Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

Published in 2022 and written by A. F. Steadman, Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A. F. Steadman is the first installment in the middle-grade Skandar series. The book focuses on unicorn lore and follows Skandar, a brand-new unicorn rider whose unicorn wields special yet outlawed magical abilities. While most unicorns and their riders have affinities with earth, fire, air, or water, Skandar’s unicorn has an affinity with spirit. As a secret spirit wielder, Skandar forges bonds of friendship with his fellow riders as they discover the truth about the spirit element and combat the world’s most infamous spirit wielder of all—the Weaver.

The book currently has one sequel, Skandar and the Phantom Rider, with more installments on the way. Simon & Schuster signed an unexpected seven-figure advance for Steadman’s debut novel, with Sony Pictures signing quickly for the rights to adapt the book into a movie. Since publication, the novel has received several awards, including the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year award in 2022 and the 2023 Indie Book Award for the Children’s category.

This guide refers to the 2022 Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.

Plot Summary

As a youngster living on the Mainland, Skandar Smith is deeply interested in both the wild and the bonded unicorns who live separately on the Island.