The Tournament at Gorlan

August 15, 2015
Lord Morgarath, the baron of Gorlan Fief, has been systematically dismantling the Ranger Corps, a band of soldiers appointed to protect the kingdom of Araluen. Crowley, a young Ranger, and Halt, a wicked bowman with a mysterious history, decide to re-establish the corps. However, with the king hiding in Castle Gorlan under the dubious protection of Morgarath, their only hope is Prince Duncan. Unfortunately, if the rumors are to be believed, the prince is too busy leading parties of drunken soldiers on illegal raids to be bothered with the business of ruling. However, Halt and Crowley soon learn that Morgarath's plan is far more complicated than they first surmised. Soon their goal is to save not only the corps, but the entire kingdom of Araluen. Flanagan revisits his epic series by exploring its early days. Halt is not yet a Ranger, Will is still just an orphan, and any romance between Halt and Pauline is only just beginning. Jousting, sword fighting, and subterfuge are all business as usual for Rangers, but Crowley and Halt manage it with a hearty helping of sarcasm and humor. This origin story is richly detailed and carefully planned but slow-moving. Light on action, and heavy on witty banter, this prequel series kickoff is more for confirmed fans than those just coming to know the Rangers. (Adventure. 10-14)

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September 1, 2015

Gr 5 Up-Before becoming a full-fledged Ranger, Halt O'Carrick teams up with Crowley, a fellow protege of master teacher, Pritchard. They hear that a dozen Rangers across Gorlan have been dismissed from their posts on trumped-up charges of disloyalty to King Oswald. It is a ruse by the evil Baron Morgarath to weaken the Rangers' stronghold in the land and overtake the throne. He has locked up the King and his successor Duncan and sent out an obnoxious imposter to raise havoc among the people, in hopes they will beg the Baron to step in as their leader. Halt and Crowley know they must press the 12 former Rangers back into service and free King Oswald and Duncan from their respective prisons before Morgarath declares himself king at the tournament of Gorlan. The mission drives the story, as the team rides covertly from village to village collecting their enlistees and having close calls with Morgarath's henchmen. As each Ranger is added to the mix, they display unique skills and character quirks that help bring energy to the narrative, allowing readers to relish the campfire antics as much as the final action-driven jousting scenes. Challenging vocabulary with context clues broadens the reading interest range. Those who can't get enough of the "Ranger's Apprentice" series (Philomel) will discover more layers to Halt, the steadfast and humble hero, especially the day he meets Pauline for the first time in this prequel. VERDICT Flanagan's familiar mix of action, humor, and cliff-hanger endings will have fans and newbies hooked.-Vicki Reutter, State University of New York at Cortland

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2015
Grades 5-8 This first volume in the Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years series predates the original Ranger's Apprentice series by a generation. Treachery is afoot in Araluen, where Morgarath secretly controls King Oswald, holds Prince Duncan hostage, and dismisses the king's loyal Rangers, replacing them with his despicable henchmen. Ranger Crowley and Halt, two young men who trained under the legendary Ranger Pritchard, join forces to thwart Morgarath's plot and free their king with the help of any recently fired Rangers who will join their cause. In the original series, Halt is the laconic, experienced Ranger who trains Will, his apprentice. Here young Halt joins the Ranger Corps. Established fans will enjoy meeting him as a young adventurer, ingenious and bold in the face of danger, but tongue-tied and awkward upon meeting a beautiful, capable diplomat named Pauline. Flanagan delivers a rousing adventure story and grounds it with well-defined characters and a great sense of camaraderie. A must-read prequel for Ranger's Apprentice fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)