Killer Unicorns series

[Jez]

That's ok. But fantasy is much more exciting and interesting (and uplifting) than non-fiction generally is! I have a book on the crusades I've been meaning to read, but some fiction book keeps getting in the way. What are you non-fiction books?

I love reading about the mother because she's pretty zany and determined, but I think having her for a mother would suck for the same reasons.

I adore Bonegrinder! I don't care about what she did, I don't think I could not cuddle her. She's so happy and bouncy.

[Moony]

Memoirs and Civil War stuff mostly at the moment. I did not need to be distracted by things like killer unicorns.

It's hard to believe something so cute and cuddly is a man-eater. I'll be wanting to read this book again instead of finishing the series that I'm currently on! I used to draw unicorns a lot and after I read this book it kind of made me want to start doing that pastime again.

[Jez]

I finished this book a little while ago and I really liked it! I've since bought it, even.

There were a lot of things about the book I really liked that also set it apart from a lot of books in the teen fantasy genre. The author's writing style was humorous without being distracting or annoyingly "quirky" or false. I loved her descriptions about the unicorns. They really made the unicorns come alive and painted a thorough picture of them. This was especially nice given the different breeds of unicorns and how they were each distinct and well described. It made things more interesting having different breeds, too.

I also liked the way the author wrote about the topic of sex and virginity. I don't think I've ever read a mainstream YA book that was so frank and accepting of remaining a virgin. The way the girls talked about their reasons were believable and didn't feel preachy at all. I wonder how those discussions come across to teens.

And, yes, Giovanni's friend? Huge creep.

[Moony]

Did you ever get the feeling that some of the unicorns were more developed as characters than some of the unicorn hunters? Sometimes I had to remind myself who all was the hunters again! Alexander the Great's unicorn is awesome!

Some of the criticisms that I read in reviews about the book was the author's obsession with sex. But now that you've read it, it's an important part of a unicorn hunter's creed to remain virgin, or else their calves look might tasty to their pet zhi. I didn't mind it.

Although I don't much care for Giovanni himself either. I mean, he considered the prospect that the old man would pay them to do such a thing. Yes, he didn't go through with it, but to even consider it...! The plot summary for the second book mentions how Astrid is second-guessing her feelings for Giovanni. I hope she dumps him.

[Jez]

Did you ever get the feeling that some of the unicorns were more developed as characters than some of the unicorn hunters? Sometimes I had to remind myself who all was the hunters again! Alexander the Great's unicorn is awesome!

Yes! There were a few unicorn hunters who were nothing more than names, and some of those unicorns (Bonegrinder, Bucephalus) were really fuller characters. He was awesome, and I'm glad he did what he did at the end and didn't listen to Astrid.

Some of the criticisms that I read in reviews about the book was the author's obsession with sex. But now that you've read it, it's an important part of a unicorn hunter's creed to remain virgin, or else their calves look might tasty to their pet zhi. I didn't mind it.

I didn't mind it. I think it was also so different from the usual type of sex-talk in teen books. In that sense, it might have been talked a lot about in this book, but it isn't talked about that much at all in YA books in general. And, as you said, it is an integral point of the plot, so it's not like it's just thrown in.

Although I don't much care for Giovanni himself either. I mean, he considered the prospect that the old man would pay them to do such a thing. Yes, he didn't go through with it, but to even consider it...! The plot summary for the second book mentions how Astrid is second-guessing her feelings for Giovanni. I hope she dumps him.

No, I didn't love him. He's nice and all, but yeah, he's not a saint. His character was kind of a contradiction. First he's all "Oh no, I don't want to have sex unless I love you" and then he's considering doing the deed for cash?? His whole drinking storyline was annoying, too. I hope she does dump him.