The Rangers, with their shadowy ways, have always made him nervous. And now fifteen-year-old Will has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice. But what he doesn’t yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom who will fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom.
This time he will not be denied…
Intrigued? Read On:
When my friend recommended this book, I have to say, I had my doubts. I had attempted to read this book before…and never even got past the prologue.
But. I trusted my friend’s judgement, and why not? It seemed like an intriguing series. So I dove into a medieval world of shadows and mystery, where the past has finally caught up to the present and is ready to seek vengeance…unless Will and Halt can put a stop to it first.
What I Love:
One thing I appreciate about most novels written by men is how well-researched they are. Men in general seem to be able to retain the smallest facts about random things, and it shows in their writing.
However, many male authors tend to just dump these facts into their writing. John Flanagan does no such thing. The information is never presented outright in The Ruins of Gorlan. It’s woven into how the characters execute tasks or interact with other characters (or horses). Props to him. I have no idea whether Mr. Flanagan researched those facts or simply knew them already, but he utilized them expertly.
The Ranger Corps are like a cross between a spy network and a special task force. They’re the brightest, the best, the most mysterious, and–shall we just admit it?–they’re also the coolest.
I loved the Ranger Corps, both the organization itself and the members that make it up. It’s well organized, not overpowered yet powerful, and the Rangers are my favorite characters, especially prickly, gruff, but kind Halt and gangly, humorous Gilan.
What I Don’t Love:
While the characters may be wonderful, they cannot carry an entire book without some sort of plot. The plot of The Ruins of Gorlan did not really start up until about two thirds of the way through the book.
Sure, an enemies-to-friends subplot presented itself and the constant mystery of Will’s parentage loomed in the background, but the character had no real drive aside from learning to be a Ranger until the kingdom was threatened.
And secondly, the book seemed to be third person limited at first, but revealed itself to be omniscient a few chapters in. The rule of thumb is to always establish the point of view right away. It confuses readers when a book in first person suddenly switches to third person, or limited (inside one character’s head either for the whole book or the whole chapter) to omniscient (inside multiple character’s heads).
Content Warnings:
Two swear words, violence and death.
One character describes a beast as h***ish and a character uses the word d*** once.
Battles take place, in which characters and beasts die.
Ratings:
Appropriate content: 4/5
Writing skill: 3.5/5
Story construction: 3/5
Ethics: 4/5
Other Information:
Christian: No
Point of view: Third person omniscient
Tense: Past tense
Romance: Hinted at
Series: Yes
Age suggestion: 9-13
Conclusion:
A charming book from beginning to end, The Ruins of Golan left me with a lasting love for the characters and their world, despite the lacking plot. I’m grateful that my friend recommended the book and finally spurred me into reading it. This book gets 3.5 out of 5 pastries.
Until next time, my friends.
–Astor
P.S. Comment on this review with any thoughts or questions. I’m happy to answer and seeing you interact with my post lets me know that you enjoyed it! Don’t forget to subscribe below!
Leave a Reply