Here are the first three titles in John Flanagan's New York Times bestselling series, all collected in one boxed set, perfect for gift giving! The Ranger’s Apprentice series has taken readers by storm, captivating them with the adventures of Will, apprentice to the secretive Ranger Halt.
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 John's assessment of the executive, and happily agreed to train John in copywriting.
After writing advertising copy for the next two decades, John teamed with an old friend to develop a television sitcom, Hey Dad!, which went on to air for eight years.
John began writing Ranger's Apprentice for his son, Michael, ten years ago, and is still hard at work on the series.
He currently lives in a suburb of Manly, Australia, with his wife. In addition to their son, they have two grown daughters and four grandsons.
One of my students came up to me on the first day of school and flat out told me it didn't matter what I did - he just hated reading. I said, "that's okay, but I just hope you'll find one book you can love." I handed him a copy of the first Ranger's Apprentice and asked him to try it. He came back at the end of the week and said, "I still hate reading, but I love this book! Do you have any more?" What more can I say?
It's an amazing series!!! I can't wait for book twelve to come out and I don't want John Flanagan to stop!!! He mustn't and Hal from the brotherband series need to get together and Gillian mustn't leave the twelfth book! I can't wait!!! I rate all of the books 10000000000/10000000000 my list of favourite authors is JRR Tolkien, John Flanagan and JK Rowling-they are all amazing authors!!!
"Ranger's Apprentice" by John Flanagan is another one of those books that will keep you up until the son of the morning shows itself on the horizon. The beginning of the book has a dreadfully slow start, but if you can suffer through the beginning I believe you'd find it to be well worth the read. This is by far the best series I've ever read. The author doesn't do much in the way of figurative language, but you'll be so distracted with all the action you'd never notice. The story is written from the point of view of Will a young man about to go through the choosing process, a day where masters of skills choose apprentices. Nobody take will as their apprentice that day, but soon after he is taken as a Ranger, a mysterious stealth group mastering the art of bow and knife combat. while all this is happening, Morgarath the dark lord rallies an army of mindless troops called wargals. After many years of training Will attends a ranger meeting where him and his craft master, Halt, are assigned to hunt down the Kalkara, who've killed many famous war figures in his town. After many months of tracking him and Halt track down the Kalkara and take them out. Will is praised by the community but Halt accepts no glory as he is very selfless. After "The Hunger Games" this is probably one of my most favorite books. The author does a tremendous job of keeping you engaged until the last sentence (other than the slow start). A strong thesis presented in this book is that all people have a purpose to fulfill in life it just has to be found and it may take longer for some than others. It provides a strong theme and tells an amazing story of a boy who goes from nothing to fame. I recommend this book to any and all ages. The page to page actions will have your eyes literally glued to the page. The only thing that can be critiqued in this book in my opinion is the slow start and lack of figurative language, but if you can overlook that then I can't imagine how anyone could not enjoy this book.
OKAY LET’S GET INTO THIS!!! This book??? THIS BOOK??? Oh my word. I was not ready. I knew I’d like it—I mean, medieval vibes? Mysterious mentor? Underdog main character? Yes PLEASE—but I didn’t know I’d be OBSESSED like this.
If you’re looking for an action-packed fantasy that doesn’t throw you into an overly complicated world from page one but still builds something rich and immersive? You’re in the right place. The Ruins of Gorlan is a PERFECT intro into the world of the Rangers. And trust me—once you meet Halt, there’s no going back. (Like seriously, that man is the blueprint for every grumpy mentor I will now tolerate in fiction.)
Now… this book is not going to hand you big flashy moments every chapter. This is a slow burn type of book. If you’re not the kind of reader who enjoys a story that builds—brick by brick—this may not be your jam. But if you can appreciate subtle character development, strategic world-building, and tension that creeps in without you even noticing?? HELLO WELCOME.
Let’s talk Will. MY BOY WILL. He is such a refreshing protagonist. Like—he’s not instantly powerful, he’s not some secret Chosen One with 1000 powers or whatever. He’s just this curious, smart, underestimated little guy who wants to prove himself so badly. And guess what?? He does!! But not by being the strongest. By being clever, observant, and FAST. (I mean who knew being small could be that much of an advantage in a fantasy world?! LOVED that.)
AND THE TRAINING?? This is one of the reasons why I fell in love with the book. There’s just something so satisfying about watching someone actually learn a skill over time. No shortcuts, no sudden magical upgrades. Just hard work, frustration, mini victories. HALT DRAGGING HIM OUT OF BED FOR DAWN TRAINING? ICONIC.
The bonds though?? Between Will and Halt?? I WASN’T READY. Their dynamic is everything. From awkward “do I even like you” vibes to soft father-son type of love that you feel deep in your soul by the end? UGH MY HEART. Horace also surprised me. He started out as someone I low-key hated and ended up becoming a character I respected A LOT. (His development arc?? Chef’s kiss.)
Now… don’t go into this book expecting epic dragon fights or magical explosions every ten seconds. The magic is in the realism. The discipline. The strategy. The danger that doesn’t scream—it stalks. When the big threat finally does come in? THE CREEPS. I was literally clutching my book like ?? hello?? how did it suddenly get so intense so fast?? Those monsters?? I can’t even—nightmare fuel.
Final thoughts? if you want a story that makes you INVESTED, like truly emotionally and mentally there, this is for you.
Is it good? 'Ranger's Apprentice' is fantastic. Written for Flanagan's own small son, it explores a teen who is too small in stature to become a knight. Instead, he joins the ranger core - think medieval SAS. It explores bullying, honour, hard work, and morality. Will is a great character, and he doesnt follow the overused and dangerous "mini adult" or "completely powerful with no work" cliches. The other characters are all unique and entertaining. 'Ranger's Apprentice' has an easy reading level yet manages to still be a thrilling story for adults. I highly recommend for children and adults alike.
Is it appropriate for your children? There is no sexual content (aside from a few brief kisses) or swearing. There is one character that says, "Good Lord," and "Lord Almighty," once or twice in the novel. There is violence, but it is not gory. It is centred on battle tactics and the combatant's skills more than the bloodshed. In 'The Icebound Land', Will is captured as a slave and given 'warm weed' by his captors until he is addicted. This again, is reminiscent of Flanagan's own son, and the focus here is on Evanlyn pulling Will out of his addiction and his recovery rather than the actual drug. The details are pretty sparing of the actual drug, and it is all portrayed as something that no one should use. This is a great battle story for kids without the mature content. It is enthralling and clean. 12+
I have read the entire rangers apprentice series three times. I give the series, and each individual book, 5/5 stars.
This book is about a young boy that lives in the time of castles, knights, ships, and swords, who aspires to be a knight apprentice. When the time comes for them to decide what he should be, he becomes apprentice to the grim, quiet, and scary ranger Halt. But is that a bad thing?
I chose to read this book because my best friend recommended I to me after he read the entire series in under two weeks. Although he is an avid reader, and says every book is good, I decided to read it and have read the series three times.
What I liked most about the book was that it kept you wanting to read at all times, and you never wanted to put it down. It was one of those books that I would look forward to getting home from school just so I can read the book some more. Also all of the characters are interesting, especially the ranger Halt.
Something I didn't like about the book, is the books were very small. I was very disappointed when I found out the series was over and there were no more books coming out. I like series that are big, like the Harry Potter series, but this one is just very small.
My overall impression of the book is that it was great. As I said, I gave it 5/5 stars, and it is up there for one of the best series I have ever read. Also as I said, I have read the series three times now, and am thinking of reading it again it is so good.
If you like books that are in the medieval times, have tons of mystery and adventure, and great characters, you should read this book. Even if you don't like those things, you should still read this book because I think anybody would love it.
The only thing this book contains that may be offensive is violence. There may also be a few swear words, but I cant really remember any. There are a lot of battles that describe violence, but I don't think it is too bad. It is quite appropriate.
Hey Mr. U, I just figured out my computer had a virus and wont get past the boot stage so I am forced to write this on my iPhone. Well onto the book report. Over break I read Rangers Apprentice, which is a amazing book. I could not put it down and actually read it for a whole day. The intense battles and mysterious characters left my mouth constantly open, craving for more action. The basic plot of the story is a boy named Will begins training to become a ranger, someone who kills from long range and is rarely seen or heard. The evil Lord Morgarath has been hiding in the shadows of the mountains, slowly growing his power and extending his reign over the land. On Will's graduation day of Ranger Academy Morgarath attacks and all hell starts to break loose. Will helps save a ranger and gets the title, "Rangers Apprentice." His training increases as he fights to survive against the power of the dark lord. This book constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat when characters lives are on the line . On the brink of battle you can feel the clashing of steel and hearts throbbing with fear. Finally, I think this book was great for passing the time even though it had some scenes which required rereading in order to understand the events and characters. I believe this book series has 11 books so once I get them it can appease my crave to find out how the the tides of battle turn and whether evil or good prevails. All the mysteries of Araleun will be revealed in the next copies of books. Overall this book deserves 9/10 stars and I cannot wait to read the next book.
This is a fun series for teen readers with likable characters. The writing isn't wonderful, but it's not awful, either. And the books are clean, consistently full of adventure and positive themes. Readers will like Will, the apprentice ranger with a gift for woodcraft and resourcefulness. I loved the setting, Medieval era with knights, vikings, eastern steppe raiders, desert types and all; wrapped up in a believable story. Each book stands well on it's own, but depends on the development from the previous volume. I've read 7 of them so far, and look forward to the rest. It's light reading but satisfying.
I really enjoyed this whole series (there are 10 books). I originally read them because my 10-year old son was interested. It's fantasy generally geared toward 10-14 year olds, but I really liked them. They are easy to read, entertaining, and clean. Also, I think there is sufficient character development and writing style to appeal to adults (or at least me). Takes place in a medieval European-esque setting -- castles, knights, and princesses. The 3rd book is my least favorite, but still good.
I have now read most of the series and am closing on the last book. I give big kudos to the author for a serious which older children and young adults will build much good clean character and understanding of military and diplomatic interactions between various groups of people. All with quite a good dose of humor and characters which certainly become beloved as the books go by!
Highly recommended for young readers!
My 12-year-old daughter Mercy definitely loves these!
the rangers apprentice is a great story about a an orphan named Will who gets picked to become the apprentice of Halt. Halt teaches him to be a ranger. theres been some assassinations of some generals by bears which we later learn that are the infamous Kalkara these gorilla bear like creatures where hired by the evil Moragath. now the the apprentice will has to stop the evil Kalkara from killing the king Duncan. what will happen you'll just have to read too find out.
Terrific series! Great for boys that love action but my daughter enjoyed them, too. If my son were younger, I would've read them to him. We've got the 10th book just now....waiting my turn to read it. Can't imagine the series ENDING....we're so sad.
This series is a stupendous adventure for ages 10 and up. Every book has a new unique adventure that makes you love the characters more and more. Be sure to check it out, but beware that since there are 10 books in the series, this will be a time commitment. You won't be sorry.
In the book The Ruins of Gorlan the author is John Flanagan it is like an adventurer book about people going to a castle and t a battle school. The main character in this book is Will. Will has to go to battle school to learn protect his kingdom. Now he has to fight to his kingdom. It is like a type of school I guess like they battle at that school so they go to a lot of places that we will not go to and stuff like that so they go on a lot of adventures in my book or the book that i'm reading right now.And it is like places that are scary there is a lot of adventure in this book so they talk about go to different places.
The Ruins of Gorlan fits in with the adventure genre because the main character, Will, is brave, faces many challenges, and has to go on a risky journey. For example, Will goes and fights for his kingdom so he can save his kingdom and that is like bravery and he is basically taking a risk.
I enjoyed this book because it has a lot of adventure things in it. I think people who enjoy adventure would like this book because it talk about like different things in this one it is not like those other adventure books have in it.Children and adults enjoy this book because Well it is a exciting book to read
This book was intriguing from page one. In this book you are taken back in time and into a whole different place. The main character Will is small but agile so he was the perfect fit for a ranger. Though Will wanted to go to battle school to become a knight I feel he ended up really liking becoming a ranger. One of wills friends Horace is big and bulky a perfect fit for battle school. As he gets chosen to go to battle school you get to see his training as well. I liked that you got both sides but I didn’t love how you would get hooked on one side of the story and then it would go to the other point of view but I liked how the author brought the two stories together. I really liked that you got to really see Will become a better ranger. That one day he didn’t just wake up and be good. I also liked how when Will was in a tight spot he would remember Halts training so you could get even more depth of his training I loved how Will got a different kind of horse. I loved that it wasn’t a typical big sting horse. It was fun to watch how Will and his horse worked together. I ride horses so I guess that’s why I really enjoyed it. Over all a great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Jam-Packed in Adventure Randers Apprentice by John Flanigon. Ranger's Apprentice is one of the greatest book services I've ever read and John Flanigan is still writing books to this day. The book is about Will who is an orphan at the castle Red Mount, one night he sneaks into the castle only to meet Halt who is a king's ranger. Halt talks to Baron Arnald. I'll let you read the rest of the book yourself. If you're a young man or an older man this book series is for you. I hope you buy the book and read it over and over just like I did the first and second to the tenth time I read the book. If this isn't enough for you to read the book then what might be the action and adventure which is jam-packed in the book
I LOVED this book. Honestly, if my librarian at my school hadn't recommended this to me, I wouldn't have read it. But, I picked it up at the school library, started reading it, and realized how much I liked it. If you read the Ascendance Series and liked it, you should definitely try out this book. It kind of has the same vibes while at the same time giving me Milan vibes (if that makes any sense to those of you that have read it). Anyway, this book is probably in my top ten middle grade fantasies and I am very happy I read it.
The rangers apprentice book number 1 is a fascinating book. It is about a boy with no talent at all who made it into a special division, which is the rangers group. He was the apprentice of the "Ranger" who was his mentor and taught him how to become a ranger. Later in the story it is just really about the boy becoming a ranger but I know the next book will be all about his first mission and action.
I loved these books in late elementary/junior high as the main character was someone who had qualities I greatly wished I had. These are in my distant memory as I type here, but I know that any young teenager would love these as I did. I have the whole series tucked in an attic somewhere and may snag them up to read again sometime in the future.
Ranger's apprentice was a truly interesting book. It kept me interested with it's themes, plot and morals. I enjoyed the fantasy aspect greatly and the way Morgarath was portrayed hooked me ito his character from the start.
I think it was a great adolescent novel. even good for younger advanced readers. Fun, good story, decent pace, but also deals with some of the coming of age issues. Not in depth but at least addresses them.
An easy-breezy read that panders to anyone who's ever read the Fellowship of the Ring and thought Aragorn was just the coolest. Fast, fantastical, and full of loveable characters. You'll want to keep reading--and there is plenty more to come!