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Skandar #0.5
The First Unicorn Rider: A World of Skandar Story
Meet the adventurer who first discovered the Island in this thrilling novella prequel to the Skandar series from New York Times and internationally bestselling author A.F. Steadman—featuring black-and-white illustrations throughout!
George Penhaligon has only ever wanted adventure. And when he finds himself shipwrecked and alone on a mysterious island, he makes an incredible discovery. Unicorns are real—and they’re bloodthirsty.
Slowly, George gains one unicorn’s trust, and together, they explore the island’s magical secrets. But there is a dark presence lurking in his new home, more deadly than any unicorn.
Can George fulfill his destiny and free the island from a terrible fate?
George Penhaligon has only ever wanted adventure. And when he finds himself shipwrecked and alone on a mysterious island, he makes an incredible discovery. Unicorns are real—and they’re bloodthirsty.
Slowly, George gains one unicorn’s trust, and together, they explore the island’s magical secrets. But there is a dark presence lurking in his new home, more deadly than any unicorn.
Can George fulfill his destiny and free the island from a terrible fate?
256 pages, Hardcover
Published November 11, 2025
84 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 24, 2025
slay honestly
November 10, 2025
I have read the entire Skandar series throughout the years and enjoyed EVERY SINGLE ONE! I am sad that it is over but it is the book that got me back into reading and when I heard Annabel had written a prequel I was all for it. I picked this up and it did not disappoint, I very much adored it like the others, Annabel really has a way with words and describing her world to the readers with such amazing detail. I would definitely read the Skandar series first if you haven't as I think the origin story will make more sense. I spent a lot of the book spotting things and getting excited to know how things were created. Defintely worth a read, you won't regret it and if you do read this first you have the entire skandar series to read.
November 27, 2025
Great ending - love the pictures in it❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
January 26, 2026
Wow I really love this series
The illustrations were amazing
It was great to have a prequel to Skandar
The illustrations were amazing
It was great to have a prequel to Skandar
December 19, 2025
This was the prequel to the main Skandar series, and introduces the one who would become the forefather of the 6 characters who would pass into the mythos and lore of the island in Skandar's timeline.
I would have liked a bit more about the characters and who they were, but this was written for younger readers, so it had enough detail to give you the gist.
I would love to see a series that expands on George and his time on the island, and how things progress to more of what we know!
I would have liked a bit more about the characters and who they were, but this was written for younger readers, so it had enough detail to give you the gist.
I would love to see a series that expands on George and his time on the island, and how things progress to more of what we know!
November 25, 2025
“But George knew Rebel – she was all he knew now really. And her fierce wild heart was joined with his own. From that, and the time they had spent together, he understood enough about her noble soul that she would only share her magic for something important. Soemthing adventurous and daring and magical. Because together – with this kind of power – the boy and the unicorn might just be able to change the world.”
Long before Skandar Smith stepped foot on the Island, a young boy, George Penhaligon, finds himself shipwrecked and alone on an island brimming with magic and teeming with bloodthirsty unicorns. He encounters and slowly befriends a wild, young unicorn who introduces him to the wonders of the island as well as the dark entity that threatens to destroy it.
I love the Skandar series with my whole heart. The moment Steadman announced that she was publishing a prequel story about George, the First Rider, and his Wild Unicorn Queen, I knew I had to get my hands on it as quickly as possible. You can start reading the series with this book, but I'd say this is more engaging and interesting if you already know the events of the main series set years and years after George ends up on the island. This book does not offer any grand revelations about the world nor does it really change the way you see the original series – it's more just a fun little prequel story that fleshes out the character of the First Rider, shows the origins of many of the Island's most notable features (such as its treehouse architecture), introduces you to the Island before it became a home to humans as well as unicorns and showcases the beginnings of what will become George and Rebel Spirit's grand project: creation of the Eyrie and making the Island a home and a haven. The reader does kinda know where George ends up, but it was still fun following him on his journey of getting to know the Island and its unicorns. It was cool seeing But even though you know where things are going, there were still some surprises such as a Prequels are always gonna be, in part, predictable and that's in some ways the point of them. It's all about how the characters end up where you already know they will end up, so it didn't bother me that there weren't great many surprising twists.
George was an okay main character. If I didn't already like him based on the Skandar books – if this was the only story he was in – I probably wouldn't have grown overly attached to him. I appreciate Steadman writing sensitive and vulnerable boy main characters and avoiding all the classic tough boy tropes so prevalent in fantasy. I loved George's endless yearning for adventure and his desire to see the world and to have adventures – all that was classic fantasy MC stuff and, even though it was stereotypical, I still loved it. I love a character from a small village who has big dreams. Rebel Spirit, the main unicorn character, was also cool – fierce, headstrong, brave and loyal, but also someone who gets scared. Based on what I knew of her from the Skandar books, I expected her to She and George both had cool character arcs and, by the end, they are quickly becoming the legends they are by the time Skandar and his friends live on the Island. Their ending, with
The relationship between George and Rebel Spirit was lovely. I loved how their bond emphasises choice instead of just destiny: Rebel and George decide to trust each other, to stick together and the closer they become, the more they keep choosing each other time and time again. It is Rebel's choice to gift George her magic. It's not simple destiny, but love and trust that has grown through trials and tribulations. I also love stories of unlikely friendships, and a friendship between a shipwrecked boy from a fisher family and a wild, decaying unicorn is quite the unlikely thing. I am also a sucker for stories of lonely people finding each other and becoming each other's new family. This quote got to me: “’Are you alone, like me?’ George asked the unicorn quietly. He knew it couldn’t understand him, not in words anyway, so instead he put his palm against its bloodied neck. ‘Well, we’re not alone – not any more. Now we have each other.’” Rose and George also have the same vibe going on, as do Rose and her unicorn: “’You’re mine, aren’t you?’ the girl said softly. ‘You called me here, didn’t you?’” Rose and George were a lot of fun. I am so happy Steadman also took this book as an opportunity to introduce us not just to the First Rider but also the First Silver who, as we learned from the Skandar books, became his partner in all senses of the word. They are not yet love interests, not really, in this book – they are just kids trying to survive and becoming pals – but you can see why they would end up together in the end. They had a fun dynamic, full of quips and gentle teasing but also real, genuine care. I loved this quote from George near the end
A bit more on Rose. She was a lot of fun, all bravado and confidence on the surface with vulnerabilities and loneliness hidden deep within her heart. Her being a pirate was a delight, as was the way she threw herself into learning magic and bonding with her unicorn. From the beginning you know she has a darker backstory, but when it was revealed I was still Her presence elevated the story and made reading it way more fun. I liked George and Rebel's adventures before she shows up, but Rose just gave the narrative a boost and provided a lot more humor and plenty more opportunities for heartfelt moments.
One of the key themes of this book was embracing difference and having the courage to go against the grain. Rebel Spirit is shunned by some other unicorns for becoming George's partner and for sharing her magic with him, but in the end, that courage to be different is what makes her the Queen. George's brothers don't always understand their baby brother's desire for adventure nor do they Rose's sad backstory has a lot to do with people shunning people who are different and mistrusting them because of old superstitions or prejudice. George fears Rebel at first because she is scary-looking, but by the end, he sees her true beauty: “Because Rebel Spirit was a monster by human standards, and George loved her just the way she was.” George is also a bit jealous of The Skandar books have always focuses on these kinds of themes, which I think is really valuable and important especially in a book series aimed at young audiences. The way the stories and characters embrace differences and learn to overcome their fears and prejudices surely help kid readers who are othered by the world they live in feel less alone, less odd. The books also emphasise the importance of working together and how wondrous things can be achieved when people – and unicorns – combine their strengths. Never a bad lesson to remind readers of all ages of.
Finally, the art is amazing. Who doesn't love official, stunning art in their books?
I am happy Steadman gave us this little glimpse into the history of the Island and how it came to be. I am happy she gave us a bit more time with George and that she introduced us to Rose. If she ever decides to publish more stories set in this world, be they prequels or sequels or a whole new set of stories with whole new characters, I'll be there.
Long before Skandar Smith stepped foot on the Island, a young boy, George Penhaligon, finds himself shipwrecked and alone on an island brimming with magic and teeming with bloodthirsty unicorns. He encounters and slowly befriends a wild, young unicorn who introduces him to the wonders of the island as well as the dark entity that threatens to destroy it.
I love the Skandar series with my whole heart. The moment Steadman announced that she was publishing a prequel story about George, the First Rider, and his Wild Unicorn Queen, I knew I had to get my hands on it as quickly as possible. You can start reading the series with this book, but I'd say this is more engaging and interesting if you already know the events of the main series set years and years after George ends up on the island. This book does not offer any grand revelations about the world nor does it really change the way you see the original series – it's more just a fun little prequel story that fleshes out the character of the First Rider, shows the origins of many of the Island's most notable features (such as its treehouse architecture), introduces you to the Island before it became a home to humans as well as unicorns and showcases the beginnings of what will become George and Rebel Spirit's grand project: creation of the Eyrie and making the Island a home and a haven. The reader does kinda know where George ends up, but it was still fun following him on his journey of getting to know the Island and its unicorns. It was cool seeing But even though you know where things are going, there were still some surprises such as a Prequels are always gonna be, in part, predictable and that's in some ways the point of them. It's all about how the characters end up where you already know they will end up, so it didn't bother me that there weren't great many surprising twists.
George was an okay main character. If I didn't already like him based on the Skandar books – if this was the only story he was in – I probably wouldn't have grown overly attached to him. I appreciate Steadman writing sensitive and vulnerable boy main characters and avoiding all the classic tough boy tropes so prevalent in fantasy. I loved George's endless yearning for adventure and his desire to see the world and to have adventures – all that was classic fantasy MC stuff and, even though it was stereotypical, I still loved it. I love a character from a small village who has big dreams. Rebel Spirit, the main unicorn character, was also cool – fierce, headstrong, brave and loyal, but also someone who gets scared. Based on what I knew of her from the Skandar books, I expected her to She and George both had cool character arcs and, by the end, they are quickly becoming the legends they are by the time Skandar and his friends live on the Island. Their ending, with
The relationship between George and Rebel Spirit was lovely. I loved how their bond emphasises choice instead of just destiny: Rebel and George decide to trust each other, to stick together and the closer they become, the more they keep choosing each other time and time again. It is Rebel's choice to gift George her magic. It's not simple destiny, but love and trust that has grown through trials and tribulations. I also love stories of unlikely friendships, and a friendship between a shipwrecked boy from a fisher family and a wild, decaying unicorn is quite the unlikely thing. I am also a sucker for stories of lonely people finding each other and becoming each other's new family. This quote got to me: “’Are you alone, like me?’ George asked the unicorn quietly. He knew it couldn’t understand him, not in words anyway, so instead he put his palm against its bloodied neck. ‘Well, we’re not alone – not any more. Now we have each other.’” Rose and George also have the same vibe going on, as do Rose and her unicorn: “’You’re mine, aren’t you?’ the girl said softly. ‘You called me here, didn’t you?’” Rose and George were a lot of fun. I am so happy Steadman also took this book as an opportunity to introduce us not just to the First Rider but also the First Silver who, as we learned from the Skandar books, became his partner in all senses of the word. They are not yet love interests, not really, in this book – they are just kids trying to survive and becoming pals – but you can see why they would end up together in the end. They had a fun dynamic, full of quips and gentle teasing but also real, genuine care. I loved this quote from George near the end
A bit more on Rose. She was a lot of fun, all bravado and confidence on the surface with vulnerabilities and loneliness hidden deep within her heart. Her being a pirate was a delight, as was the way she threw herself into learning magic and bonding with her unicorn. From the beginning you know she has a darker backstory, but when it was revealed I was still Her presence elevated the story and made reading it way more fun. I liked George and Rebel's adventures before she shows up, but Rose just gave the narrative a boost and provided a lot more humor and plenty more opportunities for heartfelt moments.
One of the key themes of this book was embracing difference and having the courage to go against the grain. Rebel Spirit is shunned by some other unicorns for becoming George's partner and for sharing her magic with him, but in the end, that courage to be different is what makes her the Queen. George's brothers don't always understand their baby brother's desire for adventure nor do they Rose's sad backstory has a lot to do with people shunning people who are different and mistrusting them because of old superstitions or prejudice. George fears Rebel at first because she is scary-looking, but by the end, he sees her true beauty: “Because Rebel Spirit was a monster by human standards, and George loved her just the way she was.” George is also a bit jealous of The Skandar books have always focuses on these kinds of themes, which I think is really valuable and important especially in a book series aimed at young audiences. The way the stories and characters embrace differences and learn to overcome their fears and prejudices surely help kid readers who are othered by the world they live in feel less alone, less odd. The books also emphasise the importance of working together and how wondrous things can be achieved when people – and unicorns – combine their strengths. Never a bad lesson to remind readers of all ages of.
Finally, the art is amazing. Who doesn't love official, stunning art in their books?
I am happy Steadman gave us this little glimpse into the history of the Island and how it came to be. I am happy she gave us a bit more time with George and that she introduced us to Rose. If she ever decides to publish more stories set in this world, be they prequels or sequels or a whole new set of stories with whole new characters, I'll be there.
November 22, 2025
i am suprised by how much i loved this book. i want another book about george and more about the founding of the island. If you liked the skandar series this is a must read, very interesting
November 13, 2025
Ahh! I loved this book. I wasnt sure about it at first as one of the things I love about the rest of the series is the fun, Skandar and Bobby and all the unicorns. This book doesn't really have that, George is the only human we have for quite a large portion of this book and even later we are far too focused on impending doom to be particularly light hearted. This book however does manage to still give you those feelings of hope and magic and friendship. I loved seing the origins of so many things we as readers love in the series and getting to know these characters. I hope to see more books in this universe in the future.
November 18, 2025
An amazing addition to the series, and I loved all the little details that were added into this books
5/5⭐️
5/5⭐️
January 26, 2026
This book felt unnecessary tbh I felt as though if it had been more fleshed out then I would have been more satisfied.
November 23, 2025
Easy reading, but doesn't bring anything new to the SKANDAR world.
Ensuring Simon & Schuster squeezes every last penny out of this series, THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER is a short prequel to the much-hyped SKANDAR series about, you guessed it, the first person to discover and ride unicorns on the Island. I have a well-documented love-hate relationship with this series – mediocre entertainment overall – but I figured, to get full closure, I might as well read this.
I'm entirely whelmed by this book. It was disappointing in that I closed THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER and felt so unsatisfied, but not irate enough to toss it in frustration. This book is fine. Just fine.
George Penhaligon is an ordinary boy who, after washing upon the shore of a mysterious island, discovers a place of unicorns and magic. But a dark force moves across the land, intent on siphoning the magic for itself.
The problem with THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER is that it doesn't really flesh out the history of the Island in any meaningful way. All of the lore presented in THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER can be easily drawn from the original series if you're looking hard enough. Like, we already knew the First Rider was a Penhaligon who rode the Wild Unicorn Queen, that was in SPIRIT WAR. You do learn about the first silver rider but nothing else is new. There's a whole treasure trove of conflict we could mine, like the relationship between George and the rest of his family who eventually come to Island – because we know they will – especially with Piran, one of the primary antagonists in the final book of SKANDAR, but it's not even remotely addressed.
If George was a more interesting character or had a more interesting life, the story wouldn't be so middling, but incidentally he's about as vanilla a character as Skandar was, and he doesn't even get the luxury of a few more books to flesh himself out. Half of this book George spends alone, with a lot of description and very little dialogue, which doesn't do any favours in drawing out his personality. George's eventual companion, a spirited pirate named Rose, was a far more interesting character and I wish she had been the protagonist instead.
Also I don't know if this was in the original series as much, but the number of times 'bloodthirsty unicorns' is said became so irritating. We get it, Steadman, you queried the series with that tagline. Once is enough.
Diehard fans will enjoy THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER, but for myself it didn't meet the potential it had to tell a great story.
WILL I READ MORE BY THIS AUTHOR? Still a no on TIMELESS.
LAST REVIEW
1: SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF ★★★☆☆
2: SKANDAR AND THE PHANTOM RIDER ★★★☆☆
3: SKANDAR AND THE CHAOS TRIALS ★★★☆☆
4: SKANDAR AND THE SKELETON CURSE ★★★☆☆
5: SKANDAR AND THE SPIRIT WAR ★★★★★
Ensuring Simon & Schuster squeezes every last penny out of this series, THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER is a short prequel to the much-hyped SKANDAR series about, you guessed it, the first person to discover and ride unicorns on the Island. I have a well-documented love-hate relationship with this series – mediocre entertainment overall – but I figured, to get full closure, I might as well read this.
I'm entirely whelmed by this book. It was disappointing in that I closed THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER and felt so unsatisfied, but not irate enough to toss it in frustration. This book is fine. Just fine.
George Penhaligon is an ordinary boy who, after washing upon the shore of a mysterious island, discovers a place of unicorns and magic. But a dark force moves across the land, intent on siphoning the magic for itself.
The problem with THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER is that it doesn't really flesh out the history of the Island in any meaningful way. All of the lore presented in THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER can be easily drawn from the original series if you're looking hard enough. Like, we already knew the First Rider was a Penhaligon who rode the Wild Unicorn Queen, that was in SPIRIT WAR. You do learn about the first silver rider but nothing else is new. There's a whole treasure trove of conflict we could mine, like the relationship between George and the rest of his family who eventually come to Island – because we know they will – especially with Piran, one of the primary antagonists in the final book of SKANDAR, but it's not even remotely addressed.
If George was a more interesting character or had a more interesting life, the story wouldn't be so middling, but incidentally he's about as vanilla a character as Skandar was, and he doesn't even get the luxury of a few more books to flesh himself out. Half of this book George spends alone, with a lot of description and very little dialogue, which doesn't do any favours in drawing out his personality. George's eventual companion, a spirited pirate named Rose, was a far more interesting character and I wish she had been the protagonist instead.
Also I don't know if this was in the original series as much, but the number of times 'bloodthirsty unicorns' is said became so irritating. We get it, Steadman, you queried the series with that tagline. Once is enough.
Diehard fans will enjoy THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER, but for myself it didn't meet the potential it had to tell a great story.
WILL I READ MORE BY THIS AUTHOR? Still a no on TIMELESS.
LAST REVIEW
1: SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF ★★★☆☆
2: SKANDAR AND THE PHANTOM RIDER ★★★☆☆
3: SKANDAR AND THE CHAOS TRIALS ★★★☆☆
4: SKANDAR AND THE SKELETON CURSE ★★★☆☆
5: SKANDAR AND THE SPIRIT WAR ★★★★★
February 26, 2026
Skandar: The First Unicorn Rider
By A.F. Steadman
Genre: Fantasy
The main character, George Penhaligon, goes out fishing during a stormy night all alone. Suddenly his boat crashes and he washed up onto shore. While waking up he sees a unicorn-like creature standing over him. He stays still hoping it would go away, and eventually it does. But later during the day it comes back and he begins to bond with it. The unicorn catches fish for him, and cooks it for him using fire magic, among many other things. They keep strengthening their bond and the unicorn even lets George sleep on its wing for a while, but once he wakes up the unicorn it gone. Later in the story they find a friend on the beach, learn to survive on the island, and come in contact with a magic-sucking dragon, setting up a conflict to be resolved by the end of the book.
This book contains interesting elements and themes such as magic, mystical creatures, and friendship. These elements make the book more unique, engaging, and fun to read, as the magic adds to the story and makes it fascinating, especially when combined with the theme of friendship between a human and a mystical creature.
My favorite character is Rose for a few different reasons. First off, she used to be a pirate, and although she's just an ordinary girl, makes herself out to seem braver than she actually is. This makes her character more complex and intriguing. She's comedic, friendly, and talkative, providing stories throughout the book about her "experiences" as a pirate. She's significant to the story because she's the only other person on the island apart from George, and helps find and use magic. She teaches George how to make weapons out of magic and to shape them how he wishes. Additionally, she also helps resolve the conflict of the book.
In my opinion the book was quite engaging, although at some points I felt it was slightly boring. The writing style was somewhat unimpactful and the pace was slow, making my reading experience imbalanced, as some parts were interesting, and others were boring. This means that the story both kept me interested and didn't. However, I liked how the magic system works. For example, you either have to be mounted on the unicorn or know how to use it while not being mounted to use its magic. Additionally, the vocabulary was simple, so I was able to properly understand the events of the book.
I would recommend this book to people who have read all of the previously released Skandar books, because it gives more insight into the lore on how this island was found, which is relevant in the other books. I would also recommend this book to people who love fantasy books and to anyone who likes elements of magic and mystical creatures, as the genre is fantasy and it focusses a lot on the magical aspect of the story.
I would give this book a 3 / 5 because the book was good at some points but still lacked in other places I have previously mentioned. Additionally, when I compare this book to the others in the Skandar series, I have enjoyed the other ones a lot more. However, it still provides good insight into the events that occur before the Skandar series, and I would still recommend this book!
Reviewed by: Eero Kaapro
By A.F. Steadman
Genre: Fantasy
The main character, George Penhaligon, goes out fishing during a stormy night all alone. Suddenly his boat crashes and he washed up onto shore. While waking up he sees a unicorn-like creature standing over him. He stays still hoping it would go away, and eventually it does. But later during the day it comes back and he begins to bond with it. The unicorn catches fish for him, and cooks it for him using fire magic, among many other things. They keep strengthening their bond and the unicorn even lets George sleep on its wing for a while, but once he wakes up the unicorn it gone. Later in the story they find a friend on the beach, learn to survive on the island, and come in contact with a magic-sucking dragon, setting up a conflict to be resolved by the end of the book.
This book contains interesting elements and themes such as magic, mystical creatures, and friendship. These elements make the book more unique, engaging, and fun to read, as the magic adds to the story and makes it fascinating, especially when combined with the theme of friendship between a human and a mystical creature.
My favorite character is Rose for a few different reasons. First off, she used to be a pirate, and although she's just an ordinary girl, makes herself out to seem braver than she actually is. This makes her character more complex and intriguing. She's comedic, friendly, and talkative, providing stories throughout the book about her "experiences" as a pirate. She's significant to the story because she's the only other person on the island apart from George, and helps find and use magic. She teaches George how to make weapons out of magic and to shape them how he wishes. Additionally, she also helps resolve the conflict of the book.
In my opinion the book was quite engaging, although at some points I felt it was slightly boring. The writing style was somewhat unimpactful and the pace was slow, making my reading experience imbalanced, as some parts were interesting, and others were boring. This means that the story both kept me interested and didn't. However, I liked how the magic system works. For example, you either have to be mounted on the unicorn or know how to use it while not being mounted to use its magic. Additionally, the vocabulary was simple, so I was able to properly understand the events of the book.
I would recommend this book to people who have read all of the previously released Skandar books, because it gives more insight into the lore on how this island was found, which is relevant in the other books. I would also recommend this book to people who love fantasy books and to anyone who likes elements of magic and mystical creatures, as the genre is fantasy and it focusses a lot on the magical aspect of the story.
I would give this book a 3 / 5 because the book was good at some points but still lacked in other places I have previously mentioned. Additionally, when I compare this book to the others in the Skandar series, I have enjoyed the other ones a lot more. However, it still provides good insight into the events that occur before the Skandar series, and I would still recommend this book!
Reviewed by: Eero Kaapro
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2025
An excellent novella from the world of Skandar that depicts how George Penhaligon became The First Unicorn Rider.
When he is shipwrecked on a mysterious Island with bloodthirsty unicorns, George thinks he's going to die. However, he finds an unlikely friend in the wild unicorn known as Rebel Spirit, who keeps George alive and eventually gives him some of her magic. However, not all of Rebel's herd accepts the Rider, and there is a large, dangerous monster sucking the very magical life force out of the Island itself.
A year passes, and another human is washed up. Rosemary the Pirate. Who bonds with a freshly hatched Silver called Silver Shanty. Shanty does not look like Rebel, with her rotting body and decaying look, no, Shanty is a pure, healthy silver colour, the only one in her hatching herd not to look like he is dying.
Together, George and Rosemary learn how to live on the Island, control their unicorn's magic, and defeat the dragon that is plaguing their land, using all five elements (spirit, fire, water, earth, and air) to do so. Eventually, this will lead to the First Children, the Hatchery, the Eyrie, and finally, Skandar Smith.
Relatively fast pacing but shy enjoyable story nonetheless that expands on a key origin within Skandar's world!
When he is shipwrecked on a mysterious Island with bloodthirsty unicorns, George thinks he's going to die. However, he finds an unlikely friend in the wild unicorn known as Rebel Spirit, who keeps George alive and eventually gives him some of her magic. However, not all of Rebel's herd accepts the Rider, and there is a large, dangerous monster sucking the very magical life force out of the Island itself.
A year passes, and another human is washed up. Rosemary the Pirate. Who bonds with a freshly hatched Silver called Silver Shanty. Shanty does not look like Rebel, with her rotting body and decaying look, no, Shanty is a pure, healthy silver colour, the only one in her hatching herd not to look like he is dying.
Together, George and Rosemary learn how to live on the Island, control their unicorn's magic, and defeat the dragon that is plaguing their land, using all five elements (spirit, fire, water, earth, and air) to do so. Eventually, this will lead to the First Children, the Hatchery, the Eyrie, and finally, Skandar Smith.
Relatively fast pacing but shy enjoyable story nonetheless that expands on a key origin within Skandar's world!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2026
A Great prequel to the Skandar series an an great re-introduction to the series after reading the series in Summer of 2024, and got me reinspired to continue the series.
Very quick book great characters great prequel that adds more magic into the original novel showing how George goes from a fisherboy to a shipwrecked boy after a storm that he didn't believe that his mother & three brothers when talking about the storm, so he takes the Penny their fishing ship, on search of fishes, but he is shipwrecked instead, where he meets a mysterious creature a unicorn that slowly as time goes on he bonds with, as they explore their bond, and use their friendship & newly discovered power to defeat an dragon that has been sucking the soul of the magic of the island, and teaching the power to a shipwrecked pirate girl named Rose as she gets her own unicorn & help mould the element. But side note why is the Spirit Element hated so much if the first rider was an spirit element allied. If i remember correctly it was due to them can killing other unicorns & bonds, but wouldn't it have more weight that the first rider was Spirit allied but feel free to correct me if wrong as i said before it's been a year and a half (or so).
Very quick book great characters great prequel that adds more magic into the original novel showing how George goes from a fisherboy to a shipwrecked boy after a storm that he didn't believe that his mother & three brothers when talking about the storm, so he takes the Penny their fishing ship, on search of fishes, but he is shipwrecked instead, where he meets a mysterious creature a unicorn that slowly as time goes on he bonds with, as they explore their bond, and use their friendship & newly discovered power to defeat an dragon that has been sucking the soul of the magic of the island, and teaching the power to a shipwrecked pirate girl named Rose as she gets her own unicorn & help mould the element. But side note why is the Spirit Element hated so much if the first rider was an spirit element allied. If i remember correctly it was due to them can killing other unicorns & bonds, but wouldn't it have more weight that the first rider was Spirit allied but feel free to correct me if wrong as i said before it's been a year and a half (or so).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2026
I enjoyed this so so much! I was a bit unsure how I would feel with this as I never really connect to prequels or books set within the same world the same as I do with the main series. But this one - loved loved loved it!
I was so sad to read the final Skandar book but was super happy that this one was to follow. I eagerly awaited the publication date and before I knew it- I’d finished it! We get to know so much about George and his delve into the world of unicorns - the origin story for how the Eyrie came about and the start of the story for how bonds with unicorns came to be.
It was such a lovely story - heartwarming, feel- good adventure. Seeing both George and Rose battle their own challenges and finding found family with each other was wonderful to read. It was an effortlessly enjoyable book. I can’t wait to see what else the author comes out with now this one has come to an end.
I was so sad to read the final Skandar book but was super happy that this one was to follow. I eagerly awaited the publication date and before I knew it- I’d finished it! We get to know so much about George and his delve into the world of unicorns - the origin story for how the Eyrie came about and the start of the story for how bonds with unicorns came to be.
It was such a lovely story - heartwarming, feel- good adventure. Seeing both George and Rose battle their own challenges and finding found family with each other was wonderful to read. It was an effortlessly enjoyable book. I can’t wait to see what else the author comes out with now this one has come to an end.
February 3, 2026
I love the whole of the Skandar series and this is a great addition! the First Unicorn Rider tells the story of George Penhaligon, a twelve year old boy who longs for more than just the life of a fisherman on the Cornish coast. One day, in a desperate bid to prove himself, he sets out on his family's fishing boat to prove himself and there begins the start of his epic journey!
The discovery of The Island and the creatures living there, his relationship with Rebel Spirit was everything I wanted it be and more. Rose was a great addition to the cast and her unicorn, Silver Shanty, was also lovely to watch develop.
There's magic, unicorns, friendship and epic battles - all the things I've come to expect from this series - but this story is essentially about an ordinary boy who is a true adventurer at heart, a boy who isn't as ordinary as everyone thinks...
A. F. Steadman has done a great job with this book!
The discovery of The Island and the creatures living there, his relationship with Rebel Spirit was everything I wanted it be and more. Rose was a great addition to the cast and her unicorn, Silver Shanty, was also lovely to watch develop.
There's magic, unicorns, friendship and epic battles - all the things I've come to expect from this series - but this story is essentially about an ordinary boy who is a true adventurer at heart, a boy who isn't as ordinary as everyone thinks...
A. F. Steadman has done a great job with this book!
December 19, 2025
Imagine wanting to be a fisherman and being shipwrecked on an island, injured and hurt. Then seeing a terrifying creature and not sure what to do. This was such a great intro into this world, and I can't wait to discover more of this world of Skandar. It has fantastic world building, unicorns, and dark creatures. The mystery surrounding the island is very intriguing and pulled me in. The emotions of being able to fly on a unicorn felt so real.
The narrator, Alfred Enoch did a great job portraying the characters in the book. It was an engaging listen that kept me hooked till the very end.
This is perfect for young readers and teens who are wanting to read a prequel to see where it all began. If you're looking for adventure, with dragons, and found family be sure to check this one out.
A very special thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio via Libro.fm for the gifted ALC.
The narrator, Alfred Enoch did a great job portraying the characters in the book. It was an engaging listen that kept me hooked till the very end.
This is perfect for young readers and teens who are wanting to read a prequel to see where it all began. If you're looking for adventure, with dragons, and found family be sure to check this one out.
A very special thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio via Libro.fm for the gifted ALC.
November 29, 2025
Oh my goodness, I devoured this in two days! It was so good and I always love a good prequel as well as a backstory. And WHAT?! Artwork was in this book? That is definitely a plus especially in chapter books! It brought the story even more to life!
It was fascinating to see how the unicorn riders and all the elements and the island came about. And after the dragon was defeated, it warmed my heart just a little bit to know that she kind of felt bad for the dragon and thought maybe that he was angry with the world like she had been but in a way maybe by slaying it and getting the four other elemental dragons that they free the black dragon in some way.
Then bang! That ending where those showed up with Bond is already starting in their hearts was epic. I really really loved this book.
It was fascinating to see how the unicorn riders and all the elements and the island came about. And after the dragon was defeated, it warmed my heart just a little bit to know that she kind of felt bad for the dragon and thought maybe that he was angry with the world like she had been but in a way maybe by slaying it and getting the four other elemental dragons that they free the black dragon in some way.
Then bang! That ending where those showed up with Bond is already starting in their hearts was epic. I really really loved this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2026
Well, the thing is, it was great start to 2026. I loved every minute of that book. Actually, that would be a lie considering I rated it 4 stars. Well, to be honest, the storyline was good, just nothing suprising. It could have been developed more. HOWEVER, it is still 4 stars. And the reason is... a character. They were amazing. They were Gearge's best friend, but I will spoil it if I say when they come in or their name. But, good gods! They were sooo good. Like I would be sitting in the middle of something important and I would just be thinking of them. I would write their name on every piece of paper I ad found. I loved them. They were soooooo cool.
But, umm, yeah. It was a good read. Would recommend.
But, umm, yeah. It was a good read. Would recommend.
January 27, 2026
Read this book over the last month with my son for his bedtime story, and he’s loved it! Such a great story I found myself keen to explore where the story was going and learning more about the blood thirsty unicorns. The imagery within the writing of this book is great it’s descriptive in just the right way to not overwhelm young reader and the inner artwork in the book is beautiful done! George and Rose where great character and we loved the differences between them both and how how the unicorns felt like battle worthy beasts and ‘not girly like the kind that sparkle and jump rainbows’ - in the words of my 8 year old son
Very solid read! I think we’ll continue this series were keen to learn more about the elementals
Very solid read! I think we’ll continue this series were keen to learn more about the elementals
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January 27, 2026Prequel to Skandar and the unicorn thief.......The first rider takes up back to the start of the island where Unicorns dwell. These are not your average fairy tale unicorns these are gruesome looking and savage
George a 13 year old boy who live in Cornwall with his family.... One night he takes the boat out on his own only to be swept into a storm and ship wrecks
When he wakes he is on an island and badly injured. Unable to move he is scared as he hear a creature shuffling near him
Absolutely brilliant book and enjoyed everything about it..
If you get a chance you should read this im literally telling everyone about this
George a 13 year old boy who live in Cornwall with his family.... One night he takes the boat out on his own only to be swept into a storm and ship wrecks
When he wakes he is on an island and badly injured. Unable to move he is scared as he hear a creature shuffling near him
Absolutely brilliant book and enjoyed everything about it..
If you get a chance you should read this im literally telling everyone about this
February 1, 2026
George's family are fishermen, but he is a fisherboy, waiting for his 13th birthday to be allowed to fish with his brothers. When he finds out bad weather is going to stop him on his birthday, he doesnt believe it and heads out alone, only to end up shipwrecked on an island... with a unicorn! Thus the adventure begins! Fun book :)
February 11, 2026
As a big fan of the Skandar books, I was excited to read this prequel. It was enjoyable to see how everything began, it answers a few questions from the series whilst doing so. I did notice it feels a lot younger than the Skandar series. It was quite predictable and could’ve been a bit more developed but still good.
December 17, 2025
I like to give books to my kid friends and try to read some of them before passing them on. The First Unicorn Rider was a nice intro to a series. Different take on unicorns! These are scary unicorns! But ultimately good ones. Fun and interesting take on the world of unicorns.
January 22, 2026
A sweet story where you follow your dream through easy and tough challenges to achieve your potential; another unicorn story to share with my grandchildren. There should always be a bit of magic in life.
January 31, 2026
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. A.F. Steadman fit such a heartwarming story into just 200 pages that fits perfectly with the other books in the series. There are even some amazing illustrations throughout the book that portrayed the book so well and looked so beautiful.
February 6, 2026
Very entertaining. Classic story of a child that doesn't fit in at home and goes on an adventure. One of my favorite things to read. The author really could have dragged out this book, or turned it into a series, but I wonder why she decided to just do a single short book?
February 28, 2026
Not as strong as the Skandar series as you could feel how connected A.F. Steadman was to Skandar himself and Scoundrel's Luck, but it was a lovely addition to the world and creating the lore of a remarkable world.
November 12, 2025
Enjoyable prequel with a short story vibe and lovely illustrations.
November 14, 2025
Short and sweet, the battle was a bit underwhelming but the ending was wholesome
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