Enjoyable book, glad I read it.

Pug is an orphan-sorry, WILL is an orphan-and he lives in Crydee-sorry, GORLAN-and he is awaiting the choosing of the apprentices from the youth of the populus. Pug, I mean WILL, wants to be a warrior, or anything other than a Magician-sorry RANGER-because they're really mysterious and people distrust them...

It's the re-told YA version of Raymond E. Fiest's Magician, only with Rangers instead of Magicians. Sure, if you're looking for a fantasy yarn that has the Story Arc of every fantasy novel since Toklien, then read it. I'm sure it won't disappoint much. The writing was fine, the dialogue fine; it's a fantasy yarn, that is all.

This book had well developed characters and was very descriptive. Tug was awesome but I couldn't really get into the mindset of the main character Will. It was most definitely something on my end because as I said, the characters were well developed on the writers' end. The story was very predictable at times and the meat and bones of the book has definitely been done before, maybe too often. I am looking forward to reading the next book hoping that the rest of the series will win me over.

* I feel compelled to share that I read this book with my husband and he enjoyed it so much that he would have given it 5 stars

A fun story...

...especially for kids and grown ups looking for a break from the heavy stuff we sometimes submit ourselves too. The Rangers Apprentice is quite elementary, but we'll written and engaging. I cared about the characters and enjoyed the simple plot. I'll be anxious to keep moving through the series. 12 books though? I'm going to have quite a collection when I'm done

So I have owned this book for a while now and recently read it (duh) for my May monthly challenge. Anyways i spent the whole time truly believing that this book was called Ranger's Apprentice until about 30 mins ago, lol. Okay so there's no point to this beyond pointing out that I'm not always the brightest. ;)

 

Anyhoo onto the actual review. Pretty good book, solid 3 star read.

 

So we start off with four ward's waiting to be accepted as apprentices. It's fairly obvious how this will play out, but still enjoyable.

From here we read from both Horance and Will's POV. Horance is in battle school (were Will desperately wants to be) Will is of course the apprentice of mysterious Ranger Halt.

Will and Horance aren't exactly what one would describe as good mates, or even friends. Horance is a bully and Will is a smart ass. Of course as we read on we learn that this isnt strictly true, and there's obviously a lot more to their personality's.

 

I must admit for a good chunk of the book i preferred reading from Horance's POV which came as a surprise to me. Learning about the trials of Battle School was really interesting. Though there was some scoffing (from me) over how much natural ability was going around (especially with Will's riding ability). But towards the end I enjoyed reading from both boys POV and liked them both just as much. They were brave, selfless, courageous, intelligent and really just great guys.

 

Most of the other characters were also very fascinating. Two of my favorites being Baron Arald (who was the one to adopt all four wards - actually he adopts all orphans in his lands and attempts to give them a better life, which is awesome) The other is Sir Rodney. Both characters are highly amusing, good nature'd and i must say funnily kind of similar to big cuddly teddy bears! lol. though i wouldn't want 'them' to know i thought that!

 

Anyways lots of excitement, adventure, danger and horrifying monsters throughout the book. Plus many good life lesson's in this book for the younger ones (early teens). One example being that size doesnt matter, if you are truly a good and honorable person other's will eventually see - even if they may have judge incorrectly in the past.

 

I had much fun reading this The Ruins of Gorlan and i look forward to reading the next one in the Ranger's Apprentice series.

 

Peace out.