Continuing a series practice, this finale substantially tops the previous volume’s page count as Coville draws all his characters and plot lines together in a mighty cascade of short chapters to a climactic battle on the alternate world of Luster. Even readers new to the epic will have no trouble following along, though. The unicorns’ relentless killer, Beloved, has invaded Luster with an army of trained Hunters, creating so much havoc that the world teeters on the brink of destruction. Meanwhile, as her parents at last reunite and set out to search for her, young protagonist Cara learns the truth about her genetic heritage as she seeks to enlist a temperamental dragon in the unicorns’ cause. Audiences fond of tales festooned with words like “ensorcelled,” lines like “Halt! Who seeks to enter the Great Hall of Gnurflax, King of Delvharken?” and names like “Amalia Flickerfoot”—plus magical figures from a comically monkey-like pet and a gryphon with a tender ego to angels (thinly disguised as “Great Powers”), centaurs and, of course, shining, magnificent unicorns aplenty—will be swept along to the grand, hard-fought resolution. (cast list, map) (Fantasy. 10-13)
