nelliebly1025 -
Helpful Score: 3
Will is an orphan, raised on the generosity of the Baron. When you are 15, you are chosen by a Craftmaster to begin your life. Will's dream is to go to Battleschool and become a knight like he dreamed his father was, but Halt, the Ranger, has other ideas for him.
What a great book! Flanagan pulls you into Will's world and make you want to stay there.
I am very excited to read the next book in the series.
What a great book! Flanagan pulls you into Will's world and make you want to stay there.
I am very excited to read the next book in the series.
Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is the first book in the Ranger's Apprentice series. There are twelve books planned for this series. Book 10, The Emperor of Nihon-Ja, was released April 2011. This was a solid fantasy book, it is well written and engaging but not all that creative. I listened to it on audio book and the audio book was very well done.
Will is a ward of the castle and it is time for him to be apprenticed. While his ward-mates all have special talents, Will's only special talent seems to be getting into trouble. Then he is made an offer of apprenticeship by Halt, the region's ranger. Will has heard dark and scary things about rangers but he is about to learn that there is a lot more to being a ranger than he originally thought.
This book is well written and well put together. The characters are all very likable and fun to read about. The plot was predictable, but again well done. The world is very medieval in tone and reminds some of Lord of the Rings, or other classic epic fantasy. The biggest difference in this book is the humor throughout, which made it a fun read and lightened the tone at points.
Will is a great character, as are his mentors and wardmates. Will is smart but makes mistakes, proud but knows when to ask for help. He grows some as a character throughout the book and you can tell he has a lot more room to grow in future books. The same can be said of his wardmates.
This book is very much a set-up book. Most of the book is spent setting up the characters, training them, and setting the stage for the war that is set to start in the next book in the series, The Burning Bridge. The plot is predictable, which is to say it goes very much like other epic fantasies you have read before. There really isn't anything new here. That being said it is well done, and is a good intro for the middle grade age set to epic fantasy.
Overall this was an excellent book, everything about it is very solid and well done. The plot is predictable and the book doesn't really add to the epic fantasy genre, but the characters are likable and the humor throughout enjoyable; you can tell this book is setting up for great things to happen in future books. I recommend this for middle grade to young adult readers who love fantasy and coming-of-age tales. I think this book would be a bit boring for adults familiar with the fantasy genre because of the predictability of the plot; but future books will hopefully prove me wrong. I am going to continue reading this series and can't wait to start the next book in the series, The Burning Bridge.
Will is a ward of the castle and it is time for him to be apprenticed. While his ward-mates all have special talents, Will's only special talent seems to be getting into trouble. Then he is made an offer of apprenticeship by Halt, the region's ranger. Will has heard dark and scary things about rangers but he is about to learn that there is a lot more to being a ranger than he originally thought.
This book is well written and well put together. The characters are all very likable and fun to read about. The plot was predictable, but again well done. The world is very medieval in tone and reminds some of Lord of the Rings, or other classic epic fantasy. The biggest difference in this book is the humor throughout, which made it a fun read and lightened the tone at points.
Will is a great character, as are his mentors and wardmates. Will is smart but makes mistakes, proud but knows when to ask for help. He grows some as a character throughout the book and you can tell he has a lot more room to grow in future books. The same can be said of his wardmates.
This book is very much a set-up book. Most of the book is spent setting up the characters, training them, and setting the stage for the war that is set to start in the next book in the series, The Burning Bridge. The plot is predictable, which is to say it goes very much like other epic fantasies you have read before. There really isn't anything new here. That being said it is well done, and is a good intro for the middle grade age set to epic fantasy.
Overall this was an excellent book, everything about it is very solid and well done. The plot is predictable and the book doesn't really add to the epic fantasy genre, but the characters are likable and the humor throughout enjoyable; you can tell this book is setting up for great things to happen in future books. I recommend this for middle grade to young adult readers who love fantasy and coming-of-age tales. I think this book would be a bit boring for adults familiar with the fantasy genre because of the predictability of the plot; but future books will hopefully prove me wrong. I am going to continue reading this series and can't wait to start the next book in the series, The Burning Bridge.
Stephen K. (havan) reviewed The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, Bk 1) on + 138 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Fast paced easily read and very engaging, the story of Will a young ward who is apprenticed somewhat unwillingly to a ranger is the begininngs of a good saga.
The characters are likeable, the settings seem well drawn, and overall the story pulls you in. I'll definately be back for more.
The characters are likeable, the settings seem well drawn, and overall the story pulls you in. I'll definately be back for more.
Helpful Score: 1
As a home educator who's studied a lot of curriculum texts and recommended novels on the subject, this is my favorite tween/teen series for medieval literature! With absolutely no glorification of sorcery (Flanagan acknowledges the predisposition of people to believe in it during the time period, but any "sorcerers" in these books are exposed as extortionists), these books are engaging for the adventure as well as the little lessons about "how to grow up" that Will learns from Halt. I appreciate the historical facts and outdoor activities that act as natural trailers for extended study, and the author's online study guide (although I wish it was expanded). Note: The author's adult characters--a couple of the rougher ones--use the words d**n and h*ll as expletives 2-3 times in each of the first three books or so. After the third or fourth book, there's no cussin'.
Helpful Score: 1
My 11 year old son loved this book. He has now burned through 6 of the books in the series in the last 2 weeks.
Monica (readabookaday) -
Very good fantasy book for youth. This is the first book in a long series.
Traci T. (myhandsful) reviewed The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, Bk 1) on + 4 more book reviews
Book one of a favorite series!
I enjoy the story, however, I could not stand the writing style at all. The rangers are pretty much Deus Ex Machina overcoming their enemies by their unbelievable powers and abilities. They don't seem to have any weaknesses at all. This just turns me off from the book so much.
The saving grace of the book is the plot. It has good premise, but the delivery method is just bad. Don't read this if you are looking for some deep philosophical message.
The saving grace of the book is the plot. It has good premise, but the delivery method is just bad. Don't read this if you are looking for some deep philosophical message.
I have been listening to these books on audio whilst working on projects at home. I like them. They seem to be geared toward younger readers but I do enjoy them and in particular I enjoy the historical knowledge that is clearly prevalent in the author's mind as he writes his books.
Very cool stuff.
PMZ
Very cool stuff.
PMZ
My 11-year-old sone liked this one okay. He didn't want to continue the series though.
Karen Z. (momto5ls) - , reviewed The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, Bk 1) on + 19 more book reviews
This is a great series! Drama, action, character - lots of hard work and unfailing loyalty. A young man who is willing to respect a master, learn from him, and do his best. A great rule model for our kids today.
Mary Lou K. (marylouk) -
He had always wanted to be a warrior. The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, made him nervous. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Rangers apprentice. What he doesnt realize yet is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied . . . .
Author Biography: John Flanagan grew up in Sydney, Australia, hoping to be a writer. It wasnt until he wrote a highly uncomplimentary poem about a senior executive at the agency where he worked, however, that his talent was revealed. It turned out one of the company directors agreed with Johns assessment of the executive, and happily agreed to train John in copywriting. After writing advertising copy for the next two decades, John teamed with an old friend to develop a television sitcom, Hey Dad!, which went on to air for eight years. John began writing Rangers Apprentice for his son, Michael, ten years ago, and is still hard at work on the series. He currently lives in a suburb of Manly, Australia, with his wife. In addition to their son, they have two grown daughters and four grandsons.
Author Biography: John Flanagan grew up in Sydney, Australia, hoping to be a writer. It wasnt until he wrote a highly uncomplimentary poem about a senior executive at the agency where he worked, however, that his talent was revealed. It turned out one of the company directors agreed with Johns assessment of the executive, and happily agreed to train John in copywriting. After writing advertising copy for the next two decades, John teamed with an old friend to develop a television sitcom, Hey Dad!, which went on to air for eight years. John began writing Rangers Apprentice for his son, Michael, ten years ago, and is still hard at work on the series. He currently lives in a suburb of Manly, Australia, with his wife. In addition to their son, they have two grown daughters and four grandsons.
