This is a review for the series as a whole.As a child, this has been my very favourite series along with the Stardust series by the same author, and it remains one of my very favourites even now. It was the foundation of my reading for years and I read the books steadily over the 5 year period in which they were published. The books absolutely enchanted me, and while I can't say they made me believe horses could really turn into unicorns (I believed that anyway) they really fed my imagination.Linda Chapman is a very talented children's author who can write engagingly for a young readership, but not patronise them. The pacing is quick, but amazingly she uses plenty of description to paint a very vivid picture in your mind. Her stories are an excellent example of how to explain to the readers how the character is feeling without making it tedious or leaving too much unsaid.The enchanting illustrations by Biz Hull, really enhance the sense of magic and realism (you may not think it can do both, but it does). I was a little disappointed when the illustrator changed half way through the series as it gave the story a slightly more cartoonish feel, but I got used to it and the new illustrations do have their own charm.As the series drew on, the stories got increasingly more imaginative, rather than petering into nothingness. I was enthralled whilst reading Moonlight Journey, as they travelled to Arcadia, the home of the unicorns, which is something I never thought would happen. As Lauren Foster grew older (albeit at a much slower rate than me) I got a sense of the slightly older age range these books were catering for, which I was pleased with as I was 12 by this time. The series ends in a surprisingly bittersweet way with the loss of a much loved character, showing that Linda Chapman is not afraid of bringing serious matters into a children's story.Whether you're a young child who loves magic and adventure, or an adult reading it to your son or daughter or looking for escapism, I highly recommend this series.
When I was younger I really loved this series! I used to be so obsessed with unicorns (and still are a bit) and I thought that these were just great! It made me feel like I could just come outside and find my very own unicorn! I bet even if I read them now I would still love them as much. I remember I had some obsession after that with pink quartz from the books, even got my own one. Overall I think that these were amazing books, mystical and nearly every girls dream. I may have to read them again now!
