The Icebound Land (Ranger's Apprentice, #3)

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The Icebound Land (Ranger's Apprentice #3)

4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 · rating details · 16,969 ratings · 904 reviews

The international bestselling series with over 5 million copies sold in the U.S. alone!

Kidnapped after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captives aboard a fearsome wolfship. Halt has sworn to rescue Will, and he will do anything to keep his promise;even defy his King.Expelled from the Rangers he has served so loyally, Halt is...more

Hardcover, 266 pages

Published June 26th 2007 by Philomel (first published November 25th 2005)

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Dec 15, 2008 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Icebound Land is book three in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. This series has fast become a favorite of mine. I loved book two so much that I actually went out and bought book three in hardcover. That is a rarity for me since can't stand hardcovers. They are a pain to cart around. But with this book? I couldn't wait. :)

In this book we have two storyline's going on. One features Will and Evanlyn who have been kidnapped and are stuck on a ship headed to Skandia, where they en...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Brian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: flanagan-ranger

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "This book continues from The Burning Bridge, where Will and Evanlyn are taken hostage to Skandia as captives of the Skandian Jarl, Erak. Halt has sworn that he will rescue Will, but is forced to stay in Araluen by the Ranger Commandant Crowley and King Duncan. In order to allow him to leave, Halt publicly insults King Duncan who reluctantly banishes him for one year and removes him from the Rangers.

As he is leaving, Galin approaches to join him on the quest to Skandia, but Halt refuses. He also...more "This book continues from The Burning Bridge, where Will and Evanlyn are taken hostage to Skandia as captives of the Skandian Jarl, Erak. Halt has sworn that he will rescue Will, but is forced to stay in Araluen by the Ranger Commandant Crowley and King Duncan. In order to allow him to leave, Halt publicly insults King Duncan who reluctantly banishes him for one year and removes him from the Rangers.

As he is leaving, Galin approaches to join him on the quest to Skandia, but Halt refuses. He also meets Horace, who is also determind to find Will, and allows Horace to join him since Sir Rodney has approved. Halt and Horace travel to Gallica where Horace, travels as the 'Oakleaf knight' and defeats several freelance knights, and wins horses and armor. Horace's reputation grows and he gains the attection of the horrible and evil Lord Deparnieux of Castle Montsombre who desires to fight him. Although Halt and Horace try to avoid the fight, Daparnieux captures them and takes them to his castle. After studying Halt and Horace, Daparnieux is ready to challenge Horace when Halt jumps in and challenges him. During the battle, Halt kills the warlord with a single, well-aimed arrow allowing Horace and him to continue their travels to Skandia in search of Will."

Meanwhile, the Wolfwind facing bad weather and seas lands in Skorghijl on their way to Skandia. Erak treats Will and Evanlyn with some compasion and protects them from Slagor, a rival Jarl with a mean streak. After reaching Skandia, Erak sells Will and Evanlyn to Borsa, Ragnak the Oberjarl's hillman or administrator. He believes that Will and Evanlyn (Princess Cassandra) would be treated better than the average slave working for the Oberjarl, and while this is true for Cassandra (who must hide her identity because of Ragnak vow against King Duncan and his family, it is not the case for Will. Will is forced to be a yard slave and is assigned the worst work. The back-breaking, torturous, and freezing work he is made to perform beats him down. He is misled into using a dangerous drug called warmweed by a rival. Warmweed has a warming, soothing effect, but makes the addict blank and lifeless, unable to think, talk, or remember. After taking it, Will quickly becomes addicted. Erak one day sees the addiction in Will and helps Will and Evanlyn escape. They travel in the mountains to a deserted hunting house with some provisions and a small bundle of warmweed to relieve Will of his addiction. Evanlyn is eventually able to start the process of helping Will break his addiction as the book concludes.
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Feb 14, 2013 Ashrakat Deyab rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: series, owned-books, contemporary, reviewed

2.5 stars- it was OK.
As captivating as they were, if the 200+ pages of this book had been summarized into a chapter or two and had been merged with the previous or next installment of the series, I would have liked it much more. But the plot just doesn't deserve a whole book of the series to itself. And I understand that Flanagan was merely giving the readers a chance to identify with Evanlyn, but he didn't have to cut Will out of the action do so. The series is called the Ranger's Apprentice af...more

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Jun 15, 2008 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: (dare I say?) WoW players (maybe or maybe not)

I am quite pleased with how a series that to me was on the verge of being a ditched one can become such a blooming success. So is the tale of The Icebound Land. Splitting our characters in different directions and having them encounter strange locales and situations, along with elements of action, incredibly realistic drama, and dark humor blended in, is the best way an oddly unfantastic fantasy can go along. Anyone who liked the last ones will enjoy this one, and will most likely be pleased by...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Trisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Short and Sweet of It (from Amazon)
Kidnapped after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captives aboard a fearsome wolfship. Halt has sworn to rescue Will, and he will do anything to keep his promise—even defy his King.

Expelled from the Rangers he has served so loyally, Halt is joined by Will’s friend Horace as he travels toward Skandia. On their way, they are challenged constantly by freelance knights—but Horace knows a thing or two about combat....more

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Mar 17, 2013 07taylorW rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury. I find the book Rangers Apprentice 3 to be a very good book. This book is full of action and adventure and some great fights. There is even a little love story. This book is great in many different ways but there are some problems.

"For a moment, Erak didnt recongnize the emacitated, shambling figure. But there was something familiar about the shock of brown hair, matted and dirty as it was." In this book will gets captured and addicted to a terrible drug called...more Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury. I find the book Rangers Apprentice 3 to be a very good book. This book is full of action and adventure and some great fights. There is even a little love story. This book is great in many different ways but there are some problems.

"For a moment, Erak didnt recongnize the emacitated, shambling figure. But there was something familiar about the shock of brown hair, matted and dirty as it was." In this book will gets captured and addicted to a terrible drug called wormweed, and almost for the whole book he is just a simple slave doing work out in the cold and it is slightly uneventful. Untill Erak comes and helps them escape.

"And before Will saw the blow coming, Erak sent a backhanded fist crashing against the side of the boys head, knocking him senseless to the floor." Will has been captured by Skandians so they could sell him as a slave. While they are traveling, he is constantly being kicked and thrown around and he does nothing about it. He is a ranger and is sposed to be skilled at fighing but, not once does he ever fight back and try to run away.

"THe arrow flew from the bow. As deparnieux raised his shield, the arrow arced in underneath the slanted shield and punched into the breasplate exposed there." While Will is captured, he good friend and his mentor are trying desperatly to find him. They are always getting challenged by knights and have to fight them. Halt, Will's mentor, fights a jarl and kills him with his bow. This is where all the great action and fights in this book happen. "Evanlyn! he said. Thank god your safe!. And, saying it, wondered why her eyes had filled with tears." During the whole book Will is addicted to wormweed and is incapacitated throughout the whole story, leaving Evanlyn to fend for her and Will. At the end of the book it ends with a fantastic cliff hanger to get you excited to read the next book.

This is book is not the best in the series, but indeed very good. All though there is some issues with Will not ever fighting and him being incapacitated throughout the whole story, there are still some great battle scenes when Halt and Horace try to find him. I think this is a very good book and i would recomend that everyone should read this whole series.

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Feb 13, 2013 Tyler added it

The Icebound Land, the third installment in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, continues the story of Will and Evanlyn who have been captured by Skandians following the battle with the sinister Lord Morgarath on the Plains of Uthal. Lord Morgorath has been defeated, but Will and Evanlyn are in danger of being sold into a life of miserable slavery as they are taken to Hallasholm, the capital of Skandia, housing a culture that is remarkably based on that of the Vikings. (John Flanagan has...more The Icebound Land, the third installment in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, continues the story of Will and Evanlyn who have been captured by Skandians following the battle with the sinister Lord Morgarath on the Plains of Uthal. Lord Morgorath has been defeated, but Will and Evanlyn are in danger of being sold into a life of miserable slavery as they are taken to Hallasholm, the capital of Skandia, housing a culture that is remarkably based on that of the Vikings. (John Flanagan has a tendency to base the nations of his book strictly off of real-life cultures - the Araluens are British/Scottish/Australian, the Gallics are teeming with thick French accents and cuisine, and of course the Skandians were horned helmets, sheepskin coats, and go on raiding parties.

I feel that (and this goes for the first two books in the series as well, The Ruins of Gorlan and the Burning Bridge) that The Icebound Land could very easily be combined with the next book, The Battle for Skandia (or as it is called in all other parts of the world, The Oakleaf Bearers). TIL spans 266 pages, a good read, especially if the audience is young adults. However, I can't help but feel that the book was missing some sort of satisfying conclusion, even if it does create an excellent lead-in to the next book. Virtually nothing changes in the characters' situation (except their location); I felt that the entire book was character-driven, and while this is a great thing, it needed a base for plot. Will and Evanlyn enter Skandia and their days as slaves seem very drawn and worn out (and there was an interesting storyline in which Will becomes addicted to a drug, rendered zombielike and useless for half the novel).

Meanwhile, Will's mentor Halt and his friend Horace attempt to find and rescue Will (it was important that Halt defied the king of Araluen and the Ranger Corps, banished from his country for a year; but this minor plot point absorbed a dozen or so pages). They find themselves fighting through the lawless, baguette-filled land of Gallica, fighting knights with such thick French accents I was momentarily reminded of Brian Jacques's incomprehensible forest animals. For at least half the novel, they too are stuck, captured by a villain who takes them to Chateau Montsombre, the devious "dark mountain" castle, where their joustling challenge to the villain serves as the only climax (unless you count the technical climax in which Evanlyn drags zombie-Will out of slavery and they escape into the mountains). In the final line of the book, Halt proclaims they must now find Will - a scene eerily reminiscent of the final moments of the Burning Bridge.

All in all, a very entertaining read. Will's addiction to warmweed was an interesting turn of events, but I feel like the plot has moved nowhere, at least for a whole book to be written and published. The Icebound Lands feels like the mediator between The Burning Bridge and The Battle for Skandia, lending the reader very minor plot points and imagining up issues for the characters to face, perhaps to make the journey seem a bit longer.

John Flanagan has an excellent talent at putting you into his world with very minimal description (the only area in which he uses excessive description is in the detailed character thoughts he gives, presented in narration form instead of character-thought form). And all too often does he supply the reader with the same information over and over again. We have been with the character Evanlyn since the beginning of Book 2, yet at the end of Book 3, Flanagan still feels the need to point out exactly who she is. And the villain Deparnieux need not, in the final chapters, be described as the villain who captured Halt and Horace, an event that happened midbook.

Perhaps I focus too much on the negative aspects of the book - don't get me wrong, this book had me flipping the pages like crazy. The characters may all be a little static, but Flanagan forces you to care about them by putting them in terrible situations and presenting them with crushed dreams, small hope, and problematic troubles.

Can't wait for the next book in the series!

Excited to read the next book in the series! (less)

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Feb 03, 2013 βιβλιοφάγος (a.k.a. Cat) added it

Shelves: 2013-read, all-night-reads, eye-catching-cover, fictional-crushes, good-but-not-the-best

The Icebound Land is basically a bridge between climatic events. It was mostly about getting the characters from Point A to Point B. A set up for the next big scene: Halt and Horace rescuing Will and Evanlyn/Cassandra. I think Deparnieux (I may have spelled that wrong) was merely something to hold The H Team back to keep the tension running high but the action low. Overall, this book really didn't add much to the plot.

It did add a lot on the character development side of things though. We get to...more The Icebound Land is basically a bridge between climatic events. It was mostly about getting the characters from Point A to Point B. A set up for the next big scene: Halt and Horace rescuing Will and Evanlyn/Cassandra. I think Deparnieux (I may have spelled that wrong) was merely something to hold The H Team back to keep the tension running high but the action low. Overall, this book really didn't add much to the plot.

It did add a lot on the character development side of things though. We get to see how strong Evanlyn/Cassandra really is, see the steel inside of her that comes out when there is no Will to protect her. We see the vulnerable side of Halt, that he is indeed human, and deeply cares for his young apprentice. We got to see into Horace's mind again, which I was really happy about, because in Burning Bridge he appeared as more of the "You say I fight, I fight, move, I move, yes, dumb beast is I" sort of thing. There wasn't much character development on Will's part because he was either trying to escape or under the influence of warmweed. Since he's the main character and was focused on for the past two books, I think we can give Flanagan a break about that.

As much as I like Evanlyn/Cassandra in Icebound, she appears to be getting closer to Will in a more romantic way, instead of the "stick together to survive" vibe she was giving off in Burning. It is not that I don't like Evanlyn/Cassandra. I simply don't think that she's the one for Will. I personally thought that Will and Alyss made a lovely couple and they should stay that way. Maybe I'll change my mind later on in the series, but that is my current opinion.

This book was a bridge. Next book, titled "The Battle for Skandia", sounds like it will clearly have Halt and Will's reunion, so Icebound Land is simply the bridge between climatic events. I cannot wait for the action to start up again but am glad that Icebound exists because it gives me a better understanding of the characters and their positions and loyalties.(less)

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Nov 05, 2012 Travis F rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: travis

Once I read Rangers Apprentice the Ice Bound Land I am going to say that it was one of the best books I read. The book is exciting and it leaves you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole book. I also like it because the setting never stay the same instead they move around a lot even though there in the same region. That is what I look for in a book because I like exciting fantasy that can relate to me and this book got to me right away and that is why I picked it.

One of the main conflict...more Once I read Rangers Apprentice the Ice Bound Land I am going to say that it was one of the best books I read. The book is exciting and it leaves you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole book. I also like it because the setting never stay the same instead they move around a lot even though there in the same region. That is what I look for in a book because I like exciting fantasy that can relate to me and this book got to me right away and that is why I picked it.

One of the main conflicts in my novel is when got captured by the Scandinavians and then after the brutal way across the sea he get’s put on the yard which is a hard and brutal life. Then when Will get addicted to a drug called warm weed which send a pulse of warmth throughout your body. And then Will pretty much becomes a zombie that does whatever you tell him to do even if it might kill you. But I don’t think it was his fault because he just got done from the worst and coldest job he head in to the shelters the slaves have and he was freezing and a person afforded him some by say it Will make you feel warmer. I know if I was in his place I would have took it in a heartbeat. This shows that he wasn't thinking right because he was freezing almost to death and the warm weed is the only thing he had to warm himself.

This novel reminds me to another series that I had read in seventh grade which was called the last apprentice because both main characters were about the same age and they were both apprentices. Also both of their works were something all people were afraid of like in last apprentice the boy named tom was an apprentice of a spook and Will is an apprentice of ranger. This also shows more about my opinion because in both novels one of the main characters gets some type of brain washed neither on was it their faults it was some one else’s.

I think the big picture for my novel is even when life gets tough keep hope and this help support my opinion because it my novel Will was always trying to make up plans to escape throughout their whole voyage the the Scandinavians lands. And then when he takes the warm weed he didn't know what it would do to him, the warm weed even saved his life to. Later he also gets his chance to get off the drug because he escaped with his friend from the voyage.

I gave this book a five because I loved how detailed the author was, also the details didn't make you fall asleep either so I think this had the perfect amount for my need. Also this novel kept me want ting to read it more and more because it was packed with exciting thing like when Will and Evelyn tried (less)

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Aug 19, 2012 Sam added it

I liked this book because it is very descriptive. For example at page 162 when Will was on warm weed they described his change very clearly like how there was a surprising amount of hair when you saw him him then and how he was a hollow shape of himself just working and not responding to much except the supply of warm weed that he would get at the end of the day. Or how they described there voyage across the sea at page 30with the almost overflowing the whole boat when they had to go over the wa...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Felita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, action

Will dan Evanlyn masih blm bisa melarikan diri.

Pertamanya, Evanlyn optimis bisa gara2 statusnya sbg Princess of Duncan, tp harapan itu sirna lantaran Raja Skandia bersumpah mati membunuh tiap anggota kerajaan Duncan berkat kematian anaknya o/pasukan ranger (tebak siapa yg membunuhnya ?)

Jadilah will dan evanlyn mjd budak Skandia.sayangnya, kehidupan will sbg budak menjadikannya berada di bawah pengaruh alang-alang penghangat (semacam obat penghangat badan berhubung cuaca selalu dingin dan bisa...more

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May 29, 2012 George rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Icebound land by John Flanagan is a poor read and isn’t as clear and understandable as the first two book but stills follows up from the second book. Will and Evanyln have just been kidnapped and Halt is doing all he can to get Will back. Halt sets off on a journey to locate Will and get him back because Halt believes that it was his fault the Will was kidnapped. While on the other side of the world Will is having problems of his own and is being treated poorly by the skandias that have kidn...more

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May 28, 2012 Jerome rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nice read.

There is so much incompetence in this book it's difficult to even begin to chronicle. The much vaunted Ranger awareness is shown in this book to be a total joke. In chapter 24 Halt, the best ranger in the entire kingdom, who's horse has the amazing ability to sense danger lurking in bushes, who himself can hear the slightest whisper of movement from uncanny distances, is caught completely unaware by a dozen untrained crossbow wielding louts hiding in the bushes. Will, the up and coming...more Nice read.

There is so much incompetence in this book it's difficult to even begin to chronicle. The much vaunted Ranger awareness is shown in this book to be a total joke. In chapter 24 Halt, the best ranger in the entire kingdom, who's horse has the amazing ability to sense danger lurking in bushes, who himself can hear the slightest whisper of movement from uncanny distances, is caught completely unaware by a dozen untrained crossbow wielding louts hiding in the bushes. Will, the up and coming ranger who can make himself practically invisible at will, in a land where the cutlery is all miraculously saxe shaped (which happens to be the knife Will trained with to an amazing level of skill) left to his own devices in the courtyard of his enemies, doesn't think to use any of his skills to change his situation in the slightest, and instead promptly develops a debilitating addiction to weed. Horace, the warrior-in-training, of a guild of warriors that carries their swords everywhere, even into the presence of their king, leaves his sword hanging "behind the door of his room, upstairs", this of course this when he has cause to need it most; Presumably to maximize both his incompetence and helplessness. Clearly carelessness is a state most favored by the author for every one of his protagonists. Worse than the innumerable examples of incompetence are the outrageous lengths the author goes to in order to avoid bloodshed.

Swords, axes, arrows, throwing knives, lances, outlaws, pirates, and dark knights. Surely someone will draw blood eventually, right? Miraculously, no; there is no bloodshed in this book at all (up to the point where I threw it down in disgust, at least). There's violence but the violence never seems to hurt anyone too badly. For the villains that idle threats and empty bravado aren't enough to send scurrying to surrender, a warning arrow or inexplicably bloodless whack with a broadsword seem to suffice. Near the beginning of the book, in chapter two, Halt takes out a group brigands with a single shot which hits only a cloak and causes its target only mild temporary discomfort upon which all brigands immediately give up without a fight. Similarly, throughout his journeys in France, Will's friend Horace engages no less than 5 knights in full armor, each time doing no more damage than denting their helms and knocking them unconscious. Some may think this an ideal lesson for older children to be learning, I however disagree. Is this the lesson that should be taught, that waving a weapon around will immediately accomplish your goals without bloodshed, that full battle with deadly weapons results in at worst a mild concussion? Far better to teach that weapons kill, and kill permanently. One might argue that children of the age for which this book is intended (nine through twelve) should not be reading of death, however the way this book approaches violence is equivalent to a story in which dancing on a lake of thin ice results in ice-cream and rainbows. The mores found in this book are repugnant.(less)

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Feb 04, 2012 Karen Ball rated it 4 of 5 stars

Third in the Ranger's Apprentice series, we find Will and Evanlyn captive slaves of the Skandian raiders. Taken back to Skandia, they are given to the Skandian's king's hilfmann (housemaster) as slaves, Evanlyn in the kitchens and Will in the frigid and brutal yard. Though Evanlyn reveals herself to Will as Cassandra, the daughter of King Duncan, they quickly realize that she must keep her identity hidden as Ragnak has taken a blood vow with the worst of the Skandian gods to destroy Duncan and...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Once again, another great addition to The Ranger's Apprentice series. As I've written in my reviews of The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge, this is a series for all ages, not just kids (hence me being 20 and not being able to put these books down).

Having been captured by the Skandians in book 2, Will and Evanlyn face substantial challenges. First, they need to survive the trip. Once they arrive, they will have to face their fate as overworked slaves. In the mean time, Halt, who shows more...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Ricky Ganci rated it 3 of 5 stars

A rarity among fantasy writers, Flanagan has been able to do what, in my experience, only Martin, Tolkien, Salvatore, and a few select others have been able to do: write successive books that overshadow their predecessors twice. But in this case, superbly, this volume has turned an average and clichéd plot and characters into an original, interesting, and really good series. Book Three is far and away a superior book to both of the others, and so eclipses the first volume that, in many ways, it...more A rarity among fantasy writers, Flanagan has been able to do what, in my experience, only Martin, Tolkien, Salvatore, and a few select others have been able to do: write successive books that overshadow their predecessors twice. But in this case, superbly, this volume has turned an average and clichéd plot and characters into an original, interesting, and really good series. Book Three is far and away a superior book to both of the others, and so eclipses the first volume that, in many ways, it seems as if we’ve moved into a different series altogether. It’s also a terrific fantasy novel in its own right, and borrows tonally and thematically more than a little from the bext example of modern fantasy, A Song of Ice and Fire. This book contains some great thematic and moral storytelling, and offers a warning against and depicts the cost of drug abuse without being preachy or tripish; instead, it’s emotional and grievous, and Evanlyn’s battle with Will for Will is the strongest part of the story, and a brilliant piece of fantasy storytelling. That storyline was enough to drive the book forward, but Horace’s adventures as a knight in Gallica were very driving as well, climaxing nicely with the first real display of Halt’s matchless combat skills—adding “armor-piercing rounds” was a nice touch for the action peak of the book. And again, we the readers have more than enough reason to demand the next installment as soon as we can get our hands on it. Flanagan has exceeded my expectations, and I wait with almost as much impatience for Will’s escape from Skandia as I do for Arya and Drizzt.
Second Reading:
I finished it this time in three sittings, and it didn’t feel the least bit difficult. Will’s struggle with the warmweed seemed a lot shorter this time, probably because the suspense just wasn’t there. But the sadness was, and I really found myself focusing on Evanlyn/Cassandra this time around and the difficulties she went through in order to protect Will from the drug. This is exactly what fantasy should be about: taking real-world issues (such as drug abuse) and unpacking them in a less preachy setting for closer analysis. Flanagan makes a lot of profound observations about addiction, and I wonder if he struggled with some form of it himself in his life—his insights are downright powerful, and much deeper than a lot of fantasy I’ve read. The story has a magic to it, a pull that is hard to label but impossible to miss. It’s a light fantasy, with all of the elements that a good one needs. Expectations are high, and after the crescendo of Will’s adventures so far I don’t think I’m going to be disappointed.
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Jul 25, 2011 Parcoast rated it 4 of 5 stars

So this series is great for a couple of reasons. First, the books are short and easily digestible, which is perfect for my situation (I don't have much free time.) Second, the characters are all maturing, and we get to follow along as the author confronts the inherent conflicts of adolescents and grows his characters to overcome them. Finally, the plot is just a classic fun-to-read fantasy story.

The room for improvement remains in the same areas. This is a fantasy story that lacks magic. A painf...more

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May 24, 2011 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Even though I'm only halfway through the book I think it's going to get good because the first two were full of cliff hangers and tension so I think this one might be even better. This book series is in the medieval age and is about a group called The Rangers who are like the kings intelligence force or the kings super cavarly in war. Rangers have bows and arrows, a saxe knife and a throwing knife. There are two other important objects for a Ranger they have a green and gray cloak for camoflauge...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Emmett rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Emmett Stone
Mrs. Romaniuk and Mr. Moyer
Reading/L.A: Book Review #7
4 January 2011
Icebound Land
Where Friendships Are Put to the Test and Decisions Must Be Made
The Icebound Land is the third book in the series Rangers Apprentice. This adventure fiction novel begins when Will and Evanlyn are prisoners of a Skandian crew and are taken to become slaves. In Araluen Halt has just been band from returning to for one year. He has to go find Will, his apprentice, who he lost in the war in book two. Horace...more Emmett Stone
Mrs. Romaniuk and Mr. Moyer
Reading/L.A: Book Review #7
4 January 2011
Icebound Land
Where Friendships Are Put to the Test and Decisions Must Be Made
The Icebound Land is the third book in the series Rangers Apprentice. This adventure fiction novel begins when Will and Evanlyn are prisoners of a Skandian crew and are taken to become slaves. In Araluen Halt has just been band from returning to for one year. He has to go find Will, his apprentice, who he lost in the war in book two. Horace tags along with Halt on the dangerous journey to find Will and Evanlyn. This journey is full of knights, ruthless leaders and some strong friendships as well. John Flanagan is a very interesting author and this series of his has put him at the top of my favorite list of authors. I think this novel would make a great film because it is full of action, the characters are easy to relate to, and the plot is very suspenseful.
Action is one of the main reasons this book could make a great film. When I read the action parts of the book I could see the characters full of sweat and covered in fake blood like they were on the big screen. “They approached shield to shield as normal. […] When he was barely ten meters away, the sword arced down from its rest position, the point describing a circle in the air, then, as the lance tip came toward Horace’s shield, the sword, still circling, caught the lance and neatly flicked it up and over the boy’s head.”(108-109) This action scene would look great on the big screen. When I read this next part of the book I saw waves in the sea crash against the side of the boat and I always imagined this on the big screen. “Then the sun was blotted out as the storm hit them. The sheer force of the wind took Will’s breath away. Literally. This wasn’t a wind like any Will had ever known. This was a savage, living, primeval force that wrapped around him, defeating him, blinding him, punching the breath out of his lungs and preventing him his taking another: smothering him as it tried to claw his grip loose.”(3) This shows plenty of action in my book to make in to a movie. I think this part of the book would make a great scene in a movie because it’s dark, scary, and it’s full of emotion.
You can relate to many characters in this book that is another reason why this book would make a spectacular film. Will would make a great character in this book because he makes a huge mistake and everyone can relate to that because everyone makes mistakes in life. Will makes a mistake that he might not be able to fix. “ Will forced his teeth apart and Handel slipped something into his mouth. I felt like a bundle of dried herbs, Will thought dully. Put it under your tongue Handel whispered. Let it dissolve. You’ll be fine. […] It’s warmweed, Handel told him gently. It keeps us alive. And the from the shadows of the far corner, Egon watched the two figures and smiled. Handel had done his work well.”(146) In this scene Will took a very dangerous drug called warmweed, which is very addicting. Once on it if you cut the supple you will die. Will made a terrible mistake that he might not be able to repair when he took the drug. If you were watching this scene in a movie you would be screaming at the screen saying “don’t take it”, like I was when reading this book. Another character who is easy to relate to in this book is Evanlyn. She is a great friend and is a loyal one too. In this book Evanlyn stayed by Will when he was at his most vulnerable point and kept him in her arms. “She dropped to her knees beside him, putting her arms around him and trying to soothe him with her voice. […] She would have to gradually wean the boy off the drug, he told her, by giving him ever decreasing amounts at ever decreasing intervals until he could cope with the deprivation.” (215) Evanlyn is an easy character to relate to because most everyone wants to have a friend who is as loyal as she is. She is someone who will stand by your side in a desperate time of need and will take care of you when you are injured or hurt.
The plot line is very suspenseful and that is another reason why this book would make a fantastic film. In this next scene I can picture Will having a spasm attack on the big screen; his body twitching like the movement of a humming bird's wings beating. “His teeth chattered and his body shook and trembled and heaved as he fell to the ground rolling helplessly in the snow, his knees drawn up to his chest. One hand flailed uselessly at the snow while the other was jammed firmly in to his mouth. […] Jarl Erak had warned her that Will would not be able to quit the drug straightaway. Warmweed built up a physical dependence in its addicts, so that the total deprivation meant actual pain.”(215) Another suspenseful scene in the book was when Will and Evanlyn tried to escape the Skandians in a little raft boat. “Will! she cried out in an alarming voice. There's water in the boat! The wrappings around her feet had prevented her from feeling the water so far. But now it had soaked through, and when she looked down, she could see the water surging back and forth over the floorboards.”(90-91) This is a great scene for a movie because the reader knows if they turn back they will be captured again.
This novel will make a great film because it is full of action, the characters are easy to relate to, and the plot is very suspenseful. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars for being intense and for having such a great plot line. I can’t really relate to the book because I have never actually experienced any of these kinds of events. I can relate to Will, the main character in this book, because he is funny and he gets tricked into doing stuff that he does not want to do. When I get tricked into doing something that I don’t want to do I usually do what Will does, make up a lousy excuse or something. I learned from this book that not all people are going to be nice to you, so you should just laugh it off and move on. It is not going to hurt you if you just laugh at yourself once in a while. I also learned while reading this book no matter what the situation, you should always respect your peers. They will always thank you in the long run because although they might be
I think I really worked on this book review and I deserve a pretty good grade. I’m not begging but I think that I deserve at least an B. The easy thing about this assignment is writing this reflection because I get to express myself on what I deserve. The difficult thing about this assignment was organizing the paragraphs and having to find all the quotes. That’s usually the hardest part for me. I plan to give myself way more time to finish next time for the next book review. I know your preparing us for High School but it seem like were getting it with work left and right.
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Jan 03, 2011 Chase rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Rangers Apprentice book #3
Captured
Have you ever been banned from a club, or school ,or felt like an outcast? In The Icebound Land, book three in the Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan, a ranger named Halt assigned to the castle of Redmont gets himself banned so he can be relieved of duty and search for his apprentice Will. Will was captured by Skandians and is with the king’s daughter who is in disguise so she won’t get killed. Horace a friend of Will’s goes with Halt to find Will,...more

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Sep 14, 2010 Jennifer Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 08, 2010 J.Elle rated it 3 of 5 stars

July Book #5: This book was my favorite in the series thus far. I'm not sure why, but something about it worked for me. Will and Evanlyn have been taken to Skandia and sold into slavery. Sadly, Will is put to work outside in the freezing cold and he becomes addicted to a local "weed" that offers fleeting warmth to the body, but slowly kills the user. Ultimately, the Skandian warrior who kidnapped them in the first place helps Evanlyn escape with Will. The book ends just as Will has managed to de...more

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Aug 22, 2009 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-lit-and-i-love-it

Hello, this is me getting ticked at this series. For almost the entire book Will and What's-Her-Name are slaves and Will develops a drug addiction. Hope that doesn't spoil the book for you....while it portrays the addiction accurately, I was uncomfortable with it. I'm not sure I want my young boys reading about it. It's not glamorized (quite the contrary) and it's shown as "bad", but still.

Halt and Horace have some fun times and great adventures. I'm very much liking how their characters are dev...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Sean rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'll say upfront that I'm not quite the target audience for the Ranger's Apprentice books. I'm a bit too old for YA fiction, so that's going to color my perception a bit.

That's not to say Icebound Land is bad, far from it. The characters are reasonably well rounded (in that they all have strengths and weaknesses), and it never feels like Flanagan is talking down to the reader.

Still, there are a few flaws with the book, though they're probably more due the intended audience than anything else. Fi...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Mark Soone rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, teen

Even though I have enjoyed the series immensely, and would call it a 5 star series thus far...I didn't quite enjoy this book as much as the previous 2. It was still very good, and not a major letdown but as a stand alone book, it didn't captivate me the way the earlier ones had.

I hated the ending of book 2, and compare it to the way catching fire leaves us hanging. The good news for me is that I am a few years late and the remainder of the series is completed, and I was and still am able to move...more Even though I have enjoyed the series immensely, and would call it a 5 star series thus far...I didn't quite enjoy this book as much as the previous 2. It was still very good, and not a major letdown but as a stand alone book, it didn't captivate me the way the earlier ones had.

I hated the ending of book 2, and compare it to the way catching fire leaves us hanging. The good news for me is that I am a few years late and the remainder of the series is completed, and I was and still am able to move on. I liked the story line of splitting the party up, as I remembered fondly the split of the parties in the Lord of the Rings and the dragonlance Chronicles very favorably. I enjoyed the early parts of the story line between Will and Evenlyn/Cassandra and their interactions with thier captors. But for me it kind of went south from there. I didn't mind the story line progressing into their future as slaves, but thier split and Will's looming problem (Sorry to be vague, but I don't do spoilers if I can help it!) just was unfulfilling to me. The details of Halt and his pursuit of Will, didn't excite me early on but I dealt with that. I did enjoy his exit from Arulean (Sorry if I misspelled it), and his reunion with Horace. I very much enjoyed their journey, and watching their relationship and trust of one another continue to grow. I don't usually agree with my teenage son, but in this case I do...it would have been nice to se just a little more action. Once again this book leaves you hanging much as the second one did with a major difference. This book really never quite built upto that crescendo....so although it leaves me hanging, and is incomplete I am not on the verge of dying to see what happens next. It feels more like an end of a chapter than the end of the book if that makes any sense?

Enjoyed it very much and plan to start book 4 as soon as soon as I get off of here! Alongside of Harry Potter, Hunger games and Gregor the Overlander the Rangers apprentice is among the best Y/A fiction I have read in the past few years. Alongside of Margaret Weiss & Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles and R.A. Salvatore's Dark Elf & Cleric Quintet series this is among my favorite epic fantasy series that I have ever come accross. (less)

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Sep 04, 2009 Aaron Mann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Book: Ranger’s Apprentice, The Ice Bound Land
Author: John Flanagan
Genre: Historical fiction
Number of pages: 266
By: Aaron Mann

READING RESPONSE:

1. Overall impression of book? My impression of this book was good, it had a lot of action through out the book. The sword fighting, fighting, horseback riding and fighting at the same time, suspense for what was ahead.

2. Enjoy plot, messages, author style, characters, ending? Will, a Ranger’s Apprentice, and Evanlyn, a King’s daughter, were trying to es...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, children, fantasy-and-sci-fi, young-adult

This was my least favorite of the Ranger's Apprentice series books so far. There was hardly any action or battles in it, although I suppose it was really more of a setup book for the next one in the series "Battle for Skandia". You can start to see a bit more about how the author based the setting on Europe with places like Skandia, which are obviously full of Norsemen/Vikings, and Gallicia, which is basically France. I suppose that would mean that Araluen is actually England (with Hibernia bein...more

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Oct 26, 2011 02oscarr rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

John Flanagan does not disapoint, this Rangers Apprentice: The Ice Bound Land is an extremely thrilling book. So after Will and Evallyn have been capture.This is because of the Skandian Raiders who took them after the battle with Monograth was over. They were sold as slaves. Will is sent to the yard a horrible place where he becomes adicted to a drug that keeps him warm and he has forgoten everything. Meanwhile Halt and his best friend Horace are out on a quest to find them. This is a great rea...more

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Jun 16, 2011 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of YA epic fantasy, fans of Eragon

Third in the Ranger's Apprentice series, this book didn't let me down. In many ways, I believe fantasy books are becoming more and more stuffy, overly long, and are losing some of the enjoyability I found in them at a younger age. That is not the case with Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice books. The stories are quickly paced, the writing quick and easy to read while still being well done and moderately intelligent, and the characters are slightly stereotypical and yet still fun.

It seems to me tha...more Third in the Ranger's Apprentice series, this book didn't let me down. In many ways, I believe fantasy books are becoming more and more stuffy, overly long, and are losing some of the enjoyability I found in them at a younger age. That is not the case with Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice books. The stories are quickly paced, the writing quick and easy to read while still being well done and moderately intelligent, and the characters are slightly stereotypical and yet still fun.

It seems to me that so much good fantasy doesn't just aim to entertain but also to educate. Many fantasy books teach young readers morals by putting their characters in difficult situations with overarching evils and the odds stacked against them. I find that, for me, this is one of the charms of fantasy and of being a young reader. In this book I believe we get to see a lot of that grey area between good and evil, acceptability and forgiveness. From the very start of the story we see difficult decisions being made by morally sturdy people. It's just a simple reminder that these things come up in the lives of every person, no matter how intrinsically good they try to be.

The thing that shocked me most about this book was Will's warmweed addiction. It happened so fast, and was something I would never have expected from him. Granted, we miss the grey area between his first dose and total addiction, but nevertheless it hurt to see someone you're attached to fall so far. Furthermore, that Evanlyn had all but ignored him since she arrived. Where was she the first few weeks of their slave stint? Busy? Couldn't make time to try to see and reassure Will? Perhaps give him the hope he would need? Her attitude overall was unimpressive at first, but I think she grew up a lot when she had to care for Will and deal with his addiction and the necessity of survival. I love to see a character grow, and she certainly did.

Overall, this book was a bit heartbreaking, but a quick read with a good story and a great exploration for younger readers in the grey area between right and wrong.
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Apr 18, 2013 Brian Zhou rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first thing I have to say is that this is a great series and I enjoyed the first three books very much. I highly recommend reading this series, especially if you like to read adventurous books such as the Lightning Thief and Harry Potter. It is, in a way, like them, as to it always includes an adventurous theme into the story while the story unfolds.

----------------------SPOILER ALERT------------------------------------

My favorite out of these first three books was the second book. The reas...more The first thing I have to say is that this is a great series and I enjoyed the first three books very much. I highly recommend reading this series, especially if you like to read adventurous books such as the Lightning Thief and Harry Potter. It is, in a way, like them, as to it always includes an adventurous theme into the story while the story unfolds.

----------------------SPOILER ALERT------------------------------------

My favorite out of these first three books was the second book. The reason I didn't say the first book, The Ruins of Gorlan, was that I thought it lacked some of the action present in the second book, The Burning Bridge. I will say that the beginning of the first book was a little boring, as to it was introducing many of the characters and setting the theme. At the second half of The Ruins of Gorlan, was when there was more action because the Kalkara appeared and Will, Gilan, and Halt had to hunt them down. I enjoyed the second book particularily because I really wanted to find out what was to happen in the final battle between Morgarath and King Duncan.

In these first three books, the author uses sets a very good theme to the story. John Flanagan uses the characters, the setting, and the action to set a particular theme to the story. He chooses a very diverse set of characters, and successfully sets a theme that fits the storyline well. The action keeps the story interesting to read and fits with the theme John Flanagan chooses. The overall theme he chooses is most likely adolescence, discovering, pain, and loneliness because as Will adventures on, he discovers new things, faces danger, and also suffers from loneliness.

After reading the first three books of this series, I thought it was a rather interesting series, so I decided to keep reading onto the rest of the series. Right now I am reading the fourth book, The Battle for Skandia. There are 6 other books out there to complete this series, The Sorcerer of the North, The Emperor of Nihon-Ja, The Siege of Macindaw, Erak's Ransom, The Kings of Clonmel, and Halt's Peril. John Flanagan has written other great works, too, like The Lost Stories.(less)

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What is your favorite book in the series and why.	15	27	May 18, 2013 07:23am
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About John Flanagan

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

John Flanagan grew up in Sydney, Australia, hoping to be a writer. It wasn't 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 Joh...more

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Books by John Flanagan

The Burning Bridge (Ranger's Apprentice, #2)

The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, #1)

The Battle for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice, #4)

The Siege of Macindaw (Ranger's Apprentice, #6)

The Sorcerer in the North (Ranger's Apprentice, #5)

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Quotes from The Icebound Land

“Ow!" said Horace as the Ranger's fingers probed and poked around the bruise.
Did that hurt?" Halt asked, and Horace looked at him with exasperation.
Of course it did," he said sharply. "That's why I said 'ow!” — 143 people liked it

“Sometimes," Halt continued, "we tend to expect a little too much of Ranger horses. After all, they are only human.” — 113 people liked it

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The Icebound Land (Ranger's Apprentice #3)

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