The Lost Journey (The Last Unicorn) by Peter S. Beagle

Hey book lovers! I’m here with a book review for The Lost Journey, which is the first draft of The Last Unicorn. The Last Unicorn has been my favourite book and movie for thirty years. My husband bought me The Lost Journey as a gift, and it’s such a special experience to read.

About The Book 📚

Title: The Lost Journey

Author: Peter S. Beagle

Publication Date: 2018

Publisher: Tachyon Publications

Suggested Reader Age: 13+

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

About The Author

“Peter Soyer Beagle (born April 20, 1939) is an American fantasist and author of novels, nonfiction, and screenplays. He is also a talented guitarist and folk singer. He wrote his first novel, A Fine and Private Place , when he was only 19 years old. Today he is best known as the author of The Last Unicorn, which routinely polls as one of the top ten fantasy novels of all time, and at least two of his other books (A Fine and Private Place and I See By My Outfit) are considered modern classics.”
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1067608.Peter_S_Beagle

My Review

› Illustrations by Stephanie Law (beautiful, whimsical)

There is an introduction by Patrick Rothfuss. He talks about how The Last Unicorn is his favourite book.

Within the first few pages, the unicorn comes across a dragon and must challenge him because “wherever they are, and whenever, when they meet they must fight, and one of them always dies.” The dragon tells her she is the last unicorn. This dragon isn’t in the final draft of The Last Unicorn, but we do meet a familiar character – the butterfly.

“Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.” Beagle once said the butterfly is a character based on himself.

There are other new characters. A two-headed demon. Yes. You read that correctly. A DEMON. The demon’s name is Azazel. His second head calls himself Webster. Can you imagine if this was in the final draft? I doubt it would have been marketed as a children’s movie. Azazel was expelled from hell for attempting to incite a rebellion. Azazel and the unicorn agree they will accompany each other until she’s found the other unicorns and Azazel has found the “special place”.

The three of them embark on a dark and twisty adventure.

There is no red bull, no Schmendrick, no Molly Grue, no Mommy Fortuna, King Haggard or Prince Lir.

› I use the CAWPILE method to rate books.
0-3 Really bad
4-6 Mediocre
7-9 Really good
10 Outstanding

› Characters: 6

› Atmosphere: 6

› Writing Style: 8

› Plot: 5

› Intrigue: 5

› Logic: 5

› Enjoyment: 6

Average 5.9

1.1-2.2 = ★
2.3-4.5 = ★★
4.6-6.9 = ★★★
7-8.9 = ★★★★
9-10 = ★★★★★

My Rating ★★★

› Final Thoughts
• The Lost Journey is an interesting read, but I didn’t like it near as much as the final draft of The Last Unicorn.