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roelia's review against another edition
4.0
"Because unicorns don’t belong in fairy tales; they belong in nightmares."
The captivating world of Skandar and The Unicorn Thief is a fantastical one in which unicorns are anything but the docile and graceful creatures we usually associate them with being.
Skandar Smith, the protagonist, is a young man of thirteen who longs to join the elite group that guards the Island, the mysterious location where unicorns live, as a rider. Unfortunately, his intentions are derailed when he fails to pass the Hatchery exam, which is required to become a unicorn rider. However, fate has other plans for Skandar, and he receives a mystery invitation to the Island, where he learns that he shares a where he discovers that he has a special bond with the unicorns and a crucial role to play in saving them from a sinister threat.
The novel is packed with action, adventure, and magic as Skandar and his new allies try to foil the plans of the enigmatic villain, who is snatching unicorns and using them for his own evil aims. Rich descriptions, intriguing stories, and fascinating creatures help the author create a universe that is immediately captivating. Each character has an own personality, history, and driving force, and they are all believable and easy to connect with. Skandar is a sympathetic and courageous main character who develops as he discovers more about himself, his family history, and his ultimate fate. His friendship with his unicorn partner and the other riders proves to be invaluable to him.
"He felt the least ordinary he’d ever felt in his life. He was a superhero. A wizard. No, better than that - a unicorn rider."
Is it wholly original – the chosen one, magic tournaments, a mystic school? Maybe not. Was it enjoyable? Totally.
Readers of middle grade novels and those who enjoy fantasy series like Percy Jackson, Harry Potter and Eragon will enjoy this book. It's the first of a series, and it ends on a cliffhanger that makes me eager to read the next one. As an adult, I throughly enjoyed this book as well, I realised only now that middle grade fantasy is absolutely the pure and effortless escapism I was looking for. I do feel for Kenna though, I hope that she will get her chance in future books as well.
If you're looking for a fantastical journey with heroes and unicorns in a new light, this book is for you. I would definitely recommend it for young readers, middle grade and up.
What I liked:
• Magic school
• Fantasy adventure
• Story of friendship and grit
• Loveable characters
• Elemental magic
I read this book as part of a readalong hosted by Jonathan Ball Publishers / Jonathan Ball Kids. Thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed it! #JBPReadalong
The captivating world of Skandar and The Unicorn Thief is a fantastical one in which unicorns are anything but the docile and graceful creatures we usually associate them with being.
Skandar Smith, the protagonist, is a young man of thirteen who longs to join the elite group that guards the Island, the mysterious location where unicorns live, as a rider. Unfortunately, his intentions are derailed when he fails to pass the Hatchery exam, which is required to become a unicorn rider. However, fate has other plans for Skandar, and he receives a mystery invitation to the Island, where he learns that he shares a where he discovers that he has a special bond with the unicorns and a crucial role to play in saving them from a sinister threat.
The novel is packed with action, adventure, and magic as Skandar and his new allies try to foil the plans of the enigmatic villain, who is snatching unicorns and using them for his own evil aims. Rich descriptions, intriguing stories, and fascinating creatures help the author create a universe that is immediately captivating. Each character has an own personality, history, and driving force, and they are all believable and easy to connect with. Skandar is a sympathetic and courageous main character who develops as he discovers more about himself, his family history, and his ultimate fate. His friendship with his unicorn partner and the other riders proves to be invaluable to him.
"He felt the least ordinary he’d ever felt in his life. He was a superhero. A wizard. No, better than that - a unicorn rider."
Is it wholly original – the chosen one, magic tournaments, a mystic school? Maybe not. Was it enjoyable? Totally.
Readers of middle grade novels and those who enjoy fantasy series like Percy Jackson, Harry Potter and Eragon will enjoy this book. It's the first of a series, and it ends on a cliffhanger that makes me eager to read the next one. As an adult, I throughly enjoyed this book as well, I realised only now that middle grade fantasy is absolutely the pure and effortless escapism I was looking for. I do feel for Kenna though, I hope that she will get her chance in future books as well.
If you're looking for a fantastical journey with heroes and unicorns in a new light, this book is for you. I would definitely recommend it for young readers, middle grade and up.
What I liked:
• Magic school
• Fantasy adventure
• Story of friendship and grit
• Loveable characters
• Elemental magic
I read this book as part of a readalong hosted by Jonathan Ball Publishers / Jonathan Ball Kids. Thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed it! #JBPReadalong
tashshaw's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sydriley's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book was very fun to read. I enjoyed the story line, very easy for younger readers to follow. Might read the second book, just to see what will happen. Rooting for Kenna.
booknerd93's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
katielawton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
_papermountain's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
book_worm_emma's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
teklagyorgy's review against another edition
3.0
A Skandar és az unikornistolvaj egy ifjúsági fantasy, mely talán a fiatalabb, 10-12 éves korosztályt tudja meghódítani. Sajnos elég sok olyan elem van benne, mely kísértetiesen emlékeztetett a Harry Potterre, továbbá a tapasztaltabb olvasók viszonylag sok problémába is belefuthatnak olvasás közben.
Összességében furcsa érzésem van, a szerző első kötete a Skandar és az unikornistolvaj, és sajnos ez agyon erősen érződik. Ha jól tippelek a történet alapján, akkor egy ötrészes sorozat nyitókötetéről van szó, ahol mind az öt elem szerepet kap majd. Kíváncsi vagyok, és megszavazom neki a bizalmat a folytatásra, azonban ettől függetlenül ez számomra egy kicsit gyengécskére sikerült.
Bővebben: https://www.gyorgytekla.hu/2022/07/a-f-steadman-skandar-es-az-unikornistolvaj/
Összességében furcsa érzésem van, a szerző első kötete a Skandar és az unikornistolvaj, és sajnos ez agyon erősen érződik. Ha jól tippelek a történet alapján, akkor egy ötrészes sorozat nyitókötetéről van szó, ahol mind az öt elem szerepet kap majd. Kíváncsi vagyok, és megszavazom neki a bizalmat a folytatásra, azonban ettől függetlenül ez számomra egy kicsit gyengécskére sikerült.
Bővebben: https://www.gyorgytekla.hu/2022/07/a-f-steadman-skandar-es-az-unikornistolvaj/
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief is an exciting middle grade fantasy adventure, filled with elemental magic, dangerous unicorns, and backstabbing betrayals. First off, I thought the worldbuilding in this book was really interesting. I loved the concept of the unicorn races and the idea that unicorns are born with a bond to a particular individual, and if that person doesn’t show up at the hatchery, the unicorn is born wild (and even more dangerous and unstable than your average unicorn). I’d love to see even more of how the unicorns and humans interact beyond the races (feels like there might be even more important jobs?)—it will be interesting to see if that will be expanded upon in future books. This book focuses on the mystery of why Skandar is specifically singled out at the exams (in a way I won’t spoil), his budding relationships with the other kids on the island, and the mysteries surrounding the villain, the Weaver. The book is full of action, so it will definitely keep middle grade readers interested, and there are some definite twists that I saw coming as an adult, but MG readers might not (and the book is still interesting and entertaining, even if you guess at the main twist). Highly recommended for fans of magical fantasies like dragon books!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief is an exciting middle grade fantasy adventure, filled with elemental magic, dangerous unicorns, and backstabbing betrayals. First off, I thought the worldbuilding in this book was really interesting. I loved the concept of the unicorn races and the idea that unicorns are born with a bond to a particular individual, and if that person doesn’t show up at the hatchery, the unicorn is born wild (and even more dangerous and unstable than your average unicorn). I’d love to see even more of how the unicorns and humans interact beyond the races (feels like there might be even more important jobs?)—it will be interesting to see if that will be expanded upon in future books. This book focuses on the mystery of why Skandar is specifically singled out at the exams (in a way I won’t spoil), his budding relationships with the other kids on the island, and the mysteries surrounding the villain, the Weaver. The book is full of action, so it will definitely keep middle grade readers interested, and there are some definite twists that I saw coming as an adult, but MG readers might not (and the book is still interesting and entertaining, even if you guess at the main twist). Highly recommended for fans of magical fantasies like dragon books!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***