Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Satisfying fighting-unicorn finale honors friendships.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In SKANDAR AND THE SPIRIT WAR, Kenna breaks Skandar out of prison after his Chaos Cup win. Rex Manning has declared himself Commodore and he and his Silver Circle control the island, but Skandar's Aunt Agatha reminds him that the title is rightfully Skandar's. Perhaps that's why the rebels look to Skandar when he joins them in the Eyrie shielded from Silver Circle with Kenna's strong spirit magic. And perhaps that's why Rex Manning stages an attack of the Mainland in Skandar's old hometown. He wants to draw Skandar out and make an example of the rebels that dare to use forbidden spirit magic, and most of all he wants to rule over the Island and the Mainland. With battles to fight on both fronts, Skandar and friends find that their allies are too few and challenges keep mounting.
Is It Any Good?
The end of this bloodthirsty unicorn saga goes big, with sky battles galore, but also stays grounded in lessons of friendship, forgiveness, and loyalty. Finally, Skandar's sister Kenna is worth rooting for...well, eventually. She's trod a treacherous path throughout the series and has done some truly evil things, including killing unicorns. It's easy to think that nothing Kenna can do will atone for her actions, but that's the most wonderfully unexpected part of Skandar and the Spirit War. As always, Skandar's friendships are moving. His friend Flo's betrayal is hard for him and the rest of his quartet to take. Readers wait a long time to see Flo again, to find out what really happened. In the meantime, his friend Mitchell flaunts his stellar research skills and Bobby exhibits her usual flashy heroism. And yes, there are plenty of Bobby's disgusting Emergency Sandwiches to go around, even as the evil Rex Manning lays siege to the Eyrie. Funny how no one cares if Bobby eats all the Marmite. While it's no surprise that the Skandar series finishes with a big Island battle, there are still twists in store, some of them steeped in the island's long magical history and some of them even musical. This series ender definitely satisfies.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Kenna's choices in Skandar and the Spirit War. What's different about Kenna in this book? How does she show integrity and take responsibility for past wrongs? How do her interactions with Piran show that she's changed? Is Skandar the only hero in this series?
How does Skandar make his rebel council inclusive, adding islanders of all backgrounds. Why is that kind of teamwork important? How does it reflect what they're fighting for?
How does Mitchell's curiosity about history and geography help protect the Mainland? What did you learn about British Isle landmarks? Can you find them on a map?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals ) , Fantasy ( Dragons , Ghosts , Magic , Unicorns ) , Friendship , History ( War: Other )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 2, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 544
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : March 6, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate