What do you think?
Rate this book
Ranger's Apprentice #1-8
Rangers Apprentice Bundle Books 1-8
Who Wants To Be A Ranger – Ranger’s Apprentice Books 1 – 8 An epic gift set for your epic fantasy reader. Apprentice to one, Hero to all! Collection With its breathless, captivating storyline, and suspenseful adventure, the Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan has truly made its mark on boys and girls alike. The series follows the adventures of Will, an orphan who is taken as an apprentice Ranger, as he strives to keep the Kingdom of Araluen safe from invaders, traitors, and threats. He is joined on his adventures by his mentor Halt and his best friend Horace while they meet other memorable characters along the way.
Paperback
First published April 22, 2010
141 people are currently reading
1604 people want to read
About the author
John Flanagan
113 books9,173 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
For mysteries by this same author, see John A. 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 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.
For mysteries by this same author, see John A. 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 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
August 7, 2012
I have read all 10 books. Surprisingly I liked them a lot. I liked all the characters and the way they developed. I can picture them in my head. The stories are one adventure after another and very pleasant. A great easy read when your brain wants to stay on the lighter side.
August 18, 2024
One of my favorite series that my aunt introduced to me in 2017. Good character development. I loved each and every character, the different lands and cultures that he throws in, the plots in all of them, and the adventure, fighting, the whole medieval setting, absolutely delightful.
October 21, 2015
This is the best series I have ever read! The books are full of twists and turns but never strays off topic! Love this series and would recommend to anyone.
January 6, 2020
Enjoyed the action and the character bonds!
May 10, 2014
I love these books. They're totally awesome and humor and action filled. I'd definitely recommend them for anyone from 12 to 20!
June 21, 2014
epic book ja feel
March 16, 2018
the theme is don't give up no matter how hard you try
September 24, 2017
Love reading this alongside my son
March 11, 2018
THE. BEST. SERIES. OF. ALL. TIME.
August 30, 2025
Ik heb alle 21 boeken gelezen en het heeft mijn leven veranderd en mijn hart veroverd
August 29, 2017
favorite book series
December 12, 2016
Got through books 1-3, but felt like they took a great first book and just kept making stuff up to keep the series going. Why wasn't a bigger deal made that Horace killed Morgrath?!?!! What ? It was just like a blip....
Then poor Will keeps going from frying pan into fire and it gets tiresome.
I read series like this to talk with my kid about and she agrees with the issues with this series and abandoned it as well, which made me happy that she can spot a cheap cliffhanger and dismiss the series and know the rest of the books will be more of the same. I'm planning on reading some reviews and if the last books tie together the series nicely I will slog through - but if not I'll leave well enough alone.
Then poor Will keeps going from frying pan into fire and it gets tiresome.
I read series like this to talk with my kid about and she agrees with the issues with this series and abandoned it as well, which made me happy that she can spot a cheap cliffhanger and dismiss the series and know the rest of the books will be more of the same. I'm planning on reading some reviews and if the last books tie together the series nicely I will slog through - but if not I'll leave well enough alone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2016
I read these SO long ago and still remember them. That's how much I love them.
I love you I love these books I love everything this author has written so far! I love it I love you I love me I looovvvveeee!
Let's just say thank you you beautiful author you!
Let's just say thank you you beautiful author you!
January 3, 2015
I read this whole series last year and they are great! My daughter read them as well and really enjoyed them.
September 10, 2015
These are the best books I ever read in my entire life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 18, 2022
“As for this being your fight and not mine . . . well, you’re my friend. And that makes it my fight.” ⚔️
~ John Flanagan, The Kings of Clonmel (The Ranger’s Apprentice, #8)
Recommended for elementary and middle-school readers, don’t let The Ranger’s Apprentice fool you. This series will knock anyones socks off. If you’re anything like me, you’ll forget it’s a story sitting before you; you’ll hold your breath, not daring to make a sound lest you give your hiding spot away. You’re teetering on the edge of our seat, hanging over the ledge of a cliff, unable to find a satisfying break point for the night. “No…no, it can’t stop there. I have to read another chapter.”
I think the reason I keep revisiting these books, so long after my middle school reading days, is that these characters have, in a sense, become my friends. Grumpy, sarcastic old Halt, whose smile is rarer than a Ranger’s misfire. Horace’s pure gullibility, and his loyalty to a fault. Evanlyn with her recklessness, Gilan’s uncanny ability to go unnoticed, and Alyss’s diplomatic spirit. And Will, dear Will, our protagonist whose “I can’t possibly do it” doubts we get to see from the inside-out. These characters keep you in it, keep you caring, keep you pleading under your breath that they don’t make the wrong choice.
There’s trial-by-combat, and near-impossible rescues, and witty banter between Rangers and their horses that’ll have you rolling. There are betrayals, and elaborate plots to overthrow kings, and a master who MUST have his coffee. There are friends, and brothers, who know each other well, and will defend each other well until their dying breaths. Yes, this one is worth your time.
Thank you, John Flanagan, for a series that’s captivated me for good. 🏹
~ John Flanagan, The Kings of Clonmel (The Ranger’s Apprentice, #8)
Recommended for elementary and middle-school readers, don’t let The Ranger’s Apprentice fool you. This series will knock anyones socks off. If you’re anything like me, you’ll forget it’s a story sitting before you; you’ll hold your breath, not daring to make a sound lest you give your hiding spot away. You’re teetering on the edge of our seat, hanging over the ledge of a cliff, unable to find a satisfying break point for the night. “No…no, it can’t stop there. I have to read another chapter.”
I think the reason I keep revisiting these books, so long after my middle school reading days, is that these characters have, in a sense, become my friends. Grumpy, sarcastic old Halt, whose smile is rarer than a Ranger’s misfire. Horace’s pure gullibility, and his loyalty to a fault. Evanlyn with her recklessness, Gilan’s uncanny ability to go unnoticed, and Alyss’s diplomatic spirit. And Will, dear Will, our protagonist whose “I can’t possibly do it” doubts we get to see from the inside-out. These characters keep you in it, keep you caring, keep you pleading under your breath that they don’t make the wrong choice.
There’s trial-by-combat, and near-impossible rescues, and witty banter between Rangers and their horses that’ll have you rolling. There are betrayals, and elaborate plots to overthrow kings, and a master who MUST have his coffee. There are friends, and brothers, who know each other well, and will defend each other well until their dying breaths. Yes, this one is worth your time.
Thank you, John Flanagan, for a series that’s captivated me for good. 🏹
March 2, 2024
Engaging story, but marred by frequent blasphemy and other issues (3 stars)
The Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan is very popular with kids and young adults, and I can see why kids enjoy them. They're mostly set in a medieval world, with characters from court and country fighting off baddies, and the rangers are the real heroes. It's an engaging world, and the story is fairly well done.
But I was very disappointed by the significant number of moral concerns I've come across in these books. Some examples:
- use of the word "damn" (quite frequent) and of God's name (also many times)
- description of characters using "profanity" or "sworing under breath"
- emphasis on romantic feelings based on physical attraction, e.g. teen characters kissing and feeling soft lips; description of girls with short skirts & "shapely legs"
- one of the primary characters, the ranger Halt, breaks his oath to the king (he does this by pretending to be drunk/angry, in order to get banished and go searching for his apprentice)
- description of drugs (warmweed) and withdrawal symptoms.
While the drug isn't presented positively, the previous items on this list are.
Many parents probably don't realize the frequency in which this is actually an issue. Although the story isn't deep or the quality of something like Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, it's still a captivating light read that can help get kids into reading, so the flaws are a real pity. Given the frequency of the problems, I can't recommend giving these books to children as is, unless you go through the entire book as a parent and remove all the problematic sections - but expect to do this in many places throughout each book!
The Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan is very popular with kids and young adults, and I can see why kids enjoy them. They're mostly set in a medieval world, with characters from court and country fighting off baddies, and the rangers are the real heroes. It's an engaging world, and the story is fairly well done.
But I was very disappointed by the significant number of moral concerns I've come across in these books. Some examples:
- use of the word "damn" (quite frequent) and of God's name (also many times)
- description of characters using "profanity" or "sworing under breath"
- emphasis on romantic feelings based on physical attraction, e.g. teen characters kissing and feeling soft lips; description of girls with short skirts & "shapely legs"
- one of the primary characters, the ranger Halt, breaks his oath to the king (he does this by pretending to be drunk/angry, in order to get banished and go searching for his apprentice)
- description of drugs (warmweed) and withdrawal symptoms.
While the drug isn't presented positively, the previous items on this list are.
Many parents probably don't realize the frequency in which this is actually an issue. Although the story isn't deep or the quality of something like Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, it's still a captivating light read that can help get kids into reading, so the flaws are a real pity. Given the frequency of the problems, I can't recommend giving these books to children as is, unless you go through the entire book as a parent and remove all the problematic sections - but expect to do this in many places throughout each book!
September 27, 2018
Will is sent on a mission to go and figure out what happening in a pilliging town but to his surprise there’s more than he thought. Will has to get to the bottom of this mystery and uncover the truth about O’Malley and what secrets of him and Tennison lie in the darkness. As he goes farther and farther into the mystery he realizes that there’s more than meets the eye. Going over a mountain and going through a forest and going through an island will he get to the bottom of this?
Will is the main character at first he starts out a determined person who wants to join the military, to a person who loves his job. That being his job is rough and changes him from a smiling happy person to a more serious happy go hard or go home fighter. At first he’s scared of the secret never smiling ranger, Halt, but he grows to be rather fond of him. At first he doesn’t have any experience with bows or throwing knives or saxe knives but as the book progresses his skill does too. Never missing a shot he can now take down 12 men before he could down.
I like the book it is awesome and my favorite series. The first reason i like it is because it is in medieval times meaning it’s in a time where electronics weren’t a thing so they have to go off of skill. The second reason i like it is because it’s an action book so he always has something to do. The third reason i like it is because of the characters the author explains them in a way that they’re super relatable. The last reason i like it is because of the tension the author builds in it.
Will is the main character at first he starts out a determined person who wants to join the military, to a person who loves his job. That being his job is rough and changes him from a smiling happy person to a more serious happy go hard or go home fighter. At first he’s scared of the secret never smiling ranger, Halt, but he grows to be rather fond of him. At first he doesn’t have any experience with bows or throwing knives or saxe knives but as the book progresses his skill does too. Never missing a shot he can now take down 12 men before he could down.
I like the book it is awesome and my favorite series. The first reason i like it is because it is in medieval times meaning it’s in a time where electronics weren’t a thing so they have to go off of skill. The second reason i like it is because it’s an action book so he always has something to do. The third reason i like it is because of the characters the author explains them in a way that they’re super relatable. The last reason i like it is because of the tension the author builds in it.
July 29, 2019
I have read all twelve of these books at least twice and they are the best books i have ever read. The first time I read them I was about twelve and I loved every bit of the books, the I Lynda part I slightly didn’t like was that *as a kid* I thought wills training dragged on a littler too much and found myself getting a little bored then, but other than that I absolutely loved the entirety of the twelve (or is it eleven? I genuinely don’t remember) books. When I reread it as a fifteen year old I found that when as a child I had loved the book for its action i now also loved it for the hints of romance that it gave (the last book almost brought me to tears when I reread it). All in all as I said, the best books I’ve ever read without doubt and I’m planning on reading them all again sometime soon!
July 3, 2019
Ok, so it's probably easier to log these first 8 books into my "read" pile all at once than one at a time. I read these books during my Freshmen year of high school (2014-15is) and loved the adventure and characters! Here's a quick breakdown:
Book 1: PJO VIBES.
Book 2: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Book 3: WILL CANNOT BECOME A DRUG ADDICT
Book 4: I love Skandians ... but can we go home now?
Book 5: TIME JUMP, Will glow-up + (fake) magic.
Book 6: Continuation of book 5. Not my favorite 2 books but def still entertaining.
Book 7: MY FAV SOLO ADVENTURE. It's like the Avengers of Araluen team up to save Erik in the coolest setting ever...the Desert (dun, dun, DUN!). Arabian Nights vibes (and I'm digging the new cloaks).
Book 8 + 9: least fav duo adventure BECAUSE HALT IS IN PERIL (obviously)
Book 1: PJO VIBES.
Book 2: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Book 3: WILL CANNOT BECOME A DRUG ADDICT
Book 4: I love Skandians ... but can we go home now?
Book 5: TIME JUMP, Will glow-up + (fake) magic.
Book 6: Continuation of book 5. Not my favorite 2 books but def still entertaining.
Book 7: MY FAV SOLO ADVENTURE. It's like the Avengers of Araluen team up to save Erik in the coolest setting ever...the Desert (dun, dun, DUN!). Arabian Nights vibes (and I'm digging the new cloaks).
Book 8 + 9: least fav duo adventure BECAUSE HALT IS IN PERIL (obviously)
January 11, 2024
This is an AMAZING series about 15-year-old Will who is an orphan and never knew his parents. I would consider this a great book for 10-14 year-old Fantasy lovers. Maybe better than Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. No inappropriate things or concepts so good for Middle/Elementary Schoolers, too. After you finish Book 8 read Books 9-11 and the Royal Ranger series. Make sure to read the whole original series (11 books) before reading any of the other books by John Flanagan. If you see a Book 12 (the Royal Ranger), that was actually renamed as Book 1: A New Beginning of the Royal Ranger series, so you can read that but you should also read the books after that if you're gonna read The Royal Ranger/A New Beginning. Have fun reading this amazing fantasy Araluen series!
August 19, 2024
Maybe an outdated review as I read these as an adolescent. However, they are awesome and, in my opinion, superior to even the heralded Percy Jackson series. It's more adult oriented than Harry Potter and lacks the intense fantasy element of Tolkein's books. It has the feel of medieval Europe and even goes into some darker subjects like religious fantacisim, intense warfare, and slavery. The main character is an excellent role model for a developing mind. Had a positive impact on me anyway. I will most certainly encourage my own kids to give it a try one day in their teens.
April 25, 2019
Review for books 1-10
Definitely a youth/teen read.
First 4 or so books were 4 stars. Then... I got tired of how the author always felt the need to explain facts about the characters that readers would already know who had been reading the series from the start. Over and over it seemed like much writing was explaining why characters thought or did things based on their history to where it got annoying.
Definitely a youth/teen read.
First 4 or so books were 4 stars. Then... I got tired of how the author always felt the need to explain facts about the characters that readers would already know who had been reading the series from the start. Over and over it seemed like much writing was explaining why characters thought or did things based on their history to where it got annoying.
September 14, 2019
this book is amazing. it’s written in a nice and funny way, where it can be really scary on some pieces! I have to say, I also learned quite a bit when it comes to archery, John Flanagan describes everything so precisely ... Really good.
that man is really cool, already with 13 books, two books from the early years and the Brother bands series!
he keeps writing and he has to do that!
one of the best books from my youth with some playful love in it.
I love it.
that man is really cool, already with 13 books, two books from the early years and the Brother bands series!
he keeps writing and he has to do that!
one of the best books from my youth with some playful love in it.
I love it.
January 22, 2020
Read these books a while ago and I really enjoyed them. There are 12 books total in the series, and is about a foster boy in a kingdom type setting becoming one of the greatest heroes to be seen. I loved these books because of the detail to all characters and actions/emotions really fit into their profile.
December 19, 2017
I am a huge fan of this series. However, I stopped reading after book 9 because I could not tolerate the layout of book 10 but refused to skip it. Honestly, I love the story told in this series and I hope I'll make it to the end someday.
October 22, 2018
This series was reccomended to me by my 5th grade teacher. If action had a book as a definition, then this series is the defintion. I have never read some nerve racking parts then each page of this series especially when Will got captured.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2021
Perfect medieval fantasy young adult series that has characters anyone can relate to and makes you truly care for all of them. Sometimes falls into a trope of the same general plot but keeps it unique enough that you don’t care
July 7, 2021
I would highly recommend this series for people who like adventurous series like the Keeper of the Lost Cities. Will has to find his way in life even if it is not the one he wants at first. In a world of danger friends and foes go hand in hand.
May 21, 2017
By far my favorite book series. I can't stop thinking about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews