Key information 

Author: A.F Steadman 

Illustrator: Two Dots Illustration

Release Date: 2nd February 2023

Book type: Chapter, 384 pages, paperback

Star rating: ★★★★★

Reader level: Confident reader/ Content (8+)

Series: 1 of 3 (4th due October 2024)

Age: Year 4 +

Overview

Skandar Smith is a young boy who has always dreamed of leaving the Mainland to become a unicorn rider. Alongside his sister Kenna and his Dad, Skandar has devoted his young life to watching the battles between famous unicorn riders which is televised every year. Each rider is allied to one of the four elements - water, fire, earth and air - and use these elements to battle against one another to win the Chaos Cup.

On the day of his 13th birthday, Skandar is beyond excited to take his Hatchery exam and is confident that he is destined to bond with his very own unicorn in the Eyrie. However on the day of the exam, things go take a devastating turn and Skandar's dreams fall apart right in front of him when he is refused entry. With his future in pieces, Skandar returns home to find a mysterious figure waiting for him with an important message. The Eyrie is in trouble, and Skandar must travel to the island to save it. 

When Skandar arrives on the island, he is bonded with his very own unicorn, Scoundrel, but soon realises that his power is unlike any others'. In fact, his is an illegal power that is feared by everyone in the Eyrie. Desperate to remain on the island, Skandar goes to extreme efforts to hide his true identity and begins his journey through the first year of training.

As he finds his feet, Skandar makes new friends who, at first, don't realise the dark secret that Skandar carries. Together, they delve into a world of elemental training and sky battles but soon learn of Skandar and Scoundrel's predicament. His new friends, Bobbly, Flo and Mitchell, promise to keep his secret and work together to stop the Eyrie learning the truth about his powers.

As training year passes, the four friends begin to learn of the true danger that lurks on the island: the Weaver, an evil spirit wielder, has returned to the island and plans to steal unicorns and destroying the Eyrie as they know it. It soon becomes clear that Skandar is destined to defend the island, but must do so without others realising who he truly is. Alongside his friends, Skandar takes on the weaver in a devastating battle, using his illegal element to equally match his opponent. 

This compelling fantasy adventure, the first in an epic series, is a gripping read. With imaginative characters and an exhilarating plot, readers are transported to a convincing world of fortified forests, spectacular treehouses and ferocious unicorns.

Friendship, loyalty and teamwork are at the heart of this novel, which also sensitively explores topics of grief, bereavement and depression.

Additional teaching opportunities 

Vocabulary 

This book contains some powerful language that could be taught explicitly. Most "tier 3" vocabulary are specific to the plot and unique to the Skandar series (hatchery, Chaos cup, Eyrie, hatchery exam, spirit wielder)

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