A review by maclunkeyy
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.25

Re-reading this book for the first time in almost a decade, I remembered how much I love this series. There's a deep catharsis for me in coming of age stories like this for me, and especially in one with so many satisfying moments. You see Will and Horace learn, fail and grow, but also get their moments of triumph. The boar hunt; the Kalkara fight and the fight with (and defeat of) the bullies are all moments that are so fun to read.

I only have a few small gripes. The section of the book set in the Plains is a tad boring at times, but I think that may have been intentional. I also think the epilogue could have used a bit more time to conclude the book, but overall Ruins of Gorlan is a great start to a fantastic series!