Dark Unicorn, The

The Dark Unicorn
by Edward Willett
Published by Endless Sky Books
Review by Toby A. Welch  
$19.99 ISBN 9781989398951

I wasn’t surprised to learn that The Dark Unicorn was a finalist in the Children’s Literature category in the 1999 Saskatchewan Book Awards. This fantastical story about a young man’s quest to save the world from destruction is hard to put down!

While some readers may consider this book a bit dark, I was uplifted by the underlying thread of hope that runs through it. The story focuses on Nels, a flutist in a theatre group who is gifted a carved unicorn with a magical power – the ability to save the Wall, the only barrier standing between him and an enemy bent on wiping out life as he knows it. His journey with the unicorn is an intriguing one. 

My favourite character in the story is a scrappy young pickpocket named Dart. He and Nels team up in the mission to protect their world and he is the perfect sidekick. Dart has a huge secret, takes risks without hesitation, and gives as good as he gets while defending his people. For readers, Dart is a gift for our imaginations as his story arc is fascinating. 

While The Dark Unicorn is targeted for a younger audience, I devoured it even though I am approaching middle age. Everything about it is captivating. If you are no longer in your teen years, don’t let the recommended age category deter you – anyone from preteen to one hundred could enjoy this enchanting adventure. 

Even before starting chapter one, I knew The Dark Unicorn would be an amazing read. I have zero psychic abilities so how did I know? The author is Regina-based Edward Willett. A living legend in Canada’s science fiction and fantasy community, anything he writes is literary gold. His many awards and nominations are too lengthy to list but they include the Aurora, Canada’s top sci-fi and fantasy award.

One of the many things I admire about Willett’s work is his knack for crafting spectacular fantasy worlds while keeping the language simple and layered. That sounds like a contradiction but it’s often the case in Willett’s work. Consider this line: “The delicacy of her features, the way she moved, her voice, everything should have tipped him off before – he’d just assumed she was a boy because she dressed like one, and he’d never imagined a girl pickpocket who lived on her own in the streets.” Writing that pulls the reader in while painting vivid imagery is Willett’s strong suit. I found this to always be the case no matter what his target audience is.  

The Dark Unicorn is the kind of story whose magic lingers long after you turn the final page. Even among Willett’s impressive line up, this fantastical tale stands out!

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR FROM WWW.SKBOOKS.COM