The Ruins of Gorlan

The Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan | John Flanagan

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Will has lived as a castle ward in the Castle Redmont in the medieval kingdom of Araluen for all his life, since being left in a basket with a short note attached on the steps of the ward building fifteen years ago. The note briefly said ‘His mother died in childbirth. His father died a hero. Please care for him. His name is Will.’ Because his father ‘died a hero’ Will wanted to be a knight and attend Battleschool. But when Choosing day, the day when the castle wards are picked to be apprentices to the Craftmasters, comes, Will is chosen to be an apprentice to a Ranger named Halt. Will knows little about the Rangers, but there were rumors of them using black magic on account of the way that they seemed to be able to melt away and disappear into the background and move silently. Soon Will finds out that the Rangers are really spies and the protectors of the kingdom, and with Morgarath, the Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, on the rise, Rangers are needed now more than ever. Soon Will finds himself on a quest to stop Morgarath before he takes over Araluen once and for all, all the while making sure he does not get killed by the Kalkara, firesome and seemingly invincible bear-looking creatures that are controlled by Morgarath. Will Will make it out alive and save Araluen from the evil forces of Morgarath?

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I really enjoyed The Ruins of Gorlan, and I’m enjoying the Ranger’s Apprentice series. It was fast paced, intense and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Readers of Brian Jacques’s Redwall will enjoy this great read.

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Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Age Group: 10-14

Rating Out of Five Stars: 5

Is It A Series: Yes – the Ranger’s Apprentice series. Book one of twelve

Fiction or Nonfiction: Fiction

Author Website: www.worldofjohnflanagan.com

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