Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan - Reading from 'The Burning Bridge (Ranger's Apprentice #2)' from August 20th 2019

[Julianne]

Ranger's Apprentice is a series written by Australian author John Flanagan. The first novel in the series, The Ruins of Gorlan, was released in Australia on 1 November 2004. The books were initially released in Australia and New Zealand, though have since been released in 14 other countries. The series follows the adventures of Will, an orphan who is chosen as an apprentice Ranger, skilled trackers, archers and warriors in the service of the King of Araluen. Will 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.

[Julianne]

Burning Bridge Prolouge
(view spoiler)[ OKAY this was a great opening im SO excited to see where this goes. I cant believe they really played Halt like a fiddle, knowing EXACTLY what he would think and do (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[ it's nice to learn about Gilans background. I hope we meet more rangers and learn their stories too (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Prologue: (view spoiler)[Well shit. Looks like the deserter was being used to get false information to the enemy... and Halt fell for it. That’s going to bite them in the ass later. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 4: (view spoiler)[I really love the visual of a young Gillan trying to follow a younger Halt to be his apprentice only to get thrown into a stream when he least expects it XD It’s neat to learn more of Gilan’s past too! (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[I love how well those attempts to reprimand Halt went XD Personally I’m team “throw the idiot in the moat” alongside Halt so I really can’t blame him 😛 (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[Alyss and Halt make a rather wonderful team, and I enjoyed another noble being thrown out a window and into a moat ;D Served them right. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 16: (view spoiler)[Wargals! And something suspicious happening with the Celtic miners. Maybe they’re being used to mine through the impassible cliffs so that Morgarath can get an alternate entrance into the battlefield and thus get the drop on the Araluen forces?

Regardless, now that they’ve been seen here is noWAY that Will and Horace (and Evanlyn!) are going to just leave the poor miners to be slaves to the Wargals. Not without trying to save them first. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[Knowledge of Morgarath’s plans and our first glimpse at the Skandians! Now they just need for someone to get the message back to Halt that there’s to be a three-pronged attack against the Araluen forces. Ideally you’d want to send just one of them to get the message to the battle command ASAP. Five days is not a lot of time when you have to travel by horse or by foot after all. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 24: (view spoiler)[Well the bridge burning certainly isn’t going to plan 8’D Might’ve been able to take out most of the Wargals... but now they’re also dealing with Skandians who I’ll bet are a lot more intelligent that Wargals and thus more likely to have a plan to defeat the saboteurs... (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 28: (view spoiler)[First look at Morgarath! Seems kinda like a Nazghul in description honestly.... but regardless, it looks like Will and Evanlyn would do well to stick close by Erak and his men considering the alternative... (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 32: (view spoiler)[:o I’d forgotten about this! I’d completely forgotten that Horace would challenge Morgarath to single combat, before Halt had the chance to accept Morgarath’s challenge to himself. This is going to be interesting! (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Finished! (view spoiler)[And there goes that cliffhanger ending, argh! Need to read the next book soon!

Still, at least Horace got to take out Morgarath? 8’D (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

Ch 10 (view spoiler)[ oooh Alyss is so smart. I love her right now. I wouldnt have realized what she was up to with that line of questioning (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

ch 19 (view spoiler)[ WE FINALLY KNOW WHAT THE BRIDGE IS from the title of the book! And I absolutely love this world right now. Morgarath's plans are absolutely terrifying, trick the King, over power his armies from behind by using, KIDNAPPING PEOPLE. (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

ch 24 (view spoiler)[ OF COURSE IT GOES WRONG (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

ch 29(view spoiler)[ FINALLY MORGARATH. I love this. Hes honestly super scary and im really REALLY excited to learn more about this and see him more (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

ch 32 (view spoiler)[ YES HORACE!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

finished (view spoiler)[ WAIT. WHAT?? THATS THE ENDING. oooh my god you have to be kidding me. I guess i really need to start book 3 (hide spoiler)]

Im keen to start maybe in another week? I'm starting Muse of nightmares tonight

[Julianne]

Starting

[Julianne]

ch 2
(view spoiler)[ I am totally feeling for Halt here! I cannot believe the king won't let him go after Will!! (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

ch 10 (view spoiler)[ I am absolutely adoring Horace and Halt together?? Im also just really loving Halt finding so many loopholes (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Started reading The Icebound Land! Slowly, but still!

Chapter 4. (view spoiler)[I really adore Halt’s treason against King Duncan. Just insulting him repeatedly in public so that it can’t just be ignored and he can get the audience he wants ;D (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

ch 14 (view spoiler)[ oh my god that whole scene with Horace realizing how good he is at being a knight? realizing how much he knows?

and the little accent for that scammer? amazing (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

ch21 (view spoiler)[ SO THEYRE GONNA GET WILL HOOKED ON SOME KIND OF DRUG? (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 12. (view spoiler)[I really love Halt and Horace as travelling companions. And honestly, Halt trying to keep Horace from knowing about the sex workers by saying they were couriers who wore short skirts so they could run fast 😂😂 Poor Horace is such an innocent child and clearly must be protected! (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

ch 32 (view spoiler)[ the first thing that came to mind, because im a child, was MORTAL KOMBAT!!! but honestly? i absolutely love how Halt is playing/manipulating Deparnieux. I just hope his plan works (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ SO WILL IS JUST.. BETTER? HE DOESNT WANT THE WARMWEED ANYMORE? HE DOESNT REMEMBER ANYTHING ANYMORE? Thats... interesting to say the least.

I absolutely love Halt and Horace leaving that wretched castle, finally. I really hope they made an honest difference in all those people's lives.

NOW I just want to start the next one lmao (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[That freaking warmweed! D: I remember you!

Shit is going to get back for Will and I know what’s coming and I still GREATLY dislike it ;-; (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 27. (view spoiler)[I really love that Erak helped them to escape (and lay a false trail so that anyone hunting them would think they tried and failed to escape via water) 💕

He might have started out as their enemy, but he’s certainly not that now. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 36. (view spoiler)[Aha! Take that asshole! Knew it was coming but still, so satisfying reading Halt take down that “knight”. The armour-piercing arrows were genius. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Finished! (view spoiler)[Will has made it to the other side and hopefully won’t crave any further warm weed, and Halt has done the best thing for the Montsombre castle... burn it to the ground 😐 (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Julianne wrote: "ch 10 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I swear, Halt and Horace together is my favourite thing. They make such a great pair - especially with Horace being so determined to stay on the straight and narrow and follow all the rules of chivalry and such (as per how he's been trained) and Halt well... not XD;;

I just imagine Halt like...


(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Julianne wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I've honestly always hated the warmweed thing 8'D It's written well but just... poor Will ;u; It's always hit me really hard. I don't remember whether or not they touch on it further in the later books though and now I'm regretting not remembering that XD;;

I loved Halt burning down the castle though. Serves them right ;D (hide spoiler)]

I'm keen for the next one whenever you are! I know I'm trying to read like... three other books... at the moment as well but screw it :|

[Julianne]

We can start it after we finish Muse if it's easier for you. I definitely understand the struggle of so many books, so little time

[Natalie]

Sounds good to me! Hopefully Muse won't take too long c:

My goal is 5 chapters of Fool's Fate every second day (...so I need to read 5 more tomorrow) and as much Muse as possible otherwise ;D

...my other, non-fiction book has kinda been shoved to the side for now. Oops.

[Julianne]

Every time I pick up Muse I get sucked in with her writing!!

Non fiction is really hit or miss for me honestly. Sometimes I can read it non stop, other times eeeeeeh

[Natalie]

Agreed! Laini Taylor's writing is stunning <33

I've been trying to read more nonfiction this year, and I think I've done pretty well so far! I've been reading through Atul Gawande's books (in publication order, because why not ;D) and they're really fascinating! I'm squeamish though, so sometimes I have to take a break due to the author going into detail about medical procedures XD;;

[Natalie]

When did you want to start Book #4? c:

[Julianne]

We can start today/tomorrow if that works for you?

[Natalie]

Sounds good! Super keen to continue <3

[Natalie]

Started book 4 - Oakleaf Bearers! :D

Chapter 2:
(view spoiler)[Halt and Horace are almost in Skandia now! And I love their "What?!" "What?" "WHAT" conversation XD Freaking great.

Everyone's so close together now! Except possibly with the exception of an abducted Evanlyn... (hide spoiler)]

[Julianne]

DID you seriously post two minutes ago?? I just started this too XD

Ch 2(view spoiler)[ what. Halt and Horace are seriously comic relief after reading about everything that Evanlynn and Will are going though.

I just really hope they actually find each other! (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Wait, seriously? That's amazing XD I just had a very short break and used it as an excuse to read a couple of chapters ;D Going to read more later - would love to finish it either tonight or tomorrow!

[Natalie]

Chapter 8. (view spoiler)[They’re so close that Tug can quite literally smell (or at least SENSE Will) - that’s why he’s freaking out! So close to a reunion ;o; (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 10: (view spoiler)[Reunited at last! :D I love how Tug refuses to be parted from Will too. They really do have a wonderful bond 💕💕

Curious to see what’s going to be happening with their new prisoner though... (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 20. (view spoiler)[Halt is an excellent tactician. Guerilla warfare is really one of the best options you have when facing an army far larger than yourself, and knowing the land is a huge advantage towards the fight-then-flee tactic. Plus, armies need to be fed! Take the food and other important supplies and you’ll REALLY slow ‘me down. Hope all the Skandians on guerilla duty survive though! Especially Olga’s c: (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 29. (view spoiler)[Cassandra has been revealed to Ragnak! Thankfully Halt knew exactly how to deal with him and his Vallasvow ;D

I love the idea they have to pick up the Temujai (as planned) and then leave them deserted on an island so that they lessen their numbers without actually having to kill any of them 😂😂

Seems like Slagor will soon get what’s coming to him! :| (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 38. (view spoiler)[They win! Whoot Whoot! I’m so proud ;-; <33

And honestly, well DONE to Evanlyn for being able to rally the archers in the absence of Horace and Will, especially considering she has very minimal archery skills herself. She does however make a rather excellent commander despite this ;D (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Finished! (view spoiler)[The ending of this actually echoes the ending of The Ruins of Gorlan a little, huh? In that, Will was given the chance to be a knight and turned it down to stay a ranger, and here he turns down the chance to be a member of a royal archer cavalry - the archer equivalent of a knight - to stay and finish off his apprentice. I feel bad for Cassandra, because it’s clear that she hoped he would take the position and thus be more present in her life than he would be as a ranger... but I really can’t imagine a Will that wasn’t a Ranger! (hide spoiler)]