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Unicorns #4
The Promise of the Unicorn
Arica's mother has been kidnapped by her evil uncle. Could this be his revenge for her protecting the Book of Fairies? It will take all of Arica's courage – and the help of all her friends – to find and rescue her mother and save Bundelag from Raden's evil clutches. She's counting on the unicorns, but Arica doesn't know about the ancient pledge and the limits of the unicorns' power. Just how far can magic take her? Another exciting installment in the Unicorn series.
152 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
1 person is currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Blum
14 books12 followersVicki Blum lives in Calgary, Alberta, where she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren.
As an elementary-school librarian, she loves working with books and doing workshops with young writers.
Her best-selling fantasy books about unicorns, are originally published by Scholastic Canada.
As an elementary-school librarian, she loves working with books and doing workshops with young writers.
Her best-selling fantasy books about unicorns, are originally published by Scholastic Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 31, 2019
“The Promise Of The Unicorn”, 2002, is the fourth adventure in a fantasy series I have been enjoying for a few years, by Vicki Blum in Alberta. Because the responsibility, maturity, and hardship assigned to Arica never match a child who is alleged to be aged 9 and for minor story issues; I gave the first two volumes three stars. Vicki’s third rose to four, in which a cousin gives Arica an ally. That mission to retrieve a book was exceedingly compelling, with a call to unblock the memories of fairy folk on Earth; including Arica’s Dad. This sequel did not revolve around Arica’s Dad, a reunion that I look forward to. This mission was mundane: his evil brother kidnapped his human wife but uselessly left her with their fairy queen Mother. It takes rare ingredients from a dangerous island to revive her.
Four potential stars reduced to three, after the travellers were said to eat a rabbit. World-building like this is supposed to be about loving and protecting creatures. Contrarily, a brave leap of faith and compassion is what did lend uniqueness and poignancy. When a fight broke out with the flying, biting snakes; Arica looked into an injured queen’s face and saw intelligence. Thinking far outside the box, she asked her Bundelag friends how fighting with the flying snakes began. Have they merely been biting in self-defence?
The rare, healing flowers on the dragon island are my favourite element, with their changing rainbow hues! I also love that one needs to ask their permission to be picked and then only that person may hold the petals they receive. It serves them well, when the evil uncle predictably chases after them again. If he is always a problem, can’t the queen rehabilitate or incarcerate him once and for all?
Four potential stars reduced to three, after the travellers were said to eat a rabbit. World-building like this is supposed to be about loving and protecting creatures. Contrarily, a brave leap of faith and compassion is what did lend uniqueness and poignancy. When a fight broke out with the flying, biting snakes; Arica looked into an injured queen’s face and saw intelligence. Thinking far outside the box, she asked her Bundelag friends how fighting with the flying snakes began. Have they merely been biting in self-defence?
The rare, healing flowers on the dragon island are my favourite element, with their changing rainbow hues! I also love that one needs to ask their permission to be picked and then only that person may hold the petals they receive. It serves them well, when the evil uncle predictably chases after them again. If he is always a problem, can’t the queen rehabilitate or incarcerate him once and for all?
August 15, 2014
The adventures in it are very cool, and I love the small pictures with illustrations. I like how Vicki Blum has the settings both the fantasy and real worlds. Best unicorn book ever!
March 30, 2025
3.5/5 stars
I think this is my favourite in the series so far. This book is a little longer than the previous instalments, so we had more time to dive into the plot. The stakes become more personal for Arica, whose mother has been poisoned by Raden and taken into Bundelag.
Arica and Wish both show their growing maturity in The Promise of the Unicorn by being willing to put themselves at great risk in order to protect the ones they love.
The theme of the importance of personal agency is introduced and, along with Arica's kindness and compassion, becomes integral to the success of their mission.
The Promise of the Unicorn was nostalgic for me, as I remembered much more of the plot and even just the illustrations than I thought. But I also just enjoyed that the plot had more depth, and that their successes were less due to magic and chance than the natural consequences of their actions.
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The only thing I remember about this book is that I read it so long ago I hadn't yet learned what an epilogue was.
I think this is my favourite in the series so far. This book is a little longer than the previous instalments, so we had more time to dive into the plot. The stakes become more personal for Arica, whose mother has been poisoned by Raden and taken into Bundelag.
Arica and Wish both show their growing maturity in The Promise of the Unicorn by being willing to put themselves at great risk in order to protect the ones they love.
The theme of the importance of personal agency is introduced and, along with Arica's kindness and compassion, becomes integral to the success of their mission.
The Promise of the Unicorn was nostalgic for me, as I remembered much more of the plot and even just the illustrations than I thought. But I also just enjoyed that the plot had more depth, and that their successes were less due to magic and chance than the natural consequences of their actions.
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The only thing I remember about this book is that I read it so long ago I hadn't yet learned what an epilogue was.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews