Back of Book: 

She was magical, beautiful beyond belief—and completely alone...

The unicorn had lived since before memory in a forest where death could touch nothing. Maidens who caught a glimpse of her glory were blessed by enchantment they would never forget. But outside her wondrous realm, dark whispers and rumours carried a message she could not ignore: "Unicorns are gone from the world."

Aided by a bumbling magician and an indomitable spinster, she set out to learn the truth. but she feared even her immortal wisdom meant nothing in a world where a mad king's curse and terror incarnate lived only to stalk the last unicorn to her doom...

Book Number: One 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟

In a fashion that combines the lyrical writing of "The Secret Garden" and the satirical musings of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," "The Last Unicorn" is a timeless tale that delivers messages of mortality, greed, and the human condition. 

"The Last Unicorn" is the tale of the final unicorn and her epic quest to solve the mystery of what happened to the rest of her brethren. With the help of an eccentric magician named Schmendrick and a woman by the name of Molly Grue, the unicorn journeys beyond her wood to confront the calamity that is driving her species to the brink of extinction. 

I've watched "The Last Unicorn" movie a long time ago, so I barely remember any of it. This made reading this book kinda feel like a fever dream, because I kept getting bits and flashes of the movie as I progressed through it. With the little I remember, the movie is quite freaky and I'm not really sure if the vibes between the book and movie are really all that similar. 

This book heavily reminded me of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Between the nonsensical poems, the crazy cat, and the talking skull that ripped apart the human concept of time, I felt like I was reading a book by Carroll's cousin or something. I think satirical fantasies are really interesting, and I found these elements to be one of the most gripping parts of this book. The breaking of the fourth wall was also quite comical; the characters were aware that they were in a fairy tale, and Schmedrick often used this knowledge to his advantage. 

The beginning of this book is quite wandering, so I found it a tad bit boring. The story eventually picks up though, and I found the end to be rather enjoyable. 

Overall, "The Last Unicorn" was a decent fantasy read with an older feel to it (I mean, it was published in 1968). I wouldn't quite compare it to Tolkien, but I would liken it to Lewis Carroll and Frances Hodgson Burnett. The characters aren't anything special (though the name Schmendrick is quite unique), the world is pretty average for a fantasy setting, and the unicorn herself isn't all that likable. However, the writing style is pleasant to palate and the elements of satire and the fun poems still made it an enjoyable read. For avid fantasy readers like myself, "The Last Unicorn" is one of those books to check off the bucket list and I finally did it, so that's a win in my book. 

Back of Book: 

One brand-new, long-awaited novella, and one Hugo and Nebula award winning novella, both featuring characters from the beloved classic The Last Unicorn, from renowned fantasy writer Peter S. Beagle.

Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn is one of fantasy's most beloved classics, with millions of copies in print worldwide.

Beagle's long-awaited return to the world of that novel came with "Two Hearts," which garnered Hugo and Nebula awards in 2006, and continued the stories of the unicorn, Molly Grue, and Schmendrick the Magician from the point of view of a young girl named Sooz.

In this volume, Peter S. Beagle also presents for the first time "Sooz," a novella that sees the narrator of "Two Hearts," all grown up and with a perilous journey ahead of her, in a tender meditation on love, loss, and finding your true self.

Book Number: Two (Last Book) 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy 

Review: ?