The Sunset Gates

The Unicorn's Secret #5

by Kathleen Duey

Heart continues to try to find her real family while protecting her unicorn friends from Lord Dunraven.

Genres: Fantasy, Unicorns, Fiction, Chapter Books, Horses, Middle Grade, Childrens

76 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2002

About the author

Kathleen Duey grew up in Colorado. She loved riding her horses, hiking, being in the mountains. Reading was always important to her. Writing became a fascination early in her life. In the fourth grade, Kathleen began writing stories and told everyone who would listen that she was going to be an author. Then she did nothing about it until she was 35 years old. Writing was her passion and her dream-come-true.

from: fantasticfiction.co.uk

Kathleen died of cardiac arrest at her home in Fallbrook, California. She was 69. She had struggled with dementia in her latter years which prevented her from completing her Skin Hunger trilogy.

https://web.archive.org/web/202101052...

Reviews

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Тайната на еднорога“ е поредица от 8 илюстровани детски романа, които се четат на един дъх. Сюжетът разказва за малката Харт Авамир, сираче, отгледано от Саймън Прат – груб селянин, който я е открил преди години край реката. Харт няма никакви спомени преди този ден. При все, че е дал подслон на момичето, Саймън съвсем не е обичлива бащинска фигура. Харт е помощник, полезна работна ръка, но не и дъщеря. Отначало Саймън дори не е дал име на детето. Нарича я просто „момиче“, докато местната лечителка, Рут Оукс, не й дава име. Харт мечтае за семейство, да разбере кои са родителите й… Единственото, което знае за тях е, че преди да я оставят край реката те са я повили в красиво одеяло със избродирани сребърни еднорози. Уви, Саймън отдавна го е продал… Прочетете повече на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another above average entry to the series. While the story remains simple, the age category of the readers must be taken into effect. Thus this book hits the mark there. More than that, the simple story is entertaining.

Overall, a delightful little read. Nothing too serious, but something with enough meat to be worth reading.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book obvs but i saw the author's website listed on the back and wanted to send a letter and googled her only to find out she died a few years ago which was definitely unexpected. she seems like such a sweet person too from the article. rest in peace for real kathleen duey

[Olivia Hannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still feels somewhat fillery but cute .

[Josh Bizeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heart and company continue their journey, reunite with a foil-turned-friend, questions of our protagonist's family history arise and a blacksmith of some import is met.

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart is traveling with her gypsy friends again. This is excellent because for so long she was alone with the two unicorns. It was interesting to see Tibbs again since he was the one who told everyone about the unicorns back in Ash Grove. It seems that he has grown up a bit and promises not to tell anyone about the Heart's unicorns anymore. I actually started to like him in The Sunset Gates.

Heart is getting closer and closer to finding her family, which she is desperately seeking. She is puzzled by the sunset gate with the two rearing unicorns. Since it is the same symbol that is on the blanket she was found with, does that mean that she came from the Royal House of Avamir?

Although this book wasn't packed with action, like some of the others, The Sunset Gates reveals more of the storyline that will lead Heart to her family. One again, the few images by Omar Rayyan are wonderful and the writing by Kathleen Duey is highly entertaining.

Overall, The Sunset Gates is another great story in the Unicorn's Secret Series and I cannot with to find out what happens next to Heart in True Heart.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this little book and have given it to more than one child.
The only problem is that it is not a very long part of the whole story and if you have not read the earlier ones you will be wondering what is going on.
A girl is travelling with two unicorns and trying to conceal them from the rich and powerful people who would try to claim them. In this story she has managed to get armour made for them which resembles the armour worn by knights' warhorses. There is a metal horn on the brow plate which conceals their real horns.
The girl has a book and is hoping to find a blacksmith who can tell her about some iron gates.
A variety of people and settings make this lively and there is some tension and drama.
Ideal for girls under ten who like horses.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I've not read the earlier books in the series, this one is pretty good for a transitional reader. Short sentences keep the reading level fairly easy, but, remarkably, don't disrupt the flow of the story. You DO need to read prior books to get all of the back references in this story.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

The kid enjoyed it

[kassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely and magical.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part is when Heart gets the armour for Moonsilver to disguise him from being hunted. - 6 year old