story identification - Book: modern post apocalyptic magical dystopia with Unicorns and Gryphons

The protagonist is a male high school kid that gets caught up in an apocalypse where magic becomes real and technology no longer works. People discover magical abilities; creatures of myth and legend become real. After he escapes the chaos of his hometown he meets up with a unicorn, I think her name is Ariel, she has a massive sweet tooth. They become best friends and look after each other whilst traveling.

The unicorn gets kidnapped by a magic user and the protagonist goes after her and hooks up with other survivors trying to stop the magic user. He also meets up with a guy that has a bonded bird of prey, and a sword master that teaches him the basics of bushido.

Answer

Steven R. Boyett's Ariel

For two years, Pete Garey wandered through the strange new world of Earth after the Change, a moment when technology ceased to work & things like planes, trains & automobiles became junk. He was alone until the day he was found by a unicorn who'd become his familiar. Ariel is just one of the many magical creatures to appear after the Change, but the only one with the stunning ability (or, perhaps, desire) to talk. The bond between Pete & Ariel will be like no other he's experienced.

There was a sequel, Elegy Beach, which follows Pete's son, Fred, as he deals with a friend who is figuring out the rules of magic, and wants to use that to return the world to its original state.

Comments

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