The Ranger's Path

The King's Ranger #2

by A.C. Cobble

A ranger’s duty. The rotten heart of a king. Rebellion spilled from the blood of family.

Rew, the king’s ranger, leads his young companions on a deadly journey to find their father. On a path that twists across the Eastern Territory, they fight toward the prison where Baron Fedgley is held. The party will face bandits, assassins, treacherous noblemen, spellcasters, and Rew’s fellow rangers to get there.

Raif and Cinda, desperate to recover their kidnapped father, will risk anything to find him. Raif, equipped with his family’s enchanted greatsword but forced to acknowledge he’s not as strong or as skilled as he once believed, will charge into a world he’s never experienced. Cinda, awakened to strange and dangerous necromantic magic, will have to control vast power she never expected.

Confronted with the truth of his past and terrible knowledge he cannot ignore, Rew will choose between hiding and saving his soul or sacrificing it all to protect those he’s come to love. Will the ranger’s path take them into the wilderness and safety...or into the heart of the kingdom and an epic confrontation?

The King’s Ranger is a classic fantasy adventure, perfect for fans of Michael J. Sullivan, Brent Weeks, James Islington, and AC Cobble’s Benjamin Ashwood Series.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Audiobook

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

AC Cobble is the author of Wahrheit, The King's Ranger, Benjamin Ashwood, and The Cartographer series. Signed print copies of all of his books are available at Merrick Bookshop:

https://merrickbookshop.com/collectio...

Wahrheit is a classic epic fantasy adventure. It is packed full of political intrigue, epic battles, spies & assassins, ancient magic, a little humor, a young man and woman against impossible odds, and dragons. If you liked AC Cobble's other books, you will love this series.

The King's Ranger is a clean, action-packed adventure. Rew, the titular ranger, wants only to manage the wilderness he is responsible for, but the arrival of three youths in his jail cell force him to embark on an epic journey. To protect the youths, he's forced to confront a darkness in his past and join a swirling conflict that will envelope the entire kingdom.

Benjamin Ashwood is AC's take on the classic farm boy with a sword fantasy story. It starts much like they all do, but in Ben's world like the real world, heroes are made not born, and the good guys don't always win. Try it today and find out why this series has sold hundreds of thousands of copies!

The Cartographer is a little sexier and a little darker, but has the same sense of fun and adventure as Benjamin Ashwood. Think world spanning travel and exploration, occult rituals, dark seductresses, bodies dropping like flies, and bar fights. Fans of Rhys will love Oliver and Sam. Join the adventure today!

For series artwork, maps, the newsletter signup, the blog, and more, head over to: https://accobble.com/.

Reviews

[ShannaBanana✨]

These kids! I want to throttle them half the time. Rew risks his life for them throughout this whole journey and it’s like they don’t give a shit or appreciate what he’s trying to do for them. All they care about is themselves and what they want. They have their moments and I don’t dislike them but they are so obnoxious. Zaine is my favorite out of the three youths. She’s not a whiny entitled brat. I’m ready to know about this secret and I’m hoping it’s finally revealed in the next book. I also understand why Kallie feels the way she does towards her father and siblings. I don’t condone what she did but I hate when one child is more important to to a parent than the others. It grinds my gears.

[Jim]

The Rangers Path

If I could only return it. My impression of the first book was this really is for a young reader. I thought maybe it would improve but I was wrong. It’s like a terrible Disney show where to kids are in charge and the adults are idiots. I’m so sick of hearing Rew call them the “younglings” I could...
I find it hard to believe this is the same author who wrote Benjamin Ashwood. Stopping at 33% and uninstalling.

[Phil]

Having purchased the publisher's pack, I have committed to reading the first three books in the King's Ranger series. Book one did enough on its own where I likely would have wanted to start book 2 even had I not already bought it. I'm not sure I can say the same about book 2.

To be clear, book 2 is perfectly fine. If you found book 1 highly entertaining you will in all likelihood think the same of book 2. Cobble writes well and while the game of thrones is not a new genre, Cobble has found a new and creative take on it. In fact, I want to emphasize that I think the plot and overall storyline is excellent and a refreshing take on a common theme. While a good plotline is necessary for me, it is not sufficient to capture fully my interest. Where this series falls short, at least through two books, is on character development.

We principally follow a core group of five characters. Only one, Rew, has any semblance of possible character development. But it is hollow. He is a trope of what is commonly thought of as a "ranger" in fantasy novels (e.g., Lord of the Rings' Aragorn). He is broody, wishes to be alone, and can't stand those damn kinds on his lawn! We get some hints of a deeper background - which is being purposefully withheld to draw out the suspense - and perhaps even that whatever secret Rew is protecting may have caused long-term mental health problems, and that he may suffer from a lower form of alcoholism. I mean, there is a lot here to explore but it just hasn't happened. Nevermind the other four who I can barely remember their names and commonly conflate the two young women all the time, only recognizing when one is referred to as the noble and the other the thief.

If you are one who gets lost in the story and doesn't need to have any connection with the central characters, you may just be in for a treat. Because the story here was top notch with a good blend of creating atmospheric suspense in certain situations where the plot flows slowly, and other times providing high energy and chaotic fighting scenes. While not fully explored yet, the magic system is intriguing and ultimately, there is just a lot to like about the story. The best guidepost, however, is to gauge your enjoyment of book 1. This book is almost identical in terms of structure and plot flow, so if you really got into book 1 then you will likely enjoy this one too.

Ultimately, for me, there just isn't that connection. Perhaps over the course of the series that will change and we will dive more deeply into the minds of these characters so that we begin to understand them more. I don't think that will happen because secrets play such a large part of the story. We can't really ever go fully into anyone's mind because it would require us to know what makes them them, and Cobble wants the characters' motives to be ambiguous. What works well for the plot is stifling character development. There are ways around this, but I'm not a writer and even if I knew them all, it isn't my place to tell Cobble how to write this book.

[Todd]

An improvement on the first book. A couple of notes.
-all nobles are either useless because they were raised to think they're better than non nobles, or they're untrustworthy backstabbing prigs just because.
- Rew should have killed his cousin in the previous book.
-despite wanting to stay out of the Investiture, every reader knew that Rew is going to wind up in the middle of it.
-Rew should have killed his cousin in the first book.

Okay, venting done. I actually look forward to the next one

[Kevin]

First off, I'm an AC Cobble fan and part of his advanced reader team. However, I also pay for Amazon unlimited and get AC's books to read for free. Why am I an AC fan? The story, character development, pace, world-building, and how each book builds on the next.

The Rangers Path is book 2 from the King's Ranger series. In the first book, it starts awesome. There is a ranger, he is tracking a trail of monsters which should not be there and meets noble-born children he needs to help. After a lot of world-building, monster-slaying and intrigue, bracketed by fast-paced adventures, we learn this ranger is special, the children are very important and the world is moving into a horrible period called the investiture.

Book 2 picks up with the Ranger fully in, helping the children. Their brother, in a fit of rage, decided to find his father, leaving everyone behind - big mistake! This is where we start, with the ranger, and the group trying to locate the brother before it's too late. As they rush forward, the pace stays fast and fresh with new adventures every few pages. We also start to learn more about what investiture is. More importantly, we start to learn the King's Ranger is not the typical ranger as hinted upon in the first book. The Rangers Pathg has more noble intrigue steeped in politics.

I compare AC's other series all the time. The Cartographer was steeped in intrigue, deep character building with many darker sections. Ben Ashwood was more swashbuckling, fun, lighter on character building, and insanely fast-paced. The first book of Kings Ranger veered towards BA, with the second book veering more towards the Cartographer. I consider this a perfect blend. Never do you get bored, and AC simply is layering more and more stories we have yet to experience.

The difficult part of the second book is obvious. There is no beginning, nor an end. Many second books feel like filler. Not the Ranger's Path! The ending is classic BA - with an entirely new and exciting adventure in front of our team. More importantly, AC has layered the world and charter building so nicely, we really have no idea what the third book will bring.

If you look at my reviews, I am fair and balanced. I LOVE reading and supporting indie writers. Until AC turned off Patreon, I was his supporter. The point, if the book is great, unique, and hits everything I love, it's a five star. From there I go down. His five-star review is earned!

One last item - AC will soon be cranking out 3-4 books a year! I highly recommend The Rangers Path - you will not be able to put it down! With more books coming each year, you will be able to pick up his next one much faster.

[Marc Arnold]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I even put down another epic novel to read this, as I was so excited for the next book in the Rew story! AC rapidly became one of my favorite authors after I read Benjamin Ashwood years ago. This series feels a bit like that series. I love the "realness" of the characters. Their flaws and strengths are relatable, unlike so many of the larger-than-life characters I find in many fantasy novels.

Without spoiling anything, I really like the concept of the Investiture. Although it is still a bit gray what all will come out of it, I love how AC unpacks the details a little at a time. This is the biggest aspect of the story that keeps me reading. Every page I was wondering if we would finally find out Rew's secrets, and AC is a master at keeping you in suspense. It also feels a bit relatable in light of the current political climate in the world. I might be the only one that sees that in the story, but the struggle against the elites and the lust for power feel so real.

My only complaint is that, at times, the story has some "stall points." As they are traveling, sometimes I want to fast-forward to the next exciting point in the story. But in all fairness, the meandering of the travel is filled with enough detail that I can easily imagine what the world looks like for Rew. So, while it is a bit of a low point for me, I understand the importance of the story. I guess I am just an adrenaline junkie looking for the next fight or plot twist. It is kind of like missing the forest for the trees, I suppose.

Overall, I loved this story! It was the type of book I can give to my kids to read, but it is still "adult" enough for me to enjoy. On a personal note, AC is an accessible writer that interacts with his fans. I have enjoyed reading about his life on social media, and it lends to enjoying the story more fully. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good, clean fantasy!

[Reading Hag]

An excellent continuation of the story.

I finally reached my least favorite part of any book. The end. I am part of the fortunate few who received the book early, in exchange for an honest review. Book 2 is usually difficult. You have to continue to advance the story, the character development, keep the readers interest, and end with a climax. AC, in my opinion, did an excellent job. I have many questions. Just as many questions as I did at the end of book one. Most authors tend to be fairly predictable and this is not the case with this series. What a refreshing surprise. Of course it had all the good makings of any fantasy with epic battles, a healthy dose of mystery, magic, and monsters. I particularly appreciated the growth of the characters during book 2. The bond and relationship between all of the characters grow and develop. Anne and Rew have a complex dynamic and we get glimpses into their friendship which serves to deepen the mystery. Raif and Cinda begin to see the world for what it is (through more personal tragedy) and start to mature. With their parents gone they only have Anne and Rew to rely on for direction and guidance. The Investiture hs built into a swirling maelstrom and they’ll need each other more than ever if they are all going to survive it.

[Rue]

Usually I’m a bit hesitant going into the second book of the series because I’ve had many experiences of the second book going in a direction that I’m just not satisfied with... however this book did not do that. I am thoroughly impressed by the author for continuing to build these character relationships and character development.

One huge aspect I thoroughly enjoyed watching was seeing the group go against Rew’s plans again and again because they were acting emotionally and each time we see these characters realize that Rew had been right. And that while following your heart is not a bad thing at all, sometimes you have to be harsh on yourself and be logical.

I loved to see how we got even more hints and clues about the this big secret that is being hidden. We see each character start to realize that everything is so so much bigger than they had expected.

My only gripe is the fact that some times Rew seems a bit invincible per say. He’s always fighting impossible odds and comes out with little to no injury. The other characters face their fair share of struggle but I’m looking forward to Rew facing something he cannot defeat and seeing how he bounces back from that and develops from that!

I’m really excited to see how the third book continues with this plot and character development! Overall really enjoyed this book I would give it a 4/5!

[Pranav Lal]

The second book in a series is much harder to write as compared to the first book. For one thing, you need to build the characters, add to the universe and work on the system of magic and most important of all, keep the reader hooked. Mr. Cobble has succeeded on all these 3 parameters. I am a subscriber to his newsletter and was among the fortunate few who got an advance copy of the book.
Rew and crew continue their adventures. The pacing is excellent and the mystery only deepens though I really would question what kind of king would unleash so much chaos on the general population to determine who is going to be his successor?
I liked the way the family of the poor barren is shown. All I am going to say is that I am not going to send my children for fostering. Things can get really tricky.
The bridge scenes are really well done.
There are perhaps less than 24 hours to go so keep that your fingers ready to hit the buy button and be warned, it is going to hook you so keep time handy.
The last I heard, book 3 is being written and I am waiting.

[Dan Inwards]

I did receive an advanced copy of The Ranger's Path as part of A.C.'s advanced reader team in exchange for an honest review. The Ranger's Path picked right up with Rew and crew chasing after Raif, who is off to save his father. To me, I've had to pay more "attention" to what is going on with all the twists and turns due to the Investiture. Which at times has had me stopping reading and trying to put the pieces together to remember what is going on. Not a bad thing at all just something I find myself needing to do instead of just breezing through these bools like I can with others. The action is fast, the unexpected is always there keeping me glued to the book and turning pages. Rew is definitely "all in" now in seeing that Raif, Cinda and Zaine stay safe as they are all completely involved in this political mess that is the Investiture. The Ranger's Path is another wonderful book by A.C. and done in his way of telling a story that makes it hard to put the book down. i will be looking forward to book #3 in the series to see where the 5 of them end up.

[Reader]

Rew, the King's Ranger, leads his young companions on a deadly journey to find their father. On a path that twists across the Eastern Territory, they fight toward the prison where Baron Fedgley is held. The party will face bandits, assassins, treacherous noblemen, spellcasters, and Rew's fellow rangers to get there.Raif and Cinda, desperate to recover their kidnapped father, will risk anything to find him. Raif, equipped with his family's enchanted greatsword, but forced to acknowledge he's not as strong or as skilled as he once believed, will charge into a world he's never experienced. Cinda, awakened to strange and dangerous necromantic magic, will have to control vast power she never expected.Confronted with the truth of his past, and terrible knowledge he cannot ignore, Rew will choose between hiding and saving his soul, or sacrificing it all to protect those he's come to love. Will the ranger's path take them into the wilderness and safety, or into the heart of the kingdom and an epic confrontation?

[Kolymaarasto]

I still sort of liked the book, but less the more i think about it. At this point the reluctant hero trope combined with "We must help the children" is getting too much... They are no more deserving than any other random people the characters come across. I know that there wouldn't be a story if Rew just left them to die and went back to where he wants to be, but a lot of the times i wished that was what he did.
Another overused plot device: characters getting cornered and just getting out of the situation because another enemy shows up and decides to fight the first threat to the main characters, thereby giving them the chance to slip away...
Also: it's such a stupid decision they make for their further quest at the end. But then again, that's just one more bad decision to add to the rest. Leaving antagonists alive seems to solely depend on whether it's planned to reuse them later in the plot, not on whether it makes sense for the characters to kill them or not.

[Yvonne Knipe]

I have been part of the advanced reading team for this series of books and if I wasn't part of the team I would still be reading them. So far I have read all the books he has written and I really enjoy the open honest and exciting way AC writes.

Thoroughly enjoyed the second book in the King’s Ranger series. Rew has set himself and his young companions on an extremely dangerous and exciting adventure but with this new adventure a lot of old memories, long forgotten are forcing their way back into his memory. He has been trying to forget these hidden secret memories for a very long time.

His young charges are learning a lot on their adventure as well as learning a lot about their selves, their heritage and the Investiture.

A wonderful fantasy adventure, can’t wait for another in the series.

[Allen Baldwin]

Getting better, enjoyable, immersing

The world and characters are building, growing and engaging. There is nice order and logic to the magic. It doesn't just pop out when three writer needs it. I like that.

The lines between good and evil are not blurred yet the characters have flaws and are very believable. I like that too.

Color me old fashion but it is clean which doesn't take away anything. I'm so sick of gratuitous sex and perversion that seems to be the mark of hip and modern. Get a room without windows or writing instruments!

The action is well planned and believable. The character personalities are unique, consistent, and their interactions are interesting.

Good entertainment! Worthy of a movie.

[Jordan Winn]

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of Mr. Cobble’s latest story in exchange for an honest review. My favorite part about this series is that I honestly have no idea where it’s going. It’s very easy to fall into the standard tropes, and that is certainly not the case here (for the most part).
Character growth and arc is always something I look for in books, and the end of this story has an excellent payoff in that regard. The world is swirling and interesting and growing more confusing every chapter (I mean this as an excellent thing). I love a story where the good guy is easy to root for, and Rew is a super cool main character.
Excited for the next entry!!

[Jim]

I enjoyed this book. It's really one of the best fantasy series I've read of late. The story is good, the characters interesting. I took a star off for a section in the book when the characters were all winking at each other. I'm not sure if that was done to show us how at ease they all were during that portion of the story or what...but it was annoying....Stop with the winking. It's been awhile since I read the first one, but I think I may have said the same thing in that review as well...too MUCH WINKING!!!

But....good story...and I will probably read #3 in the future.

[Carole Eshenbaugh]

Off and running

Do we have adventure or not. A mixed bunch of characters that set the pace. Rew has a secret that slowly becomes more of an issuer near the end of the story. I found this book refreshing. Just the right characters, plots, intrigue, battles, no win situations, and of course the magic. A well developed society that is the bases for this story. Cannot wait to read the third installment.

[Cyrus Potter]

The central mystery of this story remains enthralling, and the characters are endearing, but the the one flaw I find difficult to ignore is the lack of seriously emotional character development. Rew never has any internal monologue or external dialogue that indicates that he feels any actual love for the 'younglings', and he implies that he would go to the same extraordinary lengths to protect any other group of people in the same situation. Because of this, I find it hard to really root for the characters. These stories are fun and worth reading, but your heart will absolutely not be wrenched!

The third and final book might achieve what the first two haven't, however.

[Sharon Hughson]

Political Intrigue

An engaging second installment. While I like Rew and his traveling companions, the drawn out secret he’s concealing is starting to annoy me rather than keeping the tension high.
Rew is the narrator. He knows the secret. He could let enough of it out in his thoughts so the reader could speculate. Instead, he thinks of everything but that.
If you read this far, you’ll want to read on because there are still more questions than answers.

[Judy Macneil]

The Ranger's Path, Book 2 of The King's Rangers is a great follow up. A C Cobble gave me an advance copy for an honest review. Epic fight scenes, ( wonder if he spars ? ). Intrigue inside of intrigue, and of course magic! I think I know who Rew is, and what he is going to do? But Mr. Cobble is always full of surprises. I shall have to wait for book 3!

[Marc S.]

Exciting.... I really enjoyed the buildup of all the characters. I liked that although you learn a lot about the characters early on, there was still plenty of surprises in their various abilities. I thought the details during the many confrontations were extremely well laid out and very well related. I have already paid for book 4 and hope April 1 gets here quick-like.
Thank you for another wonderful read!!

[Tony Hinde]

The books in this series appear to end at arbitrary points in the story. I'm treating the whole thing as a single book and plowing on to the end.

The kids are maturing slowly and the mystery is being revealed a bit at a time. Other than that, book two has all the same strengths and weaknesses as book one.

[Gale Osborne]

This like all of Mr. Cobble's books is fast paced and action packed filled with great characters and very hard to put down.The story only gets better and I can't wait to read the next. I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review and truly loved it .A must read.

[Brian Hope]

As part of AC Cobbles’s advance reader’s team I was excited to read the sequel. I enjoyed how the characters intertwined with one another and mature. Spoiler alert, there is a huge battle to look forward to but that is all you get.

[Katie Hope]

Fun to Read

As part of AC Cobbles’s advance reader’s team I was excited to read the sequel. I enjoyed how the characters intertwined with one another and mature. Spoiler alert, there is a huge battle to look forward to but that is all you get.

[Brad Hlodnicki]

Not as entertaining as first boo in series.

Not as entertaining as 1st book of series. Seemed slower moving with many detailed passages of action that did not move close haracters or story forward.

[Josh]

Another great read from AC Cobble

I can't wait until April 1st for book 3. Finally the storyline has really kicked off and the heart of the adventure truly begins, as well as the inevitable bloodshed.

[Udit Kumar]

Hard to put down

AC Cobble's books are hard to put down. With such fleshed out characters, with their motivations, and the plotting and the intrigue it's hard to put the book down. But it was good while it lasted. And now I can't wait to read the next book.

[Raymond Ward]

Unique tale

I find the characters to absolutely enjoyable and have developed a keen interest in the development of Rew. He is one solid character who is as dangerous as the original Executioner books by Don Pendleton.

[K A Olechowski]

interesting drama

The characters are portrayed a bit simply as if not the brightest lights on the tree. However the story and characters are fun, definitely PG reading, a bit like a nonstop marvel comics storyline