The Ruins of Gorlan

The Ruins of Gorlan for me was a reminder that you never let anyone tell you, “you can’t”.

Will was a misfit, an orphan. He was too small for battle school and becoming a knight, not adept at being a diplomat, a scholar, nor even a cook. He had no idea what would become of him. It was a fear that permeates down deep. I remember how I felt when I couldn’t go into the army, was unable to go to Devry, and I didn’t want the ordinary.

For Will, it all changes and his fantastic journey begins as he’s… show more.

The Ruins of Gorlan is not my favorite book in the Ranger’s Apprentice series, but it lays the essential groundwork to fully enjoy the later books. Other than a few outliers, the series doesn’t include non-humans or real magic. While Flanagan’s world shares many characteristics of middle-age Eurasia and Africa, it remains a distinct creation. The stories are well-established, highly suspenseful, action-filled tales featuring, kidnappings, rescues, revolts, treachery, piracy, romance, and everything else you’d expect from a Saturday matinee movie. The series stems from stories Flanagan wrote to spark his son’s reading interest—a path I too followed. I particularly love… show more.

This book has some major ass-kicking, but its action scenes are dispersed throughout unparalleled humor and wit. It’s a YA fantasy with just a morsel of magic, allowing the reality of the world to mix with motifs today’s teenagers can relate to, while still transporting them to a faraway realm. I especially love how the hero is not bulging with muscles and towering over his foes. He has a special skill—stealth and archery—perfect for the kingdom’s secret service, the Rangers, and he realizes he can make an impact just the way he is.

This is the only series here I haven't read a whole book of. (I read to my daughter at night, so I’ve caught snatches here and there.) She is only four books in, but she’s eager to read on. The one thing she likes best about Ranger’s Apprentice is how it’s one big, long story that keeps going, never stops.

You can’t go wrong with any of the Ranger’s Apprentice books or the following series, The Path of the Ranger. They are fantastic, imaginative, and exciting times a hundred. Flanagan writes them in such a way that you could really start on any book in the series and understand what is going on, of course reading them in order is a better choice. I found that I couldn’t put these books down, I just loved them. I loved the world Flanagan created, but more importantly, I related to the main character, Will. I was bullied as a child, as is… show more.