SKANDAR AND THE SPIRIT WAR By A.F. STEADMAN

Bloodthirsty unicorns with flaming farts, valiant unicorn riders, defiant and loyal friends – the magical coming-of-age series of Skandar books comes to a soaring end in Skandar and the Spirit War by A.F. Steadman, published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Books TODAY, Thursday 28 August 2025.

The irresistible and daring imagination of Steadman’s global phenomenon, Skandar, immediately became a multi-award-winning bestselling fantasy series of books taking magic, boarding schools and friendships to another level.

Skandar and the Spirit War is the fantastical and joyous final book in the five-volume arc that takes Skandar Smith and his friends from age 13-18, revealing the immersive world of a training school for destined unicorn riders, where they all live in unbelievable treehouses on campus - on a nearby island…. British author A.F. Steadman’s back story is the stuff of legends: when the first three books of the Skandar series, secured an eye-watering seven-figure advance, believed to be the largest ever paid to a debut children’s writer; followed by Sony Pictures optioning the movie rights with a screenplay by Jon Crocker (Paddington 2).

The fans devoured the first book Skandar and the Unicorn Thief (2022), making it the biggest children’s fiction debut for 20 years. The fans grew and now the fifth and final seriously extraordinary book Skandar and the Spirit War is to be published 28/08/25 = all in a very quick 3 years! So opened the gateway to a lifetime of fandom for all who open the fizzing and thrilling pages of any of the Skandar books - truly all reading for pure joy.

Steadman is fiercely loyal to her fans and has included several of them, as regular characters in the books. Real life, Ukrainian refugee twins Nika and Kira (now 13 years old), have become true swooping heroes on their unicorns fighting for freedom in Skandar and the Spirit War – which is hugely poignant for the family. Steadman first met the refugee family, when they travelled with their father from their new home in Swindon, especially to meet her at a London book signing, as they were so loving reading Skandar in English. Dad bought the Ukrainian translations, as he too wanted to understand both of his girls’ happiness, their inspired love of reading and speaking fluent English so quickly - all because of the Skandar books!

Steadman name checks the many “unsung heroes” as she calls them, the booksellers that became so passionate about Skandar – and by way of thanks to them all, she created a regular character in the series, a bookseller, of course, who runs the local island Chapter of Chaos bookshop! The character’s name is Craig, named after a bookseller at the Waterstones branch in East Renfrewshire’s Newton Mearns!

Nor does Steadman forget the key towns, cities and locations that have helped her and her career grow, with thrilling action in many real locations, especially in Skandar and the Spirit War when the mainland and the island become intrinsically linked. Her childhood holidays in Cornwall, the scholarships that took her to school in Canterbury and to Cambridge University. And on to Fast Castle on the Scottish borders, The White Horse in Uffington, Oxfordshire, trysting stones in Ireland, Cardiff, Margate: they all have great personal stories behind them for Steadman!

The fifth and final book, Skandar and the Spirit War, sees Skandar and the quartet of friends on the cusp of turning 18 in their final year on the island school. In a lightning flash, the reader is taken to a world of soaring battles, villains, dark forces, ancient secrets and rituals that must be discovered, elemental magic like never before as other mythical creatures and fault lines appear across the UK. Skandar leads the world of unicorns into a spirit war to try and save all that this precious world stands for.

“I am beyond excited for readers to get their hands on Skandar and the Spirit War and I can’t quite believe it’s so soon! It seems like only yesterday that Skandar and the Unicorn Thief was publishing, and I was dreaming of writing the ending I had imagined for the big-hearted boy and his bloodthirsty unicorn. I know I should be nervous, but after meeting so many wonderful Skandar fans around the world who are counting down to publication day, I am just delighted that in only a few months this final story will belong to them. Because at the end of the day, I owe my readers everything, and writing this series has brought me nothing but joy." - A.F. Steadman.

With a wonderful mix of characters and adventures Skandar and the Spirit War shows how loyal and passionate friends and their unicorns learn to work together with their unique elemental magic, to save everything this generation believe in: Skandar (Scoundrel’s Luck – spirit), Bobby (Falcon’s Wrath – air), Flo (Silver Blade – earth), Mitchell (Red Night’s Delight – fire) – and so many more who join together for the Spirit War.

And officially announced today there is to be a PREQUEL - THE FIRST UNICORN coming out 6 November Here’s the trailer: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ch4czmfqnfopgakrp3rzt/SKANDAR-FIRST-UNICORN-TRAILER-LANDSCAPE-EVENT.mp4?rlkey=x21riaa1wni9yhwyfyao8j61o&st=3mid8xqf&dl=0

A.F. Steadman’s dedication at the front of Skandar and the Spirit War reads, ‘For my readers – who give me hope for a future forged with kindness’

A.F. Steadman - Photo credit Chris Close 1992 British author Annabel / A.F. Steadman. Grew up near the coastal town of Margate, Kent, with two younger brothers and her mother. Aged 4, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes - which she now manages with a 24/7 insulin pump. Steadman went on to create Prim who features in the Skandar books to the very end! At 13, her parents divorced, her father left, “We lost our house and didn’t have any money.” Steadman won full academic and music scholarships to King’s School Canterbury and on to Selwyn College, Cambridge to study law in 2005. Steadman is married to Joe, having met her future husband, when they were first-year students at Cambridge singing in the same choir. 2017 Both graduate and became barristers. 2020 Skandar series, acquired by S&S Children’s in a momentous deal. 2021 Steadman becomes a full-time writer. April 2022 Skandar and the Unicorn Thief: Book 1. April 2023 Skandar and the Phantom Rider: Book 2. April 2024 Skandar and the Chaos Trials: Book 3. Oct 2024 Skandar and the Skeleton Curse: Book 4. August 25 Skandar and the Spirit War: Book 5. 2026 Timeless - Simon & Schuster UK is launching the adult arm of Steadman’s writing career The couple have two British shorthead cats (Aria and Berlioz), still sing in the same choir – and Joe is still a lawyer! Front cover,trailer, portrait of A.F. Steadman please see: HERE

A.F. Steadman will be touring the UK with SKANDAR AND THE SPIRIT WAR – see below. Steadman will also be making lots of school visits and attending literary Festivals! SKANDAR AND THE SPIRIT WAR By A.F. STEADMAN Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Books on Thursday 28 August 2025 £14.99 Hardback ISBN: 978-1-39-852474-3 A.F. STEADMAN’s Skandar And The Spirit War UK Tour 2025

Saturday 23 August 2pm - LONDON Waterstones Superfan Event + Special Announcement! Emmanuel Hall, London Hosted by Rhiannon Tripp – Waterstones Bookseller Sunday 24 August 12:30pm - CANTERBURY Waterstones Q&A and Signing Westgate Hall, Canterbury Interviewer: Emma Pullar – Waterstones Bookseller Monday 25 August 11am - CAMBRIDGE Signing Waterstones Cambridge

Tuesday 26 August 6pm - MANCHESTER Q&A and Signing Waterstones Manchester Central Library Interviewer: Robbie Mann – Waterstones Bookseller and a super fan of SKANDAR! Thursday 28 August 10am - BIRMINGHAM Signing Waterstones Birmingham

Saturday 30 August 11am - GLASGOW Waterstones Q&A and Signing Eastwood Park Theatre, Glasgow Interviewer: Kirsty Strang-Roy (bookseller/writer/educator) Sunday 31 August 3pm – EDINBURGH Signing Portobello Books, Edinburgh

Saturday 6 September 11am - ABERGAVENNY Signing Book-ish, Abergavenny, Wales

Sunday 7 September 11:30am - OXFORDSHIRE Public signing Mostly Books, Oxfordshire

And loads of independent book shops are holding special authorless events to celebrate Skandar and the Spirit War around the country – from make your own unicorn, treasure hunts and more! And Waterstones are doing lots too https://www.waterstones.com/events/search/author/4778617

For further information, interviews, attending events There will be a book launch party on publication day 28/08/25 – contact DG

Please contact DGPR Deborah Goodman publicity@dgpr.co.uk - +44 (0)208 959 9980 - +44 (0)7958 611218