After having read & loved the short story written for the [[ASIN:1416989536 Zombies vs. Unicorns]] anthology, I decided that this was a series I needed to start. Seriously, what part of carnivorous unicorns doesn't sound awesome? 
 This book might disappoint some readers in that there's more teenage angst than unicorn fighting, although trust me- it's in here. I just loved reading this book. It was so much fun to read for several reasons. First the book introduces a well known magical creature (unicorns) & gives them a whole new spin to where they're almost entirely a new creation all their own. Secondly, I loved the interaction between the characters. I'll admit that some of the back & forth could be a little tedious at times & I sort of predicted how some of the plot would go, but this was pretty much a fun read that accomplishes its main goal: to entertain. 
 My only real gripe with the series had to be the character of Lilith, Astrid's mother. At times she just didn't seem all that realistic or developed as much as she could have been. I can understand her purpose but she just didn't seem to be anything more than a plot device & came across a little shallow at times in ways that had nothing to do with personality. 
 Overall though, this was an awesome read & I can't wait to dive into Ascendant & see where the plot goes from here.