I think Alyss' death made me rank the book pretty low for the Royal Ranger because The Royal Ranger felt like a retelling of the first book except with Will going full circle as the grumpy teacher. Having her death being so abrupt just so we can have Will being grumpy and moody made me so mad. So it feels like Alyss was killed as a plot device for Maddie to exist.
I totally understand your view! I read RR so long ago that I don’t remember my initial reaction reading Alyss’ but with how many times I’ve read it I suppose I’m just expecting it.
@@kaisilby8170 what do you expect if you go on a ranger’s apprentice video? what do you expect when you go to the comments? Do we just not talk about the books?
I: The Mackindaw arc (Books 5 & 6) The opportunity to see Will, Alyss, and Horace really grow into professionals as adults, as well as keeping the location of the setting relatively simple, made for an amazing story arc. II: Will's apprenticeship (Books 1 - 4, with 3 being the strongest). Simply one of my favorite stories about a boy becoming a man ever written by anyone. Ever. III: The Royal Ranger (Book 12 / RR Book 1) A bit long, but I love Maddie's character development, the fact that Flanagan had the balls to kill off Alyss. I loved her character, but it made the story that much stronger. The mood was much more of a YA in much of the book than the generally younger audience we were when we most likely initially began to read the series. IV: Erak's Ransom - Decent entry; it was nice to see what the end of Will's apprenticeship looked like. I did enjoy seeing Cassandra/Evanlyn grow more comfortable as a princess as she sharpens her diplomacy skills. The other books were... eh. Ranger's Apprentice 8 - 10, While Halt's backstory was interesting, I would have much rather seen more of Will acting independently. After the Mackindaw arc, seeing Will retreat back behind Halt's shadow for most of this arc was disappointing. As for Nihon Ja, I felt it was about a hundred pages too long. The bickering between Alyss and Cassandra was cringe. They felt more like bratty children as opposed to the composed adults we've seen them become in the previous books. Red Fox and Duel were okay, but after reading the much grittier "Royal Ranger," it was difficult to take the rest of the series seriously as the tone delved down to appeal to a younger audience again. No hate towards Flanagan, but I feel like Maddie's story just isn't for me at my age anymore, and I haven't continued. Haven't read Brotherband or Early Years. Early Years is definitely on my TBR.
It is so tragic how much the Royal Ranger series was toned down! I feel like it had so much potential with Maddie as a character & to have it butchered..ugh. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & critics on the series! I always love hearing other peoples thoughts on my favorite series 💕
Thank you for making this! We need more RA on youtube! my ranking: | 1. Eraks Ransom | 2. Ruin of Gorlan | 3. Emperor of Nihon Ja | 4. Siege of Macindaw | 5. Sorcerer of the North | 6. Battle for Skandia | 7. The Lost Stories | 8. Kings of Clonmel | 9. The Burning Bridge | 10. Halts Peril | 11. Icebound Land 1. Early Years 2. Rangers Apprentice 3. Brother Band 4. Royal Ranger
I’m 20 and found Ranger’s apprentice in Highschool, they’re by far my favorite books of all time, I also liked the Brother band series with Hal, I wouldn’t really say it was up to par with ranger’s apprentice though
Same here I'm 27 and I started reading the ranger's apprentice series back in high school, I read the first two books, ruins of gorlan and the burning bridge thanks to my schools library. Now That I'm older I'm going back to revisit the series. Although I do find it weird that Royal ranger was published twice first as volume 12 in ranger's apprentice and then it got republished with Royal ranger volume one a new beginning, I'd like the world and it's characters.
My ranking: 1. Oakleaf Bearers 2. The ruins of Gorlan 3. The kings of clonmel 4. The burning bridge 5. The siege of macindaw 6. Eraks ransom 7. Halts peril 8. The icebound land 9. The lost stories 10. The sorcerer of the north 11. The emperor of nihon ja
The Emperor of Nihon-Ja being last does hurt me a little 😭 but thank you for sharing! I'm going to have to go back and re rank because my rankings have definitely changed since this video!
Cast: Will Treaty: Timothée Chalamet Halt O'Carrick: Liam Neeson Horace Altman: Tom Holland Evanlyn (Cassandra): Saoirse Ronan Gilan: Henry Cavill Baron Arald: Sean Bean Lady Pauline: Cate Blanchett Malcolm (Halt's brother): Ralph Fiennes Morgarath: Benedict Cumberbatch Tennyson: Mads Mikkelsen
Very nice. Your list is a lot different than mine haha. I always considered the books that are related like Icebound Land and Battle for Skandia to basically be one book. So my list goes like this 1. Kings of Clonmel and Halts Peril 2. Sorcerer of the North and Siege of Macindaw 3. Icebound Land and Battle for Skandia 4. Emperor of Nihon Ja 5. Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge 6. Eraks Ransom 7. The Lost Stories. The first three brotherband books i consider to be one book as well and they are amazing, very much on par with the original rangers series. But i would rank all the rest of the sequels about the same. Same goes for the prequels and the royal ranger series.
Oh that's such a unique way to look at it! I love seeing your list because yup, they are very much different 😂 But at the same time I do understand. Since I grew up re reading these so many times I have emotional attachments and fond memories associated with certain books even though they might not be the "best" Thanks for leaving your list!!
I was reading a rangers apprentice book and my uncle said “ the fifth book is my favorite. “ and I couldn’t process what he just said because I’ve never met someone whose read the same book as me irl 💀
Its been a while since I've read some of these and I have not finished reading royal ranger or brother band, but books 5 and 6 always have had a special place in my heart while book 10 is for sure in my top three as well. it's blasphemous to put book 7 so high, how dare you. And also A new beginning was one of my faves and definitely tore my heart out. The early years both have a special place in my heart and I don't even know how you managed to rank all of them, I love them all so much!! its harder than it looks for sure.
Broooo it was tough ranking everything, and I kept wanting to switch it up. Blasphemy my ass, book 7 is so good!! I new 5 and 6 were your fav and now you just need to finish the dang series!! ❤
my rankings: 1. kings of clonmel, 2. eraks ransom, 3. the emperor of nihon-ja, 4. the battle for skandia, 5. the ruins of gorlan, 6. the icebound land, 7. the burning bridge, 8. halts peril, 9. the lost stories, 10. the siege of macindaw, 11. the sorcerer of the north
Omg I love that you are trying to put out more RA content. I love these series’s so much and agree with your statement of really like to like the most. Honestly, I could never not enjoy one of his book. As for your list I thought it was interesting. Definitely would have some changes but overall I can almost agree. It would be really interesting to know how you would rank book 5 of the RR. I also think that I would rather have less of the “to be continued” and possibly a longer story arch like the first 4 books of RA or BB. I think it would be interesting if king Duncan finally passed and Cassandra took over as queen and had to fight a whole new war. Anyways, I also think way too much about the world sometimes. Thank you for the great content!!! And look forward to possibly more.
I thoroughly enjoyed book 5 of RR and so it’d be cool to re-evaluate my list. Cassandra being crowned would be so awesome- but I just don’t want Duncan to die yet 🥲
@@cassandralynnreads Yeah, Duncan dying would be sad, just having Cassandra as queen and having to face whatever impending threat without his guidance is a tricky thing to figure out. Also with trying not to repeat the sick angle. Possibly visiting a far away country?
Loved your video, the vibes, the excitement, the passion, your personality. it was great. i loved hearing your thoughts on a series i love and I just... want more haha. ALSO GLAD TO SEE SOMEONE WHO LOVED ALYSS DEATH AS MUCH AS I DID, it was so heartbreaking for will, he was literally crying about being helpless. and him being all depressed and brooding was great. the scene where he laughs at maddie making coffee with the beans floating in the water will forever warm my heart. its just such a good story
Could you please do a ranking of all the characters in Ranger’s apprentice, from George to Gilan to Reiko and Trobar. Or a ranking of the herons or something. That would be so fun. My favourite part of the ranger’s apprentice books is that all main and side characters keep interacting after their debute.
Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband are my two favorite series. As a teacher, I recommended both to everyone and as a children's librarian, I do the same. These are the only series I have reread...as there are so many books to get to, I couldn't spare the reread time. I like both series about equally, as it fleshes out a world I enjoy being in. Flanagan has great skill in creating his characters, good and bad guys. The only blemish, and one new readers don't need to worry about, is Book 7 in the Ranger's Apprentice. The blemish is not the book, it is the order it came when he wrote them. It should be read after Book 4. Since I read the series as each book was published, I was bummed it took me back in time instead of continuing the timeline from book 6. Like I said, though, no problem for new readers who can do it themselves...though it feel so wrong. Hoping Flanagan adds to both series and I wish him health.
I don’t know if you still check out the comments a year later, but I made a complete list with detailed explanations for each rank if you wanna see: -- Before getting started with this list, I would like to acknowledge that if I were to go through the series all over again, knowing how good and bad each book is, I would still read every entry without skipping any. While some books feel slower or less eventful than others, all 10 of them are great reads. That being said, here is my passionate ranking of the original 10 Ranger’s Apprentice books from worst to best. Hope you enjoy the recap! **10. Sorcerer of the North** The worst book of the series goes to its fifth entry, which was probably also its *most anticipated*. Finally seeing Will as a full Ranger was a bit of a *letdown*. He’s moved to a sloppy fief that will be ignored for the rest of the series once he saves and fixes it up in the first few chapters. Then he spends the rest of the book on an undercover mission without Halt. Alyss’ return was also a *disappointment*. A love interest we’ve been waiting to see return since the first entry finally arrives just to uncover a myth and get captured. Alyss’ lack of skill and personality just made me miss Evanlyn, who was always impressive with her tricks and bravery. Alyss just *wasn’t very intriguing* aside from being a love interest. The biggest letdown however, is finding out that the mythical dark figure was just a projection made to scare off trespassers. The book had us thinking Will would go up against a demonic beast but instead he’s just helping a lord take back his castle. Now, this book did have some of my *favorite moments* in the entire series. Will disguising himself as a jongleur with a dog to charm information from tavern customers was such a unique turn to his character, and I loved every moment of it! Also the ending where Will stealthily climbs up the prison tower and then hurries back down to escape gave me goosebumps (there weren't enough detailed climbing sequences in this series). Unfortunately, the rest of the book is just Will figuring out what’s going on at Macindaw. The *plot moves very slowly* and has little to nothing to make up for it. **9. Siege of Macindaw** Yeah, both entries of the Macindaw Duology were the least amusing in the series. This book’s *plot is pretty straightforward*: Will’s group makes a plan to siege Macindaw (hint title). More characters show up to *lighten the mood* though. Horace joins the party and we have an illusionist and a new Skandian crew. Alyss spends the whole book as a prisoner using morse code to send Will info. The book did however have the *most characterized antagonist* in the series. Sir Keren is the only villain who actually shows regret for what he’s doing. He’s not crazy for chaos or careless about who he hurts. He stands out from the other villains and that gives this book some points. And the actual siege was performed brilliantly! Will and Horace hiding in plain sight to sneak to the walls, Malcolm using illusions to draw the enemies’ attention away, and the Skandians having fun slaughtering soldiers were all great to read! But when it got to the part where Will confronts Keren who has Alyss brainwashed, the scenario is both really *cheesy and overdramatic*. The whole “I love you so stop being mind-controlled” thing was poorly done with Will giving up multiple chances to neutralize Keren because he’s distracted with Alyss. And Keren’s sudden brutal screaming death felt completely out of place for him. I feel like it would’ve been more fitting if Keren just committed suicide or surrendered and accepted the consequences for his crimes. He just doesn’t seem like the kind of villain to keep going after he already knows he’s lost. Also Will’s dog is hardly involved until he leaves her with someone else. So no more dog. But at least the book has a *relatively nice ending* with Will rebuilding his spirit. **8. Kings of Clonmel** The recap of how much everything had changed around Will was a *much-needed break*. It was great to see Jenny with her successful cooking business and Will at a Ranger gathering. Bringing Halt back was also the right call. As much as we wanted to see Will go at it as a lone wolf, he’s just *better off with allies*. The revelation that Halt was royalty and once in line for the throne was actually really mind-blowing and a *nice twist to open up new past connections*. But the *plot still felt sluggish*. Will, Halt, and Horace are on a mission to stop a fake cult leader from becoming king of a neighboring nation by making a legend out of Horace (something Halt does regularly by this point) to rival the cult leader’s influence. Although after finally meeting Halt’s brother, *everything comes around* and gets pretty entertaining. Halt impersonating his brother as king, Horace decapitating a wild brute, and Will exposing a rigged fight were all carried out so well! And the sudden death of Halt’s brother was a nice touch, considering his selfish and greedy nature finally catching up to him. Overall, the book had a slow buildup but a nice payoff. **7. Icebound Land** Normally, you’d expect to see this type of book at the bottom of a rankings list, because *almost nothing happens*. Our lead character spends the first half seasick and the second half high on weed, and can only squeeze in a quick knife throw at a tankard to remind us he’s still awesome. All that really happens in this book is Evanlyn and Will escaping the Skandians, and Halt and Horace traveling towards them. But what this entry lacks in plot and action, it more than makes up for with *development and emotion*. Evanlyn, Halt, Horace, and Erak all go through incredible character arcs in this entry. Halt and Horace work together for the first time to take down a corrupted warlord, creating a strong bond between them that would grow continuously throughout the series. Evanlyn shows an astonishing amount of resourcefulness and bravery when rescuing Will (stabbing a molester, tricking guards, and hunting with a handcrafted sling) that it’s hard to remember she’s a princess. And Erak, originally portrayed as an antagonist, atones for bringing Will and Evanlyn into slavery by risking his position to help them escape, making him a really likable character. But above all, what makes this book truly shine is its ending. Will’s recovery, after spending the full book losing hope in his *darkest hour* of the series, was beautifully executed and conveys one strong message that would be relayed throughout the rest of the series: even Rangers *need friends to get them through the darkest of times*. I can’t be the only one who cried when Evanlyn hugged him. **6. Ruins of Gorlan** Being the book that introduced us to the world of Araluen, this entry was bound to have specific ups and downs. The first two-thirds of the book presents readers to the world of Araluen and its characters and sets the story into motion, and it does a great job doing so. Initially fearing the Rangers and getting recruited without knowing why was the *best way to kick off Will’s story*. The Ranger life chose him long before he truly chose it. He starts out as a relatable underdog who will develop into a legend under our watch throughout each book. There’s also Halt, who at this point is still a mystery to Will and the reader, but full of clever comments and cool tricks. Tug’s introduction was done well too, with his snarky attitude and intelligent mindset that all Ranger horses have. And of course there’s Will’s relationship with Horace: starting off as rivals but then respecting each other after an opportunity to show their heroisms. This sparks a friendship that would be present in every single following entry. Also those bullies were some of the most awful characters I have ever read about, and watching Halt punish them was the most satisfying thing ever. Will’s first mission to stop mythical monsters was also a great way to demonstrate his ability to turn the odds into his favor, with the iconic flaming arrow. And Halt’s story of Will’s heroic father was such a great way to bring an end to Will’s uncertainty about wanting to be a Ranger. The main antagonist Morgaroth is also introduced in the dark, *getting readers excited for what is yet to come* from this captivating story. The first entry did a great job reeling in readers to the series. (SEE REPLIES FOR THE REST OF THE LIST)
(Part 2) **5. Burning Bridge** From this point on, every book listed was a thrill to read from beginning to end. The second entry was the *perfect sequel* to the pilot entry, bringing Will a *theme of self-confidence and expanding the world*. Will starts off doubting his skill for the life he’s taken with every mistake, despite his trainer’s support for him. Then in the moment of truth when Halt isn’t there, Will performs his role with perfection by taking charge when things start falling apart, making the tough calls, and following through with unfaltering confidence. By the end, he proves to himself that he has exactly what it takes to be an incredible Ranger. We also get to *build up on previously minor characters* from the pilot, Horace and Gilan. Both of whom are excellently characterized, with Horace being eager to help and Gilan being confident in leading a group as Halt, his previous mentor, had taught him. There’s also a new character, Evanlyn, who is a mystery to the reader until she shows her courage by helping Will destroy the enemies’ transportation against the ticking clock… and turns out to be the king’s daughter. Burning the bridge (hence the title) is easily the best part of the book. Will and Evanlyn’s determinations are demonstrated beautifully as they work together to turn the tables for their kingdom in the heat of the moment, with their success demonstrated as the bridge crumbles. This book also introduces the Skandians, a whole new culture to expand the world of Ranger’s Apprentice in the future of the series and leave readers at a *huge cliffhanger* with their involvement. There’s a lot to love about this book! The only major disappointment was *Morgarath’s underwhelming defeat*. He’d been built up so well as a villain and had so much more potential. I really thought he’d be the overall antagonist of the entire series and not get defeated until the final book. Instead, he gets killed by an awkward blow from a boy he’s never met. He didn’t get a final confrontation with his greatest enemy Halt, he wasn’t acknowledged for all he went through to get the throne, and he never even had an interaction with Will! All that *potential went down the drain* to be replaced by several new villains who would never live up to Morgarth. Not to mention this is the *last time we see mythical creatures*. I’m not gonna lie, I was really excited to see Will take on more monsters instead of other humans. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. **4. Halt's Peril** I think it’s safe to say that this entry is probably the fan-favorite book in the series. It’s definitely the most memorable for a good reason: it’s filled chapter to chapter with references from all the previous books, making it the *most nostalgic book* in the series. That, and Halt is the most “Halt” that Halt has ever been. And he nearly dies. But what's really special about this entry is the *psychological impact* on Will. After failing to protect his mentor/father figure in the field when he needs him, he applies every Ranger skill he has ever learned to save Halt from death. He shows the most conviction and determination that he has ever shown in the entire series. Halt’s faith in Will is also demonstrated well, showing that he is more than *proud of the Ranger he’s become*. This entry also showed off the Genovesans, which are probably the *most formidable type of enemies* Will and Halt have ever encountered. They’re assassins who specialize in stealth, poison, and crossbows. One could even say they’re the equivalent of “Dark Rangers”, just a lot less skilled. It was also nice to see Malcolm again with his illusion tricks. The defeat of the villain by making him think he’s seeing ghosts of his victims and exposing his lies to his followers, was a great and *poetic way to take him down* after all that deception he spread. So, why isn’t this entry at the top of the list? Well, the reason is this: it *tried too hard to be the best* book in the series. It bunched up so many unneeded callbacks from the previous books that it seemed as if it was trying to show off its predecessors. It also overreacted with the plot and overhyped dozens of sequences that could’ve been handled much more reasonably. It made things seem like so much was riding on stopping a cult leader/con artist by going all out with events when in reality, they were just trying to finish off a villain whose plan they already foiled in the previous entry. Overall a really great book but exaggerated a lot at several points. **3. Emperor of Nihon-Ja** It’s always nice when a series ends on a high note. Our final entry is all the way up in the top three. The book is a *whole story on its own*. Even during the segment of switching chapters as the gang sails to find Horace, the book still manages to keep up a *steady pace* with things. Horace is an epic warrior escorting Emperor Shigeru and his soldiers by using clever tricks (and tough sacrifices) to evade an enemy lord while everyone else is catching up or having comedic catfights with each other. And once they reunite, things get much better. Evanlyn is now an expert with her sling and Alyss FINALLY gets to show her skill in the field as the two of them recruit an isolated tribe and take down a massive intelligent stalking beast in the night (most terrifying sequence in the series), and then they come to *trust each other* when Evanlyn admits to no longer have feelings for Will. Shigeru was a *marvelous supporting character* with his compassion and humor, and he formed a nice bond with Horace. It was also great to see Selethen again. *Will’s skills have improved so much* that he even managed to surprise Halt when he stopped an enemy arrow mid-flight from hitting Shigeru purely out of instinct. Taking down the villain by revealing the true emperor could have been done a little better, but it was still pretty good, and so was Will’s sweet saxe knife throw. The only thing that wasn’t enacted very well was the ending. Horace’s proposal to Cassandra was nice, but *we didn’t get to see any of the buildup* towards these main characters’ romance. And that awkward conversation Will and Alyss have after it left a bad taste in my mouth. Fantastic book, poor closing. And bonus points for finally bringing George back… for a few pages. Wasted opportunity to not have the unique-minded literate involved with the plot if you ask me. But that’s a topic for another time. **2. Erak’s Ransom** The seventh entry in the series is practically professional fanfiction. And I love it! Everything about this book is *done so well* that I hardly have anything to complain about. Will is pretty much a full Ranger by now and is just waiting for his graduation. Halt and Pauline get married. Gilan is back, a character who didn’t get nearly enough involvement in the series. Evanlyn is back, and she’s got a sweet sling now. Erak and his crew are back, and we get to see more of his first mate, Svengal. Tug gets the spotlight to show his dedication to Will and determination to win through a really heart-pounding race sequence. Will has a wild mirage sequence in the scorching desert. We also get to meet a new character, Selethen, who is all business but still a pretty good addition. There is so much *beautiful fan service* fitted into this entry! But the best part of the book, and arguably the *best fight sequence* in the whole series, was stopping the execution. Everyone but Will had been captured by the enemy and ready for the chopping block, while Will forms a brilliant resistance plan with a new group of people he just met (that’s pretty much his specialty throughout the series). And the way it’s done is magnificent! Will shoots the executioner from a watchtower at the last second, his army reveals itself from the crowd and starts attacking enemies, Horace signals Will to shoot his wrist bindings off like a total savage, the others cut themselves free and grab weapons, Gilan gets sweet payback on a man who tortured him, Evanlyn reveals her sling and ammo and takes out the enemy captain AND cleverly stops the Skandian traitor from getting away, and Halt had absolute faith that Will would somehow save them despite the odds against him. That entire sequence was glorious, and I could read it over and over again! Another special thing that this book had was an *impactful ally death, and Will’s reaction* to it. This is the only time in the series Will reacts to losing an ally, and it reminds us of his morality. He has the chance to avenge his comrade by killing the greedy man who was at fault, but he lets him go, feeling that there’s already been enough death for one day. It shows that despite how dark the Ranger life has made Will, he will always have that merciful nature. To add on even more, this book had a *villain that was done right from beginning to end*. Morgarath, Tennyson, and Arisaka all died very anticlimactic and unsatisfying deaths, and Sir Keren, the only sympathetic villain, died a ridiculously over-the-top death (Flanagan wasn’t very good at writing villain deaths). Toshak’s defeat on the other hand was very fulfilling. He’s cornered and accepts that his plan is ruined, prepares to go out swinging, loses a good duel to Erak, and then is granted Skandian mercy in death when given his weapon to keep his soul protected. He was a bad guy, but he still respected the ways of his people. And who could forget *Will’s graduation party*? All his friends gathering to surprise him as he officially becomes a Ranger could not have been done better. The whole book was executed pretty much flawlessly, and easily would’ve topped this list if not just for one other entry.
(Part 3) **Honorable Mention: Lost Stories** It’s impossible to rank this book, considering it takes place throughout the entire series. But it was fantastic. This bonus entry *fills in plot holes* and *features characters who did not get enough spotlight* during the ten books of the main series (except George). And despite being full of mini bonus stories, this entry just might be the most emotional book in the series. I pity anyone who overlooked this book and said goodbye to this series without such a magnificent sendoff. And now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for... **1. Battle for Skandia** The ultimate peak of the series was Will’s final book as a Ranger’s Apprentice. This book *concludes a well-crafted overarching story* and follows through with it stunningly. Reunited, Will, Halt, Horace, and Evanlyn team up with Skandians to win a war against a common enemy, the Temujai, by turning impossible odds into a fighting chance. Will is put in charge of training a squad of slave archers, Horace commands a squad of Skandian soldiers, Evanlyn exposes a fatal mole in their mists, and Halt and Erak persuade the council to go with their plan. Erak forms a great bond with them and even sides with them for the good of both nations over his Oberjarl, Ragnak who has a passionate hatred for Araluens. The *war sequence was incredible*. Between Will and Evanlyn commanding their trained squad of archers, Horace commanding his trained squad of defenders, and Halt and Erak commanding the front lines, the reader gets to see every angle of the battle. And as things get harder and the enemies take out Will’s archers, everyone continues to fight until their last breath as they stare at death straight in the eyes. Horace and Will use all their sweet combat skills to hold off enemies closing in, Evanlyn pressures every remaining archer to continue the fight instead of abandoning their comrades, and Oberjarl Ragnak goes rampage and gives his life to save the day. That moment when Will has given everything he had into the fight and prepares to embrace his death, exactly like his father once did, then is saved at the last possible second by the leader of a nation that he helped form an alliance with, was *absolutely amazing*. What a way to win a war. And now Erak is the new Oberjarl, which means no more bad blood between the two nations! Great for everyone! But the determinant factor that makes this book the pinnacle entry of the series is its ending. After finally sailing back home to Araluen, King Duncan reunites with his lost daughter, Halt is reinstated and welcomed back as a Ranger, Horace officially becomes a Knight, and Will is given the ultimate choice by the very King: live the good life in the noblest area of the kingdom, or continue traveling the path of a Ranger. We all knew what he’d pick. *Will has truly reached the end of his character arc*. Any doubt or fear he initially had is long gone. He knows beyond a shadow of doubt that he was meant to be a Ranger, and wouldn’t trade that life for anything. He’s ready to take on all the wild adventures yet to come and never look back. This book was the greatest highlight of the series. Thanks for reading all the way through!
Wow that was so fun to read through! And our opnions are very different, and I love how each person can enjoy the series in a different way! 💕 thanks for sharing!!
Thank you for making this!!! I love youre attitude and voice, i may not agree with your ranking but i love hearing what you say! We need mor RW content!!
The Icebound Land is my top rated book Reason being was, Wills battle with ‘warm weed’ and that whole… It hit close to home you know. The battle with addiction and being weaned off I honestly cry every time I read or Listen to that book, and, it potentially even saved my life
thank you for sharing 🫶 it's wonderful that you were able to wean off an addiction, be so proud! it's amazing how fiction can mirror life and we're lucky JF is such a talented author to share his ideas & stories.
I started reading these books when I was in middle school and loved the series but had to at the fourth one because I couldn´t find these books where I lived. Now with ebooks I got back to reading these, love them all.
my list for rangers apprentice: 10. kings of clonmel 9. sorcerer of the north 8. halt's peril 7. icebound land 6. siege of macindaw 5. gorlan ruins 4. erak's ransom 3. burning bridge 2. battle for skandia 1. nihon-ja. Nice video.
@@cassandralynnreads Thank you! I really enjoyed your list. I agree with you putting royal ranger up there, although I wouldn't have it as #1, I agree that it is one of the top books. Here is my list of all the RA and RR books (except Hackham Heath because I haven't read it) 1. Tournament at Gorlan 2. Emperor of Nihon-Ja 3. Battle for Skandia 4. Burning Bridge 5. New Beginning 6. Erak’s Ransom 7. Gorlan Ruins 8. Lost Stories 9. Siege of Macindaw 10. Icebound Land 11. Halt’s Peril 12. Duel at Araluen 13. Red Fox Clan 14. Sorcerer of the North 15. Kings of Clonmel 16. Escape from Falaise 17. Missing Prince I feel like the RR books after the first one were a bit of a letdown, especially the last two, it feels kinda like Star Wars how they just kept the series going with crappy episodes. I really enjoy Nihon-ja because I loved the new angle on Horace, my favourite character and I loved Shigeru and the other Nihon-ja characters. My #1 spot is probably the most controversial, but I love that book because it really shows how much the characters have grown and how they started. Can't wait to read Hackham Heath!
I totally understand where you're coming from with the RR books. I did enjoy the newest one more than the others because we got to see more of the old characters again. But yeah the series reached a point where it should've ended bbbuUUt I'm love this series too much to see it end haha
1. emporer of nihonja (everyone together is just incredible, plus alyss and eve is so cute), ruins of gorlan, oakleaf bearers (best battle scene in any book ever) 2. burning bridge, icebound land, the outcasts 3. halts peril, eraks ransom (horace shouting at will to shoot an arrow between his hands to cut his rope has the be the best scene in the whole series)(AHHHHHH YOU LOVE THE SVENGAL JOKE ABOUT THE INSIDE TOO YESSSSS, ITS SO GOOD), the lost stories (i love the tug one) 4. kings of clonmel, the royal ranger, the invaders, the hunters, tournament at gorlan 5. sorceror in the north, siege of macindaw 6. scorpion mountain, ghostfaces, slaves of soccoro 7. red fox clan, duel at araluen 8 the caldera (i really didnt like the caldera, only book i didnt like)
Personal ranking for the rangers apprentice, 12: the lost stories, 11: the burning bridge, 10: kings of clonmel 9: sorcerer of the north: 8: halts peril 7: icebound land 6: erak’s ransom, 5: ruins of gorlan, 4: Royal Ranger 3: siege of macindaw, 2: the emperor of Nihon-ja, 1: The battle for skandia. Brotherband Rankings, 7: The caldera, 6: The ghostfaces, 5: scorpion mountain, 4: slaves of socorro, 3: The hunters, 2: The outcasts, 1: Invaders. The rest rankings, 8: battle of hackham Heath, 7: the red fox clan, 6: The missing Prince, 5: arazan’s Wolfs, 4: escape from Falaise, 3: duel at Araluen 2: The tournament at gorlan, 1: The Royal Ranger but again
My ranking (I haven't read it in ages. Will reread after I've worked through my TBR. I've picked up the Brandon Sanderson addiction (also also read Mistborn it's freaking amazing.) but after I've read all the cosmere I'll sprinkle in some R.A.): 1. Literally all of the main series and early years except for book one. 2. Royal Ranger and Ruins of Gorlan. 3. Everything else (some brotherband books probably are ranked higher.) Also I agree the newer ones are worse. I'm just gonna stick to the original series.
Thank you for leaving your ranking! Glad someone finally agrees that the newer ones aren't as good, I thought I was going crazy 😂 I'll have to check out Mistborn to see if it's something that would interest me!!
It's been at least a year since I last read this series, but I really wanna read it again. I'll share my ranking list once I've reread the whole series. XD
For me it probably goooes: 1.eraks ransom 2. Ruins of Gorlan 3. Burning bridge 4. Halts peril Hmm idk I think the rest are all kinda equals for me I was a bit disappointed in halts peril since I was dying for some good halt content
Girl I feel you! My ranking honestly changes every single time I read through the series. For example i just finished book 10 and didn't enjoy it as much as I usually do, while I surprisingly enjoyed book 8! Book 1 will always have a special place in my heart though, even if I did rank it a lil lower
i read the serie when i was younger and thought book 9 en 8 were one of the worst books of the serie and thought book 10 was the best. But I reread the serie and i actually thought that book 8 and maybe book 9 were the best of the serie and book 10 disappointed me a little bit.
Oh my gosh that was me with my current re read of the series! I strangely enjoyed book 8 more than book 10 this go around. And when I was younger I used to hate book 7, but now it is literally one of my favorite stories to read. I love that with the length of this series you can get a new experience every time you re read it!
okay so here's my ranking from least favourite to favourite: RA 10 (I first read this one in Dutch and it's wasn't a great translation in my opinion but later on I started to love it more but based on original vibes it's my least favourite) - 9 - 8 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 1 - 3 - 11 - 2 - 7 TRR: 5 - 4 (we could do without these imo, they felt a bit like a repeat to me) - 1 - 6 - 2 - 3 TEY: 1 - 2 BBC: 8 - 7 - 6 - 9 (haven't read this one yet but based on what I’ve read about it this is where it’ll end up) - 1 - 3 - 2 - 4 - 5
Who else hated Maddie’s guts? I mean, I spent the first half of the book wanting to let her feel a royal slap. Secondly, she decides she knows everything and puts forth a very arrogant attitude. I won’t lie, it would have made my day if wills would have shot her with his bow. Secondly, switching to brother band, can be appreciate how obnoxious Lydia is??? After book four I was wishing that Ingvar would use her for the steering ore or just yeet her over board. So annoying. Listen, when the Genovese assassins are more charismatic and Luke able than you, you need to take a hike… and don’t come back… also…. Unpopular opinion I know, I did not care for evanlyn. I wish Alyssa would have had an opportunity to actually show her resourcefulness and character instead of just popping up to mcindaw like a dumb blond… Honestly…. It would have been cool to see Jenny take out some temujai with that ladle of hers…
The Ranger's Apprentice was && has been my favorite Book Series of all time, I actually got in trouble all the time in Middle School because I spent more time reading those books than doing my Schoolwork. Now I am 27 years old & I'm considering buying it with my Grown up money & reading all of them again considering last time I read them all I was only about 12 or 13 years old I'm worried I may not like them anymore because I have changed A LOT since then & grown a lot but I still absolutely LOVE Fantasy worlds I mean I still game a lot too, But I am grown & I have a Daughter on the way so I'd hate to buy them just for Nostalgias sake & not enjoy them. What do you think should I buy them & give them another read or No?
Hi! Send you are an expert in having read all the RA books! I’ve been looking for someone to ask… I’m trying to figure out if this series deals in magic/sorcery. It seems most people say no, but then some reviews make it seem like it is some kind of underlying/hidden theme. Thank you!
So for all the main RA books there's no real magic. *mild spolier* In books 5 & 6 there's "sorcery" but it's proven to be nothing but science essentially. There is a hypnosis stone also in book 5 & 6, but again, it's more of implyied hypnosis rather than full on magic. Book 7 of Royal Ranger (the spin off series) is the first book where magic is at play. And from I recall from it, it was magic that allowed people the communicate over long distance. I don't believe magic is an underlying theme at all, there's so many more brilliant takeaways from the series that don't rely on magic! Let me know if you have any other questions! Hope this helps 😁
It’s so sad for me that, Royal Ranger isn’t converted into my language, but I will probably read it in English, because I loved the first Royal Ranger book
Okay, I can accept you not liking the Kings of Clonmel as much as I do, but ranking the Royal Ranger lower than Ranger's Apprentice?? :D no way! I was also surprised to see how low the first book scored on your ranking. To me, this book is probably the best one, because we're being introduced to this whole world, seeing Horace turning from bad to goood and Halt and Will becoming close... there's just too much good stuff in it. To be honest, since Halt is one of my favourite characters, I don't really like the books as much, where he does not play a major role (e.g., the Siege of Macindaw). I do, however, 1000% agree with you that John Flanagan should write a whole series on Gilan being an apprentice. I would love to see more of him and witness how Halt would handle things with his first apprentice: was he ever doubting himself as a mentor? Was he more gentle with Gilan than he was with Will? There is so much potential for another series!
I started my yearly re read this month and I also agree that old me ranking book 1 as low as I did was BLASPHEMY! I'm on book 7 rn, and I think I enjoyed book 1 and 4 more this go around 🤔 Also I would kill for a Gilan series. Like I love Maddie, but end the RR and give me Gilan please. 😂
I think Alyss' death made me rank the book pretty low for the Royal Ranger because The Royal Ranger felt like a retelling of the first book except with Will going full circle as the grumpy teacher. Having her death being so abrupt just so we can have Will being grumpy and moody made me so mad. So it feels like Alyss was killed as a plot device for Maddie to exist.
I totally understand your view! I read RR so long ago that I don’t remember my initial reaction reading Alyss’ but with how many times I’ve read it I suppose I’m just expecting it.
Thanks for fucking spoiling
@@kaisilby8170 what do you expect if you go on a ranger’s apprentice video? what do you expect when you go to the comments? Do we just not talk about the books?
I mean Alyss was never that interesting of a character anyway, so I wasn't that bothered when she died.
But Will was devastated so i think that it was kind sad
I: The Mackindaw arc (Books 5 & 6) The opportunity to see Will, Alyss, and Horace really grow into professionals as adults, as well as keeping the location of the setting relatively simple, made for an amazing story arc.
II: Will's apprenticeship (Books 1 - 4, with 3 being the strongest). Simply one of my favorite stories about a boy becoming a man ever written by anyone. Ever.
III: The Royal Ranger (Book 12 / RR Book 1) A bit long, but I love Maddie's character development, the fact that Flanagan had the balls to kill off Alyss. I loved her character, but it made the story that much stronger. The mood was much more of a YA in much of the book than the generally younger audience we were when we most likely initially began to read the series.
IV: Erak's Ransom - Decent entry; it was nice to see what the end of Will's apprenticeship looked like. I did enjoy seeing Cassandra/Evanlyn grow more comfortable as a princess as she sharpens her diplomacy skills.
The other books were... eh.
Ranger's Apprentice 8 - 10, While Halt's backstory was interesting, I would have much rather seen more of Will acting independently. After the Mackindaw arc, seeing Will retreat back behind Halt's shadow for most of this arc was disappointing. As for Nihon Ja, I felt it was about a hundred pages too long. The bickering between Alyss and Cassandra was cringe. They felt more like bratty children as opposed to the composed adults we've seen them become in the previous books.
Red Fox and Duel were okay, but after reading the much grittier "Royal Ranger," it was difficult to take the rest of the series seriously as the tone delved down to appeal to a younger audience again. No hate towards Flanagan, but I feel like Maddie's story just isn't for me at my age anymore, and I haven't continued.
Haven't read Brotherband or Early Years. Early Years is definitely on my TBR.
It is so tragic how much the Royal Ranger series was toned down! I feel like it had so much potential with Maddie as a character & to have it butchered..ugh. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & critics on the series! I always love hearing other peoples thoughts on my favorite series 💕
Thank you for making this! We need more RA on youtube!
my ranking: | 1. Eraks Ransom | 2. Ruin of Gorlan | 3. Emperor of Nihon Ja | 4. Siege of Macindaw | 5. Sorcerer of the North | 6. Battle for Skandia | 7. The Lost Stories | 8. Kings of Clonmel | 9. The Burning Bridge | 10. Halts Peril | 11. Icebound Land
1. Early Years
2. Rangers Apprentice
3. Brother Band
4. Royal Ranger
Thank you! That's what I'm sayin!! I'll do my best to provide RA for CZcams 😂 That's a pretty solid ranking, thanks for letting me see it!
I’m 20 and found Ranger’s apprentice in Highschool, they’re by far my favorite books of all time, I also liked the Brother band series with Hal, I wouldn’t really say it was up to par with ranger’s apprentice though
I love the characters so much in Brotherband!
Same here I'm 27 and I started reading the ranger's apprentice series back in high school, I read the first two books, ruins of gorlan and the burning bridge thanks to my schools library. Now That I'm older I'm going back to revisit the series. Although I do find it weird that Royal ranger was published twice first as volume 12 in ranger's apprentice and then it got republished with Royal ranger volume one a new beginning, I'd like the world and it's characters.
My ranking: 1. Oakleaf Bearers 2. The ruins of Gorlan 3. The kings of clonmel 4. The burning bridge 5. The siege of macindaw 6. Eraks ransom 7. Halts peril 8. The icebound land 9. The lost stories 10. The sorcerer of the north 11. The emperor of nihon ja
The Emperor of Nihon-Ja being last does hurt me a little 😭 but thank you for sharing! I'm going to have to go back and re rank because my rankings have definitely changed since this video!
The Oak-leaf bearers is retitled in the US as The Battle For Skandia. I find that very interesting.
Cast:
Will Treaty: Timothée Chalamet
Halt O'Carrick: Liam Neeson
Horace Altman: Tom Holland
Evanlyn (Cassandra): Saoirse Ronan
Gilan: Henry Cavill
Baron Arald: Sean Bean
Lady Pauline: Cate Blanchett
Malcolm (Halt's brother): Ralph Fiennes
Morgarath: Benedict Cumberbatch
Tennyson: Mads Mikkelsen
wow that is certainly interesting haha!
Thanks Cas 😊
Very nice. Your list is a lot different than mine haha. I always considered the books that are related like Icebound Land and Battle for Skandia to basically be one book. So my list goes like this 1. Kings of Clonmel and Halts Peril 2. Sorcerer of the North and Siege of Macindaw 3. Icebound Land and Battle for Skandia 4. Emperor of Nihon Ja 5. Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge 6. Eraks Ransom 7. The Lost Stories. The first three brotherband books i consider to be one book as well and they are amazing, very much on par with the original rangers series. But i would rank all the rest of the sequels about the same. Same goes for the prequels and the royal ranger series.
Oh that's such a unique way to look at it! I love seeing your list because yup, they are very much different 😂 But at the same time I do understand. Since I grew up re reading these so many times I have emotional attachments and fond memories associated with certain books even though they might not be the "best" Thanks for leaving your list!!
I don't have the time to watch, atleast right now, but I'm glad to see someone finally making RA stuff on YT!
Ah thanks! Let me know when you do end up watching, I'd love to hear your thoughts!! Thanks for stopping by tho 😁
You're doing the Lord's work, I haven't seen anyone talking about this series. I do want more Gilan and Jenny content though.
I would kill for Gilan as an apprentice 🤧
I was reading a rangers apprentice book and my uncle said “ the fifth book is my favorite. “ and I couldn’t process what he just said because I’ve never met someone whose read the same book as me irl 💀
i was wearing my oakleaf necklace at work one time & some asked me if it was from RA & my brain malfunctioned bc I was like "you know what that is!!!"
Its been a while since I've read some of these and I have not finished reading royal ranger or brother band, but books 5 and 6 always have had a special place in my heart while book 10 is for sure in my top three as well.
it's blasphemous to put book 7 so high, how dare you. And also A new beginning was one of my faves and definitely tore my heart out. The early years both have a special place in my heart and I don't even know how you managed to rank all of them, I love them all so much!! its harder than it looks for sure.
Broooo it was tough ranking everything, and I kept wanting to switch it up. Blasphemy my ass, book 7 is so good!! I new 5 and 6 were your fav and now you just need to finish the dang series!! ❤
my rankings: 1. kings of clonmel, 2. eraks ransom, 3. the emperor of nihon-ja, 4. the battle for skandia, 5. the ruins of gorlan, 6. the icebound land, 7. the burning bridge, 8. halts peril, 9. the lost stories, 10. the siege of macindaw, 11. the sorcerer of the north
Thanks for sharing! I'd love to know why book 8 is your favorite!!
Omg I love that you are trying to put out more RA content. I love these series’s so much and agree with your statement of really like to like the most. Honestly, I could never not enjoy one of his book. As for your list I thought it was interesting. Definitely would have some changes but overall I can almost agree. It would be really interesting to know how you would rank book 5 of the RR. I also think that I would rather have less of the “to be continued” and possibly a longer story arch like the first 4 books of RA or BB. I think it would be interesting if king Duncan finally passed and Cassandra took over as queen and had to fight a whole new war. Anyways, I also think way too much about the world sometimes. Thank you for the great content!!! And look forward to possibly more.
I thoroughly enjoyed book 5 of RR and so it’d be cool to re-evaluate my list. Cassandra being crowned would be so awesome- but I just don’t want Duncan to die yet 🥲
@@cassandralynnreads Yeah, Duncan dying would be sad, just having Cassandra as queen and having to face whatever impending threat without his guidance is a tricky thing to figure out. Also with trying not to repeat the sick angle. Possibly visiting a far away country?
Loved your video, the vibes, the excitement, the passion, your personality. it was great. i loved hearing your thoughts on a series i love and I just... want more haha.
ALSO GLAD TO SEE SOMEONE WHO LOVED ALYSS DEATH AS MUCH AS I DID, it was so heartbreaking for will, he was literally crying about being helpless. and him being all depressed and brooding was great. the scene where he laughs at maddie making coffee with the beans floating in the water will forever warm my heart. its just such a good story
Literally LOVED Will's character in 12, it was so beautifully done!
Could you please do a ranking of all the characters in Ranger’s apprentice, from George to Gilan to Reiko and Trobar. Or a ranking of the herons or something. That would be so fun. My favourite part of the ranger’s apprentice books is that all main and side characters keep interacting after their debute.
oh goodness I'll think on it, there's so many characters haha
This video and me re-collecting the rangers apprentice series. You get a sub
🫶
Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband are my two favorite series. As a teacher, I recommended both to everyone and as a children's librarian, I do the same. These are the only series I have reread...as there are so many books to get to, I couldn't spare the reread time. I like both series about equally, as it fleshes out a world I enjoy being in. Flanagan has great skill in creating his characters, good and bad guys. The only blemish, and one new readers don't need to worry about, is Book 7 in the Ranger's Apprentice. The blemish is not the book, it is the order it came when he wrote them. It should be read after Book 4. Since I read the series as each book was published, I was bummed it took me back in time instead of continuing the timeline from book 6. Like I said, though, no problem for new readers who can do it themselves...though it feel so wrong. Hoping Flanagan adds to both series and I wish him health.
That makes me so happy, this is such a strong series to recommend to kids, there's so many valuable lessons to be taught!
I don’t know if you still check out the comments a year later, but I made a complete list with detailed explanations for each rank if you wanna see:
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Before getting started with this list, I would like to acknowledge that if I were to go through the series all over again, knowing how good and bad each book is, I would still read every entry without skipping any. While some books feel slower or less eventful than others, all 10 of them are great reads. That being said, here is my passionate ranking of the original 10 Ranger’s Apprentice books from worst to best. Hope you enjoy the recap!
**10. Sorcerer of the North**
The worst book of the series goes to its fifth entry, which was probably also its *most anticipated*. Finally seeing Will as a full Ranger was a bit of a *letdown*. He’s moved to a sloppy fief that will be ignored for the rest of the series once he saves and fixes it up in the first few chapters. Then he spends the rest of the book on an undercover mission without Halt. Alyss’ return was also a *disappointment*. A love interest we’ve been waiting to see return since the first entry finally arrives just to uncover a myth and get captured. Alyss’ lack of skill and personality just made me miss Evanlyn, who was always impressive with her tricks and bravery. Alyss just *wasn’t very intriguing* aside from being a love interest. The biggest letdown however, is finding out that the mythical dark figure was just a projection made to scare off trespassers. The book had us thinking Will would go up against a demonic beast but instead he’s just helping a lord take back his castle. Now, this book did have some of my *favorite moments* in the entire series. Will disguising himself as a jongleur with a dog to charm information from tavern customers was such a unique turn to his character, and I loved every moment of it! Also the ending where Will stealthily climbs up the prison tower and then hurries back down to escape gave me goosebumps (there weren't enough detailed climbing sequences in this series). Unfortunately, the rest of the book is just Will figuring out what’s going on at Macindaw. The *plot moves very slowly* and has little to nothing to make up for it.
**9. Siege of Macindaw**
Yeah, both entries of the Macindaw Duology were the least amusing in the series. This book’s *plot is pretty straightforward*: Will’s group makes a plan to siege Macindaw (hint title). More characters show up to *lighten the mood* though. Horace joins the party and we have an illusionist and a new Skandian crew. Alyss spends the whole book as a prisoner using morse code to send Will info. The book did however have the *most characterized antagonist* in the series. Sir Keren is the only villain who actually shows regret for what he’s doing. He’s not crazy for chaos or careless about who he hurts. He stands out from the other villains and that gives this book some points. And the actual siege was performed brilliantly! Will and Horace hiding in plain sight to sneak to the walls, Malcolm using illusions to draw the enemies’ attention away, and the Skandians having fun slaughtering soldiers were all great to read! But when it got to the part where Will confronts Keren who has Alyss brainwashed, the scenario is both really *cheesy and overdramatic*. The whole “I love you so stop being mind-controlled” thing was poorly done with Will giving up multiple chances to neutralize Keren because he’s distracted with Alyss. And Keren’s sudden brutal screaming death felt completely out of place for him. I feel like it would’ve been more fitting if Keren just committed suicide or surrendered and accepted the consequences for his crimes. He just doesn’t seem like the kind of villain to keep going after he already knows he’s lost. Also Will’s dog is hardly involved until he leaves her with someone else. So no more dog. But at least the book has a *relatively nice ending* with Will rebuilding his spirit.
**8. Kings of Clonmel**
The recap of how much everything had changed around Will was a *much-needed break*. It was great to see Jenny with her successful cooking business and Will at a Ranger gathering. Bringing Halt back was also the right call. As much as we wanted to see Will go at it as a lone wolf, he’s just *better off with allies*. The revelation that Halt was royalty and once in line for the throne was actually really mind-blowing and a *nice twist to open up new past connections*. But the *plot still felt sluggish*. Will, Halt, and Horace are on a mission to stop a fake cult leader from becoming king of a neighboring nation by making a legend out of Horace (something Halt does regularly by this point) to rival the cult leader’s influence. Although after finally meeting Halt’s brother, *everything comes around* and gets pretty entertaining. Halt impersonating his brother as king, Horace decapitating a wild brute, and Will exposing a rigged fight were all carried out so well! And the sudden death of Halt’s brother was a nice touch, considering his selfish and greedy nature finally catching up to him. Overall, the book had a slow buildup but a nice payoff.
**7. Icebound Land**
Normally, you’d expect to see this type of book at the bottom of a rankings list, because *almost nothing happens*. Our lead character spends the first half seasick and the second half high on weed, and can only squeeze in a quick knife throw at a tankard to remind us he’s still awesome. All that really happens in this book is Evanlyn and Will escaping the Skandians, and Halt and Horace traveling towards them. But what this entry lacks in plot and action, it more than makes up for with *development and emotion*. Evanlyn, Halt, Horace, and Erak all go through incredible character arcs in this entry. Halt and Horace work together for the first time to take down a corrupted warlord, creating a strong bond between them that would grow continuously throughout the series. Evanlyn shows an astonishing amount of resourcefulness and bravery when rescuing Will (stabbing a molester, tricking guards, and hunting with a handcrafted sling) that it’s hard to remember she’s a princess. And Erak, originally portrayed as an antagonist, atones for bringing Will and Evanlyn into slavery by risking his position to help them escape, making him a really likable character. But above all, what makes this book truly shine is its ending. Will’s recovery, after spending the full book losing hope in his *darkest hour* of the series, was beautifully executed and conveys one strong message that would be relayed throughout the rest of the series: even Rangers *need friends to get them through the darkest of times*. I can’t be the only one who cried when Evanlyn hugged him.
**6. Ruins of Gorlan**
Being the book that introduced us to the world of Araluen, this entry was bound to have specific ups and downs. The first two-thirds of the book presents readers to the world of Araluen and its characters and sets the story into motion, and it does a great job doing so. Initially fearing the Rangers and getting recruited without knowing why was the *best way to kick off Will’s story*. The Ranger life chose him long before he truly chose it. He starts out as a relatable underdog who will develop into a legend under our watch throughout each book. There’s also Halt, who at this point is still a mystery to Will and the reader, but full of clever comments and cool tricks. Tug’s introduction was done well too, with his snarky attitude and intelligent mindset that all Ranger horses have. And of course there’s Will’s relationship with Horace: starting off as rivals but then respecting each other after an opportunity to show their heroisms. This sparks a friendship that would be present in every single following entry. Also those bullies were some of the most awful characters I have ever read about, and watching Halt punish them was the most satisfying thing ever. Will’s first mission to stop mythical monsters was also a great way to demonstrate his ability to turn the odds into his favor, with the iconic flaming arrow. And Halt’s story of Will’s heroic father was such a great way to bring an end to Will’s uncertainty about wanting to be a Ranger. The main antagonist Morgaroth is also introduced in the dark, *getting readers excited for what is yet to come* from this captivating story. The first entry did a great job reeling in readers to the series.
(SEE REPLIES FOR THE REST OF THE LIST)
(Part 2)
**5. Burning Bridge**
From this point on, every book listed was a thrill to read from beginning to end. The second entry was the *perfect sequel* to the pilot entry, bringing Will a *theme of self-confidence and expanding the world*. Will starts off doubting his skill for the life he’s taken with every mistake, despite his trainer’s support for him. Then in the moment of truth when Halt isn’t there, Will performs his role with perfection by taking charge when things start falling apart, making the tough calls, and following through with unfaltering confidence. By the end, he proves to himself that he has exactly what it takes to be an incredible Ranger. We also get to *build up on previously minor characters* from the pilot, Horace and Gilan. Both of whom are excellently characterized, with Horace being eager to help and Gilan being confident in leading a group as Halt, his previous mentor, had taught him. There’s also a new character, Evanlyn, who is a mystery to the reader until she shows her courage by helping Will destroy the enemies’ transportation against the ticking clock… and turns out to be the king’s daughter. Burning the bridge (hence the title) is easily the best part of the book. Will and Evanlyn’s determinations are demonstrated beautifully as they work together to turn the tables for their kingdom in the heat of the moment, with their success demonstrated as the bridge crumbles. This book also introduces the Skandians, a whole new culture to expand the world of Ranger’s Apprentice in the future of the series and leave readers at a *huge cliffhanger* with their involvement. There’s a lot to love about this book! The only major disappointment was *Morgarath’s underwhelming defeat*. He’d been built up so well as a villain and had so much more potential. I really thought he’d be the overall antagonist of the entire series and not get defeated until the final book. Instead, he gets killed by an awkward blow from a boy he’s never met. He didn’t get a final confrontation with his greatest enemy Halt, he wasn’t acknowledged for all he went through to get the throne, and he never even had an interaction with Will! All that *potential went down the drain* to be replaced by several new villains who would never live up to Morgarth. Not to mention this is the *last time we see mythical creatures*. I’m not gonna lie, I was really excited to see Will take on more monsters instead of other humans. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
**4. Halt's Peril**
I think it’s safe to say that this entry is probably the fan-favorite book in the series. It’s definitely the most memorable for a good reason: it’s filled chapter to chapter with references from all the previous books, making it the *most nostalgic book* in the series. That, and Halt is the most “Halt” that Halt has ever been. And he nearly dies. But what's really special about this entry is the *psychological impact* on Will. After failing to protect his mentor/father figure in the field when he needs him, he applies every Ranger skill he has ever learned to save Halt from death. He shows the most conviction and determination that he has ever shown in the entire series. Halt’s faith in Will is also demonstrated well, showing that he is more than *proud of the Ranger he’s become*. This entry also showed off the Genovesans, which are probably the *most formidable type of enemies* Will and Halt have ever encountered. They’re assassins who specialize in stealth, poison, and crossbows. One could even say they’re the equivalent of “Dark Rangers”, just a lot less skilled. It was also nice to see Malcolm again with his illusion tricks. The defeat of the villain by making him think he’s seeing ghosts of his victims and exposing his lies to his followers, was a great and *poetic way to take him down* after all that deception he spread. So, why isn’t this entry at the top of the list? Well, the reason is this: it *tried too hard to be the best* book in the series. It bunched up so many unneeded callbacks from the previous books that it seemed as if it was trying to show off its predecessors. It also overreacted with the plot and overhyped dozens of sequences that could’ve been handled much more reasonably. It made things seem like so much was riding on stopping a cult leader/con artist by going all out with events when in reality, they were just trying to finish off a villain whose plan they already foiled in the previous entry. Overall a really great book but exaggerated a lot at several points.
**3. Emperor of Nihon-Ja**
It’s always nice when a series ends on a high note. Our final entry is all the way up in the top three. The book is a *whole story on its own*. Even during the segment of switching chapters as the gang sails to find Horace, the book still manages to keep up a *steady pace* with things. Horace is an epic warrior escorting Emperor Shigeru and his soldiers by using clever tricks (and tough sacrifices) to evade an enemy lord while everyone else is catching up or having comedic catfights with each other. And once they reunite, things get much better. Evanlyn is now an expert with her sling and Alyss FINALLY gets to show her skill in the field as the two of them recruit an isolated tribe and take down a massive intelligent stalking beast in the night (most terrifying sequence in the series), and then they come to *trust each other* when Evanlyn admits to no longer have feelings for Will. Shigeru was a *marvelous supporting character* with his compassion and humor, and he formed a nice bond with Horace. It was also great to see Selethen again. *Will’s skills have improved so much* that he even managed to surprise Halt when he stopped an enemy arrow mid-flight from hitting Shigeru purely out of instinct. Taking down the villain by revealing the true emperor could have been done a little better, but it was still pretty good, and so was Will’s sweet saxe knife throw. The only thing that wasn’t enacted very well was the ending. Horace’s proposal to Cassandra was nice, but *we didn’t get to see any of the buildup* towards these main characters’ romance. And that awkward conversation Will and Alyss have after it left a bad taste in my mouth. Fantastic book, poor closing. And bonus points for finally bringing George back… for a few pages. Wasted opportunity to not have the unique-minded literate involved with the plot if you ask me. But that’s a topic for another time.
**2. Erak’s Ransom**
The seventh entry in the series is practically professional fanfiction. And I love it! Everything about this book is *done so well* that I hardly have anything to complain about. Will is pretty much a full Ranger by now and is just waiting for his graduation. Halt and Pauline get married. Gilan is back, a character who didn’t get nearly enough involvement in the series. Evanlyn is back, and she’s got a sweet sling now. Erak and his crew are back, and we get to see more of his first mate, Svengal. Tug gets the spotlight to show his dedication to Will and determination to win through a really heart-pounding race sequence. Will has a wild mirage sequence in the scorching desert. We also get to meet a new character, Selethen, who is all business but still a pretty good addition. There is so much *beautiful fan service* fitted into this entry! But the best part of the book, and arguably the *best fight sequence* in the whole series, was stopping the execution. Everyone but Will had been captured by the enemy and ready for the chopping block, while Will forms a brilliant resistance plan with a new group of people he just met (that’s pretty much his specialty throughout the series). And the way it’s done is magnificent! Will shoots the executioner from a watchtower at the last second, his army reveals itself from the crowd and starts attacking enemies, Horace signals Will to shoot his wrist bindings off like a total savage, the others cut themselves free and grab weapons, Gilan gets sweet payback on a man who tortured him, Evanlyn reveals her sling and ammo and takes out the enemy captain AND cleverly stops the Skandian traitor from getting away, and Halt had absolute faith that Will would somehow save them despite the odds against him. That entire sequence was glorious, and I could read it over and over again! Another special thing that this book had was an *impactful ally death, and Will’s reaction* to it. This is the only time in the series Will reacts to losing an ally, and it reminds us of his morality. He has the chance to avenge his comrade by killing the greedy man who was at fault, but he lets him go, feeling that there’s already been enough death for one day. It shows that despite how dark the Ranger life has made Will, he will always have that merciful nature. To add on even more, this book had a *villain that was done right from beginning to end*. Morgarath, Tennyson, and Arisaka all died very anticlimactic and unsatisfying deaths, and Sir Keren, the only sympathetic villain, died a ridiculously over-the-top death (Flanagan wasn’t very good at writing villain deaths). Toshak’s defeat on the other hand was very fulfilling. He’s cornered and accepts that his plan is ruined, prepares to go out swinging, loses a good duel to Erak, and then is granted Skandian mercy in death when given his weapon to keep his soul protected. He was a bad guy, but he still respected the ways of his people. And who could forget *Will’s graduation party*? All his friends gathering to surprise him as he officially becomes a Ranger could not have been done better. The whole book was executed pretty much flawlessly, and easily would’ve topped this list if not just for one other entry.
(Part 3)
**Honorable Mention: Lost Stories**
It’s impossible to rank this book, considering it takes place throughout the entire series. But it was fantastic. This bonus entry *fills in plot holes* and *features characters who did not get enough spotlight* during the ten books of the main series (except George). And despite being full of mini bonus stories, this entry just might be the most emotional book in the series. I pity anyone who overlooked this book and said goodbye to this series without such a magnificent sendoff. And now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for...
**1. Battle for Skandia**
The ultimate peak of the series was Will’s final book as a Ranger’s Apprentice. This book *concludes a well-crafted overarching story* and follows through with it stunningly. Reunited, Will, Halt, Horace, and Evanlyn team up with Skandians to win a war against a common enemy, the Temujai, by turning impossible odds into a fighting chance. Will is put in charge of training a squad of slave archers, Horace commands a squad of Skandian soldiers, Evanlyn exposes a fatal mole in their mists, and Halt and Erak persuade the council to go with their plan. Erak forms a great bond with them and even sides with them for the good of both nations over his Oberjarl, Ragnak who has a passionate hatred for Araluens. The *war sequence was incredible*. Between Will and Evanlyn commanding their trained squad of archers, Horace commanding his trained squad of defenders, and Halt and Erak commanding the front lines, the reader gets to see every angle of the battle. And as things get harder and the enemies take out Will’s archers, everyone continues to fight until their last breath as they stare at death straight in the eyes. Horace and Will use all their sweet combat skills to hold off enemies closing in, Evanlyn pressures every remaining archer to continue the fight instead of abandoning their comrades, and Oberjarl Ragnak goes rampage and gives his life to save the day. That moment when Will has given everything he had into the fight and prepares to embrace his death, exactly like his father once did, then is saved at the last possible second by the leader of a nation that he helped form an alliance with, was *absolutely amazing*. What a way to win a war. And now Erak is the new Oberjarl, which means no more bad blood between the two nations! Great for everyone! But the determinant factor that makes this book the pinnacle entry of the series is its ending. After finally sailing back home to Araluen, King Duncan reunites with his lost daughter, Halt is reinstated and welcomed back as a Ranger, Horace officially becomes a Knight, and Will is given the ultimate choice by the very King: live the good life in the noblest area of the kingdom, or continue traveling the path of a Ranger. We all knew what he’d pick. *Will has truly reached the end of his character arc*. Any doubt or fear he initially had is long gone. He knows beyond a shadow of doubt that he was meant to be a Ranger, and wouldn’t trade that life for anything. He’s ready to take on all the wild adventures yet to come and never look back. This book was the greatest highlight of the series.
Thanks for reading all the way through!
Wow that was so fun to read through! And our opnions are very different, and I love how each person can enjoy the series in a different way! 💕 thanks for sharing!!
@@cassandralynnreads happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Thank you for making this!!! I love youre attitude and voice, i may not agree with your ranking but i love hearing what you say! We need mor RW content!!
Glad you enjoyed!
The Icebound Land is my top rated book
Reason being was, Wills battle with ‘warm weed’ and that whole…
It hit close to home you know. The battle with addiction and being weaned off
I honestly cry every time I read or Listen to that book, and, it potentially even saved my life
thank you for sharing 🫶 it's wonderful that you were able to wean off an addiction, be so proud! it's amazing how fiction can mirror life and we're lucky JF is such a talented author to share his ideas & stories.
Just so you know ulf and wulf learning to pick locks is in the 7th book... But idd that's an amazing part!
right! 💕
My ranking:
Ranger's apprentice:
1) 10
2) 7
3) 5
4) 6
5) 1
6) 2
7) 3
8) 4
9) 8
10) 11
11) 9
Brotherband:
1) 1
2) 2
3) 4
4) 3
5) 5
6) 6
7) 9
8) 7
9) 9
Royal ranger's/ early years
1) early yaers 1
2) royal ranger 1
3) royal ranger 3
4) royal ranger 2
5) early years 2
6) royal ranger 4
7) royal ranger 5
Oh wow! Kinda similar! 💕
we need more RA on youtube! thanks for doing this!
That's what I'm saying!
I started reading these books when I was in middle school and loved the series but had to at the fourth one because I couldn´t find these books where I lived. Now with ebooks I got back to reading these, love them all.
glad you are able to read them now!
Also, I would also read the heck out of a series about Gilan's apprenticeship. XD X3
The things I would do to obtain that series 😤
Gorgeouse hair btw, i know this is from a few years ago but it looks sooo good
Oh thank you!
my list for rangers apprentice: 10. kings of clonmel 9. sorcerer of the north 8. halt's peril 7. icebound land 6. siege of macindaw 5. gorlan ruins 4. erak's ransom 3. burning bridge 2. battle for skandia 1. nihon-ja. Nice video.
That's a solid list! I'm excited to reread it again and see what my ranking would be this go around.
@@cassandralynnreads Thank you! I really enjoyed your list. I agree with you putting royal ranger up there, although I wouldn't have it as #1, I agree that it is one of the top books. Here is my list of all the RA and RR books (except Hackham Heath because I haven't read it)
1. Tournament at Gorlan
2. Emperor of Nihon-Ja
3. Battle for Skandia
4. Burning Bridge
5. New Beginning
6. Erak’s Ransom
7. Gorlan Ruins
8. Lost Stories
9. Siege of Macindaw
10. Icebound Land
11. Halt’s Peril
12. Duel at Araluen
13. Red Fox Clan
14. Sorcerer of the North
15. Kings of Clonmel
16. Escape from Falaise
17. Missing Prince
I feel like the RR books after the first one were a bit of a letdown, especially the last two, it feels kinda like Star Wars how they just kept the series going with crappy episodes. I really enjoy Nihon-ja because I loved the new angle on Horace, my favourite character and I loved Shigeru and the other Nihon-ja characters. My #1 spot is probably the most controversial, but I love that book because it really shows how much the characters have grown and how they started. Can't wait to read Hackham Heath!
I totally understand where you're coming from with the RR books. I did enjoy the newest one more than the others because we got to see more of the old characters again. But yeah the series reached a point where it should've ended bbbuUUt I'm love this series too much to see it end haha
This was great haha would love an update, potentially spoiler-free?
maybe after the new book comes out in october!
YESSS TBANK YOU SO MUCH AGHH I LOVE RANGERS APPRENTICE SO MUCH
😁😁😁
I always thought if Alyss was not in the series, i could have seen will end up with cassandra.
I could potentially see that, but a Ranger & royalties lived are very different!
@@cassandralynnreads fair enough, but they could have still tried.
1. emporer of nihonja (everyone together is just incredible, plus alyss and eve is so cute), ruins of gorlan, oakleaf bearers (best battle scene in any book ever)
2. burning bridge, icebound land, the outcasts
3. halts peril, eraks ransom (horace shouting at will to shoot an arrow between his hands to cut his rope has the be the best scene in the whole series)(AHHHHHH YOU LOVE THE SVENGAL JOKE ABOUT THE INSIDE TOO YESSSSS, ITS SO GOOD), the lost stories (i love the tug one)
4. kings of clonmel, the royal ranger, the invaders, the hunters, tournament at gorlan
5. sorceror in the north, siege of macindaw
6. scorpion mountain, ghostfaces, slaves of soccoro
7. red fox clan, duel at araluen
8 the caldera (i really didnt like the caldera, only book i didnt like)
Yeah the Caldera was so bloody boring omg, glad I'm not the only one who thought that!
how did I only just find this video? brb gonna watch it haha
😂😂 how did I just see this comment. BRB gonna respond to it 🤪
How I knew you were going to say add Thorn to a group of Malcolm and Halt XD
The power this trio would have, I mean come on 😂
Personal ranking for the rangers apprentice,
12: the lost stories, 11: the burning bridge, 10: kings of clonmel 9: sorcerer of the north: 8: halts peril 7: icebound land 6: erak’s ransom, 5: ruins of gorlan, 4: Royal Ranger 3: siege of macindaw, 2: the emperor of Nihon-ja, 1: The battle for skandia.
Brotherband Rankings, 7: The caldera, 6: The ghostfaces, 5: scorpion mountain, 4: slaves of socorro, 3: The hunters, 2: The outcasts, 1: Invaders.
The rest rankings, 8: battle of hackham Heath, 7: the red fox clan, 6: The missing Prince, 5: arazan’s Wolfs, 4: escape from Falaise, 3: duel at Araluen 2: The tournament at gorlan, 1: The Royal Ranger but again
oh interesting! thanks for sharing!
My ranking (I haven't read it in ages. Will reread after I've worked through my TBR. I've picked up the Brandon Sanderson addiction (also also read Mistborn it's freaking amazing.) but after I've read all the cosmere I'll sprinkle in some R.A.): 1. Literally all of the main series and early years except for book one. 2. Royal Ranger and Ruins of Gorlan. 3. Everything else (some brotherband books probably are ranked higher.) Also I agree the newer ones are worse. I'm just gonna stick to the original series.
Thank you for leaving your ranking! Glad someone finally agrees that the newer ones aren't as good, I thought I was going crazy 😂 I'll have to check out Mistborn to see if it's something that would interest me!!
It's been at least a year since I last read this series, but I really wanna read it again. I'll share my ranking list once I've reread the whole series. XD
I look forward to it!
For me it probably goooes:
1.eraks ransom
2. Ruins of Gorlan
3. Burning bridge
4. Halts peril
Hmm idk I think the rest are all kinda equals for me I was a bit disappointed in halts peril since I was dying for some good halt content
yeah he was out of commission for basically the entire book.
Wow...Ruins of Gorlan is way higher for me. It’s at least in my top four. May be sentimentality, but still that hurted
Girl I feel you! My ranking honestly changes every single time I read through the series. For example i just finished book 10 and didn't enjoy it as much as I usually do, while I surprisingly enjoyed book 8! Book 1 will always have a special place in my heart though, even if I did rank it a lil lower
i read the serie when i was younger and thought book 9 en 8 were one of the worst books of the serie and thought
book 10 was the best. But I reread the serie and i actually thought that book 8 and maybe book 9 were the best of the serie and book 10 disappointed me a little bit.
Oh my gosh that was me with my current re read of the series! I strangely enjoyed book 8 more than book 10 this go around. And when I was younger I used to hate book 7, but now it is literally one of my favorite stories to read. I love that with the length of this series you can get a new experience every time you re read it!
okay so here's my ranking from least favourite to favourite: RA 10 (I first read this one in Dutch and it's wasn't a great translation in my opinion but later on I started to love it more but based on original vibes it's my least favourite) - 9 - 8 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 1 - 3 - 11 - 2 - 7
TRR: 5 - 4 (we could do without these imo, they felt a bit like a repeat to me) - 1 - 6 - 2 - 3
TEY: 1 - 2
BBC: 8 - 7 - 6 - 9 (haven't read this one yet but based on what I’ve read about it this is where it’ll end up) - 1 - 3 - 2 - 4 - 5
Interesting lineup! I'm not surprised 8 & 9 are so low, they're just not as good as the rest of the series!
Who else hated Maddie’s guts? I mean, I spent the first half of the book wanting to let her feel a royal slap. Secondly, she decides she knows everything and puts forth a very arrogant attitude. I won’t lie, it would have made my day if wills would have shot her with his bow. Secondly, switching to brother band, can be appreciate how obnoxious Lydia is??? After book four I was wishing that Ingvar would use her for the steering ore or just yeet her over board. So annoying. Listen, when the Genovese assassins are more charismatic and Luke able than you, you need to take a hike… and don’t come back… also…. Unpopular opinion I know, I did not care for evanlyn. I wish Alyssa would have had an opportunity to actually show her resourcefulness and character instead of just popping up to mcindaw like a dumb blond… Honestly…. It would have been cool to see Jenny take out some temujai with that ladle of hers…
We needed more Jenny with a ladle scenes for sure.
I am reading the first book
as you should!! love to hear it!
The Ranger's Apprentice was && has been my favorite Book Series of all time, I actually got in trouble all the time in Middle School because I spent more time reading those books than doing my Schoolwork. Now I am 27 years old & I'm considering buying it with my Grown up money & reading all of them again considering last time I read them all I was only about 12 or 13 years old I'm worried I may not like them anymore because I have changed A LOT since then & grown a lot but I still absolutely LOVE Fantasy worlds I mean I still game a lot too, But I am grown & I have a Daughter on the way so I'd hate to buy them just for Nostalgias sake & not enjoy them. What do you think should I buy them & give them another read or No?
I read them back in middle school as well! I still think they hold up! 🫶
What about Will’s nickname butterfly
Chocho?
Yes chocho
Hi! Send you are an expert in having read all the RA books! I’ve been looking for someone to ask… I’m trying to figure out if this series deals in magic/sorcery. It seems most people say no, but then some reviews make it seem like it is some kind of underlying/hidden theme. Thank you!
So for all the main RA books there's no real magic.
*mild spolier*
In books 5 & 6 there's "sorcery" but it's proven to be nothing but science essentially. There is a hypnosis stone also in book 5 & 6, but again, it's more of implyied hypnosis rather than full on magic.
Book 7 of Royal Ranger (the spin off series) is the first book where magic is at play. And from I recall from it, it was magic that allowed people the communicate over long distance.
I don't believe magic is an underlying theme at all, there's so many more brilliant takeaways from the series that don't rely on magic! Let me know if you have any other questions! Hope this helps 😁
@@cassandralynnreads That was really helpful! Thank you so much!
It’s so sad for me that, Royal Ranger isn’t converted into my language, but I will probably read it in English, because I loved the first Royal Ranger book
That sucks that it's not translated yet, I hope it does soon tho!
I'm much into Dungeons & Dragons and practice archery, do you recommend these books to me?
I think it would be up your alley for sure!
Emperor of Nihon-ja is my favourite by a fair shot
It's such a solid book! So many characters, so much witty dialogue, a fantastic war scene, what more could you ask for!
Okay, I can accept you not liking the Kings of Clonmel as much as I do, but ranking the Royal Ranger lower than Ranger's Apprentice?? :D no way!
I was also surprised to see how low the first book scored on your ranking. To me, this book is probably the best one, because we're being introduced to this whole world, seeing Horace turning from bad to goood and Halt and Will becoming close... there's just too much good stuff in it. To be honest, since Halt is one of my favourite characters, I don't really like the books as much, where he does not play a major role (e.g., the Siege of Macindaw). I do, however, 1000% agree with you that John Flanagan should write a whole series on Gilan being an apprentice. I would love to see more of him and witness how Halt would handle things with his first apprentice: was he ever doubting himself as a mentor? Was he more gentle with Gilan than he was with Will? There is so much potential for another series!
I started my yearly re read this month and I also agree that old me ranking book 1 as low as I did was BLASPHEMY! I'm on book 7 rn, and I think I enjoyed book 1 and 4 more this go around 🤔
Also I would kill for a Gilan series. Like I love Maddie, but end the RR and give me Gilan please. 😂
I bought a box set of the first three books. Is the end of the 3rd book a cliffhanger or will i get a nice wrapped up story if i stop there?
it will end on a bit of a cliffhanger, you need to read book 4 to complete the first story arc!
i cannot believe this kings of clonmel and halts peril slander smh
💀💀💀
Where do you live? I want more people i know around me who love rangers apprentice
Most of my friends that know of RA live all over the world so I feel you haha
It's crazy that emperor of nihon ja is your favorite because I didn't like it at all. So much so that I almost dnfed it😂🥲
I understand why, I just figured out that I'm a big fan of politics and battle scenes in books as of late!