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The Unicorn Hunters
In a desperate gamble to save her throne, a young monarch conceals a secret marriage in the shadows of an enchanted forest—and unknowingly alters the fate of her world—in this dazzling novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.
Anne of Brittany was a child when France invaded and drove her royal father to his death. Now she is a young woman, sovereign duchess of an occupied realm, and France means to crown their conquest by marrying her to their king. Such an alliance would put her title, her lands, and her body forever in the hands of her enemies.
But Anne refuses to be the last duchess of Brittany.
Her only hope of resisting conquest is another alliance sealed with marriage, so Anne arranges a daring last gambit: a secret betrothal to Charles of France’s greatest rival. But secrets are hard to keep in a world where rival courts spy on each other with diviners.
The forest of Brocéliande was once the haunt of Merlin the Enchanter and the long-lost faerie queen. But magic is long gone from Broceliande, except for the occasional sight of a unicorn and one critical quirk: This ancient forest is completely hostile to divination.
While pretending compliance with France, Anne plans a unicorn hunt in Brocéliande. A bit of pointless pageantry. A diversion so she can wed in secret.
Or so she thinks.
In this rich and epic novel, the author of the acclaimed Winternight trilogy turns the real history of a remarkable woman into an unforgettable tale of mystery, enchantment, and the price of power.
Anne of Brittany was a child when France invaded and drove her royal father to his death. Now she is a young woman, sovereign duchess of an occupied realm, and France means to crown their conquest by marrying her to their king. Such an alliance would put her title, her lands, and her body forever in the hands of her enemies.
But Anne refuses to be the last duchess of Brittany.
Her only hope of resisting conquest is another alliance sealed with marriage, so Anne arranges a daring last gambit: a secret betrothal to Charles of France’s greatest rival. But secrets are hard to keep in a world where rival courts spy on each other with diviners.
The forest of Brocéliande was once the haunt of Merlin the Enchanter and the long-lost faerie queen. But magic is long gone from Broceliande, except for the occasional sight of a unicorn and one critical quirk: This ancient forest is completely hostile to divination.
While pretending compliance with France, Anne plans a unicorn hunt in Brocéliande. A bit of pointless pageantry. A diversion so she can wed in secret.
Or so she thinks.
In this rich and epic novel, the author of the acclaimed Winternight trilogy turns the real history of a remarkable woman into an unforgettable tale of mystery, enchantment, and the price of power.
14 pages, Audiobook
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Katherine Arden
17 books18.9k followersA note to everyone who trips and falls upon my Goodreads page. First, welcome. Let us read and discuss all the books together. I review books I've read, everything gets five stars, if I didn't like it I don't put it up.
Second, Goodreads is wondrous, but contacting me through my Goodreads DMs is a good way to ensure a long wait for a reply. Your best bet is Twitter or Instagram (arden_katherine) on both.
Happy reading.
Born in Texas, Katherine studied French and Russian at Middlebury College. She has lived abroad in France and in Moscow, among other places. She has also lived in Hawaii, where she wrote much of The Bear and the Nightingale. She currently lives in Vermont.
Second, Goodreads is wondrous, but contacting me through my Goodreads DMs is a good way to ensure a long wait for a reply. Your best bet is Twitter or Instagram (arden_katherine) on both.
Happy reading.
Born in Texas, Katherine studied French and Russian at Middlebury College. She has lived abroad in France and in Moscow, among other places. She has also lived in Hawaii, where she wrote much of The Bear and the Nightingale. She currently lives in Vermont.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 978 reviews
June 2, 2026
I once saw a book described as "Fantasy for people who don't like Fantasy," and I think something similar could be said about The Unicorn Hunters. This is Historical Fantasy for people who don't like History.
Or rather, this will appeal more to those who don't know the real history.
Full review at my website.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Or rather, this will appeal more to those who don't know the real history.
Full review at my website.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2026
When I first heard about this book I was in awe, because Katherine Arden and medieval unicorns are the absolute most perfect match of author and story that I can think of. That's also why I'm a bit bummed out that this didn't end up being the flawless 5-star read that I was hoping for. It's undoubtedly a well-written and well-researched novel that does stand out from the masses of new fantasy releases this year. By that I mean that I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to your everyday fantasy reader. It's also a deeply historical novel, reimagining the past and adding an otherworldly spin to it. This, of course, turned a bit into Katherine Arden's trademark over the years, but I still wished that this book was more magical. The titular unicorn hunt, for instance, is over very quickly; the legendary forest of Broceliande remains a mystery. Katherine Arden is exploring the time period through a different approach instead. She relies on a courtly setting and makes duchess Anne of Brittany the main character of this book. The story is set around 1490 when the situation between France and Brittany is tense and the future unclear. The Bretons already lost to the French, and Anne is meant to seal this defeat by marrying the French King and giving up her land. But she already has an intricate plan to save her country and her people. It begins by spreading rumors of a unicorn and planning its hunt and everyone knows that only a virginal and virtuous woman can lure such a creature, so Anne better stay unmarried until it is captured. But as I said, the unicorn hunt is only a small portion of this book. It's really only the beginning of a long string of events that shall lead to Brittany's safety, but there are multiple other parties working for or against this goal too. There are political maneuverings, manipulations and distractions, and also plenty of supernatural interferences. Strange powers from inside the forest follow Anne into her courtly life and make yet another problem that she has to face. She was truly a great main character to me. Anne is viewed as a pawn, a childish girl, supposed to be married for greater political goals and never questioning the decisions that others make over her head. But in reality she isn't a passive character at all and has so much agency, even in the most hopeless situations. She is clever and cunning and never stops fighting for her country. I just loved to follow Anne around. I didn't really get where her romantic feelings for a certain person came from at one point in the book, but I was happy to see her happy. The chapters from the POV of other characters weren't as memorable to me and I had the feeling that they were always over too quickly to really making an impact on the story. These characters also didn't get the closure that Anne got in the end and while the ending definitely was of the good-for-her kind, it also came rather abruptly for me. Which was strange, because the whole book is a relatively slow and long built-up. But while the pacing was not my favorite in the end, I did really like how the story got more and more ghostly and otherworldly. As I mentioned already, I would have loved it if the book really leaned into these fantastical elements instead of the historical side of things, but maybe that wouldn't be true to Katherine Arden's style. Overall, I'm pleased with this story, even if it went in a different direction than I thought it would. The Winternight Trilogy remains my unchallenged favorite by the author, but I will, of course, always pick up her new releases and hope for more such greatness.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2026
I've been eagerly anticipating reading this book ever since I learned that it is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy. The idea of combining two of my favorite genres is incredibly appealing, and I was certain I would enjoy the story.
And I was right.
I must admit, I initially knew very little about Anne of Brittany or of Brittany itself. To deepen my understanding, I did some research before diving into the book, eager to learn about the Queen who inspired the author. What I discovered painted her as a remarkably strong and courageous woman, someone who fought tirelessly throughout her life to keep Brittany independent from France. She did everything in her power to prevent her people from suffering under foreign domination. However, despite her relentless efforts, her plans were ultimately undone after her death by her second husband, who reversed her work. From everything I read, it became clear to me that her love for Brittany was profound, and she dedicated her life to its well-being.
Now, shifting to the story itself, since I’ve finished discussing my favorite subject, historical queens. The book begins as a historical fiction, with the author subtly weaving in hints of magic within this alternate world. The narrative takes a dramatic turn during the unicorn hunt, which is where the fantasy elements become prominent and intensely immersive. I do want to caution other readers that the pacing is quite slow in parts. If you’re not a fan of historical fiction, you might find it less engaging. Personally, I would say that the story comprises about 70% historical fiction and 30% fantasy, and this balance is what made it so compelling for me.
One aspect I especially appreciated was how the author structured the story using multiple POVs. This approach allowed us to see various sides of the conflict, revealing how each faction formulated its strategies, made plans, and negotiated with allies. It also provided a richer, more nuanced understanding of Anne of Brittany by presenting her through different perspectives. That said, not all the POVs resonated equally with me. I found the children’s characters and POVs particularly irritating; every time one of them opened their mouth, I felt an urge to slap them. The annoyance was so intense that I'm deducting a star from my rating simply because I couldn’t stand them.
Regarding the portrayal of Anne of Brittany, I thought it was quite faithful to what we know historically. She is depicted as intelligent, compassionate, and possessing a fighting spirit that surpasses many men. Her love for Brittany and her willingness to sacrifice everything to prevent its subjugation by France are vividly expressed. As the story progresses, she begins to realize that, with her newfound power, she no longer has to be a sacrificial figure. She can choose to rise as a leader and a person who does not need to surrender her body or her identity for Brittany's freedom. I found her character especially inspiring.
All the other characters in the novel were well-developed and intriguing, each exhibiting traits consistent with their real-life historical counterparts. Nevertheless, Anne of Brittany remained the heart of the story and the most captivating character. She drove the narrative forward, building the story brick by brick through her actions and decisions.
In conclusion, the book delivered precisely what I was looking for. I sincerely commend the author for blending history and fantasy so skillfully, perhaps not perfectly, but very effectively.
I also want to thank the author for beautifully depicting Brittany as a place full of magic, which really sparked my curiosity to learn more about it.
And I was right.
I must admit, I initially knew very little about Anne of Brittany or of Brittany itself. To deepen my understanding, I did some research before diving into the book, eager to learn about the Queen who inspired the author. What I discovered painted her as a remarkably strong and courageous woman, someone who fought tirelessly throughout her life to keep Brittany independent from France. She did everything in her power to prevent her people from suffering under foreign domination. However, despite her relentless efforts, her plans were ultimately undone after her death by her second husband, who reversed her work. From everything I read, it became clear to me that her love for Brittany was profound, and she dedicated her life to its well-being.
Now, shifting to the story itself, since I’ve finished discussing my favorite subject, historical queens. The book begins as a historical fiction, with the author subtly weaving in hints of magic within this alternate world. The narrative takes a dramatic turn during the unicorn hunt, which is where the fantasy elements become prominent and intensely immersive. I do want to caution other readers that the pacing is quite slow in parts. If you’re not a fan of historical fiction, you might find it less engaging. Personally, I would say that the story comprises about 70% historical fiction and 30% fantasy, and this balance is what made it so compelling for me.
One aspect I especially appreciated was how the author structured the story using multiple POVs. This approach allowed us to see various sides of the conflict, revealing how each faction formulated its strategies, made plans, and negotiated with allies. It also provided a richer, more nuanced understanding of Anne of Brittany by presenting her through different perspectives. That said, not all the POVs resonated equally with me. I found the children’s characters and POVs particularly irritating; every time one of them opened their mouth, I felt an urge to slap them. The annoyance was so intense that I'm deducting a star from my rating simply because I couldn’t stand them.
Regarding the portrayal of Anne of Brittany, I thought it was quite faithful to what we know historically. She is depicted as intelligent, compassionate, and possessing a fighting spirit that surpasses many men. Her love for Brittany and her willingness to sacrifice everything to prevent its subjugation by France are vividly expressed. As the story progresses, she begins to realize that, with her newfound power, she no longer has to be a sacrificial figure. She can choose to rise as a leader and a person who does not need to surrender her body or her identity for Brittany's freedom. I found her character especially inspiring.
All the other characters in the novel were well-developed and intriguing, each exhibiting traits consistent with their real-life historical counterparts. Nevertheless, Anne of Brittany remained the heart of the story and the most captivating character. She drove the narrative forward, building the story brick by brick through her actions and decisions.
In conclusion, the book delivered precisely what I was looking for. I sincerely commend the author for blending history and fantasy so skillfully, perhaps not perfectly, but very effectively.
I also want to thank the author for beautifully depicting Brittany as a place full of magic, which really sparked my curiosity to learn more about it.
April 4, 2026
Anne wanted to be married so little she came up with this elaborate unicorn scheme (and I love her for it)
Here for louis throwing himself across the room to come to her aid and for more men just being super devoted in the name of love tbh
In The Unicorn Hunters, historical meets the fantastical with France on the edge of obtaining Brittany and the magical forest of Brocéliande bringing magic and memory to the verge. Katherine Arden goes beyond the expected in her latest novel to show how the best parts of fantasy include history retold. Through her focus on Anne of Brittany, a woman placed into a singular narrative, Arden recontextualizes the life of the duchess, one where her cleverness finds resonance in the magic of a lost city and a forest of secrets. Most importantly, unicorns. There are unicorns. An elaborate lie built to retain control of Brittany leads to magic taking root within its borders, where portents, diviners, and courtly intrigue are at their height and vying for dominance. Swept away in a hunt for a unicorn and a lost world impressing itself upon a duchess, The Unicorn Hunters appeals to a magic just out of reach, but one that can be shaken out of sheer tenacity. Cunning women, delightful animal companions, and a strange otherworld all find a place within the confines of this audacious historical legend. The Unicorn Hunters is proof that Katherine Arden can do no wrong with her penchant for sweeping historical fantasy. That we need to have her spin on every kind of fairytale—and history for that matter.
Read my review
Bookstagram | Blog
Here for louis throwing himself across the room to come to her aid and for more men just being super devoted in the name of love tbh
In The Unicorn Hunters, historical meets the fantastical with France on the edge of obtaining Brittany and the magical forest of Brocéliande bringing magic and memory to the verge. Katherine Arden goes beyond the expected in her latest novel to show how the best parts of fantasy include history retold. Through her focus on Anne of Brittany, a woman placed into a singular narrative, Arden recontextualizes the life of the duchess, one where her cleverness finds resonance in the magic of a lost city and a forest of secrets. Most importantly, unicorns. There are unicorns. An elaborate lie built to retain control of Brittany leads to magic taking root within its borders, where portents, diviners, and courtly intrigue are at their height and vying for dominance. Swept away in a hunt for a unicorn and a lost world impressing itself upon a duchess, The Unicorn Hunters appeals to a magic just out of reach, but one that can be shaken out of sheer tenacity. Cunning women, delightful animal companions, and a strange otherworld all find a place within the confines of this audacious historical legend. The Unicorn Hunters is proof that Katherine Arden can do no wrong with her penchant for sweeping historical fantasy. That we need to have her spin on every kind of fairytale—and history for that matter.
Read my review
Bookstagram | Blog
arc-netgelley
February 27, 2026EDIT: GOT AN ARC LETS GOOOOO its getting devoured tonightttt
Gonna throw up from excitement, sounds like the perfect book omg
Gonna throw up from excitement, sounds like the perfect book omg
June 3, 2026
ARC provided by Del Rey - thank you so much !!
i'll post my review very soon !! :]
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
♡.) The Warm Hands of Ghosts ★★★★
1.) The Bear and the Nightingale ★★★★★
2.) The Girl in the Tower ★★★★★
3.) The Winter of the Witch ★★★★★
1.) Small Spaces ★★★★★
2.) Dead Voices ★★★★
i'll post my review very soon !! :]
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
♡.) The Warm Hands of Ghosts ★★★★
1.) The Bear and the Nightingale ★★★★★
2.) The Girl in the Tower ★★★★★
3.) The Winter of the Witch ★★★★★
1.) Small Spaces ★★★★★
2.) Dead Voices ★★★★
June 18, 2026
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
Still not sure if I’ll round this up to 5, I need to re-read it to be 100% sure. But, the book was very good indeed.
I received an arc of Katherine Arden’s newest book!!!
I don’t know why, but lately my feed has been full of edits of The Last Unicorn, and every single time I see one, my mind immediately goes to this book. At this point, I feel like I have to watch the movie first (shocking, I know, I’ve never seen it) before diving into The Unicorn Hunters.
I’m so excited that I have a vaild (and inescapable) reason to finally read a KA book. ☺️
Still not sure if I’ll round this up to 5, I need to re-read it to be 100% sure. But, the book was very good indeed.
I received an arc of Katherine Arden’s newest book!!!
I don’t know why, but lately my feed has been full of edits of The Last Unicorn, and every single time I see one, my mind immediately goes to this book. At this point, I feel like I have to watch the movie first (shocking, I know, I’ve never seen it) before diving into The Unicorn Hunters.
I’m so excited that I have a vaild (and inescapable) reason to finally read a KA book. ☺️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Katherine Arden's intricately crafted, atmospheric novel 'The Unicorn Hunters' examines the life of Anne of Brittany through the lens of fantasy...and isn't really about a unicorn or a unicorn hunt. I read this because Katherine Arden is one of my favourite fantasy authors, and loved it for many reasons. However, if you're planning on reading this specifically for the unicorn, you'll probably end up disappointed.
I love how the blurb gives away almost nothing about what the book is really about. It's not about the unicorn. In fact, the titular unicorn hunt concluded at around the 20% mark, and it was the aftermath of the hunt that really kicked off the story. The only spoiler I'll give is that no harm comes to the unicorn in the story. She plays an important role in Anne's story, but doesn't have a lot of screen time (page time?). The fantasy aspect of the book focuses on...a certain other element of Breton folklore. At its heart, 'The Unicorn Hunters' is about Anne's desire to protect Brittany from the French, and the lengths to which she'll go to achieve that.
Anne is yet another addition to Katherine Arden's strong-willed and incredibly compelling female protagonists. Her willingness to save her people at the cost of entering a loveless marriage for the rest of her life was quite moving. She was never the damsel in distress. There was a lot of scheming and political maneuvering involved, which is something I always love to see. The side characters were also well-written. I loved Anne's relationship with her sister Isabeau and half-brother Henri. This is yet another book where cats have the ability to travel between worlds, and honestly, I can't complain about that! The way Arden embellished the story with historical details, atmosphere, and customs and traditions of the time period was another highlight for me. The characters didn't talk like 21st century Americans; the dialogue and the prose suited the setting. As much as I'd love to rave about the fantasy elements of this book, I'd recommend that you go in blind. Not knowing what turns the story would take after the unicorn hunt really made my experience better. I appreciate how beautifully balanced the fantasy and historical elements were. The plot in historical fantasy novels often tends to favor one genre over the other, which I didn't feel was the case here. The ending was entirely unexpected and deeply satisfying.
My only two (minor) complaints would be that the pacing dragged in some parts, and the two sex scenes were a bit too long. They read like something straight out of a romantasy when the rest of the book is absolutely not that.
Overall, I'd say that Katherine Arden's newest was worth the wait. Reading it felt like reading an old folktale, something nostalgic and refreshingly new at once. I'd highly recommend this to both fantasy and historical fiction lovers!
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Katherine Arden's intricately crafted, atmospheric novel 'The Unicorn Hunters' examines the life of Anne of Brittany through the lens of fantasy...and isn't really about a unicorn or a unicorn hunt. I read this because Katherine Arden is one of my favourite fantasy authors, and loved it for many reasons. However, if you're planning on reading this specifically for the unicorn, you'll probably end up disappointed.
I love how the blurb gives away almost nothing about what the book is really about. It's not about the unicorn. In fact, the titular unicorn hunt concluded at around the 20% mark, and it was the aftermath of the hunt that really kicked off the story. The only spoiler I'll give is that no harm comes to the unicorn in the story. She plays an important role in Anne's story, but doesn't have a lot of screen time (page time?). The fantasy aspect of the book focuses on...a certain other element of Breton folklore. At its heart, 'The Unicorn Hunters' is about Anne's desire to protect Brittany from the French, and the lengths to which she'll go to achieve that.
Anne is yet another addition to Katherine Arden's strong-willed and incredibly compelling female protagonists. Her willingness to save her people at the cost of entering a loveless marriage for the rest of her life was quite moving. She was never the damsel in distress. There was a lot of scheming and political maneuvering involved, which is something I always love to see. The side characters were also well-written. I loved Anne's relationship with her sister Isabeau and half-brother Henri. This is yet another book where cats have the ability to travel between worlds, and honestly, I can't complain about that! The way Arden embellished the story with historical details, atmosphere, and customs and traditions of the time period was another highlight for me. The characters didn't talk like 21st century Americans; the dialogue and the prose suited the setting. As much as I'd love to rave about the fantasy elements of this book, I'd recommend that you go in blind. Not knowing what turns the story would take after the unicorn hunt really made my experience better. I appreciate how beautifully balanced the fantasy and historical elements were. The plot in historical fantasy novels often tends to favor one genre over the other, which I didn't feel was the case here. The ending was entirely unexpected and deeply satisfying.
My only two (minor) complaints would be that the pacing dragged in some parts, and the two sex scenes were a bit too long. They read like something straight out of a romantasy when the rest of the book is absolutely not that.
Overall, I'd say that Katherine Arden's newest was worth the wait. Reading it felt like reading an old folktale, something nostalgic and refreshingly new at once. I'd highly recommend this to both fantasy and historical fiction lovers!
June 15, 2026
This book tries to be a love story, a historical fiction of political intrigue, and a fantasy novel with otherworldly faeries — all within a brisk 350 pages — and it epically fails at every one of them.
The setting is aggressively not historical; these characters feel transported straight from the 2020s US. There’s no sexism, a young virginal duchess who is betrothed to another monarch is often left alone with a guy without a chaperone so they can casually engage in heavy petting (and they do), and apparently nobody is religious in medieval France. I mean, have you seen how men spoke to and behaved toward women in the 1960s?? Also, the real Anne of Brittany might have been smart and spunky for her era, but she was married off at 14 and by the time she was first widowed at 21, she had already buried six children.
The characters are drawn with the barest of strokes. They do not exist outside the story; they don’t seem to have personalities or desires. The fantastical world of faeries and dragons is barely there and not particularly fantastical. The magic is vague and our special boss girl can easily access any skill she need for the task without any time wasted on learning or practising. If she needs a magical skill, she just concentrates and succeeds the first time.
And my favorite love stories are, of course, the ones that have zero longing or pining and no witty banter. You have a chiseled jaw and a smoldering glance? You’ll do.
This is a very disappointing foray into historical fantasy(??) by, at this point, an experienced writer who claims inspiration from the greats I also love — Mary Renault, Dorothy Dunnett, McKinley, Patrick O’Brian — people who write smart historical fiction for adults, and definitely fantastic at world and mood building.
But hey, this inspired me to ask my library for Post Captain, so that’s something.
The setting is aggressively not historical; these characters feel transported straight from the 2020s US. There’s no sexism, a young virginal duchess who is betrothed to another monarch is often left alone with a guy without a chaperone so they can casually engage in heavy petting (and they do), and apparently nobody is religious in medieval France. I mean, have you seen how men spoke to and behaved toward women in the 1960s?? Also, the real Anne of Brittany might have been smart and spunky for her era, but she was married off at 14 and by the time she was first widowed at 21, she had already buried six children.
The characters are drawn with the barest of strokes. They do not exist outside the story; they don’t seem to have personalities or desires. The fantastical world of faeries and dragons is barely there and not particularly fantastical. The magic is vague and our special boss girl can easily access any skill she need for the task without any time wasted on learning or practising. If she needs a magical skill, she just concentrates and succeeds the first time.
And my favorite love stories are, of course, the ones that have zero longing or pining and no witty banter. You have a chiseled jaw and a smoldering glance? You’ll do.
This is a very disappointing foray into historical fantasy(??) by, at this point, an experienced writer who claims inspiration from the greats I also love — Mary Renault, Dorothy Dunnett, McKinley, Patrick O’Brian — people who write smart historical fiction for adults, and definitely fantastic at world and mood building.
But hey, this inspired me to ask my library for Post Captain, so that’s something.
Currently Reading
February 26, 2026couldn't resist starting this last night... will any unicorns actually be hurt in this? please no 🙁
_________________
Thank you to Del Rey for the ARC.
_________________
Thank you to Del Rey for the ARC.
June 13, 2026
There's no question, Arden's latest novel The Unicorn Hunters (TUH) is beautifully written--her prose is always stellar. And Anne, our protagonist, is a well developed, strong, clever character whom I think most readers will enjoy. I loved her. But readers should be warned not to expect anything like the Winternight Trilogy. I wish someone had warned me. TUH is more like historical fiction, only the history has been reimagined nearly completely. The fantastical bits are few and far between. Yes, there is a unicorn hunt, but I almost feel like the title was manipulative as it is over nearly as soon as it starts. The most interesting fantastical element is a deep, dark forest known for its odd, paranormal, supernatural vibe. All of that said, if I had expected historical fiction reimagined, I probably would not be feeling let down. If this were the first book I had ever read by Ms. Arden, I may even have loved it. This is the sort of book you can give to all of your friends and relatives who have proclaimed that they don't read fantasy. It might serve as a gateway into the genre.
Read
April 11, 2026This novel is historical fantasy done well. I should say up front that many readers want their historical fantasy or historical romance to be modern Americans (I use that term deliberately) stuck in the past, with their 21st Century language and outlook held up as the epitome of qool. Which is fine! But it doesn't happen to be where my interests lie.
Here, Arden gives us a semblance of the medieval outlook excellently blended with magic, to create a stunning alternate history, focusing on Anne of Brittany. The story posits what her life would have been like if she had been able to avoid marrying King Charles of France.
Anne is a teenager raised to the idea that women in her postion must sacrifice themselves through their marriages to the benefit of their land. Anne does not want her lands to be absorbed by France, so she looks for another husband who might save Brittany. Using every skill and wit she has, within the limitations possible for women, and some magic from beyond the world we know, Anne finds a way to true power. And yep, the unicorn is absolutely necessary.
I really loved this book, reading it slowly to make it last. The women in it are strong individuals with passion and complexity (and delights, such as the fierce little maid with a cat named Butter) the men interesting, but do not overwhelm the story. I really appreciated the balance here--and look forward to rereading it. As well as eagerly anticipating her next!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Me : I have many arcs to read… I will wait closer to release date.
Also me : I CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER
Huge thanks to NetGalley & Del Rey for this arc 😭 you have made me soooo happy 💗
Katherine Arden has done it again!
She has woven Historical Fiction into a dark fairytale - and even if I didn’t expect the story to be like that (nothing in the blurb made me believe the story would happen that way) I absolutely got swooped in and couldn’t put it down.
I’ve read almost every Katherine Arden’s novels so far (the only one left is the last book of her first trilogy) - and there’s one thing for certain… this woman can write strong female characters and I simply cannot get enough.
We follow Anne, the Duchess of Brittany in her many quests and ideas as to not be married & annexed to Charles of France. She is smart, witty & always sees the light… no matter how dark it gets.
Anne also has a little sister, Isabeau - who was as smart, but maybe more bold than her older sister (if that is to be believed!).
And then we follow my little diamond - Elesbed & her cat Butter. Oh they were everything to me! How many times did they save the day? Those quiet secondary characters really had all my heart. I wish we had more of her backstory and I would 100000% read a novel about her (also Butter!!).
The only tiny thing that hindered my reading experience had to do with the pacing. It sometimes moved very fast - while some other instances were unearthly slow. I could’ve done without the sex scenes but that is 100% a personal preference.
Now if you’re reading this for the unicorns - you might be disappointed ; because the journey was about more than the unicorn (even if I absolutely loved every chapters with the animal in it). I absolutely loved the ending & cannot wait to see what Katherine Arden comes up with next!
Also me : I CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER
Huge thanks to NetGalley & Del Rey for this arc 😭 you have made me soooo happy 💗
Katherine Arden has done it again!
She has woven Historical Fiction into a dark fairytale - and even if I didn’t expect the story to be like that (nothing in the blurb made me believe the story would happen that way) I absolutely got swooped in and couldn’t put it down.
I’ve read almost every Katherine Arden’s novels so far (the only one left is the last book of her first trilogy) - and there’s one thing for certain… this woman can write strong female characters and I simply cannot get enough.
We follow Anne, the Duchess of Brittany in her many quests and ideas as to not be married & annexed to Charles of France. She is smart, witty & always sees the light… no matter how dark it gets.
Anne also has a little sister, Isabeau - who was as smart, but maybe more bold than her older sister (if that is to be believed!).
And then we follow my little diamond - Elesbed & her cat Butter. Oh they were everything to me! How many times did they save the day? Those quiet secondary characters really had all my heart. I wish we had more of her backstory and I would 100000% read a novel about her (also Butter!!).
The only tiny thing that hindered my reading experience had to do with the pacing. It sometimes moved very fast - while some other instances were unearthly slow. I could’ve done without the sex scenes but that is 100% a personal preference.
Now if you’re reading this for the unicorns - you might be disappointed ; because the journey was about more than the unicorn (even if I absolutely loved every chapters with the animal in it). I absolutely loved the ending & cannot wait to see what Katherine Arden comes up with next!
June 14, 2026
I've been dithering between 2-3 stars and have rounded up because of the gorgeous cover. Just a shame that there's so little unicorn in the actual story.
This is my first Arden and perhaps not the best place to start as seasoned readers who I buddy-read this with have been disappointed. As others have said, the merging of real medieval French history and something more fantastical doesn't really work here. Anne of Brittany is a real person whose factual history is known: to turn her and Anne of France - here renamed Marguerite since, according to the author's afterword, there was a fear that readers wouldn't be able to keep two Annes apart! - into Disney princess and Disney villainess is quite a move. Add in Louis d'Orleans as a perfect knight, whose wife is conveniently disposed of (in history, he went on to take the French throne as Louis XII, and did marry Anne as one of both of their multiple dynastic marriages) and the history might have well been dispensed with. Given that this is all about an Anne as proto-feminist with no real engagement with medieval culture, I couldn't help wondering why the book didn't just go with completely fictional characters.
Some of the faerie stuff is fun to read: the magic and sorcery, the (severely underused) unicorn, the drowned city of Keris, the Castle of Never-Was - but it jars with the medieval history that brings it all down with a bump. In this world of the book, two aristocratic sisters ruling the duchy of Brittany can basically just wander around by themselves with no ladies maids, castle guards etc. and enjoy privacy at a time when that concept didn't really exist. They also pick up and rescue an abandoned orphan who becomes their new best friend as if class distinctions that were such an important part of medieval social hierarchies have just been wiped away.
I guess I could have gone with the trampling over French history if I'd been enthralled by the story: while I did like it as a light read, the characters are one-dimensional and the writing is serviceable but without flair. Anne is beautiful, brilliant, sexy, charismatic and everyone falls over themselves in adoration of her - except the villains, especially Marguerite, who is cartoonish in her wickedness and wrong-doing - boo shucks that all her iniquitous plans are foiled by good Anne!
In the end, I *did* have some fun reading this though I had to switch off all my critical faculties and just go with some of the silliness. There's never a sense of urgency or anything really being at stake here: the goodies are clearly going to win out against the sorcerer and 'bad' Marguerite, while Anne tames a unicorn in a page and learns to wield magic and walk through shadows with a snap of her fingers.
In the end, I liked this enough as a lightweight, slightly silly holiday read but I'd expected something more substantial than that.
Many thanks to Random House, Cornerstone for an ARC via NetGalley - and to the Dunnetteers buddy readers for all your usual erudition, snark and humour!
This is my first Arden and perhaps not the best place to start as seasoned readers who I buddy-read this with have been disappointed. As others have said, the merging of real medieval French history and something more fantastical doesn't really work here. Anne of Brittany is a real person whose factual history is known: to turn her and Anne of France - here renamed Marguerite since, according to the author's afterword, there was a fear that readers wouldn't be able to keep two Annes apart! - into Disney princess and Disney villainess is quite a move. Add in Louis d'Orleans as a perfect knight, whose wife is conveniently disposed of (in history, he went on to take the French throne as Louis XII, and did marry Anne as one of both of their multiple dynastic marriages) and the history might have well been dispensed with. Given that this is all about an Anne as proto-feminist with no real engagement with medieval culture, I couldn't help wondering why the book didn't just go with completely fictional characters.
Some of the faerie stuff is fun to read: the magic and sorcery, the (severely underused) unicorn, the drowned city of Keris, the Castle of Never-Was - but it jars with the medieval history that brings it all down with a bump. In this world of the book, two aristocratic sisters ruling the duchy of Brittany can basically just wander around by themselves with no ladies maids, castle guards etc. and enjoy privacy at a time when that concept didn't really exist. They also pick up and rescue an abandoned orphan who becomes their new best friend as if class distinctions that were such an important part of medieval social hierarchies have just been wiped away.
I guess I could have gone with the trampling over French history if I'd been enthralled by the story: while I did like it as a light read, the characters are one-dimensional and the writing is serviceable but without flair. Anne is beautiful, brilliant, sexy, charismatic and everyone falls over themselves in adoration of her - except the villains, especially Marguerite, who is cartoonish in her wickedness and wrong-doing - boo shucks that all her iniquitous plans are foiled by good Anne!
In the end, I *did* have some fun reading this though I had to switch off all my critical faculties and just go with some of the silliness. There's never a sense of urgency or anything really being at stake here: the goodies are clearly going to win out against the sorcerer and 'bad' Marguerite, while Anne tames a unicorn in a page and learns to wield magic and walk through shadows with a snap of her fingers.
In the end, I liked this enough as a lightweight, slightly silly holiday read but I'd expected something more substantial than that.
Many thanks to Random House, Cornerstone for an ARC via NetGalley - and to the Dunnetteers buddy readers for all your usual erudition, snark and humour!
June 4, 2026
°˖➴
post-read : NO ONE WERE COUSINS.
pre-read : ANOTHER ARC ACCEPTED FOR AN ANTICIPATED RELEASE. I AM SPOILED ʚ₍ᐢ ›̥̥̥ ༝ ‹̥̥̥ ᐢ₎ɞ
post-read : NO ONE WERE COUSINS.
pre-read : ANOTHER ARC ACCEPTED FOR AN ANTICIPATED RELEASE. I AM SPOILED ʚ₍ᐢ ›̥̥̥ ༝ ‹̥̥̥ ᐢ₎ɞ
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love that Arden looked at the heartbreakingly short life of the real Anne of Brittany and said : let's try that again but give the girl a unicorn.
There is something gentle and almost wondering about this story. Despite being set around real historical events with their respective real historical figures, which should have lent the story weight, instead this felt.. light. Gossamer. Almost like the old-timey fairytales that sprinkled it's pages. However, unlike, say, The Winternight Trilogy, I never felt there as much depth to this to sink into or immerse myself in — but nonetheless it left an impression. And it was still a delight to wander through the sun-dappled shallows.
The cast of THE UNICORN HUNTERS is (mostly!) filled with charming and likeable characters and top billing goes, of course, to Anne. She's quick-witted and clever and capable of mentally outmaneuvering almost anyone, and everyone, she faces. She's also incredibly self-sacrificing and honestly if I had to call someone to get me out of a jam, particularly one that was politically charged, she'd be my number one. But there are devils at work, too. Both those of the world of men — the King of France, his conniving sister — and those of the world beyond. And the latter? Woof. Arden does a great job of crafting her villain because each time they popped onto the page I wished increasingly worse horrors upon them.
In addition to the general wonderment and charm, we also had a lovely slowburn romance to balance out some of the evils. And spoiler alert : you might find yourself adding a new book boyfriend to ye ol' collection.
I do feel there was some issue with the pacing and occasionally abrupt scene switches but that aside I had a really good time in this new world by a much beloved author.
This story is an alt-historical fantasy complete with politics, magic and quests, lands lost to time and shadow, a host of strong women, and a cat named Butter. If any of that sounds appealing, I would definitely recommend.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
There is something gentle and almost wondering about this story. Despite being set around real historical events with their respective real historical figures, which should have lent the story weight, instead this felt.. light. Gossamer. Almost like the old-timey fairytales that sprinkled it's pages. However, unlike, say, The Winternight Trilogy, I never felt there as much depth to this to sink into or immerse myself in — but nonetheless it left an impression. And it was still a delight to wander through the sun-dappled shallows.
The cast of THE UNICORN HUNTERS is (mostly!) filled with charming and likeable characters and top billing goes, of course, to Anne. She's quick-witted and clever and capable of mentally outmaneuvering almost anyone, and everyone, she faces. She's also incredibly self-sacrificing and honestly if I had to call someone to get me out of a jam, particularly one that was politically charged, she'd be my number one. But there are devils at work, too. Both those of the world of men — the King of France, his conniving sister — and those of the world beyond. And the latter? Woof. Arden does a great job of crafting her villain because each time they popped onto the page I wished increasingly worse horrors upon them.
In addition to the general wonderment and charm, we also had a lovely slowburn romance to balance out some of the evils. And spoiler alert : you might find yourself adding a new book boyfriend to ye ol' collection.
I do feel there was some issue with the pacing and occasionally abrupt scene switches but that aside I had a really good time in this new world by a much beloved author.
This story is an alt-historical fantasy complete with politics, magic and quests, lands lost to time and shadow, a host of strong women, and a cat named Butter. If any of that sounds appealing, I would definitely recommend.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
you're in her DMs marrying her by proxy, I'm wandering through the Lost Lands for her.
This book was absolutely everything my medieval romance (little r, not to be confused with the modern Romance genre) loving heart ever wanted. Katherine Arden has written a beautifully imagined historical fantasy novel that leans heavily on fairytales and myths, but even moreso on the courtly politics of the era.
First things first I adore Katherine Arden and her rich writing, and I have since I first cracked open The Bear and the Nightingale. But I will note, this wouldn't be the Arden book I recommend to a new fantasy reader. That honor goes to The Bear and The Nightingale, which feels much more of a coming of age fantasy tale, though it leans on the same historical fantasy mixed with myth trademarks.
But I got something different from this story...something that is so hard to describe but...that I've rarely felt. I haven't read many books that made me feel like I did here. Like I had actually stepped back in time, into an older world that - frankly - doesn't exist. It somehow felt like a combination of Under the Starlit Tide and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell somehow? And yet the feeling that I'm most captivated by is of looking at those medieval figures so flat and alien in a tapestry and seeing them as something fully rounded and real. I'm obsessed.
This story is about Anne of Brittany, a duchess determined to maintain her independence from France. Of course, this is a reimagining of history, and it naturally affords Anne choices that perhaps she wouldn't have had. But I think that's the beauty of the story.
Arden perfectly captures the feelings that a good sovereign would have toward her people: the necessary sacrifices, the impossibility of personal happiness, the responsibility and privilege combined.
Anne is an exceptional character - truly one of Arden's best.
The impossibility of it shook her, but it was her whole life's work to take impossibilities and act to make them real. To decide. To rule.
Louis of Orleans...where do we start. The knight of my dreams. The girls want more devoted knights. The girls want Louis of Orleans. The girls need a man with a sword ready to do battle for his lady.
He was shaken by his heart's own triumphant beating as it overbore, at last and forever, his head
Anyway...off to...convince myself I can pick up any other book now.
This book was absolutely everything my medieval romance (little r, not to be confused with the modern Romance genre) loving heart ever wanted. Katherine Arden has written a beautifully imagined historical fantasy novel that leans heavily on fairytales and myths, but even moreso on the courtly politics of the era.
First things first I adore Katherine Arden and her rich writing, and I have since I first cracked open The Bear and the Nightingale. But I will note, this wouldn't be the Arden book I recommend to a new fantasy reader. That honor goes to The Bear and The Nightingale, which feels much more of a coming of age fantasy tale, though it leans on the same historical fantasy mixed with myth trademarks.
But I got something different from this story...something that is so hard to describe but...that I've rarely felt. I haven't read many books that made me feel like I did here. Like I had actually stepped back in time, into an older world that - frankly - doesn't exist. It somehow felt like a combination of Under the Starlit Tide and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell somehow? And yet the feeling that I'm most captivated by is of looking at those medieval figures so flat and alien in a tapestry and seeing them as something fully rounded and real. I'm obsessed.
This story is about Anne of Brittany, a duchess determined to maintain her independence from France. Of course, this is a reimagining of history, and it naturally affords Anne choices that perhaps she wouldn't have had. But I think that's the beauty of the story.
Arden perfectly captures the feelings that a good sovereign would have toward her people: the necessary sacrifices, the impossibility of personal happiness, the responsibility and privilege combined.
Anne is an exceptional character - truly one of Arden's best.
The impossibility of it shook her, but it was her whole life's work to take impossibilities and act to make them real. To decide. To rule.
Louis of Orleans...where do we start. The knight of my dreams. The girls want more devoted knights. The girls want Louis of Orleans. The girls need a man with a sword ready to do battle for his lady.
He was shaken by his heart's own triumphant beating as it overbore, at last and forever, his head
Anyway...off to...convince myself I can pick up any other book now.
Want to Read
October 24, 2025I am beyond EXCITED for this one!!! NEED THIS ONE NEOWWWW!
June 17, 2026
I may come back to write a longer review, but until then, here's the unfiltered gist:
Whether Katherine Arden chose Fantasy to make Historical Fiction cooler or Historical Fiction to make Fantasy feel more real, she failed on both accounts spectacularly. In her hands these two genres just acted as bad excuses and, sadly, amplified the worst traits of both.
The writing was juvenile, crude and disconnected, the storytelling was inconsistent with huge plotholes, cartoonish goodies and baddies and don't even get me started on the let's-give-medieval-characters-21st century sensibilities-because-readers-can't-handle-reality-and-neither-can-I.
It felt like it came from an inexperienced, first-time author with a draft for a book, definitely not like it had been written by the author of the Winternight Trilogy.
Whether Katherine Arden chose Fantasy to make Historical Fiction cooler or Historical Fiction to make Fantasy feel more real, she failed on both accounts spectacularly. In her hands these two genres just acted as bad excuses and, sadly, amplified the worst traits of both.
The writing was juvenile, crude and disconnected, the storytelling was inconsistent with huge plotholes, cartoonish goodies and baddies and don't even get me started on the let's-give-medieval-characters-21st century sensibilities-because-readers-can't-handle-reality-and-neither-can-I.
It felt like it came from an inexperienced, first-time author with a draft for a book, definitely not like it had been written by the author of the Winternight Trilogy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 stars. Oh my gosh I am SMITTEN with this book. Completely transportive, so rich in history and magic, and some of the loveliest storytelling I’ve ever read.
I’m trying to think of my favorite thing about this book and it’s just all of it. The political scheming, the atmosphere of 15th century France, the folklore tied into real historical events, the magic you can feel tinkling in the air, the found family, themes of sisterhood and loyalty, the dark sinister elements, and the ROMANTIC SUBPLOT THAT I WAS NOT EXPECTING?!?! Chef’s kiss. All of it.
I’m trying to think of my favorite thing about this book and it’s just all of it. The political scheming, the atmosphere of 15th century France, the folklore tied into real historical events, the magic you can feel tinkling in the air, the found family, themes of sisterhood and loyalty, the dark sinister elements, and the ROMANTIC SUBPLOT THAT I WAS NOT EXPECTING?!?! Chef’s kiss. All of it.
April 27, 2026
Men who yearn are exquisite but have become so rare, women are fleeing to the forest to hunt unicorns.
Themes & Sparks: historical fantasy, french history, faerie lore and magical creatures, unicorns, womenhood in the context of history, political and court intriugues, sisterhood, love and grief, proof that cats are indeed the best
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden was an enchanting historical fantasy novel that felt like a light spring breeze and a fairytale of a story.
Set in medieval France, this novel brilliantly blended together court intrigues and historical politics with divination and faerie lore. This combination made for an enthralling and captivating story, as both have darker connotations to them and complemented each other perfectly.
Therefore, Anne of Brittany did not only have to deal with the threat of both a marriage to and a war with France, but also with cunning diviners, dangerous faerie creatures, and long-lost cities. And because one thread of an unwanted marriage wasn’t enough, she also had to deal with a mysterious faerie king wanting to marry her. Given that Anne was a woman of power both in real life and in this novel, I loved how this story explored the question of what it means to wield power and how the answer depended on the goodness of a person's heart. Closely linked to that, the historical connotation of The Unicorn Hunters made this a story of female sacrifice.
However, The Unicorn Hunters simultaneously shone with the bright light of sibling hood, newfound friendship, and the mythical power of the unicorn. On that note, I really enjoyed how this novel took place in a version of our world in which unicorns were not unheard of, as it gave it such a fairytale-esque, forest-y, and whimsical atmosphere. I fully blame this next remark on the US cover, but if I had to attribute colours to this novel, it would definitely be green, an orangey yellow, and white. I say this because these are indeed a perfect representation of the aforementioned atmosphere of the story. Along with that, and to emphasize the fairytale character of The Unicorn Hunters, I really enjoyed exploring but also asking myself whether stories take root in the real world or whether the real world is just a reflection of these stories.
Lastly, and on a more general note, Katherine Arden has a wonderfully atmospheric writing style and sense for prose, which enchanted the reader just as much as the magic did to the characters in the book. I also really loved the romance between Anne and Louis, as it was such an exquisite case of yearning with so much tension and history. An element about this novel that was also deeply moving was the relationship between Anne and her little sister, Isabeau. It was built on so much love and the desire to protect each other; it was as heartwarming as it was heartbreaking from time to time.
Overall, if you like atmospheric historcial fanatsy book and are a fan of Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke or The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood, then The Unicorn Hunters is the perfect novel for you.
Thank you so much to PRH, Dely Rey and Inklore for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Themes & Sparks: historical fantasy, french history, faerie lore and magical creatures, unicorns, womenhood in the context of history, political and court intriugues, sisterhood, love and grief, proof that cats are indeed the best
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden was an enchanting historical fantasy novel that felt like a light spring breeze and a fairytale of a story.
Set in medieval France, this novel brilliantly blended together court intrigues and historical politics with divination and faerie lore. This combination made for an enthralling and captivating story, as both have darker connotations to them and complemented each other perfectly.
Therefore, Anne of Brittany did not only have to deal with the threat of both a marriage to and a war with France, but also with cunning diviners, dangerous faerie creatures, and long-lost cities. And because one thread of an unwanted marriage wasn’t enough, she also had to deal with a mysterious faerie king wanting to marry her. Given that Anne was a woman of power both in real life and in this novel, I loved how this story explored the question of what it means to wield power and how the answer depended on the goodness of a person's heart. Closely linked to that, the historical connotation of The Unicorn Hunters made this a story of female sacrifice.
However, The Unicorn Hunters simultaneously shone with the bright light of sibling hood, newfound friendship, and the mythical power of the unicorn. On that note, I really enjoyed how this novel took place in a version of our world in which unicorns were not unheard of, as it gave it such a fairytale-esque, forest-y, and whimsical atmosphere. I fully blame this next remark on the US cover, but if I had to attribute colours to this novel, it would definitely be green, an orangey yellow, and white. I say this because these are indeed a perfect representation of the aforementioned atmosphere of the story. Along with that, and to emphasize the fairytale character of The Unicorn Hunters, I really enjoyed exploring but also asking myself whether stories take root in the real world or whether the real world is just a reflection of these stories.
Lastly, and on a more general note, Katherine Arden has a wonderfully atmospheric writing style and sense for prose, which enchanted the reader just as much as the magic did to the characters in the book. I also really loved the romance between Anne and Louis, as it was such an exquisite case of yearning with so much tension and history. An element about this novel that was also deeply moving was the relationship between Anne and her little sister, Isabeau. It was built on so much love and the desire to protect each other; it was as heartwarming as it was heartbreaking from time to time.
Overall, if you like atmospheric historcial fanatsy book and are a fan of Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke or The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood, then The Unicorn Hunters is the perfect novel for you.
Thank you so much to PRH, Dely Rey and Inklore for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A medieval fantasy bursting with whimsy, political intrigue, a a unicorn, a scheming duchess, courtly romance, and enemies at the gate I was locked in from the start, fascinated, thinking “I could read a million of these stories!”, I adored The Last Unicorn. Based on the true story of Anne of Brittany who held out against France due to her father’s last wishes for her people, our Anne distracts from the incoming marriage alliance with a “Unicorn Hunt”. She was holding out on a Hail Mary from Maximillian, son of the Holy Roman Emperor. When a real Unicorn is found magic and folklore starts trickling in to the story the world opens even more. Chock full of interesting characters and a slow burn romance this was a page turner. I think readers who love historical fiction or historical romance would be attracted to the story as the fantasy bits don’t really come in full steam until the middle.
For me the ending started to slow down as it felt more tedious and the lost city/kerrigan aspects didn’t appeal to me quite as much but I think overall it was a very enjoyable read. I loved the folklore and ideas behind the story.
🏰 Folklore Historical Fantasy
🏰 Slow burn Romance
🏰 Smart Independent Queen
🏰 HEA Ending
🏰 Open Door, Med Spice
🏰 He carries Her, fights for her
🏰 Courtly Love
🏰 Scheming and Political Intrigue
🏰 Unicorns and Mythical creatures, Sorcery
🏰 Love on the run
🏰 Close family, sister and brother
*No Unicorns killed in the book 🦄✌🏼
Publication Date June 2, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and DelRey/Penquin for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
For me the ending started to slow down as it felt more tedious and the lost city/kerrigan aspects didn’t appeal to me quite as much but I think overall it was a very enjoyable read. I loved the folklore and ideas behind the story.
🏰 Folklore Historical Fantasy
🏰 Slow burn Romance
🏰 Smart Independent Queen
🏰 HEA Ending
🏰 Open Door, Med Spice
🏰 He carries Her, fights for her
🏰 Courtly Love
🏰 Scheming and Political Intrigue
🏰 Unicorns and Mythical creatures, Sorcery
🏰 Love on the run
🏰 Close family, sister and brother
*No Unicorns killed in the book 🦄✌🏼
Publication Date June 2, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and DelRey/Penquin for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2026
OK, let’s talk about real historical figures in fantasy books. YAY or NAY? I am ok with it as long as the story isn’t completely wild, and the author has a good idea of where and why they took the liberties that they did. In Arden’s authors note, she passed the vibe check!
She is firmly one of my auto buy authors at this point and The Unicorn Hunters is anothet solid read.
I had to hard check my brain because Robin LaFevers wrote the version of Anne of Brittany and her court that lives in my head. I loved the Courting Darkness duology and all of the His Fair Assassin characters, and it was HARD to read a totally different fantastical spin on the same court. Once I scrubbed the old Anne and Isobeau out of my brain, by sheer force of will, I had an enjoyable time reading.
I love stories set in that period of time where the lore and legends of the Bretons were on their way out to changing times and hopeless political rivals. Why not throw in a Unicorn, a fresh version of the fair folk, and make Orléans the love interest? Like clearly Anne doesn’t get a happy ending in real life. I do think this story also would have worked with fictional characters in a fictional setting though.
I have heard some reviewers say that the fantasy elements are lower in The Unicorn Hunters, and I’d respectfully disagree. There’s plenty of enchantment, layers of the world, knightly deeds, and a shift towards the supernatural. I mean no, it’s not flaming swords and active spellcasting, but there is enough folklore and legend that I’d never believe there wasn’t enough fantasy.
We all saw what Arden did with Russian folklore in The Winternight Trilogy, she makes this just as enticing!
I liked the characters and the political maneuvering. Anne is strong, smart, and a great sister. There was just enough humor delivered at the right moments. Arden knows when to be serious and when to banter, and there’s tons of great dialogue. My only gripe was 1) I really didn’t think we needed the “romantic” scenes and 2) it took a while for me to adjust to Arden’s version of the characters, which is not the book’s fault.
I would recommend for anyone interested, but keep it 18+ due to a small amount of not quite closed door romance! Out now!
She is firmly one of my auto buy authors at this point and The Unicorn Hunters is anothet solid read.
I had to hard check my brain because Robin LaFevers wrote the version of Anne of Brittany and her court that lives in my head. I loved the Courting Darkness duology and all of the His Fair Assassin characters, and it was HARD to read a totally different fantastical spin on the same court. Once I scrubbed the old Anne and Isobeau out of my brain, by sheer force of will, I had an enjoyable time reading.
I love stories set in that period of time where the lore and legends of the Bretons were on their way out to changing times and hopeless political rivals. Why not throw in a Unicorn, a fresh version of the fair folk, and make Orléans the love interest? Like clearly Anne doesn’t get a happy ending in real life. I do think this story also would have worked with fictional characters in a fictional setting though.
I have heard some reviewers say that the fantasy elements are lower in The Unicorn Hunters, and I’d respectfully disagree. There’s plenty of enchantment, layers of the world, knightly deeds, and a shift towards the supernatural. I mean no, it’s not flaming swords and active spellcasting, but there is enough folklore and legend that I’d never believe there wasn’t enough fantasy.
We all saw what Arden did with Russian folklore in The Winternight Trilogy, she makes this just as enticing!
I liked the characters and the political maneuvering. Anne is strong, smart, and a great sister. There was just enough humor delivered at the right moments. Arden knows when to be serious and when to banter, and there’s tons of great dialogue. My only gripe was 1) I really didn’t think we needed the “romantic” scenes and 2) it took a while for me to adjust to Arden’s version of the characters, which is not the book’s fault.
I would recommend for anyone interested, but keep it 18+ due to a small amount of not quite closed door romance! Out now!
May 15, 2026
Every single Katherine Arden book has taught me something new and left me with a sense of wonder and heartache. The amount of research and care that Katherine always puts into her stories makes for such rich storytelling. This book was a warm hug with a hand constricting my heart all at once. Knowing how the historical Anne’s life unfolded, this reimagining was the beautiful fairytale that she deserved.
The story starts off more as a historical fiction with a lot of political intrigue than historical fantasy. But the slow creep of magic into the world builds so well, until you feel fully thrown into a fairytale of old. The ghostly dark mythology of Breton folklore and the Korriganed was beyond fascinating and kept the pages turning.
The worldbuild is so atmospheric, and felt like I was a child again watching The Last Unicorn as Schmendrick the magician asked magic to do as it will. I really can’t begin to explain how nostalgic and magical the world within this story is.
The women within this story are the stars. They are fierce and brilliant, all doing what they think is best for their people with the little power they have. And the sibling relationship was deep and heartwarming between Anne, Isabeau and Henri. The amount of times they were all ready to sacrifice themselves for each other was equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful.
I absolutely adored Anne from the very first page! She is a very clever and persistent woman, who knows very well the limits' woman are given and uses her charm and intelligence to stretch those limits to save her people and loved ones.
And the yearning and medieval romance was everything my romantic heart could ever desire!
I could really talk endlessly about how much I loved this book and its tale of persistence and love. I cannot recommend this book enough!
The story starts off more as a historical fiction with a lot of political intrigue than historical fantasy. But the slow creep of magic into the world builds so well, until you feel fully thrown into a fairytale of old. The ghostly dark mythology of Breton folklore and the Korriganed was beyond fascinating and kept the pages turning.
The worldbuild is so atmospheric, and felt like I was a child again watching The Last Unicorn as Schmendrick the magician asked magic to do as it will. I really can’t begin to explain how nostalgic and magical the world within this story is.
The women within this story are the stars. They are fierce and brilliant, all doing what they think is best for their people with the little power they have. And the sibling relationship was deep and heartwarming between Anne, Isabeau and Henri. The amount of times they were all ready to sacrifice themselves for each other was equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful.
I absolutely adored Anne from the very first page! She is a very clever and persistent woman, who knows very well the limits' woman are given and uses her charm and intelligence to stretch those limits to save her people and loved ones.
And the yearning and medieval romance was everything my romantic heart could ever desire!
I could really talk endlessly about how much I loved this book and its tale of persistence and love. I cannot recommend this book enough!
June 11, 2026
Katherine Arden's Winternight trilogy remains my favourite fantasy series of all time. I fell in love with its atmospheric writing, immersive world-building, and the way it blended humour with genuine sorrow.
Many of those qualities can still be found in The Unicorn Hunters, but for me they lacked some of the depth and magic that made the Winternight books so special. The story felt more YA in tone, and while I enjoyed the journey and happily escaped into its historical fantasy setting, I couldn't help comparing it to Arden's earlier work. As a result, I finished the book wishing it had captivated me just a little more.
The Story: A clever young duchess fights to save Brittany from French conquest, only to find herself caught between history, magic, faerie legends, and the appearance of a real unicorn.
Many of those qualities can still be found in The Unicorn Hunters, but for me they lacked some of the depth and magic that made the Winternight books so special. The story felt more YA in tone, and while I enjoyed the journey and happily escaped into its historical fantasy setting, I couldn't help comparing it to Arden's earlier work. As a result, I finished the book wishing it had captivated me just a little more.
The Story: A clever young duchess fights to save Brittany from French conquest, only to find herself caught between history, magic, faerie legends, and the appearance of a real unicorn.
Want to Read
March 4, 2026i was wondering why her name sounded so familiar and realized woman literally wrote the bear and the nightingale
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read.
Let it be clear: Katherine Arden can write historical fiction. She goes into the detail and makes it feel authentic as anything. But, when you're expecting a fantasy from her - one that features unicorns, maybe temper your expectations just a bit.
I guess I miss old Katherine Arden. The one who wrote almost a completely original story with cameos with famous people here and there. Her Winternight Trilogy was still one of my favorite reads, and I wholeheartedly loved the story she told and the fierce female protagonist of that. So when she releases these new novels I hope to get that kind of feeling again. Another protagonist I can root for.
In this, she chooses to grab a historical female - Anne of Brittany, and turn her story into a 'what if' for the sake of this tale. Anne is to wed the King of France, but vows not to due to a promise to her father. She decides to use the legend of the unicorn and to call forth a hunt for it. However, all changes and soon Anne and her court are against foe from a land that was told to be lost for centuries.
When people write historical fantasy, and seeing what I had gotten in her trilogy, I expected something lush and as wonderous as that. Remember Warm Hands of Ghosts? This is that, only with a different lens. Maybe if I knew more about Anne of Brittany I'd care more. There are perhaps some Anne of Brittany aficionados who are going to either dislike the changes given to her history or lap it up because it gives strength to a character who really didn't have much to begin with. For me, I was trucking along for 50% of the book asking myself 'well, where is the magic'. Sure we get a unicorn, sure we get a mysterious nun who appears, a guy who may or may not be a foe who has strange powers, but it's bogged down by so much back and forth on 'is my husband from Germany going to come or not'. Also, we get a man who was captured by the French, then let go in return to make sure Anne takes France to wed. (Slight spoiler: he doesn't and ends up having a relationship with him... which isn't really romantic at all, just kind of strange because it feels like there is a story there we're missing. There is more to it in the author's afterword which kind of left me a little hmmm.)
It was fantasy lite - for people who don't like fantasy. The book doesn't get fantasy heavy until 60% into it, and when it is time for the two parts to merge (fantasy and historical) it ends up clunky and boring. I've read historical fantasy, I've read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell and that was (and still is) the strongest historical fantasy I ever read because of how detailed it was on bringing this au London to life.
I guess I gotta just keep hoping that Katherine goes back to writing something original. I'm not a fan of her history fantasy but for those who are, these are certainly for you.
Let it be clear: Katherine Arden can write historical fiction. She goes into the detail and makes it feel authentic as anything. But, when you're expecting a fantasy from her - one that features unicorns, maybe temper your expectations just a bit.
I guess I miss old Katherine Arden. The one who wrote almost a completely original story with cameos with famous people here and there. Her Winternight Trilogy was still one of my favorite reads, and I wholeheartedly loved the story she told and the fierce female protagonist of that. So when she releases these new novels I hope to get that kind of feeling again. Another protagonist I can root for.
In this, she chooses to grab a historical female - Anne of Brittany, and turn her story into a 'what if' for the sake of this tale. Anne is to wed the King of France, but vows not to due to a promise to her father. She decides to use the legend of the unicorn and to call forth a hunt for it. However, all changes and soon Anne and her court are against foe from a land that was told to be lost for centuries.
When people write historical fantasy, and seeing what I had gotten in her trilogy, I expected something lush and as wonderous as that. Remember Warm Hands of Ghosts? This is that, only with a different lens. Maybe if I knew more about Anne of Brittany I'd care more. There are perhaps some Anne of Brittany aficionados who are going to either dislike the changes given to her history or lap it up because it gives strength to a character who really didn't have much to begin with. For me, I was trucking along for 50% of the book asking myself 'well, where is the magic'. Sure we get a unicorn, sure we get a mysterious nun who appears, a guy who may or may not be a foe who has strange powers, but it's bogged down by so much back and forth on 'is my husband from Germany going to come or not'. Also, we get a man who was captured by the French, then let go in return to make sure Anne takes France to wed. (Slight spoiler: he doesn't and ends up having a relationship with him... which isn't really romantic at all, just kind of strange because it feels like there is a story there we're missing. There is more to it in the author's afterword which kind of left me a little hmmm.)
It was fantasy lite - for people who don't like fantasy. The book doesn't get fantasy heavy until 60% into it, and when it is time for the two parts to merge (fantasy and historical) it ends up clunky and boring. I've read historical fantasy, I've read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell and that was (and still is) the strongest historical fantasy I ever read because of how detailed it was on bringing this au London to life.
I guess I gotta just keep hoping that Katherine goes back to writing something original. I'm not a fan of her history fantasy but for those who are, these are certainly for you.
June 17, 2026
I'd recommend this to readers who greatly up with A Crystal Cave and Legend and The Last Unicorn. It's got all those vibes along with the historical fiction feel of a Sharon Kay Penman novel. I loved the author's use of a dual world concept and found myself willing to accept all of the magical elements. I felt like the book should've wrapped up before the search for a lost city as that felt almost tacked on and our heroine was too perfect for my taste, but the surrounding characters were so colorful and charismatic that they more than made up for the saintly duchess. It's been ages since I've read a fantasy novel, but this one held all the enchantment of Arthurian legend from a female POV.
June 2, 2026
katherine arden is restoring my faith in new releases
full rtc
full rtc
June 1, 2026
In a verdant forest, rays of sunlight glimmer through the foliage, dust motes floating in the golden light. A hush descends, the sound dampened by the rains and mists. Anne of Brittany emerges. A unicorn is spotted. A grand hunt is declared. The games of empires begin.
The Unicorn Hunters is a breathtaking reimagining of the life of Anne of Brittany, a wily and headstrong woman disguised by a seemingly gentle demeanor. With the fate of her realm resting on her shoulders, she must claw her way out of the empty coffers and out of a betrothal to France.
Wisps of magic intersperse the historical timeline as Diviners communicate by color, villains lurk in the miasma, and unicorns quietly step into the sunlight. Katherine Arden’s writing enchants and schemes, whisking readers into this shimmering world and its shadowy pockets where unicorns sightings really are a valid form of political maneuvering.
The Unicorn Hunters is a breathtaking historical fantasy. I absolutely loved it.
Thank you to @arden_katherine for hosting such an amazing readalong and @delreybooks for sending me a gifted copy. ✨✨🖤
The Unicorn Hunters is a breathtaking reimagining of the life of Anne of Brittany, a wily and headstrong woman disguised by a seemingly gentle demeanor. With the fate of her realm resting on her shoulders, she must claw her way out of the empty coffers and out of a betrothal to France.
Wisps of magic intersperse the historical timeline as Diviners communicate by color, villains lurk in the miasma, and unicorns quietly step into the sunlight. Katherine Arden’s writing enchants and schemes, whisking readers into this shimmering world and its shadowy pockets where unicorns sightings really are a valid form of political maneuvering.
The Unicorn Hunters is a breathtaking historical fantasy. I absolutely loved it.
Thank you to @arden_katherine for hosting such an amazing readalong and @delreybooks for sending me a gifted copy. ✨✨🖤
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