Skandar has settled into his quartet after a very rocky start in his new life as a Unicorn Rider. Being accepted by these three new friends means everything to Skandar, as there are still those on this special unicorn island who do not want him there at all.

Having the forbidden spirit element power is unacceptable to many, including one in particular in high authority. He seems to have it in for Skandar and will do anything to taint other’s opinions of him, or even make younger unicorn riders afraid of him. This causes problems when the riders, now in their 2nd year of training are to learn how to joust.

They must learn how to summon their individual powers of air, fire, water, earth or spirit in Skandar’s case. But the spirit element is just what everyone has been taught to fear their whole lives. No one wants to practice the skills of jousting with Skandar.

As promised, Skandar is given his own instructor on the skills of spirit weilding and it happens that only his aunt Agatha is available for this task. At first they clash. Aunt Agatha is bitter after a long imprisonment and separation from her unicorn and Skandar wants to learn quickly to catch up to his peer’s achievements.

Meanwhile back home on the mainland, Skandar’s sister Kenna is still desperate for her own unicorn. She loves Skandar and is proud of him, but she too wants to be training as a Unicorn Rider, and is lamenting her fail at the entrance exam.

But did she fail at all? As Skandar learns more about his element, he is missing his big sister’s letters. Dad has written to say she is too sad to write. If only Skandar could work out a way to get Kenna on the island too?

But something much worse is troubling Skandar. Someone or something is killing the wild unicorns. These are unicorns whose riders never came to the island, leaving them unbonded and soon to be wild. It is said that it is impossible to kill a wild unicorn, so what terrible force is leaving them dead?

The 2nd thrilling part of this captivating series. I automatically think of the Harry Potter series when reading Skandar, because of the school isolated from the mainland (as Hogwarts was by magic), the elements and unicorn training the characters go through (as in magic lessons in HP), and the friendships made.

Besides this comparison, Skandar stands out on its own with the well crafted world building and back stories of the characters and their motivations. There are friendships that bloom and others flex to breaking point. Family tensions morph from one problem to another, and promises made are lies in disguise.

The bond between unicorn and rider is written well and believable and left me wanting for a unicorn (or any animal) bond of my own. To me, the island’s imbalance and resulting effects from ancient creatures being killed, was a clear comparison of climate change in our own world.

I don’t like to wish time away, but bring on May 2024 for the final book in this trilogy. I’m dying to see what Skandar and his big sister get up to. 

Author – A F Steadman

Age – 9+

Read the first book in the series (Click on the Cover)

(2023, Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Action, Crime, Family, Sibling, Sister, Friendship, Fantasy, Murder, Mystery, Revenge, Series, Prejudice, Secret, Training, Elements, Courage, Song, Bard, Blacksmith, Armour, Jousting, Unicorn, Island, Bullies, Fears, Lies, Promises, Blame, Imbalance, Magical, Magic)