Have you ever read a book that you couldn’t put down because you were so caught up in the story and its world? That is what reading Skandar and the Unicorn Thief was like for me. Everything else going on in my life faded in importance to what was happening in this book. It was written for those eight to twelve years old, but the story grabbed hold of my imagination and refused to let go.
What do you think of when you hear a unicorn mentioned? A peaceful and powerful white horse-like creature with a horn sprouting from its head? The unicorns on the Island are not such creatures: Because unicorns don’t belong in fairy tales; they belong in nightmares.
Unicorns inhabit the Island. If they don’t bond with someone when they are first hatched, they are wild. And wild unicorns are to be feared. Unicorns not under the control of the one they’ve bonded with are not to be messed with.
Skandar and Kenna are brother and sister. They live on the Mainland with their father. Their mother died when they were little. When they reach the age of thirteen, they must take an exam to see if they’re destined to bond with and ride a unicorn as must all others when they reach that age. Kenna failed the exam and has been heartbroken about it ever since. For some reason, Skandar isn’t allowed by those in charge to take the exam, yet he “passes” it and is taken to the Island to see which, if any, unicorn he is destined to bond with, raise, and ride.
So does Skandar get a unicorn? Yes, he does. And now his life is filled with action, adventure, chaos, and magic. But while bonding with, raising, and training his unicorn, he finds a world of secrets and danger surrounding him. The secrets turn his life upside down, and when faced with this danger, he discovers bravery he never realized he had.
And that is good because he is the only one who can stop the horrible thing that is planned from happening.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. If you would like to experience the wonder and magic of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief for yourself, I’ve provided and Amazon link for you below.
Amazon Link: Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
Favorite Sentences:
The unicorns kicked out at each other, tore flesh from each other’s flanks with their teeth, and blasted their competitors at close range.
Though Skandar thought it made him sound more like a constipated cow with a bad cough.
Fear and wonder fought in Skandar’s mind at seeing a real unicorn for the first time.
The air smelled to Skandar like fire magic always did—bonfires, lit matches, and overdone toast.
About the Author:
A.F. Steadman grew up in the Kent countryside, getting lost in fantasy worlds and scribbling stories in notebooks. Before focusing on writing, she worked in law until she realized that there wasn’t nearly enough magic involved. Skandar and the Unicorn Thief is her debut novel.
