Ranger's Apprentice The Early Years: The Tournament at Gorlan

By John Flanagan

When Halt and Crowley discover that the ambitious Morgarath has been infiltrating the Rangers in order to corrupt the Corps, the young Rangers travel north to find Prince Duncan, seeking a royal warrant to stop Morgarath before it is too late. By weakening the Ragners, the most powerful force in support of the King, Morgarath plans to steal the throne.

Yet when Halt and Crowley arrive in Gorlan, they discover just how close Morgarath has a plan to discredit the Prince and alienate him from his father. At the same time, the Baron of Gorlan has been conspiring to win the trust and admiration of the Council of Barons to further his plan. If the young Rangers are to prevent the coup from succeeding, they will have to tread a dangerous path, which leads them to a thrilling climax at the annual tournament at Gorlan, where a series of bitter duels must be fought and won.

This origin story brings readers to a time before Will was an apprentice, and lays the groundwork for the epic battles that will culminate with The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge.

YES!!! I love you forever and ever Mr. Flanagan for giving me more Ranger’s Apprentice! Especially since this new series, (yes series!) is all about my man Halt. If you read The Lost Stories, you know the story called The Hibernian, which explains how Halt came to know Crowley and also how he was trained as a Ranger. This book picks up where The Hibernian leaves off, and brings us right into the rise of the evil Morgarath and his plot to take over Araluen. We’ve got sword fights, torture, revenge, chases, escapes, true love…well it’s not the Princess Bride, but it’s just as good! I love this series, and I’ll recommend it to pretty much anybody who likes a warm friendship filled adventure. Keep ‘em coming Mr. Flanagan!

It gets a 4 out of 5