Yesterday, I planned a quick run to Target after meeting some friends for lunch. I knew it would be close to baby’s naptime, but it would be a quick in-and-out and then she could fall asleep on the way home.After forgetting my list, scraping through a tired baby breakdown, losing my wallet, finding my wallet back at the restaurant, and finally getting everything in the car and home, I was in serious need of a comfort book. So I picked up The Burning Bridge, book 2 of John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series, and all was right with the world.
I discovered Ranger’s Apprentice last year. I wasn’t so sure about it by the end of the first chapter; but the second chapter had me hooked, and, by the third book, the series had made its way onto my Harry Potter shelf. There are twelve books in the series, and I loved every one of them (with the possible exception of some of the short stories in #11).
As with so many of my favorite books, the characters are what sold it for me. There are so many characters that you get to know throughout the book, and each one has his or her distinct voice and personality. With twelve books, there’s plenty of room for characters to grow stagnant, but Flanagan keeps them growing and changing with each new obstacle. Their relationships morph, both deepening and fading with the passing of time. The dialogue can be a little cheesy at times, but the way it builds up the characters more than makes up for the slight eye-roll it inspires from time to time.
Twelve books may seem like a long series, but the books are a quick and compelling read. I think I checked the last five out from the library at once because I was finishing them in a day or two and couldn’t stand to wait. Add them to your summer reading list!
BumblesBooks 
Will do!!! I don’t mind a little cheese with my wine. 😉
Haha, a little cheese now and then is healthy 🙂
I love the Rangers Apprentice series, Will and Horace are great characters. I haven’t attempted the Brother Band series as I fear it will be too similar. Maybe when i have nothing to read- which will is as unlikely as a zombie invasion. 🙂
I haven’t tried Brother Band either. My sister read them and said she didn’t enjoy them as much, but I think I might have to give them a chance just because I miss having Ranger’s Apprentice books to read. 🙂 That’s the problem with a long series–you think it’ll last forever, and suddenly it’s over.
Yes, i still haven’t recovered, all these years later, from The last Harry Potter book.
Seriously! You know it’s been seven years since that was published? How am I still mourning the end of that series seven years later?!
That means there really hasn’t been anything, in seven years ,that came even close to filling that void. We must blame publishers for this, as I’m sure that masterpiece is out there.