The Ruins of Gorlan (The Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1) Paperback – June 8, 2006

I’ve read this book many times, both when I was younger and more recently. Every time it’s fantastic. The story proceeds at a great pace. I love the characters and the development they go through. Is a classic adventure story and I love it for that.

My 11 year old and I read this together. It’s really engaging - a wonderful story about a young orphan becoming a Ranger. We are excited for book 2.

I finisher this book in two days. The character development was great and i really enjoyed the story. I hope the second one is as good.

I bought this book (the first in the series) because my grandson's friend was deeply immersed in the series.The story itself flows well and has enough about courage and battles and friendships and emotional conflicts to keep any preteen/teenager engaged; and even appeals to some adults, such as myself.Language and verisimilitude, however, is lacking. Supposedly taking place in the days of baronies and English/Viking wars, it has a number of grating errors and language usage issues. For example, the constant statement of distances in terms of kilometers is botherwsome -- "kilometers" is a contemporary French invention. If distances need to be stated, they should at least be in the "old-fashioned" miles. I don't begrudge a few grammatical errors here and there, but be aware they abound in the book.One issue that might put off a number of parents and female readers is the inherent sexism. Yes, it does reflect the period. However, nothing else in the book really reflects that period of time -- the barony period was brutal and demeaning; the author treats it as fun, challenging, with the suggestion that any reader would like to be part of it (despite the battles and numerous deaths). My own feeling is that if young males are allowed to break rules, elevate their position and become unexpected heroes, then females should be given similar opportunities.There are numerous other books out there to grab the interest of youngsters in the same age range. Any book by Kelly Barnhill would fat surpass this book in terms of language, excitement, heroism, personalities and story flow. This is not just my point-of-view, but one shared by my then ten-year-old.So why four stars?Because this book cannot fairly be reviewed as though it was a standalone -- it would only warrant two or three stars as a standalone. But it is the start of a series. And the story itself adds richer and richer characters and deeper and more exciting situations as it leaps from one book to the next. Young readers will commit to the entire series in no time. So whatever failings Flanagan might have had in the beginning are reasonably remedied through the breadth of the series. I have made it through four books so far (and my grandchild is right on my heels) and will almost certainly read the whole series (to date) without regretting the time invested.

A classic story from my childhood with more than enough detail and wit to grip into adulthood an excellent story

I love that this book teaches not only moral values, but patience, politeness and how to think outside the box. Also if you really want something, you will put the hard work in to attain it. Not being daunted by obstacles in your way, just adding to your determination. I think boys and teenagers would love it. I'm an adult and I totally enjoyed the adventure!

An orphan raised in the Ward of Castle Redmont, fifteen-year-old Will has but one dream. He wishes to be a warrior. Will knows very little about his parents. Shortly after the great battle of Hackham Heath saw the evil Lord Morgarath defeated and driven into exile, the infant Will was discovered in a basket on the steps of the ward building. A note attached to his blanket read: "His mother died in childbirth. His father died a hero. Please care for him. His name is WIll." From that simple note, Will has imagined a rich history for his father. A hero in those days must have been a knight, one of the many brave men who gave their lives in the struggle against Morgarath. And so Will has always dreamed of earning a place in Battleschool, that he might become a knight and honor his father.As the Choosing Day for the Castle Wards of Will's year approaches, he is filled with a great anxiety. Small for his age, Will had hoped to have some sort of growth spurt before this all important day. When the hour of choosing comes, the Battlemaster, not unkindly, confirms Will's fears - he is too small to be a warrior. Devastated, Will is almost resigned to life as a farmer when fate offers him a second chance. The Ranger Halt has agreed to take Will on as an apprentice.LIke most of the common folk in the Kingdom of Araluen, Will grew up with a healthy fear of the King's Rangers. Most everyone instinctively avoids the silent, mysterious men who seem to have the power to disappear at their command. But Halt informs Will that there is no magic involved in a Ranger's craft. Practice and a certain set of innate skills are all that a Ranger requires. Skills that Will has already demonstrated like agility, curiosity and bravery.As Will learns the craft of a Ranger, he discovers an aptitude for the job and derives a certain pleasure in earning approval from the grim, taciturn Halt. For his part, Halt works Will day and night, striving to instill basic Ranger skills like tracking, silent movement and archery. It's a good thing that Will is a quick learner because Morgarath is stirring from his exile in the Mountains of Rain and Night and the horrors he plans to unleash on Araluen are like nothing Will has ever seen before.I cannot stress strongly enough how amazed I was by The Ruins of Gorlan. The time and place Mr. Flanagan has built are exquisite and three dimensional, fully developed in the now and with a sense of long history. With just a few sentences he creates images so real I seen them clearly in my mind. The characters are equally well formed. Not just Halt and WIll, but every man and woman we meet are believable. Everything in this wonderful book - plot, setting, characters - is delivered in vivid prose that brings the story to life in every detail. This is an adventure not to be missed.