Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years

Title:  The Tournament at Gorlan and The Battle of Hackham Heath

Author:  John Flanagan

Publisher:  Philomel Books

Date Published:  October 6, 2015 and November 29, 2016

Genre:  Fantasy, Adventure

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-  I love the Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband books. They are some of my favorite stories and characters in all of literature. I was really excited when the author wrote some books about Halt and Crowley in the their younger years. 

-  Morgarath has been plotting to take over the kingdom. He has already convinced the king to banish his son, Prince Duncan. He has removed almost all of the Rangers and replaced them with his own people, and he is trying to win over the majority of the barons. Halt and Crowley decide to team up and recruit some of the disbanded Rangers to take down Morgarath. They are also trying to find Prince Duncan, so they can prove his innocence and frame Morgarath for treason. 

-  I loved these books. I loved getting to know Crowley more, and I was excited to read more about Halt. I may or may not have a thing for him. I loved meeting old friends and gaining new ones. It was fun to see Crowley step into his role as leader of the Rangers.

-  I am sad the author has only written two books for this series. I think there were plans to do more, but he is currently writing the Royal Ranger series. I need to read those.

-  Flanagan's humor is the best! I love the bantering between characters and the way they tease each other. I caught some serious giggles when Halt first met Lady Pauline. 

-  If you love adventure, stealth, tournaments, battles, clever bantering, highly skilled archers, and/or Australian authors, this is the book the for you! I highly recommend anything by John Flanagan, but I would start with Ranger's Apprentice.

My Thoughts in a GIF:

The Hunters

Goodreads Synopsis:    It's time for a showdown. Pirates vs Skandians. Bring it on, Herons! 

With Zavac and his ship, the Raven, well ahead of the Heron, Hal has a huge task ahead of him in finding the pirate – and retrieving the precious artefact Zavac stole from the Skandians. The Heron brotherband must undertake a long and dangerous river journey to hunt their prey. But even if they survive the journey, are they ready to confront Zavac in his lair? 

The third book in the New York Times bestselling Brotherband series, from the author of the international phenomenon, Ranger's Apprentice.

My Thoughts:

-    Flanagan has delivered another delightfully adventurous book! I love this series!

-    I have become very attached to the Heron Brotherband, and I loved cheering them on through their journey.

-    The showdown with Zavac and the Raven was everything I hoped it would be. 

-    I love that the Heron left the ocean and took a cruise down the river in this book. It was fun to see the different obstacles a river brings. 

-    The ending was perfect! I laughed so much, and I was grinning for the rest of the day!

Previous book in the Brotherband Chronicles:

 

Salt to the Sea

Goodreads Synopsis:    Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.

As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.

Yet not all promises can be kept.

Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope.

My Thoughts:

-    I don't know if I can adequately write my thoughts and feelings about this book, but I will try.

-    The story is hauntingly beautiful and not for the feint of heart. The story is sad, very sad and solemn, but I am grateful I read it.

-    I wouldn't recommend reading this while pregnant. I'm due in 7 weeks, and this was a lot to swallow, and oh the emotions! I need to stick with happy books.

-    Ruta Sepetys surprises and amazes me with each book she writes. Wow!

-    Three of the four narrators were so interesting and intriguing! I cheered for them and cried for them. The fourth narrator was a little disturbing and odd, but I'm glad he was there. Each narrator had different backgrounds and different perspectives on the war and what was happening. I loved that we got all these different angles. 

-    The sub-characters were also really great! I loved the shoe poet. His mannerisms and tenderness won me over.

-    The writing is wonderful. I couldn't stop reading! I didn't even feel like I was reading. I was just immersed in the story and I couldn't absorb it fast enough. 

-    I really hate when major events like this are pushed under the rug. It makes me feel ignorant and ashamed that I didn't know about something so tragic and huge.

-    I loved Ruta's message at the end. It makes me want to dig into my family history and find forgotten stories. It is such a tragedy that our ancestors lives are forgotten.

Out of the Easy

Goodreads Description:    It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a very beautiful story, and I've really come to respect Ruta Sepetys as an author and story teller! She has really found her voice, and it is a somber yet beautiful one.

-    Willie and Cokie have quickly climbed the ladder on my favorite literature character list. They are right up there with Hans Hubermman from The Book Thief. Willie was such a strong and wonderful character. She was someone you could be scared of, respect, and tell all your secrets to. Cokie really stole my heart! He was so compassionate and selfless. I just smiled from ear to ear whenever he gave a present to Josie.

-    Josie's mom was...there are no words to describe a low life like her! I hope she gets shot! What a horrible horrible woman! Some people just shouldn't be allowed to have children!

-    The story was so breath taking and touching, but it was also horrible. It was like my heart was ripped out, stomped on, and healed by love. There are some serious emotions in this book.

-    Yes, I cried like baby at the end. The ending is just so sad and happy and I couldn't stop the tears.

-    I hope that the world and people could learn from history and past mistakes, but I know I'm just dreaming. Still, I wish that situations like these could be scenes from the past, and the world could become a better place where no one would have to face fears like this. 

-    I feel like my words don't do this book justice. You are just going to have to read it for yourself to understand how amazing this story is!

The Seven Songs of Merlin

From the Dust Jacket:    Young Merlin has brought new hope to Fincayra, the enchanted isle that lies between earth and sky.  Having finally freed it from the terrible Blight, Merlin and the forest girl Rhia set out to heal the land using the magical Flowering Harp.  But Fincayra remains in great danger still - and the first victim of the renewed tide of evil is Merlin's own mother.

Merlin's sole hope of saving his mother's life is to master the Seven Songs of Wisdom passed down from the greatest wizard Fincayra has ever known, Merlin's grandfather Tuatha.  Only then can he voyage to the Otherworld of the spirits and obtain the precious Elixir of Dagda.  Yet to do that he must first succeed where even Tuatha failed - by defeating Balor, the ogre whose merest glance means death.  Even more difficult, Merlin must discover the secret of seeing not with his eyes, but with his heart.

This second book in the The Lost Years of Merlin epic combines all the passion, power, and spiritual depth that are T.A. Barron's hallmarks.  It adds a thrilling new dimension to the legend of Merlin, even as it offers lasting inspiration to us all.

My Thoughts:

-    I like how Barron imagined Stonehenge to be created, but how does it get to Earth and England? 

-    Merlin is SO frustrating!!  He is an arrogant jerk who thinks very highly of himself.  It gets a little better towards the end, and learns some humility, but most of the book, he is arrogant.

-    I'm grateful there is a map in the front of the book.  It helped since there was a ton of traveling.

-    I love how Merlin receives Excalibur!  Naming was my favorite song!  I loved that whole part.

-    Can't Merlin follow any orders/rules/directions/warnings!!!  FAIL!

-    While I'm on a rant, what was the point of Bumbelwy?  He was completely useless and didn't add anything to the story.  Even the characters complained about him tagging along.

-    I thought the whole story and plot of this book was well done.  I love that Merlin had to learn so many things, and I can see how he uses these precious lessons in the future.  

-    It is really fun reading a story about a character you already know.  We already know what happens to Merlin in the future, so it is interesting to see how he is becoming this great wizard.  

-    I love the little Arthur hints.

-    Overall, I enjoyed the book, but dang some of the characters bugged me!


Series Info:

This is the 2nd book in the Lost Years of Merlin series.  To see my thoughts on the first book, click the cover below.