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The Unicorn Chronicles #2
Song of the Wanderer
One unicorn dwells on Earth.
Hundreds fight in Luster.
Their legends are recorded in
The Unicorn Chronicles.
Book II: Song of the Wanderer
Cara must return to Earth to save her grandmother, the Wanderer. But to do so, Cara must first travel through the wilderness of Luster, land of the unicorns, full of unknown creatures and perilous adventure around every bend in the road. Only at the back of the dragon Ebillan's cave will she find the gate that can return her to Earth.
Embarking on the journey of her life, Cara will face vicious terrain, delver attacks, and a surly dragon. Beyond all this looms one more danger: Beloved, Cara's infamous ancestor, who has dedicated a lifetime to ridding the earth of unicorns. Is Cara strong enough to resist Beloved's ruthless magic and trickery? Can she bear betraying her own blood?
Hundreds fight in Luster.
Their legends are recorded in
The Unicorn Chronicles.
Book II: Song of the Wanderer
Cara must return to Earth to save her grandmother, the Wanderer. But to do so, Cara must first travel through the wilderness of Luster, land of the unicorns, full of unknown creatures and perilous adventure around every bend in the road. Only at the back of the dragon Ebillan's cave will she find the gate that can return her to Earth.
Embarking on the journey of her life, Cara will face vicious terrain, delver attacks, and a surly dragon. Beyond all this looms one more danger: Beloved, Cara's infamous ancestor, who has dedicated a lifetime to ridding the earth of unicorns. Is Cara strong enough to resist Beloved's ruthless magic and trickery? Can she bear betraying her own blood?
336 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
December 9, 2020
Cara's grandmother is still trapped on earth and only she can save her...but to get to grandma, Cara is going to have to travel through Luster (the land of unicorns).
But there's no peace in wandering,
The road's not made for rest.
This journey is not going to be easy - danger, whether it be the harsh environment or roaming dragons, lurks around every corner.
Yes, the world was meant for knowing,Will Cara make it in time? Will she make it at all?
And feet were meant to roam,
This series was one of my ABSOLUTE favorites as a child - I read the first two books over and over and over.
Rereading it as an adult, I definitely feel a heady dose of nostalgia...and a slight tint of regret.
I remember this series being perfect in every way, shape and form. But rereading it (or technically, re-listening to it)....it just didn't have the same all-consuming brilliance that I remember.
I think this is (in part) because it's a full-cast audio and I'm not a fan of all the voices (Cara's is particularly grating to me, as is the little furry companion she has (and I remember absolutely loving him).
But, overall, I did enjoy myself with this reread.
I still love the unicorns and the magnificence of Luster. Cannot wait for book 3!
Gadfangled girl things, always robbed me of my common sense.YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
July 21, 2012
Its about Unicorns. For Heaven's sake, what is there not to like?
However, to elucidate further. This is the second volume of the Trilogy of 'The Unicorn Chronicles' and during the course of this book new characters are encountered which enrich the whole narrative. Whether these be Unicorns or other creatures, they are filled out in detail and the personalities of each one are fleshed out. As a result, new comrades and new enemies for Cara, the heroine, are introduced. My personal favourite being Medafil, the wonderfully grouchy Gryphon prone to satisfed purring if enticed enough.
(Just to digress for one moment....having been involved in a minor skirmish over the incomprehensible loathing of cats by certain folk who shall remain nameless...but you know who you are, as does the Gryphon....Medafil is a great advertisment for the wondrous arrogance of the cat, even if he is, I grant you, rather a mythological composite). If you read my review for the first volume you may recall my dubious opinion of the disneyesque Squijum. I have to say this lessened somewhat in this volume, he was not quite so annoying, nor quite so grating but then again he did not feature quite so much.
This book was more detailed in the sense that Coville gradually began unfurling the story like some great colourful tapestry. He has a great knack of keeping the narrative moving and introducing all sorts of new elements and uncovering new details without overloading the story. The characters, in the main, have personalities which ring true, they also remain faithful to their histories. By that I mean Coville refrains from changing their behaviour to suit the plot development. If readers are surprised it will be because of a new revelation in the life or past of the character not because the character his/herself is acting inconsistently. (This is a pet hate of mine in any novel but especially in young people's books).
We encounter, at some length, the two matriarchs of the opposing forces. Arabella Skydancer, the Unicorn Queen and Beloved, the Head of the Hunters and therefore the arch-foe of the Unicorns. The explanation for Beloved is seen more clearly as
'my heart throbbed in constant agony from the piece of horn that lances and heals it with every breath i take'.
Beloved's father had gone in search of unicorns to kill them but one, finding the wounded Beloved, comes to heal her; this involved the animal piercing the wound with his horn and in this way, after initial agony, the wounded is healed and the unicorn, for a time, weakened. Tragically, the father returns at just that moment of pain and hears the cry of his daughter and sees what appears an attack. In the ensuing fight the two warriors are killed and the unicorn's horn is snapped in the very midst of its healing action at the balance, as it were, of the agony and ecstasy.
Coville's skill in centring so much of the story around this tragic misunderstanding, long gone in the mists of history, is to set the whole turmoil of hate and bloodshed in the context of pointlessness, all so unnecessary.
There are some real tour de force in terms of imaginative invention. The Rainbow prison, where the light by which worlds are connected becomes splintered and broken into shafts, is ingeniously simple and fascinating as a result. The fact that there is always one unicorn hidden in the world, called 'The Guardian of Memory', its vocation to 'keep alive the memory of what we were, and what was lost when we left', appealed to my sense of enchantment and beauty in the world. It reminded me of that quote from Tolkien where he said that to believe in winged horses is not to belittle ordinary ones but rather to ennoble them.
At one point in this lovely book the characters are crossing an enormous underground cavern through which cascades and flows an enormous river that glows and shines deep crimson. Cara asks why it glows and a dwarf who happens to be with them because it is that sort of story, begins to try to find rational explanations for it...which was a piece of delicious tongue-in-cheek poking fun on the part of Coville which i found really endearing. One of the earthbound humans theorizes 'It could be magic'. The dwarf, Richard Dawkinslike in his dismissive lack of imagination, declares' Possible, though if it is, I don't see the point in it'
The human responds with a sentiment that i for one would wear with pride on any t shirt you chose to buy me
'Do all wonders need to have a purpose?'
This is a great second volume; imaginative, exciting, challenging and well written. I would certainly very happily recommend it to any young readers
However, to elucidate further. This is the second volume of the Trilogy of 'The Unicorn Chronicles' and during the course of this book new characters are encountered which enrich the whole narrative. Whether these be Unicorns or other creatures, they are filled out in detail and the personalities of each one are fleshed out. As a result, new comrades and new enemies for Cara, the heroine, are introduced. My personal favourite being Medafil, the wonderfully grouchy Gryphon prone to satisfed purring if enticed enough.
(Just to digress for one moment....having been involved in a minor skirmish over the incomprehensible loathing of cats by certain folk who shall remain nameless...but you know who you are, as does the Gryphon....Medafil is a great advertisment for the wondrous arrogance of the cat, even if he is, I grant you, rather a mythological composite). If you read my review for the first volume you may recall my dubious opinion of the disneyesque Squijum. I have to say this lessened somewhat in this volume, he was not quite so annoying, nor quite so grating but then again he did not feature quite so much.
This book was more detailed in the sense that Coville gradually began unfurling the story like some great colourful tapestry. He has a great knack of keeping the narrative moving and introducing all sorts of new elements and uncovering new details without overloading the story. The characters, in the main, have personalities which ring true, they also remain faithful to their histories. By that I mean Coville refrains from changing their behaviour to suit the plot development. If readers are surprised it will be because of a new revelation in the life or past of the character not because the character his/herself is acting inconsistently. (This is a pet hate of mine in any novel but especially in young people's books).
We encounter, at some length, the two matriarchs of the opposing forces. Arabella Skydancer, the Unicorn Queen and Beloved, the Head of the Hunters and therefore the arch-foe of the Unicorns. The explanation for Beloved is seen more clearly as
'my heart throbbed in constant agony from the piece of horn that lances and heals it with every breath i take'.
Beloved's father had gone in search of unicorns to kill them but one, finding the wounded Beloved, comes to heal her; this involved the animal piercing the wound with his horn and in this way, after initial agony, the wounded is healed and the unicorn, for a time, weakened. Tragically, the father returns at just that moment of pain and hears the cry of his daughter and sees what appears an attack. In the ensuing fight the two warriors are killed and the unicorn's horn is snapped in the very midst of its healing action at the balance, as it were, of the agony and ecstasy.
Coville's skill in centring so much of the story around this tragic misunderstanding, long gone in the mists of history, is to set the whole turmoil of hate and bloodshed in the context of pointlessness, all so unnecessary.
There are some real tour de force in terms of imaginative invention. The Rainbow prison, where the light by which worlds are connected becomes splintered and broken into shafts, is ingeniously simple and fascinating as a result. The fact that there is always one unicorn hidden in the world, called 'The Guardian of Memory', its vocation to 'keep alive the memory of what we were, and what was lost when we left', appealed to my sense of enchantment and beauty in the world. It reminded me of that quote from Tolkien where he said that to believe in winged horses is not to belittle ordinary ones but rather to ennoble them.
At one point in this lovely book the characters are crossing an enormous underground cavern through which cascades and flows an enormous river that glows and shines deep crimson. Cara asks why it glows and a dwarf who happens to be with them because it is that sort of story, begins to try to find rational explanations for it...which was a piece of delicious tongue-in-cheek poking fun on the part of Coville which i found really endearing. One of the earthbound humans theorizes 'It could be magic'. The dwarf, Richard Dawkinslike in his dismissive lack of imagination, declares' Possible, though if it is, I don't see the point in it'
The human responds with a sentiment that i for one would wear with pride on any t shirt you chose to buy me
'Do all wonders need to have a purpose?'
This is a great second volume; imaginative, exciting, challenging and well written. I would certainly very happily recommend it to any young readers
July 10, 2023
Five years was quite a while to wait for book two of the Unicorn Chronicles. What caused the delay between Into the Land of the Unicorns (1994) and Song of the Wanderer (1999)? I don't know, but Bruce Coville acknowledges it in the dedication section of this book. Volume three, Dark Whispers (2008), would be an even longer wait. Twelve-year-old Cara is safe at the court of Unicorn Queen Arabella Skydancer as Song of the Wanderer begins. Hunters are temporarily unable to cross from Earth to the world called Luster, but eventually Cara's ancestor, an ageless but hateful woman named Beloved, will figure out how to get them into Luster so they can exterminate all unicorns. Arabella Skydancer is very old, but she's clinging to life with the hope of seeing Cara's grandmother, Ivy Morris, one last time. To facilitate the meeting, the Queen sends Cara and a small glory of unicorns to ask M'Gama the Geomancer for assistance returning to Earth so they can locate Gramma Morris. Cara wishes she could travel to M'Gama's place in the company of the bearlike Dimblethum and the unicorn Lightfoot, her former companions, but they both left before she arrived at the Queen's court. A brusque unicorn named Moonheart is chosen to head the expedition, along with an expert tracker named Finder and a fierce young fighter named Belle. All three unicorns will be needed to shield Cara from delver attacks en route to M'Gama's.
"Across the gently rolling hills,
Beyond high mountain peaks,
Along the shores of distant seas,
There's something my heart seeks.
But there's no peace in wandering,
The road's not made for rest.
And footsore fools will never know
What home might suit them best.
But, oh, the things that I have seen,
The secret paths I've trod,
The hidden corners of the world
Known to none but me and God.
Yes, the world was meant for knowing,
And feet were meant to roam.
But one who's always going
Will never find a home.
Oh, where's the thread that binds me,
The voice that calls me back?
Where's the love that finds me—
And what's the root I lack?"
—Song of the Wanderer, PP. 167-168
Of all the humans Cara has met in Luster, M'Gama is in a category by herself. She has a long history with Gramma Morris, and wants to help her granddaughter. Seven gates exist that link Luster to Earth, but Cara must find the right one in order to transport to Gramma Morris's house. That gate is in a crystal cave at the back of Ebillan's lair...the fiercest of Luster's seven dragons. Accessing the gate is Cara's only chance to find Gramma Morris before the Queen dies, but dangers lurk in the forest on the long road there. Cara must complete the journey before the first day of autumn, or the gates will switch and the one in Ebillan's cave will be no use to her. Donning an enchanted ring given her by M'Gama, Cara embarks on a mission whose odds of success are dim, but she's determined to try.
"My heart seeks the hearth,
My feet seek the road.
A soul so divided
Is a terrible load.
My heart longs to rest,
My feet yearn to roam.
Shall I wander the world
Or stay safe at home?"
—Song of the Wanderer, P. 169
Moonheart and Belle are prickly personalities, but Cara is comforted by the presence of Thomas the Tinker—a human who has learned a few useful enchantments over the years—and the Squijum, the squirrel-like friend she traveled with in the first book. Along the way their party is joined by Lightfoot and the Dimblethum, who wouldn't think of letting Cara face danger without them. The forest is full of perils, but Cara's entourage is mostly prepared. Cara is troubled, however, that on two occasions her nemesis Beloved enters her mind and communicates with her, tempting Cara to betray her friends. Unicorns are duplicitous, Beloved says in a hypnotic voice. Cara snaps out of the reverie both times and reports what happened to her friends, who are alarmed that Beloved can contact her in Luster. They need to complete their quest soon, before she crosses over from Earth.
No fantasy journey is complete without picking up new adventurers along the way. There's Jacques the aged tumbler, a human with his own mysterious connection to Gramma Morris. His melancholy disposition mixed with his professional comic's sense of humor appeals to Cara. There's Medafil the griffin, an occasionally cowardly beast with unsurpassed knowledge of these forests, and loyalty to Cara that grows over time. Cara also enjoys an extended reunion with Grimwold, Keeper of the Unicorn Chronicles. He has information about Gramma Morris, Moonheart, Lightfoot, Arabella Skydancer, and how their pasts entwine to form the situation today. Arriving at Ebillan's lair before the autumnal equinox is an achievement in its own right, but Cara's work is far from done: crossing over to Earth, she'll find some nasty surprises that threaten to keep her from Gramma Morris forever. Can she fulfill Arabella Skydancer's dying wish without exposing Luster to the Hunters? What will Cara discover of her own legacy relating to the unicorns she has come to love like family?
"Each wound has its own time for healing...The wounds of the heart are much deeper than those of the flesh."
—Arabella Skydancer, Song of the Wanderer, P. 6
Song of the Wanderer doesn't have the easy charm of Into the Land of the Unicorns. The fantasy elements unfold so naturally in that book, but the sequel has stronger emotion, especially at the end. Coincidence burdens the narrative more than necessary, though, and to me the plot twists feel somewhat off. I'd rate Song of the Wanderer two and a half stars; it's almost two hundred pages longer than Into the Land of the Unicorns, and easily could have been more. Plentiful as its opportunities are to delve into the world of Luster and create a deep sense of atmosphere, those opportunities are rarely taken, and that's disappointing. You could even say the writing is dry. Still, I'm enjoying the series, and eagerly await the next chapter. Dark Whispers is easily longest of the first three books.
"Across the gently rolling hills,
Beyond high mountain peaks,
Along the shores of distant seas,
There's something my heart seeks.
But there's no peace in wandering,
The road's not made for rest.
And footsore fools will never know
What home might suit them best.
But, oh, the things that I have seen,
The secret paths I've trod,
The hidden corners of the world
Known to none but me and God.
Yes, the world was meant for knowing,
And feet were meant to roam.
But one who's always going
Will never find a home.
Oh, where's the thread that binds me,
The voice that calls me back?
Where's the love that finds me—
And what's the root I lack?"
—Song of the Wanderer, PP. 167-168
Of all the humans Cara has met in Luster, M'Gama is in a category by herself. She has a long history with Gramma Morris, and wants to help her granddaughter. Seven gates exist that link Luster to Earth, but Cara must find the right one in order to transport to Gramma Morris's house. That gate is in a crystal cave at the back of Ebillan's lair...the fiercest of Luster's seven dragons. Accessing the gate is Cara's only chance to find Gramma Morris before the Queen dies, but dangers lurk in the forest on the long road there. Cara must complete the journey before the first day of autumn, or the gates will switch and the one in Ebillan's cave will be no use to her. Donning an enchanted ring given her by M'Gama, Cara embarks on a mission whose odds of success are dim, but she's determined to try.
"My heart seeks the hearth,
My feet seek the road.
A soul so divided
Is a terrible load.
My heart longs to rest,
My feet yearn to roam.
Shall I wander the world
Or stay safe at home?"
—Song of the Wanderer, P. 169
Moonheart and Belle are prickly personalities, but Cara is comforted by the presence of Thomas the Tinker—a human who has learned a few useful enchantments over the years—and the Squijum, the squirrel-like friend she traveled with in the first book. Along the way their party is joined by Lightfoot and the Dimblethum, who wouldn't think of letting Cara face danger without them. The forest is full of perils, but Cara's entourage is mostly prepared. Cara is troubled, however, that on two occasions her nemesis Beloved enters her mind and communicates with her, tempting Cara to betray her friends. Unicorns are duplicitous, Beloved says in a hypnotic voice. Cara snaps out of the reverie both times and reports what happened to her friends, who are alarmed that Beloved can contact her in Luster. They need to complete their quest soon, before she crosses over from Earth.
No fantasy journey is complete without picking up new adventurers along the way. There's Jacques the aged tumbler, a human with his own mysterious connection to Gramma Morris. His melancholy disposition mixed with his professional comic's sense of humor appeals to Cara. There's Medafil the griffin, an occasionally cowardly beast with unsurpassed knowledge of these forests, and loyalty to Cara that grows over time. Cara also enjoys an extended reunion with Grimwold, Keeper of the Unicorn Chronicles. He has information about Gramma Morris, Moonheart, Lightfoot, Arabella Skydancer, and how their pasts entwine to form the situation today. Arriving at Ebillan's lair before the autumnal equinox is an achievement in its own right, but Cara's work is far from done: crossing over to Earth, she'll find some nasty surprises that threaten to keep her from Gramma Morris forever. Can she fulfill Arabella Skydancer's dying wish without exposing Luster to the Hunters? What will Cara discover of her own legacy relating to the unicorns she has come to love like family?
"Each wound has its own time for healing...The wounds of the heart are much deeper than those of the flesh."
—Arabella Skydancer, Song of the Wanderer, P. 6
Song of the Wanderer doesn't have the easy charm of Into the Land of the Unicorns. The fantasy elements unfold so naturally in that book, but the sequel has stronger emotion, especially at the end. Coincidence burdens the narrative more than necessary, though, and to me the plot twists feel somewhat off. I'd rate Song of the Wanderer two and a half stars; it's almost two hundred pages longer than Into the Land of the Unicorns, and easily could have been more. Plentiful as its opportunities are to delve into the world of Luster and create a deep sense of atmosphere, those opportunities are rarely taken, and that's disappointing. You could even say the writing is dry. Still, I'm enjoying the series, and eagerly await the next chapter. Dark Whispers is easily longest of the first three books.
April 3, 2010
Alright, alright, I'll admit it. I'm in my freshman year of high school and I still believe in unicorns. A lot of that is thanks to Bruce Coville. I adored this book as a young girl, and have ever since. It made me want to believe in unicorns and magic worlds in a way that nothing else did.
I read this book before I read Into the Land of the Unicorns, so the fact that I prefer this one may be a little skewed. Looking back on both, though, I really do think this is the better book; the first is lovely, but things really pick up here. There are heartbreaking scenes and exciting scenes and scenes that even now make me sit on the edge of my seat. Through it all, the writing and the world of Luster remain consistently beautiful, and the characters are fun and, for the most part, believeable.
I really want to get my hands on the next book. I spent years convinced that it was never going to come out, because he took so long, and was thrilled to see that it was on the shelves. My parents made me wait to buy it, but it's on the way in the mail right now and I can't wait.
I read this book before I read Into the Land of the Unicorns, so the fact that I prefer this one may be a little skewed. Looking back on both, though, I really do think this is the better book; the first is lovely, but things really pick up here. There are heartbreaking scenes and exciting scenes and scenes that even now make me sit on the edge of my seat. Through it all, the writing and the world of Luster remain consistently beautiful, and the characters are fun and, for the most part, believeable.
I really want to get my hands on the next book. I spent years convinced that it was never going to come out, because he took so long, and was thrilled to see that it was on the shelves. My parents made me wait to buy it, but it's on the way in the mail right now and I can't wait.
March 13, 2016
I remember being OBSESSED with this book when I was younger. I'd bring this book everywhere with me. I still own it and if you could see the condition it's in, there's no questioning that this book was my baby. It looks brand new.
I can't wait to reread this along with the rest of the books and see what kind of feelings it'll respark ^_^
I can't wait to reread this along with the rest of the books and see what kind of feelings it'll respark ^_^
May 21, 2025
Re read
5/5
Iconic!!! This cast of characters is so precious to me!!
5/5
Iconic!!! This cast of characters is so precious to me!!
June 10, 2022
I didn't have the experience of reading this first as a kid, so my reactions are entirely coming from adult Ashley on this one. I mentioned this in a status update, but having initially read that first book back in 1994, it felt incredibly strange to finally be picking up the thread of the story again after 28 years.
First, my main complaint on this one, and the reason it's getting 3.5 stars (rounded up): I wasn't a huge fan of the writing itself, which felt like it was trying too hard. It didn't feel natural, it felt like Coville was struggling to inhabit this world (which would make sense, as it took him five years to write this fairly short book). A lot of it felt overly formal.
But the story itself, I actually really liked, and I like where it seems to be going. We pick up directly after the events of the first book, with Cara being sent on a mission to retrieve her grandmother from Earth, to finally let the Wanderer return and rest. This means a quest! And traveling and adventure. We meet another dragon, another magician, and learn some more family secrets and lore of this world. I was genuinely surprised by not one but two plot twists in this book, one of which was reminiscent of how I felt as a kid learning that .
The title of the book comes from a song Cara's grandmother, Ivy, used to sing. I actually really liked the lyrics, but still got a bit tired of them when they were repeated so much. I wish he had been a bit more circumspect and subtle about that.
I'm still mostly holding off judgment on Beloved, who we get more of here. She seems a bit over the top for me, and didn't quite work as a villain. I do like the cultish atmosphere she's created, though, with her descendants. It's super creepy. I just wish she read as a bit more human in her motivations.
Hopefully on to books three and four in the fall! I'm holding off so I can read them both back to back. (Book four is out of print and looks like it's going to cost me more than I think it should, oh well!)
[3.5 stars]
First, my main complaint on this one, and the reason it's getting 3.5 stars (rounded up): I wasn't a huge fan of the writing itself, which felt like it was trying too hard. It didn't feel natural, it felt like Coville was struggling to inhabit this world (which would make sense, as it took him five years to write this fairly short book). A lot of it felt overly formal.
But the story itself, I actually really liked, and I like where it seems to be going. We pick up directly after the events of the first book, with Cara being sent on a mission to retrieve her grandmother from Earth, to finally let the Wanderer return and rest. This means a quest! And traveling and adventure. We meet another dragon, another magician, and learn some more family secrets and lore of this world. I was genuinely surprised by not one but two plot twists in this book, one of which was reminiscent of how I felt as a kid learning that .
The title of the book comes from a song Cara's grandmother, Ivy, used to sing. I actually really liked the lyrics, but still got a bit tired of them when they were repeated so much. I wish he had been a bit more circumspect and subtle about that.
I'm still mostly holding off judgment on Beloved, who we get more of here. She seems a bit over the top for me, and didn't quite work as a villain. I do like the cultish atmosphere she's created, though, with her descendants. It's super creepy. I just wish she read as a bit more human in her motivations.
Hopefully on to books three and four in the fall! I'm holding off so I can read them both back to back. (Book four is out of print and looks like it's going to cost me more than I think it should, oh well!)
[3.5 stars]
May 16, 2024
There are spoilers ahead for Into the Land of the Unicorns. Cara is setting off on her second journey across Luster, this time to find the correct travel spot that will return her to her home on Earth to find her grandmother, Ivy Morris. Ivy is known as the Wanderer among the unicorns, and her adventures in Luster could fill several novels of their own. But traveling is a race against time before the season changes, and the unicorns are being hunted by an immortal villain, Beloved, who's determined to see their kind destroyed. Trigger warnings: genocide, injury, threats.
I waited and waited for this series to be finished as a child, but books three and four were never available in my library. I forgot much of Song of the Wanderer except for the Rainbow Prison, which for some reason stood out in my mind over the years. It's a strong sequel, and I've decided middle grade is the appropriate age range of fantasy for me. Since it's designed for children to understand and engage with it, the world-building never gets too complicated or overwhelming for my tired adult brain.
I think my only problem with this book is that it's nearly twice as long as the first and feels it. One of my issues with fantasy in general is the lack of convenient transportation: it takes characters an entire novel just to get where they're going, and I always find my interest flagging in the travel sequences. Shifting settings and characters every few chapters might keep some readers turning pages, but I find it tedious, and the bulk of this novel is taken over with Cara's travels across Luster rather than advancing the plot.
That being said, it adds a few interesting new characters as well as revisits some beloved familiar ones (pun not intended, but apt all the same). The ending is also better-paced this time, and there's some really compelling plot/character developments that happen there, most of which I'd completely forgotten. I'm a little nervous because the books only get longer from here, but I'm excited to finally see how it all plays out.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
I waited and waited for this series to be finished as a child, but books three and four were never available in my library. I forgot much of Song of the Wanderer except for the Rainbow Prison, which for some reason stood out in my mind over the years. It's a strong sequel, and I've decided middle grade is the appropriate age range of fantasy for me. Since it's designed for children to understand and engage with it, the world-building never gets too complicated or overwhelming for my tired adult brain.
I think my only problem with this book is that it's nearly twice as long as the first and feels it. One of my issues with fantasy in general is the lack of convenient transportation: it takes characters an entire novel just to get where they're going, and I always find my interest flagging in the travel sequences. Shifting settings and characters every few chapters might keep some readers turning pages, but I find it tedious, and the bulk of this novel is taken over with Cara's travels across Luster rather than advancing the plot.
That being said, it adds a few interesting new characters as well as revisits some beloved familiar ones (pun not intended, but apt all the same). The ending is also better-paced this time, and there's some really compelling plot/character developments that happen there, most of which I'd completely forgotten. I'm a little nervous because the books only get longer from here, but I'm excited to finally see how it all plays out.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
October 5, 2017
I remember when I first read this. It had been years after the first Unicorn Chronicles book and I had honestly given up on ever finding a sequel. Then this! I was so happy and devoured it in a single sitting. I adore the characters Bruce Coville has created here. Some great personality. It is one of those books I can't even pick a favorite. I loved getting a much better feel of Luster and those that live there. The stories and histories share show the depth this has. And for a middle grade/early Young Adult novel, it does really well.
I just finished re-reading it via audio book on hoopla. It is done by an entire cast of voice actors and I loved it!!! I am not normally an audio book person but when you get a few different people to read the parts or have sound effects, it adds so much and really brings the story to life and helps to visualize what is going on. Fantastic to read or listen to and a highly recommended series!
I just finished re-reading it via audio book on hoopla. It is done by an entire cast of voice actors and I loved it!!! I am not normally an audio book person but when you get a few different people to read the parts or have sound effects, it adds so much and really brings the story to life and helps to visualize what is going on. Fantastic to read or listen to and a highly recommended series!
August 25, 2025
I haven't read this since maybe Jr. High! Definitely written for kids and not the most amazing writing in the world, but fun to re-experience nonetheless.
June 5, 2010
If you read any of my reviews, you'll know that I'm a fan of Bruce Coville's writing. His Unicorn Chronicles is one of the best series for fantasy readers of any age.
Although I first read this book many years ago, I've begun reading the series to my boys, ages 11 and 12, and they absolutely love it.
They were both hesitant at first, and neither would read the series on their own, thinking that it was a 'girl's' book. But neither wants me to read anything else now until I've started the series.
The first book was fun, but this second book begins to weave an intricate tale. Alliances are defined and the characters take on a depth that helps us identify with them. The adventure isn't so new, but we discover new areas to Luster (the land of the unicorns)and meet new characters.
It's a thrilling adventure and really makes us thirst for the next book.
Although I first read this book many years ago, I've begun reading the series to my boys, ages 11 and 12, and they absolutely love it.
They were both hesitant at first, and neither would read the series on their own, thinking that it was a 'girl's' book. But neither wants me to read anything else now until I've started the series.
The first book was fun, but this second book begins to weave an intricate tale. Alliances are defined and the characters take on a depth that helps us identify with them. The adventure isn't so new, but we discover new areas to Luster (the land of the unicorns)and meet new characters.
It's a thrilling adventure and really makes us thirst for the next book.
February 18, 2019
Omg I was right to be obsessed with these books. I finished this one at 1am last night! 😵
I remembered very little from this one- just the gryphon (I hadn’t even heard of a gryphon/griffin when I first read this book) and the seashell from which you can heard the voice of a woman singing a particular song. In fact, I have a distinct memory of telling my mom about the seashell, and she remembers me telling her!
I think the reason why I don’t remember much is because I was wayyy more creeped out by Beloved and the rainbow prison.
Definitely did NOT see the plot twist(s) coming. Parts of the ending reminded me of The Last Unicorn, which is probably where Coville got his inspiration. Regardless, it was very well executed!
I’m excited to read the next two books, which will be completely new reads!
I remembered very little from this one- just the gryphon (I hadn’t even heard of a gryphon/griffin when I first read this book) and the seashell from which you can heard the voice of a woman singing a particular song. In fact, I have a distinct memory of telling my mom about the seashell, and she remembers me telling her!
I think the reason why I don’t remember much is because I was wayyy more creeped out by Beloved and the rainbow prison.
Definitely did NOT see the plot twist(s) coming. Parts of the ending reminded me of The Last Unicorn, which is probably where Coville got his inspiration. Regardless, it was very well executed!
I’m excited to read the next two books, which will be completely new reads!
July 13, 2012
This is a re-read, pre goodreads, but I enjoyed it enough to read it again and I've ordered the next. I enjoyed the development of the father & the twists at the end involving Cara's grandmother.
May 1, 2025
Following Into the Land of the Unicorns, Cara Hunter finds herself on an expedition back to Earth to retrieve the Wanderer, her grandmother Ivy Morris. Accompanied by new friends and old, Cara must travel to a dragon's lair to reach her grandmother before the equinox and bring her back to the Queen. This is the Queen of the Unicorns' dying wish.
Song of the Wanderer is a step up from Into the Land of the Unicorns, where we see more of the journey and encounter even more of the inhabitants of Luster - new unicorns, a traveling theatre troupe of humans, a sorceress, and even a griffin. As the story unfolds, the lore gets stronger and more tangled -- and we finally meet the villain Beloved. Shocking reveal after reveal.
I remember being absolutely entranced by this sequel when I was in primary school. So many questions answered, so many twists and turns. And so many unicorns. I love this series just as much as I did when I was little. Excited to continue and finally finish it.
5 stars
Song of the Wanderer is a step up from Into the Land of the Unicorns, where we see more of the journey and encounter even more of the inhabitants of Luster - new unicorns, a traveling theatre troupe of humans, a sorceress, and even a griffin. As the story unfolds, the lore gets stronger and more tangled -- and we finally meet the villain Beloved. Shocking reveal after reveal.
I remember being absolutely entranced by this sequel when I was in primary school. So many questions answered, so many twists and turns. And so many unicorns. I love this series just as much as I did when I was little. Excited to continue and finally finish it.
5 stars
December 8, 2017
I loved this book.
April 1, 2020
gotta say, I loved it a lot more when I was 10. Kinda wish I hadnt reread, because the memories I had of it originally were a lot better. Still, I enjoyed reading it. 3.5/5 stars :)
July 22, 2021
Somehow, I read the first book in this series as a kid and, even though it clearly ends without a full ending, leading into a whole series, I never sought out the other books. So I'm doing so now! I listened to this on audiobook and, thankfully, the audiobook music between chapters was *much* less heavy-handed than the first one. Overall, it was a delightful continuation of Cara's adventures that we embarked upon in the first book, with some really interesting revelations about her family and their history. I'm glad to finally be seeking out the rest of the series.
July 27, 2015
This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
I reviewed the first book in the Unicorn Chronicles, Into the Land of the Unicorns, a few months ago. It was a good book, but very short (not even hitting the 200-page mark). Nothing about it particularly wowed me, but I did enjoy reading it and I looked forward to reading the later books. My biggest fear about the rest of the series? That they wouldn't be able to flesh the tale out as much as I anticipated was possible, because of their meager page counts. As you can see, this fear was laid to rest the minute I got my copies of the second and third books from the library. Song of the Wanderer is the size of an average novel at 330 pages, and the third book, Dark Whispers, was a cool 480 pages. The final book in the series, titled The Last Hunt (which I haven't been able to get my hands on yet), takes the cake at just over 600 pages. Yipe!
So we've got the room for fleshing things out. But did it really happen? Why, yes indeed. Of the three books that I've read, Song of the Wanderer is definitely my favorite. It's got danger, excitement, friendship, family, and (of course!) unicorns. Cara still feels a bit like a vanilla character, with no real depth besides the usual "bravery, loyalty, and love," but somehow that doesn't really bother me with these books. I think it's because she serves almost purely as a stand-in for the reader, so I get to feel even more absorbed into the story.
I still don't like her father, though, and of all the characters in the entire series he is the only one who honestly just feels . . . fake. His motives, his actions, his words - it all comes across as a little too two-dimensional, like he's just a pawn on the board put into place by the author. I don't mind if Coville wants to use him that way (after all, characters basically are pawns controlled by the author!), but it definitely shouldn't feel like he's only behaving the way he does to move the story along. I also had trouble with him in the third book, but I'll go deeper into all of that when I review it.
Now I have to say that the ending was absolutely awesome. I totally didn't see it coming, and really loved where it took Cara's story! I had to immediately jump into the third book (review coming) because I was dying to find out what happened next. It's what really made the story for me. Everything came together beautifully, setting up a huge amount of potential for the third book.
All in all, this is absolutely my favorite book in the series so far. As for the series as a whole, I wouldn't call it one of my all-time favorites but it's definitely a great, well-written (if occasionally long-winded in the later books) series that I am really looking forward to finishing. As soon as I can schlep myself all the way over to the only county library in my state that actually has a copy of The Last Hunt (which went out of print after, like, five minutes).
I reviewed the first book in the Unicorn Chronicles, Into the Land of the Unicorns, a few months ago. It was a good book, but very short (not even hitting the 200-page mark). Nothing about it particularly wowed me, but I did enjoy reading it and I looked forward to reading the later books. My biggest fear about the rest of the series? That they wouldn't be able to flesh the tale out as much as I anticipated was possible, because of their meager page counts. As you can see, this fear was laid to rest the minute I got my copies of the second and third books from the library. Song of the Wanderer is the size of an average novel at 330 pages, and the third book, Dark Whispers, was a cool 480 pages. The final book in the series, titled The Last Hunt (which I haven't been able to get my hands on yet), takes the cake at just over 600 pages. Yipe!
So we've got the room for fleshing things out. But did it really happen? Why, yes indeed. Of the three books that I've read, Song of the Wanderer is definitely my favorite. It's got danger, excitement, friendship, family, and (of course!) unicorns. Cara still feels a bit like a vanilla character, with no real depth besides the usual "bravery, loyalty, and love," but somehow that doesn't really bother me with these books. I think it's because she serves almost purely as a stand-in for the reader, so I get to feel even more absorbed into the story.
I still don't like her father, though, and of all the characters in the entire series he is the only one who honestly just feels . . . fake. His motives, his actions, his words - it all comes across as a little too two-dimensional, like he's just a pawn on the board put into place by the author. I don't mind if Coville wants to use him that way (after all, characters basically are pawns controlled by the author!), but it definitely shouldn't feel like he's only behaving the way he does to move the story along. I also had trouble with him in the third book, but I'll go deeper into all of that when I review it.
Now I have to say that the ending was absolutely awesome. I totally didn't see it coming, and really loved where it took Cara's story! I had to immediately jump into the third book (review coming) because I was dying to find out what happened next. It's what really made the story for me. Everything came together beautifully, setting up a huge amount of potential for the third book.
All in all, this is absolutely my favorite book in the series so far. As for the series as a whole, I wouldn't call it one of my all-time favorites but it's definitely a great, well-written (if occasionally long-winded in the later books) series that I am really looking forward to finishing. As soon as I can schlep myself all the way over to the only county library in my state that actually has a copy of The Last Hunt (which went out of print after, like, five minutes).
May 19, 2011
I have to start by saying that a lot or, okay, at least some of the names are on the stupid side - a unicorn ruled world called 'Luster'? sorry - that takes things to the ridiculous, princessy end of things... although I guess since this is intended for kids it is more understandable that the author doesn't try harder in that department - as a kid I think I would have been more ready to go along with it. The name thing is balanced out a bit by the grumpy nature of more than one of the unicorns, and the far from silvery rainbow shiny glistening nature and appearance of some of the companions and other beings of the world, so in the end it's not choking on sickly sweetness.
I really did enjoy this story. In some ways it was simplistic and everything really does wrap up a bit too neatly and (yes, another one) I knew that last little reveal back in book 1... although now that I think about it, I'm not sure exactly how I knew; it just had that sense of 'everything will fit perfectly if this is true.' He does a great job of conveying the divided nature of the wanderer and the song as performed by various cast members throughout the story was well-done and, in the end, in perfect tenor for its sentiment (and, yikes! who is that soprano who sings the whole thing through at the end?! amazing voice!). The faint glimmers (ha!) at the edges of possible scientific explanations for travel between the worlds and for what lies between were interesting, but in some ways it reminded me a bit too much of the bits of memory I have of Rainbow Brite - oh dear - where did that one come from?! No this was much better than that!
this review makes me feel like such a jerk because the writer is from my home city - I feel like I need to clarify that I really really enjoyed the story - after reading the 1st book I had to go on to this 2nd installment and I'm looking forward to the third book (going on the library site to get it now). There are just these seeds of cynicism worming their way throughout my soul that say unicorns=cutesy unless you really do something to make them fierce and disconnect them from the rainbow princess feel. This story has a lot of depth and real pain and loss (why do we need pain to balance out beauty and joy for things to feel believable?), along with some truly interesting characters along the way. I think the reason I start out with the cynical reaction is because he does retain some of the connections between unicorns and some of the things that through overuse in various kiddy productions have seemed to make them cutesy rather than hugely powerful creatures of purity among the mythical beasts.
I really did enjoy this story. In some ways it was simplistic and everything really does wrap up a bit too neatly and (yes, another one) I knew that last little reveal back in book 1... although now that I think about it, I'm not sure exactly how I knew; it just had that sense of 'everything will fit perfectly if this is true.' He does a great job of conveying the divided nature of the wanderer and the song as performed by various cast members throughout the story was well-done and, in the end, in perfect tenor for its sentiment (and, yikes! who is that soprano who sings the whole thing through at the end?! amazing voice!). The faint glimmers (ha!) at the edges of possible scientific explanations for travel between the worlds and for what lies between were interesting, but in some ways it reminded me a bit too much of the bits of memory I have of Rainbow Brite - oh dear - where did that one come from?! No this was much better than that!
this review makes me feel like such a jerk because the writer is from my home city - I feel like I need to clarify that I really really enjoyed the story - after reading the 1st book I had to go on to this 2nd installment and I'm looking forward to the third book (going on the library site to get it now). There are just these seeds of cynicism worming their way throughout my soul that say unicorns=cutesy unless you really do something to make them fierce and disconnect them from the rainbow princess feel. This story has a lot of depth and real pain and loss (why do we need pain to balance out beauty and joy for things to feel believable?), along with some truly interesting characters along the way. I think the reason I start out with the cynical reaction is because he does retain some of the connections between unicorns and some of the things that through overuse in various kiddy productions have seemed to make them cutesy rather than hugely powerful creatures of purity among the mythical beasts.
April 14, 2016
The second novel in The Unicorn Chronicles picks up mere moments after the first novel ended, plopping us right back down into the action. Cara is given a quest within a few pages and she sets off without much ado. We are introduced to a few new unicorns, and Thomas continues the adventure with the party.
One of the things I enjoy about this series is that the unicorns are not perfect. They each have character flaws, egos, and occasional poor decision making. There are no special snowflake princesses in these unicorns. Lightfoot will always be my favorite unicorn from this series, because he really does seem like the spoiled prince who is just trying to make a name for himself in the world, outside of his family. There is unfortunately not enough of my favorite character, the Dimblethum, although we are introduced to Medafil, whose constant stream of hyperbole and made up curse words had me smiling.
My number one gripe about this series is that everything is incredibly convenient and through a series of astonishing coincidences, Cara rediscovers her family, including her parents and grandparents. I could handle it for the first installment, Into the Land of the Unicorns, because that one overall felt the most juvenile, so everything working out was ok with me. But while this one has all the characters grow up just a little bit, no one ever makes a misstep, or if they do, it is always a good thing and a benefit to all in the end.
If I weren't a bad poker player, I would stop the series here, but I hate giving up on a series once I start it. The reveals at the end creeped me out more than intrigued me, and the next two books just get longer and longer. This novel actually made me dislike the first one a little bit, because the reveals were so odd and adult yet the writing was so obviously juvenile.
One of the things I enjoy about this series is that the unicorns are not perfect. They each have character flaws, egos, and occasional poor decision making. There are no special snowflake princesses in these unicorns. Lightfoot will always be my favorite unicorn from this series, because he really does seem like the spoiled prince who is just trying to make a name for himself in the world, outside of his family. There is unfortunately not enough of my favorite character, the Dimblethum, although we are introduced to Medafil, whose constant stream of hyperbole and made up curse words had me smiling.
My number one gripe about this series is that everything is incredibly convenient and through a series of astonishing coincidences, Cara rediscovers her family, including her parents and grandparents. I could handle it for the first installment, Into the Land of the Unicorns, because that one overall felt the most juvenile, so everything working out was ok with me. But while this one has all the characters grow up just a little bit, no one ever makes a misstep, or if they do, it is always a good thing and a benefit to all in the end.
If I weren't a bad poker player, I would stop the series here, but I hate giving up on a series once I start it. The reveals at the end creeped me out more than intrigued me, and the next two books just get longer and longer. This novel actually made me dislike the first one a little bit, because the reveals were so odd and adult yet the writing was so obviously juvenile.
February 23, 2017
I read the first book in this series, Into The Land Of The Unicorns, all the way back in elementary school. It was love at first sight (read?). I was so eager to get a hold of the sequel that when I came across it at my local book store I snatched up. After finishing it though, I wound up feeling kind of... disappointed.
The story's decent, though I agree there were a lot of coincidences to swallow. I wanted to see more of the old characters, namely Lightfoot and the Dimblethum (especially now that Cara can understand his speech), but since a bunch of new characters are introduced, they ended up being sidelined most of the time. As for the new characters, I didn't connect with most of them. At all. We get glimpses of personality, but nobody really seemed that fleshed out. Aside from Finder, none of the other unicorns are likable, and suddenly we're supposed to believe that Lightfoot has a crush on one of them? Why? She doesn’t seem to like him at all. Just to be clear, I don’t have an issue with having not-nice unicorns. That’s why I love Lightfoot. Maybe if we were shown more of the dynamics of unicorn society/or why they feel the way they do about certain characters I would’ve liked Lightfoot's uncle (sorry, I can't recall his name) and Belle (the ugh, love interest) more. As it stands, I want to run over the both of them with a bus. I’m thinking that Coville had too many characters running around all at once here.
The most interesting and likable characters were a couple of humans, Thomas and Jacques. I’ve considered reading the next two books in the series, but having read the reviews for them here, I think I’ll pass and preserve my memories of the first book. I also don’t like where the author goes with Lightfoot and Cara's relations considering the fact that they’re cousins.
The story's decent, though I agree there were a lot of coincidences to swallow. I wanted to see more of the old characters, namely Lightfoot and the Dimblethum (especially now that Cara can understand his speech), but since a bunch of new characters are introduced, they ended up being sidelined most of the time. As for the new characters, I didn't connect with most of them. At all. We get glimpses of personality, but nobody really seemed that fleshed out. Aside from Finder, none of the other unicorns are likable, and suddenly we're supposed to believe that Lightfoot has a crush on one of them? Why? She doesn’t seem to like him at all. Just to be clear, I don’t have an issue with having not-nice unicorns. That’s why I love Lightfoot. Maybe if we were shown more of the dynamics of unicorn society/or why they feel the way they do about certain characters I would’ve liked Lightfoot's uncle (sorry, I can't recall his name) and Belle (the ugh, love interest) more. As it stands, I want to run over the both of them with a bus. I’m thinking that Coville had too many characters running around all at once here.
The most interesting and likable characters were a couple of humans, Thomas and Jacques. I’ve considered reading the next two books in the series, but having read the reviews for them here, I think I’ll pass and preserve my memories of the first book. I also don’t like where the author goes with Lightfoot and Cara's relations considering the fact that they’re cousins.
June 13, 2017
In 1994 at a school book sale while I was in the third grade I came across "Into the land of the Unicorns". I was drawn in by the cover, all black and silver and cool and used my allotted $5 and bought it.
I was riveted immediately and read through it quickly only to come to the cliff hanger style ending. Over the next couple of years I scanned book store shelves hoping to find a second book with no luck. In 1998 internet became a larger part of my life and I even tried searching for it with still no luck.
A year ago I began working at a library and it gives me the opportunity to indulge my reader and I order many books in to read. Imagine my surprise when I searched Bruce Coville and discovered not only was there a second book, but a finished series!
Get to the point lady, you're most likely saying but the background was necessary for the review. I have literally waited decades for this book. Unless it was the literary equivalent of a nasty pooh, I was going to love it. And fortunately, it was the opposite of pooh. It was really quite good. I enjoyed the characters. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that there are many strong woman and girls in it. In a genre ruled by male heroes, I like that this story is about a young girl and her grandmother.
I recommend it to anyone, any age, but keep in mind that this is a children's book and is written as such. If you're looking for a deep literary novel, this isn't it. However if you're looking for a little adventure with a rag-tag group of creatures, you've found it.
I was riveted immediately and read through it quickly only to come to the cliff hanger style ending. Over the next couple of years I scanned book store shelves hoping to find a second book with no luck. In 1998 internet became a larger part of my life and I even tried searching for it with still no luck.
A year ago I began working at a library and it gives me the opportunity to indulge my reader and I order many books in to read. Imagine my surprise when I searched Bruce Coville and discovered not only was there a second book, but a finished series!
Get to the point lady, you're most likely saying but the background was necessary for the review. I have literally waited decades for this book. Unless it was the literary equivalent of a nasty pooh, I was going to love it. And fortunately, it was the opposite of pooh. It was really quite good. I enjoyed the characters. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that there are many strong woman and girls in it. In a genre ruled by male heroes, I like that this story is about a young girl and her grandmother.
I recommend it to anyone, any age, but keep in mind that this is a children's book and is written as such. If you're looking for a deep literary novel, this isn't it. However if you're looking for a little adventure with a rag-tag group of creatures, you've found it.
April 6, 2023
Wow. Just wow. The writing and world-building are deceptively simple and could easily lead a casual or careless reader to dismiss this series, and the Squidgem is completely unnecessary (granted I probably would have loved him when I was ten—I thought the funny accents of the different animals in the Redwall books were just the best), but this is not fluffy unicorn stuff. I wish so badly that I had read this when I was ten, not because I can’t enjoy it now, but because I would have loved this. I would have built Bruce Coville one of my little author shrines in my heart for taking me seriously and believing that I could understand and respond to big emotions and heavy responsibilities and terrible choices. I don’t know if all kids crave that in their stories (page or screen), but some of them must if I did, and I could never find enough books to satiate that craving.
And mediocre poetry in a fantasy novel is a travesty and an offense to the eyes, but the titular (I don’t think I’ve ever used that word before—how satisfying) song of the Wanderer is quite lovely and haunting and elevates the book instead of inducing eye rolls. I do not regard that as a small accomplishment.
If you’re wondering, the full-cast audiobook is quite good. And the books in the series, at least the first two that I’ve read, stand alone quite well, completing their full arc, but I will not be waiting around long to read the next one.
And mediocre poetry in a fantasy novel is a travesty and an offense to the eyes, but the titular (I don’t think I’ve ever used that word before—how satisfying) song of the Wanderer is quite lovely and haunting and elevates the book instead of inducing eye rolls. I do not regard that as a small accomplishment.
If you’re wondering, the full-cast audiobook is quite good. And the books in the series, at least the first two that I’ve read, stand alone quite well, completing their full arc, but I will not be waiting around long to read the next one.
February 25, 2009
I definitely liked the first book better. There were way too many "surprises." Cara basically rediscovers her entire family, including grandparents, over the course of this novel purely by coincidence. In fact, there are a whole lot of coincidences in this novel, too many for it to be truly enjoyable. The narrative jumps around too much and relies on plot tricks.
There are some interesting characters, M'Gama for one could prove to be someone to watch if she is maintained in the next two novels. However, finding out that Cara is half human and half unicorn is not only a strange and somewhat annoying plot twist, but also a little bit creepy, especially for her poor grandfather.
I wouldn't reread or recommend.
There are some interesting characters, M'Gama for one could prove to be someone to watch if she is maintained in the next two novels. However, finding out that Cara is half human and half unicorn is not only a strange and somewhat annoying plot twist, but also a little bit creepy, especially for her poor grandfather.
I wouldn't reread or recommend.
September 21, 2015
This was a reread for me so that I can get caught up to read the last two books for the first time. This one picks right back up where the last one left off and they are immediately off on an adventure. It is a very fast pace book and even though it was a bit better than the first one keeping it at five stars is a no can do. I did originally read this when I was younger which at that time it probably was worth the five stars but with all childhood books they are always better remembered than actual. For a unicorn fantasy book a lot of things just seemed to easy to happen. It was very good and I do plan on finishing the series to finally find out what happens and it does kind of leave off on a cliff hanger.
July 3, 2016
Brings up an interesting and controversial philosophical question of whether it is right to steal a child away from a family to save it from growing up with the beliefs of that family and having ties to that family. Can "shielding" a child from the thoughts and influences of its parents be considered a "right" thing to do? Is that how we solve the deep seeded disagreements of the world, not by breeding out the other side but by raising the offspring to believe as we do; the problem not being in their blood, but in their head? It seems to be in the right direction because people are not born with hatred: hatred is something that is learned, hatred is something that is taught.
June 14, 2009
This book went on forEVER. I wasn't wild about the first book in the series, but my six-year-old daughter loved it and wanted to read this one. It's 330 pages and took us weeks to get through, reading it aloud, even though I skipped some of the interminable journey passages. Coville knows what elementary school girls love, I'll give him that. But all I could think about while we read was the stack of terrific children's books we could have been reading instead.
If my daughter wants to read #3, I hope she'll wait until she can do so independently. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to starting on something better.
If my daughter wants to read #3, I hope she'll wait until she can do so independently. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to starting on something better.
March 13, 2017
My mother and I began reading this series when I was a child, in the late 1990s. We were halted at the end of the second book because the third and fourth were due to be released. I thought about them once in a while over the years, and would occasionally Google whether they had finally been published with no luck. Fast forward to 2017: I discover that both the third and fourth have been published, and I call my mother with the news. We both race to our libraries and check out all four books, and finish them in a week. FANTASTIC. An awesome adventure with so many incredibly unique and surprising characters that are linked together in ways you cannot predict. Great end to a childhood love.
November 29, 2020
This is book two in a series and you need to read them in order as it flows one into the next into the next.
The four stars is for a younger audience. We read this book out loud to our daughter (she's 7) who loved every minute. For older readers some of the twists and turns are a little obvious, but it was still a very enjoyable read.
My daughter's favorite characters are the man character Cara and the squirrel-like Squgim. I think the whole thing is better for the voices my husband does, but I can't offer that to any other reader.
The four stars is for a younger audience. We read this book out loud to our daughter (she's 7) who loved every minute. For older readers some of the twists and turns are a little obvious, but it was still a very enjoyable read.
My daughter's favorite characters are the man character Cara and the squirrel-like Squgim. I think the whole thing is better for the voices my husband does, but I can't offer that to any other reader.
March 9, 2021
I have a story like many, many others when it comes to this 2nd book in Bruce Coville's unicorn series. I was a fantasy-obsessed child in early elementary school, a certain product of American culture of the late 80s, which was a revitalization of unicorns, monsters, dinosaurs and space travel. Oh man, it bit me hard. As an 8-year-old I could not tell you whether I liked vampires or unicorns more. I was devouring Goosebumps just as fast as My Teacher Is An Alien and then, AND THEN, my generation's most loyal author, Bruce Coville, released Into The Land of the Unicorns in late 1994. From my research, I believe it was in the Scholastic Book Fair in most elementary schools in summer/fall 1995. I think I was in 5th grade.
I was stunned by this shiny black-and-blue book with embossed silver lettering and a lovely painting of a white unicorn against the starry sky-- the most mid-90s elementary-school-level unicorn book you could possibly conceive of-- and I made my mother buy it for me and I inhaled it in a day or so. This was Bruce Coville, the Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher guy? The The Monster's Ring guy? The My Teacher Fried My Brains guy? The quintessential little boys' adventure author?
Or so I thought, and I was in 5th grade and didn't know shit because Coville has proven himself many times to be a thoughtful, empathetic and openminded author who proudly states that he loves unicorns just as much as aliens, void-beasts and ray-guns, and who writes young female characters with as much grit and emotion and bravery as anyone could wish, especially a little tiny 5th grade me.
That slim volume of Into The Land of the Unicorns endured much reading and moved houses with us a few times, and when book 2 was not forthcoming the next year or so, I just gave up all hope. After all, it ends on a sort-of-cliffhanger, but I really can't say it was PROMISED that we'd get a 2nd book, except the cover that boldly states THE UNICORN CHRONICLES BOOK ONE. Well, we don't always get what we want, I guess.
I got into Metallica, Pink Floyd, and Stephen King, and left Bruce Coville on my childhood bookshelves to gather dust.
Time passed. I grew up. I got part-time jobs, relationships, a shitty used car, a hat-trick of mood disorders. I got a college degree. I broke off my long-term relationship. I had family trouble, friend trouble, personal trouble. I was a child of the 90s. I moved across the world to escape my family dynamic and stayed a long, long time in another country. I worked multiple jobs. I managed a bar. I got into a newer, better relationship. I read Les Miserables and A Tale of Two Cities and The Lord of the Rings, finally. I got married. I'm in my 30s.
"I wonder what the hell happened to the unicorns," I finally thought. And like so many others, I COULD NOT FUCKING BELIEVE IT when Google offered the information that there are three more books in the series and he finally finished it in 2011! Coville, you sneaky, wonderful bastard!!
But how to get them? They're out of print, and to save you the suspense, Book 4 (The Last Hunt) was only ever released in hardcover library-binding. It is available in audiobook if you like that sort of thing, but I can't stand it. So the only way to acquire all four of these slippery, apparently rare books is to dig around on used book websites, eBay, Amazon used books, or thrift/used book apps. In the end a combination of the above netted me all four books (my original is either lost or still in my parents' house, sadly). I waited until they all came before peeling open Book 2, Song of the Wanderer. After all, I've waited 25 goddamned years to read the sequel.
This book is almost twice the length of the first one and could have been even longer. Reading it as an adult takes a certain restraint, because these actually are elementary-age books and are designed to be read aloud or by a child who can only read slowly, savoring each scene and thinking about each line of dialogue. Blazing through the short chapters as if they're an adult novel is a mistake. Coville uses great economy of phrase and doesn't waste lots of time on description-- nor does he leave us totally in the dark. At my age I really have to admire his craftsmanship. He is writing for 7-12 year olds and he knows precisely how far to go in his vocabulary, while still adding emotion, advice, and a variety of different kinds of characters ("man-bear" beast, wise old lady unicorn, kindly old man, mysterious wise sorceress, stuffy griffin, etc) that will pique a kid's interest in these personalities.
I was impressed by the speed at which he kept the plot moving along while still holding it all together and managing to add a couple of twists at the end. Cara has to get through a fantasy world, making a long and dangerous journey on foot, while still reminiscing and worrying about her grandmother on earth, the duties in unicorn politics, and there's a ticking clock situation because the portal will shift on a certain day. This all keeps us moving forward with few detours or time-wasting scenes.
Are there a few "a little too convenient" plot twists and big reveals? Are there a few too many times where things just work out? Are there quite a LOT of characters who end up being secret princes or princesses of their people? Well, yeah. But also, this is a lovingly-constructed fantasy peeled right out of the books of the Big Boys like Tolkien, polished up, and presented for the approval of upper elementary school kids, and frankly I'm perfectly happy with everyone turning out to be a prince, everyone being alive, and things just working out at the end with tears and hugs. This is fantasy. It's supposed to show us a better version of ourselves than we currently are, and be a model for behavior and inspiration. I take off my hat to Coville who managed to consistently strike that tone between wistful emotion and energetic optimism that's just right for a fantasy book that will probably start a kid off on a lifetime of reading.
I was stunned by this shiny black-and-blue book with embossed silver lettering and a lovely painting of a white unicorn against the starry sky-- the most mid-90s elementary-school-level unicorn book you could possibly conceive of-- and I made my mother buy it for me and I inhaled it in a day or so. This was Bruce Coville, the Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher guy? The The Monster's Ring guy? The My Teacher Fried My Brains guy? The quintessential little boys' adventure author?
Or so I thought, and I was in 5th grade and didn't know shit because Coville has proven himself many times to be a thoughtful, empathetic and openminded author who proudly states that he loves unicorns just as much as aliens, void-beasts and ray-guns, and who writes young female characters with as much grit and emotion and bravery as anyone could wish, especially a little tiny 5th grade me.
That slim volume of Into The Land of the Unicorns endured much reading and moved houses with us a few times, and when book 2 was not forthcoming the next year or so, I just gave up all hope. After all, it ends on a sort-of-cliffhanger, but I really can't say it was PROMISED that we'd get a 2nd book, except the cover that boldly states THE UNICORN CHRONICLES BOOK ONE. Well, we don't always get what we want, I guess.
I got into Metallica, Pink Floyd, and Stephen King, and left Bruce Coville on my childhood bookshelves to gather dust.
Time passed. I grew up. I got part-time jobs, relationships, a shitty used car, a hat-trick of mood disorders. I got a college degree. I broke off my long-term relationship. I had family trouble, friend trouble, personal trouble. I was a child of the 90s. I moved across the world to escape my family dynamic and stayed a long, long time in another country. I worked multiple jobs. I managed a bar. I got into a newer, better relationship. I read Les Miserables and A Tale of Two Cities and The Lord of the Rings, finally. I got married. I'm in my 30s.
"I wonder what the hell happened to the unicorns," I finally thought. And like so many others, I COULD NOT FUCKING BELIEVE IT when Google offered the information that there are three more books in the series and he finally finished it in 2011! Coville, you sneaky, wonderful bastard!!
But how to get them? They're out of print, and to save you the suspense, Book 4 (The Last Hunt) was only ever released in hardcover library-binding. It is available in audiobook if you like that sort of thing, but I can't stand it. So the only way to acquire all four of these slippery, apparently rare books is to dig around on used book websites, eBay, Amazon used books, or thrift/used book apps. In the end a combination of the above netted me all four books (my original is either lost or still in my parents' house, sadly). I waited until they all came before peeling open Book 2, Song of the Wanderer. After all, I've waited 25 goddamned years to read the sequel.
This book is almost twice the length of the first one and could have been even longer. Reading it as an adult takes a certain restraint, because these actually are elementary-age books and are designed to be read aloud or by a child who can only read slowly, savoring each scene and thinking about each line of dialogue. Blazing through the short chapters as if they're an adult novel is a mistake. Coville uses great economy of phrase and doesn't waste lots of time on description-- nor does he leave us totally in the dark. At my age I really have to admire his craftsmanship. He is writing for 7-12 year olds and he knows precisely how far to go in his vocabulary, while still adding emotion, advice, and a variety of different kinds of characters ("man-bear" beast, wise old lady unicorn, kindly old man, mysterious wise sorceress, stuffy griffin, etc) that will pique a kid's interest in these personalities.
I was impressed by the speed at which he kept the plot moving along while still holding it all together and managing to add a couple of twists at the end. Cara has to get through a fantasy world, making a long and dangerous journey on foot, while still reminiscing and worrying about her grandmother on earth, the duties in unicorn politics, and there's a ticking clock situation because the portal will shift on a certain day. This all keeps us moving forward with few detours or time-wasting scenes.
Are there a few "a little too convenient" plot twists and big reveals? Are there a few too many times where things just work out? Are there quite a LOT of characters who end up being secret princes or princesses of their people? Well, yeah. But also, this is a lovingly-constructed fantasy peeled right out of the books of the Big Boys like Tolkien, polished up, and presented for the approval of upper elementary school kids, and frankly I'm perfectly happy with everyone turning out to be a prince, everyone being alive, and things just working out at the end with tears and hugs. This is fantasy. It's supposed to show us a better version of ourselves than we currently are, and be a model for behavior and inspiration. I take off my hat to Coville who managed to consistently strike that tone between wistful emotion and energetic optimism that's just right for a fantasy book that will probably start a kid off on a lifetime of reading.
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