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143rd out of 6,177 books
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The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1)
Full of adventure, storytelling, magic, and deep characterization, this debut fantasy introduces the magic-practicing Rangers, protectors of the kingdom, and Will, a 15-year-old villager who has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice.
Paperback, 249 pages
Published
July 1st 2006
by Puffin Books
(first published January 1st 2004)
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3.5 stars. Yippee…Hooray.....EXCELSIOR…. I found a quality YA fantasy story that I really liked. Before reading this, I had been in a bit of a slump with this sub-genre and had been considering a permanent separation. Thank goodness my literary guidance counselor asked me to give it one more try and recommended this book. I am very happy I stuck with it. I really liked this story and was surprised with how quickly and effortlessly, I go sucked into the narrative.
Now, gr...more
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"No! Ashley! Put the book away!"
"But Mooooom! I'm at the part where he kills-"
"I don't care! It's two in the morning! Go to sleep!" She snatched the book one of Rangers Apprentice, The Ruins of Gorlan right out of my hands. She told me goodnight and slammed the door behind her.
Snap. That's the third time this week she took it from me. I was at the good part too! Well, it's all good. The action, the adventure, the surprises. My favorite part, especi...more
"But Mooooom! I'm at the part where he kills-"
"I don't care! It's two in the morning! Go to sleep!" She snatched the book one of Rangers Apprentice, The Ruins of Gorlan right out of my hands. She told me goodnight and slammed the door behind her.
Snap. That's the third time this week she took it from me. I was at the good part too! Well, it's all good. The action, the adventure, the surprises. My favorite part, especi...more
This book came with a very high recommendation from a friend of mine, and I can see why. I really enjoyed this one. There are aspects of the typical fantasy coming-of-age story, and details that reminded me of Lord of the Rings, but mostly, this book stood on its own two feet.
I really liked all of the characters in this one. I actually liked a secondary character, Horace, more than the main character, Will, but I think that's because I generally feel more for those placed in an unde...more
I really liked all of the characters in this one. I actually liked a secondary character, Horace, more than the main character, Will, but I think that's because I generally feel more for those placed in an unde...more
± Colleen of the Crawling Chaos ±
rated it
After the fourth re-read I've noticed some hiccups and glitches that I hadn't noticed before, but I still thoroughly enjoy the characters, their interaction, and the wit and humor of the dialogue.
***
Oct. 13, 2008
A pseudo-medieval adventure, sort of along the lines of Robin Hood, but following the life of a young apprentice Ranger...
I admit, the thing that first attracted me to this series was because I love the concept of Rangers thanks for Stryder in Lot...more
***
Oct. 13, 2008
A pseudo-medieval adventure, sort of along the lines of Robin Hood, but following the life of a young apprentice Ranger...
I admit, the thing that first attracted me to this series was because I love the concept of Rangers thanks for Stryder in Lot...more
I was searching for a book that doesn't have any magic like in Eragon. So i began searching and came stumbling across this book. Hmm, rnager's apprentice. Catchy title. I began reading it. It was soooo good and exciting! All the emotions and action felt so real when you read it. I couldn't put down the book until either it was done or i was too sllepy to continue reading. SO far what happened was that Will (the main character) gets declined from being a warrior/knight because of his height. SO H...more
Barky
rated it
Will, an orphan, has always dreamed of attending Battle School, so that he can be a knight and warrior. His dreams are dashed when he is instead chosen to be an apprentice to the Ranger Halt. There are strange stories about rangers, and common people find their company vaguely unsettling. Will, too, thinks that there’s something supernatural about them. He soon discovers, however, that Halt is quite human, and that rangers’ skills are something that he, too, is quite capable of mastering. A...more
I'm not sure why it took me so long to get to this, but I'm glad I did. What a great book! Now I have to find the others.
I don't know what happened to make me such a fantasy fan - but it happened. I'm hooked! I have had several friends read through this whole series in the last 6 months and rate it pretty highly. So I was looking forward to some fun
Will is one of the 'wards' (orphans that are taken care of by the local baron). There are 5 in his group who have reached the age of 15 where their are apprenticed out among the village's craftsmen. At first it seems like he is the only one of the ward...more
Will is one of the 'wards' (orphans that are taken care of by the local baron). There are 5 in his group who have reached the age of 15 where their are apprenticed out among the village's craftsmen. At first it seems like he is the only one of the ward...more
Will yang pengen jadi ksatria ternyata malah dipilih jadi murid magang sang Ranger.
Kalo pernah baca Spook's Apprentice, novel ini setipe-lah.. Tom dan Will sama2 jadi murid magang, harus nurut sama gurunya.
Ranger dan Spook juga sama-sama "ditakuti masyarakat.
Bedanya kalo Spook lebih ngurusin hal2 seperti makhluk gaib, Ranger disini digambarkan lebih mirip jadi mata-mata, mengawasi apakah ada hal2 yang bisa membahayakan negara dan berurusan dengan monster bukan penyihir heh...more
Kalo pernah baca Spook's Apprentice, novel ini setipe-lah.. Tom dan Will sama2 jadi murid magang, harus nurut sama gurunya.
Ranger dan Spook juga sama-sama "ditakuti masyarakat.
Bedanya kalo Spook lebih ngurusin hal2 seperti makhluk gaib, Ranger disini digambarkan lebih mirip jadi mata-mata, mengawasi apakah ada hal2 yang bisa membahayakan negara dan berurusan dengan monster bukan penyihir heh...more
In this book you meet up with Will. Will is an orphan in the casles Ward. Will had lived there his whole life, not much was known about him only that his name is Will.Now, he and the other four ward mates must now face a choice. This is one of the most imporant choices they will ever make. It's a choice of what to do with the rest of their lives. What Will really wants is to get into battle school and become a great knight. Unfortunately, when he asks to join battel school he is turned down. But...more
A lot of kids ask about this series at my library so I thought I should read at least the first book. Fast paced, likeable characters and adventures. I was drawn in quickly and wanted to find out what happens to all the characters that I've already read three in the series. Definitely a book/series to recommend to a child that likes adventure stories.
I’m a big fan of fantastical worlds, especially if there’s bows and arrows involved. Flanagan weaved a really impressionable story using both fantastical and historical elements. Of course, the historical parts are actually history inspired rather than actual re-imaginations of history. Reminds me of LOTR sometimes, yet far less complicated and definitely easier to read.
The first book seemed cliche at times, but not overly so that it bothered me too much. The books build with each in...more
The first book seemed cliche at times, but not overly so that it bothered me too much. The books build with each in...more
The characters are what makes this series so enjoyable. Will, the apprentice of the series title, is instantly likeable, but I really liked the treatment of Horace. Instead of making him a rival and a thorn in Will's side for the entire series, he develops from a braggart and a bully to Will's true friend before the novel is half over. I also liked the adult characters. Halt, the ranger who takes Will in, is a bit of an Aragorn figure, outwardly stern but inwardly caring. Baron Arald, the m...more
this was just o.k. It was definatley a book for a younger person. I thought a few times while I was reading it that Cody or Brigham would like this book. I won't read the others, just because I think it was too young for me. Sometimes these Young Adult books are pretty good, but this was not it for me.
Argh. What a stupid cover. Who wants to stare at some hooded figure's chin, anyways?!
*UPDATE: Finished*
3.5
So it was fairly good. The writing itself was a bit....not my style sometimes, like...just little bits of the text inexplicably annoyed me. But it was good writing; I can't deny that. And it was pretty slow at times. I had extra incentive which involved a guy, which was probably how I finished the dratted book, but I'm starting the sequel, which is faster-paced ...more
*UPDATE: Finished*
3.5
So it was fairly good. The writing itself was a bit....not my style sometimes, like...just little bits of the text inexplicably annoyed me. But it was good writing; I can't deny that. And it was pretty slow at times. I had extra incentive which involved a guy, which was probably how I finished the dratted book, but I'm starting the sequel, which is faster-paced ...more
I got about a quarter through this book and then had to put the thing down. The story itself has some promise but the writing is too clunky for me. The point of view rockets between characters and much of the story is in passive voice, told to the reader rather than shown. It makes for a slower pace, long blocks of text and major, major info dump on almost every page. Rather annoying. I appreciate the author has put a lot of time and effort into his world building - I just don't want to read an ...more
El Templo de las Mil Puertas
added it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
06-eltemplo,
criticas-literarias
"Acaban de aterrizar en las librerías dos títulos muy recomendables para los jóvenes amantes de las historias de aventuras y acción: Estirpe Salvaje, de Espasa y Montaraces, de Alfaguara. El primero se desarrolla en Slavamir, una tierra asolada por cruentas guerras y despiadados bárbaros en la que viven pacíficamente Ruslan y su hermana pequeña Yvanka. Un día, sin previo aviso, un batallón del reino de guerreros de Mordvin irrumpe en la aldea, asesinando a cuantos hombres y mujeres encuent...more
Will is fifteen, the fifteen means the biggest day of his life his coming up: The Choosing.
He will choose what to do with his life, and who to be aprentticed too. The Cook, Seamtress and Scribe all seem unlikely, as Will is not very strong, but he is fast and good at blending in with his sruroundings.
Then, someone else apears: the Ranger, Halt.
Will knows about the Rangers. They are men and women always armed to the teeth with bows, arrows, and swords. They serve the King...more
He will choose what to do with his life, and who to be aprentticed too. The Cook, Seamtress and Scribe all seem unlikely, as Will is not very strong, but he is fast and good at blending in with his sruroundings.
Then, someone else apears: the Ranger, Halt.
Will knows about the Rangers. They are men and women always armed to the teeth with bows, arrows, and swords. They serve the King...more
Aiden's review of The Rangers Apprentice Book #1 The Ruins of Gorlan
By John Flanagan
The Rangers Apprentice by John Flanagan is a book that tells about an evil person named Morgrath who is trying to take over the world in medieval times. The Rangers Apprentice would be an action book with a little risk because the Rangers have to do some really dangerous things. For example, they have to find the Kalkara which are beasts that are half wolf half bear.
The Rangers Apprentice ...more
By John Flanagan
The Rangers Apprentice by John Flanagan is a book that tells about an evil person named Morgrath who is trying to take over the world in medieval times. The Rangers Apprentice would be an action book with a little risk because the Rangers have to do some really dangerous things. For example, they have to find the Kalkara which are beasts that are half wolf half bear.
The Rangers Apprentice ...more
The book was okay, it is in the only style and genre that I like so I may be being a bit generous there since there are not a multitude of books that I enjoy so any that I like at all are a rare artifact for me. But, possibly due to my narrow aim towards books, or possibly because it is the truth, the book is fairly cliche and stereotypical, one being able to foresee the events that are to come, at least in a broad outline. The characters are much better though, each possessing, and being hinder...more
The Ruins of Gorlan review By:Rickkil Foster
By:John Flanagan
The arrow went through sky and it lost its flame. Then as it went by Halt, the little flame came back and then? You have to read the book to find what happen next.
This book is about a kid name Will and he has just been given the chance to be a ranger’s apprentice. Some people would think this is a gre...more
By:John Flanagan
The arrow went through sky and it lost its flame. Then as it went by Halt, the little flame came back and then? You have to read the book to find what happen next.
This book is about a kid name Will and he has just been given the chance to be a ranger’s apprentice. Some people would think this is a gre...more
It was a very average read. It had some stock fantasy elements, such as the abandonded baby whose parents were missing (vomiting sounds). It had some clever and cool elements borrowed from The Giver that really kept things interesting at the outset despite the predictable exposition of Will’s character. Halt was interesting, stern and less vague than Obi-Wan, but still stinking of that motif, though not as heavily as Eragon. The climactic battle was a joke, as was the less-than-subtle foresh...more
When I first saw the Ranger's Apprentice series in stores, I thought it was probably just another cheap knockoff of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and any number of other fantasy series. However, given that some of my favorite books (The Prydain Chronicles) are essentially LOTR knockoffs, I've learned to not be too snooty about it.
But on the recommendation of friends, I picked up The Ruins of Gorlan from Library2Go for a read-aloud. And man, but I was impressed. If the first book i...more
But on the recommendation of friends, I picked up The Ruins of Gorlan from Library2Go for a read-aloud. And man, but I was impressed. If the first book i...more
The book the Ruins of Gorlan is about kid Named will who really wants to go to battle school so that he can become a knight just like his father or so he thinks. But during the ceremony that happens when you turn 15yrs old he was turned down to become an apprentice for the battle school. He was also turned down to become an apprentice for the horsemaster. Soon after that he becomes the Ranger’s apprentice. Then trough out the book will and his master are following two dangerous creatures that ar...more
This book was a great start to a series of books with much action and adventure. It is about a young boy named Will he is an orphan that lives in Castle Redmont with other orphans and when they get to a certain age people called Craft Masters may choose them to be their apprentice. Will of course had no chance of being chosen he was scrawny, small and felt like he had no calling. Some how though he was chosen to be a Rangers apprentice even though he wanted to be a knight he accepted. At fir...more
The Ruins of Gorlan is a series of many books by John Flanagan. This book is one of my favorite books that I have ever read, and I highly recommend you read it. The story is based on a fifteen year old kid named Will. It takes place in the 13th century in a kingdom named Araluen. In the beginning of the book it all starts in an orphanage. Will is one of the many orphans who live at there. Both of his parents had died, however, he doesn’t know who his parents actually were. All he knows is that h...more
a fun read that does a nice job of both entertaining and illustrating life lessons as you follow the progress of the ranger apprentice and his mentor and a childhood minor bully turned good guy with maturity, the man at arms trainee as well. first book is largely an extensive introduction but the description of the various skills and the people is done well and held my attention. It is not as dark and as full of gritty characters as some might want, but then again it is young adult fiction a...more
This book was definitely one of the more pleasant and relaxing reads I've had the time to look at over the course of the year. I loved the setting, the potential coming of age story, and the level of detail about training and strategy set in Flanagan's book; however, I was rather disappointed with the lack of depth in his characters. I would've preferred a wittier (or at least more entertaining and less blank slate) hero, with a bit more personality. His friends were just as boring and I di...more
I have finish reading The Ruins of Gorlan, the first book in the Ranger's Apprentice series,this book was always get into very good parts I can't put the book down. The book starts with a boy named Will,at age fifteen,he was siting with his friends,Jenny,George,Horace and Alyss,at a table eating dinner. Tomorrow was a big day the biggest day of Will's live,this is called the Choosing Day. On this day, the Craftmaster would accept someone, who lives in the castle because both of their parents die...more
This is the first book in the Ranger's Apprentice series. There are twelve books planned for this series. Book 10, The Emperor of Nihon-Ja, was released April 2011. This was a solid fantasy book, it is well written and engaging but not all that creative. I listened to it on audio book and the audio book was very well done.
Will is a ward of the castle and it is time for him to be apprenticed. While his ward-mates all have special talents, Will's only special talent seems to be getti...more
Will is a ward of the castle and it is time for him to be apprenticed. While his ward-mates all have special talents, Will's only special talent seems to be getti...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captured...Again | 17 | 35 | Feb 03, 2012 08:16am | |
| Thoughts and/or opinions?? | 11 | 25 | Jan 12, 2012 08:42am | |
| Who is your favorite character? | 29 | 69 | Dec 08, 2011 03:14am | |
| Humanities 9: Ranger's Apprentice (in general) | 10 | 7 | Dec 05, 2011 12:44pm | |
| favourite Ranger's Apprentice book | 5 | 20 | Dec 03, 2011 11:03pm |
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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 ag...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 ag...more
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11 trivia questions
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9 quizzes
“...at the time, King Herbert felt that to remain safe, the kingdom needed an effective intelligence force."
"An intelligent force?" said Will.
"Not intelligent. Intelligence. Although it does help if your intelligence force was also intelligent.”
—
191 people liked it
"An intelligent force?" said Will.
"Not intelligent. Intelligence. Although it does help if your intelligence force was also intelligent.”
“People will think what they want to," he said quietly. Never take too much notice of it.”
—
81 people liked it
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