You can feel the build up in this book, which serves to introduce another adventure with our familiar cast of characters. Not too much seems to happen, but when you look to summarizing events, you can see how much foundation this book lays for the next. The writing is so solid, and once you notice it you can’t stop noticing it. Not my favorite book from the series, but it’s largely setup anyhow. And as far as reading books mostly for setup, I could do much much worse. ( )

Books 5 and 6 tell a new story. Will is now a full-fledged ranger. I was a bit disappointed because I really enjoyed Will as apprentice and his interaction with Halt. I wanted more of that. Still, Will still has that youthful quality that makes the story work as a coming of age tale. He’s competent but not experienced and confident like Halt. The story told in these two books is interesting, with intrigue, spying, adventures… ( )

Fantasy

My least favorite of the series. Took a long time to get going and then ended abruptly. I have a feeling book 5 and 6 should have just been one book. ( )

In this fifth book of the Ranger’s Apprentice series Will is now a full-fledged Ranger and is given his own quiet fief to protect at Seacliff or so he thinks. As he is getting settled in his new home, he becomes acquainted with some of the local folk and uses the skills he has learned as a Ranger’s apprentice to size up the lord, Baron Ergell, and his Battlemaster, Sir Norris and their military preparedness. Will quickly gains their respect and trust when he saves them from the Skandian Sea Wolves who were prowling around looking for provisions for the rest of their journey. Seacliff was so badly prepared to defend themselves that Will had to use all of his Ranger training and negotiating skills to give them provisions and get them to leave peacefully. In the meantime though, Halt, Will’s Ranger mentor and Crowley, the Ranger corps commandant, call Will back to give him a new assignment but he won’t be going as a Ranger. He’ll be in disguise as a jongleur or traveling entertainer to find out what is going on at Norgate Fief. The lord had taken sick with a mysterious illnessand strange occurrences were taking place in the forest all of which was believed to be the work of a sorcerer. The action keeps the pages turning, and the ending where Will’s old friend Alyss is taken hostage in the castle leaves an exciting cliffhanger for the next book in the series. ( )