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Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger #1
De Koninklijke Leerling
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2013)Een vreselijke tragedie heeft het leven van Will verwoest en hij zweert dan ook wraak op degenen die hiervoor verantwoordelijk zijn. Zelfs als dat zou betekenen dat hij het korps van de Grijze Jagers moet verlaten. Wills vrienden maken zich ernstig zorgen over hem. Het is Halt die met de oplossing komt: Will moet een leerling aannemen om zijn gedachten te verzetten. En zoals meestal krijgt Halt gelijk. Meer dan hem lief is zelfs.
447 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
1349 people are currently reading
19224 people want to read
About the author
John Flanagan
114 books9,253 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
For mysteries by this same author, see John A. Flanagan.
John Flanagan grew up in Sydney, Australia, hoping to be a writer. It wasn't until he wrote a highly uncomplimentary poem about a senior executive at the agency where he worked, however, that his talent was revealed. It turned out one of the company directors agreed with John's assessment of the executive, and happily agreed to train John in copywriting.
After writing advertising copy for the next two decades, John teamed with an old friend to develop a television sitcom, Hey Dad!, which went on to air for eight years.
John began writing Ranger's Apprentice for his son, Michael, ten years ago, and is still hard at work on the series.
He currently lives in a suburb of Manly, Australia, with his wife. In addition to their son, they have two grown daughters and four grandsons.
For mysteries by this same author, see John A. Flanagan.
John Flanagan grew up in Sydney, Australia, hoping to be a writer. It wasn't until he wrote a highly uncomplimentary poem about a senior executive at the agency where he worked, however, that his talent was revealed. It turned out one of the company directors agreed with John's assessment of the executive, and happily agreed to train John in copywriting.
After writing advertising copy for the next two decades, John teamed with an old friend to develop a television sitcom, Hey Dad!, which went on to air for eight years.
John began writing Ranger's Apprentice for his son, Michael, ten years ago, and is still hard at work on the series.
He currently lives in a suburb of Manly, Australia, with his wife. In addition to their son, they have two grown daughters and four grandsons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,838 reviews
February 12, 2014
4.5 stars and the only reason it's not getting 5 stars is because the series is over. Oh and the ending sucked too but other than that this was great!!
It was a pretty long book but this is how I finished:
1. Didn't study for Monday's test.
2. Didn't eat dinner and the next day's breakfast.
3. Didn't get out of bed until 20 minutes before class started.
4. Didn't shower (OK now I showered so shhhh!)
5. Didn't answer my boyfriend's phone calls.
6. Didn't meet an ARC deadline (oops!)
This series, books 1-12, has been with me since 2008 and I'm so sad that the story is over. These characters, both dead and alive, mean so much to me! I love that these books are readable to all age groups and has a mix of every genre in it! LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Again,
It was a pretty long book but this is how I finished:
1. Didn't study for Monday's test.
2. Didn't eat dinner and the next day's breakfast.
3. Didn't get out of bed until 20 minutes before class started.
4. Didn't shower (OK now I showered so shhhh!)
5. Didn't answer my boyfriend's phone calls.
6. Didn't meet an ARC deadline (oops!)
This series, books 1-12, has been with me since 2008 and I'm so sad that the story is over. These characters, both dead and alive, mean so much to me! I love that these books are readable to all age groups and has a mix of every genre in it! LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Again,
September 29, 2013
I'm disappointed with the Royal Ranger. I love Ranger's Apprentice series and J. Flanagan writing. I really do. I grew up with the series, I'm going to read it to my children one day (I hope). But to me some stories are better left unfinished. For me, the 11th book is the end of the series. What happens next...well I don't really need to know. The same things like in real life. People die, get old etc...And I don't really need my favourite characters for so many years suddenly grew old or die in the last book of the series. The time difference between 11th and 12th is too big for me and I found it very hard to accept the changes. The last time we saw some of the characters they were ok, even smiling, then we get a new book, start to read only to find out that they dead, old or sick. More, the way the two of the characters die is really not very believable. I felt like it was forced. They dead because perhaps author felt it was required for other character's development. Or to remind us that all good things eventually come to the end. I wasn't really looking for this.
Putting that aside,the plot was the weakest of all the books in the series. Too much focus on training Maddie get me bored and I don't think that it happened before with the previous books in the series. There were good moments there, I have to admit, that really got my attention and some good action and humour too. But I didn't find idea of princess becoming a ranger believable. In addition, I found she changed too quick. I felt a bit like I was being forced to like her in the end...and I really do believe people change or grow up, just it rarely happens that fast in real life, especially when you deal with spoiled 15 years old girl. And suddenly she also became so skillfull that she was a hero in the end. Too predictable. Too good to be true. It was like she was even better than Will when he was her age. Besides, the only reason that she got a chance to train with Will was her family. If she wasn't a princesse she would never get a chance to be apprentice to a ranger.
The one thing that I found that can save this book (a little) is Will. The way he treated and teached his apprentice was priceless. He was a great mentor, just like Halt was. There are few scenes in book with Will and Maddie that I really loved.
In the end, I still wish that Royal Ranger wasn't written. What I'm looking for are prequels to Ranger's Apprentice. I don't want any more books about Maddie.
Putting that aside,the plot was the weakest of all the books in the series. Too much focus on training Maddie get me bored and I don't think that it happened before with the previous books in the series. There were good moments there, I have to admit, that really got my attention and some good action and humour too. But I didn't find idea of princess becoming a ranger believable. In addition, I found she changed too quick. I felt a bit like I was being forced to like her in the end...and I really do believe people change or grow up, just it rarely happens that fast in real life, especially when you deal with spoiled 15 years old girl. And suddenly she also became so skillfull that she was a hero in the end. Too predictable. Too good to be true. It was like she was even better than Will when he was her age. Besides, the only reason that she got a chance to train with Will was her family. If she wasn't a princesse she would never get a chance to be apprentice to a ranger.
The one thing that I found that can save this book (a little) is Will. The way he treated and teached his apprentice was priceless. He was a great mentor, just like Halt was. There are few scenes in book with Will and Maddie that I really loved.
In the end, I still wish that Royal Ranger wasn't written. What I'm looking for are prequels to Ranger's Apprentice. I don't want any more books about Maddie.
January 15, 2020
I thought I was reading Ruins of Gorlan with a girl character...
This one is still likable. The plot is good but a little bit force to meet something or a demand. I like the humour with the slavers, with Will and Maddie. This one just stirs the memory of the past book...
In the end, I thought this one shouldn't be written but maybe the author thought that an episode in the life of a character should have a closure in order for a new character to shine.
Still a good read 😊
This one is still likable. The plot is good but a little bit force to meet something or a demand. I like the humour with the slavers, with Will and Maddie. This one just stirs the memory of the past book...
In the end, I thought this one shouldn't be written but maybe the author thought that an episode in the life of a character should have a closure in order for a new character to shine.
Still a good read 😊
January 29, 2018
Not the best installment in the series but I still like it.
The Ranger's Apprentice series is one of my favorites so I was very much looking forward to reading the latest installment. Overall, I guess it's my less favorite of all twelve volumes. My biggest problem with the novel? Character development.
The book centers around Will and Maddie who is the daughter of Cassandra and Horace. Maddie is portrayed as a rebellious princess who sneaks out of the castle at night to go hunting. She unselfishly gives the game she hunts to the castle guards so they can help feed their families. When confronted by her parents, Maddie explains how she wants to learn to defend herself, to have some adventure just like her parents did when they were her age. Now, this is where things go off track I think. We know from previous books in the series that Cassandra hated being stuck in the castle learning needlepoint and the other things a princess was expected to do. So you would think she would have some understanding of how her daughter feels. But, no, she does the opposite of what you would expect her to do. It's like Flannagan forgot what Cassandra did in the previous volumes of the series. It's so completely out of character that it's absurd.
So we have Maddie who wants to learn to fight and use weapons, to have adventures like her mother and father did. She's given the chance to be the first female Ranger's apprentice and what does she do? She shows up at Will's with a maid and a ton of fancy clothes thinking she can spend time with the local baron enjoying time at court! Okay, what happened here? It's like someone kidnapped the first Maddie and put a different one in her place before she got to Will's. If this Maddie was back with Cassandra they'd be having a grand time and there'd be no problems at all. It's like Flannagan had to reinvent Maddie so he could create conflict between her and Will. Not good.
Now once we get all that out of the way and the character development is finish the book is quite good. Will and Maddie go off to investigate the accidental death of another Ranger and the action starts there. This part of the story is typical Flannagan and I enjoyed it almost as much as I did the other novels. It was just way too short.
Not sure if Flannagan plans on making Maddie the subject of a new series or not. If so, my suggestion - skip it.
November 5, 2013
Check out my Alyss costume HERE: http://escapingrealitybookreviews.wor...
Excuse me while I go cry in a corner.
Wow, was this book perfect, or what? It was definitely worth the $12 in shipping fees to get it from the UK, rather than waiting for the USA edition in a month. My life is complete, and yet destroyed. This book makes you cry, it makes you laugh, it makes you happy, sad, scared, worried, pretty much every emotion you've ever felt. In one book.
There is a sort of... conclusive feeling to the whole novel. Everything is wrapped up, all loose ends tied together, and you put it down with a feeling of immense satisfaction.
This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It's perfect. It's magnificent. It's better than any other (aside from HP, which it ties) book I have EVER read. Any book. This is the best book, I have ever read. Wow. I loved it. So much. The characters! Getting to see Will all grown up and so much like Halt! And yet, he was still my Will. It was all so perfect.
I'm 16, and I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Excuse me while I go cry in a corner.
Wow, was this book perfect, or what? It was definitely worth the $12 in shipping fees to get it from the UK, rather than waiting for the USA edition in a month. My life is complete, and yet destroyed. This book makes you cry, it makes you laugh, it makes you happy, sad, scared, worried, pretty much every emotion you've ever felt. In one book.
There is a sort of... conclusive feeling to the whole novel. Everything is wrapped up, all loose ends tied together, and you put it down with a feeling of immense satisfaction.
This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It's perfect. It's magnificent. It's better than any other (aside from HP, which it ties) book I have EVER read. Any book. This is the best book, I have ever read. Wow. I loved it. So much. The characters! Getting to see Will all grown up and so much like Halt! And yet, he was still my Will. It was all so perfect.
I'm 16, and I HIGHLY recommend this book.
September 29, 2013
The advantage of living in Australia can sometimes feel like a disadvantage. Sure, we're apparently the envy of a lot of the world financially (if they've heard of us), we have a great environment, some wonderful sports and some of the world's best coffee, yet it always feels like we're last to get any of the good cultural acts. Most of my favourite American bands and films seem to come around after everyone else has had them (and books too). Sure, we get the odd Marvel film early viewing but it's almost like a token gift.
Which is why it's nice when a popular (and favourite series of mine) is actually written by an Australian. I don't mean to boast, but I will since it rarely happens, that I got to read this novel way earlier than most of the world. It's not scheduled till an October 3 release date and yet the publishers got the novel early to my local bookstore where I had a nice pre-order to pick it up for almost 10 dollars cheaper.
Now, to the book itself. It must be noted that the 5 star rating is the result of all the entire novels in the series, though I have no doubt this may be the best among them. It was clearly a novel written with care, passion and insight and this to an extent helped make it a touch above the other novels in the series.
I have a tendency to rate YA and general children's literature books on a different scale or level to other novels. That is not to say I find them inferior as literature. Some of the greatest works of fiction have been primarily children's fiction texts (see Alice in Wonderland, The Hobbit or The Chronicles of Narnia for example). But like other types of 'genre fiction' they are different to other works of literature. And when I say literature I mean the literature studied in schools or universities as 'high-brow' works. To that extent I try and judge children's literature as a whole, by the various issues and concerns they deal with.
As an entire series Ranger's Apprentice has been superb children's fiction. It is the type of fiction written and appealing to all ages. Though John Flanagan's style could hardly be called beautiful it is wry and warm in its tone; inviting but never consoling. There is a subtlety about his writing, and though his tales are of other worlds I cannot help but feel the particular Australian vibe which leaks through his words. It is a familiar vibe and one which grounds the book all the more in reality. It is an odd concept that a work of fantasy could be grounded in familiarity but the best fantasy truly takes the normality of the world and exposes the fantastic elements of that normality.
The plot of this novel is hard to talk about without exposing any key spoilers. It follows a much older Will and his new apprentice as they go undercover on a mission, a mission with roots in Will's recent and dark past. It is a plot lined with tragedy and is about the process of recovering from tragedy. It is a moving and fitting end for the series, which in a way comes full circle as the reader by this point has seen Will Treaty move from Apprentice to Ranger to Master Ranger with Apprentice. I will warn readers that there is little of any of the other characters that you may be familiar with in this novel. That said, if you've read this far, why stop now?
There is a sense that the novel could continue on with another book following Will and his apprentice. However, I think it is fitting that John Flanagan end it here. Not only does it allow for the series to come that full circle. But it is a bowing out before the novels begin to recycle plots ad infinitum. There is a noted idea amongst storytellers that it is better to leave the audience wanting more than to outstay your welcome. And I believe John Flanagan has left his readers wanting more, leaving it up to his readers to imagine the future and beyond.
Read
August 27, 2016 YES. THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD. DON'T BLAME ME IF YOU IGNORE THIS, AND READ AHEAD WHEN YOU . . .
1) shouldn't because you don't have much of a grasp on the series.
2) don't want anything spoiled (like I sadly had).
&
3) just don't want some additional information on JF RA series book #12.
4) however, if you have randomly read the 11th book, then I think you would be okay to read on. It's not like you have become emotionally attached to any of the characters as such. yah.
So, please. Caution has been given. Read at own risk people.
^___________^
Okay. *clears throat* Ever since I started reading John Flanagan's first RA book -- The Ruins of Gorlan, I became immensely captivated by the man's work. When I finally finished the series, The Lost Stories helped me through the pain, but it only satisfied for a short time. SO, when I found that there was a 12th book, you could say that I was excited. VERY EXCITED.
but OMG. OCTOBER. Really? Why?
When I read the descriptions on Goodreads, I literally started freaking out that Halt had died or something, but from other descriptions it is definitely evident that he lives. SO, then that got me extremely worried that it's rather Alyss that has passed on. If Mr. Flanagan does that to me, I think I will need to be issued into psychiatric care. Seriously, though. But hang on, we have many other characters we have come to love immensely, so what if it's Gilan, Jenny, Horace, Evanlyn, Pauline, etc. These are some pretty important questions that we have no answers to! UNTIL OCTOBER! Poo.
I'm so conflicted it is killing me. By the sounds of it, Will's apprentice will be the royal princess - Horace and Cassandra's first born child. I'm not sure if I'm thrilled with the idea of a female Ranger; it just really doesn't seem to be sitting well with me. It almost disrupts the awesomeness of the Ranger Corps. Like, I'm a girl and everything, but in these books believe that men are the tiny bit more superior in these novels, even though there are those females who kick arse for sure in them. I just think it was a risky move on Flanagan's part. Who knows how many are going to be for or against it.
But seriously, if it's Alyss that has died, I don't know if I could ever look at The Ranger's Apprentice the same ever again. :(
October cannot come soon enough either way.
Review to come, that is, when I actually buy the book online in friggin OCTOBER.
UPDATE 18/06/13
1) shouldn't because you don't have much of a grasp on the series.
2) don't want anything spoiled (like I sadly had).
&
3) just don't want some additional information on JF RA series book #12.
4) however, if you have randomly read the 11th book, then I think you would be okay to read on. It's not like you have become emotionally attached to any of the characters as such. yah.
So, please. Caution has been given. Read at own risk people.
^___________^
Okay. *clears throat* Ever since I started reading John Flanagan's first RA book -- The Ruins of Gorlan, I became immensely captivated by the man's work. When I finally finished the series, The Lost Stories helped me through the pain, but it only satisfied for a short time. SO, when I found that there was a 12th book, you could say that I was excited. VERY EXCITED.
but OMG. OCTOBER. Really? Why?
When I read the descriptions on Goodreads, I literally started freaking out that Halt had died or something, but from other descriptions it is definitely evident that he lives. SO, then that got me extremely worried that it's rather Alyss that has passed on. If Mr. Flanagan does that to me, I think I will need to be issued into psychiatric care. Seriously, though. But hang on, we have many other characters we have come to love immensely, so what if it's Gilan, Jenny, Horace, Evanlyn, Pauline, etc. These are some pretty important questions that we have no answers to! UNTIL OCTOBER! Poo.
I'm so conflicted it is killing me. By the sounds of it, Will's apprentice will be the royal princess - Horace and Cassandra's first born child. I'm not sure if I'm thrilled with the idea of a female Ranger; it just really doesn't seem to be sitting well with me. It almost disrupts the awesomeness of the Ranger Corps. Like, I'm a girl and everything, but in these books believe that men are the tiny bit more superior in these novels, even though there are those females who kick arse for sure in them. I just think it was a risky move on Flanagan's part. Who knows how many are going to be for or against it.
But seriously, if it's Alyss that has died, I don't know if I could ever look at The Ranger's Apprentice the same ever again. :(
October cannot come soon enough either way.
Review to come, that is, when I actually buy the book online in friggin OCTOBER.
UPDATE 18/06/13
September 7, 2021
چند فصل آخر رو اشکریزون ترجمه کردم و بهپایان رسوندم. این پایان تمام کاراکترهای دوستداشتنی و ماجراهای زیباشون بود. و آه، مدی عزیزم. مدی عزیز عزیزم. خیلی خوشحالم و بهت افتخار میکنم که نخستین رنجر زن شدی. قلبم پر از خوشی و اندوه توامانه از به پایان رسیدن این مجموعهی دوستداشتنی.
April 29, 2020
Wonderful finish to the series. It's very bittersweet, but I love it anyways.
SO GLAD MY WILL RETURNED TO ME. 😭😭😍😍 I wish he'd never left.
SO GLAD MY WILL RETURNED TO ME. 😭😭😍😍 I wish he'd never left.
September 7, 2018
~ I wanted to rewrite my review for this book because it holds a really special place in my heart. Plus the old review was pretty crap, and this book deserves the best review I can write for it. I can't recommend this series highly enough to people, it will always be special to me and I love it so much and always will. Ok, now to my review.
This is one of the best books I have read. I loved everything about this book. It is my favourite in the series and one of my favourites in general. I loved the whole story it was so great, I loved the characters, I love everything. This book was just so great.
I really loved the plot of this book. It was a really well developed story, and it was so great and beautiful and sad. In this one, Will is far from the cheerful, humorous, happy and kind to all character who lights up the place with his smile. No, in this one he's dark and languid. Consumed by grief after a tragic death of someone who meant the world to him - which the death so shouldn't have happened it was so terrible and sad! - Will is consumed by grief and anger at the unfair and senseless tragedy. He can think of nothing but getting revenge on those who were responsible and its consuming him fully and darkening his soul. He's not listening to anything his friends say and he just doesn't care anymore, even refusing missions, putting his position as a Ranger at risk, something that would destroy him if he lost it. He's lost all heart and spirit. Wills friends are extremely worried for him, but they can't find a way to stop him spiralling down this dark path. Meanwhile at the same time, Cassandra the soon to be queen, and her husband Horace the great warrior knight, are having trouble with their rebellious fifteen year old teenage daughter Madelyn - or Maddie as she's always called. Just the typical teenage stuff, always backchatting and having attitude and sneaking out of the castle at night, annoying the guards and driving her parents insane. When they all come together - Horace, Cassandra, Halt, Will's former mentor and father figure, now a retired ranger, Pauline, Halt's wife, and Gilan the Commandant of the Ranger Corps, another former apprentice of Halt and a close friend of Will - it is Halt's ingenuous idea to have Will take an apprentice, and for that apprentice to be Maddie. They're all shocked at first, as Maddie would be the first ever female Ranger apprentice, not to mention the fact that she's a princess, but after some thinking they believe it will work. So they send a letter to Will, asking him to help them by taking Maddie as an apprentice. It's something Will can't refuse. Somehow even in the dark place he's in, he manages to realise that he can't turn his back on his two closest friends, after everything they've all done for each other, how many times they've saved each other's lives, everything they've been through together and what they all mean to each to other.
So Will takes Maddie as an apprentice. At first he's still gruff, uncaring and spiritless, and Maddie finds it difficult to cope with all her privileges as a princess being taken away, her 'uncle' Will being different and the tough job of everything. But over time, Will gets too occupied with Maddie to focus on his dark thoughts of vengeance, and Maddie's presence gradually lightens his mood and puts spirit back in him, she even makes him laugh finally for the first time in ages one morning. Maddie also matures, learning more responsibility, independence and sensibility. Eventually, Will and Maddie uncover this huge despicable crime of child kidnappings for a slave ring, and they must solve and stop it. The suspense climaxes in the last quarter of the book, and it seriously becomes nearly unputdownable!
SPOILERS
I just have to say this! The last part, when Will tells Maddie to run and get the kids to safety and he stays and holds off the band of slavers as they're called and lets himself get captured. Jory Ruhl, the one who was mainly responsible for the death of Will's wife Alyss, and who also turns out to be the leader of the criminal gang, plans to burn Will to death 'in honour' of Alyss, who died in a fire in a building. I know this is gonna sound very weird, but I don't think Will would've minded if he had actually died like that, just as Alyss had died, that's probably how he would want to go. Wow I loved that whole part though, when Will was captured, the SUSPENSE! My hear was pounding as I read! Then Maddie went back for Will and saved him! Oh I loved that so much, that whole part was something else. The climax was something else. Truly amazing. When Jory Ruhl fell into the pile of wood and the fire began and he was burned alive, in the fire that he was going to kill Will with, that Alyss died from, and Will rolled clear of it just in time. And the end of that scene was so beautiful, when Will was carrying Maddie who had been gravely injured by Jory Ruhl's spear and came dangerously close to death, up the cliff and treated her. He cried for her, desperately hoping her for her to make it. And miraculously, Maddie pulls through. Maddie then becomes an official member of the Rangers, and Will is back to his normal self. This story was just absolutely beautiful... I love you so much Will! And all the characters!
Spoilers end.
Stories like these are always special to me. Those stories with a kind of dark character, driven by grief or pain or suffering, who slowly changes throughout the story as a result of another character or adventures. I just love those kind of character developments, those transitions from dark, cold and bitter, to strong, lively, and realising what life is really about, what it can really be, defying the odds, and whatever their dark past is to be great, to take their life back and live it to the full. Those kinds of characters are my favourite, my most highly regarded and respected. They are great characters, so special and amazing, and this story is a sensational example of a beautiful story for a character like that. The underlying themes and depth of this story make it a thrilling, beautiful and wonderful story to behold.
I never got bored throughout this book. In this series I loved even the casual interaction between characters. Even just a typical day in the world of these characters was enjoyable. John Flanagan's writing style made sure that every little thing that happens is an enjoyable read, and keeps you hooked until the end. I remember reading the first book of this series, The Ruins of Gorlan, knowing nothing about it and just giving it a shot, it was the first different book I had read in a while, and I just got hooked instantly and pulled into this series, devouring the rest of the books like a wildfire. I'm so glad I picked up Ranger's Apprentice The Ruins of Gorlan that faithful day, and so glad I got to experience this amazing series. The Royal Ranger was of course, my favourite, a spectacular conclusion to this awesome series. My second favourite was The Sorcerer in the North, and other favourites of mine would probably be The Ruins of Gorlan, The Burning Bridge and The Lost Stories. I loved every one of the Ranger's Apprentice books, and even though I read other amazing series that may become my favourites, Ranger's Apprentice will always hold a very special place in my heart. I will always remember it. And best of all, its the work of fellow Aussie author John Flanagan! This provides so much inspiration for me, a young Australian with a dream to become an author. Thank you John Flanagan, for this truly amazing series, and for providing so much inspiration and ideas for me as an author. I owe one of my own series that I created to you, it came to exist thanks to the inspiration of Ranger's Apprentice. So thank you John Flanagan, for Ranger's Apprentice.
Look, I have to give The Royal Ranger a 10/10. I just loved everything about this book. And the things it made me feel when reading it make it worthy of a 10/10 book. I absolutely loved the story, I love the characters so much, they are amazing! I love the world, the Kingdom of Araluen, and I absolutely love the whole concept of the Rangers. The pace was perfect in this book, and I love John Flanagan's writing style. Everything about this book is just amazing, even the freaking cover is absolutely beautiful! Plus it's my favourite kind of book, medieval fantasy, yes! I will remember Ranger's Apprentice forever. It may get lost amongst many other great books as I broaden my horizons, but it will always be there, I will always have the whole series - oh except book 10, oops, (laughs nervously) - sitting on my bookshelf, a reminder of my first real favourite series, and one that continues to inspire me. Thank you for reading, and please if you haven't, go pick up Ranger's Apprentice and read it! As soon as you try it, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I can't wait for the movie! I'm so excited! You can be sure I'm gonna go see it as soon as it is released! The wait is killing me!
This is one of the best books I have read. I loved everything about this book. It is my favourite in the series and one of my favourites in general. I loved the whole story it was so great, I loved the characters, I love everything. This book was just so great.
I really loved the plot of this book. It was a really well developed story, and it was so great and beautiful and sad. In this one, Will is far from the cheerful, humorous, happy and kind to all character who lights up the place with his smile. No, in this one he's dark and languid. Consumed by grief after a tragic death of someone who meant the world to him - which the death so shouldn't have happened it was so terrible and sad! - Will is consumed by grief and anger at the unfair and senseless tragedy. He can think of nothing but getting revenge on those who were responsible and its consuming him fully and darkening his soul. He's not listening to anything his friends say and he just doesn't care anymore, even refusing missions, putting his position as a Ranger at risk, something that would destroy him if he lost it. He's lost all heart and spirit. Wills friends are extremely worried for him, but they can't find a way to stop him spiralling down this dark path. Meanwhile at the same time, Cassandra the soon to be queen, and her husband Horace the great warrior knight, are having trouble with their rebellious fifteen year old teenage daughter Madelyn - or Maddie as she's always called. Just the typical teenage stuff, always backchatting and having attitude and sneaking out of the castle at night, annoying the guards and driving her parents insane. When they all come together - Horace, Cassandra, Halt, Will's former mentor and father figure, now a retired ranger, Pauline, Halt's wife, and Gilan the Commandant of the Ranger Corps, another former apprentice of Halt and a close friend of Will - it is Halt's ingenuous idea to have Will take an apprentice, and for that apprentice to be Maddie. They're all shocked at first, as Maddie would be the first ever female Ranger apprentice, not to mention the fact that she's a princess, but after some thinking they believe it will work. So they send a letter to Will, asking him to help them by taking Maddie as an apprentice. It's something Will can't refuse. Somehow even in the dark place he's in, he manages to realise that he can't turn his back on his two closest friends, after everything they've all done for each other, how many times they've saved each other's lives, everything they've been through together and what they all mean to each to other.
So Will takes Maddie as an apprentice. At first he's still gruff, uncaring and spiritless, and Maddie finds it difficult to cope with all her privileges as a princess being taken away, her 'uncle' Will being different and the tough job of everything. But over time, Will gets too occupied with Maddie to focus on his dark thoughts of vengeance, and Maddie's presence gradually lightens his mood and puts spirit back in him, she even makes him laugh finally for the first time in ages one morning. Maddie also matures, learning more responsibility, independence and sensibility. Eventually, Will and Maddie uncover this huge despicable crime of child kidnappings for a slave ring, and they must solve and stop it. The suspense climaxes in the last quarter of the book, and it seriously becomes nearly unputdownable!
SPOILERS
I just have to say this! The last part, when Will tells Maddie to run and get the kids to safety and he stays and holds off the band of slavers as they're called and lets himself get captured. Jory Ruhl, the one who was mainly responsible for the death of Will's wife Alyss, and who also turns out to be the leader of the criminal gang, plans to burn Will to death 'in honour' of Alyss, who died in a fire in a building. I know this is gonna sound very weird, but I don't think Will would've minded if he had actually died like that, just as Alyss had died, that's probably how he would want to go. Wow I loved that whole part though, when Will was captured, the SUSPENSE! My hear was pounding as I read! Then Maddie went back for Will and saved him! Oh I loved that so much, that whole part was something else. The climax was something else. Truly amazing. When Jory Ruhl fell into the pile of wood and the fire began and he was burned alive, in the fire that he was going to kill Will with, that Alyss died from, and Will rolled clear of it just in time. And the end of that scene was so beautiful, when Will was carrying Maddie who had been gravely injured by Jory Ruhl's spear and came dangerously close to death, up the cliff and treated her. He cried for her, desperately hoping her for her to make it. And miraculously, Maddie pulls through. Maddie then becomes an official member of the Rangers, and Will is back to his normal self. This story was just absolutely beautiful... I love you so much Will! And all the characters!
Spoilers end.
Stories like these are always special to me. Those stories with a kind of dark character, driven by grief or pain or suffering, who slowly changes throughout the story as a result of another character or adventures. I just love those kind of character developments, those transitions from dark, cold and bitter, to strong, lively, and realising what life is really about, what it can really be, defying the odds, and whatever their dark past is to be great, to take their life back and live it to the full. Those kinds of characters are my favourite, my most highly regarded and respected. They are great characters, so special and amazing, and this story is a sensational example of a beautiful story for a character like that. The underlying themes and depth of this story make it a thrilling, beautiful and wonderful story to behold.
I never got bored throughout this book. In this series I loved even the casual interaction between characters. Even just a typical day in the world of these characters was enjoyable. John Flanagan's writing style made sure that every little thing that happens is an enjoyable read, and keeps you hooked until the end. I remember reading the first book of this series, The Ruins of Gorlan, knowing nothing about it and just giving it a shot, it was the first different book I had read in a while, and I just got hooked instantly and pulled into this series, devouring the rest of the books like a wildfire. I'm so glad I picked up Ranger's Apprentice The Ruins of Gorlan that faithful day, and so glad I got to experience this amazing series. The Royal Ranger was of course, my favourite, a spectacular conclusion to this awesome series. My second favourite was The Sorcerer in the North, and other favourites of mine would probably be The Ruins of Gorlan, The Burning Bridge and The Lost Stories. I loved every one of the Ranger's Apprentice books, and even though I read other amazing series that may become my favourites, Ranger's Apprentice will always hold a very special place in my heart. I will always remember it. And best of all, its the work of fellow Aussie author John Flanagan! This provides so much inspiration for me, a young Australian with a dream to become an author. Thank you John Flanagan, for this truly amazing series, and for providing so much inspiration and ideas for me as an author. I owe one of my own series that I created to you, it came to exist thanks to the inspiration of Ranger's Apprentice. So thank you John Flanagan, for Ranger's Apprentice.
Look, I have to give The Royal Ranger a 10/10. I just loved everything about this book. And the things it made me feel when reading it make it worthy of a 10/10 book. I absolutely loved the story, I love the characters so much, they are amazing! I love the world, the Kingdom of Araluen, and I absolutely love the whole concept of the Rangers. The pace was perfect in this book, and I love John Flanagan's writing style. Everything about this book is just amazing, even the freaking cover is absolutely beautiful! Plus it's my favourite kind of book, medieval fantasy, yes! I will remember Ranger's Apprentice forever. It may get lost amongst many other great books as I broaden my horizons, but it will always be there, I will always have the whole series - oh except book 10, oops, (laughs nervously) - sitting on my bookshelf, a reminder of my first real favourite series, and one that continues to inspire me. Thank you for reading, and please if you haven't, go pick up Ranger's Apprentice and read it! As soon as you try it, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I can't wait for the movie! I'm so excited! You can be sure I'm gonna go see it as soon as it is released! The wait is killing me!
November 11, 2013
The Rangers Apprentice: The Royal Ranger
If you love The Rangers Apprentice series, you will LOVE this book.
4.5 stars
The perfect read for a Rangers Apprentice fan. This book gave me such a feeling of nostalgia, it was like visiting and old friend. Flanagan tore at my emotions and made me laugh from start to finish of The Royal Ranger.
Like others said, the adventure isn’t as grandiose as previous novels. It does not make this story any less exciting than previous novels. The adventure Will and the new apprentice undertake is fitting and realistic first quest for an apprentice ranger.
The first book in the series follows Will as an apprentice, the last book follows will as a trainer of an apprentice. Will trains the newest apprentice, and he falls into a similar role as halt in the first novel. I felt like I was reading book 1 again but from halts point of view.
Pros:
The newest Ranger Maddie
The role reversal of this book compared to book 1
The emotion
How Flanagan writes conversations.
Added vocabulary
Cons:
Will seems to lose a step
Smaller adventure than we are used too
*****SOME SPOILERS BELOW******
The Long:
Half a star was taken away because I believe Will could have eliminated more thugs than he did at the end of the book. He not being able to hit more of them didn’t fit his legendary persona. That was my only concern.
This read is very similar to book 1. Will becomes a mentor and emulates much of what Halt does in the first novel. He starts using Halt’s phrases and realizes he has become much like Halt. He sees traits in his apprentice, Maddie, that remind him of himself as a young apprentice. I laughed through much of the novel as it unfolded.
I kept remembering book one and how Halt acted and treated Will, and it was hilarious to see the same occurrences play out again. Only this time from the ranger, not the apprentices, point of view.
We stay in Araluen the entire time, which is fitting when you have an apprentice. I would have liked a bigger adventure, but it simply would not have fit the story line. It would have been like coming home from your desk job on a Wednesday, then call in sick on Thursday because the President said you are the only hope to save the world from an alien invasion, then go back to work on Friday like it was no big deal; That just doesn’t make sense.
The character relationships between all of the main characters remain strong. Flanagan does a fantastic job of making all of their personas and relationships with each other feel very real. They have believable concerns and dilemmas throughout the novel, making the characters feel very real and human despite being fictional.
The royal ranger ends the series very well. Flanagan closed the book on Will’s adventures, and I feel content with what happened. He has the option to open up a new series with Maddie, but Will as the main character has come to an end.
The Story:
We enter Araluen almost 2 years after Horace and Cassandra’s Marriage. The King is sick, Cassandra is the regent, and everything in the kingdom is calm. Cassandra and Horace have a daughter, Maddie, who is as adventurous and headstrong as her mother.
>>>>>>>BIG SPOILER ON NEXT LINE<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>spoilers returning to normal levels<<<<<<<
Will and Maddie train at Will’s cabin at Redmont Fief. We see both characters evolve because of the other involvement in each other’s life. Maddie introduces a new weapon to the Rangers’ armory. The two of them eventually are given a quest by Gilan, the new Ranger Commandment. Will and Maddie embark on a classic feeling Ranger quest to destroy a slave trading gang, which inevitably leads to Will finding redemption when he least expected it.
The Writing:
Flanagan writes conversations that feel so real and natural. Many of the conversations will feel relatable to real life. Flanagan has always done an excellent job creating real world feeling situation.
The book is filled with challenging vocab words. Flanagan put in the perfect amount of vocab, and I was impressed with the amount of times I found myself looking up a definition. I was not expecting this, and loved that he is able to challenge readers with his writing.
The Characters:
Will- Is in a state of depression. He is on the verge of getting kicked out of the Ranger Corps. Halt and Gilan quickly find a way to save their friend. Will slowly becomes (an older, Halt like) version of his younger self with the help of Maddie. My heart went out to how Will must have felt at the beginning of the novel.
Halt and Pauline- See like a typical couple now. They banter and work well as a team and always seem to be on the same page as one another. Pauline has 1 pov chapter in the beginning of the novel. Both Halt and Pauline take supporting rolls through this novel, and are not present through much of the middle of the story. Halt is now a retired ranger; he denied the position of Commandment when it was offered to him.
Horace and Cassandra- are stressed with running the kingdom for Cassandras incumbent father. They have a lot to deal with. On top of the kingdom they have a rebellious teenager. They take on a role of parents who just don’t know what to do; feeling like their child is on her last straw. They also appear in the beginning and end of the book, but are not present during most of it.
Maddie- acts like the typical royal brat in the beginning of the novel. She has some redeemable traits, like being very personable with the guards, and being a good hunter with her sling. She is very spoiled and pretentious. She evolves with her training with Will. By the end of the novel she evolves into a very mature and respectable young adult.
Gilan- has been awarded the position of Ranger Commandant. He receives the position when Halt refuses. He handles the job well, but is concerned that Will is close to being ejected from the corps.
Jenny- Is still running her restaurant and appears and is mentioned a couple of time through the novel.
Overall:
4.5 stars- A great end to a series I loved so much. Review will be rounded up to 5 on Amazon and Good reads because this book is worth it!!
If you love The Rangers Apprentice series, you will LOVE this book.
4.5 stars
The perfect read for a Rangers Apprentice fan. This book gave me such a feeling of nostalgia, it was like visiting and old friend. Flanagan tore at my emotions and made me laugh from start to finish of The Royal Ranger.
Like others said, the adventure isn’t as grandiose as previous novels. It does not make this story any less exciting than previous novels. The adventure Will and the new apprentice undertake is fitting and realistic first quest for an apprentice ranger.
The first book in the series follows Will as an apprentice, the last book follows will as a trainer of an apprentice. Will trains the newest apprentice, and he falls into a similar role as halt in the first novel. I felt like I was reading book 1 again but from halts point of view.
Pros:
The newest Ranger Maddie
The role reversal of this book compared to book 1
The emotion
How Flanagan writes conversations.
Added vocabulary
Cons:
Will seems to lose a step
Smaller adventure than we are used too
*****SOME SPOILERS BELOW******
The Long:
Half a star was taken away because I believe Will could have eliminated more thugs than he did at the end of the book. He not being able to hit more of them didn’t fit his legendary persona. That was my only concern.
This read is very similar to book 1. Will becomes a mentor and emulates much of what Halt does in the first novel. He starts using Halt’s phrases and realizes he has become much like Halt. He sees traits in his apprentice, Maddie, that remind him of himself as a young apprentice. I laughed through much of the novel as it unfolded.
I kept remembering book one and how Halt acted and treated Will, and it was hilarious to see the same occurrences play out again. Only this time from the ranger, not the apprentices, point of view.
We stay in Araluen the entire time, which is fitting when you have an apprentice. I would have liked a bigger adventure, but it simply would not have fit the story line. It would have been like coming home from your desk job on a Wednesday, then call in sick on Thursday because the President said you are the only hope to save the world from an alien invasion, then go back to work on Friday like it was no big deal; That just doesn’t make sense.
The character relationships between all of the main characters remain strong. Flanagan does a fantastic job of making all of their personas and relationships with each other feel very real. They have believable concerns and dilemmas throughout the novel, making the characters feel very real and human despite being fictional.
The royal ranger ends the series very well. Flanagan closed the book on Will’s adventures, and I feel content with what happened. He has the option to open up a new series with Maddie, but Will as the main character has come to an end.
The Story:
We enter Araluen almost 2 years after Horace and Cassandra’s Marriage. The King is sick, Cassandra is the regent, and everything in the kingdom is calm. Cassandra and Horace have a daughter, Maddie, who is as adventurous and headstrong as her mother.
>>>>>>>BIG SPOILER ON NEXT LINE<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>spoilers returning to normal levels<<<<<<<
Will and Maddie train at Will’s cabin at Redmont Fief. We see both characters evolve because of the other involvement in each other’s life. Maddie introduces a new weapon to the Rangers’ armory. The two of them eventually are given a quest by Gilan, the new Ranger Commandment. Will and Maddie embark on a classic feeling Ranger quest to destroy a slave trading gang, which inevitably leads to Will finding redemption when he least expected it.
The Writing:
Flanagan writes conversations that feel so real and natural. Many of the conversations will feel relatable to real life. Flanagan has always done an excellent job creating real world feeling situation.
The book is filled with challenging vocab words. Flanagan put in the perfect amount of vocab, and I was impressed with the amount of times I found myself looking up a definition. I was not expecting this, and loved that he is able to challenge readers with his writing.
The Characters:
Will- Is in a state of depression. He is on the verge of getting kicked out of the Ranger Corps. Halt and Gilan quickly find a way to save their friend. Will slowly becomes (an older, Halt like) version of his younger self with the help of Maddie. My heart went out to how Will must have felt at the beginning of the novel.
Halt and Pauline- See like a typical couple now. They banter and work well as a team and always seem to be on the same page as one another. Pauline has 1 pov chapter in the beginning of the novel. Both Halt and Pauline take supporting rolls through this novel, and are not present through much of the middle of the story. Halt is now a retired ranger; he denied the position of Commandment when it was offered to him.
Horace and Cassandra- are stressed with running the kingdom for Cassandras incumbent father. They have a lot to deal with. On top of the kingdom they have a rebellious teenager. They take on a role of parents who just don’t know what to do; feeling like their child is on her last straw. They also appear in the beginning and end of the book, but are not present during most of it.
Maddie- acts like the typical royal brat in the beginning of the novel. She has some redeemable traits, like being very personable with the guards, and being a good hunter with her sling. She is very spoiled and pretentious. She evolves with her training with Will. By the end of the novel she evolves into a very mature and respectable young adult.
Gilan- has been awarded the position of Ranger Commandant. He receives the position when Halt refuses. He handles the job well, but is concerned that Will is close to being ejected from the corps.
Jenny- Is still running her restaurant and appears and is mentioned a couple of time through the novel.
Overall:
4.5 stars- A great end to a series I loved so much. Review will be rounded up to 5 on Amazon and Good reads because this book is worth it!!
November 10, 2025
6 stars
Amazing!!! had me in tears at least 5 times
I’m so sad that this series is over
Amazing!!! had me in tears at least 5 times
I’m so sad that this series is over
June 16, 2017
I loved the repetition with the first book, that Will was giving the same answers as Halt used to do! To conclude: great ending to a wonderful series. It was a long one, but a very enjoyable one as well :)
March 13, 2016
Very good. The best of the series, I think.
January 5, 2014
Thoughts on the Overall Book: So, I'm a long time fan of the series. It's one of my favorites, and I was excited as everyone else to hear he was continuing it, but then when I found out the premise. Well, I wasn't nearly so excited anymore. And while it turned out not to be as horrible as I feared, I still really wish John Flanagan hadn't written this story line. I couldn't care less about it really. I think he should have just written a prequel story about Halt and Crowley. We all wanted that anyway, but oh well, that's my opinion.
Cover--Yea or Nay: It's not my favorite Ranger cover, but I do still like it. I like the misty feel to it.
Characters: I'm not a fan of seeing my favorite characters get old. My sweet little Will is old and grim, and that's okay when it's Halt because I love Halt for who he is, but Will? No. Halt is mostly the same, but more like a grandpa than himself. Cassandra is still annoying and throwing random hissy fits, Horace wasn't in it enough to form an opinion on his older self, and Gilan is really the only one who hasn't changed at all. *sigh*. And then we come to Maddie. I've never been a complete fan of John Flanagan's female characters. Alyss was the only one who I actually ever liked. I'm not counting Pauline because she wasn't a teenage girl, and Maddie was really just Cassandra, but more snooty at least at first. I never really ended up liking her. I tolerated her for the duration of the book, and she ended up okay, but I have no wish ever to see her again and I don't care where she goes after this.
As for the baddies, Jory Ruhl was pretty good. I wished there was more of him in the book. The whole part with the Storyman and the Stealer was cool. They were creepy and that whole idea of the slavers was pretty well thought out as well, so at least we had pretty smart villains.
The Romance: Thank heavens there wasn't any because it would have made this book intolerable.
Writing Style: I have never had any complaints with John Flanagan's writing style itself. It's pretty much the same as all his other books.
Accuracy/ Believability: The Baddie's plans were believable, Maddie wasn't too good in a fight, and there wasn't much else to complain about in that quarter.
Problems/What bothered me: Maddie. And truthfully, the whole idea of female rangers. Okay, yes, I would love to be a ranger myself, but I certainly don't want to read about female rangers. We've already come to the conclusion that the ladies of Araluen are more than capable of fighting and they have always been along with the lads, the knights and rangers, but I'm a bit of a purist, and I like to keep all boys clubs all boys when I'm reading. Mainly because I like reading about male characters more than female characters for the fact that the lads usually aren't as annoying on a general level as the girls. I don't like surprise girls coming in and getting in the way of the lads and being all "I'm better than anyone just because I'm a woman and I can kick butt as well as you". I'm not saying we can't! I'm just saying that the ladies can fight alongside the rangers, and they can fight just like the rangers, but actually being a ranger just...I didn't care for it. There was absolutely no reason Maddie even had to be a girl! The same story could have happened if she was a troublesome boy, and she might not have been quite as annoying. So yeah, my main problem with Maddie, I'm sorry, but she just kind of ruined the story for me.
Conclusion: 2.5 stars. The lowest ranting I have ever given a Ranger book. It was okay to read and I did enjoy some parts, but overall, I wasn't impressed and it made me sad to say that. John Flanagan, please write Halt and Crowley prequels, the fans will appreciate that gesture more than anything else.
Recommended Audience: Ranger fans who have to read it on principal. if you're new to the series, don't start here, obviously!
Cover--Yea or Nay: It's not my favorite Ranger cover, but I do still like it. I like the misty feel to it.
Characters: I'm not a fan of seeing my favorite characters get old. My sweet little Will is old and grim, and that's okay when it's Halt because I love Halt for who he is, but Will? No. Halt is mostly the same, but more like a grandpa than himself. Cassandra is still annoying and throwing random hissy fits, Horace wasn't in it enough to form an opinion on his older self, and Gilan is really the only one who hasn't changed at all. *sigh*. And then we come to Maddie. I've never been a complete fan of John Flanagan's female characters. Alyss was the only one who I actually ever liked. I'm not counting Pauline because she wasn't a teenage girl, and Maddie was really just Cassandra, but more snooty at least at first. I never really ended up liking her. I tolerated her for the duration of the book, and she ended up okay, but I have no wish ever to see her again and I don't care where she goes after this.
As for the baddies, Jory Ruhl was pretty good. I wished there was more of him in the book. The whole part with the Storyman and the Stealer was cool. They were creepy and that whole idea of the slavers was pretty well thought out as well, so at least we had pretty smart villains.
The Romance: Thank heavens there wasn't any because it would have made this book intolerable.
Writing Style: I have never had any complaints with John Flanagan's writing style itself. It's pretty much the same as all his other books.
Accuracy/ Believability: The Baddie's plans were believable, Maddie wasn't too good in a fight, and there wasn't much else to complain about in that quarter.
Problems/What bothered me: Maddie. And truthfully, the whole idea of female rangers. Okay, yes, I would love to be a ranger myself, but I certainly don't want to read about female rangers. We've already come to the conclusion that the ladies of Araluen are more than capable of fighting and they have always been along with the lads, the knights and rangers, but I'm a bit of a purist, and I like to keep all boys clubs all boys when I'm reading. Mainly because I like reading about male characters more than female characters for the fact that the lads usually aren't as annoying on a general level as the girls. I don't like surprise girls coming in and getting in the way of the lads and being all "I'm better than anyone just because I'm a woman and I can kick butt as well as you". I'm not saying we can't! I'm just saying that the ladies can fight alongside the rangers, and they can fight just like the rangers, but actually being a ranger just...I didn't care for it. There was absolutely no reason Maddie even had to be a girl! The same story could have happened if she was a troublesome boy, and she might not have been quite as annoying. So yeah, my main problem with Maddie, I'm sorry, but she just kind of ruined the story for me.
Conclusion: 2.5 stars. The lowest ranting I have ever given a Ranger book. It was okay to read and I did enjoy some parts, but overall, I wasn't impressed and it made me sad to say that. John Flanagan, please write Halt and Crowley prequels, the fans will appreciate that gesture more than anything else.
Recommended Audience: Ranger fans who have to read it on principal. if you're new to the series, don't start here, obviously!
August 21, 2017
The second half of the book gets nearly 4 stars, but the first half gets only 2 from me. This book takes place about 16 years after book 10. Ranger Will has gray hair and a gray beard (but he's only about 40, so that didn't fit). He's grieving a personal loss, feeling bitter and vengeful. Quite understandable. But he's also petty, petulant, and mean-spirited with his new apprentice, and to the kids at the party, and to the curious blacksmith. The drunken hangover scene went on far too long and Will was far too harsh, preachy, and cold. After all, it was a first offense, done in youthful ignorance and immaturity.
Why end the series with characters acting out of character? Why end with a downer? Would be better to stop after book 10, Emperor of Nihon-Ja. Much more upbeat story!
Gradually, by the second half of the book, Will became more like the cheerful fellow we know and love.
Thank goodness for his canny horse Tug. His "discussions" with Will added some light relief. There were a few humorous scenes in this book, relieving the otherwise unpleasant tone.
Plot-wise, I found some holes and inconsistencies:
But I choked up when Will finally cried his dammed-up tears. That felt credible and poignant. And I liked the epilogue.
Flanagan is a good writer, but he went a bit too far on the "willful teenager" trope, and he does tend to reiterate things we know from prior books (e.g., that Will doesn't tie up his horse, because ranger steeds don't run away). Moreover, anachronistic words like "dad" and "kid" pulled me out of the medieval setting and shot me back to modern America. And too much focus on coffee!
Why end the series with characters acting out of character? Why end with a downer? Would be better to stop after book 10, Emperor of Nihon-Ja. Much more upbeat story!
Gradually, by the second half of the book, Will became more like the cheerful fellow we know and love.
Thank goodness for his canny horse Tug. His "discussions" with Will added some light relief. There were a few humorous scenes in this book, relieving the otherwise unpleasant tone.
Plot-wise, I found some holes and inconsistencies:
But I choked up when Will finally cried his dammed-up tears. That felt credible and poignant. And I liked the epilogue.
Flanagan is a good writer, but he went a bit too far on the "willful teenager" trope, and he does tend to reiterate things we know from prior books (e.g., that Will doesn't tie up his horse, because ranger steeds don't run away). Moreover, anachronistic words like "dad" and "kid" pulled me out of the medieval setting and shot me back to modern America. And too much focus on coffee!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2022
5/5⭐
To był prześwietny powrót do tej serii! Po raczej średnim poprzednim tomie (aż zrobiłam dnf), od tego nie oczekiwałam nic specjalnego, a dostałam cudowną, pełną akcji historię, która była tak samo dobra jak pierwsze tomy tej serii. Genialna! Serdecznie polecam - nie tylko młodzieży. Podchodziłam do "Zwiadowców" sceptycznie, ale dosłownie od razu wciągnęłam się w ten świat, w tę akcję, pokochałam bohaterów. Doskonała przygodowa lektura i dla młodszych, i dla starszych!
To był prześwietny powrót do tej serii! Po raczej średnim poprzednim tomie (aż zrobiłam dnf), od tego nie oczekiwałam nic specjalnego, a dostałam cudowną, pełną akcji historię, która była tak samo dobra jak pierwsze tomy tej serii. Genialna! Serdecznie polecam - nie tylko młodzieży. Podchodziłam do "Zwiadowców" sceptycznie, ale dosłownie od razu wciągnęłam się w ten świat, w tę akcję, pokochałam bohaterów. Doskonała przygodowa lektura i dla młodszych, i dla starszych!
August 9, 2023
Leuk verhaal zoals eigenlijk altijd! Helaas ook veel minder leuke gebeurtenissen in dit boek, die ik uiteraard liever niet had gehad :/
December 17, 2013
3.5
Not necessarily my favorite book of the series, but I did find it a fitting conclusion as things come full circle and Will is now the grizzled grey-beard taking on an apprentice which opens him back up to the world. (I had sort of guessed what the "senseless tragedy" referenced in the blurb was from several of the reviews - so, thanks for that... )
One thing which kept distracting me is I was trying to think of timelines and ages. According to Wiki, Flanagan has said this last story takes place 16 years later - so if we take it 16 years after the first book, Will would be 31. I guess he just went grey early. ^_^
Anyway -
I enjoyed watching Maddie go from a spoiled brat to a disciplined Ranger. It was cool seeing Will as a mentor - repeating many of the lessons and habits picked up from Halt, including a wry sense of humor, but still infused with his own personality.
I found the storyline a little predictable and drawn out in places, but the ending kept me turning pages and I liked the epilogue a lot. It made me happy. :)
For some reason, I had thought Book 10 was going to be the last in the series, and I was very disappointed with it ending there. Then Lost Stories came out, and I thought that was it, and then this came out. I guess this is definitely it - and it makes sense to end here. As I've said, things have come full circle and it's a good conclusion to the series - one I'm sure I'll be rereading at least once or twice down the road.
Not necessarily my favorite book of the series, but I did find it a fitting conclusion as things come full circle and Will is now the grizzled grey-beard taking on an apprentice which opens him back up to the world. (I had sort of guessed what the "senseless tragedy" referenced in the blurb was from several of the reviews - so, thanks for that... )
One thing which kept distracting me is I was trying to think of timelines and ages. According to Wiki, Flanagan has said this last story takes place 16 years later - so if we take it 16 years after the first book, Will would be 31. I guess he just went grey early. ^_^
Anyway -
I enjoyed watching Maddie go from a spoiled brat to a disciplined Ranger. It was cool seeing Will as a mentor - repeating many of the lessons and habits picked up from Halt, including a wry sense of humor, but still infused with his own personality.
I found the storyline a little predictable and drawn out in places, but the ending kept me turning pages and I liked the epilogue a lot. It made me happy. :)
For some reason, I had thought Book 10 was going to be the last in the series, and I was very disappointed with it ending there. Then Lost Stories came out, and I thought that was it, and then this came out. I guess this is definitely it - and it makes sense to end here. As I've said, things have come full circle and it's a good conclusion to the series - one I'm sure I'll be rereading at least once or twice down the road.
December 10, 2013
This was a good book, like all the others in the series. It probably would have been somewhat less good if I had not read all the previous books. Like most Ranger's Apprentice novels, the plot is nothing spectacular, but the characters are great.
It had less humor and fewer laugh out loud moments than most of the preceding books. It's more bittersweet; less lighthearted. I didn't necessarily like it less because of this, but it was definitely different in tone. Readers who read Ranger's Apprentice primarily for its playful banter and wit may be disappointed in The Royal Ranger, but I was not. A very solid four stars.
It had less humor and fewer laugh out loud moments than most of the preceding books. It's more bittersweet; less lighthearted. I didn't necessarily like it less because of this, but it was definitely different in tone. Readers who read Ranger's Apprentice primarily for its playful banter and wit may be disappointed in The Royal Ranger, but I was not. A very solid four stars.
January 3, 2018
OH MY GOSH. OH MY GOSH. THIS FINALE, Y'ALL. THIS FINALE.
Out of the three parts of a story, Flanagan is the best at ENDINGS, I tell you. He may be the best ender-of-stories EVER - I always emerge from a Ranger's Apprentice book feeling ALL THE FEELS. But seriously, this whole book was awesome. Darn. Awesome.
And I'm gonna shut up now, before I start running around in circles with fangirliness. :D
Out of the three parts of a story, Flanagan is the best at ENDINGS, I tell you. He may be the best ender-of-stories EVER - I always emerge from a Ranger's Apprentice book feeling ALL THE FEELS. But seriously, this whole book was awesome. Darn. Awesome.
And I'm gonna shut up now, before I start running around in circles with fangirliness. :D
August 27, 2017
Arrrgh, the feeeeels!!! Review to come soon!
November 30, 2013
How I wanted to like this book, the closing of the series. The series has been quite well written, with interesting glimpses into cultural diversity and with a real feel for a mix of adventure, agency, and friendship. Halt's Peril was perhaps my favorite, for it emphasizes the real vulnerability of simply being human.
So I had high hopes for this book. Although the set up is fine -- Will's friends ask him to take an apprentice to ease his grief -- the execution felt light. For this adult, the series suddenly felt underdeveloped emotionally, with fewer risks. My three biggest issues: 1) Aside from the prolog, Will's grief, the ostensible pivot point for the plot, is truncated. 2) The female apprentice is talented, with little to no missteps in her training. This undercuts any emotional resonance. Rather than the story being about Will and the apprentice, it is really about the apprentice's adventures (all successful and heroic). For me, this is a type of romanticization of women, as if to be in an adventure story, girls and women need to be super-heroic, banished of all but the most minor flaws. 3) Finally, the modernization of language and gesture, particularly at the end, felt false -- again, as if the female apprentice had to be hipper and cooler, just to be present in the story.
The "full circle" of Will's taking on an apprentice is undercut by these issues; nonetheless, I'll continue to recommend the series.
So I had high hopes for this book. Although the set up is fine -- Will's friends ask him to take an apprentice to ease his grief -- the execution felt light. For this adult, the series suddenly felt underdeveloped emotionally, with fewer risks. My three biggest issues: 1) Aside from the prolog, Will's grief, the ostensible pivot point for the plot, is truncated. 2) The female apprentice is talented, with little to no missteps in her training. This undercuts any emotional resonance. Rather than the story being about Will and the apprentice, it is really about the apprentice's adventures (all successful and heroic). For me, this is a type of romanticization of women, as if to be in an adventure story, girls and women need to be super-heroic, banished of all but the most minor flaws. 3) Finally, the modernization of language and gesture, particularly at the end, felt false -- again, as if the female apprentice had to be hipper and cooler, just to be present in the story.
The "full circle" of Will's taking on an apprentice is undercut by these issues; nonetheless, I'll continue to recommend the series.
January 23, 2022
Ehhh... ze Zwiadowcami jest jak z powrotem do domu po długiej nieobecności. Niby jest tak samo jak przed wyjazdem, a jednak inaczej, lecz niezmiennie kocha się to miejsce.
WILL KOCHAM CIĘ NAJBARDZIEJ NA ŚWIECIE ❤️
Zakończenie jest 👌 zresztą jak cała książka
WILL KOCHAM CIĘ NAJBARDZIEJ NA ŚWIECIE ❤️
Zakończenie jest 👌 zresztą jak cała książka
April 13, 2022
This book was really good, it had old characters and new characters. It had the charm of the first book but with the original characters grown up. It was really good.
June 27, 2023
Przez pierwszą połowę ryczałam, na końcu też.
KOCHAM CIE WILL❤️
Clowley😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
KOCHAM CIE WILL❤️
Clowley😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
April 20, 2016
I don't really know what to say. Ranger's Apprentice is over, and it is slowly hitting me. This was our last story, and most likely our last time with Will, Horace, Halt, Evanlyn, Alyss, Jenny, Gilan and everyone. I did not expect anything from this series when I began The Ruins of Gorlan and now look where we are. This series has become on of my all-time favourites and it is so, so hard to give that up.
This story was the perfect ending for the series but it broke my heart at the same time. No, it didn't just break my heart, it shattered it into a million little pieces and then crushed them under its heel. I cried so much at the beginning. It killed me seeing what became of the characters, but the more the story progressed the better I felt. I loved our new character, Madelyn, and I want more of her and Will's story. I need a spin-off with them (the Royal Ranger series has a great ring to it, doesn't it?), and there's so much they could do with it. *sigh*. I am going to have the worst book hangover once it hits me that this it, it's finished.
This story was the perfect ending for the series but it broke my heart at the same time. No, it didn't just break my heart, it shattered it into a million little pieces and then crushed them under its heel. I cried so much at the beginning. It killed me seeing what became of the characters, but the more the story progressed the better I felt. I loved our new character, Madelyn, and I want more of her and Will's story. I need a spin-off with them (the Royal Ranger series has a great ring to it, doesn't it?), and there's so much they could do with it. *sigh*. I am going to have the worst book hangover once it hits me that this it, it's finished.
Want to read
July 2, 2013So I read the first chapter on USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/bo...).
"How do you think fans will react to the final book in the series?
I hope they'll enjoy it. I think they will. It's the usual mixture of adventure, action and, of course, humor. And I hope they'll realise that it's time for the series to end. I've been invading the privacy of Will, Halt, Horace and Evanlyn for years now. It's appropriate to let them have a little time to themselves, without having me peering over their collective shoulders. I guess I could have continued the series, but I believe all the relationships and characters are now formed. And since the books are heavily reliant on the growth and development of the characters, if I were to continue, the series would become stale."
^now, if only Erin Hunter had had the same mindset when they were writing the Warriors series...
"How do you think fans will react to the final book in the series?
I hope they'll enjoy it. I think they will. It's the usual mixture of adventure, action and, of course, humor. And I hope they'll realise that it's time for the series to end. I've been invading the privacy of Will, Halt, Horace and Evanlyn for years now. It's appropriate to let them have a little time to themselves, without having me peering over their collective shoulders. I guess I could have continued the series, but I believe all the relationships and characters are now formed. And since the books are heavily reliant on the growth and development of the characters, if I were to continue, the series would become stale."
^now, if only Erin Hunter had had the same mindset when they were writing the Warriors series...
July 10, 2023
اولش برام سوال بود چرا این کتاب اینقدر حجیمه؟ چون قرار هست شاهد سیر تغییر اخلاقیات، عادات، روشها، احساسات و توجهات و حتی جابهجایی ارزشها برای یک انسان باشیم. نه اینکه کلا عوض شه، بلکه بالغ و عاقل شه و جایگاه واقعی و درست خودش و دیگران رو فارغ از اینکه چه کسی هست و چه کسانی هستن، بشناسه.
شروعش؟ فوق العاده بود برام. باورم نمیشد چنین شروعی داشته باشه؛ پر از خبر و سوپرایزهای خوب و بد. شگفتی داشت. خلاصه خیلی لذت بردم و بهترین شروع رو از بین کتابهای دیگهاش داشت.
بعد از یک پنجم کتاب وارد دوره کارآموزی شدیم. چقدر یادآور جلد اول مجموعه اصلی بود. درست مثل همون رنجر جوان(ویل)، دوره کارآموزی گذروند. تکراری بودنش شاید اگر فن نباشی یکم کسلکننده باشه ولی شخصیتها فرق دارن. مدلاین سرکش و پررو بود😁نه مثل ویل گوش حرفکن و سر به زیر. ولی خیلی زیبا یاد گرفت. شخصیتش خوب پیشرفت کرد و از یک پرنسس لوس اما با استعداد به اولین رنجر مونث(نمیدونم ترجمهاشو چی بگم🥲) و با ملاحظه و باهوش تبدیل شد. از این روند رشد شخصیتیاش بسیار لذت بردم.
خب ویل اعتراف کن همونجوری که هالت اعتراف کرد، نصف لذت رنجر بودن به کارآموز داشتنش هست😂♥️
مثل همیشه فانننن بود. دیالوگهاشون که بینهایت عاشقشونم.
اما با تمام این تعریفات غم انگیزترین جلد بود برام. کارکترهای خیلی خوبی رو ازدست دادیم(نگران نباشین هالت زنده است). طبیعیه ۱۶ سال گذشته اما... خب واقعا ناراحت شدم(اشکم دراومد)
نمیدونم این کتاب رو تماما توی دسته یانگ ادالت باید گذاشت یا کمی هم ادالت🥲از نیمههای کتاب ماجراجویی اصلی شروع شد. ماجراجویی جالب و متفاوت. آخرش نه تنها اشک ما بلکه اشک ویل رو هم درآورد.
کاملا برام ثابت شد که هیچچچ نویسندهای جز فلانگن نمیتونه هالت رو به این خوبی توصیف کنه.(اصلا کسی نمیتونه کارکتر هالت بسازه😌) یعنی دقیقا همون چیزی که انتظار میره رو میگه. انگار نویسنده یک لحظه در مقام خواننده قرار میگیره و از این زاویه، حرف و رفتارهای هالت رو تحلیل میکنه. چقدررر لذت میبرم از این ویژگی فلانگن. مثال بزنم:
"هالت به آرامی سر تکان داد و لبخند زد. طبق استانداردهای هالت، این مانند یک هورای پر سر و صدا بود."
و واقعا همین! فنهای مجموعه میفهمن چی میگم😂🥲❤️
خلاصه اینکه من این کتاب رو نخوندم و تمام نکردم. زندگی کردم باهاش و الانم مُردم🥺🙂(و گویا شورش رو درآوردم)
شروعش؟ فوق العاده بود برام. باورم نمیشد چنین شروعی داشته باشه؛ پر از خبر و سوپرایزهای خوب و بد. شگفتی داشت. خلاصه خیلی لذت بردم و بهترین شروع رو از بین کتابهای دیگهاش داشت.
بعد از یک پنجم کتاب وارد دوره کارآموزی شدیم. چقدر یادآور جلد اول مجموعه اصلی بود. درست مثل همون رنجر جوان(ویل)، دوره کارآموزی گذروند. تکراری بودنش شاید اگر فن نباشی یکم کسلکننده باشه ولی شخصیتها فرق دارن. مدلاین سرکش و پررو بود😁نه مثل ویل گوش حرفکن و سر به زیر. ولی خیلی زیبا یاد گرفت. شخصیتش خوب پیشرفت کرد و از یک پرنسس لوس اما با استعداد به اولین رنجر مونث(نمیدونم ترجمهاشو چی بگم🥲) و با ملاحظه و باهوش تبدیل شد. از این روند رشد شخصیتیاش بسیار لذت بردم.
خب ویل اعتراف کن همونجوری که هالت اعتراف کرد، نصف لذت رنجر بودن به کارآموز داشتنش هست😂♥️
مثل همیشه فانننن بود. دیالوگهاشون که بینهایت عاشقشونم.
اما با تمام این تعریفات غم انگیزترین جلد بود برام. کارکترهای خیلی خوبی رو ازدست دادیم(نگران نباشین هالت زنده است). طبیعیه ۱۶ سال گذشته اما... خب واقعا ناراحت شدم(اشکم دراومد)
نمیدونم این کتاب رو تماما توی دسته یانگ ادالت باید گذاشت یا کمی هم ادالت🥲از نیمههای کتاب ماجراجویی اصلی شروع شد. ماجراجویی جالب و متفاوت. آخرش نه تنها اشک ما بلکه اشک ویل رو هم درآورد.
کاملا برام ثابت شد که هیچچچ نویسندهای جز فلانگن نمیتونه هالت رو به این خوبی توصیف کنه.(اصلا کسی نمیتونه کارکتر هالت بسازه😌) یعنی دقیقا همون چیزی که انتظار میره رو میگه. انگار نویسنده یک لحظه در مقام خواننده قرار میگیره و از این زاویه، حرف و رفتارهای هالت رو تحلیل میکنه. چقدررر لذت میبرم از این ویژگی فلانگن. مثال بزنم:
"هالت به آرامی سر تکان داد و لبخند زد. طبق استانداردهای هالت، این مانند یک هورای پر سر و صدا بود."
و واقعا همین! فنهای مجموعه میفهمن چی میگم😂🥲❤️
خلاصه اینکه من این کتاب رو نخوندم و تمام نکردم. زندگی کردم باهاش و الانم مُردم🥺🙂(و گویا شورش رو درآوردم)
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