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BOOK NAME: Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan
AUTHOR: John Flanagan

15-year-old Will has grown up in an area of Castle Redmont called the ward. His friends Jenny, George, Alyss, and Horace, are his fellow wardmates. Children in the ward are the orphaned sons or daughters of war heroes or other important figures. Will is a particularly special orphan. He arrived at the doorstep of the ward, with a note simply stating his name and that his father had died a heroic death. Will has believed for all of his life that his father was a knight that died in a fierce battle with the evil Lord Morgarath and his legion of Wargals. Desperately wanting to carry on his father’s legacy, Will hopes to go to Battleschool and become a knight.

Unfortunately, Will is deemed too small to manage the hard physical labors of Battleschool, crushing his lifelong dream of knighthood. Then Halt, a member of a mysterious group of protectors called the Rangers, takes Will as his apprentice. The Rangers are a suspicious lot, and Will is not entirely sure if he likes his new life. Halt is going to train Will to become a fierce warrior, but not a knight. A nagging doubt about what his father would think of him haunts Will. What he doesn’t know is that Morgarath is planning another attack on the kingdom, and Will’s position as a Ranger’s apprentice may put him face to face with Morgarath’s vicious monsters.

Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan, is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. The storyline is fantastically written. It has just the right mix of suspense, excitement, humor, and fierce battles. My favorite part of the story is the part where Will, Halt, Baron Arald, and Sir Rodney fight the dreaded monsters called the Kalkara. The description of the battle was so riveting that I could not stop reading until I discovered the outcome. My favorite character is Halt, Will’s teacher. He is crafty, very wise, and a master archer. His skill made him a force to be reckoned with, no matter what enemy he faced. His normally stoic nature and steadfast attitude were sometimes interrupted with sarcastic comments, making him interesting to read about. This book is the first book in a series, and if I can get my hands on another Ranger’s Apprentice book, I will most certainly read it. Definitely read Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan.


Comments

  1. 2whitie
    February 1, 2012, 5:28 pm

    I have read all 11 of these books, and they rock. Book 8 is the best, but the burning bridge (2) and the Icebound land (3) have evil cliff

  2. 2whitie
    February 1, 2012, 5:29 pm

    -got cut off- have evil cliffhangers. Halt is definitely the best. :)

  3. starburst271
    February 1, 2012, 10:10 pm

    Wow, it sounds awesome!! I will definitly have to read it! And Kennan, great job on the review! You described the plot really well, and made it sound like a really good book. :) (which it probably is)

  4. love2read
    February 2, 2012, 10:56 am

    These books are amazing! I have read all of them.
    The second book is called The Burning Bridge. It’s about Will, Horace, and Gilan as they go to investigate rumors about an army. If you can you should get the third book too, since these book are SO good and don’t take very l

  5. love2read
    February 2, 2012, 10:57 am

    Since these books are so good, get the second and third at the same time since you’ll want to know what happens. Happy reading!

  6. love2read
    February 2, 2012, 12:13 pm

    Great books! I’ve read them all and you should get your hands on the second and third as soon as possible. There are ten books in all and an eleventh that fills in the gaps between books.
    These are great books so be prepared to stay up late reading!

  7. Maddy123
    February 3, 2012, 9:38 pm

    Sounds good!
    I’ll look into reading it.

  8. reader01
    February 4, 2012, 7:58 pm

    WOW! That sounds like a great book, I would definately read that. When I do I’ll be sure to blog about it.

  9. NatureGirl
    February 8, 2012, 1:08 pm

    I really want to read this book! I’ve been trying to get the chance, but it’s hard to find where I live. :-( When we move (that will be very soon) I might be able to buy it. Hope you fellow bookworms of mine enjoy your books!

  10. reader01
    February 8, 2012, 7:36 pm

    I haven’t gotten a chance to the book yet but i’m so excited to read it.

  11. nessiemo
    February 9, 2012, 6:51 pm

    Lots of boys in my class are reading this for book club. Looks like a great book full of excitement!

  12. hubblespacetelescope11
    April 26, 2012, 6:01 am

    This book sounds marvellous. I’ll look in the library again, though I doubt so. I’ve read all the books there.

  13. TheBoss
    May 18, 2012, 8:26 pm

    I’m starting this book for my summer book report for 6th grade, and I wanted to know if 1)It has lots of figurative language 2)It has suspense.

  14. boostermonte
    May 19, 2012, 1:26 pm

    looks like a good book. what ages is it for

  15. faerionna
    May 25, 2012, 9:42 am

    I love these books, nothing like them!

  16. winkysquirt
    October 12, 2012, 2:14 pm

    I have read every single book in this series and loved every part of it! The Ruins of Gorlan is one of my favorites. My top favorite is probably The Siege of Macandaw. The series never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for writing a review of this amazing book!

  17. nuttybunz
    November 3, 2012, 10:53 pm

    I’ve been wondering if I should read this series, and now I think I will. Thank you for helping me decide!

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