BOOK REVIEW: Rangers Apprentice: The Sorcerer In The North (John Flanagan)

Book: The Sorcerer In The North

Author: John Flanagan

Rating: 6.5/10


In book 5 of the Rangers Apprentice series, Will is an Apprentice no longer. Now a fully fledged Ranger he is assigned to the quiet area of Seacliff fief.

A ranger's role is numerous, he must assess the strengths and weakness of the baron and the fief he looks over,act a a law enforcer and remain independent.

And Will isn't too pleased with what he finds. The Baron and his battle master have got lazy. Their knights and men-at-arms are poorly trained and they are too comfortable.


So consequently when a shipload of Skandian raiders turn up they are completely unprepared and out matched.

The long standing treaty between Araluen and Skandia doesn't ban individual raiding but it's thoroughly discouraged by the Oberjarl Erak, a good friend of Will's after abducting him into slavery then having Halt and Will help save his land.

So Will is the only one who can reason with the Skandians and try to  stop the attack.
Fortunately the Skandians realise who it is but they must have supplies to make it through the winter and have little choice but to raid. Will comes to a solution. Throwing the Skandians and banquet and giving them animals from the barons prime stock both saves the villages and teaches the Baron an important lesson.


Then Will receives a message from Halt ,his old master, and Crowley the Ranger corps commander asking him to meet them.

And when he arrives he finds he's being sent undercover as a travelling minstrel.

Strange things are happening in the north, incurable illnesses, strange lights and sounds and rumours of sorcery. And when the area involved is the only thing stopping a Scotti invasion, Will must gather the truth fast.

But the real danger lies not in the dark magic around Grimsdale wood but in the castle itself. Lord Orman is hated and is a suspect to his fathers illness. A nephew called Keren is mainly in power. A friendly fellow who makes Will feel at home.  An added bonus is that his contact is Aylss, One of his closest friends and a member of the diplomatic service.

But when the truth is revealed Will and Orman must flee the castle and seek the dark magician Malakallam's help to heal Orman as he comes down with the same illness. But in doing so Aylss is left behind and is caught.

With Sorcery, betrayal and twists and surprises at almost every page turn this book is yet another brilliant book in a great series.

A thoroughly worthwhile read as is the whole series so far. aimed more at kids/teens it's still a very enjoyable book and If you've never read any of these series you don't know what you've been missing.
I found the story and adventurous as the previous 4 and you can tell it's only going to get better.my slight criticism is that it ends on a cliff hanger which is good. But leaves a little too much not filled in, that being said it's just more to look forward to in the next book.

Hope you found this review helpful,

The Devonian Book Reviewer


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BOOK REVIEW: I Am Number Four (Pittacus Lore)

Book: I Am Number Four

Author: Pittacus Lore

Rating: 7.5/10



There were nine of them in the beginning. The last known survivors of the planet Lorien.  They were younger when the Mogadorians invaded.  Every Loric has a partner of the other side. Garde and Cepan. Garde are the warriors, the ones who have powers. Cepan are tasked with training Garde and protecting the knowledge of Lorien.

Nine Garde and their Cepan's escaped the planet .As they escaped a charm was placed on them., they can only be killed in number orderand when One gets killed a scar appears on the remaining. All were young without powers. They traveled to the nearest habitable planet, Earth.

Number 4, currently called John Smith, is living in the U.S.A. Number 1 and 2 have been killed.The warning charm scars are on his leg.

Then there's a third. Number 3 has been Killed. John is next.

Him and his Cepan Henri have been on the run for years but when they reach paradise,Ohio they stop. Despite now being the target John wants a normal life for awhile.

He settles down but when his powers start emerging thing start going bad.
Magazines printing stories on Mogadorians, Henri getting kidnapped and John's rescue attempt are the first major things to occur.

Then they find Number 6. With both 4 and 6 together it cancels out the charm protecting them all. And the Mogadorians find them. It becomes a desperate battle of powers and guns against beasts and soldiers who largely outnumber them.

Can they survive? and How will other Garde survive now the charm is lifted?



This is a very good book and I don't think my review really stresses how well it's written. It's maddeningly light on the circumstances but slowly more get revealed and I'm sure even more will be in other books. I really enjoyed it as it was quite a complex storyline and background yet the way it is written doesn't confuse you at all. A very good read and a very interesting book. Definitely would recommended reading.

Hope you found this review helpful,

The Devonian Book reviewer


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