Title: The Ruins of Gorlan (The first volume in the Ranger's Apprentice series.)

Author: John Flanagan

Genre: Fantasy

Summary: Will is a 15-year-old orphan who lives in Castle Redmont. Will is small and slight for his age, and although he longs to be chosen as an apprentice to a knight, he is turned down. His friend, Horace, however, is accepted because of his sturdy and tall frame. Disappointed, Will is on the verge of giving up his dreams completely until he finds out that he has been chosen to be Halt's apprentice, one of the mysterious and feared Rangers who roam Araluen. Will knows that the Rangers inspire fears in the people, and is not too thrilled by this opportunity. However, he accepts the apprenticeship.

Being a Ranger's apprentice is not as easy as he had hoped, however...

Opinion: I was hooked the minute a friend recommended this to me. Ranger's Apprentice is a simple read and very fascinating, and Flanagan injects dry humour every now and then. If you enjoy fantasy with a simple twist, Ranger's Apprentice is the way to go. It's not full of mind-numbing plot twists either, just exciting little skirmishes and the little bits of conflicts that make this novel such an enjoyable quick read. This is only the first book in the series, however. For more information, why not head to the Ranger's Apprentice official website?

Recommended for younger readers around 10-12 years old. Might make a nice present for that bookworm of your little brother who loves knights and battles! ~rage-chan

Rating: 4.5 out of 5