To Will, the Rangers have always seemed dark and mysterious with their black cloaks and so-called “dark magic” powers. In The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan, Will is apprenticed by the Ranger Halt. Will finds out that Rangers are the protectors of Araluen, informing the kingdom if anything suspicious is happening. In Araluen a very large war is brewing, Morgarath is waking the terrifying beasts known as the Kalkara. Can Will, with the help of others, defeat the Kalkara? Or is it the end for everyone…
This is an adventurous book because the main character, Will learns to overcome his fears and face the Kalkara.
Will, Halt, and Gilan travel across the Solitary Plains the find the Kalkara.
“Halt,” Will said, “where do you hope to find the Kalkara.” “I think,” Halt said, “We should start at their lair.”
As they road, Will noticed something that made him uneasy. “You’ve noticed them.” Halt said. “It’s the stones.”
Will returned to the Gorlan Ruins to find that the battle has already started.
It was ten minutes before they heard the screaming. “Good God heaven!” the Baron exclaimed. “What is that?” “It’s the Kalkara.” Will said. “They’re hunting.”
Will watched, horrified. A thought was forming; an idea was lurking at the edge of his mind…
Will and Halt track down a wild boar.
“Remember,” Halt said to Will, “If you have to shoot him, it’s best for a shot to the heart.”
The boar had no chance to turn. He ran straight into the spear.
This is a great book about a person who is chosen as a Ranger’s Apprentice. After reading this, I realized that Will was afraid of the Rangers at the beginning, but when he starts working with them he realizes what they really do. I recommend this to anyone who loves fiction books…once I started reading. I couldn’t stop!
