Pure Imagination

Title: Rampant
Author: Diana Peterfreund
Reading Level: Young Adult
IBSN: 9780061490002
Blurb:

Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns…

The sparkly, innocent creatures of lore are a myth. Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. And they can only be killed by virgin descendants of Alexander the Great.

Fortunately, unicorns have been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.

Or not.

Astrid Llewelyn has always scoffed at her eccentric mother’s stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend in the woods — thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to prom — Astrid learns that unicorns are real and dangerous, and she has a family legacy to uphold. Her mother packs her off 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 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… and a relationship that could jeopardize everything.

My Thoughts:

Astrid knows what it’s like to be crazy. Growing up with a mom that believes in killer unicorns will give you a pretty good idea. Astrid never put much stock in her mother’s crazy stories but when her boyfriend is attacked by something that looks an awful lot like a unicorn, she must accept what her mom says as true. It’s either that or admit she’s crazy too and she doesn’t feel crazy…

This is the first book I have read by Diana Peterfreund. I don’t know what I was expecting from killer unicorns but this wasn’t it!
The Story is so original. Who would have thought you could take a beloved mythical creature and turn it into a savage beast. While at the same time time making us fall in love with Bonegrinder. Peterfreund did it wonderfully.

Astrid and all the other hunters are great characters. All very different and interesting in their own ways. Although I did find myself getting confused at times by all the different hunters. That’s my only complaint about the book and its a very minor one. Giovanni is another of those YA males to add to your list of Boys We Love. That list is getting long!

I’m enthralled with the world Diana Peterfreund has created. A world with vicious mythical creatures, poisons, remedies, magic and lots of action. I look forward to reading more by this author and I can’t wait for a sequel! 4 Stars!

Monday, September 21st, 2009, 11:00 AM   |   Diana Peterfreund, Fantasy, Killer Unicorns, Young Adult  |  RSS feed |  Respond  |  Trackback