5/14/24: It’s publication day!!!
Oh my goodness, I absolutely adored this!! I was completely charmed. I have never read "The Last Unicorn", but the movie adaptation was a cherished part of my childhood. I vividly remember sitting in my family room with my friend Rachel, watching the movie (along with our special treats of DQ Butterfinger Blizzards!), and it was definitely a frequent repeat in our house during the '80s and '90s. "UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-NI-CORRRRRNNNNN!!!!"
Consequently, when I saw this book on NetGalley and noticed it was by the same author who wrote "The Last Unicorn", I was immediately intrigued. I patiently waited for my request to be approved for an ARC, and I was actually a bit worried that I would be declined. However, I was extremely fortunate, as I discovered that other fans of Beagle's work had been eagerly awaiting the publication of this book for several years, while I only had to wait a few weeks. So, I have no complaints on that front.
Now, listen up, all you people who have been waiting for years: IT IS 100% WORTH THE LONG WAIT.
This is a fairytale for those who truly love fairytales. It has a little bit of everything: a beautiful princess of marriageable age, numerous fawning princes, a handsome prince, a dilapidated castle, a quest, many species of dragons, and...a dragon exterminator..???
It is also incredibly funny and clever. You will grow to love the characters, their backstories, and their journeys, and laugh, cry, and rejoice with them in turn. I truly hope they make a movie or series out of this and do it justice.
Read this. Even if you think you're too old for fairytales. It's phenomenal, and I'll definitely be purchasing a physical copy and reading it over and over again.
5 well-deserved stars.
Such a fun, charming read! This book was described to me as “The Princess Bride” but with dragons. And indeed, with its tongue-in-cheek humor, adventure, and underlying subtle romance, I can clearly see the resemblance. I really enjoyed this one. The story is filled with exciting moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well-developed and engaging. However, there were a couple of drawbacks. Towards the end, there was a far too long villain monologue that seemed to drag on and on. Additionally, there were occasionally goofy details about the princess that took away a bit from the overall charm. But despite these minor flaws, I would still highly recommend this book to anyone who likes dragons, the medieval era, and a classic “born poor, turns into something more” type of story. It’s a great read that will transport you to a magical world full of adventure and romance.