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Quick answer: If you loved Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, read Wings of Fire, Eragon, Nevermoor and Amari and the Night Brothers. All offer young heroes, magical creatures and big adventure.
A.F. Steadman's debut features Skandar, who wants nothing more than to bond with a unicorn and race on a wild island. It blends fast action, dark secrets and loyal friends. The books below share that mix of creatures, danger and heart. Most are for ages 8 to 14, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy | Tui T. Sutherland | 8–12 | dragon lovers |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | 10 and up | older readers |
| Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow | Jessica Townsend | 9–13 | magic school fans |
| Amari and the Night Brothers | B.B. Alston | 8–12 | hidden worlds |
| How to Train Your Dragon | Cressida Cowell | 7–11 | funny dragons |
| Dragon Rider | Cornelia Funke | 8–12 | journey stories |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J.K. Rowling | 8–12 | school fantasy |
| Keeper of the Lost Cities | Shannon Messenger | 9–13 | long series |
| The Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 9–13 | myth-based adventure |
| Pegasus and the Flame | Kate O'Hearn | 9–13 | horse fans |
| The Girl Who Drank the Moon | Kelly Barnhill | 9–13 | fairy-tale lovers |
| Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros | Adult | grown-up fans |
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | 9–13 | creature fantasy |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | 8 and up | classic fantasy |
| Aru Shah and the End of Time | Roshani Chokshi | 8–12 | myth lovers |
1. Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
Five young dragons raised in a cave are meant to end a war. Epic, funny and popular.
Best for: dragon lovers.
2. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
A farm boy finds a dragon egg and joins a rebellion. A classic of dragon-rider fantasy.
Best for: older readers.
3. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
A cursed girl joins a magical society and competes in trials. Whimsical and exciting.
Best for: magic school fans.
4. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Amari enters a supernatural bureau to find her missing brother. Fast and fun.
Best for: hidden worlds.
5. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
A young Viking tries to train a dragon. Funnier and wilder than the film.
Best for: funny dragons.
6. Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
A dragon and his friends search for a hidden valley. Gentle and imaginative.
Best for: journey stories.
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
An orphan discovers he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts. The model for modern fantasy.
Best for: school fantasy.
8. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Sophie learns she is an elf with hidden talents. Big series, big mystery.
Best for: long series.
9. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson learns he is the son of Poseidon. Snappy and quick.
Best for: myth-based adventure.
10. Pegasus and the Flame by Kate O'Hearn
A girl and a winged horse are caught in a battle of gods. Myth and magic for horse lovers.
Best for: horse fans.
11. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
A witch raises a girl on moonlight, and the town fears the forest. Lyrical and warm.
Best for: fairy-tale lovers.
12. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
A young woman trains to be a dragon rider at a deadly war college. For older fans who want romance.
Best for: grown-up fans.
13. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Siblings find a hidden preserve of magical creatures. Rules, danger and a long series.
Best for: creature fantasy.
14. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo joins dwarves to reclaim treasure from a dragon. The classic quest.
Best for: classic fantasy.
15. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Aru lights a cursed lamp and wakes a demon. Hindu myth and humor.
Best for: myth lovers.
How to Choose
For more unicorn and dragon stories, try Wings of Fire or Dragon Rider. For magic school, Nevermoor or Harry Potter. For myth, The Lightning Thief or Aru Shah. For older readers, Eragon and Fourth Wing. Most of these books are the first in a series, so be ready to keep reading. For a younger child, read the first chapter aloud and let them continue alone. For a teen or adult, the older picks like Eragon and Fourth Wing offer more mature plots. Series often run long, so check how many books are out before you commit, and look for box sets.
Related: 15 Books Like The Book Thief You’ll Love: World War II Stories That Stay With You · What Age Is The Book Thief Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Skandar series about?
Skandar hopes to be chosen by a unicorn, discovers wild unicorns on an island and uncovers a plot that threatens it.
Is Skandar a series?
Yes. Skandar and the Phantom Rider and Skandar and the Chaos Trials follow the first book, with more planned.
What age is it for?
Most readers are 8 to 13.
Is it like Harry Potter?
It has a similar sense of wonder and found friends, but it is set on its own island.
Are unicorns in other books?
Yes. Look for them in Skandar, Keeper of the Lost Cities and The Last Unicorn.
What is the Skandar world called?
Skandar's world centers on the Island, where wild unicorns bond with human riders.
Can adults enjoy Skandar?
Yes. The humor and the mystery appeal to older readers too.
Are there audiobooks?
Yes, and audio is a good way to enjoy long fantasy on car trips.
Is this list in order of quality?
No. The books are listed by similarity and variety, so start with the one that sounds best to you.