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Unicorn Western #1
Unicorn Western
Cast out from the magical kingdom of The Realm and into the dying desert of the Sands beyond, Marshal Clint Gulliver and his unicorn Edward have finally found peace in the small and dusty town of Solace. For the first time since leaving The Realm, Clint has dared to be happy, getting hitched to his bride to be, Mai. But when the town faces a deadly approaching enemy, the gunslinger feels compelled unholster his seven-shooters to face it... and the dark magic it brings with it.
From the creators of Yesterday's Gone (Platt) and Fat Vampire (Truant) comes this reinvention of both the western genre and unicorn lore. Written for children and teens -- but complex and awesome enough for adult readers -- Unicorn Western is "Harry Potter without wizards, with gunslingers, with talking unicorns and epic unicorn fights, and with more turkey pie."
From the creators of Yesterday's Gone (Platt) and Fat Vampire (Truant) comes this reinvention of both the western genre and unicorn lore. Written for children and teens -- but complex and awesome enough for adult readers -- Unicorn Western is "Harry Potter without wizards, with gunslingers, with talking unicorns and epic unicorn fights, and with more turkey pie."
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2012
75 people are currently reading
584 people want to read
About the author
Sean Platt
334 books825 followersSean loves writing books, even more than reading them. He is co-founder of Collective Inkwell and Realm & Sands imprints, writes for children under the name Guy Incognito, and has more than his share of nose.
Together with co-authors David Wright and Johnny B. Truant, Sean has written the series Yesterdays Gone, WhiteSpace, ForNevermore, Available Darkness, Dark Crossings, Unicorn Western, The Beam, Namaste, Robot Proletariat, Cursed, Greens, Space Shuttle, and Everyone Gets Divorced. He also co-wrote the how-to indie book, Write. Publish. Repeat.
With Collective Inkwell
Yesterday's Gone: Post Apocalyptic - LOST by way of The Stand
WhiteSpace: Paranoid thriller on fictitious Hamilton Island
ForNevermore: YA horror that reads nothing like YA Horror
Available Darkness: A new breed of vampire thriller
Dark Crossings: Short stories, killer endings
With 47North
Z 2134: The Walking Dead meets The Hunger Games
Monstrous: Beauty and the Beast meets The Punisher
With Realm & Sands
Unicorn Western: The best story to ever come from a stupid idea
The Beam: Smart sci-fi to make you wonder exactly who we are
Namaste: A revenge thriller like nothing you've ever read
Robot Proletariat: The revolution starts here
Cursed: The old werewolf legend turned upside down
Greens: Retail noir comedy
Space Shuttle: Over the top comedy with all your favorite sci-fi characters
Everyone Gets Divorced: Like "Always Sunny" and "How I Met Your Mother" had a baby on your Kindle
Sean lives in Austin, TX with his wife, daughter, and son.
Follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/seanplatt (say hi so he can follow you back!)
Together with co-authors David Wright and Johnny B. Truant, Sean has written the series Yesterdays Gone, WhiteSpace, ForNevermore, Available Darkness, Dark Crossings, Unicorn Western, The Beam, Namaste, Robot Proletariat, Cursed, Greens, Space Shuttle, and Everyone Gets Divorced. He also co-wrote the how-to indie book, Write. Publish. Repeat.
With Collective Inkwell
Yesterday's Gone: Post Apocalyptic - LOST by way of The Stand
WhiteSpace: Paranoid thriller on fictitious Hamilton Island
ForNevermore: YA horror that reads nothing like YA Horror
Available Darkness: A new breed of vampire thriller
Dark Crossings: Short stories, killer endings
With 47North
Z 2134: The Walking Dead meets The Hunger Games
Monstrous: Beauty and the Beast meets The Punisher
With Realm & Sands
Unicorn Western: The best story to ever come from a stupid idea
The Beam: Smart sci-fi to make you wonder exactly who we are
Namaste: A revenge thriller like nothing you've ever read
Robot Proletariat: The revolution starts here
Cursed: The old werewolf legend turned upside down
Greens: Retail noir comedy
Space Shuttle: Over the top comedy with all your favorite sci-fi characters
Everyone Gets Divorced: Like "Always Sunny" and "How I Met Your Mother" had a baby on your Kindle
Sean lives in Austin, TX with his wife, daughter, and son.
Follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/seanplatt (say hi so he can follow you back!)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
October 29, 2022
3.5 Stars
Who doesn’t find the premise of a western paranormal about a Marshal and his ornery unicorn fighting crime and seeking justice appealing? I did.
However, there’s just one snag. This is a serial, and if it was a regular length book then I would embrace it more readily. However, more often than not, most serials I’ve encountered are typically way too drawn out over hundreds and hundreds of pages, and I suspect that despite enjoying the aforementioned premise, the fact that the conflict lasts all 9 books seems like an absolutely exhausting endeavor to me at the moment. This is a personal issue and doesn’t always apply, so don’t let me sway you otherwise, because it’s evident many have enjoyed this.
Soooo kudos for this first entry, and I’ll consider coming back to this in the future but I make no promises.
Who doesn’t find the premise of a western paranormal about a Marshal and his ornery unicorn fighting crime and seeking justice appealing? I did.
However, there’s just one snag. This is a serial, and if it was a regular length book then I would embrace it more readily. However, more often than not, most serials I’ve encountered are typically way too drawn out over hundreds and hundreds of pages, and I suspect that despite enjoying the aforementioned premise, the fact that the conflict lasts all 9 books seems like an absolutely exhausting endeavor to me at the moment. This is a personal issue and doesn’t always apply, so don’t let me sway you otherwise, because it’s evident many have enjoyed this.
Soooo kudos for this first entry, and I’ll consider coming back to this in the future but I make no promises.
February 9, 2014
Oh, what a fun story. Authors Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant famously wrote this book (which has subsequently blossomed into a 9-volume series, each based on a classic western) after their friend David Wright told them they were unqualified to write a western. When asked why, Wright explained that massive research would need to be undertaken, because Platt and Truant didn't even know what color smoke would come out of the cowboy's guns. Platt and Truant cheerfully replied that they'd simply put a unicorn in the story, and blame any factual inaccuracies on magic.
So they did. And the results are engaging and charming.
An amusing re-interpretation of the film High Noon, set in a Dark Tower-style universe, Unicorn Western volume 1 introduces a magical land in which a gunslinger and his crotchety unicorn Edward are forced to take action when an old foe threatens revenge. The details are unimportant, because the novel (novella, actually) is about the telling, not the plot.
In this world, unicorns subsist on a diet of apple cider and turkey pie, and bleed rainbows when they get injured. Meanwhile, the music of Billy Joel has become sacred across the realm, because ... well, why the hell not?
I'll be reading the rest of the series. And soon.
So they did. And the results are engaging and charming.
An amusing re-interpretation of the film High Noon, set in a Dark Tower-style universe, Unicorn Western volume 1 introduces a magical land in which a gunslinger and his crotchety unicorn Edward are forced to take action when an old foe threatens revenge. The details are unimportant, because the novel (novella, actually) is about the telling, not the plot.
In this world, unicorns subsist on a diet of apple cider and turkey pie, and bleed rainbows when they get injured. Meanwhile, the music of Billy Joel has become sacred across the realm, because ... well, why the hell not?
I'll be reading the rest of the series. And soon.
Read
May 23, 2019Wow . . . THIS. WAS. FUN.
Although I work in self-publishing, this was actually my first official foray into self-published fiction as a fan. Platt and Truant, the guys behind this book, are my freaking heroes. And here's why:
A fellow writer tells them they couldn't write a Western. Why not? Because they would need to do SO MUCH research first. They wouldn't even know the right color of the gunsmoke, he says.
They're response? No need. We'll put a unicorn in the story, and then we could make the gunsmoke any color we want. Pink, let's say.
And that's exactly what they did.
There were so many things in this book that I loved. Clint's voice—VERY Western—and all the Western tropes wrapped firmly in a fantasy world, for one. A talking and bitingly sarcastic unicorn, for two. Plus, the wedding scene in the beginning starts with a pianoman playing the traditional "Joelsongs"—"She's Got a Way," "Just the Way You Are," and "Piano Man"—and then smashing a pumpkin—GET IT, MUSIC FANS?—into the upright. OMG. YAS.
This book is very much like a lighter, more fun version of Dark Tower, which I can totally dig.
The only thing that cost it that final fifth star was the ending. The big climactic battle scene was incredibly rushed and super confusing at times. But I'll still be diving into the rest of this series, FOR SURE.
Although I work in self-publishing, this was actually my first official foray into self-published fiction as a fan. Platt and Truant, the guys behind this book, are my freaking heroes. And here's why:
A fellow writer tells them they couldn't write a Western. Why not? Because they would need to do SO MUCH research first. They wouldn't even know the right color of the gunsmoke, he says.
They're response? No need. We'll put a unicorn in the story, and then we could make the gunsmoke any color we want. Pink, let's say.
And that's exactly what they did.
There were so many things in this book that I loved. Clint's voice—VERY Western—and all the Western tropes wrapped firmly in a fantasy world, for one. A talking and bitingly sarcastic unicorn, for two. Plus, the wedding scene in the beginning starts with a pianoman playing the traditional "Joelsongs"—"She's Got a Way," "Just the Way You Are," and "Piano Man"—and then smashing a pumpkin—GET IT, MUSIC FANS?—into the upright. OMG. YAS.
This book is very much like a lighter, more fun version of Dark Tower, which I can totally dig.
The only thing that cost it that final fifth star was the ending. The big climactic battle scene was incredibly rushed and super confusing at times. But I'll still be diving into the rest of this series, FOR SURE.
April 26, 2024
B O O K C L U B choice
I was gonna give it a 2.5 but after spending more than 5 minutes to type out this review I realized I’d surrender to the full 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🦄 Potential. Lots of potential here. We’re lacking some serious world building and there’s like no character development (two very important elements in a story *for me at least* )
🦄 THE PLOT IS THERE: I see the vision. But it’s poorly executed 😭. Edward was probably the best part about this book AND Teddy. I would have loved seeing more of Teddy, that kid was growing on me quickly 🥺 and i loved that proud beast Edward.
And not gonna lie that unicorn battle was awesome. The dark unicorn reminds me of the “Nightmare” from D&D lol…again, I see the vision..it just needed to be a little more oiled.
I was gonna give it a 2.5 but after spending more than 5 minutes to type out this review I realized I’d surrender to the full 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🦄 Potential. Lots of potential here. We’re lacking some serious world building and there’s like no character development (two very important elements in a story *for me at least* )
🦄 THE PLOT IS THERE: I see the vision. But it’s poorly executed 😭. Edward was probably the best part about this book AND Teddy. I would have loved seeing more of Teddy, that kid was growing on me quickly 🥺 and i loved that proud beast Edward.
And not gonna lie that unicorn battle was awesome. The dark unicorn reminds me of the “Nightmare” from D&D lol…again, I see the vision..it just needed to be a little more oiled.
April 16, 2024
3.25 Stars
I read this for book club, and wouldn't have chosen to read it otherwise, as it isn't exactly my cup of the (think fantasy, western mash up).
I wish it had some more world building, or explained some things better because I was so confused as to what was happening, and why it was happening. For being a short book, it had some plot holes I couldn't get passed. Maybe they get answered in the other books, but I will not be continuing on.
I read this for book club, and wouldn't have chosen to read it otherwise, as it isn't exactly my cup of the (think fantasy, western mash up).
I wish it had some more world building, or explained some things better because I was so confused as to what was happening, and why it was happening. For being a short book, it had some plot holes I couldn't get passed. Maybe they get answered in the other books, but I will not be continuing on.
May 21, 2015
Full review/Цялото ревю - click, click
Следпрочитно:
Очаквах да видя някаква пълна пародия, всичко съшито и с добавени еднорози и точно от тази абсурдност да идва смешното. Но за мое учудване авторите бяха създали наистина работещ свят с уестърн атмосфера и еднорози.
Хареса ми, че са изградили толкова голяма картина. Царството (The Realm) е градът-център на всичко магическо, който не може да бъде намерен, веднъж след като го напуснеш и който (след някакъв катаклизъм?) е отделен от Пясъците - безкрайни самотни равнини, от които магията постепенно се отдръпва и където се развива историята.
Сюжетът на книжката в голяма степен е като на класически уестърн - с престрелки, галопиране, мрачен стоически главен герой и отколешен неприятел, който иска да отнеме града, който му е поверен. Някакси бяха успели да комибинират сериозното с напълно откаченото и простотиите XD Всичко, с изключение на еднорозите
Които бяха страхотни. От една страна бяха изпълнили абсолютно всички клишета - от дъгите до блещукането и магическите способности. От друга - еднорогът Едуард може да се държи като абсолютна кучка и просто си го представям как си показва предните зъби, докато се хили на простреляния Клинт Някакси бяха успели да комибинират сериозното с напълно откаченото и простотиите XD
Общо взето, Еднорожкият уестърн е всичко, за което се сещаш, когато чуеш "уестърн" или "еднорози", но определено не по начина, по който си ги представяш. Не дадох максималния брой звездички защото книжката наистина не може да си стои самостоятелна и дори (както спомена другарче от клуба), е по-близо до пролог, отколкото до цялостна първа книга. Но беше супер весело и определено заслужава час от времето ви.
~~~
After-read thoughts:
I was actually expecting an absolute parody of the western genre, with unicorns thrown in; something silly and absurd and funny just because of it. But for my surprise and great pleasure, the authors managed to built a steadily working fantasy worlds (WITH western, and WITH unicorns). We only had glimpses of the whole picture here, but I loved how grand it was - the magical Realm, and the Sands were magic is drying more and more.
The story was very much like a classic western - galloping, shooting, dark and stoic main character, and old nemesis who wants to ruin his little town. The authors combined the dark and serious undertones with so much craziness and humour. And yes, the unicorns - they helped :D Cause they were awesome. Again, the cliche unicorn image was presnet - the white magical creatures with sparkles and rainbows (and joyness). And in the next moment - Edward is being total bi***, laughing his head off while Clint is bleading.
The others aspects of unicorns and their nature were too only outlined, but were fascinating.
In short, Unicorn Western has everything you can think of when you hear "western" or "unicorns" , yet it doesn't go and sound the way you expected it to be. It hardly can be read as a stand-alone and (as a reading buddy mentioned in the discussion) stands bit more closely to a prologue than to a full first book. But it was highly entertaining and more than worthy for an hour of your time.
Следпрочитно:
Очаквах да видя някаква пълна пародия, всичко съшито и с добавени еднорози и точно от тази абсурдност да идва смешното. Но за мое учудване авторите бяха създали наистина работещ свят с уестърн атмосфера и еднорози.
Хареса ми, че са изградили толкова голяма картина. Царството (The Realm) е градът-център на всичко магическо, който не може да бъде намерен, веднъж след като го напуснеш и който (след някакъв катаклизъм?) е отделен от Пясъците - безкрайни самотни равнини, от които магията постепенно се отдръпва и където се развива историята.
Сюжетът на книжката в голяма степен е като на класически уестърн - с престрелки, галопиране, мрачен стоически главен герой и отколешен неприятел, който иска да отнеме града, който му е поверен. Някакси бяха успели да комибинират сериозното с напълно откаченото и простотиите XD Всичко, с изключение на еднорозите
Които бяха страхотни. От една страна бяха изпълнили абсолютно всички клишета - от дъгите до блещукането и магическите способности. От друга - еднорогът Едуард може да се държи като абсолютна кучка и просто си го представям как си показва предните зъби, докато се хили на простреляния Клинт Някакси бяха успели да комибинират сериозното с напълно откаченото и простотиите XD
Общо взето, Еднорожкият уестърн е всичко, за което се сещаш, когато чуеш "уестърн" или "еднорози", но определено не по начина, по който си ги представяш. Не дадох максималния брой звездички защото книжката наистина не може да си стои самостоятелна и дори (както спомена другарче от клуба), е по-близо до пролог, отколкото до цялостна първа книга. Но беше супер весело и определено заслужава час от времето ви.
~~~
After-read thoughts:
I was actually expecting an absolute parody of the western genre, with unicorns thrown in; something silly and absurd and funny just because of it. But for my surprise and great pleasure, the authors managed to built a steadily working fantasy worlds (WITH western, and WITH unicorns). We only had glimpses of the whole picture here, but I loved how grand it was - the magical Realm, and the Sands were magic is drying more and more.
The story was very much like a classic western - galloping, shooting, dark and stoic main character, and old nemesis who wants to ruin his little town. The authors combined the dark and serious undertones with so much craziness and humour. And yes, the unicorns - they helped :D Cause they were awesome. Again, the cliche unicorn image was presnet - the white magical creatures with sparkles and rainbows (and joyness). And in the next moment - Edward is being total bi***, laughing his head off while Clint is bleading.
The others aspects of unicorns and their nature were too only outlined, but were fascinating.
In short, Unicorn Western has everything you can think of when you hear "western" or "unicorns" , yet it doesn't go and sound the way you expected it to be. It hardly can be read as a stand-alone and (as a reading buddy mentioned in the discussion) stands bit more closely to a prologue than to a full first book. But it was highly entertaining and more than worthy for an hour of your time.
May 25, 2022
This was a quick read, a fun story, but with some sloppy writing that made it read like a draft version instead of the final book. Also, I did not like the way the characters talked, though it may have been intentional to give them the rough demeanor of the western times. I would have preferred to get some more details, especially at the beginning, which made me feel like reading a sequel and missing background information from the previous book.
However, I enjoyed unicorn Edward (which I envisioned as the black sheep uncle of unicorn Kurt from the children's book series) with his snippy and very un-fairytale comments and of course the plot itself.
(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
However, I enjoyed unicorn Edward (which I envisioned as the black sheep uncle of unicorn Kurt from the children's book series) with his snippy and very un-fairytale comments and of course the plot itself.
(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
November 3, 2014
After reading a lot of dark, heavy urban fantasy, Unicorn Western was just what I needed to lighten up and laugh.
A serious, duty-bound marshal right out of a classic western movie (with the name, Clint, no less!) and his trusty steed, the sarcastic unicorn Edward, get ready to face a bad guy from their past, but things are much worse than they expect.
It was silly and fun, but had a well-written story with a couple of interesting twists. It hinted at a much wider fantasy world and even some deeper human truths. Absolutely loved the combination and will definitely be reading more of this series.
A serious, duty-bound marshal right out of a classic western movie (with the name, Clint, no less!) and his trusty steed, the sarcastic unicorn Edward, get ready to face a bad guy from their past, but things are much worse than they expect.
It was silly and fun, but had a well-written story with a couple of interesting twists. It hinted at a much wider fantasy world and even some deeper human truths. Absolutely loved the combination and will definitely be reading more of this series.
January 25, 2015
Well that was fun. A marvelous genre-blend mixing effectively fantasy with western. I enjoyed the setting, though to say too much about it would be a spoiler. The story had a good hook, a strong likable protagonist, a wonderful sidekick (just don't call him that) in the unicorn Edward, and high stakes.
This book serves as a very effective pilot episode, setting up and resolving a conflict within the book, yet establishing the plot arc for the entire series. I look forward to continuing with the adventures of Clint and Edward.
This book serves as a very effective pilot episode, setting up and resolving a conflict within the book, yet establishing the plot arc for the entire series. I look forward to continuing with the adventures of Clint and Edward.
December 18, 2017
I liked the idea of the book - a western set in some kind of mystical world, with unicorns and plenty of mystery and magic - but in the end it didn't live up to the potential that I had hoped it would. It's a well-written story, with interesting characters, but maybe it just wasn't for me. I'm sure it will appeal to many, but it wasn't tempting enough for me to want to read the rest of the series.
January 30, 2015
I first heard about Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant when I read their book, Write, Publish, Repeat. It was really good (and a lot of things applies to artists in general, so the bestie got like 20 screenshots of quotes while I was reading it), and it made me curious about their other books. Unicorn Western seemed like the sort of random that I'd enjoy, and it was on Scribd.
Unicorn Western is a hilarious take on the movie High Noon. It follows, Clint, the marshal who's really the "tough guy with heart of gold/some sort of heart" guy, and my favourite character, the sarcastic, turkey-pie loving unicorn Edward. On the day that Clint is about to get hitched to the love of his life, Mai, he gets word that Hassle Stone is coming back for revenge - with a unicorn of a different colour.
As background knowledge, you should know that unicorns are white. A differently coloured unicorn is an abomination against nature.
Clint and Edward are the perfect pair. Clint is a cynic, but he has a sense of duty. Edward is just sarcastic and likes to eat and throw bags of oats at people.
This book was fairly short, but a really fun read. The only character I didn't like would be Teddy, because he's whiny and useless. Then again, I am seeing him through Clint's eyes, which are admittedly biased.
I am so totally going to carry on reading this series.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
Unicorn Western is a hilarious take on the movie High Noon. It follows, Clint, the marshal who's really the "tough guy with heart of gold/some sort of heart" guy, and my favourite character, the sarcastic, turkey-pie loving unicorn Edward. On the day that Clint is about to get hitched to the love of his life, Mai, he gets word that Hassle Stone is coming back for revenge - with a unicorn of a different colour.
As background knowledge, you should know that unicorns are white. A differently coloured unicorn is an abomination against nature.
Clint and Edward are the perfect pair. Clint is a cynic, but he has a sense of duty. Edward is just sarcastic and likes to eat and throw bags of oats at people.
This book was fairly short, but a really fun read. The only character I didn't like would be Teddy, because he's whiny and useless. Then again, I am seeing him through Clint's eyes, which are admittedly biased.
I am so totally going to carry on reading this series.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
May 22, 2018
I really wanted to like this one. It's the first story I've read of these guys. I found out about them because they've had some of my favorite authors on their podcast. I listened to this book on Podiobooks.com. There was one scene that was kind of cool involving a shoot out and I liked the premise of the story, as ridiculous as it is, but I was disappointed. Separate from the book the narration was pretty bad. More read than told, and there were many times the narrator stumbled over the words but just kept going. He should have recorded another take of the line and edited out the flub. Maybe take an acting class for the dialog too. It all came out flat and rushed.
The writing and story were pretty bad too. One line that stuck out in my mind: "His face was long like that of a horse." There were also a few times where the same word, like "spill," was used twice in the same sentence. These guys need an editor. I also didn't like or understand why they changed a few words like Hotel into Otel.
All that said, check out their podcast, if you don't mind crudeness, they have some good interviews. Also if you look on Amazon they have a lot of positive reviews for their books. I wish the best for these guys. I might even try another one of their titles someday. It seems like they write a ton so they're bound to get better. I admire their word count output, cranking out a ton of stuff.
The writing and story were pretty bad too. One line that stuck out in my mind: "His face was long like that of a horse." There were also a few times where the same word, like "spill," was used twice in the same sentence. These guys need an editor. I also didn't like or understand why they changed a few words like Hotel into Otel.
All that said, check out their podcast, if you don't mind crudeness, they have some good interviews. Also if you look on Amazon they have a lot of positive reviews for their books. I wish the best for these guys. I might even try another one of their titles someday. It seems like they write a ton so they're bound to get better. I admire their word count output, cranking out a ton of stuff.
June 5, 2013
A Unicorn? In a Western?
Yes. And it works!
When I was listening to the Self-Publishing Podcast hosted by the two authors and their friend, David Wright, this idea came up as a joke.
I thought, 'these guys are mad - off their heads!'.
Trust me. They are not. The authors are highly creative writers who took what seems to be a crazy idea and turned it into what is now a series of, I believe, 9 novellas.
I am usually drawn to the ancient world for my reading, as I am in my writing. So, the last thing I expected was to be on board with a fantasy western sort of deal. But this story, after one novella, has drawn me in. The world they have created seems gritty and real and yet it is fantastical. And if you think unicorn fights are for sissies, think again. It's a bloody business!
Truth is, there is nothing else like this book so you have to trust me when I say, it is worth a read.
Johnny B. Truant and Sean Platt are prefect examples of the great things that indie authors are doing. They are unique and creative and very prolific. And because they are independent, you won't have to wait long for the next book in the series.
I highly recommend Unicorn Western, Yar! It's better than the best turkey pie in the Realm!
I look forward to reading more from this writerly duo.
Cheers!
Yes. And it works!
When I was listening to the Self-Publishing Podcast hosted by the two authors and their friend, David Wright, this idea came up as a joke.
I thought, 'these guys are mad - off their heads!'.
Trust me. They are not. The authors are highly creative writers who took what seems to be a crazy idea and turned it into what is now a series of, I believe, 9 novellas.
I am usually drawn to the ancient world for my reading, as I am in my writing. So, the last thing I expected was to be on board with a fantasy western sort of deal. But this story, after one novella, has drawn me in. The world they have created seems gritty and real and yet it is fantastical. And if you think unicorn fights are for sissies, think again. It's a bloody business!
Truth is, there is nothing else like this book so you have to trust me when I say, it is worth a read.
Johnny B. Truant and Sean Platt are prefect examples of the great things that indie authors are doing. They are unique and creative and very prolific. And because they are independent, you won't have to wait long for the next book in the series.
I highly recommend Unicorn Western, Yar! It's better than the best turkey pie in the Realm!
I look forward to reading more from this writerly duo.
Cheers!
December 13, 2013
Oh my GOSH, if you ever wondered what writing comes out of authors who are way overtired and getting a bit loopy, this is the answer to that question! I LOVED this book for just that reason! It is so out there and crazy that it just sucks you into the reading of it. Before I knew it I was diving into this western world of magic, unicorns, and red smoke blazing shoot outs. The plot here is so different that it reminds me of a train wreck...you just can't bring yourself to look away from it. This is by far the most unique book I have ever read in my entire life, but in a crazy sort of way it just all worked and made perfect sense while reading it. The characters are ones you just can't help but love. Clint and Edward just seal the deal for wonderful characters. I mean who can not love a magical Marshal and his trusty Unicorn??!! There were so many parts in this book that simply made me laugh out loud while reading it. Just picturing some of the things that are described are enough to make you fall off your chair laughing, but wanting to read on too. Teddy and his "trusty steed" are pretty funny add ins too. The writing was so descriptive and so much fun to read, the characters were amazing, and the plot was so unique it was just the best. If you are iffy about reading this book I say this...DON'T BE you will LOVE IT!! I know I did.
5/5 Stars!
5/5 Stars!
February 18, 2018
The main character in this book is all bark and no bite. He's the 'meanest, sharpest marshal in the west'... except he gets fooled by the bad guys on multiple occasions, talks about killing people at the drop of a hat, but only actually offs nameless goons and is so hardhearted he cares about the welfare of random small children that follow him into the desert.
Aside from the ridiculous characterisation, the writing is okay. There's serious continuity issues in some parts. And the plot is 100% predictable. It seems this 'nine book series' is so long only because each book is at maximum one act of the story arc.
So if you like that kinda thing, go for it.
Aside from the ridiculous characterisation, the writing is okay. There's serious continuity issues in some parts. And the plot is 100% predictable. It seems this 'nine book series' is so long only because each book is at maximum one act of the story arc.
So if you like that kinda thing, go for it.
February 13, 2019
A spaghetti western with a gunslinger and his charming unicorn
I had been following The Story Shop podcast and decided to give the Unicorn Western a shot.
It was certainly entertaining and short read.
My main issues were that aside from Edward and Clint, the other characters including the villains are underdeveloped. I was expecting a little more fron Teddy and Pinto, and the motivation behind the villains. Finally, I suppose it was trying to stay true to form (spaghetti western), but I tend to cringe when I read books where there are limited female characters and their roles are overly stereotyped.
It didn’t hook me enough to read the next installment immediately.
I had been following The Story Shop podcast and decided to give the Unicorn Western a shot.
It was certainly entertaining and short read.
My main issues were that aside from Edward and Clint, the other characters including the villains are underdeveloped. I was expecting a little more fron Teddy and Pinto, and the motivation behind the villains. Finally, I suppose it was trying to stay true to form (spaghetti western), but I tend to cringe when I read books where there are limited female characters and their roles are overly stereotyped.
It didn’t hook me enough to read the next installment immediately.
December 27, 2013
After reading Write. Publish. Repeat. I was curious about the works the authors had written. They talked about their series and that they had episode one for free.
They talked the theme on each of the series, and I must say, that this one wasn't the most appealing to me, but decided to try it anyway. It was an ok book, but to me, it failed when it came to engage with the character. When I read, I "see" the action taking place instead of words, but not this time.
Even tho, this is not a book for me, I recommend you to give it a try. It could be right for you.
They talked the theme on each of the series, and I must say, that this one wasn't the most appealing to me, but decided to try it anyway. It was an ok book, but to me, it failed when it came to engage with the character. When I read, I "see" the action taking place instead of words, but not this time.
Even tho, this is not a book for me, I recommend you to give it a try. It could be right for you.
December 10, 2013
It's just fun, with enough interesting ideas to make it worthwhile to check out the rest of the series. You know these guys had a great time writing it, you'll have a great time reading it.
December 31, 2016
This is an unusual adventure, with a cranky, talking unicorn who, of course, controls the magic.
Take a western with marshals and outlaws; then add a unicorn with magic. Marshal Glint and his unicorn, Edward, spent long, hard years before leaving The Realm. They never found the way back so they settled in the town of Solace. The Marshal had to clean town, with some magical help from Edward, before he could relax and enjoy it. Now Clint is ready to marry his little lady, Mai, and put up his guns for good. But before they can say “I do” trouble interrupts. The outlaw he put out of town is headed back with a gang. That gang includes an old friend, turned dark.
Clint is convinced he must save the town, even if no one else is willing to stand with him and even if it means losing his bride to be. Of course, he has Edward to help him, maybe… but only because the dark enemy includes a rouge unicorn. And then there is the young boy who insists on helping although he may get in the way rather than help.
This is a zany story and fun as a package. Edward isn’t the easiest side kick to like but he grows on you. There are clichés, beer drinking (Edward), fighting and bleeding – in rainbow colors no less—and a bit of 11-year-old 'toilet' humor.
There is action, craziness, friendship and a touch of romance. I thought there were some loose ends at the end but there are more books in the series. When you are in the mood for something unusual in the form of a zany western you can give this one a try.
Take a western with marshals and outlaws; then add a unicorn with magic. Marshal Glint and his unicorn, Edward, spent long, hard years before leaving The Realm. They never found the way back so they settled in the town of Solace. The Marshal had to clean town, with some magical help from Edward, before he could relax and enjoy it. Now Clint is ready to marry his little lady, Mai, and put up his guns for good. But before they can say “I do” trouble interrupts. The outlaw he put out of town is headed back with a gang. That gang includes an old friend, turned dark.
Clint is convinced he must save the town, even if no one else is willing to stand with him and even if it means losing his bride to be. Of course, he has Edward to help him, maybe… but only because the dark enemy includes a rouge unicorn. And then there is the young boy who insists on helping although he may get in the way rather than help.
This is a zany story and fun as a package. Edward isn’t the easiest side kick to like but he grows on you. There are clichés, beer drinking (Edward), fighting and bleeding – in rainbow colors no less—and a bit of 11-year-old 'toilet' humor.
There is action, craziness, friendship and a touch of romance. I thought there were some loose ends at the end but there are more books in the series. When you are in the mood for something unusual in the form of a zany western you can give this one a try.
May 25, 2017
I'm undecided whether I enjoyed this book or not.
There is clearly a longer story to unfold in later books. There were many hints of things that could develop and backstory that needs to be uncovered, but I wanted some satisfaction in this book. I did not end up feeling satisfied.
Cliffhangers can work very effectively when used properly, but there needed to be some substance to this book too. I feel that not much really happened. The entire story could be summarised in just a few short sentences. I felt like I was waiting for something to happen and the story to kick into life but it just fizzled out.
I really like the idea of cowboys riding unicorns in a magical land. I like the classic good versus evil plot. I think there is so much potential to go anywhere as the tales unfold. I will try the next book as I'm hoping that there will be a full story rather than just a prelude.
It may be the intention of the authors to leave the reader hanging, and if so, they achieved their objective well. Ultimately, it feels as if I am being deliberately drawn in with things foreshadowed but left untold in this book. I feel as if I am left no choice but to buy the next book in the series for answers. This may be good from a book sales perspective but ,as a reader experience, it is somewhat frustrating.
I would recommend you give this a go but don't commit to buying the entire series until you have read this first. On the other hand, it may be better to buy the entire series so you don't feel like you are left dangling. The choice is yours.
There is clearly a longer story to unfold in later books. There were many hints of things that could develop and backstory that needs to be uncovered, but I wanted some satisfaction in this book. I did not end up feeling satisfied.
Cliffhangers can work very effectively when used properly, but there needed to be some substance to this book too. I feel that not much really happened. The entire story could be summarised in just a few short sentences. I felt like I was waiting for something to happen and the story to kick into life but it just fizzled out.
I really like the idea of cowboys riding unicorns in a magical land. I like the classic good versus evil plot. I think there is so much potential to go anywhere as the tales unfold. I will try the next book as I'm hoping that there will be a full story rather than just a prelude.
It may be the intention of the authors to leave the reader hanging, and if so, they achieved their objective well. Ultimately, it feels as if I am being deliberately drawn in with things foreshadowed but left untold in this book. I feel as if I am left no choice but to buy the next book in the series for answers. This may be good from a book sales perspective but ,as a reader experience, it is somewhat frustrating.
I would recommend you give this a go but don't commit to buying the entire series until you have read this first. On the other hand, it may be better to buy the entire series so you don't feel like you are left dangling. The choice is yours.
April 10, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up, even though it might have had more based on the content alone. I enjoyed the concept and although the execution wasn’t quite the outlandish adventure I expected, it was still well done.
It had its flaws, most of which are forgivable. What really bothered me, however, was that the backstory, the gunslinger, and the world itself isn’t original. It is Stephen King’s Dark Tower.
At first I thought it was an oddly crafted homage—the gunslinger, like King’s Roland, is based on Clint Eastwood, only instead of using the name Roland, they just stuck with Clint. But the world itself was broken. Time and direction are out of order, just like the dark tower. Clint is supernaturally fast just like Roland. He’s a sick like Roland. He has a kid with him that he doesn’t like, and a friend named Eddy—although in this case it’s Edward. The unicorn.
And I don’t mind a nice homage, but it seems the story relies too heavily on the sweat from King’s brow rather than their own. I mean when they used the word “palaver,” my eyes just about rolled from my head.
Maybe I’m just unable to see that this is a farce and there is no thievery here. Time will tell, because I already own the rest of the series and as I said, it’s still an enjoyable tale.
Still, The Dark Tower (first book is The Gunslinger) is the better read if you have to choose between the two.
It had its flaws, most of which are forgivable. What really bothered me, however, was that the backstory, the gunslinger, and the world itself isn’t original. It is Stephen King’s Dark Tower.
At first I thought it was an oddly crafted homage—the gunslinger, like King’s Roland, is based on Clint Eastwood, only instead of using the name Roland, they just stuck with Clint. But the world itself was broken. Time and direction are out of order, just like the dark tower. Clint is supernaturally fast just like Roland. He’s a sick like Roland. He has a kid with him that he doesn’t like, and a friend named Eddy—although in this case it’s Edward. The unicorn.
And I don’t mind a nice homage, but it seems the story relies too heavily on the sweat from King’s brow rather than their own. I mean when they used the word “palaver,” my eyes just about rolled from my head.
Maybe I’m just unable to see that this is a farce and there is no thievery here. Time will tell, because I already own the rest of the series and as I said, it’s still an enjoyable tale.
Still, The Dark Tower (first book is The Gunslinger) is the better read if you have to choose between the two.
January 21, 2023
Clint Gulliver is a marshal with magical guns, who keeps the peace with the help of his trusty steed, Edward the unicorn. Edward’s attitude is bad, because Clint’s hanging up his guns and marrying Mai -- until an old enemy rolls back into the town of Solace, and Edward’s suddenly all that’s standing between Clint and doom. Too short for more than a basic plot or characters, but competently written and amusing. Aside from the weird fixation on turkey pie (I’m sure there’s a story there) this is decent -- it’s more of a YA thing, but there was enough there for me as an adult reader to keep turning pages. This isn’t my thing, but it could be yours?
Total: 5.5/10 (2.75 stars, rounded up to 3)
January 26, 2020
This book is a little quirky, and I like quirky. I found out about Platt and Truant from a search for story structure. I found one of their websites, read their book “Write! Publish! Repeat!” And couldn’t resist trying one of their serial novels. I found it engaging and want to write similar stories. This book does some interesting world-building, but (in most cases) gives you just enough info to spin up your imagination, which of course is the absolute point. I look forward to reading more about Clint and Edward. It’s my cup of tea.
July 30, 2022
It was a fun bit of fluff.
The names were the most amusing part, a semi-Pig Latin pastiche.
The plot was good enough to hold interest thru-out the reading.
The characters involved with the hero were amusing, both the unicorn's self importance and the orphan's determination to stick with the action.
And it's a "cliff-hanger", obviously to draw you to the next book.
It's fantasy, not SF, and not really my preferred genre, so I won't be going to the next one. But if it tickles your fancy, you may very well.
The names were the most amusing part, a semi-Pig Latin pastiche.
The plot was good enough to hold interest thru-out the reading.
The characters involved with the hero were amusing, both the unicorn's self importance and the orphan's determination to stick with the action.
And it's a "cliff-hanger", obviously to draw you to the next book.
It's fantasy, not SF, and not really my preferred genre, so I won't be going to the next one. But if it tickles your fancy, you may very well.
July 31, 2022
Wonderful entertaining listening 🎶🔰
Another will written fantasy western adventure thriller short story by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant about a marshal who is getting married which is interrupted by the bad 👎 guys coming to town. He gets things straightened out but his bride is kidded too be continued next novel. I would recommend this novella and author to readers of fantasy novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa as I do because of eye damage and health issues. 2022 👒😊👔⌚
Another will written fantasy western adventure thriller short story by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant about a marshal who is getting married which is interrupted by the bad 👎 guys coming to town. He gets things straightened out but his bride is kidded too be continued next novel. I would recommend this novella and author to readers of fantasy novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa as I do because of eye damage and health issues. 2022 👒😊👔⌚
September 7, 2021
Mildly amusing. At 81 pages, there’s not much to this. It’s about Clint and his talking snarky unicorn. Not much happens in the story and it ends on a cliffhanger with nothing resolved. With such an original concept, this could’ve been so much better. These guys churn out books and it shows. Why is it classified as Western Horror?
April 14, 2022
WOW, LOVE IT
An original idea, plenty of humour, the perfect mix of two genre.The unicorn was my favorite and now I have to go and buy the saga.
I'm at loss for words and can only say go and read it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
An original idea, plenty of humour, the perfect mix of two genre.The unicorn was my favorite and now I have to go and buy the saga.
I'm at loss for words and can only say go and read it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 28, 2017
Very funny and light in between read. Love the take on unicorns and a western. So it's exactly what the title opposes. If you like unicorns, westerns or just funny light reads, this is a book for you.
March 12, 2019
I give them 5 stars for having a new and unique ideas but this is a one star read.
Nothing about this kept my attention. The Premise sounded awesome, but the actual writing fell far short from what I needed to keep me engaged.
Nothing about this kept my attention. The Premise sounded awesome, but the actual writing fell far short from what I needed to keep me engaged.
December 3, 2021
To be honest I only read this because I thought it'd be trash and it was free on Kindle, but to my happy surprise it's actually fun! It feels like it has heart put into it and it would make a really good TV show I think! I will be getting the rest of the series 😊
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