#Skandar and the Phantom Rider

[unicorn-names]

"Silver unicorns all have "Silver" as the 1st of their 2 names. More generally unicorns have 2 names (one their nickname) and they are often - but not always - linked in some way to their allied element." - A.F. Steadman reply on Twitter, regarding her naming rules for unicorns in the Skandar Series

[qualitymoonsuit]

I just finished reading Skandar and the Phantom Rider, by A.F. Steadman.

[craiguntlnyttym]

I just finished Skandar and the Phantom Rider by A. F. Steadman... This was a wonderful sequel to a really great and magical first book that only brought more more of that magic and wonder. I'm excited to start book three.

[agayprince]

Mid-Year Recap 2024

Read 39 Books

The Book of (More) Delights: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The City of Brass: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Killers of a Certain Age:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Wicked Bargain: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jay's Gay Agenda: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Cruel Prince ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Girl Who Fell From The Sky ⭐⭐⭐

Fake Dates and Mooncakes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stone Blind ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Daughter of the Moon Goddess ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Master of One ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Deadly Education ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bloom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Last Canto of the Dead ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Café con Lychee ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fury of the Dragon Goddess ⭐⭐⭐

Heartstopper: Volume 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Infinity Alchemist ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Legacy of Yangchen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Project Nought ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tristan Strong Keeps Punching ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Skandar and the Phantom Rider ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Teach the Torches to Burn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dark Age DNF

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún Deluxe Edition I by Nagabe ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg ⭐

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Prince of Lust by Lucien Burr ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Skandar and The Chaos Trial ⭐⭐⭐

The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women by Lisa Perrin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Prospects by K. T. Hoffman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Favorite Books:

The Book of (More) Delights:

Killers of a Certain Age:

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea:

Fake Dates and Mooncakes

Master of One

Heartstopper: Volume 5

Deadly Education

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

Infinity Alchemist

Skandar and the Phantom Rider

Teach the Torches to Burn

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women by Lisa Perrin

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland

The Prospects by K. T. Hoffman

Least Favorite Books:

The Girl Who Fell From The Sky

Fury of the Dragon Goddess

Dark Age

The Glass Magician

[unicorn-names]

The Island - as represented in Skandar and the Phantom Rider

[unicorn-names]

So far in the Skandar Series by A.F. Steadman:

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

Skandar and the Phantom Rider

Skandar and the Chaos Trials

Very excited for the 3rd book to be released! While I am not the target demographic for these books, I've found them easy to read and enjoyable too. While some parts are a bit predictable, it's understandable and still makes for a fun read.

The second book left me with a few questions so I'm hoping the next book answers them nice and quickly (not long to go to find out!)

I also appreciate the representation in the book. I didn't feel like it was forced, and while some things aren't necessarily relevant to the story, they are necessary for those characters, and for readers to see themselves.

My favourite part about this series is creating OCs that would fit into this world, especially coming up with unicorn names (if you couldn't tell from this blog's name).

[unicorn-names]

Unicorn riders receive a magical mutation, some kind of change to their body that is seen to be a gift shared by the unicorn.

Mutations are not harmful to the rider.

Mutations (as far as I am aware) are directly connected to the allied element of the rider

e.g. air allied rider has a crackling electric star on their forehead, similar to the star shape on their unicorn's forehead

[unicorn-names]

Spirit Allied

Spirit wielders are secretive, strong-willed, soul-searchers. They have courage and recklessness running through their veins, just as light and darkness battles in their hearts.

[unicorn-names]

Water Allied

Water wielders are forgiving, adaptable, problem-solvers. They're never afraid to go with the flow, but are more than happy to swim against the current when it's the right thing to do.

[unicorn-names]

Fire Allied

Fire wielders are passionate, volatile, idea-sparkers. They ignite the imaginations of those around them, even if their tempers tend to flare out of control.

[unicorn-names]

Earth Allied

Earth wielders are grounded, generous, friendship-builders. Though they find comfort in stability, their bravery shines diamond-bright in times of adversity.

[unicorn-names]

Air Allied

Air wielders are high-flying, changeable, thrill-seekers. They stretch their wings and soar to new heights, though sometimes forget to come back down to earth.

[unicorn-names]

"Unicorns don't belong in fairytales, they belong in nightmares." - A.F. Steadman

Ferocious unicorns return to the page in this sequel. Skandar Smith and his friends are going into their second year at the Eyrie, while his sister Kenna yearns every moment to join them.

Last year's sinister happenings aren't lightly forgotten despite a new threat, something thought to be impossible: immortal unicorns are dying. Not only this, but The Island is starting to take its revenge for this atrocity and the future of it's very existence hangs in the balance.

[unicorn-names]

You can now buy Skandar and the Phantom Rider in paperback

[unicorn-names]

Unicorn riders are allied to one of 5 magical elements:

Air

Earth

Fire

Water

Spirit

The allied element may have a strong correlation to the unicorn's name

e.g. the air allied rider and their unicorn Lightning's Mistake

Or it may be less apparent as to what element the rider will be allied to

e.g. the water allied rider and their unicorn Yesterday's Ghost