphic, Sooz has support in the aftermath...but it wasn't needed as part of the story, I hate it as I hate every time it happens in fiction (and nonfiction/RL), and I wish it hadn't happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2024
Two short stories set in the world of Peter S. beagle’s the Last Unicorn. The first one is pretty good and has Molly and Schmendrick in a portion of it. Plus it brings to close the final story of the king. A key piece of the universe and overall story of our beloved characters (even if it’s not a unicorn story).
The second story however is pretty dull and feels like it was set in the unicorn universe just ‘because’. While it features the child from story 1 as a teenager, that didn’t seem like enough to really justify why that story would be a part of this world and lore. Ultimately I suppose if you want to know what Beagle thinks the Fae are like in his world then it’s useful but it does not further any key characters story forward, or really contribute to the unicorn lore in a measurable way.
More importantly is perhaps how boring it was. It reminded me of the first time (many decades ago) when I read about Frodo and Sam in Emmy Muil. Just a lot of walking, talking, posturing, and no activity, plot or even really good characterization happening. Sadly we don’t even really have a Gollum here to break up the monotony. Thus I can’t say I enjoyed this second story anywhere near the way I did story number one.
Having met Beagle a few years ago; he’s a lovely, dear man, I feel bad saying this about this collection; but I won’t lie when a story just doesn’t measure up. If you’re desperate for some nostalgic stories from this world maybe you will get something out of this set of two stories. Otherwise, it’s an easy pass for me. At most I’d say first the first story as it is relevant to the characters we know and love. Story two is an easy pass in my opinion.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
The second story however is pretty dull and feels like it was set in the unicorn universe just ‘because’. While it features the child from story 1 as a teenager, that didn’t seem like enough to really justify why that story would be a part of this world and lore. Ultimately I suppose if you want to know what Beagle thinks the Fae are like in his world then it’s useful but it does not further any key characters story forward, or really contribute to the unicorn lore in a measurable way.
More importantly is perhaps how boring it was. It reminded me of the first time (many decades ago) when I read about Frodo and Sam in Emmy Muil. Just a lot of walking, talking, posturing, and no activity, plot or even really good characterization happening. Sadly we don’t even really have a Gollum here to break up the monotony. Thus I can’t say I enjoyed this second story anywhere near the way I did story number one.
Having met Beagle a few years ago; he’s a lovely, dear man, I feel bad saying this about this collection; but I won’t lie when a story just doesn’t measure up. If you’re desperate for some nostalgic stories from this world maybe you will get something out of this set of two stories. Otherwise, it’s an easy pass for me. At most I’d say first the first story as it is relevant to the characters we know and love. Story two is an easy pass in my opinion.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
May 30, 2023
The Way Home is a collection of two novellas set in the same world as the classic fantasy novel The Last Unicorn, published in 1968. Now 84, Beagle combined his 2006 novella, Two Hearts, and a new novella, Sooz, in one book.
Two Hearts brings the reader back into contact with the original characters of The Last Unicorn - the unicorn, Molly Grue, and Schmendrick the Magician - through the point of view of a young girl named Sooz. She has gone to search out the king (formerly the prince in The Last Unicorn) to ask for help handling her town's problem with a griffin that keeps eating children. She encounters Molly Grue and Schmendrick the Magician and journeys with them and the king to battle the griffin.
Sooz is a follow-up novella published for the first time in this collection. Now 17, Sooz goes on an adventure to the land of The Dreamies (fae) to try and find her long-lost sister, who vanished with a group of Dreamies at 4, several years before Sooz was born. Here, she finds friendship with a woman made of stone and works to rescue her sister.
These were both enjoyable! I liked them less than the original novel, but it was nice to be immersed in the magic of this world again.
Thanks so much to Peter S. Beagle and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC through NetGalley. The Way Home is available now!
Two Hearts brings the reader back into contact with the original characters of The Last Unicorn - the unicorn, Molly Grue, and Schmendrick the Magician - through the point of view of a young girl named Sooz. She has gone to search out the king (formerly the prince in The Last Unicorn) to ask for help handling her town's problem with a griffin that keeps eating children. She encounters Molly Grue and Schmendrick the Magician and journeys with them and the king to battle the griffin.
Sooz is a follow-up novella published for the first time in this collection. Now 17, Sooz goes on an adventure to the land of The Dreamies (fae) to try and find her long-lost sister, who vanished with a group of Dreamies at 4, several years before Sooz was born. Here, she finds friendship with a woman made of stone and works to rescue her sister.
These were both enjoyable! I liked them less than the original novel, but it was nice to be immersed in the magic of this world again.
Thanks so much to Peter S. Beagle and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC through NetGalley. The Way Home is available now!
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November 10, 2023
Zwischendurch etwas zäh und langatmig, aber alles in allem ist dieses Buch wie ein wahnsinnig intensiver Fiebertraum, in dem einem das Herz herausgerissen wird und aus dem man weinend und nach Luft ringend aufwacht.
Ich bin gerade unendlich traurig und es kommen mir immer wieder die Tränen, wenn ich die letzten Seiten in meinem Kopf durchgehe. So bitter. So traurig. Und doch immer wieder gespickt mit wahrer Freude und roher Schönheit.
Fantastisch.
Ich bin gerade unendlich traurig und es kommen mir immer wieder die Tränen, wenn ich die letzten Seiten in meinem Kopf durchgehe. So bitter. So traurig. Und doch immer wieder gespickt mit wahrer Freude und roher Schönheit.
Fantastisch.
April 29, 2023
Oh, this is tough to review. One of the novellas in the book, Two Hearts, I had read before--4.5-5 stars, it wrecks my heart and is beautiful and leaves me grateful for the damage in a way that I associate with Peter Beagle. His sentences are so exquisite. The second novella, The Way Home, is wonderful--his prose is always phenomenal--but with a "but." The Way Home is a coming of age tale, and those usually involve some degree of disillusionment or trauma; to talk about why this one was a problem for me requires dipping into spoiler territory--not a major, enormous, "how did it all turn out" spoiler, but a fairly memorable plot point all the same. I'm going to put this behind spoiler tags, but this is your opportunity to STOP READING RIGHT ABOUT HERE NO HERE REALLY BECAUSE SPOILERS FOLLOW FOR REAL:
So there you are. I enjoyed so much about The Way Home, and absolutely loved the friendship depicted in it, except for this one thing, which was a pretty major hangup for me. CW for Fiveish stars for the first story, three for the second, I'll settle in the middle.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
So there you are. I enjoyed so much about The Way Home, and absolutely loved the friendship depicted in it, except for this one thing, which was a pretty major hangup for me. CW for Fiveish stars for the first story, three for the second, I'll settle in the middle.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2022
Thank you so, so much NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the gift of this arc!
Absolute perfection, 5/5 stars
Peter S Beagle has been one of my favourite authors since before I could read. The animated movie of The Last Unicorn was a formative movie of my childhood, and upon reading the novel many years later to discover how incredibly well it was adapted was an absolute delight. And being able to return to this breathtaking world? What a treat.
Two Hearts is about nine year old Sooz, a girl from a village being plagued by a griffin that has taken up residence in the neighbouring woods and likes to snack on the local children. When her best friend is taken, enough is enough and Sooz runs away to get the king himself to slay the beast, as his many previous knights could not. Along the way she meets up with Schmedrick the Magician and Molly Grue, also on their way to visit King Lir.
This story was so moving, reading it from little Sooz's point of view added that extra veil of innocence and wonder that I had when I first watched (and subsequently became obsessed) with The Last Unicorn. All of the adults have aged considerably, and reading them as an adult now adds a layer of melancholy I wasn't expecting but really enjoyed. The ending of this had me weeping, it was so beautiful and touching.
"Sooz" is about our same little heroine, now at 17. When she finds out she had an older sister that ran away with the Fae -or the Dreamies, as little Lenia always called them - Sooz will stop at nothing to rescue her.
I loved the narrator in this story, clearly Sooz looking back on her life from a much older and more mature age, both looking fondly at and chastising her younger self. This story was beautiful, heartbreaking, and a perfect example of immersive fantasy, at least for me.
I can't wait to put this collection on my shelf with my other Peter S Beagle books. 5 million stars out of five
Absolute perfection, 5/5 stars
Peter S Beagle has been one of my favourite authors since before I could read. The animated movie of The Last Unicorn was a formative movie of my childhood, and upon reading the novel many years later to discover how incredibly well it was adapted was an absolute delight. And being able to return to this breathtaking world? What a treat.
Two Hearts is about nine year old Sooz, a girl from a village being plagued by a griffin that has taken up residence in the neighbouring woods and likes to snack on the local children. When her best friend is taken, enough is enough and Sooz runs away to get the king himself to slay the beast, as his many previous knights could not. Along the way she meets up with Schmedrick the Magician and Molly Grue, also on their way to visit King Lir.
This story was so moving, reading it from little Sooz's point of view added that extra veil of innocence and wonder that I had when I first watched (and subsequently became obsessed) with The Last Unicorn. All of the adults have aged considerably, and reading them as an adult now adds a layer of melancholy I wasn't expecting but really enjoyed. The ending of this had me weeping, it was so beautiful and touching.
"Sooz" is about our same little heroine, now at 17. When she finds out she had an older sister that ran away with the Fae -or the Dreamies, as little Lenia always called them - Sooz will stop at nothing to rescue her.
I loved the narrator in this story, clearly Sooz looking back on her life from a much older and more mature age, both looking fondly at and chastising her younger self. This story was beautiful, heartbreaking, and a perfect example of immersive fantasy, at least for me.
I can't wait to put this collection on my shelf with my other Peter S Beagle books. 5 million stars out of five
April 14, 2025
Oh, what a heartbreaking story Two Hearts was! To meet Schmendrick, Molly and King Lír again was just so moving! Not to mention that while was not unexpected but nevertheless caused me to gasp. Makes me sad, kinda, that a griffin was a baddie here but then again, there have to be bad guys amongst the magical creatures, right? And why NOT a griffin?
The second novella, Sooz, tells of the same girl as the first, only now she is seventeen years old (unsurprisingly after the ending of the previous story). We learn about her past, about her family, and follow her into the realm of the fae. Be warned though - these are not the cuddly-cozy elves we know from other stories. These are dark bastards. The story is anything but nice - and not just because we even got a rape scene. Soon is on a mission that might just cost her everything.
So we have two stories set in the world of The Last Unicorn, both after that book’s events. Both stories were riveting and superbly written in my opinion. But they were a different beast altogether. The first was more a magical adventure for children, the second a warning to growing soon-to-be-women. Both had a lot to say and teach, and both did so with heart and grace and wonderful magic.
The characters were nice and varied, the world building really cool. And yet, neither one had the same feeling as the original they follow.
The second novella, Sooz, tells of the same girl as the first, only now she is seventeen years old (unsurprisingly after the ending of the previous story). We learn about her past, about her family, and follow her into the realm of the fae. Be warned though - these are not the cuddly-cozy elves we know from other stories. These are dark bastards. The story is anything but nice - and not just because we even got a rape scene. Soon is on a mission that might just cost her everything.
So we have two stories set in the world of The Last Unicorn, both after that book’s events. Both stories were riveting and superbly written in my opinion. But they were a different beast altogether. The first was more a magical adventure for children, the second a warning to growing soon-to-be-women. Both had a lot to say and teach, and both did so with heart and grace and wonderful magic.
The characters were nice and varied, the world building really cool. And yet, neither one had the same feeling as the original they follow.
Read
September 24, 2025In 2022, I read an ARC, kindly provided by the author's agents. The text of the final version may differ.
The Way Home scared me. Not so much with its content but with its potential real-life repercussions; with the impact it may have on Peter's legacy. For all of you--all of us--who came here because we love the unicorn and Schmendrick and Molly and Prince Lir, and that nine-year-old chit of a Sooz--and last but not least, Peter's magical writing--"Sooz" the novella may feel devastating. Or worse even, empty.
Right now, I feel too empty to carry on. If I can, I'll say more later. Here're my notes as I read:
https://choveshkata.net/forum/viewtop...
The Way Home scared me. Not so much with its content but with its potential real-life repercussions; with the impact it may have on Peter's legacy. For all of you--all of us--who came here because we love the unicorn and Schmendrick and Molly and Prince Lir, and that nine-year-old chit of a Sooz--and last but not least, Peter's magical writing--"Sooz" the novella may feel devastating. Or worse even, empty.
Right now, I feel too empty to carry on. If I can, I'll say more later. Here're my notes as I read:
https://choveshkata.net/forum/viewtop...
September 15, 2023
It's so hard to review this one properly as the two stories inspired very different reactions for me.
The first, Two Hearts, was a beautiful, touching follow up to The Last Unicorn that I really, really loved. There was something so special about revisiting favourite characters and the way the story came together was genuinely very powerful.
Unfortunately, the other story (Sooz) wasn't really my cup of tea. It was still written nicely, but the general plot felt overlong and uninspiring. Plus, the characters didn't feel very exciting, with lots of the book taken up with meandering descriptions of... Well, meandering.
Because the second story fell so flat for me I can't rate this more than three stars. However, if you are a Last Unicorn fan I highly recommend reading Two Hearts - the book was worth it for that novella alone!
The first, Two Hearts, was a beautiful, touching follow up to The Last Unicorn that I really, really loved. There was something so special about revisiting favourite characters and the way the story came together was genuinely very powerful.
Unfortunately, the other story (Sooz) wasn't really my cup of tea. It was still written nicely, but the general plot felt overlong and uninspiring. Plus, the characters didn't feel very exciting, with lots of the book taken up with meandering descriptions of... Well, meandering.
Because the second story fell so flat for me I can't rate this more than three stars. However, if you are a Last Unicorn fan I highly recommend reading Two Hearts - the book was worth it for that novella alone!
March 1, 2024
Like so many other reviewers it feels bad to have to rate this book on the basis of the two stories. The first one two hearts is a fantastic addition to the world of the last unicorn and provides a bitter sweet epilogue to the original book's heroes.
However, the second one 'sooz' is long winded, muddling and worse still, contains what can only be described as one of the most unnecessary rape scenes I have seen in a book.
Unfortunately the second story left a bad enough taste that I've rated it accordingly.
However, the second one 'sooz' is long winded, muddling and worse still, contains what can only be described as one of the most unnecessary rape scenes I have seen in a book.
Unfortunately the second story left a bad enough taste that I've rated it accordingly.
Read
April 5, 2023I’m not going to leave a rating on this book since I, unfortunately, did not finish it.
I enjoyed the first story, Two Hearts, but stopped reading Sooz only a few chapters in. There is a scene that’s not described in detail, where Sooz is assaulted, and it was enough to prevent me from being able to continue reading. So if that’s something that can be triggering for you just keep that in mind.
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the first story, Two Hearts, but stopped reading Sooz only a few chapters in. There is a scene that’s not described in detail, where Sooz is assaulted, and it was enough to prevent me from being able to continue reading. So if that’s something that can be triggering for you just keep that in mind.
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2024
The Last Unicorn is one of my favorite books. Were I to highlight every line I loved in it, the whole book would be be yellow.
The Way Home is (to me) another instance in which an author returns to a popular older work and the new work simply does not live up to it. Specifically, the new Novella, Sooz. Two Hearts, which was written earlier serves as a kind of ending for Lir and Amalthea, and I have zero complaints about it! Easy 5 starts for that short storry.
Sooz on the other hand... it had a few interesting ideas, but as a whole could have been fifty pages shorter. Which is a weird thing to say about a novella, given how short it already is! It's a meandering and (to my mind) rather pointless story featuring a of the main character. Whole sections of the novella had my brain checking out while I read -- and not in a good way -- and when i refocused on the text I found I'd missed nothing for all the time my attention died.
Sooz's narration in the novella is also sometime confusing, and what worked for a 9 year old works a lot less with a 17 year old. She's also -- not exactly unlikable in the second novella (especially given the context of what pointless horror happened to her) but she's rather hard to care about. I think the novella needed reworking.
Ultimately, 'Sooz' was not for me.
The Way Home is (to me) another instance in which an author returns to a popular older work and the new work simply does not live up to it. Specifically, the new Novella, Sooz. Two Hearts, which was written earlier serves as a kind of ending for Lir and Amalthea, and I have zero complaints about it! Easy 5 starts for that short storry.
Sooz on the other hand... it had a few interesting ideas, but as a whole could have been fifty pages shorter. Which is a weird thing to say about a novella, given how short it already is! It's a meandering and (to my mind) rather pointless story featuring a of the main character. Whole sections of the novella had my brain checking out while I read -- and not in a good way -- and when i refocused on the text I found I'd missed nothing for all the time my attention died.
Sooz's narration in the novella is also sometime confusing, and what worked for a 9 year old works a lot less with a 17 year old. She's also -- not exactly unlikable in the second novella (especially given the context of what pointless horror happened to her) but she's rather hard to care about. I think the novella needed reworking.
Ultimately, 'Sooz' was not for me.
February 19, 2024
The first story was aces (and I rated it four stars separately.) The second novella... oy. I felt no connection to any of the characters. And while the way it handled the rape plot was not the worst I've seen, it was definitely not *well* handled.
Yes, there was a rape plot. No, it wasn't graphic. No, it wasn't really necessary. It came out of nowhere and while it *was* in fact brought up after and continued affecting the protag, the handling of the aftermath felt superficial and clunky. It's like, hey, we have a female character out on her own. How can we show the stakes of her journey? Guess how! It's lazy and it's disrespectful. Peter S. Beagle, I expected better of you.
Yes, there was a rape plot. No, it wasn't graphic. No, it wasn't really necessary. It came out of nowhere and while it *was* in fact brought up after and continued affecting the protag, the handling of the aftermath felt superficial and clunky. It's like, hey, we have a female character out on her own. How can we show the stakes of her journey? Guess how! It's lazy and it's disrespectful. Peter S. Beagle, I expected better of you.
May 17, 2023
I really loved the first story in this collection (and it was really a story, not a novella). It felt so much like The Last Unicorn, with that heart-achy balance of whimsey + magic + melancholy, and I'm so glad I read it. But the second one was... something else. Bleak and confusing and so slow I thought I would never get through it. I heartily recommend reading the first story and then giving the second story a pass altogether.
July 11, 2023
Das Cover gefällt mir wieder sehr gut und es passt natürlich perfekt zu dem Cover des anderen Buchs. Zusammen sehen die Bücher einfach toll aus und es passt natürlich auch sehr gut zum Inhalt.
Auch der Schreibstil von Peter S. Beagle hat mir mal wieder sehr gut gefallen. Ich weiß nicht, wie schafft, mich so emotional werden zu lassen, aber auch dieser Teil hat mich ganz am Anfang kurz zum heulen gebracht. Der Schreibstil war auch dieses Mal wieder sehr flüssig, emotional und hat sich einfach toll lesen lassen. Ich bin gut und die Geschichte reingekommen und besonders Anfang und Ende haben mich emotional abholen können.
Die ein oder anderen Charaktere kann man natürlich schon kennen, aber die tauchen eher zum Anfang auf. Danach macht man sich mit Sooz auf eine abenteuerliche Reise und lernt nicht nur sie, sondern auch ihre Begleiter besser kennen. Das Fremde Land und allgemein die Beschreibung der Reise haben mir wirklich sehr gut gefallen.
Insgesamt also ein wirklich gelungenes und emotionales Buch, das mir wieder sehr gefallen hat. Vielleicht nicht ganz so perfekt, wie Das letzte Einhorn, aber wirklich wieder unglaublich gut und schön. Ich kann es definitiv empfehlen. Die beiden Bücher werden mir bestimmt noch eine ganze Weile in Erinnerung bleiben.
4,5/5 Sterne
Auch der Schreibstil von Peter S. Beagle hat mir mal wieder sehr gut gefallen. Ich weiß nicht, wie schafft, mich so emotional werden zu lassen, aber auch dieser Teil hat mich ganz am Anfang kurz zum heulen gebracht. Der Schreibstil war auch dieses Mal wieder sehr flüssig, emotional und hat sich einfach toll lesen lassen. Ich bin gut und die Geschichte reingekommen und besonders Anfang und Ende haben mich emotional abholen können.
Die ein oder anderen Charaktere kann man natürlich schon kennen, aber die tauchen eher zum Anfang auf. Danach macht man sich mit Sooz auf eine abenteuerliche Reise und lernt nicht nur sie, sondern auch ihre Begleiter besser kennen. Das Fremde Land und allgemein die Beschreibung der Reise haben mir wirklich sehr gut gefallen.
Insgesamt also ein wirklich gelungenes und emotionales Buch, das mir wieder sehr gefallen hat. Vielleicht nicht ganz so perfekt, wie Das letzte Einhorn, aber wirklich wieder unglaublich gut und schön. Ich kann es definitiv empfehlen. Die beiden Bücher werden mir bestimmt noch eine ganze Weile in Erinnerung bleiben.
4,5/5 Sterne
December 19, 2024
V Cestě domů bylo dozajista roztroušeno něco melancholicky chladivého. Něco, co mi krásně zapadlo do nálady a ač to není tak dlouho, co jsem poprvé kráčela s Poslední jednorožkou, vetřel se mi tam i jakýsi podivný střípek nostalgie a radosti. Potkat znovu Molly, Šmendrika a Líra, propadnout se do beaglesovské atmošky a nechat se pohltit jeho nádhernou lyrickou prózou udělalo svoje.
Ale tentokrát byly sázky možná o krapet osobnější. Několikrát jsem si během čtení vzpomněla na Tolkienova Kováře z Velké Lesné a jeho svět víl. Tahle cesta však vedla přece jen jinudy. Byla dosti tvrdohlavá a sveřepá, urputná a nezastavitelná. Našlo se na ní mnohem víc, co by se později mohlo ztratit, a to, co se možná nejvíc hledalo, si svoji přesnou podobu nevydobylo. Cesty jsou mnohdy roztodivné a tohle byla jen jedna z nich.
Ale tentokrát byly sázky možná o krapet osobnější. Několikrát jsem si během čtení vzpomněla na Tolkienova Kováře z Velké Lesné a jeho svět víl. Tahle cesta však vedla přece jen jinudy. Byla dosti tvrdohlavá a sveřepá, urputná a nezastavitelná. Našlo se na ní mnohem víc, co by se později mohlo ztratit, a to, co se možná nejvíc hledalo, si svoji přesnou podobu nevydobylo. Cesty jsou mnohdy roztodivné a tohle byla jen jedna z nich.
May 7, 2023
When a griffon attacks her village, a young girl decides to go to the king and ask for his help. Her adventure leads to an intriguing reward which finds her, many years later, set out on a dangerous quest of her own.
This duet of interlinking novellas are like a call and response both to each other and to the novel that inspired them Beagle's writing is rich and is not afraid to pack what are purportedly children's stories with some very adult grief.
This duet of interlinking novellas are like a call and response both to each other and to the novel that inspired them Beagle's writing is rich and is not afraid to pack what are purportedly children's stories with some very adult grief.
October 3, 2024
Since this book is actually two novellas, I'd give the first novella 5 stars while the second one 2 stars.
The first one was a sweet, thoughtful continuation of "The Last Unicorn" with a new child named Sooz as the main character. The second one, though, takes place when Sooz is older and the story fell flat for me. It seemed disjointed, as if events and fantasy characters were just thrown in without connecting to the larger arc.
The first one was a sweet, thoughtful continuation of "The Last Unicorn" with a new child named Sooz as the main character. The second one, though, takes place when Sooz is older and the story fell flat for me. It seemed disjointed, as if events and fantasy characters were just thrown in without connecting to the larger arc.
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