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How to Rescue a Unicorn
264 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2025
7 people want to read
About the author
Andy Tolson
4 books10 followersAndy Tolson spent much of the 1980s as a drummer in London, England, playing both pubs and concert halls, though mostly pubs. He has been a boy magician, prop-maker, and writer. At The National Post and Maclean’s Magazine, Tolson was a photojournalist and editor. He now lives in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia in a big old house with his family and two cats named Olive and Ottoline. He is the author of the novel Noisemaker (published in 2022) and the middle-grade fantasy, How to Kidnap a Mermaid, was published fall 2024 with Nimbus Publishing. The sequel, How to Rescue a Unicorn will be out fall 2025. How to Wrestle an Octopus is out fall 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 3, 2025
This review was first published at https://miramichireader.ca on June 24th, 2025
How to Rescue a Unicorn by Andy Tolson is the second book in his middle-grade fantasy series, The Quests of Tiny Wilde, to be released by Nimbus Publishing on August 26, 2025.
“Piece of advice: When you’re a hero, you should avoid describing your life as “boring” and “uneventful”. The universe has a funny way of shifting the direction of your path when you least expect it.”- Tiny Wilde
How to Rescue a Unicorn begins out on the school playground, where our soon-to-be giant (still no growth spurt), 7th-grade hero, is being bullied and shaken down for his lunch. Tiny is famous for his awesome grilled cheese sandwiches. But today he doesn’t have a grilled cheese in his lunchbox; he is bringing the Immortal Octopus, Larry, to school for show and tell.
“Apparently I forgot one thing: A hero should anticipate danger.”- Tiny Wilde
During his involuntary vacation from school, Tiny is introduced to his new Math Tudor, Sadie, a non-mythic smart girl from his class, who may know more than he does about Mythics. Together, they witness his mentor’s pointy hat doing a jig before spitting out an old hard drive, a Chekhov whistle, and a large petrified onion ring. Sadie discovers that the hard drive contains pictures that Tiny’s mother took of frightened, caged unicorns with damaged horns. Pictures that were taken four years ago. Shortly after, they discover a unicorn that was found earlier that morning, and based on her poor condition, appears to have just recently escaped captivity.
A short time later, Tiny, Sadie, and half-mermaid Nalia find themselves on a quest to rescue the caged-up unicorns. But is it really a quest? According to Sadie, something doesn’t feel right, but what does she know? She is not a Mythic.
I just love this fantastical world that Andy Tolson has developed. A world of giants, dragons, gnomes, pixies, trolls, unicorns, and water mythics, all of which don’t exist anywhere else except for on their Island. A world with hero journeys, prophecies, and quests. A world where magic had disappeared for 4 years, but is slowly returning as the Immortal Octopus heals. There are even stages of a Hero’s Journey and rules for a “real” prophecy. Even though this book is the second in a series, it certainly can be read as a standalone.
I can’t wait for readers to be introduced to Bessie 2. A new and improved version of Bessie from book one, How to Kidnap a Mermaid. Attending a Dumpster Fest and buying a Dumpster Fest t-shirt that says ‘Live! Laugh! Dump!’ are now on my bucket list.
To add to Andy’s “Fun facts” from the book, here’s one from me: There is a map in the front of the book! I can’t wait to read How to Wrestle an Octopus, the next in the series, to see what mischief Tiny and his friends get into.
“Oh, I get it now, Tiny. This is why you quest. For this feeling of helping others.”– Sadie Brooks
How to Rescue a Unicorn by Andy Tolson is the second book in his middle-grade fantasy series, The Quests of Tiny Wilde, to be released by Nimbus Publishing on August 26, 2025.
“Piece of advice: When you’re a hero, you should avoid describing your life as “boring” and “uneventful”. The universe has a funny way of shifting the direction of your path when you least expect it.”- Tiny Wilde
How to Rescue a Unicorn begins out on the school playground, where our soon-to-be giant (still no growth spurt), 7th-grade hero, is being bullied and shaken down for his lunch. Tiny is famous for his awesome grilled cheese sandwiches. But today he doesn’t have a grilled cheese in his lunchbox; he is bringing the Immortal Octopus, Larry, to school for show and tell.
“Apparently I forgot one thing: A hero should anticipate danger.”- Tiny Wilde
During his involuntary vacation from school, Tiny is introduced to his new Math Tudor, Sadie, a non-mythic smart girl from his class, who may know more than he does about Mythics. Together, they witness his mentor’s pointy hat doing a jig before spitting out an old hard drive, a Chekhov whistle, and a large petrified onion ring. Sadie discovers that the hard drive contains pictures that Tiny’s mother took of frightened, caged unicorns with damaged horns. Pictures that were taken four years ago. Shortly after, they discover a unicorn that was found earlier that morning, and based on her poor condition, appears to have just recently escaped captivity.
A short time later, Tiny, Sadie, and half-mermaid Nalia find themselves on a quest to rescue the caged-up unicorns. But is it really a quest? According to Sadie, something doesn’t feel right, but what does she know? She is not a Mythic.
I just love this fantastical world that Andy Tolson has developed. A world of giants, dragons, gnomes, pixies, trolls, unicorns, and water mythics, all of which don’t exist anywhere else except for on their Island. A world with hero journeys, prophecies, and quests. A world where magic had disappeared for 4 years, but is slowly returning as the Immortal Octopus heals. There are even stages of a Hero’s Journey and rules for a “real” prophecy. Even though this book is the second in a series, it certainly can be read as a standalone.
I can’t wait for readers to be introduced to Bessie 2. A new and improved version of Bessie from book one, How to Kidnap a Mermaid. Attending a Dumpster Fest and buying a Dumpster Fest t-shirt that says ‘Live! Laugh! Dump!’ are now on my bucket list.
To add to Andy’s “Fun facts” from the book, here’s one from me: There is a map in the front of the book! I can’t wait to read How to Wrestle an Octopus, the next in the series, to see what mischief Tiny and his friends get into.
“Oh, I get it now, Tiny. This is why you quest. For this feeling of helping others.”– Sadie Brooks
July 16, 2025
Tiny has set out on his next quest, or is it a quest? Picking his allies and a mentor is not easy but is has to be done. There are good Mythics and not so good Mythics. Journeys go hand in hand with many side quests, finding out who you really are and who those around you are. As we follow along with our favourite Mythics we meet a few new ones who capture our hearts each in their own way
August 13, 2025
Fans of HOW TO KIDNAP A MERMAID will be eager for Book 2 in The Quests of Tiny Wilde. Packed with adventure, wit, and mythical creatures, this book will not disappoint young fantasy readers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews