Ascendant (Killer Unicorns #2) by Diana Peterfreund

Title: Ascendant

Author: Diana Peterfreund

Series: 2nd in Killer Unicorns

Published:  September 28, 2010 by HarperTeen

Pages: 400

ISBN: 9780061490026

Source: ARC from Star Book Tours

 

Description: Now a fully trained unicorn hunter, Astrid Llewelyn is learning that she can’t solve all her problems with a bow and arrow. Her boyfriend has left Rome, the Cloisters is in dire financial straits, her best friend’s powers are mysteriously disintegrating, and her hope of becoming a scientist seems to be nothing but an impossible dream. So when she’s given the opportunity to leave the Cloisters and use her skills as part of a scientific quest to discover the Remedy, Astrid leaps at the chance. Finally, she can have exactly what she wants—or can she? At Gordian headquarters deep in France, Astrid begins to question everything she had believed: her love for Giovanni, her loyalty to the Cloisters, and—most of all—her duty as a hunter. Should Astrid be saving the world from killer unicorns or saving unicorns from the world? 

I Give This ...

After reading Rampant and enjoying it, I was hoping Ascendant would live up to it.  I was surprised at the direction the author decided to take this one.  I pretty sure anybody that it's an animal lover might have issues with it.  I liked the story but had a hard time stomaching some of the issues the unicorns face.  It's actually kind of heartbreaking.   Plus, there's still the focus on sex and virginity.  It's not in your face, but it's hard to not notice the small paragraphs talking about 15 year-olds losing their virginity just to avoid dealing with the unicorns. 

Astrid grew in leaps and bounds in this one, but yet in some ways remains your typical teenager.  In the beginning you can tell, she's still all about her duty.  I'm not saying she likes killing unicorns, but she doesn't see an alternative.  And she doesn't see what good all of her cousin's lobbying to protect the unicorns is going to do.   But, in her days to day dealings with unicorns at Gordian headquarters, you can tell the direction she's headed.  And this is a way she's a typical teen, she believes she can single-handedly save them all.  

Her relationships in this one are really interesting.  Of course the minute Giovanni lives to go back to the states, she begins to doubt her relationship.  Which of course leads her to do stupid things.  She's also far to trusting.  I also like how her relationship with her cousin changes.  At the beginning of the book, they are in different places.  I think they reach a real understanding of each other in the end.

My only real disappointment is learning the author doesn't plan on writing a sequel anytime soon.  The book wraps up without a real cliff hanger.  But, I don't think the story is over.   

 

Rampant (Killer Unicorns, #1) by Diana Peterfreund

Title: Rampant

Author: Diana Peterfreund

Series: 1st in Killer Unicorns

Published: August 2009 by Harper Teen

Pages: 402

ISBN: 9780061490002

Source: purchased copy

 

Description: 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.

I Give This ...

 

I have to admit, I thought this book sounded interesting, but couldn't help but think of really bad horror movies.  Killer unicorns just sounds so cheesy!  But, actually the author does a great job of actually making them seem very terrifying.  I liked how this takes place in the real world but ordinary people can't see unicorns.   Although, I really wonder what people thought was killing all the animals (and occasionally people) in the area.

Astrid was fun.  She really doubts the stories her mom tells her, even after she witnessed the attack on her boyfriend.  And when she does start to believe, she fights what others tell her she was born to do.  But then really who would believe they were born to be a virgin hunter of unicorns.  If the story wasn't so serious with the job the hunters are suppose to do, it would be almost comical.   I liked the other hunters as well.  Most of them are background characters, but they all have very distinct personalities.   I especially liked Astrid's cousin Phil.  I don't think she ever took her position seriously and she was a bit careless (not that what happens to her is in any way her fault).  But she was fiery and didn't let anybody tell her what to do.

I loved the myths worked in about the unicorns throughout history.   The entire story seems entirely believable.  I did think the sex stuff was a bit over the top.  I got a little tired of hearing about the requirement of being a virgin to be a hunter (although the test of determining virginity raised my eyebrows lol).   Plus I didn't like the scene with Astrid basically throwing herself at Giovanni.  I know she was desperate to get out of her role as a hunter, it just seemed slightly out of character.  So in that aspect, I think I would recommend this to older teens and those of us young at heart!