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.

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