SKANDAR IS BACK!

ONE day, ten years ago, AF Steadman had an idea pop into her head about a boy, riding

a unicorn…

A decade on, the first two books of her Skandar fantasy series are global bestsellers – and there’s even a movie in the works! We caught up with her just in time for the release of the third book, Skandar and the Chaos Trials…

It’s time for book three, and we’re so excited! What’s in store for Skandar and his friends? It’s Skandar’s third year training as a unicorn rider at the Eyrie, but there’s also the biggest heist in Island history, explosive elemental trials, wild magic mutations, and den dances that cause plenty of drama. You’ll meet new characters, solve fiendish riddles and outsmart murderous mountains. You’ll also learn the perils of stepping on a salamander or disturbing a stalignome.

Let’s talk unicorns… because the ones in Skandar aren’t quite like the ones most people

might think of! The unicorns in Skandar are bloodthirsty, magical and deadly. Their power comes from the five elements – fire, water, air, earth and spirit. Nowadays, it’s more common to see cute, sparkly unicorns, but mine are more like the unicorns of ancient legends – ferocious!

Do you have a fixed plan for what will happen in the next books?

Do you know how it all ends?! There’ll be five books in the Skandar series. This mirrors the magical elements (one book for each), but it also reflects the number of years of training at the Eyrie. I’ve always known how Skandar’s adventures will end – but there might be other stories to come…

Read the full interview in this week’s First News.