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.”

FTC Advisory: I purchased a copy of this book. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site. ( )

When I met Diana Peterfreund and heard her speak of this book, I was intrigued. While the book has its feet firmly rooted in the fantasy genre, I think this book's realism is what will resonate with young women. Peterfreund has used the unicorn theme as a vehicle to talk about the pressures that teenage girls face, that often lead them away from reaching their full potential. Dealing with everything from low self-esteem to parent pressure to peer pressure and even rape, Peterfreund gives one of the most balanced and level-headed views of teenage love and sex--demonstrating clearly the wonder and joy of it as well as the dangers and pitfalls--ever recorded in the pages of young adult lit.

This is an unusual balance to find in a) a young adult novel and b) a fantasy novel. I think it demonstrates the talent and potential of an author whose voice is one that young girls need to hear desperately. Rampant is the grrrl power antidote to books like Twilight that message to young girls that self-purpose and fulfillment only come in the arms of a man.

This book has earned its place in the libraries of secondary schools and I highly recommend it to women of all ages (and to boys as well, who will learn much about how to treat a lady from its pages). I look forward to reading much more from this author. I hope she will avoid turning this book into a series, and instead present more stories with strong female characters. ( )

Had heard about this book on various blogs, but my initial thought was: killer unicorns? Yeah, right! But people kept raving about it, so decided to take a look. The first page had me hooked, and I stayed up much too late to finish reading it! This is one of my favorite types of books, in that it grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go!

Astrid is the main character, who grew up thinking her mother was more than a little crazy because she insisted that they were descendants of unicorn hunters. Then one night her new boyfriend is attacked by a unicorn! Before she knows it, Astrid is shipped off to Rome to begin her training as a unicorn hunter. Unfortunately, the training turns out to be trial & error as the order was disbanded way back when the unicorns were thought to be extinct, and it's left to a bunch of teenagers (and one young man) to try to figure things out.

While the idea of killer unicorns and virgin hunters may be a little out there, Diana does a great job of making it all seem entirely possible. It doesn't hurt that Astrid is a skeptic as well, and we come to terms with the situation together.

All in all, this was a great read and I recommend that everyone give it a chance. Had an interesting well-paced plot, good writing, and believable characters. Plus, I adored Bonegrinder, the baby unicorn! Gave it my highest rating as I didn't want to put it down despite having to work the next day. ( )

The unicorns of fairytales are replaced by five species of killer unicorns, elephant sized on down. Astrid Llewelyn's mother has spent her life filling Astride's head of tales of fulfilling her family destiny, being descended from one of the great unicorn huntresses. As the unicorns begin re-emerging, a place called the Cloisters in Rome re-opens and young girls, who will become the new hunters, come together. The story relies on myth and fantasty and Peterfreund's amazing imagination creating a new reality for the myths of unicorns. I was surprised at how much I liked the book, even with the very grisly hunt scenes sprinkled throughout the story. ( )

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. ( )