What do you think?
Rate this book
Unicorns of Balinor #4
By Fire, by Moonlight
Atalanta, the Dreamspeaker of the Celestial herd of unicorns, is concerned--and frightened. Arianna and her unicorn, Sunchaser, have fallen back through the Gap to Glacier River Farm. There has been a great mistake--the Bonded Pair was not supposed to make that journey.
Now the balance of magic has been altered.
Arianna must overcome certain obstacles to reenter Balinor. She must conquer the challenges quickly for Balinor awaits her return--with hopes that she can balance the scales of magic.
Now the balance of magic has been altered.
Arianna must overcome certain obstacles to reenter Balinor. She must conquer the challenges quickly for Balinor awaits her return--with hopes that she can balance the scales of magic.
118 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 1999
About the author
Mary Stanton
60 books320 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 8, 2012
More mediocre fantasy from Stanton. In this one, Ari, Chase, and Lori have to deal with the consequences of taking the Scepter through the Gap. Because apparently that's a Thing That is Very Bad and upsets the balance of magic in the universe. And for some reason it means that Entia gets to issue Ari two challenges.
This is actually the last book in the series that I remember; as a matter of fact, I thought this was the last or second-to-last book in the series. I suppose that really goes to show how much I didn't enjoy the later books, since I've completely forgotten them over the past decade; though I won't be surprised if the memories come back to me as I read further.
Anyway, as I said, this is mediocre fantasy. So far the series is entirely episodic with no obvious plot goal. I'm halfway through the series, and I still have no idea what exactly Ari's goals are. Obviously, she's supposed to be overthrowing the Evil Sorcerer Entia, but there hasn't been a single hint toward how exactly she's supposed to be doing that. The series at the moment seems to be running on a sense of making things up as it goes along; each new book introduces some new, relatively unexplained thing for Ari to fetch, and it feels like the fantasy form of busy work. I'm really hoping a proper goal shows up within the next book or so, or else this is going to be incredibly boring as we get toward the end.
I can't say I recommend this, but nor do I strongly discourage anyone to read it. Young readers with a love of unicorns will likely enjoy it, and it's a good way to introduce the fantasy genre to children unfamiliar with it. Anyone over the age of ten or so, however, will likely find it juvenile and uninteresting.
This is actually the last book in the series that I remember; as a matter of fact, I thought this was the last or second-to-last book in the series. I suppose that really goes to show how much I didn't enjoy the later books, since I've completely forgotten them over the past decade; though I won't be surprised if the memories come back to me as I read further.
Anyway, as I said, this is mediocre fantasy. So far the series is entirely episodic with no obvious plot goal. I'm halfway through the series, and I still have no idea what exactly Ari's goals are. Obviously, she's supposed to be overthrowing the Evil Sorcerer Entia, but there hasn't been a single hint toward how exactly she's supposed to be doing that. The series at the moment seems to be running on a sense of making things up as it goes along; each new book introduces some new, relatively unexplained thing for Ari to fetch, and it feels like the fantasy form of busy work. I'm really hoping a proper goal shows up within the next book or so, or else this is going to be incredibly boring as we get toward the end.
I can't say I recommend this, but nor do I strongly discourage anyone to read it. Young readers with a love of unicorns will likely enjoy it, and it's a good way to introduce the fantasy genre to children unfamiliar with it. Anyone over the age of ten or so, however, will likely find it juvenile and uninteresting.
July 15, 2016
*Review in Progress*
3 1/2 stars
Picks up immediately after book 3. With Dill, Basil and Lincoln having no idea what just happened to their Princess. Ari, Chase and Lori are back "home" at the farm and are trying to find a way back.
I found the scepter to be strange. It has personality but doesn't at other times it seems. We also get a new character intro! Lots of fire in this book (literally). I wish Toby was in this book more and there is a bit of a confusing timeline involving Lincoln that I still am a bit fuzzy on so I had to turn my logic side off and just enjoy.
3 1/2 stars
Picks up immediately after book 3. With Dill, Basil and Lincoln having no idea what just happened to their Princess. Ari, Chase and Lori are back "home" at the farm and are trying to find a way back.
I found the scepter to be strange. It has personality but doesn't at other times it seems. We also get a new character intro! Lots of fire in this book (literally). I wish Toby was in this book more and there is a bit of a confusing timeline involving Lincoln that I still am a bit fuzzy on so I had to turn my logic side off and just enjoy.
April 8, 2021
Ari and Chase accidentally take the Scepter through the Gap to Lori's world, upsetting the balance of magic. As a result they have to face two challenges to restore the balance.
Most of the book shows how the balance being upset affects the world and why it's so important to fix it, the challenges themselves don't take much time, but are very exciting. Ari continues to struggle with what it means to be the Princess leading her to not be sure she can even make friends with Finn, a boy she meets in this book, the implication being that she needs balance in her life, paralleling the story of returning balance to magic. Lori comes back with them willingly this time out of fear of how her father is going to react to her being gone so long, this taken with his treatment of Chase in book one hints that he may be abusive to Lori, but it's not elaborated on, mostly just moving her character development forward.
Most of the book shows how the balance being upset affects the world and why it's so important to fix it, the challenges themselves don't take much time, but are very exciting. Ari continues to struggle with what it means to be the Princess leading her to not be sure she can even make friends with Finn, a boy she meets in this book, the implication being that she needs balance in her life, paralleling the story of returning balance to magic. Lori comes back with them willingly this time out of fear of how her father is going to react to her being gone so long, this taken with his treatment of Chase in book one hints that he may be abusive to Lori, but it's not elaborated on, mostly just moving her character development forward.
May 3, 2018
Another great book in the Unicorns of Balinor series!
Ari and Chase have been thrown through the Gap with the Royal Scepter and must meet 2 challenges to restore the balance of magic. From a race through a fiery pit to a battle with evil merpeople, this girl and her unicorn are in for some serious adventures! Stanton was really clever to add some magical challenges to her series. It spices things up a bit. She continues to do a great job in describing Ari's worries and fears, as it makes her main character relatable to the young girls who read this series.
As usual, my only complaints are Lori (kind of hoped she'd be left on the other side of the Gap), and the predictable nature of the story. You just know that Chase and Ari make it, but Stanton does a good job of building up the suspense in spite of that!
Ari and Chase have been thrown through the Gap with the Royal Scepter and must meet 2 challenges to restore the balance of magic. From a race through a fiery pit to a battle with evil merpeople, this girl and her unicorn are in for some serious adventures! Stanton was really clever to add some magical challenges to her series. It spices things up a bit. She continues to do a great job in describing Ari's worries and fears, as it makes her main character relatable to the young girls who read this series.
As usual, my only complaints are Lori (kind of hoped she'd be left on the other side of the Gap), and the predictable nature of the story. You just know that Chase and Ari make it, but Stanton does a good job of building up the suspense in spite of that!
October 10, 2021
In book 1, Ari and Chase are at Glazier River Farm for 6 months.
In this book, they are there for approximately 15 minutes. During this 15 minutes, 2 weeks pass in Balinor. It is explained that the times are not synced up since "thousands of years ago". This is completely inconsistent. If this was true, why was Ari only gone from Balinor for 6 months in the first book?
Please author, provide some more clarity. You could have said that "due to the imbalance of magic, time has been thrown out of sync" and left it at that.
Other than that, this was a good book and we meet more characters who are loyal to Arianna and the Sunchaser.
In this book, they are there for approximately 15 minutes. During this 15 minutes, 2 weeks pass in Balinor. It is explained that the times are not synced up since "thousands of years ago". This is completely inconsistent. If this was true, why was Ari only gone from Balinor for 6 months in the first book?
Please author, provide some more clarity. You could have said that "due to the imbalance of magic, time has been thrown out of sync" and left it at that.
Other than that, this was a good book and we meet more characters who are loyal to Arianna and the Sunchaser.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2017
Still enjoying this series.
February 7, 2018
This isn't even the kind of terrible I will remember having read a week from now.
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.
February 23, 2024
that was so much buildup for so little about the challenges...tragic
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.
This book in the Balinor series doesn't back-up like some of the previous books so if you are unfamiliar with the previous books then you may end up getting lost. Unlike "Valley of Fear (the third book) there really isn't much of a storyline that comes into this one instead it is basically the same as the first book "Road to Balinor" where it tells just one or two events but takes forever to do so in the process.
What made this book a bit different from the other ones is that Ari isn't the one who can do it all but needs assistance also from others. Instead you find how much she needs to rely on her people even when they annoy her for a new character is introduced that is sure to bring some interest to the rest of the series depending on the length of duration for the character.
The other thing is the Celestial Unicorns don't have much of a place in this story with the exception of the Sunchaser and Tobiano who are secondary characters. Interestingly enough since of the introduced character mentioned above another Celestial unicorn is introduced into the cast as a secondary character who was mentioned before although as of this time he really doesn't have any personality development.
This was most definitely not a book that interested me while her conflict with the mermaids has me thinking. Here she was attacked by merfolk as well as Chase who had sword-tipped tails. There is blood in the water from being cut but magically when they passed the trial no other mention is made of it. With the exception of her shattered legs at the beginning it seems that Arianna is almost invincible no matter what else happens to her body - she just keeps on moving forward, which is very unrealistic.
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.
This book in the Balinor series doesn't back-up like some of the previous books so if you are unfamiliar with the previous books then you may end up getting lost. Unlike "Valley of Fear (the third book) there really isn't much of a storyline that comes into this one instead it is basically the same as the first book "Road to Balinor" where it tells just one or two events but takes forever to do so in the process.
What made this book a bit different from the other ones is that Ari isn't the one who can do it all but needs assistance also from others. Instead you find how much she needs to rely on her people even when they annoy her for a new character is introduced that is sure to bring some interest to the rest of the series depending on the length of duration for the character.
The other thing is the Celestial Unicorns don't have much of a place in this story with the exception of the Sunchaser and Tobiano who are secondary characters. Interestingly enough since of the introduced character mentioned above another Celestial unicorn is introduced into the cast as a secondary character who was mentioned before although as of this time he really doesn't have any personality development.
This was most definitely not a book that interested me while her conflict with the mermaids has me thinking. Here she was attacked by merfolk as well as Chase who had sword-tipped tails. There is blood in the water from being cut but magically when they passed the trial no other mention is made of it. With the exception of her shattered legs at the beginning it seems that Arianna is almost invincible no matter what else happens to her body - she just keeps on moving forward, which is very unrealistic.
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 26, 2014
Bam. Four down, four to go, and this is definitely the best installment in the series so far. And now I'm going to take a short Unicorn intermission and read something for adults for a few days. Ari and Chase have to face the most thrilling leg of their journey up until this point - the trial by fire and the ordeal by moonlight - in order to restore the balance of magic. This book also brings in some new characters like Finn and the Scepter (who is hilarious and just so over everything). As always, there are lots of "well that was easy" moments but hey, when I was 9 I'm pretty sure I was fine with it. The day Arianna, Chase, Finn, and Rednal share at the beach is just the best - a calm before the storm (literally).
June 30, 2013
It was good towards the end cause it finally got to the exciting stuff.
If you catch it in the book it talks about Basil and Dill which is funny because in reality those are spices. When i read that i automatically visualized the spices. It was hard to imagine them to be two foxes.
As in the other book they repeat what the Three levels of magic are.
Some of the obstacles they endured seemed the same as the other books. Talks about finding balance in the world and how to get it by staying determined. Quick and easy book to read if you enjoy stories about Unicorns and Humans.
If you catch it in the book it talks about Basil and Dill which is funny because in reality those are spices. When i read that i automatically visualized the spices. It was hard to imagine them to be two foxes.
As in the other book they repeat what the Three levels of magic are.
Some of the obstacles they endured seemed the same as the other books. Talks about finding balance in the world and how to get it by staying determined. Quick and easy book to read if you enjoy stories about Unicorns and Humans.
May 25, 2015
I received this series of books as a child through some program where they sent me one each month, and I remember enjoying them. I'm currently going through my bookshelves rereading books that I'm ready to pass on to new owners.
The story isn't too original, a magic kingdom at war with a lost princess as the heroine, but there's nothing really wrong with it, especially since it is for children.
There are worse books for a young reader, but there are also better. If you or your child is a horse lover, maybe give this series a try, if not, keep looking.
The story isn't too original, a magic kingdom at war with a lost princess as the heroine, but there's nothing really wrong with it, especially since it is for children.
There are worse books for a young reader, but there are also better. If you or your child is a horse lover, maybe give this series a try, if not, keep looking.
June 21, 2009
A lovely read. Ari finally meets Finn! Sparkes fly, and things get even more interesting, as we meet new characters, and enemies of Ari and Chase become increasingly sinister. The race between Chase and the black was brilliantly exciting, a great touch.
Stanton's descriptions of the moonlit beach and water makes it sound deliciously like a remote, tropical island, and the contrast between the excitement of the race and the serene surroundings of the beach is startingly vivid.
Stanton's descriptions of the moonlit beach and water makes it sound deliciously like a remote, tropical island, and the contrast between the excitement of the race and the serene surroundings of the beach is startingly vivid.
May 29, 2013
Lower rating because it takes Forever before the first challenge gets issued, and then the second one comes and goes in a matter of a few pages. When I read this one as a kid, I didn’t even realize it had happened and I finished the book still waiting for the second challenge.
January 9, 2009
Ooh I remember this one so well one of my faves in the series
March 10, 2009
I LOVE THIS BOOK EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T READ IT!!!!!!!!
Read
May 18, 2010F STA bk.4
Fantasy
Fantasy
August 31, 2012
arianna needed to do a trial by fire and another thing.when she did both that was my favorite part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2014
these books are amazing! i've read them so much i had to get protective sleeves for them! too bad the series ends and no more were written.
July 8, 2016
Still takes me to where princess Ari and Chase are. One of my favorite books, haven't read it in a long time but still could feel as if i was there.
July 3, 2016
great series
July 8, 2016
Biased because I read the series first as a 10-year-old. I was feeling nostalgic.
December 9, 2019
one of my absolute favorites growing up
March 22, 2016
It was okay. Would have loved it when I was 8.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews