So I figured it was about time for another review. This time I am composing it straight after reading the book. Apologies if it is a little rough around the edges, it has been a while since I wrote anything remotely meaningful. Please note I may edit this later, as I am writing it straight off the top of my head. Either way I hope you enjoy.
Initially I bought the Ranger's Apprentice series for my partner to read, I wasn't overly interested in reading it. However, after seeing not only my partner, but two of his friends read and love it, I figured I would give it a go. Can't hurt, right?
Book one follows the adventures of Will. Will is small for his age, but fast and quick-witted. All his life, he has dreamed of becoming a great knight like the father he never knew, so he is devastated when he is rejected by Castle Redmont's Battleschool. Instead he is apprenticed to Halt, the mysterious Ranger whose uncanny ability to move unseen is thought to be the result of black magic. Reluctantly, Will learns to use a Ranger's secret weapons: a bow and arrows, a mottled cloak and a stubborn little pony. It may not be the sword and battlehorse he longs for, but when Will and Halt set off on a desperate mission to prevent the assassination of the King, will finds that a Ranger's weapons are not so useless after all.
To be honest, I initially found the book quite difficult to read. The first sentence does not instantly grab the reader, but I persevered and continued to read. After that initial hurdle, I found myself hooked. The book actually introduces the bad guy, Morgarath, in the prologue and within the first page you want to know what he is up to and you instantly dislike him. This brings us to the first chapter of the 33 chapter book where we are introduced to our main character, Will, who incidentally is extremely nervous about the upcoming Choosing ceremony. As I read, I found myself immediately on Will's side. He is the sort of character that even at the beginning you know you are going to get attached to, the character that will inevitably stand out in your memory. In this initial chapter, we are also introduced to Will's circle of friends who make up an integral part of the story. There is Jenny, the friendly and cheerful, slightly plump soon to be cook; there is Alyss, the tall, elegant, blonde diplomat and there is also George, the weedy, nervous lawyer type. These three characters show sympathy towards Will and each of them makes an attempt to comfort him in his hour of need, which is more than can be said for Horace, the brutish bully who incessantly picks on Will. Horace and Will have a long standing rivalry that plays a pivotal part in who they both become further in the book.
So our characters all progress onto their chosen apprenticeships and our main character grudgingly accepts the invitation from Halt, to be a Ranger's Apprentice and from here I found it impossible to put the book down for any other reason than the call of nature.
Throughout the novel John Flanagan takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I found myself laughing, crying and even holding my breath in fear at some points. I believe that the sign of a good book is in its ability to transport the reader 100% into the written world and in its ability to make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you find yourself blinded by tears because of some incident in the book, or if you find yourself uncontrollably laughing out loud then the author has done exactly what they set out to do. The Ranger's Apprentice 1: The Ruins of Gorlan does this and it does so with ease. The use of descriptive language puts John Flanagan up there with the likes of Robert Harris and Charles Dickens. You see, hear, taste and feel the atmosphere of the dark and looming forests, you shiver at how desolate the Solitary Plain is and you find yourself cringing, along with the characters, at the sound of the Stone Flutes.
During Will's adventures he gets given his very own Ranger's horse, Tug. Ranger's horses are a very special breed, they are small and stocky, nothing in comparison to the regal Battlehorses, however they are known to be able to canter for a significantly longer time period than the well groomed battlehorses. When we are first introduced to Tug, there are many comedic moments between him and Will, as the young apprentice tries to get used to the creature. Ranger's horses are peculiar in that they seem to understand language and as a by product have developed their own means of communicating. Tug appears to have a stubborn and rebellious personality and tends to clash with Halt, the senior Ranger, over how many apples he should be allowed. As the reader you simply cannot help but fall in love with the small pony and when he seems to be in danger you are fearful for him.
As an opening book for a series of ten The Ruins of Gorlan definitely sets the mood and leaves the reader raring to read the next installment. One great advantage to this book, despite it's 30 or so chapters, they are short, well written and incredibly well paced. I started reading this novel after midnight last night and finished it at about 4.30pm this afternoon. It is a must read book and I am glad I put my original cynicism aside. I look forward to reading the next nine installments.
Rating: 4/5 purely because the first line didn't instantly excite me
Recommend: Definitely
For further information visit www.rangersapprentice.com.au
Thanks for reading, please feel free to leave any comments below.
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