A.F. Steadman

Posledný súboj. Posledná voľba. Posledná jazda. Skandar Smith sa skrýva. Odhalenie, ktoré Rex Manning vyslovil pred celým Ostrovom, otriaslo všetkým, čomu jazdci verili. Zatiaľ čo sa Rex chystá zaútočiť na Pevninu, obyvatelia Ostrova si kladú jedinú otázku – komu sa ešte dá veriť? Keď sa jeden zo Skandarových najbližších priateľov postaví na stranu nepriateľa, Skandar je nútený hľadať nové spojenectvá. Nečakanú podporu nájde v Kenne, s ktorou ho spája viac bolesť než dôvera. Ak chcú Rexa zastaviť, musia sa vrátiť k samotným počiatkom Ostrova a naplno prebudiť silu elementárnej mágie. Čas sa kráti, hranice medzi lojalitou a zradou sa stierajú a osud Pevniny aj Ostrova visí na vlásku. Dokáže sa Skandar stať vodcom, ktorého svet potrebuje? Záverečná časť série prináša nečakaných hrdinov, divoké jednorožce, súboje, starodávne tajomstvá a mágiu. Z anglického originálu preložil Michal Jedinák. Pre čitateľov od 12 rokov

Epický závěr veleúspěšné série je konečně tady! Ostrov je ve válce. Během závodu o Pohár chaosu bylo vyzrazeno tajemství, které od základu změnilo vše. Skandar se stal psancem a je na útěku. Ostrované nevědí, komu mají věřit. Jedna ze Skandarových nejbližších kamarádek teď bojuje na straně nepřítele a Skandar musí uzavírat nová spojenectví včetně nejistého příměří s Kennou. Pokud Skandar a jeho přátelé chtějí Rexe porazit, musejí se vrátit k počátkům ostrova a ovládnout veškerou moc živelní magie. Dokáže se Skandar stát vůdcem, jímž potřebuje být, aby zachránil pevninu i srdce samotného ostrova? Pro čtenáře od deseti let.

TAKE FLIGHT ON THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME  BOY. RIDER. HERO. Skandar Smith has survived his first year as a unicorn rider. Now all he wants is to train alongside his friends – even if that means keeping secrets from his sister, Kenna. But when elemental magic begins to destroy the Island, can Skandar unravel the past and protect the future for them all? GET READY FOR EPIC SKY BATTLES, DEADLY SECRETS AND FRIENDSHIPS THAT WILL LAST FOREVER. GO ALL IN and celebrate the National Year of Reading 2026 with these epic new editions of the international bestselling Skandar series, featuring brand new illustrated covers.  Praise for the SKANDAR series: ‘The most popular children’s fantasy hero since Harry Potter’ – Telegraph  Skandar and the Unicorn Thief was WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 and WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023!  *Skandar and the Chaos Trials was the Number 1 bestseller in the UK Nielsen Bookscan chart, 27th April 2024 *Skandar and the Spirit War was the Children’s Number 1 bestseller in the UK Nielsen Bookscan Chart 30th August 2025

HEROES AND UNICORNS AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. The first book in the award-winning, international hit fantasy adventure series for children age 9+, and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn. Give the gift of adventure this Christmas!WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023!‘The most popular children’s fantasy hero since Harry Potter’ – The Daily Telegraph Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero.   But just as Skandar’s dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined. A dark and twisted enemy has stolen the Island’s most powerful unicorn – and as the threat grows ever closer, Skandar discovers a secret that could blow apart his world forever . . .   Get ready for unlikely HEROES, elemental MAGIC, sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and FEROCIOUS UNICORNS, in this EPIC ADVENTURE series that will have your heart soaring.THE EPIC ADVENTURE CONTINUES . . .PRE-ORDER SKANDAR AND THE CHAOS TRIALS, THE UNMISSABLE BRAND NEW BOOK IN THE SERIES, NOW!Praise for Skandar and the Unicorn Thief:  'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.' – The Times Children's Book of the Week‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’ – Louie Stowell, author of Loki and Otherland ‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathless moment of it!’ – Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island and co-author of Twin Crowns‘The best book I’ve ever read.’ – Patrick, age 10 ‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of the Starfell series  ‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey  ‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’ – Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear  ‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn  ‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –Tọlá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' – The Sunday Times

NIKTO NIE JE V BEZPEČÍ... Skandar Smith vždy túžil stať sa jazdcom – a jeho sny sa splnili. No cena, ktorú za to platí, je čoraz vyššia. Jednorožce sú silnejšie a nevyspytateľnejšie než kedykoľvek predtým a hranice medzi dobrom a zlom sa stierajú. Zatiaľ čo na ostrove ožíva starodávne zlo, do všetkého zasahuje aj komodor odhodlaný zničiť element ducha raz a navždy. A ako by to nestačilo, Skandar čelí aj vlastnej sestre, ktorú poháňa túžba po pomste. V bezpečí nie je nikto – ani tí najsilnejší jazdci. Tajomstvá minulosti vychádzajú na povrch, lojalita je podrobená skúške a Skandar sa musí postaviť pravde o sebe aj o sile, ktorá v ňom drieme. Počet prekliatych jednorožcov stúpa, čas sa kráti a štvorica jazdcov sa vydáva na nebezpečné preteky s osudom. Dokážu kliatbu zastaviť, alebo ostrov a svet jednorožcov navždy zaniknú? Pre čitateľov od 12 rokov Z anglického originálu Skandar and the Skeleton Curse (Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, Great Britain 2024) preložil Michal Jedinák.

Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero. But just as Skandar’s dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined. A dark and twisted enemy has stolen the Island’s most powerful unicorn – and as the threat grows ever closer, Skandar discovers a secret that could blow apart his world forever . . . Skandar and the Phantom RiderSkandar Smith has achieved his dream to train as a unicorn rider. But as Skandar and his friends enter their second year at the Eyrie, a new threat arises. Immortal wild unicorns are somehow being killed, a prophecy warns of terrible danger, and elemental destruction begins to ravage the Island. Meanwhile, Skandar’s sister, Kenna, longs to join him – and Skandar is determined to help her, no matter what. As the storm gathers, can Skandar discover how to stop the Island tearing itself apart – before it’s too late for them all?Skandar and the Chaos TrialsSkandar and his sister Kenna are finally both at the Eyrie, but tensions are high. To survive their third year of training, Skandar and his friends must complete a series of terrifying trials across the Island’s elemental zones. Friendships, allegiances and rider-unicorn bonds will be pushed to the limit – only the strongest will make it. Meanwhile Kenna’s forged bond to a wild unicorn has left her alienated and alone. And when a terrible discovery puts the future of the Island in peril, all fingers point in one direction . . . As dark forces assemble, Skandar must decide how far is he willing to go – for Kenna, and for the Eyrie. Get ready for unlikely heroes, elemental magic, sky battles, ancient secrets and ferocious unicorns in this highly anticipated adventure that will keep you reading after lights out!

Skandar látta, hogy nővéréből elképesztő energia árad. Vibrált és csillogott körülötte, akár a levegő egy égiháború előtt. Kenna elemet idézett elem után a tenyerébe, válogatás nélkül indított támadásokat, és közben a célpontjaira sem nézett. Mágiájának sötét árnyakkal szegélyezett szélei nyaldosták a közelében lévő pálmafákat, leveleik feketén kunkorodtak össze. Úgy tűnt, a mágiája elsorvasztja és elrohasztja az élő dolgokat, mintha csak tükröt tartanának Héja saját hanyatlásának. Kenna arcán könnyek patakzottak. Aztán a színek elmosódtak, Kenna beleidézte őket a kötelékébe, olyan gyorsan, hogy a támadások összekeveredtek: lángok, jég, vihar és kövek.