If you haven't heard of it, check out the A to Z blog and join in the fun.
Here at Untethered Realms, we're taking on the Challenge as a group. Each day, one of us will be sharing with you a fantastical creature that may be from one of our books, a favorite movie, or something we just came up with as entertainment.
Today we have...
U is for Unicorn
Most people think of nice, happy, white Unicorns. Not me. My
Unicorns are black with crazed, red eyes and murder in their souls. They carry
the Riders of the North Wind on their backs and woe to anyone caught out in the
open during a Hunt. The Riders and their Unicorn mounts are introduced in book
one of the Jewels of Chandra series, Diamonds and Dust.
What about you? Do you prefer your Unicorns docile and happy or red-eye crazed with steam blowing from their nostrils?
I like my fantasy to have an edge of danger to go with the power, beauty and magic. And craziness doesn't go astray either.
ReplyDeleteImportant question: Does the pesky virginity requirement still apply?
Hi River .. I think of Unicorns in relation to the Unicorn Tapestries - that I first heard about when I wrote about Stirling Castle .. the 7 tapestries are now in the Met.
ReplyDeleteAlso I think of Suzanne Furness, here in the UK who blogs, with her header of Unicorns .. brightly coloured ones ..
http://suzannefurness.blogspot.co.uk/
But normally I'd have thought of mythical creatures .. sleek, white and on the good side of life.
So not docile exactly - but definitely not breathing fire and brimstone! Cheers Hilary
I love unicorns. When I think of fantasy, a unicorn is the first thing that crosses my mind, and they'e always pleasant and protective (that horn can get rid of the baddies).
ReplyDeleteEC - No pesky virgin requirement with mine. They don't care who gets in their way... ;)
ReplyDeleteHilary - I'll have to check out the brightly colored unicorns. Mine aren't the good kind, for sure! :)
Fanny - Unicorns are beautiful, aren't they? Mine are powerful and not pleasant at all. ;)
I love your take on them much more! Something that seems so good and innocent seems to me like it's hiding something far worse. Hehehe!
ReplyDeleteCool how you changed the unicorn stereotype! I do like my unicorns with an edge, but it's sometimes nice to have the sweet, shy ones too.
ReplyDeleteChristine - Yeah, never trust those innocent-looking characters. ;)
ReplyDeleteCherie - Mine carry Valkyrie-type women in a wild hunt scenario. :)
I'd pick the unicorn on LSD. Sounds more fun. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to go with the red-eye crazed version. :D
ReplyDeleteWell now, you see I've done my own critter switch. You can have fiery eyed unicorns if I can have smart and helpful alligators. All is possible in our worlds.
ReplyDeleteMary - crazed creatures always have more fun. ;)
ReplyDeleteJulie - Just don't get too close to them... :)
Lee - See? It's all about balancing the critter population!
Oh your Unicorn brings to mind Durer's 4 riders of the Apocalypse! I like mine like I see in the tapestries and free away from all the virgins trying to ensnare them
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of your crazed unicorns. Must be my dark and twisted mind ;)
ReplyDeleteI like the happy, placid variety.
ReplyDeleteBirgit - Those pesky virgins are always trying to steal them away. :)
ReplyDeleteEllie - Yes, they're right up your twisted alley... ;)
Melanie - I don't have any of those... :)
Like your take on Unicorns, although I have one in my Gossamer Steel tales that is the trad version but that's essential to the plot.. or one character's mental state...
ReplyDeleteI do like my unicorns dark and murderous. ;)
ReplyDeleteHow did I not think of unicorns for U? My favorite unicorn books are the Rampant series by Diana Peterfreund. They are also killer unicorns. Excited to learn about yours.
ReplyDeleteRoland - Having a unicorn be responsible for one's mental state sounds intriguing!
ReplyDeleteDavid - I'm right with you! :)
Mary - I've never heard of that series. Thank you for mentioning it!
As long as there is a unicorn, I'm fine with it being white, black and with whatever colored eyes. =D
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, YA Author
I like the dark twist on an iconic sweet & pure creature--keeps everyone on their toes.
ReplyDeleteWriterlySam
Echoes of Olympus
A to Z #TeamDamyanti
Patricia - Any unicorn is awesome!
ReplyDeleteSamantha - The evil ones suit my nature better, too. ;)
What a beautiful unicorn statue! Um, I think I prefer killer unicorns. I read a Diana P novel about murderous ones and it warped my mind. Yours sound awesome too!
ReplyDeleteCatherine - Warped is always better. ;) I need to read about hers. You're the second one to mention her murderous unicorns!
ReplyDeleteHmm...I think the non-crazy-eyed version is for me. Though I did like the unicorn in Ariel - she's quite snarky and fun!
ReplyDeleteNicole - Yeah, crazy-eyed unicorns are quite dangerous. ;)
ReplyDeleteScary, especially with that horn leading wherever it goes *yikes!*
ReplyDelete