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Feral Child Trilogy #2
The Unicorn Hunter
The adults of Blarney have always lived in fear. The faeries of Tír na nÓg exist on their doorstep, and they could unleash terror on the mortal realm at any time.
But eleven-year-old Maddy is not afraid. The unicorn that holds the key to balance and peace in both worlds is injured, and Maddy knows she is the only one who can track down whoever hurt her.
Can Maddy survive the force and cunning of the Tuatha, who rule Tír na nÓg? Or will she end up a mere pawn in their own power games?
But eleven-year-old Maddy is not afraid. The unicorn that holds the key to balance and peace in both worlds is injured, and Maddy knows she is the only one who can track down whoever hurt her.
Can Maddy survive the force and cunning of the Tuatha, who rule Tír na nÓg? Or will she end up a mere pawn in their own power games?
317 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2013
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164 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 11, 2015
After the events of the last book, Maddy wants nothing more to do with the Faeries but unfortunately for her, they won't leave her alone. When a Unicorn comes to her door, Maddy becomes involved in hunting down the person who is trying to kill the Unicorns and take down the shield between her world and the Tuatha.
She doesn't think its fair that out of all the Sighted in Blarney, she is the only one taking action against the Faeries. She hates them and thinks that everyone should stand against them. Unfortunately, only her, Roisin and Danny agree (though of no choice of their own) to track the killer and bring him or her back alive. Can they manage it before the Unicorns are killed and all of Faerie have free range of earth?
I fell in love with book one of this and couldn't wait to dive into The Unicorn Hunter. It's such a fantastic series and one everyone should read.
Maddy, as always, was an awesome heroine. All she wants is to be a typical child but she just seems to attract trouble, with a capital T! She doesn't want to become involved in more Faerie business but they wont leave her alone. She is told that she is this generations Hound and is the only person for the job. She tries everything to get out of it but in the end, she knows what she has to do and does it. She is strong, loyal and spunky.
Roisin and Danny are again a great help to Maddy, even though Roisin doesn't do much in the way of heroic deeds, she lends her strength and friendship to Maddy. They are both a great addition to the team.
Once again, Che Golden brings Ireland and its folklore to life. It's one of my favourite things about theses books! She incorporates CuChulainn as well as Fionn MacCumhaill. CuChulainn was the Hound before Maddy and now Maddy is tasked with finding Fionn MacCumhaill and his Wolfhound Bran. Bran is the only thing able to help track the fiend that is trying to kill the Unicorns and Bran always brings his pray back alive. Her take on the Irish Heroes is fantastic and I loved the lore. She gives the myths her own twists and I adored that about the book.
Once again the author has created an action packed read. It is brimming in action and with plenty of adventure to keep everyone satisfied, it's a must read. There is so much going on in the book that you will be hooked from the first page. There are plenty of twists as well and some that will leave you gasping. There are still a lot of questions so I can not wait to read book 3 to see what happens to Maddy and the gang? This is a series that any age will love and I'd highly recommend.
She doesn't think its fair that out of all the Sighted in Blarney, she is the only one taking action against the Faeries. She hates them and thinks that everyone should stand against them. Unfortunately, only her, Roisin and Danny agree (though of no choice of their own) to track the killer and bring him or her back alive. Can they manage it before the Unicorns are killed and all of Faerie have free range of earth?
I fell in love with book one of this and couldn't wait to dive into The Unicorn Hunter. It's such a fantastic series and one everyone should read.
Maddy, as always, was an awesome heroine. All she wants is to be a typical child but she just seems to attract trouble, with a capital T! She doesn't want to become involved in more Faerie business but they wont leave her alone. She is told that she is this generations Hound and is the only person for the job. She tries everything to get out of it but in the end, she knows what she has to do and does it. She is strong, loyal and spunky.
Roisin and Danny are again a great help to Maddy, even though Roisin doesn't do much in the way of heroic deeds, she lends her strength and friendship to Maddy. They are both a great addition to the team.
Once again, Che Golden brings Ireland and its folklore to life. It's one of my favourite things about theses books! She incorporates CuChulainn as well as Fionn MacCumhaill. CuChulainn was the Hound before Maddy and now Maddy is tasked with finding Fionn MacCumhaill and his Wolfhound Bran. Bran is the only thing able to help track the fiend that is trying to kill the Unicorns and Bran always brings his pray back alive. Her take on the Irish Heroes is fantastic and I loved the lore. She gives the myths her own twists and I adored that about the book.
Once again the author has created an action packed read. It is brimming in action and with plenty of adventure to keep everyone satisfied, it's a must read. There is so much going on in the book that you will be hooked from the first page. There are plenty of twists as well and some that will leave you gasping. There are still a lot of questions so I can not wait to read book 3 to see what happens to Maddy and the gang? This is a series that any age will love and I'd highly recommend.
December 9, 2014
This book was the middle book in a trilogy and, unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to read the first book. Nonetheless, I found this book engaging and fast-paced. It was filled with adventure as Maddy has to return to Tir na nOg to find out who has tried to kill one of the unicorns who are the image of magic in the world. If she doesn't find out, and if the hunter succeeds on his second attempt, Earth is condemned to an eternal winter and death and starvation will kill everyone.
Maddy wants this to be someone else's problem. She is only eleven and her adventures in the first book seems to her to have been enough. She hates the faeries and doesn't understand why her grandfather and the other Sighted people are so passive. She can't understand why her grandfather wants to send her to live with an aunt who hates her just to keep her out of the faeries' sights. He believes that they will forget about her if she can just leave for a while.
Maddy is an interesting character. She is recently orphaned and living with her grandparents. She is stubborn and angry and uncertain that they will keep her. She is also headstrong and certain that she knows best. She isn't willing to listen to advice and, because of that, makes mistakes that will have lifelong consequences.
The story is filled with characters out of Irish mythology. They are fleshed out in all their danger and all their glory. Fans of mythology and adventure would be the perfect audience for this trilogy.
Maddy wants this to be someone else's problem. She is only eleven and her adventures in the first book seems to her to have been enough. She hates the faeries and doesn't understand why her grandfather and the other Sighted people are so passive. She can't understand why her grandfather wants to send her to live with an aunt who hates her just to keep her out of the faeries' sights. He believes that they will forget about her if she can just leave for a while.
Maddy is an interesting character. She is recently orphaned and living with her grandparents. She is stubborn and angry and uncertain that they will keep her. She is also headstrong and certain that she knows best. She isn't willing to listen to advice and, because of that, makes mistakes that will have lifelong consequences.
The story is filled with characters out of Irish mythology. They are fleshed out in all their danger and all their glory. Fans of mythology and adventure would be the perfect audience for this trilogy.
May 20, 2015
Expertly woven around Irish legends, The Unicorn Hunter is the sequel to The Feral Child. Maddy is a spunky character who won’t bow to things she feels are wrong. The Unicorn Hunter is full of wonderful creatures – but these are not any relatives of Tinkerbell. These faeries are cunning, brandishing swords and bad tempers.
August 13, 2016
I will be back because I am too tired to discuss all that is wrong with this book as a Middle Grade, and as a story in general, like Goddesses are too emotional and need God husbands to CONTROL them. WTH? I was approved for this review book through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.
January 2, 2017
This is the second book in the trilogy that picks up with Maddy physically recovered from the events of the first book but just wanting more than anything to live a normal life with no fae in it. Unfortunately, somebody has tried to kill one of the two unicorns, and that will have dire consequences for both the human and fae worlds. It seems that the Feral Child, Maddy, has a role to play again, whether she likes it or not. Her cousins Roisin and Danny are ready to help her, though they are just as terrified of what might happen to them. The rest of the Sighted humans are too terrified to help, so it's up to Maddy and her cousins, along with some fae and Tuatha to sort things out, save the unicorns, and punish the hunter.
Maddy's inner strength is impressive, but her grief for her parents and her fear of being sent away by her grandparents (when she's finally settling into Blarney life) comes out as defensive anger, talking back (according to the adults on the receiving end), stubbornness, and disobedience. Maddy wants to do the right thing, thinks she knows what that is, and won't listen no matter what anyone else tries to tell her. This has severe consequences later, and we see Maddy's vulnerability and fallibility. She's only 12, but has been asked to take duties that would normally be done by an adult. It's a massive burden, and she's doing her best to see it through.
Maddy's enemies are back with a few surprises. Roisin and Danny are ever faithful to Maddy, though not without a little friction with Danny now and then. They are very much sidekicks in this story, and I'd have liked to see them take centre stage a little more.
I don't really understand why Maddy's Aunt is so antagonistic with her niece. The same with a teacher at the school, but this story is from the point of view of the kids, not the adults, so kids don't necessarily know or care, they just see an adult who dislikes them unfairly and makes their life harder.
I loved the character of Una, and her obsession with cheese and onion crisps made me laugh, as that's a very Irish thing.
Suitably dark and grisly to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty young tween - without being an actual gore fest. I can't wait for the final book!
Maddy's inner strength is impressive, but her grief for her parents and her fear of being sent away by her grandparents (when she's finally settling into Blarney life) comes out as defensive anger, talking back (according to the adults on the receiving end), stubbornness, and disobedience. Maddy wants to do the right thing, thinks she knows what that is, and won't listen no matter what anyone else tries to tell her. This has severe consequences later, and we see Maddy's vulnerability and fallibility. She's only 12, but has been asked to take duties that would normally be done by an adult. It's a massive burden, and she's doing her best to see it through.
Maddy's enemies are back with a few surprises. Roisin and Danny are ever faithful to Maddy, though not without a little friction with Danny now and then. They are very much sidekicks in this story, and I'd have liked to see them take centre stage a little more.
I don't really understand why Maddy's Aunt is so antagonistic with her niece. The same with a teacher at the school, but this story is from the point of view of the kids, not the adults, so kids don't necessarily know or care, they just see an adult who dislikes them unfairly and makes their life harder.
I loved the character of Una, and her obsession with cheese and onion crisps made me laugh, as that's a very Irish thing.
Suitably dark and grisly to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty young tween - without being an actual gore fest. I can't wait for the final book!
January 15, 2022
I know this follows on from another book, but it makes a great stand-alone read by itself. Theres nothing wrong with the reader thinking up the rest of the story as they go along - aren't we supposed to use our imaginations? Also, don't let our heroine - "Maddy", fool you into presuming that this is a story for girls either, it’s much more than that.
This tale has a couple of different perspectives to it which become apparent as we embark into Maddy’s “war” with the faeries, and I engaged with her because she is a warrior who has, in some respects, her hands tied because of her age. Golden brings the wonders of her own childhood journeys into mythology to life in this cross between folklore and contemporary childhood predicament. I also related to this as well as loving some of the characters names too, such as smelly “Bang Bang” and a noisy little Terrier dog called “George.”
The writing itself is excellent, her sentences are canny and use of dialogue - top-class:
“Was it a faerie or a human?”
“It is a thing that is neither one nor the other but with stripes of both.”
Dickens Christmas Carol comes to mind with the above, but there are additional echoes of how C.S Lewis perhaps thought about the world in this pleasant fusion of realities – I enjoyed this book as a consequence and now want to read the prequel.
This tale has a couple of different perspectives to it which become apparent as we embark into Maddy’s “war” with the faeries, and I engaged with her because she is a warrior who has, in some respects, her hands tied because of her age. Golden brings the wonders of her own childhood journeys into mythology to life in this cross between folklore and contemporary childhood predicament. I also related to this as well as loving some of the characters names too, such as smelly “Bang Bang” and a noisy little Terrier dog called “George.”
The writing itself is excellent, her sentences are canny and use of dialogue - top-class:
“Was it a faerie or a human?”
“It is a thing that is neither one nor the other but with stripes of both.”
Dickens Christmas Carol comes to mind with the above, but there are additional echoes of how C.S Lewis perhaps thought about the world in this pleasant fusion of realities – I enjoyed this book as a consequence and now want to read the prequel.
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January 2, 20209
April 3, 2022
Finn Mac Cumhail should've had a far bigger presence
February 24, 2014
Oh my goodness, I love these books! At times a little scary, this is yet another thrilling story from Che Golden. I can't wait for the third book!
January 23, 2014
Fantastic one for those hore lovers out there,'ie me!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews