The Ruins of Gorlan: Book One

I started reading this series based on reviews, wanting to do my own assessment before starting my grandson (11) and granddaughter (15) on the series. While the focus of the series revolves primarily on the teenage characters, I found there is ample adult activity included to keep my interest and the author provides a good balance of youthful and more mature perceptions. The teen characters gain experience and maturity as the plot moves them through situations in the adult world. With good plotting and character development, this series on the surface is a very good read with ongoing tales that keep you turning pages. But in the process the author has also provided us - youth and adult readers - with good lessons learned that are all folded smoothly into the story. It is an interesting world the author has created, with the teen characters and readers learning of different skills and cultures, how friendships can evolve even against prior enemies, and even insights into battles and battle strategy. We watch the characters struggle and overcome adversity as individuals and in the bigger picture of their world as there is conflict between kingdoms, etc. This imaginary world has big warriors with swords and lances on war horses, and less obvious heroes where the little guy or the girl provides critical skills to save the day, and those skills may be mental or physical. The reader learns to value and respect what each individual contributes positively to the situation regardless of age, size, gender, rank, etc. Conversely, individuals of any age, size, gender, rank, etc, might be the problem to overcome ... or the culture of a kingdom might be seen with pros and cons. The plot twists and turns with action coupled with teen and adult character introspection as the situations evolve. I like that the youth reader will also read the adult point of view. It aso allows the adult reader to see a teen point of view. And with the young Ranger's Apprentice a key character, as a lifetime rider I enjoyed reading that the mountain pony should be highly valued for that role, just as the big war horses are valued for their own role ... just like individual people have various skills and abilities to contribute. Fundamental to the Ranger's Apprentice's situation is the ongoing reminder that training and practice is neccessary to develop and maintain skills, and there is always more to learn. I'd planned to read book one simply as a reviewer for my grandkids, but the tale continues. Each book flows into the next as a subsequent chapter in time, while moving on to another challenging situation for the characters to address in their world during the next book. So I was deftly lured into reading the next book, and the next, and the next ... as were the grandkids. Well done. Recommended for youth and adult. And I now have yet another book series to share with my grandkids ... which creates yet another common ground for discussion of favorite books and lessons learned while being well entertained by the tale.

I have just finished reading the entirety of this series, and have found it to be wonderfully pleasurable reading. -) As the series progresses,the reader is drawn to the characters and Mr.Flanagan seems (great acting) to have an easy time inventing an ingenious world system that so suspends disbelief that one is tempted to search world history to find it. ;-) I suppose that these books were intended for a young adult audience, but as a woman past fifty,I found them as engaging as any of the modern fantasy literature, including the "Harry Potter" novels. In fact, they have in common with the "Harry Potter" series the theme describing young people who grow up and mature together; usually remaining important influences on each other's lives. Set in a feudal system, there is a flavor of Robin Hood (Rangers Halt, Will and Crowley) a hint of Arthuian literature (Horace, Evanlyn/Cassandra), yet this series stands on its author's unique style and setting. The writing is clear, filled with dry humor and sometimes sweet without,as Will would observe, being "mawkish"! I thoroughly enjoyed each and every book and would b hard pressed to name a favorite. NOTE FOR TEACHERS: I wish that my son's had been assigned books like these to read instead of some of the tripe which they (and, sometimes I, had to swallow). This would be a terrific series for parents to read to children (and,as chhildren get older, for children to read to parents. As my son's grew out of needing us to read to them, we chose "chapter books" from which we could all take turns reading). Mr. Flanagan, my grateful thanks for your splendid and considerable work; I hope that there will be more Ranger's Apprentice books forthcoming! The horse woman in me would love a book about Bob the trainer extraordinaire, as well as books about the others who invent, design and produce the many extraordinary upports required for the highly trained rangers. As you almost always have more than one story ongoing in each book (whether or not they are related) if someone wished to cause havoc in the Corp, undermining these talented artisans and trainers would certainly do it. (I assume that this is why rangers make their own long bows?). The Ranger's Apprentice series has made for a wonderful summer of reading. Obviously, I highly recommend it to all readers!

I bought this book (the first in the series) because my grandson's friend was deeply immersed in the series. The story itself flows well and has enough about courage and battles and friendships and emotional conflicts to keep any preteen/teenager engaged; and even appeals to some adults, such as myself. Language and verisimilitude, however, is lacking. Supposedly taking place in the days of baronies and English/Viking wars, it has a number of grating errors and language usage issues. For example, the constant statement of distances in terms of kilometers is botherwsome -- "kilometers" is a contemporary French invention. If distances need to be stated, they should at least be in the "old-fashioned" miles. I don't begrudge a few grammatical errors here and there, but be aware they abound in the book. One issue that might put off a number of parents and female readers is the inherent sexism. Yes, it does reflect the period. However, nothing else in the book really reflects that period of time -- the barony period was brutal and demeaning; the author treats it as fun, challenging, with the suggestion that any reader would like to be part of it (despite the battles and numerous deaths). My own feeling is that if young males are allowed to break rules, elevate their position and become unexpected heroes, then females should be given similar opportunities. There are numerous other books out there to grab the interest of youngsters in the same age range. Any book by Kelly Barnhill would fat surpass this book in terms of language, excitement, heroism, personalities and story flow. This is not just my point-of-view, but one shared by my then ten-year-old. So why four stars? Because this book cannot fairly be reviewed as though it was a standalone -- it would only warrant two or three stars as a standalone. But it is the start of a series. And the story itself adds richer and richer characters and deeper and more exciting situations as it leaps from one book to the next. Young readers will commit to the entire series in no time. So whatever failings Flanagan might have had in the beginning are reasonably remedied through the breadth of the series. I have made it through four books so far (and my grandchild is right on my heels) and will almost certainly read the whole series (to date) without regretting the time invested.

An orphan raised in the Ward of Castle Redmont, fifteen-year-old Will has but one dream. He wishes to be a warrior. Will knows very little about his parents. Shortly after the great battle of Hackham Heath saw the evil Lord Morgarath defeated and driven into exile, the infant Will was discovered in a basket on the steps of the ward building. A note attached to his blanket read: "His mother died in childbirth. His father died a hero. Please care for him. His name is WIll." From that simple note, Will has imagined a rich history for his father. A hero in those days must have been a knight, one of the many brave men who gave their lives in the struggle against Morgarath. And so Will has always dreamed of earning a place in Battleschool, that he might become a knight and honor his father. As the Choosing Day for the Castle Wards of Will's year approaches, he is filled with a great anxiety. Small for his age, Will had hoped to have some sort of growth spurt before this all important day. When the hour of choosing comes, the Battlemaster, not unkindly, confirms Will's fears - he is too small to be a warrior. Devastated, Will is almost resigned to life as a farmer when fate offers him a second chance. The Ranger Halt has agreed to take Will on as an apprentice. LIke most of the common folk in the Kingdom of Araluen, Will grew up with a healthy fear of the King's Rangers. Most everyone instinctively avoids the silent, mysterious men who seem to have the power to disappear at their command. But Halt informs Will that there is no magic involved in a Ranger's craft. Practice and a certain set of innate skills are all that a Ranger requires. Skills that Will has already demonstrated like agility, curiosity and bravery. As Will learns the craft of a Ranger, he discovers an aptitude for the job and derives a certain pleasure in earning approval from the grim, taciturn Halt. For his part, Halt works Will day and night, striving to instill basic Ranger skills like tracking, silent movement and archery. It's a good thing that Will is a quick learner because Morgarath is stirring from his exile in the Mountains of Rain and Night and the horrors he plans to unleash on Araluen are like nothing Will has ever seen before. I cannot stress strongly enough how amazed I was by The Ruins of Gorlan. The time and place Mr. Flanagan has built are exquisite and three dimensional, fully developed in the now and with a sense of long history. With just a few sentences he creates images so real I seen them clearly in my mind. The characters are equally well formed. Not just Halt and WIll, but every man and woman we meet are believable. Everything in this wonderful book - plot, setting, characters - is delivered in vivid prose that brings the story to life in every detail. This is an adventure not to be missed.

I've read books 1 through 11 of the Ranger's Apprentice series over the last several months and I've got to say, this is one of the best series I've ever read. - It's highly engaging, light reading (suitable for all ages). - There are a few mild expletives used, but nothing profane. - I found all of the characters to be interesting and likeable, coming from diverse backgrounds and possessing their own unique characteristics/mannerisms. The cultures found in this series mirror our own circa the High Middle Ages, and each one is treated with respect. - I particularly like how women, such as Alyss and Cassandra, are portrayed as strong and talented, and yet, virtuous and feminine - a balance many authors today fail to strike. - The author almost entirely avoids contemporary political or religious topics, with references to politics/religion being relevant and providing context to the plot and setting. I applaud the author for allowing good storytelling to a wide audience to triumph over partisan virtue signaling to a select few - a trap many fiction writers have fallen into in recent years. - The Middle Ages-inspired setting is impressively accurate, especially as it pertains to combat. I was pleasantly surprised to see characteristics, such as the use of a bow and arrow without bracers/padding, and combat with its many quirks, portrayed faithfully. Inaccuracies, such as the odd mention of a metallic "schiiiing" when a sword is unsheathed, are far and few between and quite permissible given the fantasy setting and its more fantastical elements (e.g. horses sarcastically responding to their owners telepathically). After individually purchasing and reading 11 books, I like how "The Lost Stories" neatly wraps everything up and don't think I'll delve into the Brotherhood, Royal Ranger, etc. series, tempting as it might be. Nevertheless, I'd highly recommend this series to anyone who likes LotR or fantasy novels in general.

If you enjoy LoTR style reads, without the backstory on every leaf on every tree, this gives that feel and its easy to read and get absorbed in

Can’t wait to read more! Recommended to me for a teen and I enjoyed it as much as the teen.

Have you ever been worried about what you are going to do for the rest of your life? This was just the case for fifteen year old Will in Ranger’s Apprentice. Will was left an orphan after his mother died child birth and his father died in battle. Will wanted to be a knight as he believed his father was but Will was too small for the intense hard work of battle school. Will was dejected and embarrassed. He didn’t know what he wanted to do until an opportunity arose for him to become a “Ranger’s Apprentice”. He wasn’t sure at first but soon he grew to love being apprenticed to Halt. Halt was a ranger, and a very talented one at that. Halt previously saved the kingdom from the forces of evil but will he be able to save it again? Or will Will become a distraction? I feel like the theme of this book has to do with what looks the most impressive we tend to assume is the best which isn’t always the case. Will wanted to be a knight in shining armor; knights were considered the best and were highly respected. Will was depressed when he heard he couldn’t become one but after becoming Halt’s apprentice he realized you didn’t have to be knight to be a true hero. This book is extremely well written. It is attention keeping and easy to read for someone who learns best by listening and not reading. The author, John Flanagan, is an overall very skilled writer. He is especially skilled in describing things and making the characters relatable and believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Nothing felt out of place, it flowed very nicely. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I would suggest this book to just about anyone. This is one of the best fantasy/adventure books I’ve ever read.

I think I would have loved to read this back when I was a child, maybe even more than HP.

A pleasant read if the growing bond between a master and his apprentice, a budding friendship and a fantasy world entices you.

It's an amazing book, full of intriguing "yes, but no" twists. It's inspiring, as I'm a writer myself. It even features warriors using spears! The spear is the most common weapon throughout history in many different countries, yet it's so underrated in fantasy books. I loved every bit of it: story, characters, world. Going to next one!

No other words can explain it. It was amazing years ago when I read it and it's amazing now. Thank you for making such a wonderful story

レドモント城内の養護施設で育ったウィルと、同い年の４人の仲間たちは、“選択の日”を前にして、それぞれに期待や不安を抱えていた。親のあるものは親と同じ職業に就くことが多いなか、孤児たちは１５歳になると自分でどの道に進むか選ばせてもらえるのだ。仲間たちは各自の興味と資質にしたがって進路を決めた。 父が戦いのさなかで死んだと聞かされてきたウィルは、勇敢な戦士になるのが夢だった。小柄な体格のためバトルスクールには入門を許されなかったが、すばしっこさを買われてレンジャーに弟子入りすることになる。 黒っぽいマントに身を包んだ謎めいた様子のレンジャーは、姿を消す魔法を使うらしい、と人々に恐れられていた。だがレンジャーになるのは、ウィルが想像した以上に難しく、危険で、価値のあることだった。 バトルスクールに進んだホレス、外交官になる道を選んだアリスなど仲間たちとの友情が深まっていくところや、最初は恐ろしいと思った師匠のハルトにしだいに引き込まれるところなど、「少年の成長物語」に必要な要素は充分にあり、不自然でないのがいい。クライマックスへもすんなりと盛り上がっていける。 なによりも、人間が魅力的だ。主人公のウィルの「普通さ」かげん、師匠ハルトの厳しさに隠れた誠実さや本当の勇気、領主アラルドの豪快さとユーモア、ホレスの一本気なところもアリスの理性的なところも、みんな愛おしい。ほかのキャラクターのなかにはややステレオタイプなところもあるが、そういう「お約束」までがこの世界を身近に感じさせるのに役立っているようだ。