Black Unicorn by Tanith Lee
(Book #1 of the Unicorn series)
Rating: 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
This book has been on my TBR list for years, mainly because I've had a devil of a job tracking down a copy. Finally I found one at an amazing bookstore I've recently discovered here in Toronto that specializes in SF/F (Bakka-Phoenix Books for any locals who may be interested). Let me tell you, it was well worth the effort!
Black Unicorn by Tanith Lee is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever encountered. It's short (only 138 pages), but not a single word is wasted. I finished it yesterday and I am still in awe. The story has everything I love - well developed characters, tight plot that allows for both shallow and in-depth enjoyment, adventure, a sense of humour, solid world building sans info dumping, a satisfying conclusion that leaves room for more without resorting to a cliff-hanger...you get the idea. As far as I'm concerned, it's a perfect story.
But the writing! I really can't say enough about the writing. There were points when I had to go back and re-read a phrase/paragraph/sentence just to revel in the flow of the words or the images it invoked. Or both. Like this section:
"Soon wonderful shops began to open in the buildings. She saw shelves of cakes like jewels and trays of jewels like flowers and and sheaves of flowers like lances and, in an armorer's, lances like nothing but themselves."
Gorgeous! Put this book on your TBR, and keep an eye out for it! You won't regret it.
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