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Review by
Louella Moreland
Fans of the first three "Ranger's Apprentice" books, myself included,
have anxiously awaited John Flanagan's fourth installment of this series.
Mr. Flanagan has created a wonderful fiction series for both male and female
young adults and introduced us to a wide range of fully developed characters
that we have come to know and admire. In a time of fantasy writing where
magic and wizardry is used to defeat one's foes, Flanagan has taken a
realistic approach to fighting evil intentions through skill and strategy.
Set in a medieval era in a country similar to England, the setting is ripe
for adventure and chivalry.
We were introduced to the Ranger Halt in "Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan,"
when he received the charge of training Will, an orphan under King Duncan's
protection. At first, Will is disappointed to be sent into the Ranger Corps
rather than train as a fighting soldier like his nemesis Horace, but as he
learns the background of the Rangers and succeeds in learning the skills of
the highly secret Rangers, Will comes to admire and respect his teacher.
The Rangers' skills are those of an elite and specialized guerrilla
warfare group. In today's time they would be part of the Navy Seals or Army
Green Berets. Although the citizens of the Araluen (Flanagan's setting)
regard them as having special magical powers, there is no magic to what they
do. Training in warfare tactics and woodland survival skills make the
Rangers a dangerous force to the enemies of King Duncan. As Horace (soldier
in training) comes to find out when "little" Will saves his life, courage
and training can be just as important as brute strength.
"The Battle for Skandia" takes up the story where "Book Three: The
Icebound Land," left off, with Will and Evanlyn (King Duncan's daughter,
Princess Cassandra, in disguise) having escaped from slavery under the
Skandians. Halt and Horace are making their way across the mountains in a
rescue attempt to find Will and Evanlyn. As they approach the Skandian
border, however, they are met with a more immediate problem: The scouting
parties of the notoriously cruel Temujai army are invading the lands of the
proud, fierce Skandians.
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The four friends are reunited, but with the Temujai quickly
approaching, they realize that if the invaders are successful in
defeating the Skandians, their own country would be in serious
jeopardy. Therefore, war makes enemies allies once again. Although
the Skandians are fierce one-on-one combatants (and the sworn
enemies of King Duncan), Halt, Will, Horace and Evanlyn throw all
their energies into battle plans to stop the invasion.
Secondary characters such as the wise Skandian sea captain, Erak,
and Oberjarl Ragnor, sly conspirator Slagnor and Temujai leader
Haz'kam are well-drawn and believable. Warfare tactics are made
clear to even the most inexperienced reader while remaining
heart-stopping and thrilling with every turn of the page. Although
we meet some characters from the previous stories only briefly when
the wanderers return to Araluen, those who have read the entire
series will greet them as old and dear friends. Enough background is
given throughout the series to quickly bring the reader up to speed
in each book. Each book can stand independently, but most readers
will find the cliffhanging endings too exciting to read only one.
Those who like this type of adventure story, where intelligence,
skill, loyalty and courage are the makings of heroes, will want to
delve thoroughly into all four books.
Mr. Flanagan left us with quite a cliffhanger in "Book Three: The
Icebound Land." He makes us soar across the chasm in Book Four and
glide to a delightful, safe landing at our own (or Araluen's) front
door in "The Battle for Skandia." We will look forward with pleasure
to seeing more intriguing work from this skillful author, a truly
master craftsman for both male and female adventure readers.
To check out this book or any in the "Ranger's Apprentice"
series, come and see us at the Library Annex, 725 Pekin St.
[Text from file received from
Louella Moreland,
Lincoln Public Library District] |
