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Ranger's Apprentice Book Series534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAmNmnuShO
Many of you may not have heard of this particular series, which saddens me greatly but honestly wouldn't surprise me. This series is one very close to my heart, and I cherish them dearly. I've reread them countless times, still getting the same goosebumps I did when I first picked them up years ago in junior high school. I wanted to give them a bit more of a spotlight and attention than I feel they get.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreHeohntnA
Summary:534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj76fGld6rK
They have always scared him in the past — the Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied....534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQevK4VW8Df
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WHAT TO EXPECT534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkuKibwz6f
Well, it starts out as your typical medieval tale in the time of knights in shining armor and great, ruling Kings. The citizens live simple lives and it all feels quaint and fairly quiet. There is no magic in this story, however, rather it relies on skill and years of training and slowly building up it's characters and relationships to the point where you feel like you've stepped into the story yourself.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4qkJmrBsJ
It is a young adult novel, so it's primary target audience is younger. (Perhaps 12 to 18, maybe.) It reads as a simple story, concepts and mysteries not all that complex, but yet still presents itself as an enjoyable story to all ages.
This series is rather long: a hefty 12 main books in total, with a handful of companion novels if you're interested in learning more about some of the other characters and countries presented within. They are interesting and worth the read, but for the sake of length and continuity I'll be focusing on the main storyline.
PLOT / STORYLINE
As our short summary above states, our story follows the adventures of Will, a 15 year old boy who finds himself unexpectedly apprenticed to one of the kingdom's mysterious Rangers. He's young and fresh-faced and doesn't know quite what to expect our his new mentor, the grizzled old man named Halt. He's rough and coarse and never seems to smile. But there's this heartwarming connection right off the bat that you don't want to ever let go. We'll get into the characters and their relationships later, however.
The story is simple enough at first. Will slowly begins to discover his place in the kingdom and the world, his conflicts and hardships small and seemingly insignificant at first, but as he grows and learns and adventures out into the world, he is thrown into nearly impossible circumstances and it's just such a great adventure. I loved every one of the books, and they all feel unique and stand out to the others. And the best part? If you want to go back and read a specific adventure in Will's story, it's relatively simple to pick up in the middle of the series and start from there. The story does well in presenting it's arcs in a clear-cut, but not entirely disjointed way. Hard to explain in words, but the concept works very well!
Conflicts are centered primarily around the kingdom's political and social scales. But nothing overly complicated that drags the story into a grinding halt while you try to understand what exactly all the legal fine print means. Like I said before. It's targeted towards a younger audience, so they do well in explaining things as it goes along.
Events feel natural and not forced for dramatic effect or anything. That can always be a problem in Young Adult novels these days. But this series keeps it real and enjoyable all the way through.
The series wraps up in a nice way (thought don't be surprised if you find yourself crying at times. The feels.) Nothing overly dramatic yet it sort of brings the series around in a round-about way that makes it all just fit nicely and settle itself without too much trouble. Overall, the story isn't all that spectacularly complicated or complex, but definitely a feel-good, heartwarming, adventure story that details the life of Will.
CHARACTERS
Oh yes. Here we go. Characters. The thing I most strong identify and relate with in any story or plot line I've ever enjoyed. The story may be simple and nothing overly special, but the characters are where this series thrives.
Let's start with Will, our protagonist. A young boy of 15 who's been orphaned by the kingdom's last war. Or so he believes. With no knowledge of who his parents were, he's hoping to find an apprenticeship with the knights in Battleschool. The son of a knight is supposed to follow in his father's footsteps after all, though he can't be sure he'd been a knight. It's a bit sad but understandable. His sad backstory isn't overly emphasized to make him a poor, small boy. It's stated and allows the reader to feel the emotions for him. I loved how it was done.
Now, Will isn't the only orphan being cared for by the kingdom. We also meet Horace, Alyss, Jenny, and George, fellow orphans and Will's only real acquaintances in his life. Horace, well, he doesn't really get along with Will. Horace can best be described as a bruiser, jock-esque stereotype. Alyss is the calm, curious girl who is full of poise. Jenny is the bubbly girl who can't be discouraged. George is the studious boy who is afraid of speaking his mind. Or speaking at all.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01msO2ct6S
They're an assortment of characters that truthfully have nothing in common beside having no parents, but the styles work well when done correctly. You don't see most of them very much in the story, but when they do come in it is done excellently! And the character development that they all undergo is slow-paced and perfectly believable. Friends become enemies. Friends become lovers. And this doesn't happen for several books down the line. So the build-up to these strong friendships doesn't happen in an instant. They are savored and allowed to grow at a natural pace. Beautiful!
I couldn't rave more about how well John Flanagan shaped his characters. They are by far the best part of the story (Halt specifically because he's a BAMF) and really brings out the best in every scene. Each character feels different and real and relatable in some way.
STYLE / PACING
Ranger's Apprentice closely follows the classic tropes of knights and archers and great battles in glittering armor and the whole medieval nine yards. It brings you back to how the world was before, and it does it in the best way possible. John Flanagan's writing is smooth and his descriptors for each scene is just enough to give you the gist of where you are and what people look like for you to fill in the rest with an enjoyment and curiosity of your own. You won't find a 2-page description of what a person is wearing. You won't be questioning what someone looks like at all. Just the right amount to immerse you but not bore you.
Now, in terms of pacing, that's another story. To reiterate, there are 12 books in the main story line. That's a lot of story. But at times the pacing can slow itself down to take itself seriously or let you enjoy how the story is making you feel. Between two crucial battle scenes, you may find yourself meandering along in several different people's perspectives to give you the full story from all sides. It's a stylistic choice that works for some, doesn't work for some, and is something that not everyone might enjoy. If you're more of a fan of action-packed scene after action-packed scene, then perhaps this isn't the series for you.
The first book, as it lays the groundwork for the kingdom and the world and how it's characters fit into it, is the worst when it comes to that style of pacing. Most of the action does not occur until late into the book, but by then you've become intimately familiar with a dozen characters that you learn to cherish throughout the rest of the story. So, I suppose it really all comes down to what your highest priority is. Pacing, or character development?
PROS / CONS534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRcCmAS9dH
Pros for reading Ranger's Apprentice? It's a fun fantasy tale about a young boy learning and growing up and becoming a man all his own. It's a great slow-burning read for those looking for something that they can stick with for a long period of time. It's immersive style really pulls you in and leaves you caring about it long after you close the final page.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQBQVQhstX
It's re-readable. You can go back and notice small things you didn't before, or just re-experience some of the best parts of the books over and over. I often find myself doing that exact thing!
It leaves you feeling something you didn't before. Perhaps wholesomeness, or heartwarming moments will really catch your heartstrings and pull unrelentingly. Or perhaps a few deaths will get to you and make you cry tears of respect and sadness. Or perhaps the action scenes will leave you gripping the edges of the book with white knuckles, wondering who will come out on top and what will happen after all of it is over? It makes you feel something for what you're reading, not something to just pass the time.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY409lincGT
The characters are done expertly, and you can't help but love some if not all of them!
Cons of reading Ranger's Apprentice? Granted, as good as the story is overall, the pacing can go by at a snail's pace at times. The more tedious portions of the story may stretch a few chapters at a time at worst, which can turn a lot of readers off or away entirely. They are for world-building and gaining insight into the characters and places portrayed, which may not be everyone's purpose for reading a medieval tale.
There are a lot of books. Want something quick that is action-packed and never lets you go from it's suspense? This definitely isn't the series for you. If you don't have time or patience of something of this length, well, I would try a different book series. There's a lot of story to go through, and we aren't even including the 3-5 companion books that go along with it!
Perhaps less serious of a con, but the story isn't something that makes you think all that hard. It's simple and tailored towards younger audiences, so adults may not find it as mystifying or earth-shattering as a teen reader would.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0feZput2I
FINAL GRADE534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWps7q9sbk
9 out of 10534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5Wiw9xDpe
While it has some issues with pacing throughout the series, overall you should read this series at least once. It doesn't matter how old you are, these books are worth the read. You'll find yourself happy for Will as he discovers who he is throughout the story, and how much he's grown as a person, as well as his friends along the way! A great read that you definitely won't regret if you try.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM6Vl23qvF
Do you agree with my assessment? Have something to say, or is there something I missed? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to let me know your thoughts on Ranger's Apprentice!534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26BzWs0Sm9
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