WILD GIRL

In Spicer’s fantasy series starterset in 15th-century France, a teenager finds that she’s able to summon unicorns.

Sixteen-year-old Helaine is the only child and heir of French Lord Seigneur Alun de Berzé. She’s soon to be wed to Stephen of the March, to whom she’s been betrothed for 10 years. The wicked Lord Ivo de Grandfief had unsuccessfully demanded that Helaine marry his son, Odo; due to Alun’s refusal, Ivo has been sending Swiss mercenaries to wreak havoc in the villages under Alun’s care. Alun forbids Helaine to leave the castle without a guard, at least until she’s married, and she hates the idea of being confined; she also wishes to remain unmarried and yearns for autonomy. On the morning of St. Valentine’s Day, Helaine joins her lifelong friend Marieinto the woods to gather yarrow as part of a ritual to see if her impending marriage will be happy. A strange man attempts to assault Helaine,but he’s thwarted by a young “Wild Man” who’s “one of the forest dwellers, devoted to the old gods, guardians of the wandering unicorn herd.” Soon, they’re joined by his unicorn companion. As it turns out, legends about virgins being able to lure unicorns are true; the next day, Helaine summons the unicorn to cleanse contaminated water, and her thankful father proclaims the forest safe for unicorns and Wild Men. But his adviser, Father Robert, has other plans for the girl, whom he needs to facilitate a unicorn hunt. Spicer’s novel is a captivating, folkloric tale about freedom, loyalty, betrayal, trauma, and religious zealotry. Over the course of the story, Helaine proves to be a compelling protagonist as she forms a mutual friendship with and attraction to the Wild Man; she also realizes that Father Robert is an abusive hypocrite and reclaims her agency. The narrative can feel slow and unfocused at times, but many readers are sure to enjoy Spicer’s dreamy, evocative prose: “The unicorn appeared to glide along, at one moment part of the darkness, the next a pale wraith, blending against the silvered tree trunks.”

A captivating and evocative tale of fantasy adventure.