SOMETIMES WE NEED

FANTASY

TO SURVIVE
REALITY

 

 

 This week's book recommendation is a lovely series called Ranger's Apprentice by  Australian author John Flanagan. I LOVE this series! I have yet to finish it (no time or money to purchase and read the final three books before I left for Korea), but I fully intend to once I actually have the time and money to put into it.

 

The first book is The Ruins of Gorlan and revolves around a young man by the name of Will. Will is one of a few orphans who reside at Castle Redmont. As is customary, at 15, the orphans are expected to become an apprentice to one of the masters at the castle. There are a variety of trades to choose from: military, culinary, etc. Will's friends find places with little trouble, but Will can't seem to find an apprenticeship that suits him. That is until Halt, a ranger, comes along and takes Will as his apprentice. Will learns all about the rangers and their mysterious trade from his new master, and finds he not only likes it, but is quite skilled.

 

Now these wouldn't be any kind of decent fantasy books without a little fantasy to them. There's a good old fashioned villain (Morgarath) who needs defeating, along with his ugly minions, the Kalkara. I won't go into any great detail so as not to spoil it for my amazing readers out there, because these books are totally worth the read.

 

Flanagan is amazing at what he does. His fantasy world, though obviously based upon cultures and histories from our world, is a unique and refreshing addition to the fantasy genre. His characterization is very realistic, and everything just works together perfectly to make an all around amazing series.

 

For those who enjoyed or will enjoy this series, Flanagan also has a second series currently in the works called The Brotherband Chronicles, based in the same world, which I started reading as well before I left for Korea. I must say it is off to a wonderful start. Once I've gotten further into the series, I'll probably be doing another post about it. Until then, pick up his Ranger's Apprentice series, sit down, and read! 

 

 

 

Fantasy is a necessary

                           ingredient in living, it's a way

of looking at life through the

                           wrong end of a telescope.

 

                      -Dr. Seuss