The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy

The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy

Book One in The Shadow of the Unicorn Series

by Suzanne de Montigny

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Tags: Fantasy, kidlit, SCBWI, children’s books, horses, middle grade, unicorns, plague, asteroid, fireball, hurricane, dinosaurs, ghosts, animals, magic, healing

Release: November 2012

Editor: Lea Schizas

Cover Designer: Marion Sipe

Words:  32822

Pages:  141

ISBN:  978-1-77127-225-4

Price: $4.50

Back Cover:

A loud, hissing sound filled the air. The unicorns looked up, their eyes filled with horror.

Azaria, a unicorn colt, is intrigued when the young clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a terrifying change in the world. When a giant fireball smashes into the earth, the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. Danger of a more sinister nature threatens when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle in the valley and their leader, Ishmael, discovers the healing power of the unicorns’ horns. Azaria, now a young stallion, must use his wits to save the herd from complete extinction.

 Excerpt:

“It’s a giant fireball!” cried Azaria.

The unicorns stared in silence.

Azaria stood, his eyes fixed on the huge rock burning and hissing as it hurled toward the earth. Sparks flew everywhere, threatening to ignite the grasslands of the valley. The giant rock whizzed through the heavens until it disappeared from sight. The herd waited, but nothing happened. Several seconds later, a loud crash thundered far in the distance and the ground shook violently. Azaria’s body slammed into the ground.

The unicorns began whinnying and neighing at once.

“It’s what the dinosaur predicted!” shouted a male.

“There’ll be monsters on two legs!” A female’s thin voice pierced the air.

Azaria struggled to get up. He pushed with his two forelegs, but a sharp pain in his hip wouldn’t let his legs follow.

“Mother,” he called, “I can’t get up…Mother?” He listened for the reassuring sound of her voice, but she wasn’t there.

The unicorns continued to cry in fear and pain.

“What if there’s another one?” screamed a hysterical mare. “The valley will burn!”

“Quiet! All of you,” Mohala’s thunderous voice shouted over the frightened crowd. “We are unicorns! We are not hyenas. You will all stop the hysterics.” The noise subsided except for a few sobs. She continued. “Now listen to Polaris, the Great Stallion.”

Polaris appeared before his herd looking shaken, but still standing tall and proud. “Unicorns, we’ve just witnessed something very strange. I know. It’s very frightening. And yes, it could be the beginning of the change young Darius spoke of. But now we must be strong and stand united until we know what to do. Swallow your fear, for it’s our fear, not the fireball that threatens to destroy us. We have three strong herds and I know we’ll survive this. But let’s begin by helping those in need.”

Azaria felt soothed, yet confused by his father’s words. He struggled to rise again, but rolled back to the ground in pain.

“Father!” he called, “I’m here. I can’t get up.”

Aurora and Polaris finally appeared by his side.

“What happened?” asked Aurora.

“I fell on that sharp rock.” He tried hoisting himself up again. “If I can just get up a little further…” he groaned, “I could maybe stand.”

“Azaria, stay still,” ordered his mother.

The colt pushed himself up again, but rolled back helplessly.

“Stay still,” commanded Polaris.

“No…I think I can…” Azaria tried again.

Polaris lunged at Azaria with his horn. The colt fell back, frightened, but the horn settled softly on the very spot that stung. Azaria yelped.

“Don’t move,” Aurora commanded.

It came slowly at first – warmth that grew hotter and hotter until it nearly burned. Azaria squirmed and, just as he was ready to cry out again, the heat subsided and along with it, the pain. Looking up, Azaria saw his father grinning, one eyebrow raised as though he had just shared a very good secret.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

“How did you do that?” asked Azaria.

“A new lesson for you, my son,” he said. “Healing. Something you’ll be able to do once you get your horn.”

About the Author:

SUZANNE DE MONTIGNY wrote her first unicorn novel at the age of twelve. Several years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with the unicorns. As a teacher in Vancouver, B.C., she learned she could spin a good tale that kept kids and teachers begging for more. The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy is her first novel. She lives in Burnaby, B.C. with her husband and two boys.

Customer Reviews:

"A loud, hissing sound filled the air. The unicorns looked up, their eyes filled with horror."rnrnWith this exciting and intriguing introduction, Suzanne de Montigny commences her marvelous fantasy, THE SHADOW OF THE UNICORN, THE LEGACY. Soon we meet Azaria, a unicorn colt, Darius, a young clairvoyant dinosaur, and the greedy and ruthless leader of the creatures who walk on two legs. Fantasy devotees of all ages should love this wonderful story told with a congenial and charming pen.rnrnReaders should also be aware thst twenty percent of all proceeds from sale of the book will go to the Third World Eye Care Society, a group of eye specialists who travel to third world countries delivering thousands of pairs of glasses, and performing eye surgery for free. rn

Azaria, a unicorn, is born right before a time of great change. He and his father befriend Darius, a dinosaur who is also a Seer. Darius predicts the coming of planetary disaster, but not when or how. The time of change arrives in the form of a meteor, which brings climactic anomalies that nearly destroy the unicorns. The storms do destroy most of the dinosaurs, only Darius is left alive. There is also another change with the meteor, the ones who walk on two legs, humans relocate to an area where the unicorns have always had sanctuary. One of these humans, Ishmael, proves to be a major problem for Azaria and his herd. Their mettle is tested to its limits, with some of the magical creatures giving in to very human emotions. Can they survive?rnSuzanne di Montigny weaves a magical tale for children from seven to twelve years of age. The plight of the unicorns, what they endure, is a thing some children face daily, although not in the same manner. Yet, she manages to keep the story on an entertaining level. Di Montigny stretches her writing muscles to delight young readers, and their parents who should share this story, and keep them coming back for more.rn

I just finished reading The Shadow of the Unicorn. What a story teller Suzanne de Montigny is. She combined unicorns with dinosaurs and spun a tail of magic that kept me turning the pages, not to mention throwing in an evil that came in the form of a human!rnrnWhat an enjoyable story - and here I thought these mystic animals were extinct. I just didn't know what to look for!

Unicorn in the title is what drew me to this story, as I'm sure it also attract young readers especially girls. They will love the main characters of Darius and Azaria (a dinosaur and a unicorn).rnrnIt is always good to see the world from a different perspective, and Suzanne shows the greed of humans through the dinosaurs and unicorns' eyes.rnrnAs mentioned by others, Darius teaching Azaria to become invisible is delightful, and kids may even try this themselves!rnrnBoys 8-10 will like this because of the dinosaurs, and girls 8-12 will like this because of the unicorns.rnrnMay be some tears shed at the end of this story so be forewarned.

A great read, not just for young adults. I couldn't put it down. It had me crying & wanting more. Loved it!

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