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patty_creatively_bookish's review
4.0
Story: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Reread: Yes and I will definitely continue with this series!
khushg's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
easolinas's review
4.0
Imagine if the Rangers from "Lord of the Rings" took apprentices -- what kind of life would that be?
John Flanagan does a decent job answering the question in the first two books of the Ranger's Apprentice series, compiled in "Ranger's Apprentice 1 & 2: The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge." It's a solid duo of fantasy books with plenty of weapons, monsters, a medieval backdrop with some very familiar cultures, and a teenage hero who risks it all for his land.
Hoping to be selected for Battleschool, Will is shocked when he's chosen as an apprentice for the Ranger, Halt. His new life is out in the woods, doing chores and learning unglamorous lessons, but slowly he realizes the importance of the Ranger's skills. And at the same time, his fellow orphan Horace is being tormented at Battleschool by a gang of bullies.
Unfortunately, the kingdom is in new trouble -- the evil baron Morgarath is starting to send his monstrous Wurgals out once more, and there are even rumors that the ghastly Kalkara are also abroad. When it seems that the king himself may be Morgarath's target, Will and Halt are sent on a mission to stop the Kalkara -- except that the target isn't who they expect.
"The Burning Bridge" takes Will, Gilan and Horace out into the land of Celtica, only to find that the Wargals are swarming all over the place, and the Celts are missing. Even worse, the boys stumble across a tunnel and bridge meant to allow Morgarath's army out into the open -- and a vast collection of mercenary Skandians who have been hired to help crush the king's army. And to stop them,. Will may end up in the hands of his worst enemies.
The world John Flanagan conjures up here is pretty recognizably a medieval England-that-never-was, with hints of similarly semi-familiar lands to explore (Gallica, Temujai, Celtica, Skandia) and some nicely familiar weapons Except he also adds in some fantasy monsters, a complex backhistory to Araluen, and the elite woodland-warriors known as the Rangers.
The first half of "The Ruins of Gorlan" is a fairly slow experience, mostly made up of Will and Horace finding out what their new lives are all about (knife study, ponies, stew and tracking exercises). But then the plot speeds up into a darker, bloodier affair -- and by "Burning Bridge" it's expanded into a true epic with sabotage, clashing armies and a climactic duel.
And Flanagan has a knack for fast-moving, detailed prose and lots of suspenseful moments (such as the cat-and-mouse game with the Kalkara, or the infiltration of Morgarath's fortress). But there's a twist at the end of "Burning Bridge" that not many fantasy stories have, which will leave readers frantically scrabbling for the third book. Talk about cliffhangers.
Will is also an excellent hero in the Lloyd Alexander mold -- he dreams of being a valiant knight, but as he matures, he begins to see that the Rangers have a special value to the kingdom. Halt is quite the reverse -- quirky, taciturn and incredibly tough and deadly. And over the course of these books, he forms a sort of father-son relationship with Will and Horace.
The first two books in the "Ranger's Apprentice Collection" start off slow, but rapidly blossom into a solid, epic fantasy series full of kidnappings, monstrous enemies, and all-too-human characters. Definitely a good read... but have the third on hand.
John Flanagan does a decent job answering the question in the first two books of the Ranger's Apprentice series, compiled in "Ranger's Apprentice 1 & 2: The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge." It's a solid duo of fantasy books with plenty of weapons, monsters, a medieval backdrop with some very familiar cultures, and a teenage hero who risks it all for his land.
Hoping to be selected for Battleschool, Will is shocked when he's chosen as an apprentice for the Ranger, Halt. His new life is out in the woods, doing chores and learning unglamorous lessons, but slowly he realizes the importance of the Ranger's skills. And at the same time, his fellow orphan Horace is being tormented at Battleschool by a gang of bullies.
Unfortunately, the kingdom is in new trouble -- the evil baron Morgarath is starting to send his monstrous Wurgals out once more, and there are even rumors that the ghastly Kalkara are also abroad. When it seems that the king himself may be Morgarath's target, Will and Halt are sent on a mission to stop the Kalkara -- except that the target isn't who they expect.
"The Burning Bridge" takes Will, Gilan and Horace out into the land of Celtica, only to find that the Wargals are swarming all over the place, and the Celts are missing. Even worse, the boys stumble across a tunnel and bridge meant to allow Morgarath's army out into the open -- and a vast collection of mercenary Skandians who have been hired to help crush the king's army. And to stop them,. Will may end up in the hands of his worst enemies.
The world John Flanagan conjures up here is pretty recognizably a medieval England-that-never-was, with hints of similarly semi-familiar lands to explore (Gallica, Temujai, Celtica, Skandia) and some nicely familiar weapons Except he also adds in some fantasy monsters, a complex backhistory to Araluen, and the elite woodland-warriors known as the Rangers.
The first half of "The Ruins of Gorlan" is a fairly slow experience, mostly made up of Will and Horace finding out what their new lives are all about (knife study, ponies, stew and tracking exercises). But then the plot speeds up into a darker, bloodier affair -- and by "Burning Bridge" it's expanded into a true epic with sabotage, clashing armies and a climactic duel.
And Flanagan has a knack for fast-moving, detailed prose and lots of suspenseful moments (such as the cat-and-mouse game with the Kalkara, or the infiltration of Morgarath's fortress). But there's a twist at the end of "Burning Bridge" that not many fantasy stories have, which will leave readers frantically scrabbling for the third book. Talk about cliffhangers.
Will is also an excellent hero in the Lloyd Alexander mold -- he dreams of being a valiant knight, but as he matures, he begins to see that the Rangers have a special value to the kingdom. Halt is quite the reverse -- quirky, taciturn and incredibly tough and deadly. And over the course of these books, he forms a sort of father-son relationship with Will and Horace.
The first two books in the "Ranger's Apprentice Collection" start off slow, but rapidly blossom into a solid, epic fantasy series full of kidnappings, monstrous enemies, and all-too-human characters. Definitely a good read... but have the third on hand.
ilonatermaat's review against another edition
5.0
Geïnspireerd door Martine begonnen aan het herlezen van deze serie. Nostalgie.
janneke's review against another edition
3.0
Het is een leuk, maar simpel boek.
In het begin wist ik al hoe het zou eindigen.
Misschien als ik het ooit tegen kom begin ik aan het tweede deel, maar ik vond het niet leuk genoeg om meteen door te gaan met dit boek.
Toch is er niets mis mee, dus als wil:
Ga het lezen!
Het moet wel je type boek zijn :)
In het begin wist ik al hoe het zou eindigen.
Misschien als ik het ooit tegen kom begin ik aan het tweede deel, maar ik vond het niet leuk genoeg om meteen door te gaan met dit boek.
Toch is er niets mis mee, dus als wil:
Ga het lezen!
Het moet wel je type boek zijn :)
readawaytherain's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favorite middle grade series. Often when a new book in the series came out I would start rereading the entire series from the beginning. I am pretty sure that I have read the first book at least six times. The characters are so witty and I love the interaction between Halt, Will and Horace.
pages_and_procrastination's review
5.0
I really liked this one, Will has come such a long way and has grown so much. Will is left in charge in what should be a simple return trip home. But he uses his instincts and training to get needs info for the kingdom and to protect his friends as much as he can. He also thwarts Morgorath’s plan, even though it puts him in great danger.
The only thing is that I kind of expected the battle with Morgorath to be longer (this is a pretty long series) but it’s not, and I am very curious about the adventures ahead. In truth, I am not really sure what else to say, other than you have to read this series. It’s so good!
The only thing is that I kind of expected the battle with Morgorath to be longer (this is a pretty long series) but it’s not, and I am very curious about the adventures ahead. In truth, I am not really sure what else to say, other than you have to read this series. It’s so good!