Ascendant

November 22, 2010
In this thrilling sequel to Peterfreund's Rampant, Astrid Llewelyn has come to terms with her magical abilities to hunt poisonous flesh-eating unicorns, but not with the cloistered, nun-like lifestyle it demands of her, nor of the changes to her body ("I looked like a bodybuilder. It wasn't feminine. It wasn't beautiful"). Fate in the form of Isabeau Jaeger, the wife of an old enemy, offers Astrid a new job that appears tailor-made for reconciling her present life with her earlier dreams of a medical career: guarding a herd of captive unicorns, paired with university science classes, all for greater good of researching the Remedy, the legendary unicorn-sourced cure-all. But luxurious surroundings, fancy new clothes, and a renewed friendship with an ex-boyfriend-turned-research-colleague fail to still Astrid's growing unease about the ethics of unicorn treatment and her role in determining the future of the unicorn species, as well as her own destiny. The strong yet vulnerable heroine, compelling conflicts, and exquisite settings should find a voracious audience in those familiar with the first installment, though the complexities of Peterfreund's world will be more challenging for readers beginning mid-series. Ages 14–up.

September 1, 2010

Gr 9 Up-Second novels sometimes pale in comparison to the series opener. Ascendant is not one of them. More sophisticated in both content and structure than the straightforward Rampant (HarperTeen, 2009), this title echoes the growing development of narrator Astrid as she questions the ethical complexities of her new life as a unicorn hunter. The threat of man-eating unicorns is increasing worldwide, and only the virgin descendants of Alexander the Great can stand against them. Many girls are choosing to give up their eligibility rather than accept the challenge, making new hunters difficult to find and train. Astrid, who hates hunting even while loving the powers that her calling gives her, takes a job with a pharmaceutical company, guarding the unicorns they use for testing. Once, she hoped to become a doctor, and her search for the recipe for the Remedy, a unicorn-based cure-all, appeals to her as an echo of the life she once wanted. But faced with the realities of animal testing and dubious behavior on the part of her employers, Astrid must decide where her loyalties lie, and the impact of that choice takes her in a direction she never imagined possible. Peterfreund is sure to gain a stronger following with Ascendant, and fans will eagerly await further titles in the series.-Alana Joli Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2010
Grades 8-11 Hard on the heels of Rampant (2009), Ascendant continues the story of unicorn hunters living in an alternate modern-day world. Astrid grows disenchanted with her job hunting the flesh-eating beasts after witnessing a unicorn birth and sustaining a unicorn-caused injury that, ironically, is somewhat eased by being in their presence. Although her navet' sometimes seems contrived, Astrid is painted with a strong brush in this uneven mix of environmental advocacy and longing for loveboth familial and sexual. Although the ecological message is front and center, it is rather dark, so this isnt for Carl Hiaasens Hoot (2002) crowd.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2011
Astrid Llewelyn (Rampant) continues in her ancestors' footsteps as a unicorn hunter protecting humankind from the violent beasts. However, when she leaves her circle of fellow huntresses to study science related to the unicorns' magic, she begins questioning the ethics of her calling. Fast paced and filled with well-defined fantastical elements and ethical dilemmas, the text is entertaining and intriguing.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)