The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden ~ a Review

by MK French

Anne of Brittany was a child when France drove her father to his death, leaving her the last duchess. The French crown means to marry her to her enemies, but she plans to marry France's rival to secure her safety. To do so is difficult when spies abound, and the only safe place is the forest of Broceliande. Merlin the Enchanter had once been there, but its only remaining magic is the occasional unicorn sighting and the fact that it cannot be scried on. Pretending compliance with France, Anne plans a unicorn hunt in Broceliande as a diversion so she can wed in secret. Things don't always go according to plan.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

June 2026; Del Rey; 978-0593128282
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); historical fantasy

The conflicts between France, Brittany and Austria were real for the time period, but the reliance on divination and the existence of fae realms isn't part of our history. Here, it's real, and dorms the basis of Anne's plans. She isn't as empty headed or silly as she appears to the French envoy, and hopes to save her people from getting annexed and abused, as well as keep her promise to her late father that she won't marry the king of France. Being in the forest increases the odd sightings, and the plan to marry the king of Austria is even more fraught with danger when a stranger found in the forest says he had been a diviner two hundred years before, and carries a proposal from a king within the Lost Lands.

This story gets more involved from here, with the careful politicking of various people around Anne. Some want her married off to Charles for their own gain, and some within her own court still help her gain the attention of the king of Austria. Beneath it all is the presence of magic, and the legends of a lost city a thousand years ago. The Bretons fear the ghosts that occasionally walk the halls, the missing items that tumble out of the Lost Lands, and the way shadows can shift. Through it all, Anne hopes to keep Brittany safe for its people, to rule fairly when she can't promise that France would. The magic here is difficult to use when untrained, but Anne is willing to sacrifice herself for the future.

This story feels like the fairy tales it mentions, with magic twisting the way our history actually ran. Anne has a hard road ahead of her, but she's clever and believes in protecting others. This Anne gets a much happier ending than the real one did, and it was an engaging tale to get there.

Buy The Unicorn Hunters at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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