The Land Without Unicorns

Unicorns #3

by Vicki Blum

The Fairy Queen has given Arica a task of great importance. She must travel to South Bundelag, where the greedy humans live, in search of a valuable The Book of Fairies. It's a book that contains precious spells, the fairy laws — even the names of all the living fairies. It's up to Arica to bring the book back safely. It doesn't help that her clumsy cousin, Connor, has followed her to Bundelag and the Fairy Queen has allowed him to stay. Or that Arica's horse is really Shadow in disguise. Shadow claims to be repentant. But can Arica really trust him, or will Shadow betray them all? Another exciting installment in The Unicorn series.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Middle Grade, Unicorns, Canada, Juvenile

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2014

About the author

Vicki Blum lives in Calgary, Alberta, where she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren.
As an elementary-school librarian, she loves working with books and doing workshops with young writers.
Her best-selling fantasy books about unicorns, are originally published by Scholastic Canada.

Reviews

[Rosalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have recorded my feelings about this book way sooner. I remember that I liked it, but felt the gap from the first as this was the third. It's been an interesting year, trying read and concentrate, but that's another story.

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third time is a charm! I enjoyed "The Land Without Unicorns" best, despite being less dynamic. It is rare not to recall where I obtain books but I think I scooped these up at a second-hand store. Upon noting that this is a series, I was lucky to find the last one I needed, #4, at a charity. The tremendously creative premise is that Arica discovers her Grandma rules a fairy world, who begins to request her assistance! I think Arica is 9 but these literal fairy tales are suited to young adults.

Skimpier feedback for the preceding two stories reflected my reactions to harsh situations for children. They aren't violent but if one considers the implications, imprisoning a child in hard labour is distressing. I previously had a beef with a narrative style that frustrates me; taking readers out of the loop by announcing things like "That's when I saw it". We don't know what it is! Authors should allow us to meet action as it occurs. I was pleased this habit was gone. Arica's second trip to Bundelag was cumbersome because she slogged through the same dangers. I exclaimed: "Wouldn't she come prepared by now"? She did.

Bundelag doesn't awe us this time but I liked getting straight to the mission: the kingdom's book. The shadow unicorn is welcome to choose a home and there are details about Arica's Grandpa. Arica's stowaway cousin, Connor, is a comforting ally. The end has staggering implications: fairies on Earth might recall who they are! I am more enthralled to continue than ever. It is nice to know Alberta's Vicki Blum is a librarian, who must make her elementary school proud. As usual with Canadian talent, many more people need to hear about her great fantasy environment that becomes more rich!

[Nae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this was like stepping through a door back into my childhood. These books were such a comfort to me and reading them again as an adult is as magical as the stories themselves. I can’t wait to read them to my daughter once she’s a bit older

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This instalment had its ups and downs for me - we got to meet Arica's cousin, Connor, who gets caught up in the fairy world by mistake and is just stoked to be there (mood), and we get further development of Shadow and his feelings towards humans and fairies alike.

I did find South Bundelag a bit bland, being a land without magic, and the task to find the Book of Fairies wasn't particularly interesting even with the 'twist'.

[epizkey]

Read this when I was 9 and just found it again. I vaguely remembered reading an awesome book about unicorns and it took me a week to figure out what one it was. TAH DAH. This is the first in a series I read, and recommend it to young readers!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice book, pretty illustrations.