Title: In Calabria by Peter S. Beagle
Published by Tachyon Publications
Published: January 1, 2017
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 176
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: Netgalley
Buy: Bookshop(afflilate link)
Goodreads

From the acclaimed author of The Last Unicorn comes a new, exquisitely-told unicorn fable for the modern age.
Claudio Bianchi has lived alone for many years on a hillside in Southern Italy’s scenic Calabria. Set in his ways and suspicious of outsiders, Claudio has always resisted change, preferring farming and writing poetry. But one chilly morning, as though from a dream, an impossible visitor appears at the farm. When Claudio comes to her aid, an act of kindness throws his world into chaos. Suddenly he must stave off inquisitive onlookers, invasive media, and even more sinister influences.
Lyrical, gripping, and wise, In Calabria confirms Peter S. Beagle's continuing legacy as one of fantasy's most legendary authors.

earlier this year, in an effort to get back on track with reviews, my blog, my whole internet presence, i decided to work through my (very old, very shameful) backlist of netgalley arcs, some of which have been waiting for a read/review for almost a decade. i decided to revisit this as an audiobook so i could listen to it while i worked on some crafts!

in calabria sits on the other side of the the last unicorn coin. i think these work well together in tandem, especially as this was written later in beagle’s career. we’re seeing how the presence of the unicorn (and youth itself) refresh, revitalize, and refocus an older man’s life as the story unfolds.

i loved the first third of the book – including the discovery of the unicorn and learning more about the characters. the last third of the book sends the story into a predictable discord and then ends. i don’t know why i was surprised the antagonists are part of the mafia, but it is an italian story so they must make an appearance i suppose. bianchi, our main character, is supposed to be in his late 40s, but oftentimes reads as much older, which to me makes the age gap relationship in this a bit more unbelievable on top of it feeling a little bland and forced.

i would have liked more of the story to be about the unicorn and how other people in the community and the world reacted to the discovery, but the central part of the story revolves around bianchi. ultimately, i enjoyed this while reading it, and i’ll revisit beagle’s work in general because i like his approach to mythical creatures. it was pleasant and unassuming, with a little magic thrown in for good measure.

earc provided by tachyon publications, downloaded through netgalley. all opinions are my own.