The Ghostfaces (The Brotherband Chronicles)

I was reluctant to start this series after reading the Rangers apprentice cause I thought that nothing would come close to that, but I was gratefully surprised. These book grab you and pull you into the story in just the same way. I look forward to more!

I love, love, love, The "Brotherband Chronicle" Books. Easy to read and amerce yourself in their great adventures. I hope John Flanagan writes another one. I will be waiting for it. You should read them in order, so you know all the personalities of the stories. Also, I can't get enough of the "Rangers Apprentice" series, by John Flanigan. I give both "Brotherband" and "The Ranger's Apprentice" books five plus stars. A guy of any age with adventure in his heart will love these books. I also think females of adventure would like them too. There are adventurous young girls and/or women in all of these books that they should relate to. I would rate them G for everyone, 15 years old to 100 years old. Enjoy!

Flanagan does an awesome job telling a story that has depth and meaning. Not only does he keep you in the story, he makes you feel part of the story and wanting to meet and be part of the brotherband.

It was a good book. It had excellent story. However, I have decide to give the book a rating of only three out of five. Tecumsa's death was almost as heartbreaking to me as it was to Stig. Why.... Why did she have to die......

This book was too predictable. It seemed as if the storyline was ignored while over describing minuscule details not pertaining to or supporting the plot. I have read all of John Flanagan's books from Ranger's Apprentice to this latest addition to the Brotherband series, and this one, by far, has been the worst. I would recommend all of his other books because they have been Fantastic..... Just not this one.

Sixth in The Brotherband Chronicles historical action series for middle-grade readers and revolving around a band of young Skandians, brothers-in-arms who sail the seas.

My Take
There's a sense of Leif Eriksson and his Vikings discovering America in this as well as the attitude of the Europeans about that Endless Ocean. Thorn's explanation of how the world is shaped makes as much sense as any of the others, and it does at least make sense for their decision on which direction they should sail.

It's a sweet and sad story with those elements I adore about Johann David Wyss' The Swiss Family Robinson and David Conover's Once Upon an Island with their can-do, make-do attitude. The interaction between the Herons and the Mawags is warm and so very honorable. I did enjoy how surprised the Mawags were by the Herons' battle skills! And they certainly enjoyed Hal's inventive mind!

As usual, Flanagan's characters are distinct and caring. Parents will appreciate the sense of teamwork as well as each acknowledging each others' strengths and weaknesses.

There really isn't much show in The Ghostfaces. Maybe because the trials the Herons undergo would be too much for kids?? Which doesn't really make sense.

That fight between Stig and Simsinnet was pretty funny. Pretty brief as well, lol.

Stig finally experiences total acceptance and love. And family. Love that turns into tragedy that will make you cry. I know I did, even though — and I really, really hate to say this — I wanted it to happen this way. Hal's decision, too, at the end of the story was sad, but the best choice, really.

The Story
It's a cocky impatience that finds the Herons battling a tremendous storm, struggling for home, and being blown off course deep into the Endless Ocean where they encounter unexpected people and unlooked-for battles of all kinds.

The Characters
Hal Mikkelson is the genius inventor and navigator and the skirl of the Heron and her Brotherband. Karina Mikkelswife is Hal's mother.

The Heron is…
…the ship Hal designed and the boys built. Thorn is an old, one-handed Skandian and their battle leader. Stig Olafson is first mate and Hal's best friend; Edvin is their combat medic, cook, er, chef, and relief helmsman; Wolf and Ulf are the bickering twins who trim the sails; Stefan; Jesper has the skills of a thief; and, the very strong but half-blind Ingvar is doing much better with the glasses Hal invented in Scorpion Mountain , 5. Lydia Demarek is the "brother" who joined them in The Invaders , 2. She's got some amazing skills! Kloof is the dog they adopt in Slaves of Socorro , 4.

The Mawagansett are…
…a Native American* tribe led by Mohegas. Pacahan is his wife. His nephews are Tamorat and Hokas. Romanut is the battle leader. Simsinnet is a champion, hotheaded, warrior who is in love with Tecumsa. Minneka and Lahontas are the children whom the Herons save. Millika and Pillika are twins who love teasing Ulf and Wolf; Sagana; Tecumsa is a beautiful woman; and, Bird of the Forest is laid out on a bier.

Orvik Eelcatcher, a.k.a., Man Who Swims, was shipwrecked twelve years ago when a storm caught Arnulf Sharkfighter's Wolf Foot . He ticks off the Herons!

The Imsinnis skassak the Ghostfaces, are…
…a brutal warrior tribe of Native Americans from the north. Holds a Black Lance is their leader with Crusher of Heads his second-in-command.

Hallasholm, Skandia, is…
…home to Hal and the Brotherband. Erak is their Oberjarl. Svengal is his best friend.

* Flanagan is careful to note that he avoided using terms such as Native American so as to not give offense. My using these terms are my own choice.

The Cover and Title
The cover is a mix of deep browns on the sides and bottom and the yellowish-greens of the forest illuminated by the light which two men bearing weapons, an iron sword and a flint ax, approach. The title and series information are excellent examples of terrible choices for contrast. The companion series information is in white at the top with this series information below it in an embossed dark gold under which is a much smaller title in a deep red. The author's name is at the bottom in a black-outlined brighter gold.

The title is the enemy, The Ghostfaces, who destroy.

I liked it, the problem is that all John Flanagan's books are sooo good that this was just okay compared to the other ones, most of the book the Ghostfaces weren't even there, and so many things were very coincidental, once or twice is okay but when like six different things happen right as they are talking about it, it kind of gets a little repetitive. He also solved two big decisions by killing off characters. I like that he incorporated a new place but it felt empty and uninhabited, they barely explored any of it, also the end battle was cool but he spread out the troops so much that it almost seemed like the ghostfaces were outnumbered, and the action scene at the end felt like a worse version of the Invaders. There were less funny moments in this book, and the plot was predictable in many ways. It was also a shorter book than the other brotherband books so there wasn't enough time to have memorable scenes with all the characters, many of the characters barely spoke the whole book.
3.6 STARS for this book

All other John Flanagan books 5 STARS

Oh my god.
Such a great read.
***Potential Spoilers***

The beginning was somewhat slow, and I tried so hard to get used to all the sailing terms but I kept sort of ignoring them which made it hard to fully imagine - however, once they got to the land, it got so much better. Especially the final fight, while a little short, was so...traditional of Flanagan, back to the roots of the first few Rangers Apprentices in terms of emotional battles. When Stig had his dilemma over staying, in the back of my mind I managed to perfectly predict the ending - which sucks. But, it was unfortunately the best ending possible. The last 50 pages or so I read in one go on the bus home - I missed my stop by about 10 minutes it was that intense.

Great book. Cannot wait for further.

Flanagan continues to create exciting stories of the boys my son has grown up with and shared in their adventures. The theme of friendships based upon caring for one another instead of what one does for another or what one owns is refreshing.