Customer Reviews

Rampant

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Diana Peterfreund's Rampant is a story about young high school girl, Astrid, who's a descendant froma long line of Unicorn hunters but since they've been extinct for centuries she's had no real reason to ever try her hand at hunting. In fact, she's having a hard time even believing her mother's ancestor stories until her boyfriend is attacked by one mid makeout one night. That night and that unicorn force Astrid to move to Italy to train as the unicorn hunter her mother believe she's meant to be but it is not all it is cracked up to be when Astrid realizes the ethics and morals involved if she is to step into the shoes of a hunter and take hold of her destiny.

Killer Unicorns. That is what Rampant is about. No, it's not the only thing, but it is nonetheless centered on a concept that is unique and original. It was hard to get around the idea of killer unicorns for the sole reason that I have grown up around the idea of happy go-lucky unicorns and to make a 180 into the dark and twisted world Diana Peterfreund's Rampant took me a few pages.

Right from the start Diana throws us into the gnarly world of killer unicorns, sex, and death. Diana doesn't spare us the nitty gritty and goes for it with the highest of bravery. The romance is not in any way safe or easy and the relationships are difficult and troubled. The characters are tough and clever who deal with `real' issues even among killer unicorns. Best of all, Diana makes this concept believable and with ease threw me deep into the book knowing that I will be able to swim through this book enjoying every minute.

What I most admire Peterfreund for is the brilliant re-imagination of the unicorn myth blending mythology and history and new found ideas into a seamless plot arc with deep and multi-dimensional characters. Though at times the plot took a toll on me (meaning, the world building was extensive, but needed) I was still captivated and immensely intrigued by Astrid, Phillipa and Giovanni's adventure. The supporting characters left me apathetic to their outcome. Perhaps because the stage needed to be set and they were merely extra bones in the whole skeleton of the story that eventually will be used more and we'll be able to learn more about them.

I am looking forward to the sequel and cannot wait to see what Astrid's future hold. How will Astrid and Giovanni's relationship grow, and how will Phillipa's role shape the remaining of the story. But most of all I am intrigued to see what the unicorns are planning and how the myth is retold in this modern world setting.

The sparkly, innocent creatures of lore are a myth. Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. And they can only be killed by virgin descendants of Alexander the Great.

Fortunately, unicorns have been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.
Or not.

Astrid Llewelyn has always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend in the woods -- thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to prom -- Astrid learns that unicorns are real and dangerous, and she has a family legacy to uphold. Her mother packs her off to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters, all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to -- perhaps most dangerously of all -- her growing attraction to a handsome art student... and a relationship that could jeopardize everything.

What image comes to mind when you think of a unicorn? Rainbows and green meadows? Goodness and purity? Well these my friends, are not the unicorns we discover in the world of Rampant! These unicorns can kill you with their venomous acid breath or rip a hole in you with their poisonous horns. Yeah, not too pleasant...

I was caught up in this book from the first few pages. Astrid's adventure starts in chapter one and the roller coaster continues all the way to the last page. She is a strong willed, head strong character whose only weakness seams to be the will of her mother. For years Astrid's mom has been telling her about vicious unicorns and her families destiny to destroy them.

When a strange course of events leads Astrid to Rome she starts to realize that maybe her mothers stories aren't so crazy after all. There she meets other girls who share a similar legacy as her own and together they train to battle the deadly unicorns. When the motives of a wealthy benefactor come in to question, Astrid must take things into her own hands in order to fulfill her promise to an unlikely co-conspirator.

Lots of action and actually, quite a bit of gore! Diverse characters including the cloisters resident unicorn (because there are many different breeds, some much smaller and with different intentions towards the girls) her name...Bonegrinder, a breed of unicorn called Zhi that worships the hunters. Of course we have the love interests who at one point, are the center of a huge tragedy. The love story is always an essential part of the story :) but the best part of Rampant is the story surrounding the girls and their unicorn hunting legacy...it's captivating!

Wonderful writing and a great story...paranormal action/romance at its best!

Perfectly suited for 7th grade and up!

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.

Another stumbling block to my enjoyment had to be the book's constant preoccupation with sex. I understand that a large part of Astrid being able to hunt unicorns is due to the fact that she is a virgin, but it was constantly pushed and seemed to be incorporated into every new plot development. After a bit, I felt like all Astrid did was: fight unicorns, wait around convent, talk about sex, fight unicorns, talk about sex, wait around convent, rinse, repeat. Perhaps the reason I was less than impressed with this cycle is simply because there were so many other interesting things that could have been discussed. She's in ROME! And a really cute boy wants to spend time with her! And there are killer unicorns after her! Sheesh. I'll get off my soapbox now and just hope that Ascendant offers more in the way of killer unicorn action and face time with cutie-boy Giovanni.

Astrid is 16 and has been told since she was younger to fear unicorns. That they are evil beasts. Her mother has shared tales of her ancestors fighting them, and ultimately leaving them to extinction. Astrid always thought her mom was nuts, until one night her boyfriend, and prom date hopeful, is stabbed by a Zhi (a tiny unicorn about the size of a goat) and would have died without her mother's elixir that saves his life. Astrid doesn't want to believe that these creatures are real, and she tries to make up excuses as to what that really was that mauled her date. She doesn't realize the gravity of the situation until she is sent to a convent in Rome, where her and other young girls will train to fight and slay the monsters that are attracted to them BECAUSE they are slayers.

I hear ya. I was thinking the same exact thing when I read the blurb for this one. Evil UNICORNS? Are you kidding me? But Diana Peterfreund has almost changed how I see them. From beautiful, magical, and majestic creatures, to horrible beast that will kill anything that gets in their way. Oh yeah, and only a female warrior, virgin, and direct descendant of Alexander The Great can kill them. These unicorns are extremely fast, vicious, and deadly predators. Peterfreund did some major research or she put a whole new spin on them and made them her own. Either way I commend her for taking this risk. I can't imagine it will be easy for people to pick this book up after seeing what it's about.

Astrid was an interesting character, she shows tremendous growth through the story. Although, in parts I wanted to strangle her for being so hardheaded! I liked the type and amount of detail, I enjoyed the dialogue, and the characters were pretty good. There were quite a few girls to keep track of in the convent, and I'm not sure if when they were all introduced if I caught who each one was, who they were related to, and what their specialties were, but I caught on soon enough. I enjoyed going through Astrid's struggles and different stages like disbelief in the beasts, realization after seeing and killing one, the sadness that she might not be good enough, being desperate to get out of the convent, and her feelings of strength and responsibility she gains from being a slayer.

The setting in Rome gives the story a great visual backdrop. As well as a place for Astrid to find a little romance. Astrid's chance at a boyfriend is hindered by the fact that wherever she goes...the unicorns hunt her out. The romance is believable and is sprinkled throughout the story, so it's not over done or too in your face.

Overall I went into this book very skeptical and came out the other end an ALMOST believer. I'm interested in a sequel when the time comes, but I'm not sure Rampant will work for as many people as other YA fantasy titles.

I'm a huge fan of Diana Peterfreund's work. I discovered her Secret Society Girl: An Ivy League Novel series last year and, in what seemed like no time at all, it quickly became one of my very favorites. Tap & Gown: An Ivy League Novel--the concluding volume of the quartet--came out in May and it was a perfectly splendid end to a series I know I'm going to re-read over and over again. The problem was I went into a bit of mourning when it was over. What saved me was knowing a brand new Peterfreund book was coming out just three short months away. The first in a new series (and a YA one at that!). I let the knowledge of the rather wonderfully titled RAMPANT carry me through as I said my goodbyes (for now) to Amy and the whole Eli gang.

Astrid Llewelyn's mother is nuts. For the whole of her sixteen years she has raised Astrid to believe in unicorns. And not just any old sparkly, frolicking through a meadow unicorns. Rabid, slavering, gore you through the chest and tear the skin from your bones sort of unicorns. According to her mother, Astrid is descended from a long line of virgin unicorn hunters stretching all the way back to Alexander the Great. Unfortunately, no one alive has ever actually seen one so Astrid does her best to ignore her mother's ravings and get on with her life. She's got a boyfriend who's gonna take her to the prom. That's normal. He's putting a rather large amount of pressure on her to go further than she'd like, but, hey, that's normal too, right? What is not normal is when a unicorn shows up mid-makeout, gores said boyfriend, and Astrid is shipped off to a unicorn hunter training facility in a crumbling convent in Rome. As she learns more and more about the history of unicorns and their hunters, Astrid comes to find that:

1. There are other girls out there like her.
2. Italian boys are hot.
3. The story her mother told her was not entirely accurate. There is, in fact, quite a bit more to it.

I always enjoy Diana Peterfreund's light touch with words. Her prose never feels heavy or disjointed and it's a pleasure letting your mind and eyes absorb the words as they come. RAMPANT's strengths lie in its worldbuilding--the seamless way in which unicorn lore and legends come together to form the fabric of reality in Astrid's world. They are horrifying creatures and, when Astrid encounters the more nightmarish ones, the aftereffects include vomiting and agony. I absolutely loved how heinous they were. Along with that, the history of the hunters is layered and complex and extremely well done. I occasionally find myself tiring during exposition that covers thousands of years, wanting to get back to the action of the main plot. Not so here. The stories and bloodlines and incarnations were so varied and interesting that all I wanted was more. My reaction to Astrid herself was harder to peg. I think I was expecting her to be "different" from the very beginning, whereas all she wanted was to be normal. She spent a lot of time and energy toward that end, preferring to worry over whether or not the art major hottie likes her and not over which weapon to wield against poisonous, flesh-eating monsters. It's not that I blame her. In fact, in a book that is not short, I still found myself wishing for more time between Astrid and her fellow hunters-in-training, between Astrid and her hottie. Against the background of thousands of years, those sections felt brief. I understand why. I just wanted to get to know them all better so that I could care about them more fervently. Over time Astrid's training and abilities begin to change her in such a way that it's my opinion she'll never see this side of normal again. I, of course, take delight in that prospect and am looking forward to the sequel with much anticipation.

If you've raised your eyebrows over the idea of killer unicorns, drop 'em and buy Rampant today. It's innovative and rich, one of the most contemporary-feeling urban fantasies I've read. The mythology is solid, the characters relatable, and the universe full and detailed. I read this novel in one sitting, and now I'm stuck waiting another year for the sequel! But that's okay- it'll be worth the wait!

I read this book because I got it as a random recommendation on Amazon, and I just couldn't say no to the idea of killer unicorns hunted by virgins descended from Alexander the Great. I didn't expect much, but I actually really enjoyed reading it and will read the sequel as well.

What I Liked:
Ultimately, Rampant is an adventure story. Astrid grows into a warrior throughout the story, and learns about who she is through this process. This book is a fun read--nothing too serious, but action-packed enough to keep you turning the pages. I loved the new take on the unicorn myth, wherein the creatures are fierce and scary, not sparkly and sweet. The book also examines some serious themes as well, but not in a heavy-handed way.

What I Didn't Like So Much:
I'm starting to feel like a broken record, but the male love interest, Giovanni wasn't particularly interesting to me--I honestly couldn't figure out why he was so special. I keep experiencing this over and over again in YA novels, and I just want to know more about the guys in books for young women (Sarah Dessen develops her male love interest characters very well, i.e. Wes from The Truth About Forever). Some of the unicorn myth was over-the-top for me, but that's probably more because I'm not as familiar with the fantasy genre. Lilith, Astrid's mother is insufferable, and I found myself skimming some of her scenes as a result.

Rampant is a fun, quick read that takes you on an adventure with Astrid. I recommend it to folks who love adventure and fantasy novels.

There is a funny story behind how I acquired this book. I actually received this book by mistake. I was browsing the recommended section on [...] and clicked on this book to add to my cart rather then the book I had been looking at. I didn't realize until I opened up my shipment and was like, "Rampant? What is this?" I decided to give it a shot even though the premise was a little strange. I love paranormal books but "Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns...?" I just don't know. The story turned out to be very interesting. Once again I am a sucker for a series and that's just what this is so I am glad that I get to find out what happens next in the whole big battle against the unicorns. I still snicker at that concept, I just can't help it.

The character names in the story were also I little silly. The story takes place in present day, so why is there a girl named Dorcus? To be honest it is mostly superficial things that I didn't like about this book. It was actually pretty good. 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

Astrid Llewelyn is a very dynamic character and the heroine of the story. She always shrugged off her mother's stories about killer unicorns until the day that one attacked her and her boyfriend. It is this very attack that suddenly provokes her sudden relocation to Rome. At first Astrid thinks this whole situation is insane, being trained as a unicorn hunter was not what she had planned for herself. At least she gets to do it at the ancient cloisters that hunters have used for centuries, and Italy is a perk right?

The unicorns seem to be all around the cloister just waiting to attack. That does not stop Astrid from venturing out and meeting Giovanni Cole, the hot art student living in Rome. When a sudden attack forces Astrid to use her hunter instincts to slay a unicorn she finally decides to accept her training. But there are many secrets that are being kept from her and soon Astrid does not know who or what to trust.

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.

Rampant is a good story, written by a good writer with a good brain. It's obvious throughout that Peterfreund meticulously planned her story and did the necessary research to tie her created mythology into both existing mythology and world history. I'm not an expert in either of those fields, so how much she might have fudged them to make that happen I don't know. And, to be blunt, I really don't care. She made it interesting, made it believable (in a fantasy novelish way) and for me, it all worked.

As a long time and still devoted Buffy fan, of course I saw similarities between Whedon's creation and that of Peterfreund. Teenage girl, destiny, slayage of supernatural creatures, yada, yada yada. And I'll admit that, early in the story, as the hunters were gathering in Rome, I was reminded strongly of Buffy's Season 7 and the Potentials storyline. It worried me a little, because the Potentials storyline pretty much made me want to scream and throw things at the television set. (I'm getting a little twitchy just thinking about it now.) So, for a few chapters there, I was worried that, despite the great writing, Rampant would end up disappointing me. Luckily that didn't come to pass. And while the similarities between Buffy and Rampant DO exist, Rampant establishes its own voice and I enjoyed it on its own merits.

Rampant is the story of unicorns - savage, man-killing unicorns - and the young girls, all descended from Alexander the Great, who are destined to hunt them. There is blood - a lot of it. There is gore, too. And there are a fair number of frank sexual discussions. Because virginity is, in a way, central to the plot, the topic is addressed more than once and in several different manners. All are suited to the story and could, IMHO, serve as a launching point for parents to talk with their daughters - and their sons, too, for that matter - about some of the issues raised. For parents who keep a close eye on the more `adult' aspects of the books their children read, though, Rampant is one you may wish to read first to determine how it fits into your family's guidelines.

The book isn't perfect. Some of the characters are under-developed and parts of the plot are fairly predictable. There's a lot of Rampant-world history to convey to readers and the exposition gets a little heavy in the first half, causing the story to drag a little. Just past mid-point, though, the story kicks into a higher gear, the intensity increases and my level of enjoyment went way up.

One of my favorite aspects of Rampant was the insight given into Astrid's mixed feelings about being a hunter and about the hunting itself. She was clearly torn, and not just because of the physical danger or the demands her destiny is making on her life and will make on her future. While she understands that killing these creatures seems to be currently very necessary, she also questions the morality of the killing and has a strong desire to see that research is done into possible alternatives. (Aside: I also appreciated that Astrid didn't get all preachy about this to everyone within earshot.) For all my love of Buffy, that was one thing that was never addressed to my satisfaction on the show. Though the `could some demons be good (or at least harmless)' idea was explored more deeply on Angel, the Series, for Buffy, it most often boiled down to "see demon, slay demon." If one or more sequels to Rampant are written, and I hope they are, I'd love to see the `are there alternatives?' storyline continued in them.

Recommended.