A. F. Steadman has won a huge readership with her Skandar books, a fast-moving middle grade fantasy series that combines deadly unicorns, elemental magic, school-style competition, and high-stakes adventure. Her stories appeal to readers who love magical creatures, immersive worldbuilding, loyal friendships, and heroes forced to prove themselves under pressure.
If what you enjoy most about Steadman is the sense of wonder, the dangerous magical systems, and the exhilarating pace, the authors below are excellent next picks. Some lean into myth and creature fantasy, others into magical schools, hidden worlds, or bold quests—but all offer the same kind of page-turning excitement.
J.K. Rowling is a natural recommendation for readers who enjoy fantasy centered on young protagonists entering a secret magical world with its own rules, rivalries, and looming dangers. Like Steadman, she balances wonder with threat, and adventure with friendship.
Her landmark series begins with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, in which Harry discovers he is a wizard and begins his education at Hogwarts. Readers who liked the training, competition, and escalating mysteries in Skandar will likely appreciate Rowling’s mix of magical schooling, dark villains, and strong ensemble characters.
Rick Riordan writes some of the most energetic and accessible fantasy adventures for younger readers. His books are known for witty narration, rapid pacing, strong friendships, and a knack for making ancient mythology feel immediate and exciting.
A great starting point is Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, which follows Percy as he learns he is the son of Poseidon and is pulled into a dangerous conflict among the Greek gods. If you loved the momentum and peril of Steadman’s storytelling, Riordan’s quest-driven adventures should be an easy fit.
Cressida Cowell is especially well suited to readers who want creature-centered fantasy with humor, heart, and a hero who grows into courage. Her books often feature underdogs, unusual bonds between humans and magical beings, and a lively sense of invention.
Her beloved series starts with How to Train Your Dragon, where Hiccup, a clever but underestimated Viking boy, forms an unexpected connection with a dragon and slowly changes the expectations of his entire world. Fans of magical creature stories will find plenty to love here.
Tui T. Sutherland is an ideal choice for readers who are drawn to fantasy built around powerful, dangerous creatures and layered conflict. Her books are emotionally direct, action-heavy, and rich in world-specific lore.
Her Wings of Fire series follows young dragons caught in prophecy, war, and shifting alliances. While the focus is on dragons rather than unicorns, the appeal is similar: high stakes, vivid fantasy species, memorable powers, and young characters trying to shape the future of their world.
Jessica Townsend writes lush, imaginative fantasy full of strange wonders, clever trials, and a strong sense of magical discovery. Her work may be slightly more whimsical in tone than Steadman’s, but it delivers the same immersive pull and delight in hidden systems.
Begin with Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, in which Morrigan escapes a grim fate and enters a dazzling world where she must compete in a series of trials to earn a place in an elite society. Readers who enjoy magical tests, mystery, and worldbuilding should definitely try Townsend.
Shannon Messenger excels at long-form middle grade fantasy that blends hidden societies, unusual powers, strong friendships, and constant revelations. Her stories often focus on belonging, identity, and the emotional cost of being “special.”
Her bestselling series Keeper of the Lost Cities follows Sophie Foster, who discovers she belongs in a secret world and must navigate its politics, powers, and dangers. If you want another expansive fantasy series with cliffhangers, training, secrets, and a deeply invested fan base, Messenger is a great next author.
Soman Chainani brings a sharper fairy-tale edge to fantasy, often exploring how stories define heroes, villains, and destiny. His books have spectacle, humor, and a taste for subverting familiar fantasy expectations.
Start with The School for Good and Evil, where best friends Sophie and Agatha are swept into a school that trains children for fairy-tale roles—but not in the way either expected. Readers who enjoy magical institutions, rivalry, and twists on classic fantasy archetypes may find Chainani especially entertaining.
Brandon Mull is particularly strong at writing adventurous fantasy with clear stakes, imaginative magical creatures, and a strong sense of discovery. His books often place ordinary children in extraordinary hidden worlds where the rules matter and danger feels real.
In Fablehaven, siblings Kendra and Seth uncover a preserve for magical creatures and learn that its secrets are far more dangerous than they first appeared. Like Steadman, Mull understands how to make magical beings feel wondrous and threatening at the same time.
Cornelia Funke writes fantasy with a richer, more old-world atmosphere, often emphasizing family bonds, storytelling, and the strange permeability between the real and the magical. Her prose tends to feel a little more lyrical, but her plots remain gripping.
A standout place to start is Inkheart, the story of Meggie and her father, whose ability to read characters out of books turns stories into real danger. Readers who want fantasy with emotional depth and a strong sense of wonder should not miss Funke.
Philip Pullman is a superb recommendation for readers ready for fantasy that is more layered, atmospheric, and intellectually ambitious. His books still deliver adventure, but they also ask larger questions about freedom, authority, and human nature.
His classic novel The Golden Compass introduces Lyra Belacqua, who becomes entangled in a mystery involving missing children, armored bears, daemons, and multiple worlds. Fans of Steadman who want to move toward deeper, more intricate fantasy will find Pullman richly rewarding.
Jonathan Stroud is known for smart, stylish fantasy that combines tension, danger, and sharp humor. He is especially good at creating vivid magical systems and narrators with distinct personalities.
The Amulet of Samarkand, the first Bartimaeus novel, follows a gifted young magician whose ambitions lead him to summon a powerful and very sarcastic djinni. The result is a fantasy adventure with strong character chemistry, dark intrigue, and plenty of momentum.
Eoin Colfer is a great pick for readers who like fantasy that moves quickly and has a mischievous streak. His books often mix the fantastical with modern technology, clever schemes, and protagonists who are brilliant, flawed, and fun to follow.
His breakout novel Artemis Fowl introduces a teenage criminal mastermind who attempts to outwit the hidden fairy world. While it has a more comic and tech-savvy tone than Skandar, it shares the same appetite for danger, hidden power, and imaginative worldbuilding.
Catherine Doyle writes fantasy with strong atmosphere, emotional warmth, and mythic elements that feel rooted in place. Her stories often blend family history, ancient magic, and adventure in a way that feels both exciting and heartfelt.
Try The Storm Keeper's Island, in which Fionn Boyle is sent to a remote island and discovers that storms, memories, and old magic are deeply intertwined there. Readers who enjoyed the mystery, legacy, and magical destiny aspects of Steadman’s work may find Doyle especially memorable.
Katherine Rundell is best known for writing adventurous children’s fiction with exceptional energy, vivid settings, and fearless young characters. She is not always a fantasy writer in the strictest sense, but she captures wonder and danger brilliantly.
One excellent choice is The Explorer, which follows four children struggling to survive in the Amazon after a plane crash, only to uncover secrets hidden deep in the jungle. If what you loved in Steadman was the exhilarating sense of peril and discovery, Rundell is well worth reading.
L. D. Lapinski writes playful portal fantasy packed with imagination, momentum, and a strong sense of possibility. Her books are especially appealing to readers who enjoy discovering one magical world after another.
Start with The Strangeworlds Travel Agency, where Flick Hudson finds a mysterious travel agency whose suitcases open into entirely different worlds. The series offers the same blend of wonder, danger, and youthful courage that makes fantasy like Steadman’s so addictive.
