I was extremely lucky to be sent an early copy of this, but will be buying a finished copy to join my collection on release!
Skandar and the Chaos Trials by Annabel Steadman, cover art by, published by Simon and Schuster
Wow.
Just when you think a series can't get better -along comes a book so full of uncertainty, tension, excitement and action that you realise Steadman has done it again and taken the Skandar series up another notch.
We rejoin Skandar, Flo, Mitchell and Bobby as they enter their third year at the Eyrie, preparing for the toughest test yet - The Chaos Trials. The trials are ruthless and only the best will pass and be accepted into fourth year at the Eyrie.
But that's not all the quartet have to contend with (of course it's not).
The book opens with one of the most jaw-dropping prologues (guaranteed to hook you immediately!) in which we learn there's been a terrible theft that could irreparably damage the Eyrie's future.
There's sightings of The Weaver, although not everyone believes it's her, and no one knows where she is, what she wants or when she'll reappear.
Kenna is at the Eyrie with her wild unicorn, but her fate is undecided. Mistrust is rife and not everyone wants her there. Skandar is doing all he can to find a way to bond her with her destined unicorn instead, but is this what she wants? And is it the right thing to do?
And through it all, tensions between Silvers and Spirits grow more and more strained...
This is, without doubt, the best book in the series so far. It has all the action and thrills we've come to expect, with even higher stakes. The Chaos Trials themselves are nail-biting events, with some blistering sky battles, twists and close shaves.
But what I also love about this book is its more philosophical side; as thought-provoking as it is action-packed. We are forced to challenge our perceptions and what we have accepted thus far; the strained relations between Silvers and Spirits as well as the lure and consequences of power feel cleverly relatable to real life, and then there's the question of Kenna's bond and the ethics involved in altering this...
The relationships between the characters also feel like they've grown in complexity once more, as they deal with big emotions, family, change, trust and belonging. I love seeing the characters grow and develop, and especially seeing the bond between the quartet pushed to its limits yet staying strong. Which is a good job because they're going to need each other more than ever judging by how we leave them here!
And as for how we leave them here - OMG!! What an ending. The book builds brilliantly to a truly a jaw-dropping, nerve-wracking, now-what crescendo.
I finished it and immediately wanted to go back to book one and back to back read from the beginning. This is a series that draws you in like almost no other. I can't believe I have over a year to wait to see what happens next!
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