book data
783 ratings,
4.25
average rating, 160 reviews
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published
November 4th 2008
(first published 2006)
by Philomel
binding
Hardcover, 295 pages
isbn
0399250328
(isbn13: 9780399250323)
description
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 Range...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1,356)
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5 stars (334)
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4 stars (318)
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3 stars (107)
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2 stars (14)
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1 star (3)
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avg 4.25
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
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...more
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Read in January, 2009
I have generally enjoyed John Flanagan's "Ranger's Apprentice" series. And "The Sorcerer in the North" is at least as good as any of the others. HOWEVER--and this is a big complaint--I only gave this one 3 stars out of 5 because IT ENDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORY! Huh?
Mr. Flanagan did this in Book 3 ("The Icebound Land"), leaving us hanging after Will escaped from the Skandians. I didn't like that ending, either, but at least there was some sense of tr...more
Mr. Flanagan did this in Book 3 ("The Icebound Land"), leaving us hanging after Will escaped from the Skandians. I didn't like that ending, either, but at least there was some sense of tr...more
Read in December, 2008
Will, now a full-fledged ranger has been assigned to a fief, albiet a boring and nondescipt one. However, one day Halt and Crowley show up and give him a top secret assignment, one in which he has to adopt a new persona, that of a jongleur. Will travels to Castle Macindaw, under the temporary rule of Lord Orman, which seems to be shrouded in mystery, fear and sorcery, brought on by Malkallam, the sorcerer of the north. Things, however, are not as they appear, and the true culprit who has brought...more
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Read in February, 2009
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Read in May, 2009
In this fifth book of the Ranger’s Apprentice series Will is now a full-fledged Ranger and is given his own quiet fief to protect at Seacliff or so he thinks. As he is getting settled in his new home, he becomes acquainted with some of the local folk and uses the skills he has learned as a Ranger’s apprentice to size up the lord, Baron Ergell, and his Battlemaster, Sir Norris and their military preparedness. Will quickly gains their respect and trust when he saves them from the Skandian Sea ...more
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Read in January, 2009
What is it with this author? He just loves to leave you hanging at the end of the book. Now I have to wait for a whole year to find out what happens!!! This was a great book and really kept my attention well (which is quite an accomplishment in and of itself). This series has been really exciting and each story has been unique but this is definitely one that you would want to start at book one and read the series in sequence. Also the books are pretty short which is nice so you don’t have...more
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A good sequel, dealing with Will seven years after the first four books. It looks like he's beginning a new adventure that will take another four books, as he ends this one in the middle of the story (a bit frustrating considering it would cost $22 to get hold of book 7, as it won't be available in the states until August). But, like the other books, the story is sometimes unrealistic as things just seem to work out in Will's favor. Not only that, but Flanagan is bringing back old characters ins...more
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Read in March, 2009
Unfortunately, this audiobook is performed by a different reader than the first four in the series. The new reader is sufficient, but not as good as the other reader.
Will, who spends the first four installments in the series as a Ranger's apprentice, experiences his first adventure as a full-fledged Ranger in this novel. The story is well-crafted, and the characters are just as likeable and interesting as adults. I think this series has a lot of potential, although it may have a d...more
Will, who spends the first four installments in the series as a Ranger's apprentice, experiences his first adventure as a full-fledged Ranger in this novel. The story is well-crafted, and the characters are just as likeable and interesting as adults. I think this series has a lot of potential, although it may have a d...more
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Read in December, 2008
I love this series! In this book, Will isn't Halt's apprentice anymore, but a full fledged Ranger and he's given his first mission. And Will gets a dog! I was lead to believe that this cliffhanger was worse than the Icebound Land and Battle for Skandia but I have to say, Sorcerer of the North wasn't THAT bad! I was screaming at the end of book 3 and 4, and book 5, I'm okay with. But that may have something to do with having the Australian copies on order :). Whoever's idea it was to make Englan...more
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Read in January, 2008
In this epic story of a now 21 year old Ranger Will, is sent on a solo mission to Norgate Fief. Lord Syron, leader of Norgate Fief, is struck down by a strange and serious illness which left him on the threshold of death. Rumors say that the cause of this illness is by a "so-called" sorcerer named Malkallam, who is believed to be hiding in Grimsdell Woods. Others say that Lord Syron's son, Orman, is the cause of this illness, because he hides in his room all day reading scrolls and boo...more
Read in January, 2009
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Read in January, 2009
Can you say cliffhanger? I'm excited to see what happens next. I think this book is a little bit different from the others, almost as though the author forgot that he is writting for a younger audience. Some of the kids that I teach had mentioned to me that this book had some swear words, as the others hadn't. I love his writting though, it's so simple and yet so mesmerizing, just like the blue stone! When is the next book coming out, I must just fly to Australia and get the next couple for...more
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Another great book in this series. I like it better than the third one, in which I felt like Will's character kind of dwindled, and there was even more character development than the fourth. Will is growing up and it's similarly fabulous as far as plot goes, but it's killing me that this is the first book of the series that doesn't actually *end*. It's really the first half of a two-part book with book 6. Otherwise, it's another great, quick read with delightful characters.
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Read in January, 2007
Thanks goodness for the Australians! I know this is an Australian author, but their release dates preceed the US by years. And thanks to Goodreads for amending the Date I Read This Book feature. I have been keeping my own list since 2000, and missed the specific date on Goodreads. Glad to see that has been added!
After hurtling through book 4, I sat down and enjoyed book 5 which takes place roughly four years after the events of Book 4. Will has been assigned to his first post as Ranger,...more
After hurtling through book 4, I sat down and enjoyed book 5 which takes place roughly four years after the events of Book 4. Will has been assigned to his first post as Ranger,...more
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Read in June, 2009
recommends it for:
6th - 9th grade, especially boys
This book made me so angry! I love this series, don't get me wrong, but the ending was so abrupt, such a set up for the next in the series that I felt completely deflated and let down. I really hate it when authors end a book like this; I almost want to give up on this series. It smacks of money-grubbing. If you're hooked on these books, I suggest waiting until the next one comes out to read them both together. That may be a more satisfying way to do it.
I think I understand now why books 3-5 have been unable to match the first two. It's not so much the plot, nor the character development, nor the writing per se that is the problem. Simply put, Mr. Flanagan needs to find a new editor. Someone needs to let him know that it's okay not to include the lines, "(Character X) sighed. (X) realized that (Character Y) was right" on every page. We can infer these things, my friend. Seriously, the internalizations of these characters became very h...more
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Read in March, 2009
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I am really enjoying this series. Kids like it, too. It's a little easier for them to deal with than Lord of the Rings and still has the wizards and mysterious creatures and flat out action action scenes. the characters are getting older so I'm not sure how many more I will add to our elementary school collection. But you can bet I'll read them no matter what!
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Read in November, 2008
Another exciting installment in a very good series. And this one with a nice cliff-hanger ending. Will is now a full-fledged Ranger who is sent on a secret mission to the north of the kingdom. His friend Alyss of the diplomatic courier corps is also involved. But, of course, things are not as they first seem and the villain now has Alyss captive.
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