Today we’re celebrating the publication of THE UNICORN QUEST, a middle grade novel that Bloomsbury describes as, “An enchanting, exciting fantasy about a real-world girl searching for her sister in a land full of magic and strange creatures, blending the timeless feel of The Last Unicorn and Wildwood with Frozen‘s powerful themes of identity, enchantment, and sisterhood.”

Those of you who follow me through Pitch Wars know that I have a *bit* of a thing for unicorns. (Shout out to #TeamUnicornMojo!) So the minute I heard about a book that combined three of my favorite story elements (Sisters! Magic! Unicorns!), I requested an advanced reader copy, which I received in exchange for an unbiased review. Before I get to my thoughts, here’s the publishers description of the story:

Claire Martinson still worries about her older sister Sophie, who battled a mysterious illness last year. But things are back to normal as they move into Windermere Manor . . . until the sisters climb a strange ladder in a fireplace and enter the magical land of Arden. 

There, they find a world in turmoil. The four guilds of magic no longer trust each other, the beloved unicorns have disappeared, and terrible wraiths roam freely. Scared, the girls return home. But when Sophie vanishes in the night, it will take all of Claire’s courage to climb back up the ladder, find her sister, and uncover the unicorns’ greatest secret.

And now, for my thoughts:

I’m happy to report that THE UNICORN QUEST lived up to my expectations, combining a fun, magical world with interesting characters and a sister relationship that feels very much rooted in real life. The fast-moving plot drove the story forward and I flew through the pages eager for each new development. I especially enjoyed the way Claire’s passion for art shaped the way she filtered the world and tied in to her adventure.

I agree that fans of THE LAST UNICORN and WILDWOOD will enjoy this story.

Copies are available at your local bookstores as well as online. Continue to learn more about the book (and author) by following THE UNICORN QUEST blog tour (dates and sites below).

Kamilla Benko spent most of her childhood climbing into wardrobes, trying to step through mirrors, and plotting to run away to an art museum. Now, she visits other worlds as a children’s book editor. Originally from Indiana, she currently lives in New York with her bookshelves, teapot, and hiking boots.

Posted by: Jessica Vitalis

A jack of all trades, JESSICA VITALIS worked for a private investigator, owned a modeling and talent agency, dabbled in television production, and obtained her MBA at Columbia Business School before embracing her passion for middle grade literature. She now lives in Canada, where she divides her time between chasing children and wrangling words. She also volunteers as a Pitch Wars mentor, with the We Need Diverse Books campaign, and eats copious amounts of chocolate. She’s represented by Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch and would love to connect on Twitter or at www.jessicavitalis.com.