This is not my genre and I don't have enough time to read all the books I want to, let alone ones I don't enjoy. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It had the classic sort of school for people with magic powers type plot, with some unicorns thrown in. It was captivating and so special.
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I actually really enjoyed this fresh take on unicorns. There were similarities to the Percy Jackson series and Dhonielle Clayton's The Marvellors series that will make young readers excited. I did find Skandar to be a little too much of the Chosen One archetype at times, but his friends Flo, Mitchell, and Bobby were fleshed out companions that I'm excited to see more of in the next book. I think that the next books exploration of spirit will be really interesting.

Not one of my most loved. It almost seemed like the author had a list of "things you need for a great book" and was checking them off as she went along. (Most of them belonging to the Harry Potter series). It just left a lot to be desired for me. Steadman and her publisher's were just trying to hard to make the next big thing without really focusing on the story just whether it had all the "right elements".

This book was SO GOOD! It gave me Harry Potter/Percy Jackson vibes, but it's so much more than either of those series. It has the close friend group, and the special ability that takes the characters away to another world, but after that this book is in a class of its own. I loved the dynamic between the friends in the story. They are each solidly their own person, and I love that they maintain their individuality. Their personality doesn't come from being in the group of the main character- they're all compelling and interesting in their own right without their association to Skandar. The story absolutely kept me guessing, each time I thought I had a handle on things, the book threw me another curveball that sent me back to the drawing board. I absolutely loved that each of the unicorns also had their own distinct personalities, and that they weren't creatures who talked. The ability to have them stand on their own as individuals with no dialogue is impressive to me. The world building is so immersive and vivid. I could see the world that Skandar and his friends live in perfectly clear. I can't wait to read the next book and see where their next adventure takes them!

I'ts about a time where there are unicorns and they have learned that if your made to ride a unicorn it's a good thing and it helps keep the unicorns from turning wild. It starts out with riders competing in a great race when someone called the Weaver comes in on a wild unicorn and steals the winners unicorn.

Skandar wants to be a unicorn rider and it's his turn to be in with the group that gets to take the test to see if they can go to the island and open the door to where the unicorn eggs are and if you can open the door and go in you will soon find your hatchling and bond with it.

For some reason they wouldn't let Skandar take the test which he doesn't understand, then later a rider comes to his house and says he has been chosen as a rider and takes sneaks him on to the island. She said she did this as a favor to his mother (who is dead). He is very nervous but he ends up opening the door and finding an egg that hatches and gets a pretty black unicorn, only thing is is that he soon finds out from some of the other kids that he has an illegal magic, Spirit, and he should be turned in and his unicorn killed.

Of course, he begs some of the kids to help him hide things and they go along with it and come up with a plane to get him into the training camp without showing off his magic. Even if you have a certain type of magic (earth, air, fire, water), you can still summon the other elements so Skandar could sort of blend in and test in the water group.

While they are training they keep hearing rumors about the Weaver and some bad events that could be happeing on the mainland. Skandar is worried for his father and sister and tries to find out more about his elemental magic and why it's forbidden and what it has to do with the Weaver. Adventure ensures.

I like the world that the author has created with the unicorns and riders. I liked Skandar and his friends, there are also some not so fun characters as you always have to have that one nasty kid. It wasn't a unique a plot line by any means as it was very much the normal kind of chosen one who has the forbidden magic that you can't use as it's dangerous but the one who has it is nice and doesn't want to use it for bad things type of trope. :) Still it was fun.

I would recommend it to those who like middle grade fantasy adventure type books.

4 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for a copy of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman in exchange for an honest review.

"Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call."

This Middle Grade novel seemed like it would be a promising story, but sadly, it fell short for me. Some parts of the book had too many storylines happening and a lot of info dumping. Pacing also had problems. This book is part of a series, so hopefully the main complaints will be fixed in time for the sequel.

I loved this book, a fantastic read! The audiobook experience enhanced my enjoyment due to the narrator/voice actor. I loved the take on unicorns as mythical monsters rather than fluffy plushies. I also appreciated the development of the friend group including Mitchell's transformation. At risk of repeating myself, I also really loved Skandar's realistic battle with the morality of the spirit element and what it means for his present and future.

I was so excited about this book- I mean, who wouldn't be excited about carnivorous unicorns/alicorns? However, this book was a letdown for me. It felt like a derivative of other books like it, even though it had the potential to be something new a different. There were too many plot holes and a serious lack of consequences.

Skandar has gotten so much hype, I am very bummed that I didn't download the eARC before its archive date. I can tell from the cover and synopsis that this is a book I'm going to love, so I'm going to purchase a finished copy instead. Thank you again to the publisher and to Netgalley!

Steadman has done a wonderful job of creating an alternate reality of Britain in the second half of the 20th century. A world where thirteen-year-olds, after years of studying about unicorns, attempt to earn a place as a unicorn hatcher. When terrible things occur in the day of the hatchery exam, Skandars's dreams of being a unicorn hatcher are destroyed, until a mysterious midnight visitor with a cryptic message changes everything. The unicorn island is in peril and Skandar must answer it's call. While forging unlikely friendships, learning to control his unicorn, and working to uncover threatening plots, Slander grows into a hero readers will love to root for.

I read this one with my 9 year old daughter and she is still talking about it weeks later. There were parts where she was snorting with laughter and was completely entranced with the characters

What a fun middle grade read! I don't really understand the low ratings for this one, but I have to assume that the majority are due to one of two things: (1) they expected more of a YA read than a middle grade one and couldn't identify with the voice or (2) they are too overwhelmed by the popularity of the "chosen one" and magic school tropes and couldn't see this one for it's unique properties. Are there elements of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and How to Train Your Dragon in the plot? Absolutely. But there are a lot of tropes that have been reused over and over again with much success. I see no reason why it can't be the same for Skandar

Modern middle grade readers will likely be in love with this series. It is fun, imaginative, and builds great tension and mystery for a continuing series. The characters are interesting and I enjoyed the dynamic between them. They are written well for the middle grade set, but they could admittedly use a bit more depth. The writing is fun and light and the plot is easy to follow. Adult readers will likely find it a little simplistic or easy to predict, but for middle grade readers it will be just right. And for me...it was just a lot of fun.

I enjoyed my read quite a bit and I'm looking forward to where this series goes.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

Author: A.F. Steadman

Book Series: Skandar Book 1

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, unicorns, mythology, magic

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Genre: MG Fantasy

Age Relevance: 13+ (parental death, poverty, depression, animal violence, animal death, panic attack, death, gore, emotional abuse, suicide)

Explanation of Above: There is parental death mentioned and poverty alluded to. There are mentions of depression and there is one panic attack shown. There is also some emotional abuse of a child shown and there is one very VERY vague mention of a suicide (throwing themselves off a cliff is how it’s stated). There is some animal violence shown toward the unicorns and there is animal death mentioned throughout the book in regards to unicorns. There is some death mentioned or alluded to the in the book and some very slight gore in the form of body parts seen and rotting flesh mentioned.

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Pages: 448

Synopsis: Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call.

Skandar is thrust into a world of epic sky battles, dangerous clashes with wild unicorns, and rumors of a shadowy villain amassing a unicorn army. And the closer Skandar grows to his newfound friends and community of riders, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets—especially when he discovers their lives may all be in graver danger than he ever imagined.

Review: I really love this book! I think it’s a great HP replacement book and it’s got such a great story and adventure. The book has amazing world building and the characters are very lovable and well developed. I thought that the book also did well when it talked about equality and prejudice, which I think kids in the middle grade age range can understand.

The only issue I had with the book is that it does read young, so if you’re an older reader then you might have a few issues reading this book, but it’s very age appropriate.

Verdict: I love it! Highly recommend!

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief (Skandar #1) by A. F. Steadman, 448 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2022. $19.
Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Skandar is thirteen this year, which means he can take the Hatchery exam to see if he gets to be a rider – a unicorn rider. Only those who pass the exam can go to the Island and see if they are destined to bond with a unicorn. Skandar has been looking forward to this opportunity his whole life, and then, on exam day, he’s blocked from the room with no explanation.
With a new spin on our mental image of unicorns, secrets that no one wants to talk about, and people going missing, readers will hold on to every page. There were more flatulence jokes than I found amusing, but the comic relief was necessary as readers experience Skandar’s emotional turmoil – nothing is working out like Skandar wanted it to, he fears for his life and the lives of his family members, and somehow Skandar has to convince those from the Island that their prejudices are unproductive. While Steadman doesn’t leave readers with a cliffhanger, she does leave readers wanting to see what will come next.
Skandar has “pasty white” skin, Bobby has “deep olive” skin, Mitchell has “brown” skin, and Flo is implied White. The mature content rating is for mention of alcohol. The violence rating is for fantastical battle scenes, blood, mentions of characters being killed, and mention of suicide.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

This book has potential to be a series favorite for many middle grade readers. It was a miss for me, with so much information and storylines happening it was difficult to follow where the story was going.
The premise of unicorns not being beautiful but rather bloodthirsty monsters is a wonderful draw and I did enjoy the explanation of the bond between unicorn and rider and enjoyed the development of that plotline.
I would be interested in seeing where the story goes, hopefully it will narrow down the broad scope of plotlines.

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A F Steadman is an epic magical adventure that drags the reader through a whole new world. The story is original and the characters are detailed and vivid. The plot provides action and entertainment for readers. The pace keeps readers' attention while Skinner drags them along on a thrilling adventure. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to fantasy and magic lovers. I would not recommend this book for younger children as the Unicorns are NOT the sweet and cuddly magical creatures many have come to expect.

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.

What a wild ride! This book is enthralling and has a roller coaster pace. There are unicorns and magic. Who wouldn't want to be a unicorn rider? And the use of elemental magic! This is an enthralling tale good for anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. This is not necessarily the traditional view of unicorns, but I loved it. Highly recommended!

I am quite disappointed. I had so much hope for this book/series because the cover and title and blurb gave me Harry Potter and Percy Jackson vibes and they’re some of my favorite Middle Grade series.

Skandar is 13 years old, lonely and motherless. He is excited about taking the necessary tests to become a unicorn rider. Wild unicorns are unicorns tare known as being bloodthirsty, and unpredictable besides being murderous, rotting and never dying. Bonded unicorns are still bloodthirsty and can be unpredictable too but are tamer and loyal to their humans. The unicorns live on an island. The wild unicorns live forever, while bonded unicorns die when their human lives. Skandar becomes a unicorn rider. From the beginning , Skandar must hide the stripe on his unicorn’s nose as his kind is not allowed. Why? As Skandar blackens the stripe, he must find out why there are only 4 “elements” instead of five. The fifth one is discovered, Scoundrel is a spirit unicorn which is what Skandar’s unicorn is. They have been outlawed. His three friends stand beside him even though it could be destroyed if discovered. At the end of each year, the unicorn trainees must complete a final and pass or they wil be eliminated. Skandar hopes he passes the test. Skandar must fight the Weaver who is stealing unicorns and people causing worry and pain. Why? The Weaver is building an army to take over the mainland and the island. (The mainland has no unicorns.). Skandar knows that he and his unicorn must stop the Weaver’s plans. To his shock, he knows who the Weaver is. Will he be able to stop the Weaver?

The author has written an unforgettable fantasy novel. The unicorns in this first novel are beautiful. None of the unicorns are like the unicorn books I’ve read. Skandar finds himself — who he is. Skandar learns he must trust himself which has not been always easy for him to do. The story also spends time on grief and loss which is always difficult to talk about. In this unexpected, suspenseful yet heartwarming story about Skandar and
Scoundrel, I have been completely enthralled. It is different and fantastic overall. I can’t wait for the next volume!