The Ruins of Gorlan

This was by far a fun read, and definitely an improvement in story telling when compared to my last middle school read, The League of Archers. The first book in the Ranger's Apprentice series is one that I think deserves to have special mention among the middle grade books you find. It is just as detailed as Percy Jackson, and features a hero that one can really sympathize with and enjoy reading about.

The best element of this book is the idea of the expansive world the reader is exposed to in this book.One gets the sense that this world is one that can be explored well over the course of 12 books, and hat there is much more to see. Yet, the narrative remains focused on Will and his journey to become a Ranger. A ranger in this world is sort of like the Ranger's in US Special Forces, to some extent. They serve as the King's scouts, guides, and join him in battle when necessary. They are known for their ability to travel stealthily across the forrest, and be unseen by various guards. Will himself is an orphan whose father died in battle and mother died giving birth to him. He remains a ward of the castle until he is selected by the Ranger called Halt to become his apprentice. But war is brewing on the horizon. Can Will become a Ranger in time to face what is coming?

It was interesting to read about someone who was not a stereotypical knight. The Rangers are interesting and can be very cool and fun to read not just to the middle school reader but to adults as well. I loved reading about all the skills that Will learned through his training and that he knew as a boy. This is an excellent book that I am sure boys will get into.

So why only 4 stars? Well, a few things just kept it from being perfect for me. Firstly, in my addition, the book did not come with a map, which, as it is a fantasy series, would have been nice to have. Then there is the ending. Obviously, I won't spoil it but I'll only say that it did feel rushed, as though the author did not know how to end the novel, and chose this ending because he had to, not because it made sense. These were things that annoyed me, and made me take it down a notch. Still, this was a very fun read that middle school students and adults can get into. I can't wait for the rest of the series. If you think you might like this book, go pick one up. You won't be disappointed.