Secret in stone by Kamilla Benko

The Unicorn Quest bk. 2. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408898512.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy; Unicorns; Magic; Bravery. This is the second book in The Unicorn Quest series, and I wish I had read the first, The unicorn quest. Two young sisters Claire and Sophie have found themselves in the fantasy kingdom of Arden, and although in this book we know that Claire has been revealed as a wielder of magic, and a Princess of the realm with power to call back the Unicorn from extinction, it seems that there is more to do to rescue Arden from the power of those who seem to be working against the kingdom's harmony and who perhaps have deliberately set their mind and magic to destructive ends. Claire's gentle and apprehensive spirit must work hard to rescue her sister, and perhaps even rescue the unicorn. In a fantasy world not unlike Narnia, there is magic of different qualities and properties linked to different groups within the kingdom. These distinctions and the intriguing way that magical skills are expressed is a delight and the author has created a wonderful fantasy world and adventure. Claire is a wonderful young heroine - flawed and reticent, but her insights reveal a wonderful strength and quality. Her friends, all with different magical skills, are also intriguing.
This book can be recommended to those who love magical fantasy stories, but it appears the series will continue and so it is recommended that readers begin with the first book in the series.
Recommended for lovers of magical fantasy adventure, aged 10 +
Carolyn Hull