I pre-ordered this book because I'm smart, so I've actually had my claws on it for over a week! (Not that it took me that long at all...!)
In the latest book in the Amelia Fang universe, we are reunited with the gang - Amelia, Florence, Grimaldi, Prince Tangine and, of course, Squashy!
If we all remember rightly, the end of Barbaric Hall saw the revelation that Tangine is only HALF vampire! The other half.... FAIRY *gasp*. Anderson's debut Amelia Fang concludes with the gang realising that they need to find and rescue Tangine's mother, the Queen fairy, Fairyweather. They leave their comforting home of Nocturnia and travel to the gross and sickening Glitteropolis with the help of a spritely leprechaun McSparkle.
Armed with the knowledge that the Creatures of the Light are NOT dangerous, some VERY convincing disguises, and a friendship that can achieve anything, the gang overcome some glittery and sparkly obstacles, come face-to-face with singing angel-kittens (AAAHHH!!) and save the fate of some very familiar faces...
The plot is fast-paced and action-packed - brilliant for chapter reading, because if you are only reading a few pages at one time, then you can guarantee that lots will happen in a short space of time. Bad if you have will-power issues and want to devour it in one sitting though... I've said this before, but this is one of those books where you say "Ok, I need to go to bed, I'll just read up to page X" and before you know it, you've exceeded that number by an embarrassingly large amount. Just as time flies when you're having fun, pages do too.
As the plot unfolds and suspicions become facts, Anderson nails the pace. It isn't too slow that it becomes boring, but it isn't too quick that children may miss certain things. There was a point where something happened (no spoilers here, go and read it yourself), and I thought "She isn't going to just gloss over that, is she? That's pretty important" and sure enough, I turn the page and Amelia and Tangine verbalise the solution to my fears. It's so easy to become invested in the lives of a vampire, a yeti (rare breed), a mini Grim Reaper, and a half-vampire, half-fairy Prince. But hey, here I am, a 22 year old woman, wondering if I, a mere human, could ever possibly fit into the dynamic of such as bad-ass friendship group.
Anderson knows exactly how to create a fun and exciting story for all, and still include some heart-warming elements such as friendship and tolerance of others: two things that children should always have.
The only negative thing I have to say is that I think it is a terrible shame that Amelia Fang and the Unicorn Lords isn't in colour. The vibrancy of Anderson's words coupled with her GORGEOUS illustrations DEMANDS technicolour. I know the reason it is in black and white is for some boring adult business excuse like finances-schminances or something, but I'd like to think we are being saved from possible explosion (or implosion) due to being exposed to that much brilliance... Anderson's Instagram will have to do for now.
Couple of adult things that made me laugh:
- If you have ever missed a train you NEEDED to be on, Chapter 6 will bring back some PTSD. I was ON a train reading that and I felt nervous.
- Another train thing - only one Rainbow Rail a day? And delays? Sounds all too familiar...
- Grimaldi's sugar hangover is very relatable... He says, as we all do, "I never want to eat or drink or SMELL sugar again" as he clutches his head. I really felt this one. Grab a paracetamol and a Lucozade pal, you'll get through this x
- Ricky and Graham are hilarious. Absolutely cracked me up!
Amelia Fang and the Memory Thief (green edges!!) will hit our bookshelves in October 2018!! I'm so incredibly happy for the amazing Laura Ellen Anderson, as Egmont have snapped her up for a further three books! Great news for a very talented lady.
You can buy Amelia Fang and the Unicorn Lords here or here. Enjoy!
Honestly, I was worried that I wouldn't like Unicorn Lords as much as Barbaric Hall, but I guess it's similar to when parents are worried they won't love their second child as much as their first-born*, but you just find the love - your heart expands. That happened to me, without sounding too dramatic.
BUTTON RATING:
(Obviously. Did you expect anything less?)
Bye x
P.S. I missed Wooo in this book! I really do hope that Anderson has a Wooo origin story up her sleeve...! What was he doing while all of this was going on? Huh? Solving crimes, wasn't he? I predicted it in my last Amelia Fang post. I knew it.
*(as a first-born, I can confirm that you can't love the other ones as much because we are the best).
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