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A review by aa184899
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman
2.0
This book disappointed me. (Warning: This might have a few spoilers)
I was promised bloodthirsty, violent, magical, intelligent unicorns, and instead I got carnivorous magic
flying horses. Not nearly as interesting or as deep as it could have been. The whole elemental system was kind of boring and wasn't explored nearly as much as it should have been.
And the characters... Just, ugh. The main character was pretty flat and not that interesting, then the characters I thought were interesting like Flo and Bobby never really fleshed out, and I didn't get what was going on with Mitchell. I mean, he just suddenly does this whole about face for a not very big reason and it's just not believable. And has this author ever met a teenager!? Seriously, the dialogue and the actions were so young, and flat, and not realistic at all. It would probably be ok if they were younger but there is no way teenagers would act this way.
The world building wasn't bad, but what happened didn't make sense. Why does the weaver want to take over the mainland so badly? And why did she leave Skandar and his family when she had supposedly been so happy? Also, some of it was way too easy, like with Joby telling Skandar absolutely do not ever do that or go there but I'm going to tell you where it is.
I gave this book 2 stars because the concept was interesting, and the world building wasn't the worst I've read, but there aren't really any other redeeming qualities
Finally, I know this has been said a lot, but it still needs to be mentioned, the trope was so generic, and the plot was way too similar to Amari and the Night Brothers. This book just isn't worth it. I would have rather reread Amari.*
*If you have a different opinion, that's fine. I'll respect your opinion, and all I ask is you respect mine, even if you disagree.**
** In other words; I'm 12 don't cuss me out or I will report you, I've seen it happen way too often.***
***And no, being 12 does not affect the valid points I've written above, and if you read them and consider them I hope you'll see that.
I was promised bloodthirsty, violent, magical, intelligent unicorns, and instead I got carnivorous magic
flying horses. Not nearly as interesting or as deep as it could have been. The whole elemental system was kind of boring and wasn't explored nearly as much as it should have been.
And the characters... Just, ugh. The main character was pretty flat and not that interesting, then the characters I thought were interesting like Flo and Bobby never really fleshed out, and I didn't get what was going on with Mitchell. I mean, he just suddenly does this whole about face for a not very big reason and it's just not believable. And has this author ever met a teenager!? Seriously, the dialogue and the actions were so young, and flat, and not realistic at all. It would probably be ok if they were younger but there is no way teenagers would act this way.
The world building wasn't bad, but what happened didn't make sense. Why does the weaver want to take over the mainland so badly? And why did she leave Skandar and his family when she had supposedly been so happy? Also, some of it was way too easy, like with Joby telling Skandar absolutely do not ever do that or go there but I'm going to tell you where it is.
I gave this book 2 stars because the concept was interesting, and the world building wasn't the worst I've read, but there aren't really any other redeeming qualities
Finally, I know this has been said a lot, but it still needs to be mentioned, the trope was so generic, and the plot was way too similar to Amari and the Night Brothers. This book just isn't worth it. I would have rather reread Amari.*
*If you have a different opinion, that's fine. I'll respect your opinion, and all I ask is you respect mine, even if you disagree.**
** In other words; I'm 12 don't cuss me out or I will report you, I've seen it happen way too often.***
***And no, being 12 does not affect the valid points I've written above, and if you read them and consider them I hope you'll see that.