The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

🏹The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan🏹

Book One in The Ranger’s Apprentice series. 

Blurb:

They have always scared him in the past—the Rangers, with their dark cloaksand 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….

My thoughts:

I don’t know what to say.. I’ve always enjoyed this book and the series. They never fail (like the BrotherBand) to make me laugh. The banter and humor in this book is easily 5/5! John Flanagan knows how to interest a reader with not only his humor, but also by the way he describes things in his book. It makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters. 

Let’s talk about Will, the apprentice of Ranger Halt… I honestly felt bad for the poor fellow in the beginning. He tried so hard and failed, but yet did not fail. He wanted to be a knight, but was chosen to be a Ranger. It seemed like everything went wrong for Will except for one thing. Halt chose him, and it would change Will for the rest of his life. I honestly loved Will! He had a good sense of humor, he was humble, and he was just lovable! 

And Halt! He is so dear to me.☺️ Under all the gruffness and strictness, there’s a man with a tender heart. 

Okay, and Baron Arald makes me laugh SO MUCH.. he’s also such a dear. 

There’s just something John Flanagan does to his books that makes you know the characters in and out, and I mean really know them. 

I’ll also mention three more characters that aren’t so big in this book but are important throughout the series: Horace, Alyss, and Tug. In the beginning, Horace is a big time bully to Will but later becomes a faithful best friend to Will! And of course I’m gna love Horace, all sweetness and loyalty. We don’t see much of Alyss, but we already know she’ll be a big supporter and friend to Will in the future.. possibly even more 😏😅 Tug, my buddy and your favorite little horse.. he was just hilarious. I really want a Ranger’s horse lol! 

Some things that I’ll never stop loving from the first time I read this book:

✨The Humor and Banter 

✨When Halt FINALLY smiled! I was grinning from ear to ear when I read that moment. 😁

✨Horace’s revenge moment- also including when Halt came in 🫢😂

✨Will meeting Tug 

✨The sweet and laughable moments of Halt and Will together

✨ Gilan!!! That’s all I’m gna say 😏

Ok, now that I’ve fangirled and possible even bored you away with my ramblings. Please, PLEASE GO READ THIS BOOK! You won’t regret it! I absolutely recommend. 

⚠️ Age recommendation: 12+ ⚠️

My rating: 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Ages 10-12 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(Wouldn’t really recommend to 10 year olds) 

Ages 13-14 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ages 15-16 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sexual Content:

(There really wasn’t a romance factor in this first book)

One kiss (lightly detailed and chaste), some very few light touches on the hand, an embrace, and a girl blows a kiss at Will. Attraction (very little) and Noticing. 

Profanity: 

Damn is said (not really as a curse but more as an adjective to things). Idiot is said a couple times. A “what the hell”, and a “Good God in Heaven” are both said once. Some name calling. 

Violence:

Lots of mentions of fighting, blood, death, and killing (Semi-detailed). Bullying and threatening. Killing a boar (moment was semi-detailed). A lot of mentions to a war and battles. A few Fight scenes (semi-detailed). 

Trigger Warnings:‼️

None 

POV’s: Multiple POVs 

249 pages