SKANDAR AND THE PHANTOM RIDER

Unbonded unicorns are being killed, and the Island is destined for destruction unless Skandar and his friends can stop it.

Skandar and his friends are in their second year at the Eyrie, the Island’s school. In their first year, the quartet and their bonded unicorns thwarted the Weaver’s plan to attack the Mainland, as related in Skandar and the Unicorn Thief (2022). They were shocked to discover that the Weaver is Skandar’s estranged mother—and now they suspect she’s behind the present terrors. The violent murders of the wild unicorns are gruesomely described. Adding to the chaos, young riders are being possessed, causing them to harm others. Lastly, the Weaver has brought Kenna, Skandar’s sister, to the Island as part of her nefarious plan. In the meantime, the Island is self-destructing due to imbalances in its magic, which is deeply intertwined with the wild unicorns’ well-being. Whether Skandar and his friends can save the Island depends on whether they can decipher the clues in a bard’s ominous truesong. The backstory of this world is expanding, and readers must have read the first volume to understand the developments here as the Weaver’s schemes are slowly revealed and the web grows increasingly dense. Eager fans will remain committed to the intrigue that is sure to deepen in the next installment.

Riveting.