The Blue Unicorn's Journey To Osm

by Sybrina Durant, Sudipta Dasgupta (Illustrator)

"Durant’s story is slyly whimsical as she builds up the world of Marbryn, a world where there are many wonders, but also threats to the existence of Blue’s tribe." - Jack Magnus From Reader's Favorite.

"The Blue Unicorn…reads like old time fairy tales…where life and death choices are made…" - From Fundinmental As The Eyes See It Blog

"The gentle reminders of the importance of acceptance and maintaining a sense of self worth are artfully woven into this fun adventure tale." - From The Reading Addict Blog.

This YA book is perfect for fans of science fiction/fantasy books like Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey and The Xanth Series by Piers Anthony or illustrated fantasies like Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and The Wizard of Oz series of books by L. Frank Baum. Mix in some Brother's Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale themes and you're good to enter this enchanting world of the metal horn unicorn tribe.

Everybody loves unicorns! OK maybe they don't but for those who do, they will love this story about a little unicorn who was born into a tribe of magical, metal horned unicorns. The little guy has no magic and he has no metal but somehow he must save the tribe from an evil sorcerer. Read this book for teens and older readers to find out if he can do it.

***Please Note***
This is the "Plain Text" with illustrations version of this book. The illustrations for this book are much smaller than the illustrations for the jpg only version of this book. The print version provides the most pleasurable reading and viewing experience.

This chapter book is a collector's dream containing page after page of lavish artwork. It contains nearly 100 pages of story text by Sybrina Durant and the same number of pages of magnificent water-color illustrations by Dasguptarts. This book, written by Sybrina Durant and illustrated by Dasguptarts, offers readers a visual feast of over forty beautiful water-color pictures that each span two pages. Forty-two - easy to digest two-page chapters are chock full of adventurous and entertaining morsels. This illustrated book will become a favorite of teens and older fantasy readers.  A companion coloring/ character description book is also available at any online bookstore.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2017

About the author

Hi:

I am the author of many different types of books. Some are technical and others are fanciful. Illustrated books are my favorite. I believe that you can capture a reader’s attention with a good story but amazing artwork will reel them in and keep them riveted.

Check out my newest series titled Magical Elements of the Periodic Table. Books are presented by unicorns, dragons and wizards. It's Techno-Magical.

Boo's Shoes is my last rabbit and fox book and it is a companion to Cleo Can Tie A Bow! Make sure to put it on your bookshelf so that you'll have it handy when you know someone who wants to learn to tie their shoelaces or any other kind of bow.

Journey To Osm - The Blue Unicorn's Tale is my first full-length novel. Please look for it on these Goodreads Listopia lists and give it a vote up on a few of them. https://www.goodreads.com/list/book/4...

Please look for "The Blue Unicorn's Journey To Osm Illustrated Book For Teens and Older Readers" on this Goodreads Listopia. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9... A vote from you would be fantastic.

I've also written a companion book for little children called "Unicorns From Unimaise - The Magical Metal-Horn Tribe."

I also believe if you teach a child with a story and pictures, they will remember it forever. With that in mind, I wrote the "Learn To Tie A Tie With The Rabbit and The Fox" series of instructional books for boys and girls.

You can also vote for it on the best book for children to learn how to tie, here:

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/30...

I am also the publisher of the 4 volume set - Sybrina's Phrase Thesaurus. Check out all of these books and if you like them, please recommend them to other Good Reads members.

And the Best Writer's Thesaurus List here:
http://www.goodreads.com/list/user_vo...

If you enjoy Pinterest, then you can view my boards at http://pinterest.com/sybrinad/boards/.

Happy Reading!
Sybrina

Reviews

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s no place like home…OSM means awesome.

He is supposed to be their savior. But how can that be possible? He has no magic.

He feels an outsider, he just doesn’t fit in. Does anyone feel a touch of Rudolph in this?

The fun, colorful, imaginative illustrations are wonderful, filled with fantastical creatures, both good and bad.

Each creature is unique, individual, just like in real life.

Is there such a thing as a fish unicorn? If so, imagine the possibilities.

Set your imagination free.

The Blue Unicorn…reads like old time fairy tales…where life and death choices are made…And …maybe, you will learn why you never see a unicorn.

This magical fantasy filled with fun and humor, sadness and happiness, and lessons learned. We are not alone.

I voluntarily reviewed The Blue Unicorn’s Journey to Osm by Sybrina Durant.

To see more visit fundinmental

[Jessica Secrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blue Unicorn's Journey to Osm
by Sybrina Durant
Review by Jessica Secrest

Can you imagine everyone expecting you to be their savior before you are even born. When you are born everyone is upset that you don't measure up to their expectations. Blue is a unicorn with a leather horn. Everyone knows that unicorns need metal horns to have magic. Geesh. What a disappointment. No one considered that the evil wizard can't find Blue because he has no metal.
One of the things that I like about this story is Blue uses what he has, his intelligence and his body. When the evil wizard murders his mother, he goes to the Guarded Forest, not far from his home. He saves the life of a stag. The stag teaches him to fight. He plays tag with the fairies, sharpening his eyesight, strengthening his heart and lungs and muscles for running and dodging.
One day the unicorn who said he would save them, came to Blue and told him it was time. He got excited. He collected what he would need for the long trip to Muzika Woods, starting with food and magic tablets that could purify water, both were made from the magic of unicorns. This was another thing I like about the story and Blue's wisdom. At one point in the story Blue and his companions save a bug (who later saves Blue and the other unicorns). The bug has nasty wounds. It goes into the mud to heal. He tells Blue and his companions that there are healing minerals in the mud. Blue is happy that he didn't use one of the tablets that may have damaged the land. He gets a container of water and purifies it for drinking. This is only one example of the science used in the story. There are a lot of common sense lessons.
When Blue left the tribe of unicorns, he did not know that he would need them at Muzika Woods. They make their own way there taking a different path. Their journey is just as exciting and funny. I want to tell you about the car wash, but don't want to spoil the fun for you. They fall into trouble when they must pass through the evil wizard's city, but they also discover allies.
One thing I wish is that the list of pronunciations was at the beginning of the book and I wish there had been more of them. I didn't discover the pronunciations until I was almost finished with the story. I would have enjoyed the story more if I could have pronounced some of the unicorns names and the strange beings they meet along the way sooner.
When Blue and his companions arrive in Muzika Woods I was thrilled when one of the creatures floated toward them playing a Psaltery. I play a Psaltery and understand how different wood will bring out a different sound. A Psaltery made of butternut wood has a distinctive twang. One made of cherry wood has a soft and lilting tone. It is a beautiful instrument and fun to play.
There are several instruments played in Muzika Woods. I had to look up the Rebec because I had never heard of it. This is the description from Wikipedia. The rebec is a bowed stringed instrument of the Medieval era and the early Renaissance era. In its most common form, it has a narrow boat-shaped body and 1-5 strings.
There is a fairy tale story that happens in Muzika Woods where Blue finally makes it to Osm.
Of course there is a battle with the evil wizard where the allies the unicorns have made along the way join in the battle. The evil wizard not only killed the unicorns, but he was nasty to everyone. He wanted complete control over everyone.
The story does not end with the battle, but with, well, it struck me as a unicorn heaven. That was different and unexpected.
This story is a fun read. I definitely would recommend it to young adults.
At the very end is a song that Blue's mate, Ghel (hard g like gift and rhymes with bell), sings. There is a link that you can click on to hear the song. That is just too much fun.
http://www.sybrina.com/index_The_Blue...

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read no matter your age!!!
Full of vivid description that places the reader in the
story with the well fleshed out magical characters.
In the land of MarBryn, the metal horned unicorns
await birth of the baby unicorn that is destined to
save the unicorns from Magh, the evil sorcerer.
This sorcerer takes the unicorn’s metal horns and
hooves to use to increase his evil magic.
When baby Blue is born, he does not have a metal
horn nor did he show any magical tendency like the
metal horn unicorns. When Blue realizes what the
prophecy about him was, he sets off to fulfill his destiny.
A stag, a phoenix, a pendragon, fairies complement
Blue’s learning abilities. But will he be able to overcome
the evil sorcerer, save and unite the metal horned
unicorns in safety???
Blue learns that being different does not limited your
lifetime potential but can change your perspective for
the better.
The author creation of an array of in-depth magical
characters that have human emotions, flaws and dramatic
events that shape their perceptions and personalities was a
phenomenal experience.
I enjoyed learning about the various instruments played
in the Muzika Woods. It was interesting looking them
up for further information.
I volunteered to read The Blue Unicorn's Journey To Osm.
Thanks to author via the Cozy Mystery Review Crew for
the opportunity. My opinion is my own.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is precious. It has a lesson as well. We learn that being different isn’t bad and can lead to wonderful things. It shows how unique and special you are.

Blue is born different from the other unicorn’s. He was supposed to be the one to save them but everyone feels disappointed because they don’t see how. He has no metal horn which is where their magic is. So Blue feels alone. Accept for his friend Ghel, the one he loves. He hides from groups and learns from Gaiso how to fight and becomes stronger. He feels he has something to prove.

Suddenly the danger is closer and his family is in danger. Blue must go out on a journey filled with danger and his friends Gaiso and Girasol are by his side the whole way. It is a magically written journey that has you smile and love the imagination of Sybrina.

Each unicorn is unique and wonderful. Each one plays a role in Blue becoming who he is and learning something. When the journey is done and Blue is transformed you learn so much and had a fun time as well.

The book is imaginative and lovely. So adorable and creative. Your attention never sways and all ages will love the story of blue and how he helps his fellow unicorns get to safety and find their home and family amongst themselves and loved ones long lost to them. Such a fun imaginative story to the end that is filled with adventure, whimsy, magic and intrigue.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Blue Unicorn's Journey To Osm by Sybrina Durant is a children's fantasy book about a group of unicorns written in third-person. It is perfect for children who enjoy fantasy stories (and especially unicorns). The book is aimed at younger children and filled with beautiful illustrations. This is a great book to read with a child.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...

[Andra Weis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Blue Unicorn’s Journey to Osm by Sybrina Durant is a charming story filled with wonderful artwork at the beginning of each chapter. I loved many aspects of this story and I can certainly see where the target audience is going to get swept up in its magic.

Classic tale of the hero being the underdog in the beginning. Overcoming obstacles to blossom into the hero they were meant to be. And he got the girl of his dreams in the end :). I am a sucker for happy endings. And let us not forget about the other wonderful unicorns that contributed to this lovely tale – Nix especially. He tirelessly protected the tribe. I became exhausted just reading about his efforts to shield everyone.

The descriptions surrounding Style and her work were really entertaining:

“She had dreams about new ways she could style manes and tails. She referred to her
styles as artworks. The fillies got excited every time she came up with a fantastic new
design for manes, tails or nails.
They particularly loved her fabulous painted hoof designs. Style’s salon was often filled
with fillies who wanted a new look. She was always happy to conjure up beautiful and
modern creations.”

Or when speaking of food – definitely mouth watering:

Most unicorns have a sweet tooth, so there was no lack of deserts. There were tins of sweet
mace-laced potato haystack pancakes with maple syrup and containers of warm fragrant
banana raisin bread. There were also tins filled with delicious cinnamon oatmeal cookies.

I applaud the way the author approached difficulties that the unicorns had and the messages that were embodied within the story were great:

"Sometimes putting oneself aside to help another was the right thing to do."; or
“Sometimes drastic choices had to be made in order to stop the advance of evil.”

I was however a bit dismayed that editing had not caught some basic errors, such as the following sentence where “such” and “hear” are in the incorrect order in the sentence. “It was good to such hear pride in his sister’s voice.” Luckily, the story was engaging enough to not totally put me off. Also, some of the made up words/phrases had me giggling: “driggle-draggle or muck-spout.

Along with the fabulous artwork and very descriptive writing, the written tale was an engaging story, keeping me entertained throughout. I recommend this book for those readers who are fans of fantasy…and unicorns of course.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every author has her own take on unicorns, and these are brightly coloured horselike beings but with cloven hoofs (that means they are not horses, although they could have evolved from a common ancestor) and with a single horn, made of a metal. The book has a format of two pages of text followed by a two-page illustration of the scene, so any age can enjoy the story.

This is actually an 'ugly duckling' fable and I must admit to being disappointed when the blue unicorn with no metal horn turned into something shinier and stronger, instead of making best use of his innate talents and wit.

The adventure starts gently and becomes quite scary and involved, with many names, magical talents, villains and backstories. I thought there was too much poured in to a cup for young kids, who would not be able to keep track and would wonder why the story about the sorceror suddenly became one about space flight. I also, while admiring the artistry and vision of the illustrations, did find the parade of bright colours became wearying to the eye, like something psychedelic.

I found it incredible that the last few unicorns would continue to braid their manes, feast, and wear fruit as decoration when the race had been slaughtered wholesale and they were hunted daily. Would they not be organising to do something about it or even have patrols for safety? Just possibly the author intends this as an allegory to show how some humans are ignoring the biodiversity loss in progress.

I can see the work that has gone into the book and I am sure kids will find it fascinating and want to read the story. Some good vocabulary is introduced.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Instafreebie. This is an unbiased review.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue is a unicorn of prophesy, destined to save his people, the metal horned unicorn tribe, from an evil sorcerer. But when he is born without a metal horn, the very thing that gives each unicorn a unique magical ability, the rest of his tribe cannot help but feel let down.
The little unicorn grows up knowing he is a disappointment, and becomes a loner aside from sweet Ghel, who loves him anyway.
When the unicorn oracle again prophesies that Blue will save the tribe and this time has knowledge of what must happen for them to survive, the adventure of a lifetime begins.
This author has a truly vivid imagination – the world, the creatures, the characters and the magic sparkle with dazzling multi-coloured imagery. Each chapter of the book version I read began with a colour image to set the scene (there are several versions, including one with black and white images ready for colouring in). The entire story abounds with colourful descriptions and happenings, and the plot is a little more complex than I anticipated, involving both space travel and metaphysics. The cast of secondary characters are fabulous, so different to each other and so complementary, they brought depth to the themes of friendship, self-respect, and never underestimating oneself. I do think some of the minor characters didn’t need to be named, as that just gave a few too many names to remember.
I really enjoyed reading this story, even though it is way out of my usual zone. I did, however, struggle to place exactly what audience it was aimed at. Twelve to eighteen is the suggestion, but also suitable for adults. For me, I would have put it, on the grounds of the descriptions, characters, names and humour, to be for readers younger than twelve. On the other hand, it is quite long, and touches on themes of evil and death probably not so appropriate for a younger age range.
Having said that, if you have children who love colour, magic and mythical beasties, I would definitely suggest this as a family read.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Blue Unicorn’s Journey to Osm” written by Sybrina Durant and illustrated by Dasguptarts is a lovely children’s story that blends fantasy and a bit of science fiction in a sweet tale. The gentle reminders of the importance of acceptance and maintaining a sense of self worth are artfully woven into this fun adventure tale. The brightly colored illustrations underscore the fantastical creatures that populate the tale while elements of science are slipped in through descriptions of the types of metal horns utilized by various unicorns and fun words such as didgeridoo are woven into the story. The story can be read on multiple levels, from very simple for a young child to an older individual who can appreciate the nuances and inside jokes such as where the ice cubes originate. Those who enjoy the story should make sure to pay attention to the author’s notes at the end which detail accessory items including a coloring book as well as provide an illustration of a unicorn’s parts and a fun activity.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having such a love for the wonder of unicorns it was an easy choice to read this book. Magical unicorns with metal horns. All shapes and sizes. And one unicorn, Blue, who has no magic, but is supposed to be the savior for the tribe. Sounds like a grand adventure to me.

And it was. Filled with lots of beautiful illustrations portraying many of the fantastical beings that roam these lands, it kept me enthralled. However, it had some dark moments that caught me by surprise. Going in thinking this was for younger readers, some scenes of death and danger now have me thinking this would better fit older teens and young adults.

This well written fantasy has plenty of intriguing characters and plenty of action, with some doses of peril that will keep you reading and crossing your fingers for a happy ending. I sure enjoyed it and would love to read more about Blue, his friends, and this magical world.

I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.

[I.M. Redwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about unicorns, centering on a quest to save their tribe.The story of The Blue Unicorn's Journey not only is highly original but also carries a powerful message.

I found myself staring at each of the illustrations for a while, they are so beautiful and well detailed that I I lost track of time admiring them.

I also enjoyed the extra info at the ending of the book, such as how to pronounce the names of each unicorn or the anatomical guide, such a complete book.

Loved it.

[Caitie Deranek · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Blue Unicorn's Journey to Osm is a very digestible read, quick and easy for a low middle grade reader. Blue, our hero, was born seemingly without magic despite coming from a long line of metal-horned unicorns each with a unique magical talent, struggles to find his place in society. Toss a birthright prophecy about him saving the tribe into the mix and inevitable ostracizing followed. Once Blue finds his way to his destiny, he is helped through a series of challenges by friends like a firebird, stag, and insects on his way to finding true love and defeating an evil sorcerer.

There were aspects about this to love, particularly how short each chapter is. It becomes very easy to read this as a parent to a child who might not be ready to do so independently. There are also numerous lovely illustrations, which harken back to an older style of drawing. It is obvious that the illustrator cared deeply about the work and source text.

That said, the predictability of the entire plot might turn off more experienced readers. There were also some basic errors in grammar that distracted me throughout, and should have been caught by an experienced proofreader. The female characters are quite underdeveloped, especially Blue's girlfriend Ghel who seems to exist to be his girlfriend only. I would be very challenged to share this book with a young girl as a result.

There are a number of accompanying items including a coloring book that I imagine is quite spectacular. In the end, the story of the social outcast overcoming adversity to take action on behalf of his community is very much appreciated, and I think the illustrations almost make the book worth it in and of itself. Not one I need to reread, but one I might share with a child or two in my life over time.

[Julie Baswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Blue was born, he was supposed to be the savior. The oracle had prophesied it beforehand. All of the unicorns in the land of MarBryn had horns of some type of metal and each one had their own magic. But when Blue was born, his horn was only a plain blue hide. With no one to fulfill the prophesy, no more unicorns would be born. Twenty years later, the Numen relayed to the oracle the path that Blue must take, to save the tribe and bring them back to their homeland of Unimaise. But first he must confront the evil sorcerer Magh.

The plot was interesting and easy to follow. I liked the human qualities of the unicorns. It made their journey unique in that they were all family to each other. The characters that Blue meets on his adventure were also unique and loveable. I enjoyed all of the illustrations throughout the story. They were beautifully done. They also helped to visualize each creature after reading their descriptions. My favorite part of the book has to be when Blue was going through the rainbow land. The descriptions truly described a rainbow. I don’t think you have to be a child to enjoy this story.

[Carlynne Toomey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are beautiful! The story is great and there is action and adventure. This is an adult or older teen level book as there is violence and death in the story. The battles are graphic and unicorns die. I say this only to warn readers that may think that unicorn stories are always happy, fun rainbow reads. This is not the case with this book, but it is so much better because of the realism. Battles aren’t pretty, evil magicians do bad things. Can the non-magical blue unicorn save the tribe, or will he too perish at the hands of Magh, the evil magician. I’ll let you read this great story, enjoying the beautiful artwork and find out for yourselves.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of unicorns and was super exited when I found this book! "The Blue Unicorn's Journey to Osm Illustrated Book" is true gem. "The Blue Unicorn's Journey to Osm Illustrated Book" is a beautifully illustrated fantasy novel that pulls the reader directly into an incredible fantasy world that you don't want to leave.
The illustrations done by Dasguptarts perfectly match the story and help set the atmosphere. The love the beautiful color map provided that clearly identifies locations such as, Egada Home of the Cussers, Muzika Woods, and the Rainbow Colored Bands of Weita.
Author Sybrina Durant takes us on an adventure, following Blue, the unicorn who was was supposed to be the savior of his fellow unicorns. He was born without magic or the metal horns attributed to his tribe of unicorns. Fast forward twenty years and the adventure truly begins.
"The Blue Unicorn's Journey to Osm Illustrated Book' is such an imaginative, creative tale. I truly enjoyed reading it. I hope Sybrina Durant will publish future books similar to this. "The Blue Unicorn's Journey to Osm Illustrated Book" is easy to read and a true joy. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy young adult fantasy books. "The Blue Unicorn's Journey to Osm Illustrated Book" is quick, fun read for all.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having an interest both in fanciful creatures having adventures and the search for better lives, I thought this book called to me. It is written on a middle grade level, with some words needing a bit more work to figure out, mainly the very creative names given to the characters. The author does a wonderful job of world building.
It is a story of good vs evil, about how circumstances can change the direction of our lives.
Not everything is as it seems and many things take their own time to show their true colors.
It is a story about ethics and loyalty, about facing fears and making tough choices.
Unlike a famous reindeer with a different sort of nose than his herd, Blue's tribe accepts his difference and includes him. Blue, however, chooses to make his difference hold him back, limit his inclusion. In other ways, he is more open to friendships among people not of his breed than are the other unicorns. The story is very good but this book has messages on additional levels.
I recommend it to readers of fantasy fiction and those who appreciate deeper meaning in the stories they read.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beautiful artwork really highlights the book, The Blue Unicorn's Journey To Osm. I'm looking forward to sharing the book with my granddaughter on her upcoming birthday.

[Lucretia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are really three aspects I considered while reading this book. How did it read to me, an adult fan of fantasy and genre fiction in general. The answer to that was surprising. I found it be very engaging and compelling. I read it through first alone to make sure my grand-kids were of age and going to enjoy the story. I was actually glad to have done that because I was totally gripped and devoured it rather quickly.

For the second read with the children, it went just as well. They were gripped by the fast paced with just right amount of concern for the unicorn and his tribe. They didn't get fidgety or call out for tablets as they often do when their minds wonder. In face they asked if there was more to read. So that's an all win. The themes were deep and yet easy for them process.

The third thing I wanted to touch on was the art. The watercolors are simply stunning and add something to the book that takes it a step above just text.

It's easy to recommend this to fantasy fans of all ages.

[Emma Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and Entertaining Characters...

The Blue Unicorn's Journey to Osm is a wonderful read. It has a layout and feel of a classic fairytale. The Illustrations are vivid and bright. I'd love to get the coloring book some day.
This is a story about a young unicorn named Blue who before birth was supposedly the Metal Horned unicorns savior. Everyone is disappointed when Blue is born as a plain unicorn without a metal horn or magic.
Blue feels set apart from the others and keeps to himself mostly aside from his best friend Ghel.
One day he is told that he will reach his destiny in the Muzika Woods. So he sets out by himself and along the way he picks up some companions.
I won't go into more detail because you should read the book for yourself. This book is for all ages, young and old alike.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book about a little blue unicorn who is born with no magic. All unicorns are born with metal horns that give them their power and Blue’s is different. Also from early on it is said that a blue unicorn is supposed to be their savior. Blue doesn’t let this bother him and uses his other strengths to get by. Throughout the book Blue goes on a quest to figure out how to save the tribe and gains confidence, friends and the trust of the other unicorns. You can follow his adventure using the wonderfully detailed map that’s included in the book. This story is unique in how the unicorns each have different powers based on the metal their horns are made of and also because they are not even from earth.
I really enjoyed it and found it to be quite interesting and entertaining. Blue made a huge transformation throughout the book and it’s quite a feat to observe.

[Marichus Real · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only hope of the metal horns unicorns to survive and return to his home Unimaise is a Prophecy about a blue unicorn but when he was born, his horn was no metal and everybody knows the meaning of that: No metal, no magic.
A colourful journey with a group of Unicorns who are trapped in a place that is not their home. A story about friendship, loyalty, love and magic against evil and death.
The pictures are wonderful. It is always nice to look at a unicorn and even more when the pictures have beautiful colours.
Just one but, although it is not about the story but about the blurb on Amazon. I have always wondered by some authors tell so much in them. I can understand it. Lucky me, I just read the blurb on Story Cartel.
I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy given to me by Story Cartel.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm super glad to have stumbled upon The Blue Unicorn's Journey To Osm by Sybrina Durant. I found the blurb quite intriguing and started reading it the second I downloaded it to my Kindle. The story is beautifully crafted and vividly written that makes picturing it incredibly enjoyable. I found characters like Gaiso and Girasol a little extra interesting and really liked the depth in the story. I'd appreciate the author's attention to detail and her story telling skills. I was so engrossed into it that I couldn't stop until I was done. The occasional illustrations are colorful and pump life into the story.

Without giving away anything crucial, I'd recommend it to anybody (not just children) who appreciates a well written story or loves unicorns.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only hope for the metal unicorn disappears when the foals meant to be their rescuer; a blue unicorn is born with a plain blue hide horn. An evil sorcerer is determined to gain control over the unicorn tribes and take their power for themselves. This is a tale of one unicorn that faces odds and some discrimination to fulfill his destiny. An unexpected twist at the end holds another surprise. There are herd crests and unicorn anatomy illustrations provided. About half of the pages are illustrations suitable for coloring.

Goodreads Giveaway randomly chose me to receive this book. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Caitlyn Huehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked immediately with this book, I even began to read it aloud to my family. It's totally different from anything I've ever read before and I loved it! The added pictures helped to enhance my reading experience, as well as, keep my younger children entertained.

I loved the ideas that are taught in this book and I love the way the unicorn's have human traits. They have fitness rooms, hair salons, and can even be allergic to things, but it all adds to the magical factor in the story.

Blue's journey was interesting to read and made me realize there is so much about this book that I absolutely loved. I can't wait to read it a second time! It was "scrumdiddlyumptious"!

[Vinay Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review at A Bookworm's Musing

Simple, flowing story that keeps the pages turning; wonderful illustrations, including the one on the cover art; loved the character of the blue unicorn, and his transformation as the book progresses too. It was an engaging read, and was cheering for a happy ending throughout. I do wish there were more illustrations. I feel that would have made the read much better.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This whimsical story is fun and entertaining, and not just for the little ones. I read it over several days with my nine year olds, reading a few chapters each evening, and we were all captivated by Blue and his adventures. Not only is the story entertaining but we learn some valuable lessons along the way. The gorgeous illustrations are eye-catching and add that extra element to this tale.

[Elisa Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book-I really enjoyed it! Five stars!

[Maria Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book says this was written for teenagers but I think it is for a younger audience than that.
I think it would hold the tween age range attention well. I didn't love it for myself but I think I would have as a ten year old or something. I think the story is something of a parable and has much for the reader to learn from it.

The reader can glean:
-that it is okay for everyone to be different.
-just because someone is different from you doesn't mean that you should look down on them.
-just because you feel different doesn't mean you are of lesser value
-you have to believe in yourself
-sometimes an individual ostracizes himself even when people are willing to be accepting
-everyone has their own role to play and each is important
-working as a group is better than trying to do it all alone
-working hard is important
-truth is truth whether we understand it now or not
-learning is important
-love is vital
-in the end, good wins over evil
-there is life after death
-sometimes you just have to have faith before you can have knowledge
-one should help others in need


This is not a complete list. It is just some thoughts that I had while reading the book.

The writing is pretty simplistic and resolution to each problem happens quickly. Through out the story there is someone to help the unicorns out of their situations almost immediately so one never has to wonder long how they will be saved this time.

The story is set in "a long time ago" but sometimes the language becomes very modern. "Female nature? What a pig. Can you believe that guy?"

The artwork is interesting and colorful. As I understand it there are multiple versions of the book, picture book, black and white that one could color themselves and there is a coloring book which could be fun for younger kids.

There is no adult language in the book but there are substitute curse-words and name calling used through out. (Some of it made me laugh). -"horsehocky", "dagnabit", "hothead"...

There is violence particularly during the final battle of good vs evil. Some of it is "magic violence" but some of it is physical attack. Not too horribly graphic but there are descriptions of the fighting.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blue Unicorn’s Journey to Osm, by Sabrina Durant, is a gorgeously illustrated story about a unicorn born without magic but destined for great things. A tale that is filled with enchanting fantasy, it is also packed with action as Blue tries to help save his tribe from the evil sorcerer Magh. Readers will delight in the its fairytale elements and lush, colorful pictures that include, in addition to all the unicorns in Blue’s tribe - a firebird, fairies, and a manticore!

The addition of so many mythical creatures and Durant’s descriptive prose give this story a feeling reminiscent of Grimm’s tales. Written for young adults, it is a book that could be enjoyed by upper middle-grade readers and adults alike. Even though its pictures will no doubt draw in younger readers as well, the text does include some violence that may not be suitable for those under 12. While the book was nearly a five-star read for me, and I love that it celebrates the theme of friendship - the violence made it closer to four-stars because I don’t think my daughter (age 9, nearly 10) is mature enough for it, and therefore didn’t share it with her. However, Durant did intend a teenaged audience, which is appropriate.

Durant has also made a companion art book available, as well as a guide to the entire Unicorn tribe. Creative and visually stunning, The Blue Unicorn’s Journey to Osm is a book that is a must-have for unicorn fans, and a good read for young adults & adults who loves fairytales and beautiful, epic fantasy.

*Thank you to iamareader.com & Ms. Durant for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.