In the Ruins of Gorlan, readers are introduced to Will, a young apprentice Ranger. When the Rangers’ stronghold is destroyed by an unknown enemy, Will and his sworn protector Halt must flee into the wilderness. Pursued by deadly assassins, they travel north in search of allies against this new foe – who appear bent on conquering all of Araluen.Along their journey Will and Halt meet up with Horace – a brutish but lovable teenage warrior – and together these three unlikely comrades must brave harsh dangers before ultimately confronting their foes in one epic battle for survival.’The Ruins of Gorlan’ is book 1 in John Flanagan’s international best-selling ‘Ranger’s Apprentice’ series which has sold more than six million copies worldwide!
For who is this book for ?
This book is for young adults who are looking for an adventure story with plenty of suspense and action. Readers will enjoy following Will as he comes into his own as a Ranger’s apprentice, and watching him develop friendships with Horace and Halt along the way.
Pros :
- The author does a great job of world-building, creating a rich and detailed fantasy setting
- The story is exciting and full of adventure
- The characters are well developed and likable
Cons :
- The book is a little slow to start
- The climax of the story feels rushed and anti-climactic
- Horace, though likeable, isn’t developed as much as he could be
Learn more about the author
John Flanagan grew up in Sydney, Australia, where he wrote stories for his school magazine. He was an editor and journalist on the Sydney Morning Herald before becoming a full-time writer. John is married to Lyn and they have two sons – Michael and William (the inspiration behind the Ranger’s Apprentice series).
Reader Reviews
“Couldn’t put it down! I was captivated from the first page.”
“The Ruins of Gorlan’ is an excellent book! I loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. It has all the excitement you would expect from a good fiction book, plus some truly unexpected plot twists that left me dying to know what happened next.”
“Wonderful read. Engaging characters and an excellent storyline.”
“A thrilling adventure that will have readers hooked until the very last sentence.”
