Two star review, originally posted here on January 24th, 2026.
So… which drugs do I need to be on to enjoy this book? Because I feel like I should have been on some drugs.
I’m having a tough start to my reading year. I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone and try new things, test if my preferences are too myopic, learn what it is that the rest of the world appreciates, etc. And so far I am failing miserable. This book is no exception.
Did I ever think I would like a story about a unicorn? No. But have I seen this book listed again and again and again and fucking AGAIN? Yes. Usually with TONS of praise about how this is one of the absolute best books ever, if you think maybe you won’t like it you should read it anyway because you are wrong you will totally love it, etc. There is, supposedly, something about this book that is just so special and magical no matter how old you are when you read it, etc.
When I was younger I used to be into some fantasy stuff. A few Arthurian books come to mind. And I would love to re-capture that love again even though I don’t read fantasy much anymore because it all seems just too silly and dumb. This book looked like the right one to suck me back in.
Alas, I was mistaken. I don’t want to discourage other people. If you think you would enjoy a book about a unicorn, then you likely will like this. But for me, personally, I just couldn’t get into this one. That’s it. Just too silly and weird for me to personally enjoy. The storyline was just kind of random and pointless (yes, I know there’s a bunch of symbolism about the loss of innocence, etc, so the story is a bit deeper than it seems. But that doesn’t mean that I enjoyed my time while reading it.) I’m still glad that I gave it a go, though, and a lot of the writing was really beautiful (sometimes a bit too beautiful; the artistry was so relentless I felt I was drowning in it at times.)
Helga without the H 