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Unicorns of Balinor #7
Night of the Shifter's Moon
At the next new moon, or shifter's moon, Princess Arianna will lead the battle to reclaim the royal throne and defeat Entia
109 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
10 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Mary Stanton
58 books318 followersMary Stanton was born in Florida and grew up in Japan and Hawaii, after which she returned to the United States and received a B.A. in Philosophy and Literature from the University of Minnesota.
Stanton’s career as a fiction writer began with the publication of her first novel, The Heavenly Horse from the Outermost West, in 1984. A beast fable similar in tone and theme to Watership Down, it was published in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan. The sequel to that novel, Piper at the Gates, appeared in 1989. She sold her first mystery to The Berkley Publishing Group in 1994.
In all, Stanton has written nineteen mystery novels, two adult fantasy novels, eleven novels for middle-grade readers (including the successful series, The Unicorns of Balinor), and three scripts for a television cartoon series, Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders, as well as edited three short story anthologies. Her nonfiction articles on horse care and veterinary medicine have appeared in national and regional magazines.
Stanton's newest series, The Beaufort & Company Mysteries, was launched in December 2008 with the publication of Defending Angels. Set in Savannah, Georgia, the paranormal mysteries chronicle the adventures of Bree Winston-Beaufort, a young lawyer who inherits her uncle's law firm and its deceased clientele, whom she represents in appeals before the Celestial Court.
The second book in the series, Angel's Advocate, was published in June 2009, followed by Avenging Angels in February 2010.
Mary also publishes the Hemlock Falls and Dr. McKenzie mysteries under the name Claudia Bishop. See the Claudia Bishop web site for more information.
Stanton’s interests outside writing have remained consistent over the years. She is a horsewoman, a goat aficionado, an enthusiastic (if inept) gardener, and a fan of gourmet food, but not an expert. She has developed a writing program for teens and middle grade readers that has had considerable success in schools.
Stanton has been a dedicated reader all her life, with particular emphasis on biography, history, veterinary science, medicine, psychology and current affairs. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America.
Stanton’s career as a fiction writer began with the publication of her first novel, The Heavenly Horse from the Outermost West, in 1984. A beast fable similar in tone and theme to Watership Down, it was published in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan. The sequel to that novel, Piper at the Gates, appeared in 1989. She sold her first mystery to The Berkley Publishing Group in 1994.
In all, Stanton has written nineteen mystery novels, two adult fantasy novels, eleven novels for middle-grade readers (including the successful series, The Unicorns of Balinor), and three scripts for a television cartoon series, Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders, as well as edited three short story anthologies. Her nonfiction articles on horse care and veterinary medicine have appeared in national and regional magazines.
Stanton's newest series, The Beaufort & Company Mysteries, was launched in December 2008 with the publication of Defending Angels. Set in Savannah, Georgia, the paranormal mysteries chronicle the adventures of Bree Winston-Beaufort, a young lawyer who inherits her uncle's law firm and its deceased clientele, whom she represents in appeals before the Celestial Court.
The second book in the series, Angel's Advocate, was published in June 2009, followed by Avenging Angels in February 2010.
Mary also publishes the Hemlock Falls and Dr. McKenzie mysteries under the name Claudia Bishop. See the Claudia Bishop web site for more information.
Stanton’s interests outside writing have remained consistent over the years. She is a horsewoman, a goat aficionado, an enthusiastic (if inept) gardener, and a fan of gourmet food, but not an expert. She has developed a writing program for teens and middle grade readers that has had considerable success in schools.
Stanton has been a dedicated reader all her life, with particular emphasis on biography, history, veterinary science, medicine, psychology and current affairs. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 15, 2021
The final battle against the Shifter finally comes in this book.
The battle itself is over a bit quickly, but the main focus is actually one finding the lost Royal Unicorns. Maybe should have saved the battle for the next book and given it more time, but I still enjoyed getting to see the palace, and Ariana settling back into Royal life.
The battle itself is over a bit quickly, but the main focus is actually one finding the lost Royal Unicorns. Maybe should have saved the battle for the next book and given it more time, but I still enjoyed getting to see the palace, and Ariana settling back into Royal life.
October 31, 2017
One of my favorite series, and this was probably my favorite book in this series! Great for young girls getting into chapter books!
July 14, 2018
I knew Arianna would win but I didn't see that ending coming! Nice surprise, and more beautiful imagery as I've come to expect from Mary Stanton.
September 15, 2021
This rating is solely based on childhood nostalgia. Would I love it now? Probably not, but I was in love with horses as a little kid, and this series was a big part of it.
December 2, 2015
This was a very fun little book! It's obviously for younger children, but I enjoyed it all the more for that because it was slightly lighthearted, a quick read, clean and not overly scary, with the good guys and badguys obvious. A delightful change from some of my other reading, especially with so-called "young adult" getting increasingly darker. I should read books for younger readers more often!
I only have two complaints. 1: The author seemed to know nothing about the moon. Getting moon phases wrong is one of those small annoyances that get to me when I read. A note to all fellow-writers: if you mention the moon in your story more than once, please do some research, or at least look at the night sky once in awhile. It's not that hard. 2: One of the characters annoyed me to no end. She was selfish and did nothing but complain, talk meanly to people, and want fancy clothes. She had no redeeming qualities! Why did the the other characters even like her? Then again, this is the 7th book in a series and I've read none of the others, so maybe she was nicer in them and the reader is to take that for granted? Hopefully she was nicer in earlier books, or will repent in a later one... Admittedly, those are small, nit-picky problems, but they just irked me. I doubt anyone else besides me would have a problem with them, though.
Overall, a good quick read, with some neat ideas, gorgeous unicorns and scenery (I loved all the colors and imagery!), and a fun, exciting story. If I see another in the series I will definitely pick it up.
I only have two complaints. 1: The author seemed to know nothing about the moon. Getting moon phases wrong is one of those small annoyances that get to me when I read. A note to all fellow-writers: if you mention the moon in your story more than once, please do some research, or at least look at the night sky once in awhile. It's not that hard. 2: One of the characters annoyed me to no end. She was selfish and did nothing but complain, talk meanly to people, and want fancy clothes. She had no redeeming qualities! Why did the the other characters even like her? Then again, this is the 7th book in a series and I've read none of the others, so maybe she was nicer in them and the reader is to take that for granted? Hopefully she was nicer in earlier books, or will repent in a later one... Admittedly, those are small, nit-picky problems, but they just irked me. I doubt anyone else besides me would have a problem with them, though.
Overall, a good quick read, with some neat ideas, gorgeous unicorns and scenery (I loved all the colors and imagery!), and a fun, exciting story. If I see another in the series I will definitely pick it up.
October 19, 2014
I'm reviewing this series as a whole.
I originally read this series way back in 6th grade. I remember loving it, mostly because I loved both horses and fantasy. Going back as an adult, I see it's still good, but I also see some large issues that my younger self missed - or forgot.
1) Lori. Lori is so effing annoying. Stanton kept teasing me with the possibility that she'd finally go away, only for her to find some way to stick around and complain. Or almost get everyone killed.
2) The ending. Talk about anticlimactic. Stanton introduces a new evil for the last book, one considerably more powerful than the Shifter. Stanton then delivers the dullest ending ever. Practically nothing happens, including wrapping up all those loose ends. We never find out what happened to Ari's family or even Doctor Bones.
3) The writing was painfully repetitive. Each book has to rehash the same description every time we revisit a character. I contemplated making a drinking game where I'd take a shot every time I read about Chase's shiny bronze coat or how pretty the Dreamspeaker is. But then I'd be unable to write this review.
Overall, I'd recommend this to very young girls who love horses. If that was you back in the day, the nostalgia factor of rereading might be worth it.
I originally read this series way back in 6th grade. I remember loving it, mostly because I loved both horses and fantasy. Going back as an adult, I see it's still good, but I also see some large issues that my younger self missed - or forgot.
1) Lori. Lori is so effing annoying. Stanton kept teasing me with the possibility that she'd finally go away, only for her to find some way to stick around and complain. Or almost get everyone killed.
2) The ending. Talk about anticlimactic. Stanton introduces a new evil for the last book, one considerably more powerful than the Shifter. Stanton then delivers the dullest ending ever. Practically nothing happens, including wrapping up all those loose ends. We never find out what happened to Ari's family or even Doctor Bones.
3) The writing was painfully repetitive. Each book has to rehash the same description every time we revisit a character. I contemplated making a drinking game where I'd take a shot every time I read about Chase's shiny bronze coat or how pretty the Dreamspeaker is. But then I'd be unable to write this review.
Overall, I'd recommend this to very young girls who love horses. If that was you back in the day, the nostalgia factor of rereading might be worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2017
Series Overview
The books are easy reading and much easier understanding to beginning readers so they may be a much better choice for younger crowds for whom they are more directed to. Also the author Mary Stanton does have a beautiful way with words when she describes the Celestial Valley while her imagination has done a great job with the forming of her unicorns within the story.
For being the book where the ultimate battle is suppose to occur this was most definitely a let-down of the rest of the books. Basically the actions of all other books led to this while there was maybe one or two things that were actually new to the story.
Lori is the worst and most annoying person in in the world but no one seems to care what she does. She starts off as a spoiled brat, changes and then gets thrown back into the same mold. In my opinion it would have been so much better off if she had become a friend or even better if she had stayed in her own world.
And not to give away the story but the way the Shifter meets his end is just past unbelievable. You dragged me through six and a half books thinking this was going to be the battle of all battles then this? Really Narnia even had a much more wonderful battle scene *smh*.
The books are easy reading and much easier understanding to beginning readers so they may be a much better choice for younger crowds for whom they are more directed to. Also the author Mary Stanton does have a beautiful way with words when she describes the Celestial Valley while her imagination has done a great job with the forming of her unicorns within the story.
For being the book where the ultimate battle is suppose to occur this was most definitely a let-down of the rest of the books. Basically the actions of all other books led to this while there was maybe one or two things that were actually new to the story.
Lori is the worst and most annoying person in in the world but no one seems to care what she does. She starts off as a spoiled brat, changes and then gets thrown back into the same mold. In my opinion it would have been so much better off if she had become a friend or even better if she had stayed in her own world.
And not to give away the story but the way the Shifter meets his end is just past unbelievable. You dragged me through six and a half books thinking this was going to be the battle of all battles then this? Really Narnia even had a much more wonderful battle scene *smh*.
June 21, 2009
Definitely my favourite of the series. The story moves to a new height - Ari has regained her rightful command and is becoming increasingly powerful. Details of her gradual adjustment to palace life and ruling rather could have been dull, but turned out to be extremely interesting; she has numerous disbelievers to win over, everything is in disarray, and more than any other book, we see Ari's maturity and leadership skills. Other characters, like Finn, are also a little at sea at the sudden change of surroundings, so we get to see them out of their comfort zones.
It is particularly interesting to watch how the relationships between the characters and their own maturity has grown over the course of the books. The unicorns are definitely a highlight, too; who wouldn't want to watch a unicorn battle, complete with magical interludes? Ari's journey to ask the unicorns for their help was vividly, beautifully described.
It is particularly interesting to watch how the relationships between the characters and their own maturity has grown over the course of the books. The unicorns are definitely a highlight, too; who wouldn't want to watch a unicorn battle, complete with magical interludes? Ari's journey to ask the unicorns for their help was vividly, beautifully described.
December 13, 2012
There's not much to say about Night of the Shifter's Moon other than this: This is the point at which the Unicorns of Balinor series should have ended.
In Night of the Shifter's Moon, Entia and his massive, powerful army are defeated in less than a page in what is quite possibly the most anti-climatic battle ever. And yet practically nothing is answered. Where is Ari's family, and will they ever be rescued? What's the secret behind Linc's mysterious past, and will he have to go back to Glacier River Farm? What's up with that Kraken guy, and is he supposed to be the new Big Bad? Will Lori ever get home, or is she going to stay in Balinor forever?
Why these questions are still unanswered after the villain has been killed, I have no idea. I can only hope Shadows Over Balinor will focus on wrapping things up. (Though from what I remember of the ending, I don't expect it.)
In Night of the Shifter's Moon, Entia and his massive, powerful army are defeated in less than a page in what is quite possibly the most anti-climatic battle ever. And yet practically nothing is answered. Where is Ari's family, and will they ever be rescued? What's the secret behind Linc's mysterious past, and will he have to go back to Glacier River Farm? What's up with that Kraken guy, and is he supposed to be the new Big Bad? Will Lori ever get home, or is she going to stay in Balinor forever?
Why these questions are still unanswered after the villain has been killed, I have no idea. I can only hope Shadows Over Balinor will focus on wrapping things up. (Though from what I remember of the ending, I don't expect it.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2012
my favorite part was when both evils were not around anymore.the worst part was when there were two evils.the best character was arianna because she was the princess.the worst character was the shifter because he was evil
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2009
The series kept on getting better!
Read
May 18, 2010F STA bk.7
Fantasy
Fantasy
December 11, 2012
My daughter has been enjoying this series from 4yrs. to 5 yrs. old. This book was probably the least interested she & I have been in any of them so far... only one left to read.
December 7, 2019
childhood favorite!
July 4, 2016
great series
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews