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rangerwing75's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I’m not sure what happened but this book felt so subpar compared to the first Royal Ranger book.
Like, okay, to break it down a bit more, I found the first ten or so chapters to be fine. I liked that we got a bit more information on how the Ranger traineeship works and how Maddie handles her two lives as a princess who is secretly a trainee Ranger.
But after that?
I found myself growing bored when we got to Maddie’s chapters looking at the castle’s plans and exploring the secret tunnels. I do understand how it’s relevant plot wise, though, so I’m willing to forgive it.
My biggest issue is how the idea for the plot is done. How it’s written.
The overarching idea for this book is that there’s a group called the Red Fox Clan who want to usurp the throne and go back to the old law that states that only men can rule Araluen. Sexism as a plot is whatever, that’s fine, that’s fun if it’s done right. This wasn’t done right, in my opinion. I am just one girl, however, so take this with a grain of salt is you want to.
My biggest issue, oddly, wasn’t Maddie, despite how much I didn’t enjoy her chapters (she felt oddly dull compared to the first book, but I can’t figure out why). The problem was Cassandra.
Cassandra felt less competent here compared to the original Ranger’s Apprentice books. The girl who kept both herself and Will alive in Ice Bound Land with her skills and wit only took out one enemy and couldn’t keep her guard up while she was caught in a coup? She was willing to believe the guy who had her and her garrison trapped in a tower would honour a promise? For a book about proving women could lead a kingdom, a lot of if not all the bigger fights were done by the men and Cassandra felt dumbed down.
I do like the ideas the book had going for it. That and the ever present enjoyable banter between characters is what kept this at three stars for me, but I don’t think Flanagan was the right author to handle this topic.
Like, okay, to break it down a bit more, I found the first ten or so chapters to be fine. I liked that we got a bit more information on how the Ranger traineeship works and how Maddie handles her two lives as a princess who is secretly a trainee Ranger.
But after that?
I found myself growing bored when we got to Maddie’s chapters looking at the castle’s plans and exploring the secret tunnels. I do understand how it’s relevant plot wise, though, so I’m willing to forgive it.
My biggest issue is how the idea for the plot is done. How it’s written.
The overarching idea for this book is that there’s a group called the Red Fox Clan who want to usurp the throne and go back to the old law that states that only men can rule Araluen. Sexism as a plot is whatever, that’s fine, that’s fun if it’s done right. This wasn’t done right, in my opinion. I am just one girl, however, so take this with a grain of salt is you want to.
My biggest issue, oddly, wasn’t Maddie, despite how much I didn’t enjoy her chapters (she felt oddly dull compared to the first book, but I can’t figure out why). The problem was Cassandra.
Cassandra felt less competent here compared to the original Ranger’s Apprentice books. The girl who kept both herself and Will alive in Ice Bound Land with her skills and wit
I do like the ideas the book had going for it. That and the ever present enjoyable banter between characters is what kept this at three stars for me, but I don’t think Flanagan was the right author to handle this topic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Animal death and Blood
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