This book is part of a loose series set in the same world but written by different authors. Tanith Lee wrote two in the series. I didn't read her previous book, The Black Unicorn, but the sisters, Lira and Tanaquil, are in both.

It is more of a novella than a full novel. This book can stand on its own, but I think it would be better to read the other one first.

I like the beginning and middle of the book, but it really dragged once some characters were gated to another world. Really not a lot happens in this book. I suppose it's more about the relationship between the two sisters, but even that is pretty thin.

I was disappointed in this one. I've read other books by Tanith Lee and this one doesn't come up to my memories of those. The book has some interesting ideas (about magic (about traveling between worlds) but none are fully explored.

Ths isn't a book that I would recommend. ( )

Not as good as its predecessor "Black Unicorn" but an interesting read nonetheless, one that further explores the themes set forth in the first. I'm hoping "Red Unicorn" will be more up to snuff... ( )

What ages would I recommend it too? Twelve and up.

Length? Several days.

Characters? Memorable, several characters.

Setting? Fantasy, alternate dimensions.

Written approximately? 1994.

Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? Ready to read more.

Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? No.

Short storyline: Tanaquil's journeys.

Notes for the reader: Something about this novel was off. To avoid a spoiler, one part, Tanaquil should have picked up on, and didn't. Maybe that's what bothers me so much about it. ( )

In the sequel to Black Unicorn, Tanaquil continues her exploration of her world and ends up captured by the widely feared Empress Veriam. While with the Empress and her crew, Tanaquil is made to fix the Empress' fierce gold unicorn--her battle machine to help her conquer the world. Tanaquil and company end up in another parallel world, this one the complete opposite of the paradise Tanaquil visited in the first book.
Again, I was happy with the pace of this story. Tanaquil grew on me, and I enjoyed her subtle sarcasm and snarkiness even more. It's a quick read, only 200-something pages and worth what little time it takes to read it. ( )

Possible spoiler alert:

I liked this better than Black Unicorn, but I'm still not sure about whether I'm going to hold on to the trilogy. I think it is good that Tanaquil got to see the hell world, so that she could see how earth is in balance. I'm disturbed by what happened with Lizra, and by the whole deal with Honj, which I'm guessing might be sorted out in the the third book. Those Mousps were cute! ( )