Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

Skandar Smith has spent his entire thirteen years dreaming of becoming a unicorn rider.  He's studied and worried and wished for a life different from his own.  His mother died when he was a baby, and his dad has been an alcoholic who can barely hold a job since then.  His older sister Kenna has spent the last year in a depression after failing the exam to make it to the island where the unicorns live.  Though he feels some guilt at the idea of leaving them behind, he can't imagine living a life without a unicorn.

Unicorns had always been a secret of the island until the number of eggs outgrew the number of available 13-year-olds to try for a bond.  Even with a bond, unicorns are bloodthirsty and powerful.  Unicorns that hatch wild...well, they are terrifying and unstoppable.  The bond between unicorn and rider not only gives the rider magic ability but also makes the unicorn less ferocious and gives it a natural lifespan.  

When he's turned away at the exam door, Skandar can't understand.  How can they just deny him the chance to even try?  But when a stranger shows up at midnight to smuggle him into the next round of the trials, he has to take his chance.  Plus, the stranger is convinced Skandar is the only one who can save the island and the mainland from the Weaver, a rogue magic wielder whose thirst for power could endanger them all.

Now Skandar has his wish, but he has so many secrets to keep, it seems inevitable one will escape.  Will he be able to keep his place in the Eyrie and continue training, or will the Weaver's plot endanger his future?

The series opener from A.F. Steadman is a wild ride and a wonderful reimagining of unicorns.  Instead of ethereal beings of light, they are bloodthirsty carnivores who are difficult to control.  The Eyrie is the perfect magical school for unicorn riders with lots of fun and whimsical details.  (However, I want just one of these magic school books to at least mention the study of language and math.  or do you magically have a mastery of the regular subjects when you get magical powers?)  This is a well-plotted series opener with plenty of twists and false suspicions along the way.  Harry Potter fans will eat this up!  Highly recommended!