Book Review: Ascendant

Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund ISBN 9780061490026

My brother recently asked this random question, "What mythical beast would you like to have with you in a fight?" Easy answer-Unicorn!

Some of you might be shaking your heads in puzzlement over why I would pick a creature adored by little girls in pig-tails. Those of you who read Peterfreund's Rampant are more in the know. Unicorns are not all rainbows and sunshine. They are killing murderous beasts once doomed to spend centuries hiding in the shadows, but no more. The beasts are back, they want revenge--they are hungry.

In the first book, Astrid learns that she is one of a group of girls descended from Alexander the Great, with the task of hunting down and killing a dangerous beast once believe to only exist in myth and legend. Oh, yeah, the girls have to be virgins too.

Now, the whole world knows that the unicorns really do exist. The Vatican has stepped in to help fund the Order, with a few modifications of course. Astrid's mom is trying to negotiate the rights to a televised expose, finding hunters is getting more difficult, her best friend is acting a little odd, and oh yeah, her relationship has just gone long distance. Frustrated, Astrid jumps on the chance to track down the guy who raped her cousin, a detour that leads her back to Gordian Pharmaceuticals, their new CEO, Unicorn medical testing, and the surprise appearance of her missing ex-boyfriend, Brandt.

Why I picked it up: I loved the first book and couldn’t wait to find out if they discovered the source of The Remedy.

Why I finished it: The whole book left me hooked. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there would be a new twist.

I’d give it to: Anyone sick of vampire romances, looking for a good book about girls with swords, crossbows, and alicorn knives.