The Unicorn Shore

The Unicorn Shore Series (A Junior Novel Series)

Magic, courage, friendship and the power of belief await in this heartwarming and whimsical junior novel series for ages 6–9.

When nine-year-old Marigold discovers a shimmering shell on her grandmother’s beach that whispers her name, she’s swept into the magical world of the Unicorn Shore—a hidden realm where unicorns, ancient riddles, and forgotten stories stir beneath the waves.

In Book 1, The Secret of the Shell, nine-year-old Marigold always believed Grandma Pearl's stories about magic hidden in the waves. But nothing could have prepared her for the moment she found a glowing seashell shaped like a unicorn's horn—and it whispered her name.

Swept away to the Unicorn Shore, a mysterious land where unicorns talk, waves carry secrets, and magic is everywhere, Marigold learns she's been chosen for an urgent mission.

A powerful enemy is rising from beneath the waves, and her storms are already draining the Unicorn Shore's magic. If she breaks free, the bond between their worlds will be destroyed forever—and only Marigold holds the key to stopping her.

With the help of her new unicorn friends—wise Coral, speedy Spark, and snack-obsessed Nibbles—Marigold must solve a riddle hidden in an ancient lighthouse to get the answers they need. Answers that will bring her face to face with her greatest fear.

Can she find the courage to face the darkness and save her friends before the Unicorn Shore vanishes forever?

In Book 2, Eclipse’s Secret, Marigold returns to the magical land of the Unicorn Shore only to discover that Eclipse, her friend and the noble leader of the Pegasus Clan, has vanished.

All that remains is a strange letter and an enchanted map covered in glowing symbols. With her unicorn friends, Coral, Spark, Nibbles, and little Rose, Marigold sets off on a daring quest through the Lost Mountains to find him.

The map leads them to a forgotten land at the edge of the known realm, where they encounter strange creatures and discover the truth about Eclipse’s past. But what they learn puts them all in terrible danger—an unknown enemy using Shadow Magic will stop at nothing to keep this secret hidden. 

As the rescue mission grows more dangerous, Marigold and her friends realize that unicorn magic alone isn’t enough. To have any hope of saving Eclipse, they must find the courage to trust each other and work together even when the path ahead feels impossible.

Can they find Eclipse before it’s too late? And will he have the strength to face his past and embrace his true destiny?

In Book 3, The Ring of Mischief, Marigold fulfills her promise by bringing her little sister, Sophie, to celebrate Eclipse’s coronation. At the castle, everyone gathers to cheer the new king when a powerful tremor cracks open a hidden crystal cavern in the hills nearby. Marigold and the unicorns dash off to investigate, but Sophie is told to stay behind.

Determined to prove she's just as brave as her big sister, Sophie teams up with Rose, a daring young pegasus still learning to fly. Together they sneak off on their own adventure and discover a mysterious ring humming with strange energy.

Back at the castle, they hide the ring—unaware it holds Trickster Magic. Soon, mischievous Stardust Sprites burst free, turning the coronation celebrations into chaos with their pranks and mayhem.

Can Sophie and Rose capture the sprites and stop the Trickster Magic before it ruins Eclipse's coronation and plunges the entire realm into disaster?

A Note to Parents: The Unicorn Shore is a junior novel series for readers ages 6–9 featuring small black-and-white, pencil-drawn chapter header illustrations only. This is intentionally designed to create a gentle visual anchor that complements the story to support advancing readers as they transition from illustrated early chapter books to text-only novels.

Junior novels offer an ideal next step up from early chapter books. They are mostly text-based stories that challenge young readers with richer vocabulary and longer narratives, helping to develop their reading skills and attention span. Rooted in themes of courage, friendship, teamwork, sisterhood and Light and Shadow Magic, the content of this series is a strong fit for ages 6 to 9.

If your young reader still relies heavily on illustrations for context and pacing, this would be an excellent book to read aloud together.

A Series That Grows With Your Reader

The Unicorn Shore is a wholesome, character-focused junior novel series with vivid, cinematic moments built to grow right along with your child. Each book gets a little longer and a little deeper, giving young readers new challenges without ever feeling overwhelming.

Book 1 starts with a gentle, riddle-filled adventure, shorter chapters, and simple, comforting themes. It’s perfect for kids who are just starting to read mostly on their own and are easing away from heavily illustrated books.

Book 2 picks up the pace. The chapters are a bit longer, the emotional stakes run higher, and there’s more action, giving developing readers room to stretch and enjoy richer storytelling.

Book 3 is the biggest adventure of all, featuring strong character development, a more detailed plot, and the most cinematic imagery in the series. It allows young readers to explore slightly more complex twists while still staying completely age-appropriate.

This “grow-with-me” structure helps ensure each book meets your reader right where they are, while the return of beloved characters keeps them motivated and excited even as the stories gradually become longer and more complex. While this structure was intentional for developing readers, each book in the series can be read as a standalone.