Description
Description
In a desperate gamble to save her throne, a young monarch arranges a secret marriage, conceals it in the shadows of an enchanted forest--and unknowingly alters the fate of her world--in this dazzling novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale. Anne of Brittany was a child when France invaded Brittany and drove her royal father to his death. Now she is a young woman, sovereign duchess of an occupied realm, and France means to crown their conquest by marrying her to their king. Such an alliance would put her title, lands and body forever in the hands of her enemies. But Anne refuses to be the last duchess of Brittany. Her only hope of resisting conquest is another alliance, sealed with marriage, so Anne arranges a daring last gambit: a secret betrothal to Charles of France's greatest rival. But secrets are hard to keep in a world where rival courts spy on each other with divination. The forest of Broceliande was once the haunt of Merlin the Enchanter and the long-lost fairy queen. But magic is long-gone from Broceliande, except for the occasional sight of a unicorn and this one quirk: this ancient forest is completely inimical to divination. Pretending compliance with France, Anne plans a unicorn hunt in Broceliande. A bit of pointless pageantry. A diversion so she can wed in secret. Or so she thinks. In this rich and epic novel, the author of the acclaimed Winternight trilogy turns the real history of a remarkable woman into an unforgettable tale of mystery, enchantment, and the price of power.
About the Author
About the Author
Katherine Arden is the New York Times bestselling author of The Warm Hands of Ghosts, the Winternight trilogy, and the Small Spaces Quartet. In addition to writing, she enjoys aimless travel, growing flowers, and running wild through the woods with her dog, Moose. She lives in Vermont.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
Praise for Katherine Arden and The Unicorn Hunters "A glittering treasure chest of a novel, The Unicorn Hunters brought back all my childhood love of unicorns while offering a sophisticated, lyrical fantasy about a young woman navigating the impossible politics and gender dynamics of fifteenth-century Brittany. It's beautifully written and entirely delightful."--Heather Fawcett, New York Times bestselling author of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries "Katherine Arden writes beautiful, irresistible books--the kind you want to immediately reread, the kind you want to both share and hoard, the kind you carry around in your heart. Her books are full of exquisite prose, wonderful characters, and fantastic stories!"--Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling of The Spellshop "I loved every moment I spent in this magical, dangerous, and haunted realm in the company of its clever and captivating duchess."--Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of A Deadly Education "An alternate history in which . . . courtly romance makes friends with a steamier variety of physical contact. Fans of jousts, spells, dark magic, and brave women will find plenty of each here. A clever and inspiring reimagining of a little-remembered time and place."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Fanciful magic seeps into a historically grounded world in this immersive fantasy from Arden. . . . A richly detailed and enthralling tale of political intrigue, folkloric creatures, legendary missing cities, and romance. It's sure to captivate."--Publishers Weekly
"Fanciful magic seeps into a historically grounded world in this immersive fantasy from Arden. . . . A richly detailed and enthralling tale of political intrigue, folkloric creatures, legendary missing cities, and romance. It's sure to captivate."--Publishers Weekly
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Del Rey Books
Pub date:
2026-06-02
Length:
368 pages
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