Skandar and the unicorn Thief is being touted as the next big thing, and it has many similarities with those that have come before although it might be a little less problematic in the long-run. We have a group of new students sent into a boarding school-type scenario, a challenge, a villain and lots of opportunity to show themselves to be capable of doing what is necessary to save their world.
This was a great bedtime read to share with my son - the target audience for the book - with lots of action, a clearly plotted story and some drama (without being too scary). However, there is nothing new in this. It will, no doubt, be lapped up by those it's intended for...but it felt a little lazy, and a clear case of too much hype over substance. Naturally, I'm sure we will end up watching the movie and enjoying it greatly - I just wish there had been something suggesting we were getting something a little bit different.
Ever since he was little Skandar has dreamed of being a unicorn rider. Unfortunately, when he is barred from taking the annual entrance exam he thinks his opportunity has passed...naturally, there appears to be someone looking out for him who knows he's part of a bigger picture.
Unicorns are not quite what we're led to believe, and Steadman offers us a glimpse of the challenges faced by those inhabiting this world. I liked the idea of the Spirit element and having to overcome others' prejudices in order to find out your true capabilities, but the twist was quite apparent from early on.
When I mentioned some of my concerns to my son, he told me I was overthinking it and that this was a book he'd have no qualms recommending to people. This was a clear case of desperately wanting a book to do more than it really needs to, and wishing those in control of the big budget promotion would get behind something that doesn't simply connect the dots and challenge its readers that much.

This is a charming Middlegrade with Greek mythology and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Can't wait to read the sequels!

A really strong start to this series.
Very well drawn characters with plenty of call-backs to classics like Harry Potter etc. Sometimes this was a little too on the nose, but for a children's book, there really couldn't be a greater modern day book to get a child into reading. Perfect escapism.

A fantastic middle grade fantasy that follows well-known tropes that are subtly subverted, appealing to avid readers of the genre with just something a little bit fresh!

Full of magic, wonder and nail-biting adventure! For fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and Amari and the Night Brothers - children I’ve recommended it to have loved this fresh story amongst these heavyweights and they cannot wait for more!

The world building was wonderful, I came out of the pages feeling like I had been transported there (and was a little sad when I realised it wasn’t real).

Overall an exciting new book to children’s literature that I’m sure will be well-loved for years to come!

Wow What an adventure!

I read this with my son in one weekend. we were hooked from the first chapter.
It also encouraged him to want to read as he struggles with reading but he was so happy to give it a go.
The characters were great, really likeable. you really want them to do well in the quest to get their unicorn back.

We are really looking forward to the next instalment .

This story was a fantastic blend of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Avatar: the Last Airbender, with a hint of His Dark Materials, I really enjoyed it! Re-branding the unicorns as more violent, wild creatures was brilliantly done, the characters are very enjoyable and memorable, and the magic system will have any child (and most adults, I would venture) pretending to control the elements and choosing an affinity in no time!

SPOILER: I was particularly impressed with the twist of the villain being Skandar’s mum. That was a darker twist than I was expecting for younger readers, but it was done really well and it didn’t feel overly telegraphed.

I'll start off by saying I really loved the unicorns. They were interesting, full of character and I liked that they were extremely dangerous. The story also has a really good pace, and there are some really exciting moments particularly the sky battles and when confronting the Weaver. However, much of the storyline feels a lot like several other stories and series I have read before, in particular the hero unexpectedly finding out he's got a special gift, the magical school etc.... It all works ok, and I have no doubts that young readers will thoroughly enjoy it, it just felt a bit predictable for me to really enjoy it.
Personally, I had hoped for more, but it has potential and I know many young readers who will love this, especially the unicorns, hence the four stars.

The closest thing I’ve seen too actually meet oft used next Harry Potter superlative.

This is a magical boarding school tale with a twist, the unicorns being bloodthirsty is a great hook, But there are enough innovations to prevent this from being a basic Potter clone.

The writing is assured and will only grow in future volumes, this could be a series to watch along the lines of nevermoor.

Forget everything you think you know about Unicorns. These unicorns don’t poop glitter and spew rainbows, they fart fire and take nasty chunks out of people and pets! Skandar has always wanted to be a unicorn rider, but when he gets his wish he finds himself at the centre of a war, wielding an illegal element. Can he learn to control it and not get himself kicked out of the Eyrie?
A very real feeling magical world, full of interesting characters and more plot twists than a twisty turny thing. You don’t want to miss this one.

All Skandar has ever wanted was to be a unicorn rider and now he is thirteen, he has the chance to take the Hatchery Exam. This will decide whether he is destined to hatch a unicorn egg and form an intense bond with a tamed unicorn. But mysterious circumstances prevent Skandar from taking his exam and Weaver steals the most powerful unicorn in the world…could it be that Skandar isn’t destined to be a unicorn rider? But instead something more sinister?

This book has been publicised so so well! There was so much anticipation and hype before I read this and I’d seen gorgeous special editions, beautiful covers and so much that made me so excited. And well, it’s all completely deserved! The world created by AF Steadman is gorgeously captivating and so well built that I quickly felt at home reading about it. The plot is ferocious in its speed, quickly upping the stakes and building tension that drives the story forward. The first book left me wanting so much more and I am so incredibly excited for a sequel.

Skandar’s relationships with the others are well developed. He and his sister are so similar, but also so different and exploring the dynamic with his sister’s jealous and grief is fascinating to read. I also really enjoyed the squad that Skandar joins and the sense of belonging that is evident amount all of the kids by the end. And I couldn’t write a review without mentioning the unicorns! Bloodthirsty, scary unicorns? Amazing! I love the tamed unicorns as they’re so full of personality. Scoundrel’s Luck feels so belligerent and grumpy and his stubborn personality makes for interesting antics.

A glorious and hotly anticipated new series. Don’t miss out because you are definitely going to want your own unicorn after reading this. 5 out of 5 stars.

A sensational read packed full of action and adventure. From the very start I loved this book, with some great twists that were very entertaining.
By far my favourite kids book this year.

One of the best books I have read so far this year. It is causing a stir, and with just cause. It is fantastic, full of action with unicorns that bear no resemblance to those in most children's book. this is a must have for every school and public library. It totally deserves its five stars (and maybe a bit more)

I know I'm a bit older than the intended target but i read this book as fast as I could as I loved the storytelling and the great world building.
It's a fascinating story, a somewhat darker reimagining of the unicorn lore, and a great story of coming of age.
World building and character development are excellent.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

One of the best children's fantasy books I've read in a long time - I'd highly recommend Skandar and the Unicorn Thief.

Skandar lives with his sister and Dad and desperately wants to become a Unicorn Rider. Unicorns however aren't the magical, sparkly creatures that we normally believe but stroppy and fierce animals who don't take kindly to being ridden. All children from the mainland sit a test when they reach thirteen to measure whether they have what it takes to become a rider and compete in the Chaos Cup and it is all Skandar and his sister have ever dreamed of. From the title, you can probably guess that Skandar makes it through (although no spoilers for how this happens) and he heads off to The Island to hatch his unicorn and begin training.

It was a brilliant story full of magic and friendship as Skandar and the other riders learn to control their elemental magic and make alliances within the school. The plot wasn't too complex to read but there were so many different magical parts that A.F. Steadman has done a brilliant job of creating the world and drawing all of the different elements together.

I can't wait to read more of the series - they will definitely be a new favourite!

EPIC IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. A remarkable new voice and a wild, twisty, and uplifting story that swept me away into another world. The book we will ALL be talking about this year.

for starters, i just loved this book! It was great fun, had compelling characters, a fantastic new take on unicorns (though i'd call them Alicorns, since they have wings and horns). I dont want to spoil too much of the story, but the unicorns themselves are dark, destructive and violent creatures, nothing like the cute version pop culture has created. Each unicorn is destined for a specific person, who is able to hatch the unicorns egg. however, if a unicorns hatches without a rider, it becomes a wild unicorn, a creature that will live forever while also dying forever, rotting away. Skandar wants to be a rider, it's all he's ever thought about. It's all his dad wants for him. And he does become a rider! but discovers he is the weilder of a forbidden element, spirit, known as the death element. no one talks about it and all literature on this element has been destroyed. So he must learn to hide his powers, without being thrown out of the 'school' for new riders.
the whole book was almost impossible to put down. it reminded me of reading Shannon Messenger's Keeper of the lost cities book, as it had similar (though maybe slightly faster) pacing. the world building was excellent, never bombarding you with too much information at once, but giving you enough that you really wanted to know more.
i will absolutely be reading more of this series, i will likely end up preordering any future books.
also, it seems the movie rights to this book, being the author's debut, have already been sold. I can see why, as this book would likely make an excellent film (and i'm not usually the biggest fan of film adaptations), but it has such a visual style and would likely look great on screen.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I've been reading and selling children's books for 15 years and this is the book I've been waiting for. I devoured it in one glorious sitting and life will never be the same again.

This book has taken our house by storm, we're about three quarters of the way through. 10 yr old is glued to it and I can't wait to find out what happens. Obsessed by the elements feel as though there are similarities to the Harry Potter series with different houses / elements children living in dorms / tree houses. Love it. Can't wait for the next installment already.

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief is a great read for fans of Percy Jackson, Beast Quest and other fantasy stories. My 9 year old son loved it, and couldn't wait to start on the next chapter! There's a whole world to discover, full of unicorns and heroes, and not the sweet and innocent stereotypes you normally come across. There are races, secrets and plenty of magic, so it's perfect for youngsters to get into.

There has been so much hype around this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. It tends to be that the more excited the world is about something, the harder it has to work to impress me! This is the story of Skandar Smith. He is 13 years old, and he lives in a Margate, where unicorns exist. When children reach the age of 13, they sit an exam, to see whether or not they are worthy of being able to go to The Island, to try to hatch a unicorn, and become a unicorn rider. Skandar has to leave his family and travel to The Island. But there is a dark force at work, known as The Weaver, who is stealing unicorns, with a sinister plan that will cause chaos on The Island and will also threaten the mainland. This is an exciting debut, destined to become a series, presumably following Skandar through the five levels of training. Many comparisons are already being made to Harry Potter; young character with a destiny to fulfill, fighting evil, a fish out of water etc. Best thing to do is to forget all of that, and simply enjoy the ride (if you'll excuse the pun!) This is an exciting middle-grade adventure and I am sure young readers are going to love it!