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Killer Unicorns #1
Rampant
Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns...
Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. Fortunately, they've been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.
Or not.
Astrid had always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend—thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to the prom—Astrid finds herself headed to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.
However, at the cloisters all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from the crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to—perhaps most dangerously of all—her growing attraction to a handsome art student ... an attraction that could jeopardize everything.
Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. Fortunately, they've been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.
Or not.
Astrid had always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend—thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to the prom—Astrid finds herself headed to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.
However, at the cloisters all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from the crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to—perhaps most dangerously of all—her growing attraction to a handsome art student ... an attraction that could jeopardize everything.
402 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2009
84 people are currently reading
8,828 people want to read
About the author
Diana Peterfreund
49Ìýbooks2,049ÌýfollowersDiana Peterfreund has been a costume designer, a cover model, and a food critic. Her travels have taken her from the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the underground caverns of New Zealand (and as far as she’s concerned, she’s just getting started). Diana graduated from Yale University in 2001 with dual degrees in Literature and Geology, which her family claimed would only come in handy if she wrote books about rocks. Now, this Florida girl lives with her husband and their puppy in Washington D.C., and writes books that rock
Her first novel, Secret Society Girl (2006), was described as “witty and endearing� by The New York Observer and was placed on the New York Public LIbrary’s 2007 Books for the Teen Age list. The follow-up, Under the Rose (2007) was deemed “impossible to put down� by Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist called the third book, Rites of Spring (Break) (2008), “an ideal summer read.� The final book in the series, Tap & Gown, will be released in 2009. All titles are available from Bantam Dell.
She also contributed to the non-fiction anthologies, Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, edited by Jennifer O’Connell (Pocket Books, 2007), The World of the Golden Compass, edited by Scott Westerfeld (BenBella Books, 2007), and Through the Wardrobe, edited by Herbie Brennan (BenBella Books, 2008).
Her first young adult novel, Rampant, an adventure fantasy about killer unicorns and the virgin descendents of Alexander the Great who hunt them, will be released by Harper Collins in 2009. When she’s not writing, Diana volunteers at the National Zoo, adds movies she has no intention of watching to her Netflix queue, and plays with her puppy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Rio.
Her first novel, Secret Society Girl (2006), was described as “witty and endearing� by The New York Observer and was placed on the New York Public LIbrary’s 2007 Books for the Teen Age list. The follow-up, Under the Rose (2007) was deemed “impossible to put down� by Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist called the third book, Rites of Spring (Break) (2008), “an ideal summer read.� The final book in the series, Tap & Gown, will be released in 2009. All titles are available from Bantam Dell.
She also contributed to the non-fiction anthologies, Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, edited by Jennifer O’Connell (Pocket Books, 2007), The World of the Golden Compass, edited by Scott Westerfeld (BenBella Books, 2007), and Through the Wardrobe, edited by Herbie Brennan (BenBella Books, 2008).
Her first young adult novel, Rampant, an adventure fantasy about killer unicorns and the virgin descendents of Alexander the Great who hunt them, will be released by Harper Collins in 2009. When she’s not writing, Diana volunteers at the National Zoo, adds movies she has no intention of watching to her Netflix queue, and plays with her puppy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Rio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 950 reviews
Shelved as 'to-not-read-ever'
May 10, 2011This book is about giant killer unicorns. GIANT KILLER UNICORNS!
So why does it have a generic picture of a teen girl on the cover? Is it really and truly the case that today's generic teen girl will only read a book with a generic teen girl on the front, because that is how she identifies that it is indeed a book for generic teen girls to read?
Because if I was a generic teen girl and I wanted to read a book about GIANT KILLER UNICORNS, I wouldn't look for the one with me on the cover. I would look for this:
Or this:
Or this!
This is probably why I am not a generic teen girl.
So why does it have a generic picture of a teen girl on the cover? Is it really and truly the case that today's generic teen girl will only read a book with a generic teen girl on the front, because that is how she identifies that it is indeed a book for generic teen girls to read?
Because if I was a generic teen girl and I wanted to read a book about GIANT KILLER UNICORNS, I wouldn't look for the one with me on the cover. I would look for this:
Or this:
Or this!
This is probably why I am not a generic teen girl.
June 14, 2019
why only three stars??
i really don't know. this book should have been an out-of the-park home run. killer unicorns and the teenage virgins who hunt them. i mean - criminy.
because i love unicorns - i am a girl and it is in our contract. and i love the inverting of the traditional, which is not a girl-thing, but a me-thing. and the author earned my respect when she called joel a hipster, but not in an author-goes-rabid-over-a-goodreads-review (you know who you are), but in a cheeky, funny way that made me want to throw popcorn at her.
so i was totally predisposed to loving this book.
but i only liked it.
and i keep trying to pinpoint the reasons why it didn't blow my dress up.
premise = fantastic
characters = human, likable, intriguing, realistic responses to unusual situations, sufficient badassery with weapons
storyline = several things i didn't see coming, one of which was a dastardly rubbing-hands-together evil mastermindy plot.
pacing = medium. enough space for character development, but plenty of action scenes with unicorn attacks and some sexy times (for virgins, these girls do get around)
so what's my flipping problem?? i don't know. and it is infuriating me trying to think about what it was lacking to throw this into the five- or even four-star realm. maybe the secondary characters were not developed enough?? because there are a lot of these little unicorn-hunters, but only about three of them get any significant backstory. the rest are kind of glossed. and it's true - i love a big split-narrative epic tale. but that is such a minor quibble, isn't it? am i just getting cranky in my old age?
while i keep thinking - please enjoy this tableau i just made:
okay, if i am spending my sunday morning making and photographing unicorn-crime scenes instead of doing my homework, i am being a very bad student...
i am definitely going to read the second part of this, and as many more as she writes. we will see if this tepid reaction is just temporary insanity, or a sign that i have aged out of unicorn fantasy novels.
i really don't know. this book should have been an out-of the-park home run. killer unicorns and the teenage virgins who hunt them. i mean - criminy.
because i love unicorns - i am a girl and it is in our contract. and i love the inverting of the traditional, which is not a girl-thing, but a me-thing. and the author earned my respect when she called joel a hipster, but not in an author-goes-rabid-over-a-goodreads-review (you know who you are), but in a cheeky, funny way that made me want to throw popcorn at her.
so i was totally predisposed to loving this book.
but i only liked it.
and i keep trying to pinpoint the reasons why it didn't blow my dress up.
premise = fantastic
characters = human, likable, intriguing, realistic responses to unusual situations, sufficient badassery with weapons
storyline = several things i didn't see coming, one of which was a dastardly rubbing-hands-together evil mastermindy plot.
pacing = medium. enough space for character development, but plenty of action scenes with unicorn attacks and some sexy times (for virgins, these girls do get around)
so what's my flipping problem?? i don't know. and it is infuriating me trying to think about what it was lacking to throw this into the five- or even four-star realm. maybe the secondary characters were not developed enough?? because there are a lot of these little unicorn-hunters, but only about three of them get any significant backstory. the rest are kind of glossed. and it's true - i love a big split-narrative epic tale. but that is such a minor quibble, isn't it? am i just getting cranky in my old age?
while i keep thinking - please enjoy this tableau i just made:
okay, if i am spending my sunday morning making and photographing unicorn-crime scenes instead of doing my homework, i am being a very bad student...
i am definitely going to read the second part of this, and as many more as she writes. we will see if this tepid reaction is just temporary insanity, or a sign that i have aged out of unicorn fantasy novels.
October 19, 2021
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This is my second time reading RAMPANT and I think I actually enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time. RAMPANT is the story of a girl named Astrid Llewellyn who is descended from unicorn hunters. Her mother, Lilith, is obsessed with them and has been teaching Astrid her whole life that unicorns are evil. Astrid thinks her mom is pretty crazy until she's out in the woods with her boyfriend and the two of them are attacked by a rogue unicorn.
After that, Astrid is sent off to a special unicorn killing school in Italy that's masquerading as a religious order. Once there, she meets other girls who are descended from other lines of unicorn hunters. They even have a pet "house unicorn" named Bonegrinder. Astrid learns that there are different kinds of unicorns, ranging from the small, goat-like zhi to the Persian karkadann, which is the size of a tank. All unicorn hunters are apparently descendants of Alexander the Great, who rode to victory on a giant karkadann of his own: Bucephalus.
I loved this book so much. Sometimes the mythology didn't really make sense but most of it, I was like, okay, I can roll with this. I loved the Italian setting and the bond between the girls. This is surprisingly diverse for the time it came out: one of the girls is Black and the other is Singaporean Chinese. The way they rally together and train together and fight and protect one another was so well done. You just don't really see many YA fantasy books these days with that kind of theme of sisterhood, which made me enjoy this book even more than I did.
I think if you enjoyed VAMPIRE ACADEMY, you'll enjoy this book. It has the same themes: kick-butt girls, dangerous paranormal threats, secret magic schools abroad, forbidden love. I'm honestly surprised the reviews for RAMPANT are so mixed because it feels like the type of book so many readers are begging for. The only things that I think would put people off are a few throwaway remarks about sexuality that don't age well, rape (off-page, but the victim is gaslighted by an authority figure, although the main character stands up for her and a pretty interesting and heartfelt discussion follows), and the fact that the heroine is kind of spoiled and bratty (but in an age-appropriate way, tbh).
I LOVED this book and can't wait to read book two. Thank goodness I already own it!
4.5 stars
April 8, 2012
This book had such great plot potential!
A group of teen virgin huntresses in a secret Italian society hunting poison-horned, razor-toothed, merciless unicorns. What could be cooler than this!? Unfortunately, the book did not live up to its potential. As in, it wasn't a good book AT ALL. Unicorn hunting came second to lame romance. There seems to be more paragraphs talking about the huntresses� nonexistent sex lives than their actual training for killing unicorns. The main characters of the book are supposed to be determined virgins on a mission. The point is gotten across that they can't have sex yet. In fact, it is repeated over and over(and over and over) again and the reader is forced to listen to a side plot that goes nowhere!
The characters also bothered me. Lilith didn't seem like a realistic mom. Cory was bipolar and vicious even considering her situation. And Astrid was just annoying; complaining about hunting unicorns and not doing anything to change it. She didn't seem like the cool, strong female at all. She was just whiney and insecure.
A group of teen virgin huntresses in a secret Italian society hunting poison-horned, razor-toothed, merciless unicorns. What could be cooler than this!? Unfortunately, the book did not live up to its potential. As in, it wasn't a good book AT ALL. Unicorn hunting came second to lame romance. There seems to be more paragraphs talking about the huntresses� nonexistent sex lives than their actual training for killing unicorns. The main characters of the book are supposed to be determined virgins on a mission. The point is gotten across that they can't have sex yet. In fact, it is repeated over and over(and over and over) again and the reader is forced to listen to a side plot that goes nowhere!
The characters also bothered me. Lilith didn't seem like a realistic mom. Cory was bipolar and vicious even considering her situation. And Astrid was just annoying; complaining about hunting unicorns and not doing anything to change it. She didn't seem like the cool, strong female at all. She was just whiney and insecure.
December 4, 2013
I'll start by saying this is a fantastic premise. It's about as high-concept as you get: "Killer unicorns!" The only basic book idea to hook you in fewer words is Jurassic Park, with, "Dinosaurs!"
The author also set up a lot of compelling dilemnas for Astrid, the protagonist. She has the special powers of a unicorn hunter thanks to being a female virgin descended from Alexander the Great. No one knows why for sure, but that's the way it goes. But does she want to hunt unicorns? If so, she has to remain a virgin, which means no sex with new boyfriend Giovanni. If not, sex might be her only way out - as long as she is a hunter, deadly unicorns will seek her out wherever she goes. Meanwhile, personality conflicts arise among the girls who are training their hunter powers, and the motives of their corporate sponsor remain shadowy and ominous.
Unfortunately, I had a number of empathy issues with Astrid. I tend to immerse myself immediately in stories, then experience frustrating jolts of disbelief when the protagonist's feelings or actions don't make sense to me. That happened frequently in Rampant.
First of all, I seriously disliked Phil, the cousin that Astrid basically idolizes. Phil is bossy, condescending, self-important, sometimes ditzy, and - like many characters in the book - inconsistent. Her main inconsistency doubles as one of her most annoying ideas: that unicorns are an endangered species that should be stewarded, not hunted. I'm a huge animal lover and an avid supporter of conservation, but the unicorns of Rampant are, at best, monsters that must be physically restrained from killing any human that isn't a hunter. That isn't natural carnivore behavior - even a unicorn that's happily playing, eating, etc. will stop immediately to gore any normal human it smells. And that's the "tame" unicorns! The non-tame unicorns actively pursue hunters and even taunt them by threatening those the hunters love. Forgive me if I have little patience with Phil's vague, unstudied desire to protect them. It especially bothers me given that it only surfaces when she's actually sent to hunt unicorns - after coming to Rome to train as a hunter, all on the trainers'/sponsors' dime. And yet, with no apparent turnaround point, she eventually just stops talking about stewarding unicorns and becomes just fine with the slaughter.
Also, did Cory really just second a nomination for Phil to take CORY'S UNCLE'S job? When Neil isn't even there?
So I didn't like Phil, and I couldn't sympathize with Astrid's thoughts about her. "Phil had a point." "Phil was right." No, Phil is being ridiculous and tiresome, and I didn't think it was very subtle how the author went, "Look, Phil's cool, athletic, popular, good-looking, and loved by boys, even though she doesn't have sex!"
On the subject of characters I had issues with: Bonegrinder and Lilith. Both are horrible psychos who should have been put down. Astrid's tolerance of - even affection for - both, distances me from her. Yes, I know she's your mother, but she mocked your cousin about having been raped and then threatened to sic a deadly monster on her! And Bonegrinder is a monster. I know she's useful for the "trial of the zhi," but how can you cuddle and pet a creature that you know would immediately turn on you if you ever stopped being a virgin, and that, given the chance, would murder your family and friends? (Also, pre-rape Phil trains Bonegrinder to balance meatballs on her nose. What? You're telling me this thing not only can be trained, but can be trained to resist meat? And you're not trying to train it not to kill people? The trial of the zhi would still work - she'll still only bow to hunters. WHY WOULDN'T YOU TRAIN HER TO BE LESS DANGEROUS?)
Also, isn't it pretty messed up that Neil names the critter that was a part of his sister's murder? Not a baby the killer unicorn parents left at home - an actual part of the murder? And names her "Bonegrinder"?
Oh, and that passage where Astrid ponders that this is what her mom would look like "if she really was crazy"? News flash, Astrid: your mom is more Fruit Loops than Toucan Sam. It doesn't matter that she was right about unicorns existing. She's still illogical, cruel, and dangerous.
To be clear here: what bothers me isn't the existence/behavior of these characters. It's Astrid's failure to recognize and condemn their behaviors in her mind. After all, it's her mind that's basically our guide through the story, and I want to sympathize with her.
I was also bothered by Astrid's mood swings and motivation irregularities. She's getting angry . . . ooh, she's mad now . . . and now she's not. She's really upset . . . and she gives up. I'm always frustrated by characters who work up a real, righteous anger, then just sigh and shrug and don't really do anything. After all, when they have real reason to get angry, I'm sort of vicariously angry, too, and I want to see them make something happen! At the very least, I want them to hold onto it, because then it's like a friend who feels the same way you do. That, incidentally, is part of the reason I like so much - I get to be in the Umbridge-hating club with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. When it came to anger, this book kept faking me out.
Also, Astrid flip-flops a lot on whether she wants to be a hunter. I understand that she's conflicted, but at any given moment, the reader doesn't necessarily know whether she's in, "Must seduce boy on second date to get out of hunting!" mode, or, "Let's train with weapons and make the best of it" mode. Personally, if I were so desperate to get out of this that I tried to seduce a guy I'd just met, begged my mom to let me come home, and hoped my absentee dad would sue for custody so that I could leave, then my day-to-day behavior would not be, "ho-hum, train with the girls." I would lock myself in my room, run away, sabotage training sessions, basically make it clear that I would never be a hunter and they shouldn't even want me around. After all, we have no evidence that Neil or Cory would force Astrid to stay against her will - she never even properly asks them to let her leave! I can't respect a character who doesn't put real effort into a goal that important.
There was also some dialogue that didn't ring true to me (American teens saying "I couldn't bear to" and "Thank heavens"?), and many of the cooler scenes were a lot like the end of Buffy Season Seven, but not as good. Plus, the end felt rushed, and many of the little twists - Cory's mother's death at the horns of unicorns, the karkadann that turns out to be Bucephalus - were obvious to me.
I did like Neil, Cory, Valerija, and Giovanni pretty well, and there were some cool scenes and even some nice writing. Giovanni surprised me a couple of times with his depth and/or subplots, and I like the subtlety of Brandt's "running away" (though it's almost ruined by being mentioned one or two too many times). Overall, though, I feel no need to look for any sequels that the author may write.
The author also set up a lot of compelling dilemnas for Astrid, the protagonist. She has the special powers of a unicorn hunter thanks to being a female virgin descended from Alexander the Great. No one knows why for sure, but that's the way it goes. But does she want to hunt unicorns? If so, she has to remain a virgin, which means no sex with new boyfriend Giovanni. If not, sex might be her only way out - as long as she is a hunter, deadly unicorns will seek her out wherever she goes. Meanwhile, personality conflicts arise among the girls who are training their hunter powers, and the motives of their corporate sponsor remain shadowy and ominous.
Unfortunately, I had a number of empathy issues with Astrid. I tend to immerse myself immediately in stories, then experience frustrating jolts of disbelief when the protagonist's feelings or actions don't make sense to me. That happened frequently in Rampant.
First of all, I seriously disliked Phil, the cousin that Astrid basically idolizes. Phil is bossy, condescending, self-important, sometimes ditzy, and - like many characters in the book - inconsistent. Her main inconsistency doubles as one of her most annoying ideas: that unicorns are an endangered species that should be stewarded, not hunted. I'm a huge animal lover and an avid supporter of conservation, but the unicorns of Rampant are, at best, monsters that must be physically restrained from killing any human that isn't a hunter. That isn't natural carnivore behavior - even a unicorn that's happily playing, eating, etc. will stop immediately to gore any normal human it smells. And that's the "tame" unicorns! The non-tame unicorns actively pursue hunters and even taunt them by threatening those the hunters love. Forgive me if I have little patience with Phil's vague, unstudied desire to protect them. It especially bothers me given that it only surfaces when she's actually sent to hunt unicorns - after coming to Rome to train as a hunter, all on the trainers'/sponsors' dime. And yet, with no apparent turnaround point, she eventually just stops talking about stewarding unicorns and becomes just fine with the slaughter.
Also, did Cory really just second a nomination for Phil to take CORY'S UNCLE'S job? When Neil isn't even there?
So I didn't like Phil, and I couldn't sympathize with Astrid's thoughts about her. "Phil had a point." "Phil was right." No, Phil is being ridiculous and tiresome, and I didn't think it was very subtle how the author went, "Look, Phil's cool, athletic, popular, good-looking, and loved by boys, even though she doesn't have sex!"
On the subject of characters I had issues with: Bonegrinder and Lilith. Both are horrible psychos who should have been put down. Astrid's tolerance of - even affection for - both, distances me from her. Yes, I know she's your mother, but she mocked your cousin about having been raped and then threatened to sic a deadly monster on her! And Bonegrinder is a monster. I know she's useful for the "trial of the zhi," but how can you cuddle and pet a creature that you know would immediately turn on you if you ever stopped being a virgin, and that, given the chance, would murder your family and friends? (Also, pre-rape Phil trains Bonegrinder to balance meatballs on her nose. What? You're telling me this thing not only can be trained, but can be trained to resist meat? And you're not trying to train it not to kill people? The trial of the zhi would still work - she'll still only bow to hunters. WHY WOULDN'T YOU TRAIN HER TO BE LESS DANGEROUS?)
Also, isn't it pretty messed up that Neil names the critter that was a part of his sister's murder? Not a baby the killer unicorn parents left at home - an actual part of the murder? And names her "Bonegrinder"?
Oh, and that passage where Astrid ponders that this is what her mom would look like "if she really was crazy"? News flash, Astrid: your mom is more Fruit Loops than Toucan Sam. It doesn't matter that she was right about unicorns existing. She's still illogical, cruel, and dangerous.
To be clear here: what bothers me isn't the existence/behavior of these characters. It's Astrid's failure to recognize and condemn their behaviors in her mind. After all, it's her mind that's basically our guide through the story, and I want to sympathize with her.
I was also bothered by Astrid's mood swings and motivation irregularities. She's getting angry . . . ooh, she's mad now . . . and now she's not. She's really upset . . . and she gives up. I'm always frustrated by characters who work up a real, righteous anger, then just sigh and shrug and don't really do anything. After all, when they have real reason to get angry, I'm sort of vicariously angry, too, and I want to see them make something happen! At the very least, I want them to hold onto it, because then it's like a friend who feels the same way you do. That, incidentally, is part of the reason I like so much - I get to be in the Umbridge-hating club with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. When it came to anger, this book kept faking me out.
Also, Astrid flip-flops a lot on whether she wants to be a hunter. I understand that she's conflicted, but at any given moment, the reader doesn't necessarily know whether she's in, "Must seduce boy on second date to get out of hunting!" mode, or, "Let's train with weapons and make the best of it" mode. Personally, if I were so desperate to get out of this that I tried to seduce a guy I'd just met, begged my mom to let me come home, and hoped my absentee dad would sue for custody so that I could leave, then my day-to-day behavior would not be, "ho-hum, train with the girls." I would lock myself in my room, run away, sabotage training sessions, basically make it clear that I would never be a hunter and they shouldn't even want me around. After all, we have no evidence that Neil or Cory would force Astrid to stay against her will - she never even properly asks them to let her leave! I can't respect a character who doesn't put real effort into a goal that important.
There was also some dialogue that didn't ring true to me (American teens saying "I couldn't bear to" and "Thank heavens"?), and many of the cooler scenes were a lot like the end of Buffy Season Seven, but not as good. Plus, the end felt rushed, and many of the little twists - Cory's mother's death at the horns of unicorns, the karkadann that turns out to be Bucephalus - were obvious to me.
I did like Neil, Cory, Valerija, and Giovanni pretty well, and there were some cool scenes and even some nice writing. Giovanni surprised me a couple of times with his depth and/or subplots, and I like the subtlety of Brandt's "running away" (though it's almost ruined by being mentioned one or two too many times). Overall, though, I feel no need to look for any sequels that the author may write.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2009
Yes, I know, this book sounds ridiculous. And yes, the premise is far-fetched: killer unicorns, and girls with a warrior heritage getting trained to fight them? Oh, please! But wait, underneath all that is a really good story about girls and sexuality, and the choices they make, plus kickass unicorn battle scenes! What could be better?
Here's the way too long plot summary: Astrid always thought her mom was nuts, with all her talk about being descended from a long line of killer unicorn hunters. First of all, killer unicorns? Really? And then, the whole warrior thing, when Astrid isn't particularly athletic.
But as these "killer unicorns" are supposedly extinct, Astrid is free to worry about her love life instead. Should she go ahead and have sex with Brandt, and guarantee that he'll take her to prom? According to her friend Kaitlyn, being a virgin hampers your upward mobility, anyways, not that Astrid believes that. Her cousin Philippa, who's in college, is popular, and Astrid knows she's still a virgin...
Making out with Brandt in the backyard, all these thoughts suddenly become way more relevant when a little unicorn comes out of the woods and attacks Brandt. Gee, Astrid's mom WAS right, and hey, unicorn horns are poisonous! Luckily, Astrid's mom has an old bottle with a residue of an ancient cure that saves Brandt from dying right then and there. But Astrid's life will never be the same.
It turns out the unicorns aren't extinct - they've just been hiding all this time. And now, the girls like Astrid who are descended from the warrior lines are being called to Italy to train and fight the reemerging menace. Secretly, of course. So, no boyfriend (not that he wants anything to do with Astrid anymore), no prom, no normal high school life for Astrid anymore.
Off she goes to Italy, to a sketchy setup in an old convent. She's really interested in the medical research on unicorns, but no, she's from a warrior line, so she is shooed away from the labs. And here's the thing - around actual unicorns, her physical abilities are phenomenal. She can run incredibly fast, shoot a crossbow with amazing accuracy, and she can sense unicorns with some sort of special unicorn-sensing ability.
Cool, right? But she's troubled by the treatment the little house unicorn gets. Unicorns are incredibly hard to kill, even the little zhi, who is about the size of a goat. Zhis don't attack virgins, in fact, they love them, but they are dangerous to everyone else. There's a zhi that lives in the convent, that the researchers have used for testing, and that Cornelia, another warrior girl, hates and abuses - because it killed her family. Still, seeing another creature being mistreated gives Astrid misgivings, and that leads her to wonder just what is being researched in the labs, and for what purpose.
She's much happier when her cousin Philippa shows up to join the group. Philippa takes her out to enjoy the nightlife, and meet boys. Which they do, and Astrid realizes she can get out of this whole warrior gig if she can just lose her virginity. But, should she use someone like that? And does she WANT to?
I was surprised at the mix of unicorn fantasy and serious issues regarding girls' sexuality in this book. I know, I know, it's hard to take a story about killer unicorns seriously, but once you get past the premise, this is a well-written story with both exciting fantasy/unicorn battle scenes, and serious discussions about sex, and even rape. When one of the girls does lose her virginity, and not willingly, it is shocking. In fact, if you're sick of Twilight angst over soul mates and forever love, this compares favorably as a realistic look at girls and sex.
I recommend this book to teens ages 12 and up. And to anyone else who doesn't mind being seen reading it. :)
Here's the way too long plot summary: Astrid always thought her mom was nuts, with all her talk about being descended from a long line of killer unicorn hunters. First of all, killer unicorns? Really? And then, the whole warrior thing, when Astrid isn't particularly athletic.
But as these "killer unicorns" are supposedly extinct, Astrid is free to worry about her love life instead. Should she go ahead and have sex with Brandt, and guarantee that he'll take her to prom? According to her friend Kaitlyn, being a virgin hampers your upward mobility, anyways, not that Astrid believes that. Her cousin Philippa, who's in college, is popular, and Astrid knows she's still a virgin...
Making out with Brandt in the backyard, all these thoughts suddenly become way more relevant when a little unicorn comes out of the woods and attacks Brandt. Gee, Astrid's mom WAS right, and hey, unicorn horns are poisonous! Luckily, Astrid's mom has an old bottle with a residue of an ancient cure that saves Brandt from dying right then and there. But Astrid's life will never be the same.
It turns out the unicorns aren't extinct - they've just been hiding all this time. And now, the girls like Astrid who are descended from the warrior lines are being called to Italy to train and fight the reemerging menace. Secretly, of course. So, no boyfriend (not that he wants anything to do with Astrid anymore), no prom, no normal high school life for Astrid anymore.
Off she goes to Italy, to a sketchy setup in an old convent. She's really interested in the medical research on unicorns, but no, she's from a warrior line, so she is shooed away from the labs. And here's the thing - around actual unicorns, her physical abilities are phenomenal. She can run incredibly fast, shoot a crossbow with amazing accuracy, and she can sense unicorns with some sort of special unicorn-sensing ability.
Cool, right? But she's troubled by the treatment the little house unicorn gets. Unicorns are incredibly hard to kill, even the little zhi, who is about the size of a goat. Zhis don't attack virgins, in fact, they love them, but they are dangerous to everyone else. There's a zhi that lives in the convent, that the researchers have used for testing, and that Cornelia, another warrior girl, hates and abuses - because it killed her family. Still, seeing another creature being mistreated gives Astrid misgivings, and that leads her to wonder just what is being researched in the labs, and for what purpose.
She's much happier when her cousin Philippa shows up to join the group. Philippa takes her out to enjoy the nightlife, and meet boys. Which they do, and Astrid realizes she can get out of this whole warrior gig if she can just lose her virginity. But, should she use someone like that? And does she WANT to?
I was surprised at the mix of unicorn fantasy and serious issues regarding girls' sexuality in this book. I know, I know, it's hard to take a story about killer unicorns seriously, but once you get past the premise, this is a well-written story with both exciting fantasy/unicorn battle scenes, and serious discussions about sex, and even rape. When one of the girls does lose her virginity, and not willingly, it is shocking. In fact, if you're sick of Twilight angst over soul mates and forever love, this compares favorably as a realistic look at girls and sex.
I recommend this book to teens ages 12 and up. And to anyone else who doesn't mind being seen reading it. :)
January 5, 2010
Ok, when I picked up Rampant after reading Jackie’s excellent review I thought the book would be a slight, breezy fantasy about sex and unicorns. I was way wrong but not disappointed. Listen, I’m not a regular reader of novels aimed at teenage girls, but this book was pretty damn good, so good that I spent most of a Sunday afternoon and evening tearing through the last hundred and fifty pages because I wanted to know what happened at the end.
So what’s the deal with Rampant? Astrid wants to be a normal teenager but that’s a difficult task when a unicorn bounds from the forest and impales your boyfriend in the middle of a make-out session. Her mother is thrilled not because she didn’t like the boyfriend, necessarily, but because she’s long believed Astrid comes from a long line of glorious unicorn hunters. One catch…the hunters retain their superhuman unicorn-fighting skills only as long as they remain virgins. Astrid, now a social pariah (the high school boys have decided to avoid her after one of their own takes a horn in the gut in Astrid’s vicinity), departs for Italy to join a group of girls gathering to hone their abilities and stop the unicorn “emergence�.
(Slight sidebar—Diana Peterfreund might as well send the Buffy The Vampire Slayer writing team royalty checks for borrowing the “potentials� concept from the show’s last season. At least she thanks Buffy in the afterword.)
The novel, told mostly from Astrid’s perspective, provides a window into young women talking about everything from rape to sex (even anal!) to relationships. And while I’m not a teenage girl and can’t ascertain authenticity the conflicts and conversations rang true enough to make me forget I was reading a book about killer unicorns and focus on the complexity of the girls� lives. Peterfreund strengthens her case by creating genuine and multifaceted characters. Parents don’t always look out for their daughter’s best interests, loyalties shift, and teenage girls are, ahem, not always kind to each other.
This book isn’t perfect. Astrid is way more articulate than I’d expect from a teenage girl. The last fifty pages felt occasionally rushed. But the novel didn’t suck or read like fluff; Rampant is a decent book. I’d read the inevitable sequel.
I’d also encourage my eleven year old son to read this book, maybe in a year or two, when I’ve had time to prepare for any potential anal sex questions or whatever. Seriously, though, I’d like my son to read this book so he gets a sense of how to respect girls without wussing out and/or going the doormat route. The young women in Rampant would be good for him. I could deal with them hanging around the house. And anyone who dismisses YA novels aimed at teenage girls as vacuous would be well-served by a couple hours with Rampant. You’ll never think of unicorns or teenage girls the same way again.
So what’s the deal with Rampant? Astrid wants to be a normal teenager but that’s a difficult task when a unicorn bounds from the forest and impales your boyfriend in the middle of a make-out session. Her mother is thrilled not because she didn’t like the boyfriend, necessarily, but because she’s long believed Astrid comes from a long line of glorious unicorn hunters. One catch…the hunters retain their superhuman unicorn-fighting skills only as long as they remain virgins. Astrid, now a social pariah (the high school boys have decided to avoid her after one of their own takes a horn in the gut in Astrid’s vicinity), departs for Italy to join a group of girls gathering to hone their abilities and stop the unicorn “emergence�.
(Slight sidebar—Diana Peterfreund might as well send the Buffy The Vampire Slayer writing team royalty checks for borrowing the “potentials� concept from the show’s last season. At least she thanks Buffy in the afterword.)
The novel, told mostly from Astrid’s perspective, provides a window into young women talking about everything from rape to sex (even anal!) to relationships. And while I’m not a teenage girl and can’t ascertain authenticity the conflicts and conversations rang true enough to make me forget I was reading a book about killer unicorns and focus on the complexity of the girls� lives. Peterfreund strengthens her case by creating genuine and multifaceted characters. Parents don’t always look out for their daughter’s best interests, loyalties shift, and teenage girls are, ahem, not always kind to each other.
This book isn’t perfect. Astrid is way more articulate than I’d expect from a teenage girl. The last fifty pages felt occasionally rushed. But the novel didn’t suck or read like fluff; Rampant is a decent book. I’d read the inevitable sequel.
I’d also encourage my eleven year old son to read this book, maybe in a year or two, when I’ve had time to prepare for any potential anal sex questions or whatever. Seriously, though, I’d like my son to read this book so he gets a sense of how to respect girls without wussing out and/or going the doormat route. The young women in Rampant would be good for him. I could deal with them hanging around the house. And anyone who dismisses YA novels aimed at teenage girls as vacuous would be well-served by a couple hours with Rampant. You’ll never think of unicorns or teenage girls the same way again.
November 29, 2012
Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com
Think unicorns are sweet, magical horse-like creatures? Think again!
Diana Peterfreund introduces us to the darker side of unicorns in her novel RAMPANT. Peterfreund's unicorns are man-eating monsters. They can kill with poison in their horns, rip someone apart with their sharp teeth, and some have breath that can kill (literally).
Astrid Llewelyn has listened to her mother's crazy stories about extinct man-eating unicorns for years. Astrid never believed the stories - until the night her date ended up on the sharp end of a unicorn horn.
Now her mother's stories are all too real, and Astrid is sent to Rome for training as a unicorn hunter. She meets a group of other virgin descendants of Alexander the Great, and together they train to hunt and kill unicorns.
But Astrid doesn't want to be a hunter.
I enjoyed reading RAMPANT. There was some sexual tension and scenes of passion, as well as discussion about sex, but not enough to bother me. I'd recommend this for older readers 14+ because of the content.
I enjoyed the characters and learning about their lives. Astrid is strong, and yet vulnerable enough to make her real. The characters and their lives will run Rampant in my memory for a long time, but in a good way.
Think unicorns are sweet, magical horse-like creatures? Think again!
Diana Peterfreund introduces us to the darker side of unicorns in her novel RAMPANT. Peterfreund's unicorns are man-eating monsters. They can kill with poison in their horns, rip someone apart with their sharp teeth, and some have breath that can kill (literally).
Astrid Llewelyn has listened to her mother's crazy stories about extinct man-eating unicorns for years. Astrid never believed the stories - until the night her date ended up on the sharp end of a unicorn horn.
Now her mother's stories are all too real, and Astrid is sent to Rome for training as a unicorn hunter. She meets a group of other virgin descendants of Alexander the Great, and together they train to hunt and kill unicorns.
But Astrid doesn't want to be a hunter.
I enjoyed reading RAMPANT. There was some sexual tension and scenes of passion, as well as discussion about sex, but not enough to bother me. I'd recommend this for older readers 14+ because of the content.
I enjoyed the characters and learning about their lives. Astrid is strong, and yet vulnerable enough to make her real. The characters and their lives will run Rampant in my memory for a long time, but in a good way.
September 6, 2009
Let me start by saying that I know I am not the target audience for this book. However, I work in the Kid's section of a bookstore and wind up reading quite a few YA book, either out of genuine interest or just to keep up with what's on the shelves. So I also know that target audience or not, there is good, solid YA fiction out there. And I wanted Rampant to join those ranks. I really did. Killer unicorns? Yes please. However I have to say that for me, this book was the literary equivalent of a Peep. Much like popping one of those marshmallow monstrosities in your mouth seems like such a good idea at the time only to leave you with the taste of regret and sugary grit in between your molars, Rampant grew more distasteful the further into it I got. Plot points were raised but not resolved, character development for much of the cast was spotty and while Astrid was a strong and likable character, the book failed to gel into a solid and enjoyable experience for me. I wanted to like it, and I honestly found it an engaging read, especially the first half. Unfortunately, as I neared the conclusion and after I finished the book, it just didn't hold up for me. People looking for a strong piece of YA fantasy with strong female characters would be better advised to read Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games or Kristin Cashore's Graceling, in my opinion.
Now I feel bad. I really wanted this to be better and wound up feeling let down.
Now I feel bad. I really wanted this to be better and wound up feeling let down.
Read
January 11, 2016One of my favorite books of the year. Astrid is the new Buffy! I couldn't put this book down!!
March 22, 2010
I had plagued this book with prejudices from the beginning, so I probably had no business reading it in the first place, which makes this an unfair rating and review. I actually wanted to stop reading it at least ten times and never pick it up again, that would be a first for me, because I can never not finish a book even if I hated it.
I hated this book with a fiery passion. If it wasn't for my policy of finishing a book I started, then I never would have gotten to the ending, which redeemed itself some what... Enough to at least give it two stars.
**below may contain minor spoilers**
I used to have a large unicorn collection growing up and loved them. So why would I read a book about killer unicorns, I can't really say actually. Maybe I was just interested or curious to where this story would go... what I wasn't prepared for was not being okay with the concept of monster unicorns, or the detailed account of the killing and torturing of them. I love animals and I know unicorns are mythical creatures, but I wasn't okay with the message of animal torture in this book. Point one.
I thought the first half of this book was too preachy. I thought I landed myself in some really bad after-school special about teen sex. All books have some message the author wants to get across and I'm okay with that, as long as, the message doesn't dominate the story and is done subtly. What I don't like is for a message to be beaten over my head about a thousand times. Point two.
I also wasn't a big fan of most of the characters. Even if I'm not completely liking a book, if it has likable characters than I'll finish it and probably even like it. But this one, oh man, the characters were way too whiny and self-absorbed. I just couldn't stand them, to be perfectly honest. Point three.
I know, I'm being way too critical here and overly dramatic... Sorry!
I hated this book with a fiery passion. If it wasn't for my policy of finishing a book I started, then I never would have gotten to the ending, which redeemed itself some what... Enough to at least give it two stars.
**below may contain minor spoilers**
I used to have a large unicorn collection growing up and loved them. So why would I read a book about killer unicorns, I can't really say actually. Maybe I was just interested or curious to where this story would go... what I wasn't prepared for was not being okay with the concept of monster unicorns, or the detailed account of the killing and torturing of them. I love animals and I know unicorns are mythical creatures, but I wasn't okay with the message of animal torture in this book. Point one.
I thought the first half of this book was too preachy. I thought I landed myself in some really bad after-school special about teen sex. All books have some message the author wants to get across and I'm okay with that, as long as, the message doesn't dominate the story and is done subtly. What I don't like is for a message to be beaten over my head about a thousand times. Point two.
I also wasn't a big fan of most of the characters. Even if I'm not completely liking a book, if it has likable characters than I'll finish it and probably even like it. But this one, oh man, the characters were way too whiny and self-absorbed. I just couldn't stand them, to be perfectly honest. Point three.
I know, I'm being way too critical here and overly dramatic... Sorry!
December 27, 2009
I hate unicorns. That is, I hate them now. As a kid, I cross-stitched two unicorn pictures to hang on my bedroom wall.
Thankfully, that phase passed pretty quickly. I grew tired of the sickly sweetness associated with unicorns, and I moved on.
This book confirmed for me that unicorn worshipping is a very bad idea. When an animal has horns, what are they for? They're usually a weapon used when fighting another animal. They're not some kind of beauty accessory.
Peterfreund's ideas about unicorns make sense, and she's created a fantastic world to set them in. As I read the book, I couldn't help but be amazed by how fully detailed it was--and how carefully Peterfreund thought out the implications of her ideas.
I hope there's another book in this series, and I can't wait to recommend it to other people either sick of sweetness or needing some serious girl power.
Thankfully, that phase passed pretty quickly. I grew tired of the sickly sweetness associated with unicorns, and I moved on.
This book confirmed for me that unicorn worshipping is a very bad idea. When an animal has horns, what are they for? They're usually a weapon used when fighting another animal. They're not some kind of beauty accessory.
Peterfreund's ideas about unicorns make sense, and she's created a fantastic world to set them in. As I read the book, I couldn't help but be amazed by how fully detailed it was--and how carefully Peterfreund thought out the implications of her ideas.
I hope there's another book in this series, and I can't wait to recommend it to other people either sick of sweetness or needing some serious girl power.
January 8, 2011
Astrid just wants to grow up to be a doctor, but her mother's obsession with unicorns has made it difficult. And then, in the midst of a steamy make-out session with her boyfriend, a unicorn attacks. Turns out her mother was right all along--unicorns do exist, and they're out for our blood. So instead of prom and graduation, Astrid gets shipped to Italy to a unicorn-hunting training camp.
I love the twist of turning unicorns into bloodthirsty predators, and the unicorn-hunters are enjoyably bad-ass. Astrid herself has a detailed, unique, and realistic personality--her interest in medicine doesn't feel tacked-on, and she reads like a confused but smart teen-aged girl. I loved her thoughts on the artificiality and arbitrariness of virginity (yes, unicorn hunters have to be virgins) and her use of observation and methodological testing of theories feels like exactly what I want someone in her position to do. Her fellow unicorn-hunters are a diverse bunch, from a model to a street kid, and they have personalities and minor plots of their own. And the setting is pleasantly macabre: the training is held in a ruined convent filled with furniture made from unicorn bones.
Unfortunately, the story falls apart a bit near the end: the climax feels too short and unsatisfying, and several plot threads remain unexplained. But overall, I liked this book and its heroine.
The opening chapters can be read here:
I love the twist of turning unicorns into bloodthirsty predators, and the unicorn-hunters are enjoyably bad-ass. Astrid herself has a detailed, unique, and realistic personality--her interest in medicine doesn't feel tacked-on, and she reads like a confused but smart teen-aged girl. I loved her thoughts on the artificiality and arbitrariness of virginity (yes, unicorn hunters have to be virgins) and her use of observation and methodological testing of theories feels like exactly what I want someone in her position to do. Her fellow unicorn-hunters are a diverse bunch, from a model to a street kid, and they have personalities and minor plots of their own. And the setting is pleasantly macabre: the training is held in a ruined convent filled with furniture made from unicorn bones.
Unfortunately, the story falls apart a bit near the end: the climax feels too short and unsatisfying, and several plot threads remain unexplained. But overall, I liked this book and its heroine.
The opening chapters can be read here:
November 24, 2014
A high 3.5, for sure. I mean, hellooo?! KILLER UNICORNS! Fluffy unicorns that will feast on your flesh and stab your chest without a moment's hesitation. Plus, it's full of girl power. Who doesn't like girlpower?
August 5, 2009
It's no secret I'm a huge fan of 's work. I discovered her series last year and, in what seemed like no time at all, it quickly became one of my very favorites. --the concluding volume of the quartet--came out in May and it was a perfectly splendid end to a series I know I'm going to re-read over and over again. The problem was I went into a bit of mourning when it was over. What saved me was knowing a brand new Peterfreund book was coming out just three short months away. The first in a new series (and a YA one at that!). I let the knowledge of the rather wonderfully titled RAMPANT carry me through as I said my goodbyes (for now) to Amy and the whole Eli gang.
Astrid Llewelyn's mother is nuts. For the whole of her sixteen years she has raised Astrid to believe in unicorns. And not just any old sparkly, frolicking through a meadow unicorns. Rabid, slavering, gore you through the chest and tear the skin from your bones sort of unicorns. According to her mother, Astrid is descended from a long line of virgin unicorn hunters stretching all the way back to Alexander the Great. Unfortunately, no one alive has ever actually seen one so Astrid does her best to ignore her mother's ravings and get on with her life. She's got a boyfriend who's gonna take her to the prom. That's normal. He's putting a rather large amount of pressure on her to go further than she'd like, but, hey, that's normal too, right? What is not normal is when a unicorn shows up mid-makeout, gores said boyfriend, and Astrid is shipped off to a unicorn hunter training facility in a crumbling convent in Rome. As she learns more and more about the history of unicorns and their hunters, Astrid comes to find that:
1. There are other girls out there like her.
2. Italian boys are hot.
3. The story her mother told her was not entirely accurate. There is, in fact, quite a bit more to it.
I always enjoy 's light touch with words. Her prose never feels heavy or disjointed and it's a pleasure letting your mind and eyes absorb the words as they come. RAMPANT's strengths lie in its worldbuilding--the seamless way in which unicorn lore and legends come together to form the fabric of reality in Astrid's world. They are horrifying creatures and, when Astrid encounters the more nightmarish ones, the aftereffects include vomiting and agony. I absolutely loved how heinous they were. Along with that, the history of the hunters is layered and complex and extremely well done. I occasionally find myself tiring during exposition that covers thousands of years, wanting to get back to the action of the main plot. Not so here. The stories and bloodlines and incarnations were so varied and interesting that all I wanted was more. My reaction to Astrid herself was harder to peg. I think I was expecting her to be "different" from the very beginning, whereas all she wanted was to be normal. She spent a lot of time and energy toward that end, preferring to worry over whether or not the art major hottie likes her and not over which weapon to wield against poisonous, flesh-eating monsters. It's not that I blame her. In fact, in a book that is not short, I still found myself wishing for more time between Astrid and her fellow hunters-in-training, between Astrid and her hottie. Against the background of thousands of years, those sections felt brief. I understand why. I just wanted to get to know them all better so that I could care about them more fervently. Over time Astrid's training and abilities begin to change her in such a way that it's my opinion she'll never see this side of normal again. I, of course, take delight in that prospect and am looking forward to the sequel with much anticipation. RAMPANT is due out the 25th of this month.
Astrid Llewelyn's mother is nuts. For the whole of her sixteen years she has raised Astrid to believe in unicorns. And not just any old sparkly, frolicking through a meadow unicorns. Rabid, slavering, gore you through the chest and tear the skin from your bones sort of unicorns. According to her mother, Astrid is descended from a long line of virgin unicorn hunters stretching all the way back to Alexander the Great. Unfortunately, no one alive has ever actually seen one so Astrid does her best to ignore her mother's ravings and get on with her life. She's got a boyfriend who's gonna take her to the prom. That's normal. He's putting a rather large amount of pressure on her to go further than she'd like, but, hey, that's normal too, right? What is not normal is when a unicorn shows up mid-makeout, gores said boyfriend, and Astrid is shipped off to a unicorn hunter training facility in a crumbling convent in Rome. As she learns more and more about the history of unicorns and their hunters, Astrid comes to find that:
1. There are other girls out there like her.
2. Italian boys are hot.
3. The story her mother told her was not entirely accurate. There is, in fact, quite a bit more to it.
I always enjoy 's light touch with words. Her prose never feels heavy or disjointed and it's a pleasure letting your mind and eyes absorb the words as they come. RAMPANT's strengths lie in its worldbuilding--the seamless way in which unicorn lore and legends come together to form the fabric of reality in Astrid's world. They are horrifying creatures and, when Astrid encounters the more nightmarish ones, the aftereffects include vomiting and agony. I absolutely loved how heinous they were. Along with that, the history of the hunters is layered and complex and extremely well done. I occasionally find myself tiring during exposition that covers thousands of years, wanting to get back to the action of the main plot. Not so here. The stories and bloodlines and incarnations were so varied and interesting that all I wanted was more. My reaction to Astrid herself was harder to peg. I think I was expecting her to be "different" from the very beginning, whereas all she wanted was to be normal. She spent a lot of time and energy toward that end, preferring to worry over whether or not the art major hottie likes her and not over which weapon to wield against poisonous, flesh-eating monsters. It's not that I blame her. In fact, in a book that is not short, I still found myself wishing for more time between Astrid and her fellow hunters-in-training, between Astrid and her hottie. Against the background of thousands of years, those sections felt brief. I understand why. I just wanted to get to know them all better so that I could care about them more fervently. Over time Astrid's training and abilities begin to change her in such a way that it's my opinion she'll never see this side of normal again. I, of course, take delight in that prospect and am looking forward to the sequel with much anticipation. RAMPANT is due out the 25th of this month.
July 25, 2010
When I heard of this book, "killer unicorns" I thought it would be pretty cool. I mean, all I've ever heard about unicorns was how beautiful and pure they were, and in this book they are nothing but sharp teeth and poisonous horns.
While the overall idea is unique, I just couldn't get a good picture of a razor sharp tooth, man eating unicorn in my head. I tried, I really did, but I just kept thinking of a beautiful white, not dangerous, horse with a horn. ;)
Astrid was a good character. She grew a lot throughout the book, and I felt sorry for her at times, since she wanted nothing to do with killing unicorns the rest of her life. She was tough though, and I like reading about girls who kick butt!
I liked Giovanni, he was a great character with morals! I mean, Astrid basically threw herself on him and he stopped her. About that. The entire book Astrid basically complained of being a virgin. She's only 16. There is nothing wrong with that, and she really complained about it a lot, to the point I got tired of hearing it. The other girls too.
Astrid's mom was a whole other ballgame. She was crazy. That's all there is to it.
Anyway, the book had it's ups and downs for me. I really did like it, but there were a lot of things I didn't like. The writing was good, most of the characters were interesting enough, but the emphasis on why it was so hard to be a virgin at 14, 16, whatever young age you want to name drove me crazy.
I'll probably pick up the second book, just to see where the story is headed, but I'm not in any hurry.
While the overall idea is unique, I just couldn't get a good picture of a razor sharp tooth, man eating unicorn in my head. I tried, I really did, but I just kept thinking of a beautiful white, not dangerous, horse with a horn. ;)
Astrid was a good character. She grew a lot throughout the book, and I felt sorry for her at times, since she wanted nothing to do with killing unicorns the rest of her life. She was tough though, and I like reading about girls who kick butt!
I liked Giovanni, he was a great character with morals! I mean, Astrid basically threw herself on him and he stopped her. About that. The entire book Astrid basically complained of being a virgin. She's only 16. There is nothing wrong with that, and she really complained about it a lot, to the point I got tired of hearing it. The other girls too.
Astrid's mom was a whole other ballgame. She was crazy. That's all there is to it.
Anyway, the book had it's ups and downs for me. I really did like it, but there were a lot of things I didn't like. The writing was good, most of the characters were interesting enough, but the emphasis on why it was so hard to be a virgin at 14, 16, whatever young age you want to name drove me crazy.
I'll probably pick up the second book, just to see where the story is headed, but I'm not in any hurry.
April 16, 2011
Fantastically surprised to how much I enjoyed this read!
1) The mythology. Oh my! I'm kind of a nerd, so when this book get's deep into the myth of the unicorns I was utterly fascinated. Yes, I'm going to be looking into these myths right after this.
2) Kick-ass females. There's a lot of them here that wield swords, bows, axes, daggers, and cross bows.
3) Unicorns are scary. No one likes to be cut, not even by a unicorn. I love how I'm terrified by them now.
4) Romance?!! WHAAA?? Some great gush-worthy 'romance'. Surprised to read about it. Just enough of it too :)
5) Themes. So many great themes.
1) The mythology. Oh my! I'm kind of a nerd, so when this book get's deep into the myth of the unicorns I was utterly fascinated. Yes, I'm going to be looking into these myths right after this.
2) Kick-ass females. There's a lot of them here that wield swords, bows, axes, daggers, and cross bows.
3) Unicorns are scary. No one likes to be cut, not even by a unicorn. I love how I'm terrified by them now.
4) Romance?!! WHAAA?? Some great gush-worthy 'romance'. Surprised to read about it. Just enough of it too :)
5) Themes. So many great themes.
November 25, 2009
When Astrid's potential prom date is attacked by a unicorn not only is her social life in ruins but she realizes her eccentric mother has been right all along. Unicorns do exist and they aren't the happy my little ponies we have been led to believe they are. They are man eating monsters with poisonous sharp horns. Astrid's mother said they were extinct and is ecstatic to find out they aren't. Now Astrid can embrace her heritage as a unicorn hunter.
Astrid is a descendent of a famous unicorn hunter and is shipped off to Italy to train with other hunters. She is living in the ancient cloisters that smell to her of blood, is decorated with unicorns bones and houses a throne that is painful to even get near. Astrid soon learns how big, scary and deadly the unicorns are. However her biggest threat is her attraction to a handsome art student. To remain a hunter she must retain her virtue and he is very tempting...
I recently read the authors (Diana Peterfreund) Secret Society girl series and loved them. Having enjoyed those so much I was super excited to read Rampant. I wasn't disappointed. I loved this book. We dove right into the story and the plot moved along quickly so we were able to get just the right amount of history for Astrid to start her training. Astrid was a great character. She had her flaws and her strengths and seemed very real. I loved her complex relationship with her mom, Phil, her love interest and her fellow hunters. I read a fight scene right before bed and had nightmares about getting chased by an angry unicorn. Her fight/actions scenes were that real to me. I was very sad when I read the last page. I wanted the story to keep going. I was very happy to learn there is a sequel coming out. Yeah!
Astrid is a descendent of a famous unicorn hunter and is shipped off to Italy to train with other hunters. She is living in the ancient cloisters that smell to her of blood, is decorated with unicorns bones and houses a throne that is painful to even get near. Astrid soon learns how big, scary and deadly the unicorns are. However her biggest threat is her attraction to a handsome art student. To remain a hunter she must retain her virtue and he is very tempting...
I recently read the authors (Diana Peterfreund) Secret Society girl series and loved them. Having enjoyed those so much I was super excited to read Rampant. I wasn't disappointed. I loved this book. We dove right into the story and the plot moved along quickly so we were able to get just the right amount of history for Astrid to start her training. Astrid was a great character. She had her flaws and her strengths and seemed very real. I loved her complex relationship with her mom, Phil, her love interest and her fellow hunters. I read a fight scene right before bed and had nightmares about getting chased by an angry unicorn. Her fight/actions scenes were that real to me. I was very sad when I read the last page. I wanted the story to keep going. I was very happy to learn there is a sequel coming out. Yeah!
July 24, 2010
Go Team Unicorn!
I've always been a fan of unicorns, stemming from the days of Legend starring Tom Cruise. I guess I've always been mesmerized by magic and mythology. Things that aren't "real" but.... could they be?
Rampant has revived my love for mythology and magic, in the form of flesh eating unicorns!
Plain and simply this book was awesome. Unique and action-packed, not to mention a little bit of romance thrown in... I could not put it down. I loved the mythology surrounding this novel and wonder what type of research Peterfreund conducted and how much she made up. It was absolutely fascinating, either way.
I loved the character of Astrid and I loved watching her personal growth throughout the novel. She is a very likable character and I can imagine readers won't have a hard time relating to her. She's imperfect, but admirable, courageous and just a normal girl tying to figure out who she is. I love strong female characters.
Rampant was definitely unpredictable, I had no idea what was going to happen next! There is so much more going on in this story that I initially anticipated.
I can't wait to read the next novel in the series, Ascendant, and continue to read Peterfreunds novels!
I've always been a fan of unicorns, stemming from the days of Legend starring Tom Cruise. I guess I've always been mesmerized by magic and mythology. Things that aren't "real" but.... could they be?
Rampant has revived my love for mythology and magic, in the form of flesh eating unicorns!
Plain and simply this book was awesome. Unique and action-packed, not to mention a little bit of romance thrown in... I could not put it down. I loved the mythology surrounding this novel and wonder what type of research Peterfreund conducted and how much she made up. It was absolutely fascinating, either way.
I loved the character of Astrid and I loved watching her personal growth throughout the novel. She is a very likable character and I can imagine readers won't have a hard time relating to her. She's imperfect, but admirable, courageous and just a normal girl tying to figure out who she is. I love strong female characters.
Rampant was definitely unpredictable, I had no idea what was going to happen next! There is so much more going on in this story that I initially anticipated.
I can't wait to read the next novel in the series, Ascendant, and continue to read Peterfreunds novels!
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September 28, 2009In dealing with a book tied to the unicorn legends--yanno, the legends that deal with women, particularly virgins, being the only ones that can associate with unicorns--a bit of feminism was bound to come up. What I loved about RAMPANT, though, was that the feminism was presented as an argument--not as an authority. In other words, the girls discuss their roles as women, and as virgins, in society--but it's a discussion, not a rant or a speech. There is no feminism preaching, yet throughout the book, there are common sense solutions to women's rights. For example, one of the hunters, Phil[lippa:], believes strongly that while being a hunter requires her to be a virgin, she should still have the right to date, and whether she gives up her virginity is her own choice, not the choice of the Cloisters or the other hunters.
The key here is that there's nothing preachy. It's a part of the story--a logical part of the story--and is presented in a clear, logical way. I never once felt like I was being haggled with a feminist agenda, yet by the end of the book, I felt a lot of issues on femininity were expounded on, and I left thoughtful on the subject.
The key here is that there's nothing preachy. It's a part of the story--a logical part of the story--and is presented in a clear, logical way. I never once felt like I was being haggled with a feminist agenda, yet by the end of the book, I felt a lot of issues on femininity were expounded on, and I left thoughtful on the subject.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 9, 2015Killer unicorns. I know, right? What a premise! I kept thinking there's got to be some catch, that these beautiful creatures aren't really killers, not really. You're going to have to read the book and find out for yourself what the true story is. Really, really like the backstory of Alexander the Great here. That was so cool. And I love the bonus unicorn info in the back of the paperback.
March 19, 2013
First Impressions:
Thea: WOW. I had a vague idea of what to expect from Ms. Peterfreund having read her excellent Secret Society Girl � but Rampant completely blew me out of the water. Or knocked me off my horse. Or unicorn. Whatever analogy, the important thing is that Rampant surpassed all of my expectations. This is a remarkably imaginative, painstakingly researched, and impeccably written novel. Not only is the core concept fantastic with its delineations of unicorn species and their unique history and place in our own cultural mythology, but the explication of characters � especially the gender roles of women, of virginity and power � is breathtaking.
Yeah, you could say I loved Rampant from its hilarious start to its blood-drenched finale.
Ana:This is my first foray into Diana Peterfreund’s books and I simply loved it. I have to echo Thea’s feelings about the imaginative story, the research and the writing but really, Rampant is, quite absolutely, undeniably, a FUN book to read. I mean, Killer Unicorns and the Virgin Warriors that are the only ones that can kill them? Set in Rome � my favourite city in the whole world? How could I not love this book?
On the Plot:
When Astrid Llewelyn reads a magical unicorn story while babysitting two little girls, she couldn’t be more repulsed. For Astrid, the descendent of Clothilde, the descendent of Alexander of Macedonia, knows a different side of the sparkly magical creatures � and it ain’t pretty. While the rest of the world thinks of unicorns as enchanting, gentle, noble creatures, Astrid knows that they are bloodthirsty, vicious predators with poisoned alicorns (horns) and are nigh invincible. Only virgin women descended from Alexander the Great, like Astrid, can kill a unicorn � and even then, it’s no cakewalk. Impervious to bullets, incredibly self-healing and ranging in size from goat-small to mammoth-large, generations of women like Astrid have honed their skills as hunters to fight off the supernatural menace, armed with spears, bows and arrows, and knives. Though Astrid has grown up hearing these stories from her mother, Lilith, she finds it a bit hard to take seriously � her tales of killer unicorns have cost her jobs, her Ph.D., and labeled her as the family nutjob. In any case, Astrid takes solace in the fact that even if Lilith is right about unicorns, they are certainly extinct. That is, until Astrid is tested by one in the woods surrounding the house where she is babysitting � a zhi, the smallest species of unicorn, appears to Astrid and runs through her sort-of boyfriend with its alicorn.
Suddenly, Astrid’s life is thrown upside-down as she finds herself headed to Rome, to live and train in the Cloisters of Ctesias, legendary home of unicorn huntresses throughout the ages. Here, Astrid will make new allies and enemies, and she will learn exactly what it means to accept her birthright as a daughter of Alexander.
Thea: It is in the plotting of this novel, the scope of new species� of unicorns, and the extent of world building that Rampant really, totally rocks. In this alternate version of the world, instead of having a secret population of fae, vampires or shapeshifters, there are four dangerous species of unicorn:the smaller zhi, the ferocious kirin, the bull-like re’em, and the enormous karkaadan. It’s clear from reading Rampant that Ms. Peterfreund put some serious effort into historical research, taking and reinterpreting history across different cultures from Alexander the Great, to western european paintings & tapestries, to east asian folklore. It’s some truly fascinating stuff, and the prevalence of these myths across varied cultures is enough to make readers suspend disbelief and take something that could have been very silly, seriously. Perhaps unicorns have never really existed � but the way they are presented in Rampant is pretty convincing.
Beyond the unicorns themselves, Ms. Peterfreund has created an alternate history of hunters with whom their fates are intertwined. And here’s where things get really interesting, because for some reason that science can’t really explain, each hunter must be descended from the line of Alexander the Great and must be a virgin in order to face and kill unicorns. The interesting part here is the focus on a complicated topic that isn’t as cool or much explored in a lot of current literature � namely, virginity. That these girls derive and maintain their huntress powers through virginity raises some tough questions and topics, which Ms. Peterfreund explores thoroughly. In the 21st century, teen girls who don’t give it up are likely to be seen as prudes or frigid, or that something is “wrong� with them � branded psychologically with a ‘V� instead of a scarlet ‘A�. For the young women in Rampant, like the Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome their virginity is literally their lifeblood � and their continued battle against unicorns is mostly through their own choice. (Of course, this raises other questions � what if this choice is taken away from them? � which I was also very happy to see Ms. Peterfreund address in the novel) This exploration of not only gender roles and the assignation of power is some serious food for thought, and impressive in its scope.
As far as the actual writing and plotting is concerned, Rampant does a solid job. Though a tad on the long side at over 400 pages, the plot moves smoothly with only a few dragging points, culminating in a glorious, blood-soaked ending. The revelations are unpredictable and though it takes a shade too long to get to these fabulous twists, they are delightfully shocking and well-executed. Writing-wise, Ms. Peterfreund is in top form with her crisp, light prose, and Rampant is completely engaging and compulsively readable. I have no complaints.
Ana: Ditto.
Although I do have to say that I had a little bit of difficulty getting into the book to start with. It was hard for me to accept how Astrid’s mother, after realising that Unicorns were back simply ships her away to Rome without as much as a second thought about what Astrid wanted or who exactly would be taking care of her. There is nothing intrinsically wrong, obviously, with the way things get into motion as it is part of the characters� arc but my gut reaction was such that I started to sound like my own protective mother (that scared me like you wouldn’t know) and it detracted from my reading experience at least for the first few pages.
But once Astrid arrives in Rome and the story effectively kicks-off, the plot moved along smoothly for me. And what a story � from the mythology surrounding the Unicorns dating back to Alexander the Great and Roman Gods to the current emergence of the beastly creatures, this book is a fiesta for the Fantasy-inclined reader. Thea is spot on when she says that the entire plot could have gone terribly wrong by the way of silliness but it doesn’t and it is all down to the way the story is interwoven with snippets of real-life events and with the portrayal of the Hunters. These girls are born to a line and to a destiny that at first seems overwhelmingly difficult to accept. And yet, choice presents itself to all of them � to avoid such a destiny is incredibly “easy� actually. All you have to do is to give away your virginity � but by doing so you give away your powers and your place in the sisterhood. Each of the girls has then a choice to make and it all depends on how they see themselves and their future. Because to accept their Warrior side is also to choose a lifetime of commitment to blood, to war and to being single. The “being single� part is particularly stressing for two of the girls: Astrid and Phil who, when sneaking out to enjoy Rome, end up meeting too guys. The romance plot is a very important one here as well adding another layer of angst to the story.
Also, speaking of Rome � what a fabulous setting for the book and Diana Peterfreund seems to know the place really well and inserts enough sightseeing and elements of Roman culture to make it part of the book. Astrid and her love interest Giovanni’s visit to the Borghese Gallery was one of the highlights of the book for me.
Even though the story is convincing as a Fantasy book and for all that there is seriousness in the way of power struggles, the life and death situations and themes such as Virginity or Independence, the book also allows for moments of fun which comes from the humorous narrative and from moments of sheer campiness: like for example how the girls keep an Unicorn pet of the zhi variety (the only domesticated one, sort of ) called, BONEGRINDER. Oh, the ludicrousness � I love it.
And then there are the plot twists � there is one in particular towards the end of the novel that irrevocably moved Rampant from a “very good� to an “awesome� read.
On the Characters:
Thea: While the mythos of the unicorn & hunter was so impressive, it’s almost expected that the characters weren’t quite as strong or fulfilling. That’s not to say that the characters were poorly done � quite the opposite. Astrid, the protagonist and first-person narrator of Rampant certainly feels like a genuine teenage girl thrust into a much larger situation, with impossible expectations. Though it would have been easy to write Astrid as a firebrand, or a stubborn, sword-wielding badass from the getgo, Ms. Peterfreund takes it a different direction; Astrid instead is a quieter teen, who really doesn’t want any part of her immense destiny, nor does she choose it initially. She goes along to Rome (even though she really doesn’t want to) at the behest of her pushy mother, she becomes a hunter even though she really doesn’t buy into it, and when the only thing she really is interested in � getting down to the scientific breakdown of the Remedy and the biochemical secret hunters� resistance � is denied her, she basically lets it go. Astrid is passive � that is, until she finds her own purpose and strength. This heroine might not be the warrior woman readers expect, but she is one that I at least found myself rooting for wholeheartedly by the end of the book because of her solid character arc.
The secondary characters in Rampant are varied and add a wonderfully human element to the story. Of these, my favorites had to be Cory, the obsessed know-it-all (with good reason for her hate for unicorns) and Phil, the slightly older and much more outgoing cousin of Astrid. Phil’s sparkle, her wit, and her own journey in Rampant is a powerful one � I loved her character very, very much. There are less lovable characters too � such as Lilith, Astrid’s glory-hungry mother. For all that I found myself despising her pushiness and singleminded attitude towards Astrid and the hunters, Lilith is another character that felt very real and believable � after years of being marginalized and belittled for her radical views on a then-believed mythological character, when she has an opportunity to be proven right and for her daughter to fulfill her birthright, she of course seizes it with both hands. The only character that I wasn’t really crazy about had to be Giovanni, Astrid’s love interest. A bit too good to be true, perhaps. The lackluster hunky Italian dude aside, though, I like that Astrid is forced to confront the choices that she has to make, and Giovanni is a part of that.
Ana: Astrid’s quietness and initial, completely passive acceptance of her mother’s attitude drove me insane. At points I wished she would rebel, scream, do something to avoid going on a journey she so clearly did not want. But eventually I was glad she didn’t and her character proved to be so much more interesting like that � for her quiet strength that grows into so much more. Her arc was such that by the end of the book, I was completely in love with her and understood her decisions � as they were clearly delimited by everything she went through in these pages: from understand her destiny, her heritage, to using her strong desire to be a scientist into researching aspects of the mythology no one has ever thought of. This is one of the things that I have to give mad props to Diana Peterfreund: for not allowing the Astrid that begins the book turning into a completely different, alien Astrid by the end of it. It is the same character � only one that becomes her own person, who can make her own choices, finally.
As a coming of age story, Rampant is a great book indeed. And one where the teenage girl does not depend on the teenage boy for a lifetime of happiness � there is a romantic element to the book and Astrid does draw strength from being with him but not in an obsessive manner. These kids talk, assess and think about their situation in a very balanced way and still they have their hormones driving them crazy. It is a great balance, if you ask me. Plus she can totally kick his ass (and at one point I really wish she would, as I was not so keen on Giovanni. Go figure).
As for the other characters: there is Cory and I loved her from the start (as she threw Bonegrinder through the window, I thought: You had me at hello, girl); and Astrid’s cousin Phil who shone through the novel with an almost blinding light and nearly overshadowed Astrid and her more meek attitude. I really do hope we can see more of Phil in the next book. But the other girls were not as clearly drawn , unfortunately, which is a shame since they came from all sorts of cultures and backgrounds but I understand the necessity of drawing a line somewhere � to give the other girls more pages and line would detract from the main characters and the main story.
Final Thoughts, Observations, and Rating:
Thea: I loved Rampant from beginning to end. The staggering amount of meticulous research and fantastic twist on the unicorn myth and the exploration of gender and virginity alone are enough to make this book one of the most memorable I’ve read this year. Add to that the solid, different characters, and Rampant is one irresistible book. Absolutely recommended, and easily one of my notable reads of 2009. I cannot wait for more from Astrid and the unicorns.
Ana: Rampant is a great book, with a gripping, interesting plot that never lets go. With a bunch of strong Girl Hunters and such sympathetic characters such as Astrid and Phil, this one is a winner. And can I just reiterate the fact that there is a pet unicorn called Bonegrinder? Bring on the next book.
Rating:
Thea: 8 � Excellent
Ana: 8 � Excellent
July 29, 2018
This was pretty damn good. I really liked the novel's take on unicorns (Come on, Killer. Unicorns. Thats one badass combination). The book itself was well done, it did make me laugh from time to time. It was also interesting to learn about the mythology. This also did have a plot twist that really surprised me. I did have a few issues though, like why the hunters have to be virgins? Just why. The eventual love interest was kinda a stereotypical love interest. Other than that, this was very good
October 5, 2020
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: (spoiler, but I think you might want to know this one. At least, I wish I did going in.)
One of the characters gets raped.
I guess as far as handling it goes, the author does a 'decent' job. The facts are stated, condemned, not agonized over or anything. Rape is a horrible reality so I do not necessarily think the author needed to emphasize the horror any more. But the fact remains, it dropped this fairly decent (okay, pretty mediocre) YA read to one star for me.
I think the problem I had with the scene goes to the problem I had in general with this book: far too much emphasis on sex. Not enough emphasis on, y'know, killing unicorns.
The author creates a clever world where unicorns are evil beasts and only virginal descendants of Alexander the Great can slow them down long enough to kill them. Astrid - the mc - is one of those virginal descendants. And in case you missed it, she will remind you of her virginity just about every page.
Unicorns disappeared generations ago, but now it is up to Astrid and her team of forgettable warrior teenagers to destroy the evil starting to reappear.
Astrid is a major whiner. She whines about being a virgin. She whines about her lame-ass boyfriend breaking up with her after he gets mauled by a unicorn. She whines about moving to Rome to become a unicorn hunter. She whines about the other girls.
You get the point.
She also really isn't sold on the whole 'virginal warrior' bit so she decides to just go do the deed and get it over with. Then she is shocked when the guy she chooses on a whim doesn't want to do it on a rusty lawn chair. You will never guess what she does next.
Yeah, she whines about it.
Anyway, besides Astrid, there is a host of other girls, all of whom I forgot almost as soon as they were introduced. There were far too many of them and I never found any reason to care about them individually or collectively. There is an obvious, cartoon-ish villain and a series of males who are either idiots, sex toys, or evil.
I suppose the book must contain action but battle scenes left almost no impression on me.
Honestly, though, I think this book would still merit 2 stars if it weren't for the rape scene. It made me so mad. Especially as the story drew to a conclusion, I felt more and more like it was totally unnecessary. It was a plot point, nothing more. But rape is not something you throw into your YA book to push the plot along. It is too dark, too serious a thing to do to a character.
Maybe future books will explore it further. I have no intentions of reading them. I barely finished this one. Disappointing...I had higher hopes from an author I generally enjoy.
One of the characters gets raped.
I guess as far as handling it goes, the author does a 'decent' job. The facts are stated, condemned, not agonized over or anything. Rape is a horrible reality so I do not necessarily think the author needed to emphasize the horror any more. But the fact remains, it dropped this fairly decent (okay, pretty mediocre) YA read to one star for me.
I think the problem I had with the scene goes to the problem I had in general with this book: far too much emphasis on sex. Not enough emphasis on, y'know, killing unicorns.
The author creates a clever world where unicorns are evil beasts and only virginal descendants of Alexander the Great can slow them down long enough to kill them. Astrid - the mc - is one of those virginal descendants. And in case you missed it, she will remind you of her virginity just about every page.
Unicorns disappeared generations ago, but now it is up to Astrid and her team of forgettable warrior teenagers to destroy the evil starting to reappear.
Astrid is a major whiner. She whines about being a virgin. She whines about her lame-ass boyfriend breaking up with her after he gets mauled by a unicorn. She whines about moving to Rome to become a unicorn hunter. She whines about the other girls.
You get the point.
She also really isn't sold on the whole 'virginal warrior' bit so she decides to just go do the deed and get it over with. Then she is shocked when the guy she chooses on a whim doesn't want to do it on a rusty lawn chair. You will never guess what she does next.
Yeah, she whines about it.
Anyway, besides Astrid, there is a host of other girls, all of whom I forgot almost as soon as they were introduced. There were far too many of them and I never found any reason to care about them individually or collectively. There is an obvious, cartoon-ish villain and a series of males who are either idiots, sex toys, or evil.
I suppose the book must contain action but battle scenes left almost no impression on me.
Honestly, though, I think this book would still merit 2 stars if it weren't for the rape scene. It made me so mad. Especially as the story drew to a conclusion, I felt more and more like it was totally unnecessary. It was a plot point, nothing more. But rape is not something you throw into your YA book to push the plot along. It is too dark, too serious a thing to do to a character.
Maybe future books will explore it further. I have no intentions of reading them. I barely finished this one. Disappointing...I had higher hopes from an author I generally enjoy.
August 10, 2009
Never have I read such an interesting story about unicorns as Diana Peterfreund’s RAMPANT. This book is jam-packed with lore and fighting without taking away from Peterfreund’s signature writing style.
Diana’s greatest ability is in making each and every character stand out without resorting to clichés. There are easily a dozen characters to keep track of, and yet no real effort is required to do so. Each character has a distinctive voice and his or her own motivations and vulnerabilities, and no one falls into character stereotypes. I admired this most about Diana’s writing from her IVY LEAGUE series, and am happy that her characters continue to be just as complex and interesting in her YA novel.
RAMPANT begins with a running start, which may be disorienting as Astrid discovers the reappearance of unicorns and gets sent off to Italy very quickly after the story begins. However, once within the cloister walls, details are fleshed out, characters introduced and shaped into whole beings, and the multifaceted story emerges. In RAMPANT, old clashes with new, both literally, as modern-day teenagers get dumped within the aging convent’s walls, and figuratively: it’s not just about killing unicorns, but rather the ethical implications of using ancient techniques in modern times.
While I found myself unable to connect with the characters as well as I did with those in the IVY LEAGUE series, Diana Peterfreund has still written a tale that is a force to be reckoned with. The allure of unicorns (an as-yet-unmined idea) and expert characterization will make RAMPANT an easy winner in the YA fantasy genre.
Diana’s greatest ability is in making each and every character stand out without resorting to clichés. There are easily a dozen characters to keep track of, and yet no real effort is required to do so. Each character has a distinctive voice and his or her own motivations and vulnerabilities, and no one falls into character stereotypes. I admired this most about Diana’s writing from her IVY LEAGUE series, and am happy that her characters continue to be just as complex and interesting in her YA novel.
RAMPANT begins with a running start, which may be disorienting as Astrid discovers the reappearance of unicorns and gets sent off to Italy very quickly after the story begins. However, once within the cloister walls, details are fleshed out, characters introduced and shaped into whole beings, and the multifaceted story emerges. In RAMPANT, old clashes with new, both literally, as modern-day teenagers get dumped within the aging convent’s walls, and figuratively: it’s not just about killing unicorns, but rather the ethical implications of using ancient techniques in modern times.
While I found myself unable to connect with the characters as well as I did with those in the IVY LEAGUE series, Diana Peterfreund has still written a tale that is a force to be reckoned with. The allure of unicorns (an as-yet-unmined idea) and expert characterization will make RAMPANT an easy winner in the YA fantasy genre.
September 17, 2012
I wanted to like this book. And for the first bit, I did enjoy it. Killer venomous unicorns in the modern world, and a girl with special powers whose mother forces her to go to a sketchy school in Rome to learn how to fight them. But I ended up hating the book, mostly for its treatment of rape.
Trigger and spoilers abound.
I tried this because I enjoyed For Darkness Shows the Stars, but I won't be reading anything else by the author.
Trigger and spoilers abound.
I tried this because I enjoyed For Darkness Shows the Stars, but I won't be reading anything else by the author.
September 19, 2010
There is a trend that's becoming increasingly popular in teen fiction, and it's hiding a moral principle inside an edgy narrative (think Uglies/physical perfection). This novel's principle is hardly hiding, but instead becomes essential to the plot and enhances character development.
While virginity and sex is not a theme I'd normally appreciate in a book, Diana Peterfreund handles it impartially while at the same time voicing many different opinions. I thought it was especially appropriate for teen girls. Ms. Peterfreund infuses girl power into her characters' discussions. We are led to the conclusion that elite, powerful women are not persuaded by media images or public perception to hand over their virtue to the first man who asks for it. The most desireable women do things on their own terms.
Beyond the moral theme is a fun, creative story. The teen perspective keeps the novel fresh and enjoyable. The best thing I liked about this book is that it is just one book! I'm so tired of trilogies that never resolve a single plot line until the very end. Even then many authors leaves side lines open to expand in later novels. This book is complete and enjoyable, and I'm overjoyed I don't have to add a list of books to my "to-read" list just to find out how it ends. (But there is a sequel I can't wait to read.)
While virginity and sex is not a theme I'd normally appreciate in a book, Diana Peterfreund handles it impartially while at the same time voicing many different opinions. I thought it was especially appropriate for teen girls. Ms. Peterfreund infuses girl power into her characters' discussions. We are led to the conclusion that elite, powerful women are not persuaded by media images or public perception to hand over their virtue to the first man who asks for it. The most desireable women do things on their own terms.
Beyond the moral theme is a fun, creative story. The teen perspective keeps the novel fresh and enjoyable. The best thing I liked about this book is that it is just one book! I'm so tired of trilogies that never resolve a single plot line until the very end. Even then many authors leaves side lines open to expand in later novels. This book is complete and enjoyable, and I'm overjoyed I don't have to add a list of books to my "to-read" list just to find out how it ends. (But there is a sequel I can't wait to read.)
July 27, 2015
Originally posted on my blog or follow me on
Warrior virgins, hunting unicorns. Can't get any better than that! Right away I knew I'd like this book. (And that I didn't much care for Brandt who's sole purpose in life was to get into Astrid's pants).
The idea of killer uniforns is completly original and I love how the author intertwined mythology into the plot and it centers around strong women! Needless to say shit goes down in this book, bigtime!!
There is some romance in this book. There is no love triangle which I loved, however this book does not center around romance.
My favorite scene in the book is a shower scene! Astrid gets attacked and ends up in a small apartment above a shop with Giovanni. Need I say more?
I just loved the characters- Astrid, Giovanni, Phil, Cory, Bucephalus. Bonegrinder most of all!
Diana Peterfreund paces the novel perfectly. There's not a slow part to this book. There are plenty of twist and turns to keep you guessing throughout the whole story, and the ending was great. I cannot wait to see what happens in the second book Ascendant!
Warrior virgins, hunting unicorns. Can't get any better than that! Right away I knew I'd like this book. (And that I didn't much care for Brandt who's sole purpose in life was to get into Astrid's pants).
The idea of killer uniforns is completly original and I love how the author intertwined mythology into the plot and it centers around strong women! Needless to say shit goes down in this book, bigtime!!
There is some romance in this book. There is no love triangle which I loved, however this book does not center around romance.
My favorite scene in the book is a shower scene! Astrid gets attacked and ends up in a small apartment above a shop with Giovanni. Need I say more?
I just loved the characters- Astrid, Giovanni, Phil, Cory, Bucephalus. Bonegrinder most of all!
Diana Peterfreund paces the novel perfectly. There's not a slow part to this book. There are plenty of twist and turns to keep you guessing throughout the whole story, and the ending was great. I cannot wait to see what happens in the second book Ascendant!
July 4, 2010
I'm SO disappointed. I've read a lot of bad reviews on this book but the premise was too interesting for me not to give it a try. Unfortunately I have to agree with the other reviewers on this one. Which is a complete shame since ideas here are really fun. Killer Unicorns! And the idea of a school in Rome with teenagers training to kill them was pretty neat too. It could have totally kicked butt in my opinion.
I just found the writing poor, even for YA, and after a while I had to put it down. What a bummer.
I just found the writing poor, even for YA, and after a while I had to put it down. What a bummer.
August 31, 2009
The best fantasy books are the ones that take themselves the most seriously. Rampant is a deeply layered, richly historied universe, with lore within lore and plans within plans, as they say in Dune... The modernization of the mythological unicorn is hugely successful, as is the more ancient connections to the mythical past of the huntress. Read this book along with Malinda Lo's ASH. 2009 is the year of the huntress!
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