Blum's story moves along at a rapid pace, with her female heroine zipping from one adventure to the next. Often, only a single paragraph is devoted to what readers would consider a major event, such as a fight, for example. In this regard, there is not enough plot development for the story to be credible. What is somewhat disturbing is how easily Arica accepts her lot in life, neither cursing her fate nor expressing much anxiety over her inability to get back home (unlike Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz). In fact, throughout the story, Arica's character is rather flat and lifeless. To have a female protagonist in a fantasy is rare, and so it is unfortunate that, in this case, the author does not develop the main character into a stronger, more believable person. The plot is sometimes hard to follow. Text varies from very simple narrative to the extremely descriptive. Passages which express the unicorns' thoughts and messages to Arica are written in italics and contained between two asterisks.

Barnard's black-and-white pencil drawings, surrounded by decorative borders, suit the fantasy genre. The illustrator also includes a map of North Bundelag and its neighbouring lands at the beginning of the book, thereby giving readers a sense of the setting. A colourful, attractive cover is visually appealing and will attract readers (girls, especially).

Even though this book has all of the traditional elements of a fantasy and basically contains a good storyline, it will appeal only to diehard fantasy readers.

Recommended with Reservations.