A F STEADMAN’s Skandar and the Spirit War is the epic final adventure in the number 1 bestselling ‘Skandar’ series, for fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Impossible Creatures. Read on for a Q&A.
Skandar and the Spirit War is the final book in your much-loved series. What new adventures will Skandar face in this book?
You can expect bloodthirsty unicorns of course – but also nail-biting battles, jaw-dropping twists, high emotion and huge reveals after Book 4’s cliff hanger ending! Within its pages you will find the Mainland under threat, siblings forced to confront their past, friends determined to fight for a better future and the Island at war. You will visit new places – the Air Yard, the Somnolent Mountain, the Cloud Cabin – and return to familiar locations both near and far. And of course this is the spirit book, so you will learn more secrets of the fifth element, and discover Island mysteries going all the way back to the First Rider . . .
Who are some new characters readers will be introduced to?
Because this is the final book in the series, readers will be largely familiar with the characters in Spirit War, although allegiances will change and shocking choices will change friendships forever. Readers will also finally discover the true identity of the flame-eyed man – the mysterious sentinel who has appeared at crucial moments during Skandar’s and Kenna’s adventures, and the First Rider from Skandar and the Phantom Rider will also play a part in the finale.
What’s involved in your world building process?
For me, when building a fantasy world, I find that it’s important to have a central idea, magic system or concept to return to time and time again. With the Skandar series, I settled on elemental magic. The five elements – fire, water, air, earth and spirit – are where I return to whenever I’m building something new on the Island. Just like the foundations of a house, this central idea holds up the rest of the world as I add more detail, as well as acting as a reference point that influences my imagination. I’ve also found talking to fans really helpful, as they often have really unique ideas – and come up with brilliant unicorn names!
What was your favourite part of creating this world?
When I think of my favourite fantasy series, it is almost always the characters that spring to my mind rather than the world itself. I think this has something to do with people enjoying seeing themselves in stories, and in fantasy I think a lot of the escapism and addictive nature of the immersion comes from imagining ourselves into new and exciting places. It’s not surprising therefore that my favourite part of writing the Skandar series has been creating relatable arcs for the central characters. For example, at the beginning of the series, Skandar was bullied and friendless and unsure of himself. He thought the only way to be accepted was to hide his true self away and keep his head down. But by Skandar and the Spirit War he has not only surrounded himself with friends who see and love him for who really he is, but he is proud of the young man he has become too – even giving advice to others about celebrating their differences. And as the Island prepares for war, he is truly ready to step into the responsibilities that true identity brings with it.
How does it feel to say goodbye to this series and its characters?
It was really emotional. I’ve never cried whilst writing before but when I was drafting one of the final chapters of Skandar and the Spirit War, tears started running down my face. I think it was partly joy – I realised at that moment that I was actually getting to write the ending I had envisaged when I first had the idea. And it was also sorrow, a kind of grief. Although the Skandar books only started publishing in 2022, I had the idea back in 2014. I have spent over a decade with these characters and it was time to say goodbye. But as I tell young readers who are sad about the series coming to end – books are wonderful because you can always re-read them and see your friends again! And there is also a prequel story called The First Unicorn Rider coming out this November so readers can return to the World of Skandar.
Can you tell us anything about your new prequel about the origins of the World of Skandar?
The First Unicorn Rider will be publishing this November! For the first time, a World of Skandar book will feature stunning artwork by Manuel Šumberac. The story is set around a thousand years before Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and tells the tale of the first person to discover the Island and bond with a unicorn. Here’s a little bit more about it:
When thirteen-year-old George Penhaligon 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 deserted island’s magical secrets. But there is a dark presence lurking in George’s new home, more deadly than any unicorn . . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A F Steadman grew up in the Kent countryside, getting lost in fantasy worlds and scribbling stories in notebooks. Before focusing on writing, she worked in law, until she realized that there wasn’t nearly enough magic involved. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling ‘Skandar’ series.
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