A review by booklistqueen
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

 With their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, the Rangers have always terrified Will. Some say they practice magic that makes them invisible. When Will is chosen as a Ranger's apprentice, he finds they are the protectors of the kingdom, and the kingdom desperately needs protecting. For the exiled Morgorath is amassing forces to retake the kingdom in this fun series of fantasy novels for younger young adults.

My 11-year-old son is obsessed with the Ranger Apprentice series, so he was ecstatic when I asked to borrow the first book from him. The series kicks off with The Ruins of Gorlan, a very short read that was really fun despite being full of predictably common tropes. Aimed at a younger audience, The Ruins of Gorlan makes for an excellent entry into the series. Because it's very short, you can test and see if your kid will like it. And if they end up loving it, there are about 30 more books they can read and enjoy.