Rampant

A little strange but it was good...

I actually received this book my mistake when ordering on line but I decided to give it a shot. The premise is a little strange but the story is interesting. I wish that it would have included more information at the end. A chapter explaining what happens after the big "battle" would have been good. The character names made it seem a little silly as well. If you love supernatural/fantasy books but need a change of pace from the current vampire/werewolf frenzy then this might be what you are looking for. If nothing else it provides good conversation. "yeah, I am reading a book about unicorn hunters who protect people from venomous unicorns with razor sharp teeth that try to eat people!" lol

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A bit of a let down

I read this book while I was at a weekend reunion with some of my college friends, and the first line of the synopsis became a running joke among us: "Forget everything you ever knew about." fill in blank. However, even in this text, that's not entirely true anyway. There are several different types of unicorns, but they're mostly still horse-like with a horn on the end of their heads. They still largely embody the image that comes to mind for the unicorn, just not the mythology surrounding it.

The premise of the book was also a bit of a running joke, but these particular friends are lit nerds, so something like Rampant or even Harry Potter is likely to be scoffed at. Give me dry, literary realism or give me death!

I can say, though, to the readers who love nothing more that to lose themselves in high-octane fantasy thriller that this book will leave you disappointed. Astrid, the narrator and main character, is wretchedly, painfully, make me want to punch myself in the face whiney throughout the entire book.

Oh, I feel so bad for you Astrid-you poor, poor soul. You mean to tell me that you have super unicorn hunting powers that enable you to be part of an ancient secret society with all sorts of killer perks, and all you want to do is be a normal girl who loses her virginity at prom? Sorry, but I don't buy it. Stephanie Meyer's writing may not be stellar, but she really sells the vampire mythology in a way that makes you want to be part of it. I'm sorry Diana, I think you have a great concept for what could be a very engaging new sort of fantasy world that people want to be part of, but you didn't do the best job convincing us we should care. Perhaps it would have been better told from the perspective of one of the unicorn hunters who did want to be there, and loved nothing more than the thrill of driving that knife through the throat of the blood-thirsty, one-horned beast.

I want to know more about the fantasy, the history, and the magical powers that the girls have. More or less, they're not great at hunting unicorns, they sit on a chair which gives them special powers, and then they're great at hunting unicorns, soon culminating in a 'final battle' that blurs by in just a few pages. Alas, maybe we'll see a better sequel.

-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com

Think unicorns are sweet, magical horse-like creatures? Think again!

Diana Peterfreund introduces us to the darker side of unicorns in her novel RAMPANT. Peterfreund's unicorns are man-eating monsters. They can kill with poison in their horns, rip someone apart with their sharp teeth, and some have breath that can kill (literally).

Astrid Llewelyn has listened to her mother's crazy stories about extinct man-eating unicorns for years. Astrid never believed the stories - until the night her date ended up on the sharp end of a unicorn horn.

Now her mother's stories are all too real, and Astrid is sent to Rome for training as a unicorn hunter. She meets a group of other virgin descendants of Alexander the Great, and together they train to hunt and kill unicorns.

But Astrid doesn't want to be a hunter.

I enjoyed reading RAMPANT. There was some sexual tension and scenes of passion, as well as discussion about sex, but not enough to bother me. I'd recommend this for older readers 14+ because of the content.

I enjoyed the characters and learning about their lives. Astrid is strong, and yet vulnerable enough to make her real. The characters and their lives will run Rampant in my memory for a long time, but in a good way.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Definitely unique!

I have just started this book and I must say, it is very unique in it's story-line. Lately, it seems all the newest books are vampires. I say "MOVE OVER VAMPS!" We've got us some evil unicorns ready to rock the world. I hate putting this book down at school and can't wait to finish it. So far, I love it. It is sure to take your mind off the real world.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Who says YA fiction is just for kids?

I picked up a copy of Diana Peterfreund's "Rampant" the day it was released, and from the moment I began reading it I was completely absorbed in the story. I found it hard to put down, even when I knew I should be working instead of reading (shh, don't tell my boss)!

Diana really seems to have done her homework on this one - she paints amazing, vivid pictures of locations, characters, and even mythical beasts. That her main character grapples with the thought of virginity's worth (an issue that many young women are faced with) is an especially interesting touch, one which I don't remember reading about in any young adult fiction that was available to me as a kid.

In fact, though this book is sold as YA fiction, I feel like it's accessible to adults as well, and have recently pitched it to my book club as our September read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!!!!!!!!

This was by far the best book I have ever read! Though I wouldn't reconmend for any one under 12 or 13.

Avekit

This book is the bestest book ever

Forget the history books, unicorns are fearsome.

What can one not say about Rampant!
This book is a unicorn revolution.
I love the opening; reading a shiny fluffy unicorn story to some girls full of rainbows and smiles. Then enter the boyfriend taking a walk with a girl and wait..... Wait.... The freaking unicorn comes slavering and mauling the boys leg with it's twisted horrific horn into his flesh.
This story was amazing.
The snark was excellent. The characters were awesome. The flow of the whole book rocked. I cannot wait to run out and buy the next book asap it was so good.
I was so happy with the book because the characters were so amazing and the dialog was so fun to read. I was not slow, there was not too much description or back plot. I am surprised I had not heard much about the book before I picked it up.
Go read it! You will be surprised and enjoy Rampant.

Hmmm...

I'm a big fan of Diana Peterfreund's Secret Society Girl series.
Her writing sparkles, and she does a fabulous job of building relationships. So even thought I was skeptical when I first heard the premise for her new series, I figured I would give it a try. Killer unicorns? Hmmm. Now I know why I was skeptical. Peterfreund did nothing to make me believe in these deadly beasts, or even that the virgin girls who can kill them actually have special powers. It just came off flat. I felt like Peterfreund was trying too hard to be Buffy and The House of Night all in one. Stick to chick lit/romantic comedy, Ms. Peterfreund.

Exciting Twist On a Legend

I enjoyed each of the characters in this novel and loved the refreshing twist on the legend of unicorns. It was packed with action but still managed to slow down enough when it needed to so that I cared about the characters and became invested in the world. Loved it!

There is no My Little Pony magic here

RAMPANT, by Diana Peterfreund, was a phenomenal story about the non-cuddly version of unicorns depicted throughout history. Peterfreund created a kick-ass female warrior that rivaled the best of the best. And also opened my imagination to the horrible nature of these creatures.

This book was nothing like what I could have dreamed of. The title of the series being 'Killer Unicorns' was comical to me at the beginning. But after the first scene with a unicorn almost mauling Astrid's boyfriend, I knew that this book would be quite an adventure. This story contained another mother that I was dying to get rid of. Her obsession with unicorns and being an embarrassment to her family made my skin itch and I was hoping for Astrid to get away from her. I loved that in this book, my wish came true! Astrid was sent off to Rome to train to be a real-life unicorn hunter.

The characters were absolutely fantastic. The differing attitudes and cultures among the girls made it very funny to say the least. I found their spats and general conversation making me giggle. I absolutely loved Phil. She was the perfect older cousin and sidekick for Astrid. And Giovanni (swoon) was definitely the perfect gentleman. He was a perfect match for Astrid and he definitely kept her head on straight.

Although the fight scenes with the unicorns were gruesome, graphic, and caused a lot of harm to the girls, I loved them. They were not sugar coated at all, and they depicted real life and death battles that made this profession very dangerous. It was a wonder that any of these girls answered their calling because personally I would not want to, but that is what you get when you create an amazing female warrior character like Astrid.

I highly recommend this book. It is definitely a girl-power kind of book with some danger, battling, and a little bit of romance all mixed into one.

review taken from One Book At A Time http://onebooktime.blogspot.com

I have to admit, I thought this book sounded interesting, but couldn't help but think of really bad horror movies. Killer unicorns just sounds so cheesy! But, actually the author does a great job of actually making them seem very terrifying. I liked how this takes place in the real world but ordinary people can't see unicorns. Although, I really wonder what people thought was killing all the animals (and occasionally people) in the area.

Astrid was fun. She really doubts the stories her mom tells her, even after she witnessed the attack on her boyfriend. And when she does start to believe, she fights what others tell her she was born to do. But then really who would believe they were born to be a virgin hunter of unicorns. If the story wasn't so serious with the job the hunters are suppose to do, it would be almost comical. I liked the other hunters as well. Most of them are background characters, but they all have very distinct personalities. I especially liked Astrid's cousin Phil. I don't think she ever took her position seriously and she was a bit careless (not that what happens to her is in any way her fault). But she was fiery and didn't let anybody tell her what to do.

I loved the myths worked in about the unicorns throughout history. The entire story seems entirely believable. I did think the sex stuff was a bit over the top. I got a little tired of hearing about the requirement of being a virgin to be a hunter (although the test of determining virginity raised my eyebrows lol). Plus I didn't like the scene with Astrid basically throwing herself at Giovanni. I know she was desperate to get out of her role as a hunter, it just seemed slightly out of character. So in that aspect, I think I would recommend this to older teens and those of us young at heart!

new twist on unicorns!

i loved the twist this book took on the classic view of unicorns. it was unique and a fun read. the plot kept momentum through the whole book and i finished it in 2 days! i would recommend it for a fun read.

Killer Unicorns!

Killer Unicorns! You've got to be kidding me! That's what I thought when I saw this at my local bookstore. I mean, how cool is that? Poisonous horns and fangs, Secret Nun Societies, Mystical healing powers. It's just such a cool concept, you have to love it. Astrid is a kick-*ss protagonist. She's totally put-off by the idea of Unicorns in the beginning. Her crazy mom's always spouting nonsense about them being descendants of the greatest Unicorn Hunter ever! Then, when Astrid's boy toy is attacked, she has to consider that everything her mother's ever said about Unicorns is true. Lots of action scenes that get quite gory for those with a weak stomach. Definitely not for the under 12 demographic. Lots of sexual references, since to be a Hunter you have to be a virgin. So of course there's lots of sexual tension with the love interest. This is the first book in the Killer Unicorn series, with the second, Ascendant is due out Sept. 28 2010. So if you like to step out of the box with what you read, mix-it-up and try this one on for size. I doubt you'll be sorry you did.

Absolutely Wonderful

This is a must read book. The author has an excellent writing style and is very educated in "real" unicorn lore and knows her setting well, Rome. It is always nice to read a book where the author knows a lot about what they're writing. I loved the twist on how unicorns are lurid killers and not angelic beings. I loved the strong female characters and despite the fantasy aspect of the plot the characters were very down to earth and relatable. It was a wonderful book and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal books or fantasy!

Wow!

I found Rampant by Diana Peterfruend to be an excellent read! I thought it was exciting and new, and also romantic and sometimes touching. It had a fantastic cast of extremely strong girls, who, aside from being awesome and kick-butt, were also real people. There was just the right amount of romance, but the truly magical relationships were between the girls themselves. They were all living together, slaying unicorns, and some of them didn't get along, some of them were friends, and some were family. Just like real people. It was a book that made me wish it were longer. Can't wait for the next books to come out! I would recommend this to everyone in the world. It is truly excellent.

I was just attacked by a Unicorn

Diana creates characters that are easily related to, exciting, and that you end up caring a great deal for. The novel seamlessly blends unicorn lore into the real world that we live in. Now if only I could stop seeing them in my backyard.

killer unicorns attack!

Diana Peterfreund would like to take a moment to kindly rip to shreds everything you previously thought you knew about unicorns. Unicorns are not the fluffy, magical creatures from your childhood storybooks. In actuality, they are vicious, killer beasts whose horns can kill with a single scratch. Oh, and another happy thought? These man eating monsters aren't fiction and they aren't extinct.

These are the facts Astrid Llewelyn has heard from her certifiable mother since birth. Needless to say she's a skeptic. But all that changes when her boyfriend is gored by a rampaging unicorn and Astrid is suddenly shipped off to a convent of sorts in Italy where she will be trained to hunt (and kill) unicorns. Her qualifications? Astrid is descended from a long line of unicorn hunters; women who posses special abilities (like running or archery) which only manifest when they are in the presence of a unicorn, thus turning them into the perfect hunters of these killer beasties. It also doesn't hurt that Astrid is a virgin - much to her teenage chagrin. Female virgins are the only individuals immune to the deadly poison from a unicorn's horn and they also act as a sort of homing device for unicorns. Once again aiding in the Hunt and Kill agenda. But Astrid is a reluctant hunter to say the least. She doesn't feel like it should be her destiny to hunt unicorns like her fanatic mother believes. That is until she meets Giovanni in Rome and unicorns begin to attack her fellow hunters and Astrid discovers she has no choice but to join the fight against the unicorns.

Like many readers, I was eager to pick up Rampant. Come on! Killer unicorns - who would not read it on that premise alone? It's got to be one of the more ingenious concepts I've come across in quite a while. Astrid herself is a likable character although I did have some problems with her fanatical mom, Lillith. In essence she seemed a bit more like a plot tool than anything else. Lillith floats in and out of Astrid's life when convenient and never really acts like a mother figure at all. To be fair, Peterfreund never sets Lillith up as a model guardian - quite the opposite - her unicorn fascination has previously led to unemployment and general population shunning. So her actions are not necessarily out of character, they just didn't sit quite right with me.

In contrast, Astrid's interactions with Giovanni are blindingly real and absolute perfection. If you've read the Secret Society Girl series then you know just how well Peterfreund does relationships and Rampant is no exception. My only complaint? There simply weren't enough scenes between the studious Giovanni and Astrid to satisfy my inner romantic.

Weird plot line in this one!

I read this one because I wanted to see what the story line was. It's disturbing that the author could turn the subject of the story...unicorns...into something wicked. Dumb dialogue between characters also, and disliked the implied violence to animals within the pages of this book. If you are into sci-fi and fantasy, the Acorna series by Anne McCaffrey is much better!

Running Rampant!

Quick & Dirty: An imaginative and captivating read that will have you terrified one minute and shocked the next.

Opening Sentence: "'I will never really leave,' said the unicorn. Diamond sparkles floated from the tip of its glittering silver horn. 'I will always live in your heart.'"

The Review: What's this? Not my loveable Rainbow Brite? My Little Pony? Yeah, not so much and I loved it! Rampant is a well drawn story with solid unicorn lore, history and amazing world building. I absolutely loved Astrid. She is such a likeable and strong character, not to mention that she kicks major butt. Astrid is struggling with average teenage issues. She's dating the hottest and most popular guy in school who wants to take their relationship to the next level sexually, and dealing with the usual social pressures of school. A major event happens early on in the book and as a result, Astrid is off to Rome. There, she will learn more about the killer unicorns and the history of their hunters. Peterfreund does an excellent job detailing the existence of various types of unicorns. The unicorn lore is layered and complex, but it doesn't overshadow current events. It was very interesting taking this journey with Astrid. You see Astrid go from being the girl who is in denial and just wants a normal life, and abhors the idea of killing animals, to stepping up and taking charge, and owning her destiny. Her mom is a bit of a train wreck and a character that I couldn't get behind. She just felt so cold to me, rarely affectionate with her daughter, and had such unrealistic expectations of Astrid. At one point, I thought that she was pathetic for trying to live her life through her daughter. I have to admit that I really loved Bonegrinder. It was really hard reading some of those scenes because I just didn't want anything bad to happen to my beloved and blood-thirsty Bonegrinder. It will be interesting getting to know the other hunters better and hearing more of their back-story. The love story between Astrid and Giovanni is actually pretty devastating. Astrid grapples with her physical and emotional reactions to Giovanni, and looks to him as a way out of the death and destruction. Giovanni is older and more experienced, and views his relationship with Astrid as more than physical gratification. Their relationship will certainly be fraught with difficulty and full of sacrifice for both parties.

Overall, I think Rampant is an excellent read. These rabid and deadly unicorns will absolutely terrify you. This book has it all, from making out, to fight scenes, flesh eating mythical creatures, deadly kills, heartbreak, and downright gore. The pacing of the book is good and the premise is certainly engaging. I actually bit all of my nails off while reading this book. Many thanks, Ms. Peterfreund. Yes, I did go to get a manicure afterward. I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel.

Notable Scene: Again, the darkness quivered, deepest indigo on black. But then, as I had that night in the forest, I saw it more clearly. I.felt it. Just beyond the arch it stood, waiting for me, waiting for the boys, waiting to pounce. Far bigger than Bonegrinder. Far bigger than any zhi. Dappled skin, a heavy, dark mane, and a long, evil horn.

"Are you all right?" Giovanni asked, taking my arm and pulling me back toward him. "I've never seen anyone move so fast," he went on. "You looked like you disappeared for a second."