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15th out of 107 books
—
115 voters
The Sorcerer in the North (Ranger's Apprentice #5)
Will’s first adventure as a full-fledged Ranger!
Time has passed since the apprentice and his master, Will and Halt, led the Araluens to victory against invaders, and Will is now a full-fledged Ranger with his own fief to look after. The fief seems sleepy -- boring, even -- until the king is poisoned. Joined by his friend Alyss, Will is thrown headfirst into an extraordinar...more
Time has passed since the apprentice and his master, Will and Halt, led the Araluens to victory against invaders, and Will is now a full-fledged Ranger with his own fief to look after. The fief seems sleepy -- boring, even -- until the king is poisoned. Joined by his friend Alyss, Will is thrown headfirst into an extraordinar...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
June 25th 2009
by Penguin Group (USA)
(first published November 4th 2008)
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I love this series! The books are fast-paced and the characters are delightful. The author, John Flanagan, was a television series writer in Australia. He began the Ranger Apprentice series to encourage his own son to read. The only problem is that, just like a television series, he has a tendency to end his books with cliffhangers. That's just fine if you are starting a series after it is completelty written--but it isn't very nice if you have to wait a year to discover the conclusion to a prob...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I chose this book because I read the ones before this and my friend recommended it to me. This book is about Will becoming a full-fledged Ranger, getting his own fief, and Alyss, his friend, giving him a mission. Lord Syron of the Norgate fief in Hibernia is mysteriously ill, and people don;t know what it is. There are rumors that a dark sorcerer is living in the Grimsdell Woods, called Malkallam, and that he has poisoned Syron. When they go to see what is happening, Alyss gets captured and is s...more
TITLE OF BOOK: Sorcerer of the north
YEAR: 2008
AUTHOR: John Flanagan
NUMBER OF PAGES: 304
INTENED AUDIENCE? Ages 9 and up
MAIN ISSUE: There is a supposed sorcerer down in the northern fief, Macindaw
SETTING:It is in the medieval times in a small forest and castle. I really think that the setting is too important and cant be taken or changed in this book.
DESCRIPTION OF MAIN CHARACTERS: Will is a Ranger he is conspicuous at some times and quit friendly at other times, Carin acts good at first but then...more
YEAR: 2008
AUTHOR: John Flanagan
NUMBER OF PAGES: 304
INTENED AUDIENCE? Ages 9 and up
MAIN ISSUE: There is a supposed sorcerer down in the northern fief, Macindaw
SETTING:It is in the medieval times in a small forest and castle. I really think that the setting is too important and cant be taken or changed in this book.
DESCRIPTION OF MAIN CHARACTERS: Will is a Ranger he is conspicuous at some times and quit friendly at other times, Carin acts good at first but then...more
This book is really a great addition to the Ranger's Apprentice series.
I am a fan of this series, as it includes a large amount of adventure, wit and great characters. For those who haven't read the series yet, I advise you do.
This is the first book in the series where Will is finished his apprenticeship. When Lord Syron of the Norgate Fief in Hibernia is struck by a mysterious illness, Will, Tug, his new dog, and his friend/lover Alyss are called in to figure out what is ailing the Lord of No...more
I am a fan of this series, as it includes a large amount of adventure, wit and great characters. For those who haven't read the series yet, I advise you do.
This is the first book in the series where Will is finished his apprenticeship. When Lord Syron of the Norgate Fief in Hibernia is struck by a mysterious illness, Will, Tug, his new dog, and his friend/lover Alyss are called in to figure out what is ailing the Lord of No...more
This series just keeps getting better and better. I was a little nervous when there was a several years jump in-between this book and the last, and there were a few things that were glossed over in this jump (romance) that I wish I had gotten to explore with the characters, but I still enjoyed this book very much.
Will is finally a full Ranger, and is out on his own. While most of his growth happened in books 1-4, it is easy to see how much more he has improved in the skip of a few years, and his...more
Will is finally a full Ranger, and is out on his own. While most of his growth happened in books 1-4, it is easy to see how much more he has improved in the skip of a few years, and his...more
Alas, all good things come to an end, and Flanagan’s run of putting together stories that were successively better than the previous ones has come to an end. Book 5 just doesn’t hold up to the standard that was set by the previous one. The big problem: jumping ahead in the chronology. It just doesn’t work for me, as many of the unanswered questions—and the nature of the open ending of Book 4—seem to go ignored, forgotten, or passed over, and I feel rather unsatisfied, as the promise of answered...more
The Short and Sweet of It
Will finally is set off on his own, but not to fight the straightforward, frontal assault enemies of the past. This time he is up against a legend, an elusive sorcerer rumored to be poisoning the king of a northern fief, a land integral to the protection of the whole kingdom.
A Bit of a Ramble
As with all of the Ranger's Apprentice books, I loved the characters, the battle tactics, the weaving of plot lines, and the setting. Seeing Will strike out on his own was almost poi...more
Will finally is set off on his own, but not to fight the straightforward, frontal assault enemies of the past. This time he is up against a legend, an elusive sorcerer rumored to be poisoning the king of a northern fief, a land integral to the protection of the whole kingdom.
A Bit of a Ramble
As with all of the Ranger's Apprentice books, I loved the characters, the battle tactics, the weaving of plot lines, and the setting. Seeing Will strike out on his own was almost poi...more
Oct 14, 2011
Melina
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2011-reader-s-workshop-book,
2011-first-time-read,
australian,
fantasy,
fiction,
friendship,
childrens,
kindle,
series,
owned
As I pointed out after reading book four, the first four books read as a prologue and a trilogy. Now the story picks up at a totally new place in time, five years into the future. Will is a fully qualified Ranger now, with his own area to look after - and his own missions to get caught in. However, when a seemingly regular mission takes a turn for the worse, Will has to make some hard decisions.
I like grown-up Will quite a lot, but I'm glad he has kept some of his more child-like qualities. His...more
I like grown-up Will quite a lot, but I'm glad he has kept some of his more child-like qualities. His...more
I will make this 'review' for this and the following book, as they cannot be separated in any way. Story wise, ofcourse.
There are a few major complaints I have about this 5 year time skip. I generally love time skips. It moves a story forward, characters can develop in more drastic ways, a lot of things can change, and the need to adapt to the new setting is generally very enjoyable. But, this one annoyed me.
Will, as such, didn't change. One tiny bit. His skills themselves, as far as we are intr...more
There are a few major complaints I have about this 5 year time skip. I generally love time skips. It moves a story forward, characters can develop in more drastic ways, a lot of things can change, and the need to adapt to the new setting is generally very enjoyable. But, this one annoyed me.
Will, as such, didn't change. One tiny bit. His skills themselves, as far as we are intr...more
This is the fifth book in the Ranger's Apprentice series by Flanagan. The tenth book in this series, The Emperor of Nihan-Ja, released in April of 2011. This book was a solid addition to the series and an enjoyable read. It is another of those books in this series that is only the first half of a story arc.
Will is taking up his own post at a castle in the Northern territories. As he settles in to his new position he receives a message from his old friend Alyss, all is not well in the North and W...more
Will is taking up his own post at a castle in the Northern territories. As he settles in to his new position he receives a message from his old friend Alyss, all is not well in the North and W...more
Ranger Bartell has retired, and Will is a newly commissioned Ranger with his first assignment: Ranger Bartell's old fief, Sea Cliff, in the southeastern corner of Araluen. Will arrives and finds an abused dog that he adopts and cares for, and he finds a creative way to handle a party of Skandian raiders without a fight, and deal with the man who abused the dog as well. Alyss arrives with a secret temporary assignment for Will: travel in disguise to the northernmost fief and discover what kind of...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The Rangers Apprentice series is the first series that I have read by John Flangan. I have loved this series so far and would give this book in particular five out of five stars. I thought the plot was a little bit exaggerated but it just made the story that much more interesting and exciting.
I don’t think that Flangan developed as much voice in the main character as maybe Percy Jackson from the Lightning Thief. But you could tell Will was a determined young man and when he wanted to do somethi...more
I don’t think that Flangan developed as much voice in the main character as maybe Percy Jackson from the Lightning Thief. But you could tell Will was a determined young man and when he wanted to do somethi...more
This takes place several years after the fourth book. Will is a new member f the Ranger’s Corps and has just become one of the fifty full-fledged Rangers of Araluen. Will has just received his first commission and the fief that he will be assigned to—Seacliff. It’s supposed to be really nice, quaint, quiet, nothing to crazy or dangerous. Afterall, he’s now the youngest Ranger in the Corps and this is his first fief. Life at Seacliff is much different from the life that Will Treaty is used to—he...more
This book is the fifth in the series of the Ranger's apprentice. It is a humorous account of all things truly medieval, or should I suggest, mid-evil? The story is set in a far away, hard to reach place in the North, somehow too far to be easily accessible by the king's troops and yet close enough that there are plenty of creatures to make this a fascinating account. There is treachery in an impassable fortress where a beautiful lady is sure to be entrapped just so that a romantic bard/ranger ca...more
I'm a fan of this series, but I felt that Flanagan started doing some great things in this book. It's Will's first adventure alone, and I was happy to see an increased role for Alyss. Flanagan has found a way, in my opinion, to credibly give his female characters important things to do in the context of a medieval world.
This book had some themes I think are especially important for adolescents to read--being popular vs. being good, the idea of appearances and making judgments on those appearanc...more
This book had some themes I think are especially important for adolescents to read--being popular vs. being good, the idea of appearances and making judgments on those appearanc...more
The fifth book of a successful series, John Flanagan keeps his readers going with "The Sorcerer of the North". This is the fifth book of the series "Ranger's Apprentice", but this time, it has been six years or so since the "Battle of Skandia", the fourth book. The main character, Will, is now an adult and a full fledged ranger. He gets missions from the Ranger's Corps, and recently Will has gotten a peculiar one. This peculiar mission was to investigate rumors of sorcerer's magic up in the nort...more
1. Lord Syron of the Macindaw Castle is poisoned ,and they think a Sorcerer from long ago put this terrible fate on the King. So Will is told to go out disguised as a jongleur to spy out this Sorcerer. As he looks he finds himself face to face with a warrior 3 stories high in some mystical woods. Will is stuck trying to think about who the warrior is, who the traitor is, and where the Socerer lives.
2. This is the Medival age in a Foresty area, and yes this could happen in a different place and...more
2. This is the Medival age in a Foresty area, and yes this could happen in a different place and...more
The books are still getting better with each new edition, but I feel cheated by The Sorcerer in the North. All the other books had cliff hangers, but the main problem of the story was solved. The main problem in SITN was left for the next book. My favorite part of the series was the resolution at the end of each tale. Too often, YA series rely on the hook and reel method of leaving too much to be revealed that you have to read the next book. Up to this point, I could have stopped reading the ser...more
Pretty weak. Definitely the worst of the series so far.
This time, the danger wasn't critical; actually, it wasn't even there. Will was sent into a situation completely exaggerated by the imagination of farmers and commoners. He is warned—repeatedly—not to give in to such wild stories; that 99% of the cases could be explained. Yet, as soon as he's alone, he gives free rein to his own fears and superstitions and instead of trying to find alternate explanations for what's going on, he becomes just...more
This time, the danger wasn't critical; actually, it wasn't even there. Will was sent into a situation completely exaggerated by the imagination of farmers and commoners. He is warned—repeatedly—not to give in to such wild stories; that 99% of the cases could be explained. Yet, as soon as he's alone, he gives free rein to his own fears and superstitions and instead of trying to find alternate explanations for what's going on, he becomes just...more
The book, "Sorcerer of the North" is the fifth book of its series, "Ranger's apprentice". This time, Will is sent to Castle Macindaw to learn more about the mysterious illness of Lord Syron. Castle Macindaw is key for the Arualens as it help protects them from the deadly Scotties. Will gets news of it soon and founds a new dog who was mistreated by her previous owner, John Buttle. He took care of him and Halt and Crowley assign him to become a jongleur, a traveling musicians. He set off and mad...more
This book was 295 pages long and the intended readers of this book is young readers.
Someone has poisoned the king and Will and Alyss have to find out what happened.
I think the story's setting was good and I don't think it could be any different.
The characters are Will a small boy who is now a ranger, Alyss Will's friend A courier for castle Redmont, Horace Will's other friend is a knight in training.
The summary: Someone has posioned the king so Will and Alyss go to investigate who posioned...more
Someone has poisoned the king and Will and Alyss have to find out what happened.
I think the story's setting was good and I don't think it could be any different.
The characters are Will a small boy who is now a ranger, Alyss Will's friend A courier for castle Redmont, Horace Will's other friend is a knight in training.
The summary: Someone has posioned the king so Will and Alyss go to investigate who posioned...more
Will is now a full fledged Ranger which makes things more exciting because now he can take things in his own hands. Even though he's a full ranger he still young and has much to learn. In the book you learn more about Araluen history, people, and places. Also in the book Will is learning just how superstitious the people of Araluen are(which is very). At first when you learn what's going on it gets confusing which got me frustrated but in the end things are crystal clear.
“The Sorcerer of the North” is the fifth book in the Ranger’s Apprentice Series. It is not a direct sequel to the fourth book, “The Battle for Skandia.” Instead, it is set a few years in the future in which Will has now become a full- fledged Ranger. He has now been assigned to his own fief in the kingdom to guard and protect. However, Halt and Crowley (The Ranger Corps Commandant) send him to Macindaw, a castle which protects the northern borders. At Macindaw, there are talks of sorcery, but in...more
NOTE: OKAY, JUST STARTED BOOK 7 AND DISCOVERED I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO FELT SOMETHING WAS MISSING. BOOK 7 FALLS CHRONOLOGICALLY BETWEEN 4 AND 5. YOU MAY WANT TO READ IT FIRST AND COME BACK TO THIS ONE. The only thing I didn't like about this book is that seems to abruptly jump into the story 5 years after the previous book in the series and then seems to abruptly cut off in the middle. If you can't stand the lack of closure of an unfinished storyline, you'll want to make sure you already have...more
In Sorcerer in the North we start on a new path with Will. His days as an apprentice are over and he's now a full fledged ranger, moving into the fief he will now be assigned to. About 30 pages into that, he is pulled away for a secret assignment, investigating a "Sorcerer" in the northernmost fief of Norwood.
I find it a bit disappointing that by book 5 of the Ranger's Apprentice series, Will is no longer a Ranger's Apprentice. He did some amazing things, surely, in the first four books, and of...more
I find it a bit disappointing that by book 5 of the Ranger's Apprentice series, Will is no longer a Ranger's Apprentice. He did some amazing things, surely, in the first four books, and of...more
Just so you are hopefully not confused when you start the book, Will is now five years older, about twenty I think. His age jumped from the last book, "The Battle for Skandia".
Will is sent to a new fief, to replace a retired Ranger. He soon realizes that this town has slipped dangerously into a style of comfort and safety. Not only are they unprepared for any attacks launched against them, they are also shadowed by an evil figure by the name of John Buttle. This man has caused more harm to anima...more
Will is sent to a new fief, to replace a retired Ranger. He soon realizes that this town has slipped dangerously into a style of comfort and safety. Not only are they unprepared for any attacks launched against them, they are also shadowed by an evil figure by the name of John Buttle. This man has caused more harm to anima...more
All right, I have to say I'm quite impressed with this series. It's proved to be far more gripping than I expected it to be, and although I was a little bit disappointed with the lack of originality in the first book, I have to say he's branched out a lot since then. I think the storyline in this book especially was quite imaginative - what with Will now being a fully fledged Ranger and undertaking a secret mission in the guise of a jongleur (a traveling minstrel), there was a lot more opportuni...more
I got this book for Christmas, and when I did I was excited to read it; after all, it was on my "To-Read" book list. I had stopped reading the series for awhile, because of the fact that I didn't get a chance to get my hands on it. And now that I finished it, I now remember how good the series really is and why I instantly fell in love with it from Book 1.
As a lover of adventure, I felt this book had everything; lovable characters, a plot-line that was amazing and moved quickly, and most of all,...more
As a lover of adventure, I felt this book had everything; lovable characters, a plot-line that was amazing and moved quickly, and most of all,...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English 9 3 B/D: Sorcerer of The North | 2 | 4 | Oct 22, 2012 09:48am | |
| How many people think that the books should be in first person writing? | 2 | 12 | May 27, 2012 03:39pm | |
| should i read this? | 14 | 40 | Apr 05, 2012 06:08am | |
| this book is awesomeness | 3 | 21 | Feb 13, 2012 09:27am | |
| Ranger's Apprentice: The Sorcerer in the North (#5) | 3 | 7 | Oct 06, 2011 04:45pm |
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
More about John Flanagan...
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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“You had this young man with you for... what, six years?"
Halt shrugged. "Near enough," he replied.
"And did you ever understand a word he was saying?"
"Not a lot of the time, no," Halt said.
Crowley shook his head in wonder. "It's just as well he didn't go into the Diplomatic Service. We'd be at war with half a dozen countries by now if he was on the loose."
Will drew a deep breath to begin talking. He noticed that both men took an involuntary half step backward and he decided he'd better try to keep it as simple as possible.”
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39 people liked it
Halt shrugged. "Near enough," he replied.
"And did you ever understand a word he was saying?"
"Not a lot of the time, no," Halt said.
Crowley shook his head in wonder. "It's just as well he didn't go into the Diplomatic Service. We'd be at war with half a dozen countries by now if he was on the loose."
Will drew a deep breath to begin talking. He noticed that both men took an involuntary half step backward and he decided he'd better try to keep it as simple as possible.”
“You won't get much with only ten men," Will said, in a reasonable tone of voice. Gundar snorted angrily.
"Ten? I've got twenty-seven men behind me!" There was an angry growl of assent from his men-although Ulf didn't join in, Gundar noticed.
This time, when the Ranger spoke, there was no trace of the pleasant, reasonable tone. Instead, the voice was hard and cold.
"You haven't reached the castle yet," Will said. "I've got twenty-three arrows in my quiver still, and a further dozen in my packsaddle. And you've got several kilometers to go-all within bowshot of the trees there. Bad shot as I am, I should be able to account for more than half your men. Then you'll be facing the garrison with just ten men.”
—
24 people liked it
More quotes…
"Ten? I've got twenty-seven men behind me!" There was an angry growl of assent from his men-although Ulf didn't join in, Gundar noticed.
This time, when the Ranger spoke, there was no trace of the pleasant, reasonable tone. Instead, the voice was hard and cold.
"You haven't reached the castle yet," Will said. "I've got twenty-three arrows in my quiver still, and a further dozen in my packsaddle. And you've got several kilometers to go-all within bowshot of the trees there. Bad shot as I am, I should be able to account for more than half your men. Then you'll be facing the garrison with just ten men.”
Dec 15, 2008 06:39pm
Dec 15, 2008 07:03pm