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The Unicorn Chronicles #4
The Last Hunt
In the center if Luster stands an enormous tree called the Axis Mundi, the Heart of the World. But now that tree is wounded, pierced through by magic. And through that wound marches an army of Hunters, led by the sinister and vengeful Beloved. And they are all determined to destroy each and every unicorn. As the unicorns gather to defend their lives, the human girl, Cara, is sent on a mission to meet a ferocious and mysterious dragon. Faced with perilous danger, Cara must make a desperate decision that will change her life forever.
With a deft hand and keen imagination, master storyteller Bruce Coville brings this riveting epic fantasy series to a rousing conclusion as the secrets of Luster are finally and satisfyingly unveiled.
With a deft hand and keen imagination, master storyteller Bruce Coville brings this riveting epic fantasy series to a rousing conclusion as the secrets of Luster are finally and satisfyingly unveiled.
605 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2010
37 people are currently reading
2717 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
November 2, 2017
How do you review a book you've been waiting all your life to finally read? I began the Unicorn Chronicles as a Second Grader, and finished them eighteen years later. So much changed with these last two books. A very strange but amazing thing happened as I dove into the final two installments. Cara remained basically the same age, lending an air of timelessness to this tale. It brought me back to my childhood, but the world of Luster expanded so much I felt like this series grew up with me. It is larger than life and I'm convinced no one can write epic Unicorn novels like Bruce Coville. There really are no words to do it justice. You'll just have to read it and discover the mystery behind the magic for yourselves. I finished this book with a hint of sorrow and a sweet satisfaction in knowing our beloved characters will continue to have more adventures. If only we could break into Grimwold's cave and read them ourselves!
April 30, 2023
Full review at a later date.
October 26, 2012
'Belle reflected on how odd it was that telling the tale of the Whisperer and the delvers had caused her to feel some sympathy for the delvers.what strange power did telling a story have, that it could open her heart like this?'
Need I say more really. Coville hits the nail perfectly on the head with this comment. The entering into a story, the walking in the footsteps of another through use of your imagination, can transform your sensitivities to another's plight.
This book is the fourth, the final instalment of his epic story of the mystical land of Luster. This is creatured, i can't say peopled for obvious reasons, with recognizable mystical creations such as unicorns, dragons, gryphen (I think that's the plural) and dwarves but there are also Coville's own creations which fill out this brilliantly imagined world.
It is impossible to say much about the story without destroying the unfolding of the Narrative. This is a truly impressive bringing together and explaining the anomalies and confusions and seeming contradictions of the previous three books. Had i, as so many of the previous readers, had to wait patiently for each volume to be dragged from the imagination of Bruce Coville I may have lost the will to live or simply given up as the plot was a highly contorted and complicated one but I had the good fortune to only discover the series a few months ago after it had all been finished and so have been able to devour the 20 years it took Coville to reveal his whole story in a few months.
To say anything more specific about the narrative would have me having to pepper the paragraphs with "spoiler alerts" so instead I revert to the simple action of saying
"if you enjoy stories about unicorns....read it; if you enjoy clever and ever-twisting plots and storylines which gradually resolve and become clear through massive contortions and unfoldings and suprises ....read it; If you respect an author who is prepared to address big questions and not 'happily ever after resolve them all'....read it; If you are not too removed from your own youngsterhood to enjoy mystery and adventure and discovery from a young adult's perspective....read it; and finally if you enjoy the stretching of the mind's possibilities into the idea of a world far bigger then we might otherwise countenance ....read it"
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy
Need I say more really. Coville hits the nail perfectly on the head with this comment. The entering into a story, the walking in the footsteps of another through use of your imagination, can transform your sensitivities to another's plight.
This book is the fourth, the final instalment of his epic story of the mystical land of Luster. This is creatured, i can't say peopled for obvious reasons, with recognizable mystical creations such as unicorns, dragons, gryphen (I think that's the plural) and dwarves but there are also Coville's own creations which fill out this brilliantly imagined world.
It is impossible to say much about the story without destroying the unfolding of the Narrative. This is a truly impressive bringing together and explaining the anomalies and confusions and seeming contradictions of the previous three books. Had i, as so many of the previous readers, had to wait patiently for each volume to be dragged from the imagination of Bruce Coville I may have lost the will to live or simply given up as the plot was a highly contorted and complicated one but I had the good fortune to only discover the series a few months ago after it had all been finished and so have been able to devour the 20 years it took Coville to reveal his whole story in a few months.
To say anything more specific about the narrative would have me having to pepper the paragraphs with "spoiler alerts" so instead I revert to the simple action of saying
"if you enjoy stories about unicorns....read it; if you enjoy clever and ever-twisting plots and storylines which gradually resolve and become clear through massive contortions and unfoldings and suprises ....read it; If you respect an author who is prepared to address big questions and not 'happily ever after resolve them all'....read it; If you are not too removed from your own youngsterhood to enjoy mystery and adventure and discovery from a young adult's perspective....read it; and finally if you enjoy the stretching of the mind's possibilities into the idea of a world far bigger then we might otherwise countenance ....read it"
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy
October 26, 2022
"In every separation lie the seeds of reunion, in every reunion the seeds of separation."
—The Last Hunt, P. 53
Sixteen years: that's how long the Unicorn Chronicles took to complete. Starting with Into the Land of the Unicorns in 1994—a book just over one hundred fifty pages—and concluding with 2010's The Last Hunt—six hundred five pages—Bruce Coville crafted the flagship franchise of his writing career. Book three, Dark Whispers, left us on a cliffhanger: after centuries spent plotting to invade the enchanted land of Luster and exterminate the unicorn race, the eternally ageless woman named Beloved finally gained the means to do so. Taking advantage of the Dimblethum, a frustrated creature resembling both a man and a bear, Beloved and her male descendants—hundreds of Hunters, trained to kill—breached Luster and are poised for the ultimate war against the unicorns. Twelve-year-old Cara Diana Hunter, a human with a complex history that bridges Earth and Luster, is horrified that Beloved—her own ancestor—is now actually in Luster. Cara's grandmother, who lived for decades on Earth as a human named Ivy Morris, has regained her original unicorn form and reigns as their Queen, Amalia Flickerfoot. Cara and the Queen are determined to oppose Beloved to their dying breaths, and hordes of spirited unicorns are ready to do the same, but the war is certain to be Luster's darkest day. Death has come to the land.
Amalia worries as she awaits the return of M'Gama, the human Geomancer. Severe ground-quakes have rocked Luster since Beloved entered the world, and Amalia expected M'Gama would have arrived by now to diagnose the problem. Her absence is alarming, but there's no time to wait; Luster is a gigantic place, but eventually Beloved will find the unicorns, and they must prepare. Though Cara has already risked her life many times for the cause, her grandmother has one last difficult request: that Cara travel to Dark Mountain and ask Graumag the dragon to help fight the Hunters. A fire-breathing dragon could tip the balance in the war, and Graumag is the most likely of Luster's seven dragons to support the unicorns. Cara embarks on the journey with her squirrel-like friend the Squijum and the quirky griffin, Medafil, whom she can ride most of the way to Dark Mountain. The terrain on the way there is dangerous, and Hunters have been dispatched specifically to capture Cara. Even if she makes it to Graumag's cave, success isn't guaranteed. Dragons are notoriously mercurial; will this one agree to fight a war on behalf of the unicorns?
"I looked far and wide
For a heart to stay true,
I found it at last
When at last I found you.
Though I may wander
In paths far from you
I'll always return
To the heart that stays true."
—Martha's song, The Last Hunt, P. 96
Meanwhile, Cara's father, Ian Hunter, is trapped in the Rainbow Prison. His long journey culminated when he came face to face with his wife Martha, Cara's mother, at the end of the previous book, a prisoner locked away in the Ruby Portal of the Rainbow Prison for years. Ian and his traveling companions—Rajiv, a street urchin he met in India, and Fallon, an unnaturally tall, strong, handsome man of many mysteries—sacrificed a lot to reach Martha, and are now on the brink of death. They can't get to Luster and help Cara without first breaking out of the Rainbow Prison, but how to accomplish that is anyone's guess. Are Ian, Rajiv, Fallon, and Martha doomed to die in this land of claustrophobic color?
Tension is on the rise throughout Luster. The delvers, gnomelike beasts that hate unicorns for reasons revealed in the previous book, typically follow their King unquestioningly. Not so in recent days: King Gnurflax is showing signs of mental instability, and a few delvers—notably "Rocky", who helped Cara escape the underground labyrinth of Delvharken—quietly oppose the King. The truth behind Gnurflax's erratic behavior was revealed to the wizard Metzram when he overheard the King conversing with a shadowy presence: the Whisperer. A tragic byproduct of the Purification Ceremony in which the unicorns attempted to purge their negative traits and become a perfect race, the Whisperer is entirely composed of hateful energy. When you separate the bad parts of yourself from any goodness, how can they become anything but evil? Exiled and stripped of his real name by Gnurflax, "Rocky" sends out a cousin call, hoping a few delver relatives respond. But even if they come, risking their own banishment, what can a handful of renegades do against the whole society, which stands behind the King? Gnurflax intends to obey the Whisperer and join forces with the Hunters, forming an army of sufficient might to wipe out the unicorns. There isn't much time for Rocky and his cousins to plan, but their willingness to try shows there is reason for hope. Some delvers, at least, are transcending their blind hatred of the unicorns.
"When the King is mad, it is an honor to be an exile."
—Rocky, The Last Hunt, P. 252
The Hunters wreak devastation from the moment they enter Luster, aided by their "Maidens of the Hunt". These teenage Maidens, born and bred to be loyal to Beloved, scatter throughout Luster and pretend to be in danger. Unicorns feel an instinctive pull to rescue any young lady in trouble, and Beloved is counting on this to draw them into her traps. But one Maiden, fourteen-year-old Feng Yuan, is horrified when she witnesses her first slain unicorn. The merciless slash of a Hunter's blade, then the crimson and silver blood pouring from the majestic animal's body, traumatizes Feng Yuan. She flees into the wilds, ready to yield herself to execution by the first unicorn warrior who finds her. Fate has bigger plans for Feng Yuan, however; as a student of Sun Tzu's ancient military philosophy, she has something to offer Amalia Flickerfoot that none of the Queen's unicorn advisors can: practical war strategy. Beloved is certain to continue using dirty tactics, and Feng Yuan knows how to counter them. It could be the difference between extinction and survival.
Still more drama unfolds in another corner of Luster. At the end of the last book, Cara learned the Whisperer's sordid backstory from the Chiron, King of the Centaurs. In exchange for the story, Cara consented to mercifully end the King's life, but now a power vacuum exists that several Centaurs would love to fill. Chief among these candidates is Arkon, but Princess Arianna, whom he loves, has other priorities. The ground-quakes in Luster are worsening, and Arianna believes any contest to determine the new Chiron should be postponed until the quakes are stopped. She doesn't realize that Luster itself is collapsing, because Beloved and her Hunters entered it directly through the Axis Mundi, a supernatural tree put in place by Luster's creator to stitch the world shut. The breach has damaged the Axis Mundi, and Luster is rapidly deteriorating. While Arkon and other Centaurs are preoccupied by who will succeed the King, Luster may be about to wink out of existence.
"Change will come, whether we wish it to or not. To fight it is like fighting the sunrise. Better to say, 'Ah, welcome old friend. Here you are again.'"
—The Last Hunt, P. 340
All these storylines will converge on the battlefield between the Hunters and unicorns, but secrets are still being kept that could transform the outcome. Who is Fallon, and whom does he seek in Luster? Why did the Dimblethum enable Beloved to cross into the unicorn realm, resulting in unspeakable carnage? Who is Elihu, a being of awesome powers even though he looks human? Is he the friend Fallon wants to reunite with? What will Cara do when presented with a choice she never expected: to embrace her lineage on her mother's side and be turned into a unicorn? Would she be more effective against Beloved in that form, or as the human girl we've known since the opening paragraphs of Into the Land of the Unicorns? Plenty of drama and action lead us to the climax of a saga spanning untold generations and multiple worlds. How will it end for Cara and the inhabitants of Luster, threatened as never before? The answer is here at last.
Exciting and imaginative, The Last Hunt is an ambitious finale to the Unicorn Chronicles. The themes are rich and thoughtful, continuing the trend from Dark Whispers; the writings of past Keepers of the Chronicles and other philosophers from Luster produce some of the best quotes. Bellenmore the Magician wrote, "It is a pity that Earth has lost its dragons, for they added immeasurably to the strangeness of our world. This, it seemed to me, was a good thing." As humans subdue the mysteries of life, our world, and the universe, we lift ourselves out of poverty and ignorance. Yet as these mysteries are solved, some of the romance of life escapes as well. Our "dragons" diminish in size and disappear, and with them goes the allure of the unknown. Progress it may be, but there's no substitute for the thrill of dragons real and metaphorical just beyond the edge of what we perceive.
If you've ever sought to reconnect with a friend whose presence is joy and whose absence brings pain, you'll empathize with Fallon. The one he seeks in Luster is his alahim, a platonic soulmate worthy of every hardship Fallon must endure to locate him. Fallon defines the term alahim best: "'Heart-brother' might be the closest translation. It is the greatest kind of friendship, a bond of love and affection that requires no explanation, no promises, no forgiveness, though those things may all be freely given and often are. Having an alahim is like having another self, even if your goals and dreams are not all the same." A bond of such depth is not easily relinquished, for it uplifts the lonesome soul. The road to your alahim may be long and weary, but when you find him, there's no doubt it was worth every minute of heartache and disillusionment.
Secrets about Luster's origins make up a large part of The Last Hunt, and Fallon's musings on the hows and whys of creation deserve to be pondered. Why are we driven to express who we are through works of art that enlighten and entertain? Fallon's words resonate: "But, really, why does anyone create? You feel a...restlessness inside, a need to make something new, something no one has ever seen before. You want to add to the beauty and the richness of the world with a gift, an offering that is uniquely yours. It's an act of selfishness and generosity, all rolled into one." Whether it's bearing and raising children or producing works of art, Fallon's observation perfectly describes the impulse to create. We are born with an all-consuming need for purpose. If we live and die without expressing our mind and heart, were we ever here at all? What is the point if we don't discover our innermost self and attempt to explain it to others?
Responsibility goes hand in hand with the act of creation, Fallon acknowledges. Is one who creates living beings obligated to intervene if they become perverted or harmful, or is their autonomy sacrosanct? Again, from Fallon: "(L)ittle is debated with greater ferocity than the question of what the creator owes the creation. Some feel you must hover over it, guarding it every moment. Others believe the highest, hardest, and most important task is to let go. They say that just as the parent must at some point release the child to the world, the creator must release the creation. Otherwise you stop it in its tracks, strangle its growth. Then you become not only its creator, but its executioner." A painting, novel, or song is supposed to reflect the artist's mind, but what if the creation is people? Do they have a right to exist if they rebel? Should rebels expect the creator's protection and provision, or are they on their own? The Last Hunt dares wrestle with these existential questions, and it adds flavor to the series. Bruce Coville is an impressive thinker.
I don't hesitate to label the Unicorn Chronicles an excellent work of literature. The story's scope substantially broadens over time, the most notable jump coming between volumes two and three. The best book is Dark Whispers, closely followed by The Last Hunt; I'd rank Song of the Wanderer next, then Into the Land of the Unicorns. I want to rate The Last Hunt the full three stars, but I'm not one hundred percent confident in that; the writing is awkward at times, and a few story trails peter out with no resolution. Are Cara's feelings for Lightfoot headed toward romance eventually, or is it our imagination? Why did the Blind Man in India need to occasionally borrow Ian Hunter's eyesight, rendering Cara's father intermittently blind? Dark Whispers gave the impression this was relevant in some way we would yet discover. Despite these flaws, however, the end of the book is emotional; courageous people and creatures sacrifice their lives in the war, and the effect of these losses on characters we love—especially the Squijum and his new friend—cuts to the heart. I'd probably do three stars for The Last Hunt, after all. I'm glad I read the Unicorn Chronicles, a series that validates Bruce Coville's career had he penned nothing else. I will fondly look back on this reading experience the rest of my life.
—The Last Hunt, P. 53
Sixteen years: that's how long the Unicorn Chronicles took to complete. Starting with Into the Land of the Unicorns in 1994—a book just over one hundred fifty pages—and concluding with 2010's The Last Hunt—six hundred five pages—Bruce Coville crafted the flagship franchise of his writing career. Book three, Dark Whispers, left us on a cliffhanger: after centuries spent plotting to invade the enchanted land of Luster and exterminate the unicorn race, the eternally ageless woman named Beloved finally gained the means to do so. Taking advantage of the Dimblethum, a frustrated creature resembling both a man and a bear, Beloved and her male descendants—hundreds of Hunters, trained to kill—breached Luster and are poised for the ultimate war against the unicorns. Twelve-year-old Cara Diana Hunter, a human with a complex history that bridges Earth and Luster, is horrified that Beloved—her own ancestor—is now actually in Luster. Cara's grandmother, who lived for decades on Earth as a human named Ivy Morris, has regained her original unicorn form and reigns as their Queen, Amalia Flickerfoot. Cara and the Queen are determined to oppose Beloved to their dying breaths, and hordes of spirited unicorns are ready to do the same, but the war is certain to be Luster's darkest day. Death has come to the land.
Amalia worries as she awaits the return of M'Gama, the human Geomancer. Severe ground-quakes have rocked Luster since Beloved entered the world, and Amalia expected M'Gama would have arrived by now to diagnose the problem. Her absence is alarming, but there's no time to wait; Luster is a gigantic place, but eventually Beloved will find the unicorns, and they must prepare. Though Cara has already risked her life many times for the cause, her grandmother has one last difficult request: that Cara travel to Dark Mountain and ask Graumag the dragon to help fight the Hunters. A fire-breathing dragon could tip the balance in the war, and Graumag is the most likely of Luster's seven dragons to support the unicorns. Cara embarks on the journey with her squirrel-like friend the Squijum and the quirky griffin, Medafil, whom she can ride most of the way to Dark Mountain. The terrain on the way there is dangerous, and Hunters have been dispatched specifically to capture Cara. Even if she makes it to Graumag's cave, success isn't guaranteed. Dragons are notoriously mercurial; will this one agree to fight a war on behalf of the unicorns?
"I looked far and wide
For a heart to stay true,
I found it at last
When at last I found you.
Though I may wander
In paths far from you
I'll always return
To the heart that stays true."
—Martha's song, The Last Hunt, P. 96
Meanwhile, Cara's father, Ian Hunter, is trapped in the Rainbow Prison. His long journey culminated when he came face to face with his wife Martha, Cara's mother, at the end of the previous book, a prisoner locked away in the Ruby Portal of the Rainbow Prison for years. Ian and his traveling companions—Rajiv, a street urchin he met in India, and Fallon, an unnaturally tall, strong, handsome man of many mysteries—sacrificed a lot to reach Martha, and are now on the brink of death. They can't get to Luster and help Cara without first breaking out of the Rainbow Prison, but how to accomplish that is anyone's guess. Are Ian, Rajiv, Fallon, and Martha doomed to die in this land of claustrophobic color?
Tension is on the rise throughout Luster. The delvers, gnomelike beasts that hate unicorns for reasons revealed in the previous book, typically follow their King unquestioningly. Not so in recent days: King Gnurflax is showing signs of mental instability, and a few delvers—notably "Rocky", who helped Cara escape the underground labyrinth of Delvharken—quietly oppose the King. The truth behind Gnurflax's erratic behavior was revealed to the wizard Metzram when he overheard the King conversing with a shadowy presence: the Whisperer. A tragic byproduct of the Purification Ceremony in which the unicorns attempted to purge their negative traits and become a perfect race, the Whisperer is entirely composed of hateful energy. When you separate the bad parts of yourself from any goodness, how can they become anything but evil? Exiled and stripped of his real name by Gnurflax, "Rocky" sends out a cousin call, hoping a few delver relatives respond. But even if they come, risking their own banishment, what can a handful of renegades do against the whole society, which stands behind the King? Gnurflax intends to obey the Whisperer and join forces with the Hunters, forming an army of sufficient might to wipe out the unicorns. There isn't much time for Rocky and his cousins to plan, but their willingness to try shows there is reason for hope. Some delvers, at least, are transcending their blind hatred of the unicorns.
"When the King is mad, it is an honor to be an exile."
—Rocky, The Last Hunt, P. 252
The Hunters wreak devastation from the moment they enter Luster, aided by their "Maidens of the Hunt". These teenage Maidens, born and bred to be loyal to Beloved, scatter throughout Luster and pretend to be in danger. Unicorns feel an instinctive pull to rescue any young lady in trouble, and Beloved is counting on this to draw them into her traps. But one Maiden, fourteen-year-old Feng Yuan, is horrified when she witnesses her first slain unicorn. The merciless slash of a Hunter's blade, then the crimson and silver blood pouring from the majestic animal's body, traumatizes Feng Yuan. She flees into the wilds, ready to yield herself to execution by the first unicorn warrior who finds her. Fate has bigger plans for Feng Yuan, however; as a student of Sun Tzu's ancient military philosophy, she has something to offer Amalia Flickerfoot that none of the Queen's unicorn advisors can: practical war strategy. Beloved is certain to continue using dirty tactics, and Feng Yuan knows how to counter them. It could be the difference between extinction and survival.
Still more drama unfolds in another corner of Luster. At the end of the last book, Cara learned the Whisperer's sordid backstory from the Chiron, King of the Centaurs. In exchange for the story, Cara consented to mercifully end the King's life, but now a power vacuum exists that several Centaurs would love to fill. Chief among these candidates is Arkon, but Princess Arianna, whom he loves, has other priorities. The ground-quakes in Luster are worsening, and Arianna believes any contest to determine the new Chiron should be postponed until the quakes are stopped. She doesn't realize that Luster itself is collapsing, because Beloved and her Hunters entered it directly through the Axis Mundi, a supernatural tree put in place by Luster's creator to stitch the world shut. The breach has damaged the Axis Mundi, and Luster is rapidly deteriorating. While Arkon and other Centaurs are preoccupied by who will succeed the King, Luster may be about to wink out of existence.
"Change will come, whether we wish it to or not. To fight it is like fighting the sunrise. Better to say, 'Ah, welcome old friend. Here you are again.'"
—The Last Hunt, P. 340
All these storylines will converge on the battlefield between the Hunters and unicorns, but secrets are still being kept that could transform the outcome. Who is Fallon, and whom does he seek in Luster? Why did the Dimblethum enable Beloved to cross into the unicorn realm, resulting in unspeakable carnage? Who is Elihu, a being of awesome powers even though he looks human? Is he the friend Fallon wants to reunite with? What will Cara do when presented with a choice she never expected: to embrace her lineage on her mother's side and be turned into a unicorn? Would she be more effective against Beloved in that form, or as the human girl we've known since the opening paragraphs of Into the Land of the Unicorns? Plenty of drama and action lead us to the climax of a saga spanning untold generations and multiple worlds. How will it end for Cara and the inhabitants of Luster, threatened as never before? The answer is here at last.
Exciting and imaginative, The Last Hunt is an ambitious finale to the Unicorn Chronicles. The themes are rich and thoughtful, continuing the trend from Dark Whispers; the writings of past Keepers of the Chronicles and other philosophers from Luster produce some of the best quotes. Bellenmore the Magician wrote, "It is a pity that Earth has lost its dragons, for they added immeasurably to the strangeness of our world. This, it seemed to me, was a good thing." As humans subdue the mysteries of life, our world, and the universe, we lift ourselves out of poverty and ignorance. Yet as these mysteries are solved, some of the romance of life escapes as well. Our "dragons" diminish in size and disappear, and with them goes the allure of the unknown. Progress it may be, but there's no substitute for the thrill of dragons real and metaphorical just beyond the edge of what we perceive.
If you've ever sought to reconnect with a friend whose presence is joy and whose absence brings pain, you'll empathize with Fallon. The one he seeks in Luster is his alahim, a platonic soulmate worthy of every hardship Fallon must endure to locate him. Fallon defines the term alahim best: "'Heart-brother' might be the closest translation. It is the greatest kind of friendship, a bond of love and affection that requires no explanation, no promises, no forgiveness, though those things may all be freely given and often are. Having an alahim is like having another self, even if your goals and dreams are not all the same." A bond of such depth is not easily relinquished, for it uplifts the lonesome soul. The road to your alahim may be long and weary, but when you find him, there's no doubt it was worth every minute of heartache and disillusionment.
Secrets about Luster's origins make up a large part of The Last Hunt, and Fallon's musings on the hows and whys of creation deserve to be pondered. Why are we driven to express who we are through works of art that enlighten and entertain? Fallon's words resonate: "But, really, why does anyone create? You feel a...restlessness inside, a need to make something new, something no one has ever seen before. You want to add to the beauty and the richness of the world with a gift, an offering that is uniquely yours. It's an act of selfishness and generosity, all rolled into one." Whether it's bearing and raising children or producing works of art, Fallon's observation perfectly describes the impulse to create. We are born with an all-consuming need for purpose. If we live and die without expressing our mind and heart, were we ever here at all? What is the point if we don't discover our innermost self and attempt to explain it to others?
Responsibility goes hand in hand with the act of creation, Fallon acknowledges. Is one who creates living beings obligated to intervene if they become perverted or harmful, or is their autonomy sacrosanct? Again, from Fallon: "(L)ittle is debated with greater ferocity than the question of what the creator owes the creation. Some feel you must hover over it, guarding it every moment. Others believe the highest, hardest, and most important task is to let go. They say that just as the parent must at some point release the child to the world, the creator must release the creation. Otherwise you stop it in its tracks, strangle its growth. Then you become not only its creator, but its executioner." A painting, novel, or song is supposed to reflect the artist's mind, but what if the creation is people? Do they have a right to exist if they rebel? Should rebels expect the creator's protection and provision, or are they on their own? The Last Hunt dares wrestle with these existential questions, and it adds flavor to the series. Bruce Coville is an impressive thinker.
I don't hesitate to label the Unicorn Chronicles an excellent work of literature. The story's scope substantially broadens over time, the most notable jump coming between volumes two and three. The best book is Dark Whispers, closely followed by The Last Hunt; I'd rank Song of the Wanderer next, then Into the Land of the Unicorns. I want to rate The Last Hunt the full three stars, but I'm not one hundred percent confident in that; the writing is awkward at times, and a few story trails peter out with no resolution. Are Cara's feelings for Lightfoot headed toward romance eventually, or is it our imagination? Why did the Blind Man in India need to occasionally borrow Ian Hunter's eyesight, rendering Cara's father intermittently blind? Dark Whispers gave the impression this was relevant in some way we would yet discover. Despite these flaws, however, the end of the book is emotional; courageous people and creatures sacrifice their lives in the war, and the effect of these losses on characters we love—especially the Squijum and his new friend—cuts to the heart. I'd probably do three stars for The Last Hunt, after all. I'm glad I read the Unicorn Chronicles, a series that validates Bruce Coville's career had he penned nothing else. I will fondly look back on this reading experience the rest of my life.
December 25, 2020
I feel like I remember this one ending/going quite differently, but I don't think that's a bad thing..? Nostalgic fun, apart from the audiobook version including what may be the absolute worst attempt at a Scottish accent I have ever heard.
March 31, 2014
I was a little girl when I started reading this series, and I finished it as a young woman. It's been a journey of over a decade, but I still found this conclusion incredibly satisfying and just as rich as the first two books. My little unicorn-hearted self would have lapped this up. Thank you, Coville, for finishing this.
December 26, 2010
I've been waiting 13 years for the final book in this series. I hope it lives up to my expectations. *Fingers are crossed*
***SPOILER ALERT!***
... Just finished. I realized about a quarter in that Bruce has really expanded this series. The first book was about 150 pages and had a single viewpoint. This final book is about 600 pages and has close to twenty viewpoints. Perhaps he meant to make this series an epic fantasy all along. But it was not what I was expecting style-wise.
Also, I've never read a middle-grade epic fantasy before. Does that genre even exist? Despite having an epic battle to the death where the whole world is at steak, he still shies away from saying anyone dies or is killing someone else. And this is a series that starts off with a Unicorn stabbing a wounded little girl in the heart. Come on Bruce! Live up to it! Very strange but what else could you do in a middle-grade epic fantasy?
Aside from my issues with the style, the ending was fairly standard for what I had envisioned. Cara, now a unicorn, does not kill Beloved but simply tries to heal her and because she is centuries old she dies anyway. Cara is sad about this. Seriously? She's an evil demented demon and you're sad? Sheesh!
A lot of what made the ending work however, was not introduced or set up properly until this final chapter. Yes, there was some foreshadowing with the Dimblethumb and the Squijium and a few hints in the 3rd book, The Whisperer. But really, why couldn't this Whisperer have been around in the earlier books? Would have been better.
Of course, these books were written over the course of what, 20 years? I guess ideas change.
Also, he didn't even really resolve the major issue for me! Yeah, Luster is healing. But now that it's creator is gone forever, what is going to happen to the blank spaces that were never finished? Will Luster forever be a half-world? That just seemed sad.
As a kid, I kinda hoped Cara would turn into a unicorn. As an adult, didn't like it so much. And there is a hint at a reconcilliation between Martha and Amalia/Ivy but none between her and Ian despite their huge fight in the middle. We never really even get a reaction from Ian at Cara's transformation. Adn why did Elihu/the Dimblethumb have to smash the Amulet to transform her if he had the transformational magic in him all along?
Overall, the lesson here is to finish you series in a decent ammount of time and know what you are promising to the reader. I still love and adore the first 2 books. The second two however are just okay. I only read them to know what happens.
Bah. I'm probably far too cynical now. I miss being A Cool Girl Who Likes Unicorns ...
***SPOILER ALERT!***
... Just finished. I realized about a quarter in that Bruce has really expanded this series. The first book was about 150 pages and had a single viewpoint. This final book is about 600 pages and has close to twenty viewpoints. Perhaps he meant to make this series an epic fantasy all along. But it was not what I was expecting style-wise.
Also, I've never read a middle-grade epic fantasy before. Does that genre even exist? Despite having an epic battle to the death where the whole world is at steak, he still shies away from saying anyone dies or is killing someone else. And this is a series that starts off with a Unicorn stabbing a wounded little girl in the heart. Come on Bruce! Live up to it! Very strange but what else could you do in a middle-grade epic fantasy?
Aside from my issues with the style, the ending was fairly standard for what I had envisioned. Cara, now a unicorn, does not kill Beloved but simply tries to heal her and because she is centuries old she dies anyway. Cara is sad about this. Seriously? She's an evil demented demon and you're sad? Sheesh!
A lot of what made the ending work however, was not introduced or set up properly until this final chapter. Yes, there was some foreshadowing with the Dimblethumb and the Squijium and a few hints in the 3rd book, The Whisperer. But really, why couldn't this Whisperer have been around in the earlier books? Would have been better.
Of course, these books were written over the course of what, 20 years? I guess ideas change.
Also, he didn't even really resolve the major issue for me! Yeah, Luster is healing. But now that it's creator is gone forever, what is going to happen to the blank spaces that were never finished? Will Luster forever be a half-world? That just seemed sad.
As a kid, I kinda hoped Cara would turn into a unicorn. As an adult, didn't like it so much. And there is a hint at a reconcilliation between Martha and Amalia/Ivy but none between her and Ian despite their huge fight in the middle. We never really even get a reaction from Ian at Cara's transformation. Adn why did Elihu/the Dimblethumb have to smash the Amulet to transform her if he had the transformational magic in him all along?
Overall, the lesson here is to finish you series in a decent ammount of time and know what you are promising to the reader. I still love and adore the first 2 books. The second two however are just okay. I only read them to know what happens.
Bah. I'm probably far too cynical now. I miss being A Cool Girl Who Likes Unicorns ...
April 12, 2016
I uttered a sigh of relief upon starting what I knew would be the last novel in this series. I grew bored of it in book 2, although this book was much better than its predecessors, it still left me a bit flat.
Again with the terrible brown text on cream paper. The cover for this one is quite pretty, although I'm not sure where the dragon's left arm went. Looks like an action book and that's what we get.
A lot of the negative reviews in young adult novels nowadays is because of how sexist they are. The girl main character gets with a guy, is ok when he is abusive, and generally shows extremely disturbing emotions in a positive light. Cara Diana Hunter, at the very least, can't fall into this category too easily. Sure there are a couple instances of the men being overly protective or brushing over her much warranted need for a good cry and just say "She is so brave" quietly to one another. But you know, at least she's not in an abusive relationship, and she's off having fun scary action times in a fantasy world.
I had this complaint with the entire series and it was not to change for The Last Hunt - all the events are incredibly convenient. Every time a character would get separated from his or her party my immediate thought was "No matter. They'll find someone else wandering around the forest." And of course they did, every time. Coupled with the omniscient narrator, that left absolutely no suspense. I didn't go through and count but another reviewer on Goodreads says there are about 20 viewpoints throughout the novel, and I believe it. It becomes such a mess jumping around to practically every character we've been introduced to, yet it doesn't even include a table of contents. Now I'm not saying a table of contents is what makes or breaks a good novel, but every other book in the series has had one. It does include a very handy glossary at the back, but it unfortunately had me screaming at the book. The glossary contained spoilers! What! When I didn't recognize the name of one of the human sorcerer people and went back to check who it was, it completely gave away his story line. Ugh I was frustrated at that!
The unicorns are pretty ineffectual in this novel. Amalia Flickerfoot seems content to send off envoys on missions and then stands around to be caught unawares of a war she knew was going to happen. Yes I know she didn't know where it was going to happen, but there has got to be more preparation than just traveling to the location for the battlefield of choice. No sorts of armor were commissioned from the humans, the unicorns ride into battle with no protection whatsoever. That just seems negligent. This is war here people! But of course Coville tends to shy away from any of the "adult" aspects normally present in a fantasy novel, as it is meant for young adult/middle readers. I'm pretty far above the target audience here but so much of the story could have been fleshed out more had we not had so many narrators in the soup. Or is that cooks in the kitchen? Whatever.
I'm glad to be done with series, and I'm afraid I can't recommend it very highly. The first novel is enough to make anyone love unicorns, but it falls off too quickly to stay interesting. Read the first one but leave the rest.
Again with the terrible brown text on cream paper. The cover for this one is quite pretty, although I'm not sure where the dragon's left arm went. Looks like an action book and that's what we get.
A lot of the negative reviews in young adult novels nowadays is because of how sexist they are. The girl main character gets with a guy, is ok when he is abusive, and generally shows extremely disturbing emotions in a positive light. Cara Diana Hunter, at the very least, can't fall into this category too easily. Sure there are a couple instances of the men being overly protective or brushing over her much warranted need for a good cry and just say "She is so brave" quietly to one another. But you know, at least she's not in an abusive relationship, and she's off having fun scary action times in a fantasy world.
I had this complaint with the entire series and it was not to change for The Last Hunt - all the events are incredibly convenient. Every time a character would get separated from his or her party my immediate thought was "No matter. They'll find someone else wandering around the forest." And of course they did, every time. Coupled with the omniscient narrator, that left absolutely no suspense. I didn't go through and count but another reviewer on Goodreads says there are about 20 viewpoints throughout the novel, and I believe it. It becomes such a mess jumping around to practically every character we've been introduced to, yet it doesn't even include a table of contents. Now I'm not saying a table of contents is what makes or breaks a good novel, but every other book in the series has had one. It does include a very handy glossary at the back, but it unfortunately had me screaming at the book. The glossary contained spoilers! What! When I didn't recognize the name of one of the human sorcerer people and went back to check who it was, it completely gave away his story line. Ugh I was frustrated at that!
The unicorns are pretty ineffectual in this novel. Amalia Flickerfoot seems content to send off envoys on missions and then stands around to be caught unawares of a war she knew was going to happen. Yes I know she didn't know where it was going to happen, but there has got to be more preparation than just traveling to the location for the battlefield of choice. No sorts of armor were commissioned from the humans, the unicorns ride into battle with no protection whatsoever. That just seems negligent. This is war here people! But of course Coville tends to shy away from any of the "adult" aspects normally present in a fantasy novel, as it is meant for young adult/middle readers. I'm pretty far above the target audience here but so much of the story could have been fleshed out more had we not had so many narrators in the soup. Or is that cooks in the kitchen? Whatever.
I'm glad to be done with series, and I'm afraid I can't recommend it very highly. The first novel is enough to make anyone love unicorns, but it falls off too quickly to stay interesting. Read the first one but leave the rest.
June 25, 2013
When I first picked up "Into the Land of the Unicorns" (Book I of the Unicorn Chronicles) I was excited. I was young. Bruce Coville spoke to my generation, and seemed to put into words the kinds of adventures I'd always wished I could have, magical and supernatural and otherworldly. I tore through the first book in a day, found the second book almost immediately and ate it up in gulps as well.
Then, years passed between the second and third books. And when the third book ("Dark Secrets") finally appeared, amid much anticipation on my part, it fell short. It seemed to me that Bruce Coville, hero of my early childhood with such stories as "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" and "Aliens Ate My Homework," had changed his mind about what story he wanted to tell. Pieces didn't add up. Whole chunks of the world's mythology were "casually" slipped in, as though they'd been there from book one. But they hadn't, and it was jarring.
By the end of "The Last Hunt" (Book IV, and the finale of the series), I was just ready to be done with it all. I finished simply because I had to know how it ended, not because I was truly invested in the series anymore.
It wasn't that I outgrew them. There are plenty of books from my childhood that I can re-visit happily and eagerly, and enjoy them as much if not more than I did when I was younger. No, it was that Bruce Coville did not deliver the story he promised. And I, as a loyal reader, take such a break in faith very hard. I'll will be very objective if ever my fingers wander over another Bruce Coville title.
Then, years passed between the second and third books. And when the third book ("Dark Secrets") finally appeared, amid much anticipation on my part, it fell short. It seemed to me that Bruce Coville, hero of my early childhood with such stories as "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" and "Aliens Ate My Homework," had changed his mind about what story he wanted to tell. Pieces didn't add up. Whole chunks of the world's mythology were "casually" slipped in, as though they'd been there from book one. But they hadn't, and it was jarring.
By the end of "The Last Hunt" (Book IV, and the finale of the series), I was just ready to be done with it all. I finished simply because I had to know how it ended, not because I was truly invested in the series anymore.
It wasn't that I outgrew them. There are plenty of books from my childhood that I can re-visit happily and eagerly, and enjoy them as much if not more than I did when I was younger. No, it was that Bruce Coville did not deliver the story he promised. And I, as a loyal reader, take such a break in faith very hard. I'll will be very objective if ever my fingers wander over another Bruce Coville title.
June 27, 2010
Originally posted at my book review blog: http://www.active-voice.net/2010/06/2...
Beloved has finally broken through into Luster, the land of the Unicorns, and brought the Hunt with her. As the Hunters start their genocide, the unicorns gather together and find allies of their own -- but if they can't find a way to get back their fighting fire, it could be the end of the unicorns forever. But Beloved's mad Hunt has an unintended consequence: the gate she opened is right in the heart of Luster, destroying the great tree that holds the world together, and now not just the unicorns, but all of Luster, may be doomed...
Not gonna lie: I devoured this book. I did a doubletake when I realized I'd missed its release, bought it the next day, and had it finished in under 24 hours. I had originally planned to reread the whole series first, but it was so new and tempting and right there in my bag, and look, I'm only human and I've been waiting for the series conclusion for, like, 16 years now.
It's hard for me to figure out what to say here, so I'll start with this: it feels like the legend and worldbuilding behind Luster ran away with the story at some point. I remember reading the second book, and I was utterly blown away by the twist at the end, when you find out the truth about the Wanderer. But I didn't feel similarly about the reveal of the Whisperer in the third book, because the first two set it up clearly that Beloved is the series' Big Bad. Adding in the Whisperer, while intriguing (and it says a lot of interesting things about the unicorns) meant that the story was no longer about Cara and the unicorns fighting with Beloved; it was about defeating a much more nebulous villain.
The fourth book takes it further. It turns out that the Whisperer isn't something that can be defeated by Cara or the unicorns at all, which surprised me: with the repeated talk about the unicorns needing to find a way to "regain their fire" after having tried for so long to be pure, I genuinely thought that they would have to reclaim their darker impulses, and in so-doing, defeat the Whisperer that was created by those impulses. Instead, there was a whole additional layer of conflict added. To defeat the Whisperer, you had to bring in Elihu, Fallon, and Allura, and even though we barely got to know Elihu as a character, the whole conflict hinged on him. There were pieces of it I loved -- I think the Dimblethum's backstory was awesome -- but that meant that the series was really no longer about Cara and Lightfoot and their friends. Instead, it was about some godlike creatures and ultimately out of everyone else's hands, and that frustrated me a little.
Actually, now that I think about it, very little of The Last Hunt was about Cara, and Lightfoot barely was in it at all. Between her parents, the dragons, the centaurs, the delvers, M'Gama, and other unicorns, her story was only one of many, many plot threads. They were all woven together very well. The book never sagged, I was never bored, and once I remembered what had happened in the previous book I was never lost or confused by having such an array of subplots. And the fact that they came together in the massive final climax was nothing short of amazing -- just getting all of those characters together at one place and time couldn't have been an easy narrative feat, and the dual-climax of the Hunt and Luster shaking apart worked really well. But, as I said in my mini-review of Dark Whispers, having so many POVs and so much going on means there isn't time for a lot of development for any of the characters. I think the character who stuck out to me the most in this book was Rocky, because (between this and the previous book) he really did have the strongest character arch.
As a reader, I'm really into story structure. I love worldbuilding. On a technical level, I think those aspects of The Last Hunt are brilliant. But as good as they are, I don't think those things are really Coville's strength as a writer. I've always loved his characters most of all. He has a rare talent of making characters feel very, very real -- especially tween and teen girl characters, which seems to be pretty rare from male writers (and oh man, I can't tell you how strongly I identified with Wendy from the AI Gang as a kid, for example). So as much as I flew through this book, and really loved the glimpse into Luster's history and aura of hope for its future, I also wish there had been more of that character in it. Still, I enjoyed it mightily -- more than Dark Whispers, definitely -- and give it a solid four stars.
Beloved has finally broken through into Luster, the land of the Unicorns, and brought the Hunt with her. As the Hunters start their genocide, the unicorns gather together and find allies of their own -- but if they can't find a way to get back their fighting fire, it could be the end of the unicorns forever. But Beloved's mad Hunt has an unintended consequence: the gate she opened is right in the heart of Luster, destroying the great tree that holds the world together, and now not just the unicorns, but all of Luster, may be doomed...
Not gonna lie: I devoured this book. I did a doubletake when I realized I'd missed its release, bought it the next day, and had it finished in under 24 hours. I had originally planned to reread the whole series first, but it was so new and tempting and right there in my bag, and look, I'm only human and I've been waiting for the series conclusion for, like, 16 years now.
It's hard for me to figure out what to say here, so I'll start with this: it feels like the legend and worldbuilding behind Luster ran away with the story at some point. I remember reading the second book, and I was utterly blown away by the twist at the end, when you find out the truth about the Wanderer. But I didn't feel similarly about the reveal of the Whisperer in the third book, because the first two set it up clearly that Beloved is the series' Big Bad. Adding in the Whisperer, while intriguing (and it says a lot of interesting things about the unicorns) meant that the story was no longer about Cara and the unicorns fighting with Beloved; it was about defeating a much more nebulous villain.
The fourth book takes it further. It turns out that the Whisperer isn't something that can be defeated by Cara or the unicorns at all, which surprised me: with the repeated talk about the unicorns needing to find a way to "regain their fire" after having tried for so long to be pure, I genuinely thought that they would have to reclaim their darker impulses, and in so-doing, defeat the Whisperer that was created by those impulses. Instead, there was a whole additional layer of conflict added. To defeat the Whisperer, you had to bring in Elihu, Fallon, and Allura, and even though we barely got to know Elihu as a character, the whole conflict hinged on him. There were pieces of it I loved -- I think the Dimblethum's backstory was awesome -- but that meant that the series was really no longer about Cara and Lightfoot and their friends. Instead, it was about some godlike creatures and ultimately out of everyone else's hands, and that frustrated me a little.
Actually, now that I think about it, very little of The Last Hunt was about Cara, and Lightfoot barely was in it at all. Between her parents, the dragons, the centaurs, the delvers, M'Gama, and other unicorns, her story was only one of many, many plot threads. They were all woven together very well. The book never sagged, I was never bored, and once I remembered what had happened in the previous book I was never lost or confused by having such an array of subplots. And the fact that they came together in the massive final climax was nothing short of amazing -- just getting all of those characters together at one place and time couldn't have been an easy narrative feat, and the dual-climax of the Hunt and Luster shaking apart worked really well. But, as I said in my mini-review of Dark Whispers, having so many POVs and so much going on means there isn't time for a lot of development for any of the characters. I think the character who stuck out to me the most in this book was Rocky, because (between this and the previous book) he really did have the strongest character arch.
As a reader, I'm really into story structure. I love worldbuilding. On a technical level, I think those aspects of The Last Hunt are brilliant. But as good as they are, I don't think those things are really Coville's strength as a writer. I've always loved his characters most of all. He has a rare talent of making characters feel very, very real -- especially tween and teen girl characters, which seems to be pretty rare from male writers (and oh man, I can't tell you how strongly I identified with Wendy from the AI Gang as a kid, for example). So as much as I flew through this book, and really loved the glimpse into Luster's history and aura of hope for its future, I also wish there had been more of that character in it. Still, I enjoyed it mightily -- more than Dark Whispers, definitely -- and give it a solid four stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2014
A very satisfying conclusion to Coville's Unicorn Chronicles. I couldn't put this book down until I finished it.
I read the first book in the series when I was in 6th grade. Shortly after, when I found the 2nd book I was ecstatic and read it nearly non-stop. Imagine my horror and surprise to find the rest of the series was not yet available!! Fast-forward more than a few years and I recently discovered that the final two books of the series were now available. I sat down in the space of about a week and devoured the entire series. How wonderful to reread and old favorite.
This entry very satisfyingly wraps up the story or Beloved and the Final Hunt (as the name implies :)) as well as a few other morsels I won't spoil. Needless to say it was a wonderful story from start to finish and I personally couldn't be happier with the conclusion. The way all threads are brought together and wrapped up and yet just enough morsel left over to hint at the possible inclusion of other stories from the fabled Unicorn Chronicles is tantalizing and was worth every second spent reading.
I read the first book in the series when I was in 6th grade. Shortly after, when I found the 2nd book I was ecstatic and read it nearly non-stop. Imagine my horror and surprise to find the rest of the series was not yet available!! Fast-forward more than a few years and I recently discovered that the final two books of the series were now available. I sat down in the space of about a week and devoured the entire series. How wonderful to reread and old favorite.
This entry very satisfyingly wraps up the story or Beloved and the Final Hunt (as the name implies :)) as well as a few other morsels I won't spoil. Needless to say it was a wonderful story from start to finish and I personally couldn't be happier with the conclusion. The way all threads are brought together and wrapped up and yet just enough morsel left over to hint at the possible inclusion of other stories from the fabled Unicorn Chronicles is tantalizing and was worth every second spent reading.
May 16, 2023
(I did it!! One of my book sidequests for 2023 was to reread books 1 and 2 and finally get to finish this series I started when I was 15. So, hooray!!)
Sheeeeeesh. I can't believe how long this book was - mostly because there are a gazillion different story threads all winding around each other to get to that ending. Cara is just a side story here - there's Rocky the Delver, Lightfoot, Cara's parents, the centaurs, the dragons, a Maiden of the Hunt, etc etc etc.... By this point many of the characters who were front and center for books 1 and 2 have gotten pushed to the back burner (especially Thomas the Tinker and Jacques).
Do I think this book was TOO long? There are parts that could have been taken out. Ian's journey to find Martha feels like it takes forever, and some of Rocky's story could have been slimmed down. Still, the chapters are so short that it feels like the book flies by. Overall I was happy with the ending, which got really epic and complicated while giving all the previous characters a part to play. I was very sad at the deaths that occurred, but I suppose if there hadn't been any, there wouldn't have been any real danger. I didn't like how Jacques' storyline was resolved. Maybe it doesn't matter to him whether he's actually related to Cara, but I STILL WANNA KNOW! I guess it just continues my annoyance with how Cara's grandmother handles things.
There was soooo much going on that sometimes I wasn't clear on certain things. Did Medafil make it? What is happening with M'Gama and Namza? I have questions, people!
Still, even though it was crazy long, I enjoyed it. Thanks to Bruce Coville for following through and giving the series an ending!
Sheeeeeesh. I can't believe how long this book was - mostly because there are a gazillion different story threads all winding around each other to get to that ending. Cara is just a side story here - there's Rocky the Delver, Lightfoot, Cara's parents, the centaurs, the dragons, a Maiden of the Hunt, etc etc etc.... By this point many of the characters who were front and center for books 1 and 2 have gotten pushed to the back burner (especially Thomas the Tinker and Jacques).
Do I think this book was TOO long? There are parts that could have been taken out. Ian's journey to find Martha feels like it takes forever, and some of Rocky's story could have been slimmed down. Still, the chapters are so short that it feels like the book flies by. Overall I was happy with the ending, which got really epic and complicated while giving all the previous characters a part to play. I was very sad at the deaths that occurred, but I suppose if there hadn't been any, there wouldn't have been any real danger. I didn't like how Jacques' storyline was resolved. Maybe it doesn't matter to him whether he's actually related to Cara, but I STILL WANNA KNOW! I guess it just continues my annoyance with how Cara's grandmother handles things.
There was soooo much going on that sometimes I wasn't clear on certain things. Did Medafil make it? What is happening with M'Gama and Namza? I have questions, people!
Still, even though it was crazy long, I enjoyed it. Thanks to Bruce Coville for following through and giving the series an ending!
September 4, 2017
So I started this series as a kid when the first book was published in 1999. I read the first 3 as they came out, and then Coville didn't publish the 4th one until 2010, when I had given up hope and mostly forgotten about the books I loved so much as a kid. But I finally got around to rereading the series, and after 18 years, finishing it.
It was everything I could have hoped for. It's like Coville knew his audience had grown up a bit, because this book was intense. I'm rarely a vocal reader, but there were many gasps an laughs and tears as I made my way through. Was that due to nostalgia? It's very likely. But I am so relieved to finally see these characters to the end of their stories after all this time.
It was everything I could have hoped for. It's like Coville knew his audience had grown up a bit, because this book was intense. I'm rarely a vocal reader, but there were many gasps an laughs and tears as I made my way through. Was that due to nostalgia? It's very likely. But I am so relieved to finally see these characters to the end of their stories after all this time.
July 2, 2013
I can't even begin to tell you how long I have waited for this book. The Unicorn Chronicles was my childhood favorite, and it broke my heart that it was set up for a sequel and yet none was out. I waited 10 years to finally finish my story. Well, this book and the one before it finally arrived in the mail, so here's my review.
My main issue with this book is all the years that went by between Book #2 and Book #3, because I blame that for the reason this story turned out the way it did. When this story started out, it was a magical tale of a girl who had stumbled into Luster and met unicorns. The second book preserved that, and even the third book managed to some degree. But the fourth book, The Last Hunt, ruined everything.
My first irritation at the book came with a disagreement of fact. In the Unicorn Chronicles, when Ivy Morris runs through the gate to Luster, the first thing she does is touch another unicorn and speak mind to mind with them. In this book, How does that work? In my opinion those facts must be laid out before writing the book, and, once written and published earlier in the series, cannot be changed without adequate explanation as to why.
I have a lot of other complaints, but those can all be voiced in the unanswered questions I still have. When I finished the book, my heart sank, and then I saw a letter from Grimwold in the back as I was throwing it down. I scrambled to pick the book up again and eagerly read it, hoping for answers...but missing them yet again. Here are all the questions I have. Perhaps my fellow readers can help me invent answers to them.
But, enough with the book bashing. I did love the backstory - how the world came to be, what historical events drove everyone to where they are today, everything. It is the most beautiful story I've ever heard, and it sings to my heart in a way I never though possible.
Still, it pains me to see that when all is done, I have no other positive things to say about the series. It seems to me that books 3 and 4 were only written because Bruce Coville had this nagging sense that he hadn't finished something. They were not as good as the first two books. The same passion wasn't there, and it showed.
As a final parting word, if you want to stay attached to any character at all, focus on Squijum. He is the only character throughout the entire book that doesn't either go through some odd personality / form change or die, so he's a safe choice as a favorite.
My main issue with this book is all the years that went by between Book #2 and Book #3, because I blame that for the reason this story turned out the way it did. When this story started out, it was a magical tale of a girl who had stumbled into Luster and met unicorns. The second book preserved that, and even the third book managed to some degree. But the fourth book, The Last Hunt, ruined everything.
My first irritation at the book came with a disagreement of fact. In the Unicorn Chronicles, when Ivy Morris runs through the gate to Luster, the first thing she does is touch another unicorn and speak mind to mind with them. In this book, How does that work? In my opinion those facts must be laid out before writing the book, and, once written and published earlier in the series, cannot be changed without adequate explanation as to why.
I have a lot of other complaints, but those can all be voiced in the unanswered questions I still have. When I finished the book, my heart sank, and then I saw a letter from Grimwold in the back as I was throwing it down. I scrambled to pick the book up again and eagerly read it, hoping for answers...but missing them yet again. Here are all the questions I have. Perhaps my fellow readers can help me invent answers to them.
But, enough with the book bashing. I did love the backstory - how the world came to be, what historical events drove everyone to where they are today, everything. It is the most beautiful story I've ever heard, and it sings to my heart in a way I never though possible.
Still, it pains me to see that when all is done, I have no other positive things to say about the series. It seems to me that books 3 and 4 were only written because Bruce Coville had this nagging sense that he hadn't finished something. They were not as good as the first two books. The same passion wasn't there, and it showed.
As a final parting word, if you want to stay attached to any character at all, focus on Squijum. He is the only character throughout the entire book that doesn't either go through some odd personality / form change or die, so he's a safe choice as a favorite.
May 1, 2021
SPOILERS*
While I am a huge fan of the series overall, I was disappointed in this fourth and last installment. These books were a big part of my childhood, and maybe its because I'm now a cynical adult reading the last book in the series, but I found a lot more in The Last Hunt that bothered me than I liked in the story.
My first word of warning would be to parents of young children who are reading the series-while the other books were tame when it came to battles, the tone of writing in this book takes an unexpected turn and becomes rather violent, with many scenes of people and creatures getting stabbed and blood spewing everywhere. The way the Whisperer dies was so outrageously violent it was almost comical (am I still reading a book meant for children?!)
Another part of the writing I didn't enjoy was Rajiv's overuse of the word 'sahib.' It was annoying in its repetitiveness in the last book and didn't slow down for this one.
Gaumag's(?) bafflingly detailed backstory didn't serve any purpose for the rest of the book, though I kept waiting for it to. Aspects of the story like this made me feel the author had a page goal in mind and kept adding more story to reach it.
Cara permanently becoming a unicorn was just silly. It took the reunion with her parents from being something sweetly anticipated to just strange. Her father Ian never even had a moment with her after all he did to find her. He seemed much closer to Rajiv and had more of a connection with him it seemed than he did with his own daughter, who the story centered around. I was surprised when he wasn't adopted in the end.
The last scene with the Squijim and Dimblethum was meant to be poignant, but the god characters, and especially Allura, seemed so last minute in the story that the significance of her sacrifice was lost.
And lastly, despite how long this book is, many things still remained unresolved in the end:
-Why did the shaman take Ian's sight? It was one of many strange and unexplained aspects of the story. We never get to know who he is or what he's doing in the moments he is 'borrowing his eyes.' It never really affected Ian, or in turn the story, as he was always able to wait it out or got through moments of blindness easily. I always assumed it would somehow drive the plot later on but it served no purpose besides being a trade off for secrets of the Rainbow Prison (another thing that was never fully explained).
-What's up with the rainbow prison? We're given detailed descriptions using every possible synonym for 'red', yet never an explanation about why or how it exists or the strange characters encountered there, like the inexplicable shaman's equally inexplicable wife.
-What happened to Medafil?? He was one of the best characters and after the battle he is never mentioned again!
-Why was the attraction between Lightfoot and Bell a part of the story if nothing would come of it? After Finder confessed his feeling for her and jealousy of Lightfoot in the last book, I assumed something would happen with that part of the story but they didn't interact even once. Oddly it seemed a romance between Lightfoot and Cara (who are cousins) was possibly hinted at in the end.
-Most glaringly of all though, was how Martha's question of "what am I" is never answered (somehow her unicorn genes passed over her and into Cara I guess?)
-"There are always seven dragons" It bothers me when things like this are stated in a way that suggest its full of meaning yet never tells us what this meaning is, and gives no prior mention of it before this (or did I miss something?)
On a positive note, I'd like to add how greatly written the early scenes were with Lightfoot exploring the empty castle. You really felt like you were there. How interesting it was to see interior of a man-made building from the viewpoint of a four-legged animal, like the way he reacts to doors and stairs. It was very well written.
Overall though, there were just too many loose ends and unnecessary details for me to enjoy The Last Hunt. I still love the series however, 1 dissatisfying book out of 4 ain't bad.
While I am a huge fan of the series overall, I was disappointed in this fourth and last installment. These books were a big part of my childhood, and maybe its because I'm now a cynical adult reading the last book in the series, but I found a lot more in The Last Hunt that bothered me than I liked in the story.
My first word of warning would be to parents of young children who are reading the series-while the other books were tame when it came to battles, the tone of writing in this book takes an unexpected turn and becomes rather violent, with many scenes of people and creatures getting stabbed and blood spewing everywhere. The way the Whisperer dies was so outrageously violent it was almost comical (am I still reading a book meant for children?!)
Another part of the writing I didn't enjoy was Rajiv's overuse of the word 'sahib.' It was annoying in its repetitiveness in the last book and didn't slow down for this one.
Gaumag's(?) bafflingly detailed backstory didn't serve any purpose for the rest of the book, though I kept waiting for it to. Aspects of the story like this made me feel the author had a page goal in mind and kept adding more story to reach it.
Cara permanently becoming a unicorn was just silly. It took the reunion with her parents from being something sweetly anticipated to just strange. Her father Ian never even had a moment with her after all he did to find her. He seemed much closer to Rajiv and had more of a connection with him it seemed than he did with his own daughter, who the story centered around. I was surprised when he wasn't adopted in the end.
The last scene with the Squijim and Dimblethum was meant to be poignant, but the god characters, and especially Allura, seemed so last minute in the story that the significance of her sacrifice was lost.
And lastly, despite how long this book is, many things still remained unresolved in the end:
-Why did the shaman take Ian's sight? It was one of many strange and unexplained aspects of the story. We never get to know who he is or what he's doing in the moments he is 'borrowing his eyes.' It never really affected Ian, or in turn the story, as he was always able to wait it out or got through moments of blindness easily. I always assumed it would somehow drive the plot later on but it served no purpose besides being a trade off for secrets of the Rainbow Prison (another thing that was never fully explained).
-What's up with the rainbow prison? We're given detailed descriptions using every possible synonym for 'red', yet never an explanation about why or how it exists or the strange characters encountered there, like the inexplicable shaman's equally inexplicable wife.
-What happened to Medafil?? He was one of the best characters and after the battle he is never mentioned again!
-Why was the attraction between Lightfoot and Bell a part of the story if nothing would come of it? After Finder confessed his feeling for her and jealousy of Lightfoot in the last book, I assumed something would happen with that part of the story but they didn't interact even once. Oddly it seemed a romance between Lightfoot and Cara (who are cousins) was possibly hinted at in the end.
-Most glaringly of all though, was how Martha's question of "what am I" is never answered (somehow her unicorn genes passed over her and into Cara I guess?)
-"There are always seven dragons" It bothers me when things like this are stated in a way that suggest its full of meaning yet never tells us what this meaning is, and gives no prior mention of it before this (or did I miss something?)
On a positive note, I'd like to add how greatly written the early scenes were with Lightfoot exploring the empty castle. You really felt like you were there. How interesting it was to see interior of a man-made building from the viewpoint of a four-legged animal, like the way he reacts to doors and stairs. It was very well written.
Overall though, there were just too many loose ends and unnecessary details for me to enjoy The Last Hunt. I still love the series however, 1 dissatisfying book out of 4 ain't bad.
Read
June 13, 2010(Disclaimer: Bruce has edited not only some of my short stories, but also some of my unicorn short stories. So I'm not an unbiased reader here.)
If my inner 10-year-old has a strong thread of horse girl in her, she has an even stronger thread of unicorn girl. (The two are somewhat entwined, but not entirely.) And she and I have both been waiting for the conclusion of The Unicorn Chronicles for something like fifteen years now. We're not at all disappointed that we waited.
One of the many things I love about these books are how each book is more complex and deeper than the one before. Longer too: the first book is a slender 150 page middle grade novel, and each book after it is 150 pages longer than the last. Unicorn girl that I am, I loved these books from the start, and thought even the first brought more to the story than a quick summary (girl goes into the land of the unicorns and has to save them) might suggest, but even more I love how the later books aren't constrained to the shape of the first, but allow the story keeps expanding outwards and inwards.
I love the mythmaking of these books. The original origin story of the unicorns' mortal enemy, the ever-wounded, ever-healing Beloved, is powerful enough, especially for anyone who already is a fan of unicorn stories--but by the third and forth books, the mythology expands to take on the whole question of what unicorns are, and what the price is for creating a creature so pure--not only for us, but also for them. There are lots of other threads, too, including threads about family and the bonds among them.
Unlike the first three books, I do think the fourth one wants to be read after the other three--but it does an excellent job of reminding someone who has read the first three books and is simply too impatient to reread them before plunging in (that would be me) of things that need remembering. And even at 600 pages, there were threads I sort of wanted to see given more time, especially around heroine Cara's family and the betrayals and pain that have shaped same, threads that (as the book acknowledges for at least one of those relationships) will take more time to fully heal.
But by this book the story is no longer only about Cara--for all that one of the book's final acts of redemption is hers, as it needed to be--but also about the world she's found herself in and its fate.
Mostly I just loved this book, with its rich-yet-oddly-fragile world of Luster, and the things it has to say about creators, creations, stories, and--as with all the best fantasy stories--being human.
If my inner 10-year-old has a strong thread of horse girl in her, she has an even stronger thread of unicorn girl. (The two are somewhat entwined, but not entirely.) And she and I have both been waiting for the conclusion of The Unicorn Chronicles for something like fifteen years now. We're not at all disappointed that we waited.
One of the many things I love about these books are how each book is more complex and deeper than the one before. Longer too: the first book is a slender 150 page middle grade novel, and each book after it is 150 pages longer than the last. Unicorn girl that I am, I loved these books from the start, and thought even the first brought more to the story than a quick summary (girl goes into the land of the unicorns and has to save them) might suggest, but even more I love how the later books aren't constrained to the shape of the first, but allow the story keeps expanding outwards and inwards.
I love the mythmaking of these books. The original origin story of the unicorns' mortal enemy, the ever-wounded, ever-healing Beloved, is powerful enough, especially for anyone who already is a fan of unicorn stories--but by the third and forth books, the mythology expands to take on the whole question of what unicorns are, and what the price is for creating a creature so pure--not only for us, but also for them. There are lots of other threads, too, including threads about family and the bonds among them.
Unlike the first three books, I do think the fourth one wants to be read after the other three--but it does an excellent job of reminding someone who has read the first three books and is simply too impatient to reread them before plunging in (that would be me) of things that need remembering. And even at 600 pages, there were threads I sort of wanted to see given more time, especially around heroine Cara's family and the betrayals and pain that have shaped same, threads that (as the book acknowledges for at least one of those relationships) will take more time to fully heal.
But by this book the story is no longer only about Cara--for all that one of the book's final acts of redemption is hers, as it needed to be--but also about the world she's found herself in and its fate.
Mostly I just loved this book, with its rich-yet-oddly-fragile world of Luster, and the things it has to say about creators, creations, stories, and--as with all the best fantasy stories--being human.
July 17, 2017
This book was an okay end to an okay series. It might be better for children, but it felt a little flat, rough, and unfinished to me. The overall story finished okay. The villain was defeated, the good guys won and the land of unicorns was saved. But, it still left something to be desired, at least for me. What about the unfinished world? Will those fuzzy spaces ever fill in? What about Cara? Is she just stuck as a unicorn now? There was never really any on screen resolution between members of Cara's family about everything that happened between them. It's mentioned her grandmother and mother met and work on healing the rift between them, but Jacques might be her mother's father and we never get any real resolution on that. Her parents finally come together at the end, but I would expect that to be an interesting meeting, but nothing is mentioned. Is Fallon stuck as a creature too? Are Elihu and Fallon's sister really dead or might they one day come out of the tree? Will M'Gama and Namza ever wake up? What about that other dragon that is suddenly mentioned at the end? What about Belle? What about Medafil? What about the Delvers and their connection to the unicorns? What about the other amulets? There are just to many unanswered questions for me to really like this book. It finished the whole conflict between Beloved and the unicorns, but it left to many things still unresolved. Overall, I'm just glad this series is over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2023
If you’re reading this review I’m going to assume you read the rest of the Unicorn Chronicles. If you haven’t, go read them. This book is entertaining, but there’s no compelling reason for you to read it other than closure for the story contained in the earlier, stronger installments, which are really excellent, particularly Song of the Wanderer (#2). In fact, as soon as I’m done writing this review I’m going to go and increase all their ratings by one star (except #1—that’s definitely a solid 4), because I realized that Dark Whispers does not deserve the same rating as this one, and Song of the Wanderer is a cut above Dark Whispers, and I can’t give this one a 2 because it was much better than any book I’ve ever given 2 stars, so…
if you’re here because it has the word “Unicorns” on the cover, you should definitely go check those out and then come back to The Last Hunt with modest expectations. If you like it more than I did, well, you’re welcome.
I’m going to say here before I start picking the book apart: I can totally appreciate that this is still a decent read and wraps up the story thoroughly and mostly satisfactorily even though Coville didn’t particularly want to write it. It’s clearly the work of a capable, disciplined and insightful writer, not his best work, but maybe the best that could be expected under the circumstances, and I’m grateful it exists.
If you haven’t read the book or are planning to read it, you can stop now, because the rest of this review is just what I call “closure therapy.”
The most widespread problem with the Last Hunt was that Coville introduced (or expanded on) a lot of characters too close to the end of the story, in some cases with the obvious and possibly sole purpose of tying up loose ends, and at the cost of sidelining some well-established characters. Most of these supplanters were interesting, with one or two exceptions (I’m looking at you, Arkon) and took the story in interesting directions. And it wasn’t confusing, either—that’s one of the areas in which Coville shines; I don’t remember ever being confused reading this series, even when coming back to a book/the next book after several days of not reading. But there was often a serious mismatch between the emotional investment Coville invited me to make in a character and their narrative importance; in other words, some of the people I knew and cared least about died or made huge sacrifices, while some that had a lot of potential, or a lot of history, had very small roles and/or insufficient page space about what they were doing.
A few examples:
(Spoilers abound ahead)
if you’re here because it has the word “Unicorns” on the cover, you should definitely go check those out and then come back to The Last Hunt with modest expectations. If you like it more than I did, well, you’re welcome.
I’m going to say here before I start picking the book apart: I can totally appreciate that this is still a decent read and wraps up the story thoroughly and mostly satisfactorily even though Coville didn’t particularly want to write it. It’s clearly the work of a capable, disciplined and insightful writer, not his best work, but maybe the best that could be expected under the circumstances, and I’m grateful it exists.
If you haven’t read the book or are planning to read it, you can stop now, because the rest of this review is just what I call “closure therapy.”
The most widespread problem with the Last Hunt was that Coville introduced (or expanded on) a lot of characters too close to the end of the story, in some cases with the obvious and possibly sole purpose of tying up loose ends, and at the cost of sidelining some well-established characters. Most of these supplanters were interesting, with one or two exceptions (I’m looking at you, Arkon) and took the story in interesting directions. And it wasn’t confusing, either—that’s one of the areas in which Coville shines; I don’t remember ever being confused reading this series, even when coming back to a book/the next book after several days of not reading. But there was often a serious mismatch between the emotional investment Coville invited me to make in a character and their narrative importance; in other words, some of the people I knew and cared least about died or made huge sacrifices, while some that had a lot of potential, or a lot of history, had very small roles and/or insufficient page space about what they were doing.
A few examples:
(Spoilers abound ahead)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2022
I read this as a preteen—definitely need to re-read for a valid review, but I remember being very upset and dissatisfied with the ending.
****this review has many spoilers beware****
to discrbe this book in one word--heartbreaking. how could Moonheart die? that is completely wrong. i liked the book but not the ending, in the end Graumaug died, Fallon turned in to the new Dimblethum, Elinu died with Allura. M'Gama and Namza were fixing the roots and no one knew if they wouold come back. the Squijum became heartbroken with the death aof his master Allura. and Fallon still mrns for his heartbrother Elinu. Beloved died but so did many of the unicorns. the Centaurs new Chiron lost his love Arriana and his best freind died leaving his love behind as well, with reading twilight this was very heartbreaking for me. Yes Cara got her family back but now she is a unicorn, she will out live all of her friends for centuries and never be able hug them again. Medafil is alright and so is Belle but with the lost of Moonheart....i really don't think that was best.
****this review has many spoilers beware****
to discrbe this book in one word--heartbreaking. how could Moonheart die? that is completely wrong. i liked the book but not the ending, in the end Graumaug died, Fallon turned in to the new Dimblethum, Elinu died with Allura. M'Gama and Namza were fixing the roots and no one knew if they wouold come back. the Squijum became heartbroken with the death aof his master Allura. and Fallon still mrns for his heartbrother Elinu. Beloved died but so did many of the unicorns. the Centaurs new Chiron lost his love Arriana and his best freind died leaving his love behind as well, with reading twilight this was very heartbreaking for me. Yes Cara got her family back but now she is a unicorn, she will out live all of her friends for centuries and never be able hug them again. Medafil is alright and so is Belle but with the lost of Moonheart....i really don't think that was best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2015
It took the better part of two decades, but I've finally been able to finish this darn series.
What a great ending to the story. Everything was tied up so nicely and the final battle with Beloved was worth it. I specifically enjoyed the new things I learned about Luster and its creation. The great part is the length of the book; it's much longer than the books before it and every loose end gets addressed.
My only disappointments are in how long it took for the series to be completed and publishing issues with the final book. I know that it doesn't affect the quality of the book, but it's still irritating. For whatever reason scholastic only ran the first set of hardcover books and never reprinted, so the only way to purchase the book to spend outrageous amounts online. Fortunately, my local library had a copy.
Overall, The Unicorn Chronicles is a fantastic fantasy series for all ages. I especially recommend this book to adults who love unicorns or started this series as a kid and never had the chance to finish it.
What a great ending to the story. Everything was tied up so nicely and the final battle with Beloved was worth it. I specifically enjoyed the new things I learned about Luster and its creation. The great part is the length of the book; it's much longer than the books before it and every loose end gets addressed.
My only disappointments are in how long it took for the series to be completed and publishing issues with the final book. I know that it doesn't affect the quality of the book, but it's still irritating. For whatever reason scholastic only ran the first set of hardcover books and never reprinted, so the only way to purchase the book to spend outrageous amounts online. Fortunately, my local library had a copy.
Overall, The Unicorn Chronicles is a fantastic fantasy series for all ages. I especially recommend this book to adults who love unicorns or started this series as a kid and never had the chance to finish it.
March 31, 2019
It is impossible for me to be objective about this series. In my heart of hearts, I’ve been searching and waiting for these books for over 20 years; this book was a long awaited fulfillment of my childhood longings.
The last 2 books were much richer and deeper, with the exploration of the different mythological creatures and all the different back stories. I really loved that!
I wish the author had introduced the prophecy a lot earlier in the series. It honestly felt like he threw it in there at the last minute to help move the story along.
But overall, this was deeply satisfying for me to read. All the storylines are resolved. Any questions are answered. He didn’t pull any punches- some beloved characters die in the last 2 books. Especially with the last battle- it’s a war, so characters have to die.
Ending is definitely bittersweet, but that’s as it should be.
The last 2 books were much richer and deeper, with the exploration of the different mythological creatures and all the different back stories. I really loved that!
I wish the author had introduced the prophecy a lot earlier in the series. It honestly felt like he threw it in there at the last minute to help move the story along.
But overall, this was deeply satisfying for me to read. All the storylines are resolved. Any questions are answered. He didn’t pull any punches- some beloved characters die in the last 2 books. Especially with the last battle- it’s a war, so characters have to die.
Ending is definitely bittersweet, but that’s as it should be.
August 20, 2014
A remarkable final book. No plot line is left unresolved, and there is action and mystery galore. Beloved characters do die, and other are transformed in ways no one expected. The end result of the battle with Beloved was as expected, but in my bumble opinion, it was also a case of the author taking the easy way out. The Whisperer’s identity and purpose were quite a surpsise and made the book all the more interesting. A well crafted conclusion to a wonderful series.
-Miss Jessica
This title is available from PPLC in print and audio format HERE(less)
-Miss Jessica
This title is available from PPLC in print and audio format HERE(less)
September 30, 2020
The conclusion to the Unicorn Chronicles offered as much adventure and surprises as the previous books. I gasped, laughed, and felt major suspense throughout the story. There were many character choices I did not anticipate, but I think the series ended satisfactorily with everyone as they best fit.
December 27, 2022
Finally finished this series about 17 years after I started it. What an amazing adventure! I’m sad I can’t choose to stay on in Luster, though it and it’s inhabitants will always have a place in my heart. Seeing as how I wrote a letter to Bruce when I was just a kid begging for him to continue the tale, I should probably write another thanking him for this spectacular ending.
November 9, 2020
4.0
This book made me feel things I can't even explain. My only complaint is the ending felt a bit rushed but yet I am so content with this series. It'll stick with me for a long time.
This book made me feel things I can't even explain. My only complaint is the ending felt a bit rushed but yet I am so content with this series. It'll stick with me for a long time.
July 24, 2025
"It's amazing the power a story has to awakening your heart to another."
I leapt straight into this next installment in the utterly fantastic Unicorn Chronicles series. It's been quite a while since I read fantasy, let alone Youth fantasy, but this story sank right into my heart, and I've loved the ride it's taken me on. As the story has progressed, I've become closer and closer to the characters, alternating favorites from chapter to chapter. They are all so endearing and full-bodied. (Especially if you listen to the Full Cast Audiobook version - literally, the best-produced audiobook I have ever listened to). I have a particular fondness for the griffin, Metafil, whose squawky, melodramatic outrage is some of the most effective comedic relief in the series. I laughed out loud at his scenes, more than once. As I became more connected to the characters individually, it was especially satisfying to watch them bump into each other, as chance meetings and alliances were taking place often among a diverse set of individuals.
"We create as an expression of joy and thanks, not out of a desire to control."
We meet new characters in this one of course, most notably a trio of Higher Powers who are responsible for creating both the world of Lustre and its inhabitants. I was not prepared for the depth of existential discussions this would lead to - about the relationship of Creator to Creation, the nature of evil, the responsibilities of a god, the importance of letting go, and the necessity of faith. These conversations were tender, simple, and shimmering with wisdom, and ended up being my favorite parts of the entire series. We venture back into the realm of Creation mythology itself, learning more about existence, "paradise", and even higher levels of power that exist above these Creators. We learn of "Heart Brothers / Sisters", deeply connected Creator-beings who are more intimate than even the closest human couples - like they are the same self, split into multiple parts. We learn of punishment in these Higher Realms - what happens when a Creator goes rogue, violates the laws of the Higher Order - and they're truly heartbreaking. It's a stunning cosmology for a stunning world, and I'm so glad that the author included it.
One of my favorite aspects of Lustre is how stories are a form of currency here, and so we bear witness to quite a few striking tales told as part of a barter. One of my favorite vignettes is the one of the Scottish dragon, Graumag, which had the resonance of a classic fairy tale with a modern, stirring twist.
"When the king is mad, it's an honor to be an exile."
There's a deep analogy taking place under the main events of the book, one that finally explains the origins of the Whisperer. This story introduces complicated themes like the consequences of rejecting or ignoring one's shadow - that what you resist persists, but if heavily repressed can become malformed - twisting, toxic, and even deadly. The story is a love letter to acceptance, both on the individual and collective level, but the message is masterfully presented in ways that would be meaningful to both younger and more mature readers. We see that when the unicorns denied and attempted to expell their own darkness, they not only created an enemy that wasn't present before, but they lost some of the fire they needed to fight this enemy as well. Cutting ourselves from parts of ourselves, as well as each other, both weakens and threatens us.
We see more behind-the-scenes and explanations of the way magic works in Lustre as well, and are introduced to new forms, such as transformation magic and earth magic. The way magic is described in this book is one of my favorite aspects of it - particularly, the descriptions of how the unicorns communicate telepathically ("mind-to-mind"), the importance of names (especially one's "true name"), and a mesmerizing Light Language that is revealed to us at the end, bestowing great healing and rebirth. The great battle concludes with an utterly bad-ass and perfectly drawn out fight sequence, one that culminates with two confrontations with "evil" - one as the archetypal Shadow, and one as the archetypal Wounded Villain. Both are dealt with differently, but both are master classes on how to undergo the same or similar battles within ones own psyche and/or community.
Overall, this series was both majestic and charming, and I'm a little sad to have concluded the journey.
I leapt straight into this next installment in the utterly fantastic Unicorn Chronicles series. It's been quite a while since I read fantasy, let alone Youth fantasy, but this story sank right into my heart, and I've loved the ride it's taken me on. As the story has progressed, I've become closer and closer to the characters, alternating favorites from chapter to chapter. They are all so endearing and full-bodied. (Especially if you listen to the Full Cast Audiobook version - literally, the best-produced audiobook I have ever listened to). I have a particular fondness for the griffin, Metafil, whose squawky, melodramatic outrage is some of the most effective comedic relief in the series. I laughed out loud at his scenes, more than once. As I became more connected to the characters individually, it was especially satisfying to watch them bump into each other, as chance meetings and alliances were taking place often among a diverse set of individuals.
"We create as an expression of joy and thanks, not out of a desire to control."
We meet new characters in this one of course, most notably a trio of Higher Powers who are responsible for creating both the world of Lustre and its inhabitants. I was not prepared for the depth of existential discussions this would lead to - about the relationship of Creator to Creation, the nature of evil, the responsibilities of a god, the importance of letting go, and the necessity of faith. These conversations were tender, simple, and shimmering with wisdom, and ended up being my favorite parts of the entire series. We venture back into the realm of Creation mythology itself, learning more about existence, "paradise", and even higher levels of power that exist above these Creators. We learn of "Heart Brothers / Sisters", deeply connected Creator-beings who are more intimate than even the closest human couples - like they are the same self, split into multiple parts. We learn of punishment in these Higher Realms - what happens when a Creator goes rogue, violates the laws of the Higher Order - and they're truly heartbreaking. It's a stunning cosmology for a stunning world, and I'm so glad that the author included it.
One of my favorite aspects of Lustre is how stories are a form of currency here, and so we bear witness to quite a few striking tales told as part of a barter. One of my favorite vignettes is the one of the Scottish dragon, Graumag, which had the resonance of a classic fairy tale with a modern, stirring twist.
"When the king is mad, it's an honor to be an exile."
There's a deep analogy taking place under the main events of the book, one that finally explains the origins of the Whisperer. This story introduces complicated themes like the consequences of rejecting or ignoring one's shadow - that what you resist persists, but if heavily repressed can become malformed - twisting, toxic, and even deadly. The story is a love letter to acceptance, both on the individual and collective level, but the message is masterfully presented in ways that would be meaningful to both younger and more mature readers. We see that when the unicorns denied and attempted to expell their own darkness, they not only created an enemy that wasn't present before, but they lost some of the fire they needed to fight this enemy as well. Cutting ourselves from parts of ourselves, as well as each other, both weakens and threatens us.
We see more behind-the-scenes and explanations of the way magic works in Lustre as well, and are introduced to new forms, such as transformation magic and earth magic. The way magic is described in this book is one of my favorite aspects of it - particularly, the descriptions of how the unicorns communicate telepathically ("mind-to-mind"), the importance of names (especially one's "true name"), and a mesmerizing Light Language that is revealed to us at the end, bestowing great healing and rebirth. The great battle concludes with an utterly bad-ass and perfectly drawn out fight sequence, one that culminates with two confrontations with "evil" - one as the archetypal Shadow, and one as the archetypal Wounded Villain. Both are dealt with differently, but both are master classes on how to undergo the same or similar battles within ones own psyche and/or community.
Overall, this series was both majestic and charming, and I'm a little sad to have concluded the journey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2025
I waited more than twenty years to finish this series, and The Last Hunt really feels like a labor of love. My hardcover is a beautiful edition with dark brown text, which makes it feel like one of Grimwold’s ancient texts. I struggled a little with the pacing, gloom, and never-ending fantasy road trip aspects of the last book, but this one is much quicker and easier. Despite being bigger and more complicated than any of the previous books, I found myself flying through the pages, especially in the second half once I’d adjusted to the many different character perspectives. Some of those are more interesting than others (and I definitely wanted more from my favorite cranky bear-man, the Dimblethum, which for plot and suspense reasons I realize isn’t really possible), but the book doesn’t rely too heavily on any one perspective, so even my least favorites went by quickly. It’s interesting to see how many different factions have to come together in Luster in order to save their world. Coville expertly flaws his “good” characters and offers unexpected redemption to others. It’s a vividly drawn universe with all of the real world’s complexities and prejudices.
Though Cara has always been the main character of the series, I’m not sure that’s still the case in this book. She still probably gets more page-time than any one character, and there’s an odd bit of development I didn’t see coming. I’m still not sure how I feel about it. There’s quite a bit of focus on the delvers as well, and a bit on the centaurs and the dragons, as well as on Cara’s mother and father. Lightfoot is sidelined pretty hard here and, in fact, the unicorns don’t seem to be featured nearly as often as some of the others. I very much enjoyed the build-up to the Whisperer conflict and its conclusion, and I like the way it leaves Beloved, as ever, the greatest threat the unicorns have ever faced. I’ve always found her terrifying, and she’s in fine form in this book. All in all, it’s a worthy conclusion to a much-loved series, and I wish it had a wider publication so more audiences could enjoy it alongside other popular fantasy series like Eragon and Narnia. (Personally, I find this infinitely more readable, having never been able to finish either of those.)
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
Though Cara has always been the main character of the series, I’m not sure that’s still the case in this book. She still probably gets more page-time than any one character, and there’s an odd bit of development I didn’t see coming. I’m still not sure how I feel about it. There’s quite a bit of focus on the delvers as well, and a bit on the centaurs and the dragons, as well as on Cara’s mother and father. Lightfoot is sidelined pretty hard here and, in fact, the unicorns don’t seem to be featured nearly as often as some of the others. I very much enjoyed the build-up to the Whisperer conflict and its conclusion, and I like the way it leaves Beloved, as ever, the greatest threat the unicorns have ever faced. I’ve always found her terrifying, and she’s in fine form in this book. All in all, it’s a worthy conclusion to a much-loved series, and I wish it had a wider publication so more audiences could enjoy it alongside other popular fantasy series like Eragon and Narnia. (Personally, I find this infinitely more readable, having never been able to finish either of those.)
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
June 8, 2023
2.5/5 stars
Man I really wanted to love this book but it was way too long. So many points of views. So many long passages of description that felt more like filler and made me skim most of the pages. The really messy worldbuilding/ending that was trying so hard to be The Last Battle but failing in most of them.
I think my biggest gripe with this book (and by extension Dark Whispers) is that the worldbuilding/lore felt really tacked on from what the original book set out to do. Granted the original book was very simple in its premise and gave me a lot of Narnia vibes. But the thing about Narnia is that the books are short and simple. There's no beating around the bush (at least from what I remember). All seven of the books are digestable in that way--though quality varies depending on who you ask.
The Unicorn Chronicles is trying SO HARD to be a Narnia-esque book, right down to the Christian allegory, but it waits to add all the Narnia-esque allegories in the LAST BOOK. Did I really need to know that Luster was created by what is essentially an angel of God that had a "fall" similar to Lucifer in that he sought the creative power of a higher deity? Did I really care that Elihu and Allura sacrified themselves to heal the tree? No, because I didn't know them. Granted, this is a children's book technically. But conversely, I cared a very great deal when Aslan sacrificed himself in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, AND during the ending sequence of The Last Battle because I genuinely cared about the characters. I had gotten to know them over time. Most of the "brave sacrifices" in this book feel superficial and hollow because most of the characters who die are side characters who are either introduced here in this book, or were introduced in Dark Whispers. The entire main cast survives.
I've seen online that they re-released this series in paperback as like 6-7 books which I think better serves it, but I'm not reviewing those books. I'm reviewing this one. And as one cohesive book, it's written well in places, but it drags endlessly in a lot of them.
Man I really wanted to love this book but it was way too long. So many points of views. So many long passages of description that felt more like filler and made me skim most of the pages. The really messy worldbuilding/ending that was trying so hard to be The Last Battle but failing in most of them.
I think my biggest gripe with this book (and by extension Dark Whispers) is that the worldbuilding/lore felt really tacked on from what the original book set out to do. Granted the original book was very simple in its premise and gave me a lot of Narnia vibes. But the thing about Narnia is that the books are short and simple. There's no beating around the bush (at least from what I remember). All seven of the books are digestable in that way--though quality varies depending on who you ask.
The Unicorn Chronicles is trying SO HARD to be a Narnia-esque book, right down to the Christian allegory, but it waits to add all the Narnia-esque allegories in the LAST BOOK. Did I really need to know that Luster was created by what is essentially an angel of God that had a "fall" similar to Lucifer in that he sought the creative power of a higher deity? Did I really care that Elihu and Allura sacrified themselves to heal the tree? No, because I didn't know them. Granted, this is a children's book technically. But conversely, I cared a very great deal when Aslan sacrificed himself in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, AND during the ending sequence of The Last Battle because I genuinely cared about the characters. I had gotten to know them over time. Most of the "brave sacrifices" in this book feel superficial and hollow because most of the characters who die are side characters who are either introduced here in this book, or were introduced in Dark Whispers. The entire main cast survives.
I've seen online that they re-released this series in paperback as like 6-7 books which I think better serves it, but I'm not reviewing those books. I'm reviewing this one. And as one cohesive book, it's written well in places, but it drags endlessly in a lot of them.
October 28, 2023
Coville has recently re-released this series with light revisions. He broke this book up into three separate books, and those are versions I haven't read. Maybe those versions are better. I wouldn't know.
What started as a fairly straightforward and light middle-grade fantasy series has ballooned out into an honest-to-god epic, with a page count clocking in at four times the length of the original book. It's the darkest book of the series by far, but it's still the same cast of characters that were present in the first book, which presents something of a tonal issue. Coville tries to circumvent this by focusing primarily on the side characters, but all this does is bloat the work and shatter any sense of pacing. I tapped out fairly early, so maybe it gets better later, but then I've stuck with the series up until this point, and I don't think it has gotten any better in its second half.
I am glad I listened to the series, though, because it's been fairly instructive. Coville wrote this series over the course of almost two decades, and while I think it's possible that he had the events planned out from the beginning, it's impossible to ignore that the presentation changed throughout. You just can't spend twenty years writing without *some* stylistic changes, but the problem is that the completely straight-faced presentation later in the series just doesn't doesn't feel like a natural evolution of the series' roots. It doesn't progress so much as suddenly leap into its next stage, and it collapses under its own weight. The moral is that no matter how long it takes you to write it, you need to remember the work you've actually done in your story to set up future events, otherwise the whole thing loses any identity it might have initially had, which makes for an especially dull read when the page count is in the 600s.
Credit to Coville for finishing his story, at least.
What started as a fairly straightforward and light middle-grade fantasy series has ballooned out into an honest-to-god epic, with a page count clocking in at four times the length of the original book. It's the darkest book of the series by far, but it's still the same cast of characters that were present in the first book, which presents something of a tonal issue. Coville tries to circumvent this by focusing primarily on the side characters, but all this does is bloat the work and shatter any sense of pacing. I tapped out fairly early, so maybe it gets better later, but then I've stuck with the series up until this point, and I don't think it has gotten any better in its second half.
I am glad I listened to the series, though, because it's been fairly instructive. Coville wrote this series over the course of almost two decades, and while I think it's possible that he had the events planned out from the beginning, it's impossible to ignore that the presentation changed throughout. You just can't spend twenty years writing without *some* stylistic changes, but the problem is that the completely straight-faced presentation later in the series just doesn't doesn't feel like a natural evolution of the series' roots. It doesn't progress so much as suddenly leap into its next stage, and it collapses under its own weight. The moral is that no matter how long it takes you to write it, you need to remember the work you've actually done in your story to set up future events, otherwise the whole thing loses any identity it might have initially had, which makes for an especially dull read when the page count is in the 600s.
Credit to Coville for finishing his story, at least.
December 29, 2023
A breathless adventure and gripping conclusion for the end of the series, with a bittersweet ending that feels very fitting for the world Coville has created. It suffered a little from too many pieces on the chess board, which meant no one character fully realized their arc. In particular, the story of Fallon, Elihu, and Allura really drew focus from some of the other characters in a way that didn't necessarily pay off. Cara got her heroic moment at the end by healing Beloved, though I wish there had been more of an arc leading up to that, and I really do feel that this book was worse off for how it treated Cara and Lightfoot's bond as a background note. Rajiv still feels like a racist caricature, and the addition of Feng didn't help.
On a more thematic level, fantasy apocalypses where the world is literally tearing itself have been resonating with me lately, so that worked here. It's also impossible to escape how much of this book, and the series in general, is focused around storytelling and the flow of information. The majority of Cara's quests have her seeking vital information, in the form of a story, from one source or another; stories are used as payment and tokens of trust; and Fallon's description of creating life seems very much to be about works of art and literature as well. I'm less sure of what to make of the obvious biblical references in Fallon's storyline, though they don't feel out of place - though there was perhaps not enough time to fully explore his story, especially not without shortchanging the others.
But all that being said, the story elements slotted together neatly for the most part, and there was good momentum throughout. The number of character deaths throughout makes the tragedy and sacrifices feel real and weighty, something many books for older audiences could take note of, and nothing should ever make the Squijum sad again. This series will always have a special place in my heart, and I'm glad to finally read how it ends.
On a more thematic level, fantasy apocalypses where the world is literally tearing itself have been resonating with me lately, so that worked here. It's also impossible to escape how much of this book, and the series in general, is focused around storytelling and the flow of information. The majority of Cara's quests have her seeking vital information, in the form of a story, from one source or another; stories are used as payment and tokens of trust; and Fallon's description of creating life seems very much to be about works of art and literature as well. I'm less sure of what to make of the obvious biblical references in Fallon's storyline, though they don't feel out of place - though there was perhaps not enough time to fully explore his story, especially not without shortchanging the others.
But all that being said, the story elements slotted together neatly for the most part, and there was good momentum throughout. The number of character deaths throughout makes the tragedy and sacrifices feel real and weighty, something many books for older audiences could take note of, and nothing should ever make the Squijum sad again. This series will always have a special place in my heart, and I'm glad to finally read how it ends.
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