Skandar is pleased to be entering his third year of training. He has made strong bonds with his quartet, both in training and true friendships. Flo, Bobbie and Mitchell seem to feel the same about him. But he’s been missing his sister Kenna. She’s finally on the island they both dreamed about together growing up, but Kenna is even more alien to the powers that be than her brother ever was.

Kenna has been bonded to a wild unicorn – forbidden in the Eyrie. Skandar has a friend high up in the leaders, willing to give Kenna a chance, but Skandar has another idea that might help. While they try to smooth the road for Kenna to enter the same training schedule as Skandar, things go terribly wrong and Kenna must flee.

Skandar misses his big sister terribly but is assured Kenna is safe. In the meantime he and his quartet have a series of trials to complete on their unicorns. Fire, water, air and earth trials await them with intensive training in between each of them. As the only spirt wielder inside the Eyrie, Skandar has his own trainer – his aunt. She is teaching him skills none of the other young unicorn riders possess, and will most definitely help him in the trials.

He and his quartet are push to their limits and forced to face personal fears as they battle it out for a series of stones they must have a full set of at the end of the year – or face being banished forever.

Meanwhile, Kenna is getting lonely and disillusioned with Skandar’s way of doing things…

Another exhilarating ride into the world of the unicorn riders. Skandar is both developing his spirit wielder powers, his bonds with his quartet and also dealing with a stroppy unicorn going through a type of puberty stage.

His love of his sister is tested again and again and as he is trying to bring her into the world they’ve always dreamed about, her world is falling apart. This emotional development is brilliantly written as it also morphs into deeper friendships, especially with a member of his quartet.

The world building is rich and real and always being added to, with lush back stories that also add more and more layers to this series. The multiple action scenes and fantasy elements are alive on the page and easy to imagine, whether fighting it out in the skies or plunging into deep water.

Anyone who loved Harry Potter, Percy Jackson or Keeper of the Lost Cities will love Skandar and his Unicorn adventures.   

Author – A F Steadman

Age – 9+

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(2024, Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Series, Action, Adventure, Growing up, Family, Magic, Fantasy, Friendship, Betrayal, Courage, School, Unicorns, Immortal, Fight, Battle, Flying, Trials, Tests, Challenges, Powers, Strengths, Loyalty)