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A review by katykelly
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman
4.0
A new Harry? Unicorns are the new wizard.
If you look carefully, there are tons of similarities to the world of Hogwarts and Potter. Skandar is a misfit in his own town, with family issues (a dead mum and a depressed dad). He just wants to make his dad proud and win a place at a certain 'school', to train as a Unicorn Rider.
Unicorns you say? No, not gently prancing rainbow-pooping sweet creatures. In Skandar's world, if a unicorn is born without its rider nearby, it turns wild and is lethal. Even those that are bonded to their riders are dangerous, and their energy must be tamed as much as possible with races and battles. Hence the riding school.
But Skandar is not allowed to take his entrance test for the school. Yet the plot has him arrive by other means, and we watch, Sorting-Hat-like as he must find his house, or equivalent, make friends and enemies, find his destined unicorn and begin his training for the end of year event that will see some trainees removed from the magical world if they fail to live up to the standard.
And all the while, the Weaver is nearby, stealing unicorns, killing guards, and a general menace and threat to Skandar and his cohort.
The stage is set for a long-running series, with allegiances and family stories to come in again during later episodes, with regular battles and races to look forward to, lessons and rituals to follow. Yes, definite similarities, but a refreshing 'unicorns aren't lovely' policy does give this a good edge separating it from other fantasy series.
I may or may not read the next in the series. I'll be seeing if my almost 12-year-old likes the first.
Well-enough read as an audiobook, though as often happens, one voice doesn't easily convey both male and female adolescents.
For ages 9-13.
If you look carefully, there are tons of similarities to the world of Hogwarts and Potter. Skandar is a misfit in his own town, with family issues (a dead mum and a depressed dad). He just wants to make his dad proud and win a place at a certain 'school', to train as a Unicorn Rider.
Unicorns you say? No, not gently prancing rainbow-pooping sweet creatures. In Skandar's world, if a unicorn is born without its rider nearby, it turns wild and is lethal. Even those that are bonded to their riders are dangerous, and their energy must be tamed as much as possible with races and battles. Hence the riding school.
But Skandar is not allowed to take his entrance test for the school. Yet the plot has him arrive by other means, and we watch, Sorting-Hat-like as he must find his house, or equivalent, make friends and enemies, find his destined unicorn and begin his training for the end of year event that will see some trainees removed from the magical world if they fail to live up to the standard.
And all the while, the Weaver is nearby, stealing unicorns, killing guards, and a general menace and threat to Skandar and his cohort.
The stage is set for a long-running series, with allegiances and family stories to come in again during later episodes, with regular battles and races to look forward to, lessons and rituals to follow. Yes, definite similarities, but a refreshing 'unicorns aren't lovely' policy does give this a good edge separating it from other fantasy series.
I may or may not read the next in the series. I'll be seeing if my almost 12-year-old likes the first.
Well-enough read as an audiobook, though as often happens, one voice doesn't easily convey both male and female adolescents.
For ages 9-13.