Review of How To Rescue A Unicorn • Maritime Edit, Fall 2025 Issue

Andy Tolson pulls it off again. This is the second in his Quests of Tiny Wilde series. How to Kidnap a Mermaid came out last year, and I loved that one too. Tiny Wilde is back, and at school he stands out from his human classmates, which makes for interesting developments, especially if you are someone who has ever felt they are different.

Unicorns are disappearing from Wonderville, and Tiny is on the rescue. So he and his bestie Nalia and a couple of new buddies named Sadie and Numbskull all set off to rescue these magical disappearing unicorns. They journey through forests, fields and bogs. They fight pirate trolls, dodge sneaky pixies, and try to save the Mythic world from going completely bonkers. The chapters are a perfect length to read a few before bed. And best of all, at the end, there is a recipe for a sweet treat that you could feed to a unicorn! If you like danger, mystery and unicorns with attitude, read this. Immediately. Like now. Reviewed by River Mullinger, age 11

[MARITIME EDIT]: Why did you choose Doritos as the chip? They are my favourite, so I loved the mention!

ANDY TOLSON: Chips are my second favourite snack! I'm partial to the Que Pasa blue-corn tortilla chips myself, but that's quite a mouthful (pun intended!) for a character to say. Plus, Doritos is a fun word and a snack a lot of kids will know. My absolute favourite snack is a classic: crackers and cheese. I like the combination of crunchy and soft.

[EDIT]: Did you know you were going to write a sequel when you wrote How to Kidnap a Mermaid? And does that change how you write?

ANDY: I really hoped Tiny's story would become a series. My publisher, Nimbus, bought it as a stand-alone, but thankfully they believed in Tiny's journey so much that the series will now be at least three books. Book 3, How to Wrestle an Octopus, will be out fall 2026. The fun part about writing a series is you can drop hints in one book that will be realized in the next one I keep a book of notes, so I won't get confused with the overall arc of the series.

[EDIT]: How do you come up with such cool names as "Blunderbob" and "Superskull"?

ANDY: I like names that are a little scary but funny too, and I also like to audition them within the story. The villainous giant, Blunderbob, had various names before I decided on that one, mostly because I like the word "blunderbuss," which is a 17th-century firearm. And the name "Bob" is just so, well, normal, that I thought it would be interesting to combine the two Superskull's terrible father calls him "Numbskull" so, by changing it to the much cooler name "Superskull," I like to think he's learning some self-respect and how to stick up for himself.

Although the Immortal Octopus is healing, which means that the Mythics will soon recover their magical powers, there are still many who fear or distrust magic and are unhappy about its eventual return. Tiny Wilde, the giant who is still waiting for his growth spurt, wants to help his classmates see that there is nothing to fear. But when he discovers that unicorns are being held captive, mistreated and used for nefarious purposes, he also resolves to rescue them and to potentially reunite his father and grandfather in the process. All of this sounds like a quest and Tiny along with Sadie, his new friend from school, and his Water Mythic friend Nalia soon find themselves reunited with gnome friends and attending a Dumpster fest, kidnapped by troll pirates and collaborating with pixies, and eventually trying to thwart the evil giant Blunderbob's self-serving schemes. As the three friends try to determine who they can trust, they find themselves in grave danger, all the while wondering: "is this really a quest?"

Andy Tolson's second installment of Tiny's adventures is action-packed and filled with delightful characters, wit and whimsy. The divide that exists between the Mythics who are anxiously awaiting the return of their magic and those who are resentful or afraid of magic is realistically depicted, as is Tiny's earnest desire to help everyone see the truth. His longing to find his grandfather and bring him and his father back together is poignant and believable, as are his feelings of uncertainty and betrayal when his grandfather turns out to be in league with Blunderbob. Moreover, his refusal to stop believing in him is heartwarming. The dialogue throughout the story is entertaining and the relationships between the characters are well-developed. Tolson has created a truly fun and fantastical world with quirky and imaginative inhabitants. Review by Lisa Doucet