The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1)

By John Flanagan

The last time I travelled to the UK I thought it a good idea to get Nicholas a decent size book that he can enjoy. He loves fantasy fiction, this was right up his street. However, he refused to even look at it, on the whole trip, there and back. I thought "what a waste". But 6 months later he he can't put the series down. He now has every book on his shelf, including the Early Years books. I strarted reading them too but there was no way that I could keep up with him.
An excellent series of books for the fluent 9-12 year olds. Highly recommended.

Synopsis

Will is small for his age, but fast and quick-witted. All his life, he has dreamed of becoming a great knight like the father he never knew, so he is devastated when he is rejected by Castle Redmont's Battleschool. Instead he is apprenticed to HAlt, the mysterious Ranger whose uncanny ability to move unseen is thought to be the result of black magic. Reluctantly, Will learns to use a Ranger's secret weapon: bow and arrows, a mottled cloak and a stubborn little pony. It may not be the sword and battlehorsehe longs for, but when Will and Halt set off on a desperate mission to prevent the assassination of the King, Will finds that a Ranger's weapon are not so useless after all...

Author

 John Anthony Flanagan is an Australian fantasy author best known for his children's books. His best-known work is the Ranger's Apprentice medieval fantasy novels and companion series Brotherband Chronicles. He also writes novels for adults.
His bestselling Ranger’s Apprentice adventure series originally comprised twenty short stories, which John wrote to encourage his twelve-year-old son, Michael, to enjoy reading. Michael was a small boy, and all his friends were bigger and stronger than he was. John wanted to show him that reading was fun, and heroes weren’t necessarily big and muscular. Now in his mid-twenties, Michael is six feet tall, broad-shouldered and powerful – but he still loves The Ranger’s Apprentice.

(Wikipedia and WoJF)

Other Titles by this author

The Ruins of Gorlan (2004)
The Burning Bridge (2005)
The Icebound Land (2005)
Oakleaf Bearers (2006)
The Sorcerer in the North (2006)
The Siege of Macindaw (2007)
Erak's Ransom (2007)
The Kings of Clonmel (2008)
Storm Peak (2009)
Halt's Peril (2009)
The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (2010)
Avalanche Pass (2010)
The Lost Stories (2011)
The Outcasts (2011)
The Invaders (2012)
The Hunters (2012)
The Royal Ranger (2013)
Slaves of Socorro (2014)
Scorpion Mountain (2014)

The Grey Raider (2015)
The Tournament at Gorlan (2015)
The Ghostfaces (2016)
The Battle of Hackham Heath (2016)
De jacht op het schaduwdier (Dutch exclusive) (2017)
The Caldera (2017)