⭒The Ruins of Gorlan [Questions]⭒

[Mary-Therese]

1. Who was your favorite character?

2. Who was your least favorite character?

3. If you could change one part of the book, what would it be?

4. What did you think of the ending? (Spoiler tags, please!)

5. What was your overall opinion?

[Mary-Therese]

That's great! Halt is truly amazing!

[Lily, ⭒on hiatus⭒]

Irene wrote: "Oh whoops, just realised I can't see spoiler tags on my phone, so just assume everything is a spoiler XD

1. Halt, because he’s like a burnt marshmallow (hard on the outside but soft on the inside..."

It seems like I've forgotten a lot about this series! 😭

[Lily, ⭒on hiatus⭒]

1. It's been awhile since I read this series, but Will, I think. Or Halt.

2. I remember disliking Horace. I know (view spoiler)[he got much better later on in the book, but his change from a super mean bully to a humble and repentant kid seemed a little too sudden and unrealistic (hide spoiler)].

3. I won't comment on this just because I read this some 3 or 4 years ago.

4. Um. I forgot what it was. XD

5. It wasn't bad! Originally, I actually only read Ranger's Apprentice to make fun of it (after all, you cannot properly make fun of a novel you've never read) because I personally thought many of the names the author chose had way too many parallels with The Lord of the Rings (e.g. Rangers wearing hoods and broaches, "Halt" vs Strider, "Wargals" vs wargs, "Morgaroth" vs Morgoth). However, the actual story-line was exciting enough to keep me reading. Still, I'm not really happy with the strange parallels.

[Alison]

Lilyyy wrote: "1. It's been awhile since I read this series, but Will, I think. Or Halt.

2. I remember disliking Horace. I know [spoilers removed].

3. I won't comment on this just because I read this some 3 or ..."

Oh, I know! Those parallels I always felt were super obvious (I mean, I can see why someone would want to take those ideas!) but I got used to it. The story was so good I kind of forgot about them later on.

[Mary-Therese]

*Spoilers*
yeah, Lily, I know. Horace is my favorite character in the series, but his character switch is insane. it's like he is a whole new character
*okay, I'm done*

[Lily, ⭒on hiatus⭒]

Alison wrote: "Lilyyy wrote: "1. It's been awhile since I read this series, but Will, I think. Or Halt.

2. I remember disliking Horace. I know [spoilers removed].

3. I won't comment on this just because I read ..."

Yes, same here!

[EllieJellyBean :D, ⭒assistant mod⭒]

1. Will or Halt
2. Horace
3. It was a little childish
4. It was ok. It was a little lame in my opinion.
5. It was great!

[Lily, ⭒on hiatus⭒]

Ellie{The Glader}✌️ wrote: "1. Will or Halt
2. Horace
3. It was a little childish
4. It was ok. It was a little lame in my opinion.
5. It was great!"

Hahaha, I thought you said the book in general was both lame and great! 😅

[Celia]

I haven't read everyone else's answers yet (so as not to influence my own), but I feel that I may be the odd one out here.

1. Who was your favorite character?
Horace had the best character development as he faced some genuine struggle, so he held the most interest for me.

2. Who was your least favorite character?
There weren't really any characters that I disliked. Most seemed like cardboard cutouts, so I'm more ambivalent toward them—a dangerous feeling. I hope Flanagan makes me care in future books because ambivalence is not what you want your readers feeling really ever.

I did think it was absurdly inconsistent that the Kalkara's (view spoiler)[wax coating withstood a blow from a battle axe, but was pierced by arrows. Wax isn't that strong. With a battle axe, a grown man could chop through a solid candle of some size with one blow. Now if Flanagan had made up some other substance that was flammable but strong, I could have suspended my disbelief for that. But it still wouldn't have explained the arrows piercing it when an axe couldn't. (hide spoiler)]

3. If you could change one part of the book, what would it be?
I would have prolonged the mystery of (view spoiler)[Will's parentage (hide spoiler)] until later in the series. The book wraps up too neatly. Where's the cliffhanger?!

4. What did you think of the ending? (Spoiler tags, please!)
Meh. (view spoiler)[There's a war. (hide spoiler)] Everything worked out in this book, so everything likely will in the next.

And (view spoiler)[Alyss kissing Will (hide spoiler)] was totally random. There was no development between those two at all, so it seemed more ridiculous and contrived than pleasantly surprising.

5. What was your overall opinion?
A fun, easy read, but the simplistic plot and quick resolutions were a bit unsatisfying. I hope the series improves.

[Celia]

Lilyyy wrote: "I personally thought many of the names the author chose had way too many parallels with The Lord of the Rings (e.g. Rangers wearing hoods and broaches, "Halt" vs Strider, "Wargals" vs wargs, "Morgaroth" vs Morgoth)."

Yes! Plus, every time I read Wargals I think of War Gals. As in, ladies who are awesome warriors. (I know it's probably meant to be pronounced wargulls, but that's not my first thought when I read the word lol)

[Celia]

Mary-Therese wrote: "*Spoilers*
yeah, Lily, I know. Horace is my favorite character in the series, but his character switch is insane. it's like he is a whole new character
*okay, I'm done*"

Agreed! It seemed like Flanagan maybe did some rewriting of the first chapters and then didn't iron out the inconsistencies with Horace's character. He should have at least laid the foundation for Horace's shift in attitude.

[Lily, ⭒on hiatus⭒]

Celia wrote: "Lilyyy wrote: "I personally thought many of the names the author chose had way too many parallels with The Lord of the Rings (e.g. Rangers wearing hoods and broaches, "Halt" vs Strider, "Wargals" v..."

Oh no! Now I will have that impression as well! XDD

[Lily, ⭒on hiatus⭒]

Celia wrote: "Mary-Therese wrote: "*Spoilers*
yeah, Lily, I know. Horace is my favorite character in the series, but his character switch is insane. it's like he is a whole new character
*okay, I'm done*"

Agre..."

Ah, good point! That makes sense to me.

[Mary-Therese]

finished it last night! even better than I remembered!

1. HORACE AND HALT!!! (maybe George, lol)

2. Alda, Bryn, and Jerome. the jerks!

3. perhaps a bit more explanation for Horace total
personality shift.

4. I really liked it!

5. FANTASTIC!

[Lily, ⭒on hiatus⭒]

Awesome! :D