Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

“We’ve all seen a unicorn, all glittery and gold, But beware! They cover up something never before told. They aren’t the cuddly creatures they would have you believe, They’re the deadliest, blood thirsty creatures you could ever conceive. Skandar Smith has grown up desperately waiting for the day, To become a unicorn rider, but it’s far from child’s play. A magical world awaits with his destined unicorn, With an elemental bond that’s been growing since he was born. But as he steps into this world he unravels quite a mystery, As this place has taken time to hide a shocking history. And now there is a malevolent force that warrants disbelief: An all powerful danger in the form of a unicorn thief! If Skandar is to survive you must keep him in your prayers, As unicorns don’t belong in fairytales, they belong in nightmares.” I hate hype! I’m one of those stupidly stubborn idiots who backs further away from something, the more it is hyped about. I’ve never watched Breaking Bad purely because everyone told me to! I have after many years arrived at the conclusion that I’m probably depriving myself of some wonderfully rich entertainment but I am also trying to grow and embrace hype every now again… and my gosh! I’m so glad I did for this! Skandar Smith has waited all his life for the chance to become a Unicorn Rider. The chance to be bonded with the most vicious and bloodthirsty species on the planet all for the glory of becoming a hero. His hatchery exam is coming up soon along with all the other children his age and he desperately wants to fulfil his dream and the dream of his sister Kenna who failed at the same stage the previous year. But when he wakes up on the day of the exam, it’s as if the whole world is against him even attending! With his chances all but shattered, Skandar’s dreams are in ruins. That is until a mysterious knock at the door… I am going to have to leave it there because I do not want to spoil a thing! But all I will say is drop everything right now, buy a copy and find out for yourself! One of the reasons I don’t want to spoil anything is because the magic of the world building is brilliant and so imaginative. It takes a special kind of book to truly immerse you in a brand new world with a whole new set of rules and leaves you feeling like you truly know what it’s like to walk in the shoes of its inhabitants. As the brilliance of the world is revealed throughout the story, it’s the drama that truly captivates you. As with every hero, nothing comes easy for Skandar and he finds himself on the back foot right from the start but the twists and turns it takes you on is incredible. I loved learning the history of The Island and unpicking the history they want everyone to know with the true events that happened years ago that are now impacting trouble on the present day. It really does make you question the history we are told in our own lives (although great strives are being made to unpick the fiction from the facts). And with every hero, he needs some friends. I loved Bobby! Sassy and brilliant she had me chuckling throughout especially with the way she tries to teach the islanders sayings from the mainland… such a silly little detail but sprinkled a bit of magic on the whole story. Flo and Mitchell are also brilliant characters who complement the narrative so well. Each character has their own personalities, struggles and strifes which play an important part in the story and really open the narrative to some important subplots. It’s really hard to write this review while keeping so many of the magical secrets… well… secret, but I will say that I did shed a few tears at the end which showed how much I was invested in the characters and the story and not since Neville Longbottom won the house cup for Gryfindor has my heart swelled with pride at characters bravery and strength. I finished the book a little bereft that I am going to have to wait so long for a sequel (There is going to be a sequel right? RIGHT?!?!?) But now that I have embraced the hype maybe I should stop being a stubborn fool and watch Breaking Bad in the meantime (or the Marvel films 🙈). If you read anything this year, make sure it is Skandar and the Unicorn Theif for an incredible magical adventure with jaw dropping twists and turns and a wonderful heart at it’s core. And if I leave you with anything, I’ll leave you with this… Believe. The. hype! (Maybe I should game of thrones a try…)

I’d heard great things about Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and was curious to see if it lived up to the hype. The magical world and Skandar’s journey to the Eyrie quickly pulled me in, and the sense of adventure kept me turning the pages. While Skandar himself felt quite straightforward as a character, I really enjoyed his friendships with Bobby, Flo and Mitchell. Their different personalities and growing bond added warmth and humour to the story. I also liked the fresh take on unicorns — far from cute and sparkly, they’re fierce, unpredictable creatures, which made the world feel more original and exciting. Reviews seem mixed, but for me it was an action-packed read that pushed me slightly outside my usual comfort zone and kept me entertained throughout.

A good read. Harry Potter esc, but a story in its own right.

Very good story

I bought this for my niece but couldn’t resist reading it myself first! The world-building is magical and immersive — the idea of unicorns being wild, dangerous creatures rather than gentle companions is such a fun twist. The writing is easy enough for younger readers but clever enough to keep adults hooked too. Characters are likeable, with good depth and development. My only small critique is that some of the plot points felt a bit familiar, but overall it’s a fantastic read that sets up the series brilliantly. We’re both eagerly starting book 2 now!

It is amazing.So much hope and- some difficult-friendships. I loved it . Highly recommend.

My son LOVES this book! After weeks of coming home giving me plot updates second hand through his friend, I asked if he’d like me to buy it…. Obviously it was a yes! He’s now powering through this expertly written, twisty book of adventure preparing for the next one in the series! He’s 10 and so into it and really enabling him to appreciate the beauty of books and the power of reading. I can already see how he’s visualising and imagining the different scenes and being a complete bookworm myself, it warms my heart! He’s actually enjoying this more than Harry Potter at the moment (yes!! I did just say that!!) nothing more rewarding than watching your child get engrossed and lost in a good book!!!

Good story, book came in good condition.

Good read, recommend for kid above 9

I couldn’t put this down. It’s not what I expected… but what it turned out to be was much better!! Best fantasy since Harry Potter.

I loved this story and am looking very forward to sequels. The unicorn hatchery is a well developed world and I look forward to even more development about the bonds between the unicorns and their riders. Hoping there might be more development about the mainland, the wilds and the island. The characters are distinct and the interactions are interesting. I'm 67 and although this book is intended for children and young adults, I was thoroughly entertained.

Good

Thanks for the great book! Not only does the cover look awesome, it's a great read too!