Book Ten (Ranger's Apprentice) - The Emperor of Nihon-Ja

I got Flannigan's first book because I was looking for books my young boys would read. I read it first to make sure it was appropriate and to get a feel for it. Now I love the books as much as my boys!

The only thing I don't like about this book is that it is the last in the series. My son is high-functioning autistic and I read to him every night. (I choose books/series that I will enjoy too.) We have been engrossed in Will Treaty's world for a long time now. Highly recommend.

Another good one from this author. This book keeps the reader following characters they have come to know and love. As with previous books in the series one is left to highly anticipate the publication of the next one. I hope there are many more!

The whole series of Ranger's Apprentice was fun for the whole family. Easy to read, easy to understand even for a 10 yr old. Well placed in every book as the friends and masters of the Apprentice go on mysterious travels and epic Battles only to learn from their mistakes and to continue to push even further. It is sad to see this epic tale come to an end.

While I enjoyed this very much it must be said that one should read this before books 5 and 6. This is a prequel, and when read in the publication order it loses any bit of drama or suspense. In fact, it's really doesn't do much to further the growth of the characters beyond learning a "personal lesson". One that I honestly didn't think was needed.
Be clear, the writing and characters and adventure were wonderful. Always a delight to read. It just lacked any gravity be cause it was written and printed out of order of the story as a whole. We had no reason to worry about any one because we know we'll see them again.
If you are still reading this and haven't started book 5 then read this first. Trust me.

Bookworm Speaks!

Ranger’s Apprentice Book 10

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja

by John Flanagan

****

The Story: When Horace travels to the exotic land of Nihon- Ja, it isn't long before he finds himself pulled into a battle that is not his - but one he knows in his heart he must wage. A kingdom teeters on the edge of chaos when the Nihon-Ja emperor, a defender of the common man, is forcibly overthrown, and only Horace, Will, and his Araluen companions can restore the emperor to the throne. Victory lies in the hands of an inexperienced group of fighters, and it's anybody's guess who will make the journey home to Araluen.

The Good: Even though there are two more books left in the Ranger’s Apprentice series, for many this story is the send off for the series. If it truly was the last book in the series, Bookworm would have been just fine with that. What an ending it would be.

In a genre that at times seems completely dominated by a Tolkien-esque medieval Europe cliches, it is very nice for a fantasy book to take place in a land inspired by ancient Asia, more specifically medieval Japan is extremely refreshing. Asia has such rich, cultural traditions that it is really a shame that more authors don’t explore it more often. The author does explore them though and in a way that feels very authentic.

Adding to the authenticity is the depiction of war and battle in this book. As stated in previous reviews of this series, one of the author’s strengths is the realistic depiction of warfare. The first few chapters of this book have been criticized for being out of place and dragging, but Bookworm disagrees. The purpose of those chapters is to introduce the tactics that will later be used in the land of Nihon-Ja, and those tactics are based a real life infantry tactics from that era. This adds a level of realism that makes the world-building all the more richer.

While this series has long been focused on Will and Halt, this a book where Horace gets a chance in the spotlight. He is own his own in a foreign land and his sense of honor compels him to fight a war that is not his own. Horace has grown a great deal from the bully that troubled Will in the Ruins of Gorlan. That is what has made this series so special, similar to the Harry Potter series, the readers got to watch these character’s grow. From stumbling apprentices, to fully fledged warriors and in the case of Alyss and Cassandra, diplomats.

This is the last of the regular Ranger’s Apprentice novels and at the end of this book, it really does feel like the conclusion of a long and storied journey. The old gang has just had a grand adventure in a foreign land, where they have saved the day and made new friends. On their way home, love finally blooms and a new chapter of their lives begin. Horace and Will, even Alyss and Evanlyn/Cassandra have finally come into their own, mind, body and soul.

The Flaws: Once more we run into the old fantasy cliche of how people in a completely foreign land, in a world where travel and communication are difficult, can all speak the same language. It is a tried and true fantasy technique, but can come off as laziness on the part of the writer. Then again…it’s more about the story rather than the specifics and books like this were never meant to be realistic. Not to mention that this book was written with older children market in mind.

One arc in particular feels a little forced. It doesn’t quite fit with the rest of book. No spoilers, but basically Cassandra and Alyss are sent off on their own mission. That part is okay. This book largely focuses on boys it seems and its good that we see the girls get a little bit of the action on their own. The problem is the mission itself: they have to travel into a supposedly haunted forest and there they deal with yeti like creatures. The author may be trying to insert some suspense elements into the story, maybe a little horror too, but what made the Ranger’s Apprentice series so good is that while it takes place in a fantasy realm it is still grounded in reality. This arc went back to the arcs of the first two books with the Dark Lord and his armies of monsters and not in a good way. If that wasn’t bad enough, it was nice to see the girls on their own but the whole purpose behind their mission seemed rather…blah.
Finally: The character of the titular Emperor of Nihon-Ja, Shigeru is a good character for his compassion and the nature of his plight. However, he is a little too nice. He comes off as a Gary Stu in some parts of the text and more than a little annoying. People who look on the bright side of life can be a ray of sunshine but a lot of times you just want to smack them. Thankfully, near the end of the story, he does start acting a little more ‘Emperor-like’ which can salvage the character.

Final Verdict: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja is a great book in a great land, and for Bookworm, the ending is perfect, no grand spectacle or wedding or cheering crowds, just sailing off into the sunset. On to the next adventure…

Five out of Five Stars

thecultureworm.blogspot.com

Bookworm Speaks!

Ranger’s Apprentice Book Seven

Erak’s Ransom

by John Flanagan

****

The Story: In the wake of Araluen's uneasy truce with the raiding Skandians comes word that the Skandian leader has been captured by a dangerous desert tribe. The Rangers - and Will - are sent to free him. But the desert is like nothing these warriors have seen before. Strangers in a strange land, they are brutalized by sandstorms, beaten by the unrelenting heat, tricked by one tribe that plays by its own rules, and surprisingly befriended by another. Like a desert mirage, nothing is as it seems. Yet one thing is constant: the bravery of the Rangers.

The Good: This is more like it! Compared to the puttering messes of books five and six, the seventh book of this series is what this series is really all about: The adventure. After Halt and Pauline are wed, it is off to the desert land of Arrida.

The book does a good job of setting up the two part Northern story, in that in shows Will’s growth from being rather dependent on guidance from Halt and coming into his own when he is separated from the group in the sandstorm. He is forced to rely on his own wits in order to prevail, a necessary trait for any Ranger. This book shows he is ready for the exploits of Seacliff Fief. Some lessons have to be hard ones in order for them to be taught.

A favorite aspect of this book is the setting. The desert has long been a favorite setting of Bookworm. It is such a dynamic land, full of trials and secrets. It is so different from what the character’s are used to that they have to adjust their tactics and mindsets in order to survive. Setting is very important in any book and the desert is a particularly engaging setting. The heat, the sand, and the dangerous peoples who live in it make the very land itself become a character that challenges the protagonists. It tests and challenges that character and nearly does a few in.

In a genre dominated by mountains and forests, the desert is an excellent place to host a fantasy novel. The people who have dwelled within them in the real world have a rich and fascinating history and the author integrates real-life history and culture into the text.

It is true that coffee was invented in the Middle East during the 10th century, in Yemen to be exact. These little historical touches add a small layer of realism to the text which makes the whole thing all the more richer.

The Flaws: What’s interesting is that this Book actually takes place before the fifth and sixth books, just as Will is about to perform his trials to become a full Ranger. It is a little odd that the author would release the books out of order. Perhaps it was intentional to rectify the duds that were the fifth and sixth books. Anyway, for those reading the the books in order it may be a little confusing.

While Bookworm feels that it works in the book’s favor there is also something lacking in the character of Will. For the first part of the book, his character is relegated to the sidelines. It is only after that he gets separated from the group in search of missing Tug, that he really comes into his own and his part of the story comes into fruition. That may turn off readers and make them struggle through the first parts of the book. The character of Will is one of the things the readers fell in love with.

However, an opposing view would be that this tactic on the part of the author serves to illustrate a critical part of Will’s trials. For a long time, Will has depended upon the actions of others in order to prevail, for the most part, be it Halt, Gilan, or even Horace to some extent. He was a part of a team. Even when he was separated from Halt while a slave in Skandia, he was very dependent on Cassandra/Evanlyn in order to survive. This time, he truly understands what it means to be a Ranger of Arulaen.

The final flaw is once again we get into a common problem with a lot of media: The main characters travel to an exotic land where everyone seems to speak english. Its a pretty common trope in popular media that may seem rather trite and as unrealistic as you can get. Then again, having the character’s learn a new language and having to deal with that would take away a lot time from the story. Fantasy is not meant to be realistic…but it is still one of those things that can cause the reader to roll their eyes.

Final Verdict: Ranger’s Apprentice is not about sieges and sorcerers, it is about bringing the fight to the enemy, traveling through new lands and meeting new people. This book fulfills all of that and more.

Four out of Five Stars

thecultureworm.blogspot.com

*Spoiler Alert!*

Erak's Ransom, the seventh book in the series Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan, portrays the theme of growing up. In this text, Will journeys by himself into the desert with only a horse as company, to find Tug, his horse. His mentor lets him go, and trusts him, which is a sign of growing up. He also has to take charge of the Bedullin troops, to rescue his friends, therefore assuming a much greater responsibility than most children have. This is also a sign of growing up. Lastly, this book takes place right before Will becomes a full Ranger, and therefore no longer an apprentice. This whole book leads up to that, so this whole book leads up to Will growing up.

This is an important theme for people to know, because people eventually grow up. This book, and the whole series, may help them do that. It might not be quite as outright heroic as Will, but you will grow up in your own way. I would definitely recommend this book (and this whole series) because they are full of adventure, but the author manages to slip some worth-while themes into them too.

The land of Nihon-ja has been mentioned a few times in the Ranger's Apprentice series -- a sort of fantasy version of Japan. And "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" takes us right into the heart of this distant land, with John Flanagan's usual mix of action, humor, clever plotting and slightly-altered versions of real-world civilizations.

Horace has been a guest of the Emperor of Nihon-ja, Shigeru. But as he's preparing to go back to Araluen, the Senshi warriors under Lord Arisaka suddenly rebel against the Emperor -- and Horace ends up accompanying Shigeru into the mountains. So Halt, Will, Alyss and Evanlyn (who have been overseeing training in Toscana) set out on a Skandian ship, heading straight for Nihon-ja to help their friend.

The journey to Nihon-ja has many dangers -- pirates, desert warriors, and squabbles aboard the Wolfwill. But the biggest danger is Arisaka's army, which is closing in on a remote mountain fortress where the Emperor is hiding -- and if he wins, Nihon-ja will be thrown into an era of brutality. And he's not the only terror lurking in this unfamiliar land...

"The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is apparently the last of the "regular" Ranger's Apprentice novels, and it seems like a fairly logical place for the main storyline to end. The main problem is that it does drag sometimes, especially in the first several chapters, which are bogged down by sodden horseback riding and traveling via Skandian ship.

However, things pick up once Halt, Will and Co. arrive in Nihon-ja. Flanagan's prose is nimble and descriptive, with smoothly realistic dialogue and some humorous moments (a villager accidentally says "bum" to the Emperor). But he also weaves in a load of tactical maneuvers, tricks and the occasional military stunt (the Macedon Phoenix). It makes the military conflict feel more REAL to the reader.

And Flanagan's characters have the warm, well-worn feel of familiarity by now -- it's like visiting old friends, whom you can depend on to always do the noblest, best things that they can. Will, Horace, Halt, Evanlyn and the feisty, boisterous Skandians are all pleasantly familiar, and he introduces some endearing people in Nihon-ja as well, such as the down-to-earth Shigeru.

And Flanagan wraps up the romantic subplots nicely for both young men, although somehow I just can't warm up to Alyss. She still just seems like an add-water-for-instant-love-interest.

While John Flanagan still has a couple more books to go, "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is a thoroughly amusing, satisfying finale for the main storyline. Strong, pleasant and fun.

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (2010) is the tenth Fantasy novel in the Ranger's Apprentice series, following Halt's Peril. The initial work in this series is The Ruins of Gorlan.

In the previous volume, Will asks questions in Port Cael looking for the ship that took Tennyson and his cadre out of the kingdom. An innkeeper sent him to the Black O'Malley at the Heron tavern. Will offered O'Malley a gold coin for the offloading point of Tennyson and his cadre.

The smuggler took the coin, but refused to divulge the location. The next night, Halt, Horace and Will wait for O'Malley's arrival. After a minute or so, Halt enters the Heron with Will and Horace behind him and confronts the smuggler.

O'Malley set two crewmen on will, but Halt loosed Horace on them. Both crewmen were soon on the floor unconscious. Halt grabbed O'Malley by his collar and hauled him across the table. O'Malley was convinced to provide the information and even offered to take him there.

In this novel, Will is an Araluen Ranger. He is assigned to Seacliff fief.

Halt is a senior Ranger, dangerous and feared. He is married to the Courier Lady Pauline.

Horace is the Oakleaf Knight, a prodigal with a sword. He is also Will's best friend. He loves Princess Cassandra.

Alyss Mainwaring is a Courier, working for Lady Pauline. She is a close friend of Will. In fact, she loves him, but is just waiting for him to propose.

Cassandra is the Princess of Araluen. She met Will under the name of Evanlyn Wheeler, but is really the daughter of King Duncan of Araluen. She loves Horace.

George Carter is a long-standing friend of Will, Horace and Alyss. Now he is a lawyer.

Seley el'then is a captain in the Arridi Guard in Al Shabah. Foreigners find it easier to call him Selethen.

Gundar is a Skandian captain. He and his crew are well known to the Rangers and Alyss.

In this story, Halt and Will are visiting Toscana during negotiations between Toscana and Arridi. While Alyss is thrashing out the fine details of a treaty, the Rangers and Selethen watch a demonstration of Toscan military tactics. As usual, Will asks many questions and learns that the Toscan style of combat doesn't require extensive training.

After returning to their quarters, they are visited by the Princess Cassandra. She has come to Toscana unofficially and is using the name of Evanlyn. She tells them about the diplomatic visit of Horace and George to Nihon-Ja and the disappearance of the knight.

George had returned by ship to pass information on to King Duncan. Some senshi lords had revolted against the Emperor. Horace fled with the Emperor into the mountains. They were looking for a semi-mythical fortress called Ran-Koshi.

She asks the Rangers and Alyss to accompany her to Nihon-Ja. Selethen decides that he wants to go along. They take the Skandian duty ship that had brought Evanlyn to Toscana. They are pleased to greet Gundar and his crew again.

The Wolfwill is a new design for the Skandians. It uses fore-and-aft rigs and can tack against the wind. It is amazingly fast compared to the ships that the Araluens know.

The Wolfwill gets them to Nihon-Ja is only a few weeks. They inquire at the port where George had boarded a ship and learn that Horace may be at Ran-Koshi. Then they sail the Wolfwill closer to the fortress.

Their local contact goes ashore to learn more about local loyalties. Before he returns, a group of locals takes them in custody and carries them away. Then they reach Ran-Koshi.

This tale involves the Araluens in Nihon-Ja politics. They grow to like the Emperor and despise the leaders of the coup. The locals also learn to like the gaijin.

The novel has in a satisfactory conclusion. The next installment in this sequence has not yet been announced on the store.

Highly recommended for Flanagan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of medieval societies, armed conflict, and a touch of romance. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

Our adventure of Rangers continues as Erak, (the Oberjarl (leader) of Scandia and a very good friend with Will) is kidnapped, and hold for ransom. The news spreads to Araluen, but in odd timing: Halt and Lady Pauline are getting married.

Since Erak is an old friend of Araluen, the king and the counsel does not mind paying his ransom to have him back. The only problem the king has is the fact that a member of the royal family has to be present to negotiate the deal. Since Cassandra (also known as Evanlyn throughout the pervious adventures) is the only heir left to the throne, her father tries to stop his strong-willed daughter from going to a possibly dangerous adventure. However, through the discussion of the counsel, it was clear that the king's judgment came from his own will to keep his daughter safe, and in the end, the princess was finally permitted to travel to the foreign country to negotiate the release of the Oberjarl.

Under the protection of three rangers (Will, Halt, and Gilan), Horace, and a company of Scandian warriors, Cassandra (or Evanlyn) visits the country of Arrida.

The obvious setting for this adventure is well, "different". Previously, most of the adventure went on in forests, and plains, where rangers were practically right at home. However, now they are visiting a different and unfamiliar land, and it is a nice change to be had in one of these books. The settings also depend a little on the Arabian culture, to have more diversity on the nations.

The book focuses on Will's point of view for about three fifths of the book, and the rest switches between Halt and Cassandra, with occasional extras. The diversity of viewpoints are also a nice change to be had as well.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. It features couple of skirmishes here and there, and also a lot of signs of our characters maturing, and growing up. Again, I really liked it , and I advise you to try it as well.

Although the book might not say it directly to you, confirming the background foundation of this is indeed some sort of "Japan", it is. We can get the hints from how they enjoyed tea, sat in these weird positions of folding their legs under their body, and also, (the most crucial information) their language being the same as the current Japanese.

Unlike the other books of the series, this book features Horace as the main character, whereas all the others were brought in just to keep the storyline going. After finishing the business with the Outsiders a year ago, the king has decided to send Horace on a diplomatic, and a military mission to the country of Nihon-Ja, mostly to give him something to work on rather than boring himself to death at the castle.

The story seems very passive and slow-paced in the beginning, but as it passes the 40-minute reading mark (for me, anyway) the story progresses rapidly, and s*** starts to get real.

Sort of like the Cast system of India, ancient eastern Asia (Korea, Japan, and China) had a system separating the rulers from the normal people of the country. Same here in the book. The current ruler of Nihon-Ja is Shigeru, who, let's just say, is "different" from all the previous rulers of Nihon-Ja. He loves the people of his country, and it hurts him to see the cast system dividing them up and forcing them into a relationship of one side dictating the other. He stands against the royal cast, who eventually rebels against the emperor. Horace gets "naturally ^^" tangled with the situation, and has sided with the emperor to fight this civil war.

This book may seem like a good place to end the series, but in truth? I don't really think so. It leaves so much to hang, such as "what will happen to Will and Alyss?" or "what is the final happy ending?". I fully expect this series to continue, and I sure hope so that it will! Go John! We love you and the ranger series *^^*

The land of Nihon-ja has been mentioned a few times in the Ranger's Apprentice series -- a sort of fantasy version of Japan. And "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" takes us right into the heart of this distant land, with John Flanagan's usual mix of action, humor, clever plotting and slightly-altered versions of real-world civilizations.

Horace has been a guest of the Emperor of Nihon-ja, Shigeru. But as he's preparing to go back to Araluen, the Senshi warriors under Lord Arisaka suddenly rebel against the Emperor -- and Horace ends up accompanying Shigeru into the mountains. So Halt, Will, Alyss and Evanlyn (who have been overseeing training in Toscana) set out on a Skandian ship, heading straight for Nihon-ja to help their friend.

The journey to Nihon-ja has many dangers -- pirates, desert warriors, and squabbles aboard the Wolfwill. But the biggest danger is Arisaka's army, which is closing in on a remote mountain fortress where the Emperor is hiding -- and if he wins, Nihon-ja will be thrown into an era of brutality. And he's not the only terror lurking in this unfamiliar land...

"The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is apparently the last of the "regular" Ranger's Apprentice novels, and it seems like a fairly logical place for the main storyline to end. The main problem is that it does drag sometimes, especially in the first several chapters, which are bogged down by sodden horseback riding and traveling via Skandian ship.

However, things pick up once Halt, Will and Co. arrive in Nihon-ja. Flanagan's prose is nimble and descriptive, with smoothly realistic dialogue and some humorous moments (a villager accidentally says "bum" to the Emperor). But he also weaves in a load of tactical maneuvers, tricks and the occasional military stunt (the Macedon Phoenix). It makes the military conflict feel more REAL to the reader.

And Flanagan's characters have the warm, well-worn feel of familiarity by now -- it's like visiting old friends, whom you can depend on to always do the noblest, best things that they can. Will, Horace, Halt, Evanlyn and the feisty, boisterous Skandians are all pleasantly familiar, and he introduces some endearing people in Nihon-ja as well, such as the down-to-earth Shigeru.

And Flanagan wraps up the romantic subplots nicely for both young men, although somehow I just can't warm up to Alyss. She still just seems like an add-water-for-instant-love-interest.

While John Flanagan still has a couple more books to go, "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is a thoroughly amusing, satisfying finale for the main storyline. Strong, pleasant and fun.

The land of Nihon-ja has been mentioned a few times in the Ranger's Apprentice series -- a sort of fantasy version of Japan. And "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" takes us right into the heart of this distant land, with John Flanagan's usual mix of action, humor, clever plotting and slightly-altered versions of real-world civilizations.

Horace has been a guest of the Emperor of Nihon-ja, Shigeru. But as he's preparing to go back to Araluen, the Senshi warriors under Lord Arisaka suddenly rebel against the Emperor -- and Horace ends up accompanying Shigeru into the mountains. So Halt, Will, Alyss and Evanlyn (who have been overseeing training in Toscana) set out on a Skandian ship, heading straight for Nihon-ja to help their friend.

The journey to Nihon-ja has many dangers -- pirates, desert warriors, and squabbles aboard the Wolfwill. But the biggest danger is Arisaka's army, which is closing in on a remote mountain fortress where the Emperor is hiding -- and if he wins, Nihon-ja will be thrown into an era of brutality. And he's not the only terror lurking in this unfamiliar land...

"The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is apparently the last of the "regular" Ranger's Apprentice novels, and it seems like a fairly logical place for the main storyline to end. The main problem is that it does drag sometimes, especially in the first several chapters, which are bogged down by sodden horseback riding and traveling via Skandian ship.

However, things pick up once Halt, Will and Co. arrive in Nihon-ja. Flanagan's prose is nimble and descriptive, with smoothly realistic dialogue and some humorous moments (a villager accidentally says "bum" to the Emperor). But he also weaves in a load of tactical maneuvers, tricks and the occasional military stunt (the Macedon Phoenix). It makes the military conflict feel more REAL to the reader.

And Flanagan's characters have the warm, well-worn feel of familiarity by now -- it's like visiting old friends, whom you can depend on to always do the noblest, best things that they can. Will, Horace, Halt, Evanlyn and the feisty, boisterous Skandians are all pleasantly familiar, and he introduces some endearing people in Nihon-ja as well, such as the down-to-earth Shigeru.

And Flanagan wraps up the romantic subplots nicely for both young men, although somehow I just can't warm up to Alyss. She still just seems like an add-water-for-instant-love-interest.

While John Flanagan still has a couple more books to go, "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is a thoroughly amusing, satisfying finale for the main storyline. Strong, pleasant and fun.

I am a huge fan of John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. Where John Flanagan got the idea for it, I do not know. One thing I do know for sure after this installment is that John Flanagan is a genius.

This book is arguably the best in the series. Before I read this, I thought Book 4 was the hands down winner. Books 1 and 2 were good, but 3, 5, and 6 failed to impress me. I was beginning to consider the fact that John Flanagan might not be as good as the author I thought he was. Then I read this. The characters are more realistic, the setting very interesting, and the plot exciting.

Set in between Books 4 and 5, the story focuses on Will, who is training to become part of a secret service called the Ranger Corps. As the end of his training nears, Erak, the Skandian leader, is captured by the Arridi tribe. Will, his mentor Halt, his friends Horace and Gilan, and the princess Evanlyn are sent to ransom him. But things go horribly wrong when Erak falls into the hands of another, more dangerous tribe. The Rangers then venture into the desert in the hopes of rescuing their comrade. However, Erak's captors aren't the only dangers lurking in the sand...

Meanwhile, Will struggles with the reality that he will soon become a fully-fledged Ranger with a fief of his own to look after, away from the comforting presence of his mentor, Halt. This gives him more realism, showing that he's not just the invincible warrior readers have grown accustomed to. Good job John Flanagan!

The setting is fantastic. What made Book 4 so great was the new location of Skandia. The desert the Arridi live in is amazing. Flanagan does a wonderful job of painting a crystal clear picture of it the reader's mind. The endless stretches of sand, the perilous sandstorms, the fearsome lions, and the stealthy sand cobras are all easily envisioned.

The plot is very exciting. Hardly a page goes by without some suspenseful, page-turning event occurring. From sandstorms to battles, each page keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

However, that being said, the plot is also like a roller coaster that is going much too fast. New developments and twist and turns come at the reader at an incredible speed. At one point, Erak is supposedly in a village under the control of the Arridi. The next, he is halfway across the desert, under the protection of a score of Arridi. Then, all of a sudden, another tribe kidnaps him. That wouldn't be too bad, except it all happens within the course of a few pages. I can't help but feel that John Flanagan should have taken more time to explain more about the wonderful plot he constructed.

My only other complaint is that the writing gets a bit technical at points, dragging on and on about fighting styles and how characters in his books live. One of many examples of this is that Flanagan dedicates pages upon pages to how different tribes survive in the desert. It was kind of interesting, but I found myself sorely wishing the story could move along. However, this problem is not as bad as in previous volumes.

Many other fantasy books have a certain age limit. There are only a few, like Lord of the Rings, which I feel would captivate readers both young and old. Though this book is by no means comparable to any of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpieces, it will leave readers of all ages very pleased after the final page.

Overall, Erak's Ransom is a wonderful addition to the series that will not disappoint readers. John Flanagan takes his writing a step up, and I hope the rest of the series will be just as good.

Horace is on a diplomatic mission to Nihon-Ja, a Japanesque country to the east. He was about to return to Araluen, but an insurrection occurs against the rightful Emperor, Shigeru, led by the rebel clan leader Arisaka. Arisaka's men apprehend them as they fled for the coast and threatened to kill. Of course, Horace took the appropriate, neutral course and slayed two attackers. Now the Emperor, Horace, and the remainder of the Imperial Army are hauling butt to a fortress that is literally the stuff of legend.
Evanlyn, Alyss, Will, and Halt are putting the final touches on a treaty between Arrida and Toscana, immersed in making peace between the two great countries. Then news comes to them of Horace's plight and they hail a Skandian pirate wolfship to take them over the Constant Sea to offer Horace help.
The first half of the book is split in two to describe Horace's arrival to Ran-Koshi, the fortress, and to indicate the other Araluen's arrival to Nihon-Ja. Then the two branches unite towards the middle and produce one epic storyline, complete with military tactics (secret passageways, ambush sites), weapons (darts, Macedon Phalanx), and plenty of hand-to-hand and army-on-army fighting.
Oh, and the jealousy between Alyss and Cassandra/Evanlyn comes to a head and the tension mount between them until they are assigned a special mission that will stretch each other's trust to the limit.
Along with an old Arridi friend, some new Nihon-Jan pals, and the usual Skandian backup, this book is truly The Grand Finale.

VBG

This is the tenth (and final) book in the Ranger's Apprentice series. As with previous books in the series it is a solid fantasy for middle grade/YA reading level; although the characters are getting a bit old for this to be a middle grade series still. As with previous books there is nothing super creative here, but it is still well written.

Horace is in Nihon-Ja (a very Japan-like nation) to learn fighting techniques. When the Emperor there is overthrown Horace ends up embroiled in the fight to save the Empire. When the Princess brings word to Alyss, Will, and Halt that Horace has disappeared they enroll Skandian help to journey across the sea to find Horace and bring him home. Little do they know that size of the conflict Horace is involved in is much bigger than they had thought.

We get to spend time with all of our favorite characters. They are pretty much all here and they all play a big role in the story. Halt takes a backseat to Will and Horace in this story. Like normal Will comes up with a crazy idea to solve everyone's problems. The Emperor of Nihon-Ja was a delightful character; he was wise and funny and very admirable in the way he handled things throughout the novel.

This book featured the female characters more than previous books. Alyss and the Princess (going by Evelyn) end up having a separate quest from the boys and it was fun to read more about them and watch them work together. I enjoyed that they played a larger role in the story.

The plot is incredibly predictable. Pretty much Will and crew see a fighting style in the beginning of the book, then they run into all of the peasants in Nihon-Ja...and from there you know what is going to happen. There are no twists and turns, you can predict the story from beginning to end. As with previous books this isn't a very creative story.

It also bothered me a bit how old the characters are now. There is a lot of talk about getting engaged and married etc. It was kind of weird and made this book a bit more young adult than previous books.

The story is very well written and easy to read. I continued to enjoy the banter between the characters and the humor.

Overall a good installment in this series. I loved that Alyss and Evelyn play a larger role in this book. I also enjoyed the Emperor of Nihon-Ja; he was a wonderful character and added a lot to the story. The book is very well written, has great humor throughout, and is a solid fantasy. The plot in this book is incredibly predictable, even more so than previous book. As with previous books this wasn't a very creative book. I'd recommend to those who are interested in a well-written straight historical fantasy read, the book is most appropriate for middle grade and older

Erak, the ruler of the Skandian sea raiders, has been taken hostage in the desert land of Arrida. His newfound friends, Will and Halt the Rangers, Horace the knight, and Princess Cassandra (under Evanlyn) agree to pay the ransom. Just when the money changed hands, and the Oberjarl (big ruler of Skandia) was about to be released, he is recaptured from his captors. The new kidnappers, called the Tualaghi, are experts when it comes to the desert and lead Will and company on a merry chase across the desert, facing the sun's heat, thirst, hunger, desert lions, snakes, mirages, compass-confusing piles of iron, and sand storms. Oh, and the couple hundred Tualaghi riders themselves.

This book is set between the fourth and the fifth book when Will is about to get his silver oakleaf, the symbol of a full Ranger. A very, VERY hot novel set in a hotter terrain, the seventh/fifth novel is a great read that puts a Flanagan spin on Arab culture. The criticism is about Halt's marriage to Pauline. I felt that the author should have put earlier reference, or at least some clues about Halt's relationship with her. I also didn't like Gilan's background role. In previous books, he was more or less a primary character, even a secondary one, but here he is sheerly posing in the background.

VBG

This was another good book marked by some too-obvious foreshadowing and predictable plotlines. The method of the happy ending was clear from the first pages of the book. I felt like the Evanlyn/Alyss subplot was a bit contrived and pointless. While something had to happen to bring the two girls together, their entire mission was barely useful, and their confrontation with the Terror didn't make much of an ultimate point, either. We didn't even get fun reactions from Halt, Will, and Horace. In addition, the book wrapped up far too quickly. This is likely because it was already one of the longest in the series, but we didn't get to see any of the aftermath of the final confrontation, no character analysis of how things went, no sendoff for Selethen, no seeing how the treaty with Toscana at the beginning of the book was going (making it apparent that the whole first part of the book was merely to set up the Kikori fighting style), no homecoming for Halt (and so no reaction from Pauline), and in what to me is a major glaring error, the book had no significant interplay between Horace and Evanlyn. If you're going to have them both say that they're deeply in love with the other, we ought to see a bit more of it than an extended hug.

This is all not to say that the book wasn't enjoyable. It was. It just wasn't nearly everything it could've been.

The seventh "Ranger's Apprentice" book is kind of confusing chronologically -- it's actually set between the fourth and fifth books of the series, during the last days of Will's apprenticeship.

And oddly enough, the tough young apprentice Will is almost a supporting character in his own story until the second half of the book, with the focus often shifting to Alyss, Halt and Cassandra. That's also the point when John Flanagan revs up the plot of "Ranger's Apprentice 7: Erak's ransom," pouring in plenty of action, bloody battles, politics, bandits and a treacherous conspiracy against the Skandian oberjarl.

After years of being secretly in love with each other, the Ranger Halt and the diplomat Lady Pauline are married in nearly royal style... only for their luxurious reception to be crashed by Svengel. The Skandian warrior reveals that Erak decided to go on one last raid in the Middle-Easty land of Arrida, got captured, and is being ransomed for eight thousand reels. King Duncan is happy to provide the money, but he's not so happy that a member of the royal family must go to Arrida... and his strong-willed daughter Cassandra is volunteering. So the princess (under the guise of "Evanlyn"), three Rangers and a crew of Skandian warriors set off for Arrida, and haggle a bargain with the ruling Wakir, Selethen.

But things go wrong when Will loses his faithful pony Tug in a sandstorm, and goes off searching for him -- only to become lost in the desert. Selethen, Halt, Evanlyn and Svengel soon learn that Erak has been kidnapped from his kidnappers, and they may be after the deadliest, cruelest people in Arrida, the Tualaghi. Even worse, an old enemy is involved. The only hope for his friends may be Will, and the new allies he's gained in Arrida's deserts.

It takes awhile for Will to take center stage in "Erak's Ransom" -- for the first half of the novel, Will is basically a secondary character tagging along with Halt. First Flanagan chronicles the lavish wedding of Pauline and Halt, then the straggly journey to Arridia, and finally Evanlyn's political wrangling with Selethen -- and the titular ranger's apprentice just sort of drifts along with the group, not getting much attention. If anything, it seems like Evanlyn/Cassandra is going to be the star here.

But the plot flowers when the gang sets out into the desert, and the story splits between Will's lonely quest and the rest of the group's search for Erak. Flanagan's prose is both fast-paced and solidly descriptive (example: Will's frantic race against a Bedullin boy), with plenty of desert nomads, bloodstained battles, a stint in the waterless wasteland and a climactic clash in the desert. And no matter how bleak the situation, he weaves in some mild humor to lighten the mood ("Tha's a big nose." "It's the only one I've got").

It's also obvious in this story that both Cassandra/Evanlyn and Will are growing up -- Cassandra is upsetting her dad by immersing herself in politics and training with a sling, while Will is worrying about his graduation into a full-fledged Ranger. And when he isn't guarding the princess or tracking bandits through the desert, Halt also gets extra attention since he's getting married. Or ratgher, reluctantly dragged into an impressive state wedding, complete with dancing, formal clothes and a two-hundred-person guest list.

And Flanagan fleshes out the cast with plenty of solid characters, such as the horse-hating Svengel, the intelligent and honorable Selethen, and the vile Yusal. The only character who doesn't really come alive is Alyss, who seems like a younger clone of Pauline -- she's far less engaging than the feisty Cassandra, and seems to have less of a rapport with Will.

"Erak's Ransom" extends the epic fantasy series into a new land, with new allies, old enemies, and lots of nasty desert animals. Just don't get confused about the chronology.

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja
John Flanagan
2010
Age 10+
High interest. Reluctant Reader Pick.

This review and more like it can be found on Get Kids to Read. [...]

The Ranger's Apprentice series is one of the best Young Adult series to come along since Harry Potter. Ranking high with other similar high octane series, the Rangers Apprentice follows Will on his journey to become a Ranger. The Emperor of Nihon-Ja is the final battle in this series. As such all the allies that Will and Halt (his mentor) have acquired over 9 books are here in a desperate attempt to rescue Will's friend Horace.
Will has evolved since the first book, Flanagan's books are high octane but he has developed the key characters. Will and Halt are more like brothers at this point. Fans of the series will not be disappointed in how this book ends. It ties up story lines nicely and leaves readers with a satisfaction of an epic quest completed.

The good news is that The Royal Ranger book 12 comes out this fall so the story will continue!

Erak's Ransom (2007) is the seventh Fantasy novel in the Ranger's Apprentice series, following The Siege of Macindaw. By internal chronology, however, this novel follows The Battle for Skandia.

In the previous volume, Will and his friends helped the Skandians to defend against the Temujai invaders. When they arrived back in Araluen, King Duncan was very pleased at the return of his daughter. Horace was knighted and Halt was officially reinstated.

In this novel, Will is an Araluen Ranger Apprentice. He is approaching Graduation Day, when he will be tested on his skills. If he passes, he will be promoted to full Ranger and assigned a fief of his own.

Halt is a full Ranger, dangerous and feared. He has been wondering about his own future after Will graduates. Naturally, he has talked it over with Lady Pauline on many evenings.

Pauline is the senior Courier at Redmont fief. She is a close friend of Halt. In fact, she has loved him for many years and is just waiting for him to notice her.

Alyss Mainwaring is a Courier, working for Lady Pauline. She is a close friend of Will. In fact, she loves him, but is just waiting for him to notice her.

Horace is the Oakleaf Knight, a prodigal with a sword. He is also Will's best friend, despite an awkward start.

Cassandra is the Princess of Araluen. She met Will under the name of Evanlyn Wheeler, but is really the daughter of King Duncan of Araluen. She has regularly practiced her battle skills after returning from Skandia.

Gilan is a full Ranger. He had been Halt's previous apprentice. He is the only Ranger who wears a sword.

Erak Starfollower is the Skandian Oberjarl. After Will and Evanlyn helped the Skandians to defend against the Temujai invaders, Erak made a treaty to not raid the Araluens.

Svengal had been Erak's second-in-command on the Wolfwind. When Erak became the Oberjarl, he gave Svengal command of the ship.

Seley el'then is a captain in the Arridi Guard in Al Shabah. Foreigners find it easier to call him Selethen.

In this story, Cassandra is skulking around the castle and startling sleepy guards. She sneaks up on them and then uses her sling to knock away their spears. King Duncan gets a few complaints and calls in his daughter to make her stop.

Cassandra points out that her recent experiences indicate a need to be capable of defending herself. She has been practicing with her saber, but she is too small and weak to defeat trained soldiers at their own game. So she has been practicing stealth and using the sling.

King Duncan is very angry with her, but is gradually convinced that she needs the skills. He suggests that she engage Geldon -- a retired Ranger -- to train her. Cassandra also points out that she needs some training to become Queen some day and he agrees.

Some weeks later, King Duncan and Princess Cassandra attend the wedding of Halt and Lady Pauline. With the coming graduation of Will, Halt has started spending more time with Pauline. Somehow he manages to ask her to marry him.

Meanwhile, Erak sets out to sea in temporary command of the Wolfwind. Svengal reverts back to second-in-command. They learn that the town of Al Shabah will have a treasure on hand waiting for a caravan to take it to the Emrikir's vaults.

Now the Wolfwind approaches the Arridi coast near the town. They beach the ship and leave some men behind to guard it. The rest climb up the beach and make their way to the back gate. No guards are encountered at the gate or in the town.

Then the Arridi spring a trap and catch the Skandian within the town square. The natives pick out Erak and let the remaining Skandians return to the ship to take back word of the ransom demand. But Erak tells Svengal to go to Araluen to get the money.

As the wedding, guests are celebrating the marriage with the bridal dance when Svengal appears at the door to the ballroom. Will goes out to greet Svengal and take him to a private room. There Svengal tells them the whole story and also informs them that Erak has probably been betrayed by another Skandian.

King Duncan agrees to pay the ransom. A member of the royal family must go with the party, but he cannot go right away because of urgent commitments. After a great deal of dispute, Duncan agrees to let his daughter represent him in the negotiations.

After the Wolfwind is refitted and resupplied, the party sails away to Arridi. The ship carries Cassandra, Halt, Gilan, Will, Horace, Svengal and thirty other Skandians as well as four horses. All -- except the horses -- are eager to sail. Maybe Halt is not quite that eager, since he always gets seasick for the first few days.

This tale takes the venturers to Al Shabah. There they negotiate the ransom for Erak and then find that he had been taken elsewhere when the Wolfwind appeared outside the harbor. But Selethen allows them to accompany the Arridi going to get Erak.

The story is full of twists and turns. The next installment by internal chronology is The Sorcerer of the North. But the eighth novel is The Kings of Clonmel. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Flanagan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure, foreign lands, and competent youngsters. If anyone has not previously read this series, the initial volume is The Ruins of Gorlan.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I'm really enjoying this series. The pace of this installment was slower once again. I still really liked the story overall. Horace spent a good deal of time in the limelight in this one. He also made some interesting acquaintances in the Emperor and his comrades. The girls finally hash out their relationship during their adventures. Time-well-spent, as usual.

In a letter to the reader at the beginning of the book, John Flanagan explains that he neglected an important period in Will and Halt's lives: "Books 1-4 deal with Will's early years as an apprentice. Books 5 and 6 describe his first mission as a graduate Ranger. But there was a gap between them. I realized that as Will approached the moment when he would become a ranger in his own right, he would be troubled by the worry that he wasn't ready for the responsibility that this would entail...How would Halt deal with the loss of his cheerful, lively influence...?" These questions and more are explored throughout ERAK'S RANSOM, the seventh installment in the Ranger's Apprentice series.

Rewind a few months. Will is on the verge of graduating from the Ranger Corps, and Halt has also made plans of his own. The main action begins with a wedding celebration between the esteemed Ranger Halt and the lovely Courier Lady Pauline. The momentous occasion is cut short, however, after a bruised and haggard Skandian, Svengal, arrives with some unexpected news. The Skandian Oberjarl, Erak, is being held hostage in the desert region of Arrida. Halt and Will are unsure why Erak's own clan doesn't pay the ransom themselves until Svengal reveals that Erak is positive he was betrayed...by one of his own.

King Duncan immediately decides to pay the ransom and sends a small group to brave the desert heat. Because of the severity of the situation, a royal escort is required, and Duncan unwillingly allows his daughter, Princess Cassandra, to accompany the group, provided she stay out of harm's way. Halt, Svengal, Will, Horace and Cassandra are eager to rescue their friend, but the group has no idea what is awaiting them in the desert wasteland.

They first come in contact with the Arridi leader, Selethen, and after a little run-around, they eventually reach an agreement to free Erak. The only problem is that he is currently on a caravan across the desert heading towards the Arridi capital. As the group sets off to find the caravan, a freak sandstorm leads to the loss of Will's horse, and Will is forced to separate and search for Tug. Will has to rely on all of his Ranger training in order to survive the intense desert climate. The others don't fare well either. The Tualaghi, a blue-veiled band of raiders, captures Erak. Desperation sets in as Will Halt, and their friends struggle to conquer the hostile desert environment --- or die trying.

While some readers may bemoan the fact that John Flanagan went backwards in time in this book, this crucial juncture in Will's life would have been sorely missed. At some point, every young person is faced with the uncertainty of the future. Even with good upbringing, education and preparation, there is always apprehension as to whether or not someone is really ready for what comes next. Flanagan takes his characters through this period with humor, adventure and ultimately grace.

ERAK'S RANSOM is a strong addition to the series and provides a clear picture into the lives of the characters readers have come to cherish.

--- Reviewed by Benjamin Boche ([email protected])

"Erak's Ransom" is the 7th book in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. Though I'm a huge fan of Flanagan and everything he has written, this was my least favorite of his books. It seemed a little predictable, and there weren't as many twists and turns in the plot as his other works. That said, I still enjoyed the book and absolutely love the characters he has created. Flanagan's strengths as a writer are his ability to paint clear and vivid images while maintaining a balance between action and plot development. This story actually takes place in the past, right after the events of book 4. This is the time when Will is almost finished with his apprenticeship and is worried he won't be up to the task when he becomes a full fledged ranger. Will, Halt, Horace (and others) travel over seas to rescue Erak of Skandia, who was captured on a raid. The story is mostly about Will's journey from boy to man. If you're a fan of the series, you won't want to miss it. But if you're looking for one of Flanagan's better books, I would suggest reading one earlier in the series.

"Erak's Ransom" is the 7th book in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. Though I'm a huge fan of Flanagan and everything he has written, this was my least favorite of his books. It seemed a little predictable, and there weren't as many twists and turns in the plot as his other works. That said, I still enjoyed the book and absolutely love the characters he has created. Flanagan's strengths as a writer are his ability to paint clear and vivid images while maintaining a balance between action and plot development. This story actually takes place in the past, right after the events of book 4. This is the time when Will is almost finished with his apprenticeship and is worried he won't be up to the task when he becomes a full fledged ranger. Will, Halt, Horace (and others) travel over seas to rescue Erak of Skandia, who was captured on a raid. The story is mostly about Will's journey from boy to man. If you're a fan of the series, you won't want to miss it. But if you're looking for one of Flanagan's better books, I would suggest reading one earlier in the series.

I'd forgotten how fun and quick the Ranger's Apprentice books can be. This one was quite cohesive and very interesting. The plot was a bit formulaic and predictable, but that's expected in a book aimed at a slightly younger audience. Flanagan did a respectable job in adapting cultures to the characters and altering their interactions to meet different cultural norms, although there wasn't anything so deep or profound as to be truly remarkable.

One of my favorite things is when a fantasy author can build unique and diverse cultures (Robert Jordan, Patrick Rothfuss, George R.R. Martin being some of the best, in my opinion), or can really twist existing cultures to make brilliant and insightful observations and commentary (a la Terry Pratchett). That doesn't happen here--while the characters are unique and their existence in and use of cultures can be novel, the cultures themselves are clearly lifted from existing nations.

As soon as I started this book, I felt like I was missing something. Much like between books 4 and 5, a significant amount of time has passed. A lot has happened in Halt's life, ahem, and I wanted more of that!! I guess maybe middle grade wouldn't? But I did. That part happened much too quickly and I don't want to give anything away because it's significant. At least to me. But after that happens, nothing is glossed over. Every detail of everyone's moves is cataloged. I liked the new scenery and new faces and I was glad such a large team of old faces was brought together again. A fun read that passes by quickly!

"The Emperor of Nihon-Ja" is the 10th installment is John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. I've loved all of his books, and this one is no different. I won't ruin the plot for you, but Horace, Halt, Will and their friends must protect the emperor from a revolt. The story is based loosely on medieval Japan, and the details of their weapons and fighting styles are accurate and interesting. One of Flanagan's strengths is his ability to paint vivid images with his words. His characters are very real; I find myself thinking about them while I'm on my way to work and wondering what they're up to. This book has a fantastic battle scene at the end and it shows what true leadership really is. If you've read the previous 9 books in this series, you won't be disappointed.

"The Emperor of Nihon-Ja" is the 10th installment is John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. I've loved all of his books, and this one is no different. I won't ruin the plot for you, but Horace, Halt, Will and their friends must protect the emperor from a revolt. The story is based loosely on medieval Japan, and the details of their weapons and fighting styles are accurate and interesting. One of Flanagan's strengths is his ability to paint vivid images with his words. His characters are very real; I find myself thinking about them while I'm on my way to work and wondering what they're up to. This book has a fantastic battle scene at the end and it shows what true leadership really is. If you've read the previous 9 books in this series, you won't be disappointed.

The seventh "Ranger's Apprentice" book is kind of confusing chronologically -- it's actually set between the fourth and fifth books of the series, during the last days of Will's apprenticeship.

And oddly enough, the tough young apprentice Will is almost a supporting character in his own story until the second half of the book, with the focus often shifting to Alyss, Halt and Cassandra. That's also the point when John Flanagan revs up the plot of "Ranger's Apprentice 7: Erak's ransom," pouring in plenty of action, bloody battles, politics, bandits and a treacherous conspiracy against the Skandian oberjarl.

After years of being secretly in love with each other, the Ranger Halt and the diplomat Lady Pauline are married in nearly royal style... only for their luxurious reception to be crashed by Svengel. The Skandian warrior reveals that Erak decided to go on one last raid in the Middle-Easty land of Arrida, got captured, and is being ransomed for eight thousand reels. King Duncan is happy to provide the money, but he's not so happy that a member of the royal family must go to Arrida... and his strong-willed daughter Cassandra is volunteering. So the princess (under the guise of "Evanlyn"), three Rangers and a crew of Skandian warriors set off for Arrida, and haggle a bargain with the ruling Wakir, Selethen.

But things go wrong when Will loses his faithful pony Tug in a sandstorm, and goes off searching for him -- only to become lost in the desert. Selethen, Halt, Evanlyn and Svengel soon learn that Erak has been kidnapped from his kidnappers, and they may be after the deadliest, cruelest people in Arrida, the Tualaghi. Even worse, an old enemy is involved. The only hope for his friends may be Will, and the new allies he's gained in Arrida's deserts.

It takes awhile for Will to take center stage in "Erak's Ransom" -- for the first half of the novel, Will is basically a secondary character tagging along with Halt. First Flanagan chronicles the lavish wedding of Pauline and Halt, then the straggly journey to Arridia, and finally Evanlyn's political wrangling with Selethen -- and the titular ranger's apprentice just sort of drifts along with the group, not getting much attention. If anything, it seems like Evanlyn/Cassandra is going to be the star here.

But the plot flowers when the gang sets out into the desert, and the story splits between Will's lonely quest and the rest of the group's search for Erak. Flanagan's prose is both fast-paced and solidly descriptive (example: Will's frantic race against a Bedullin boy), with plenty of desert nomads, bloodstained battles, a stint in the waterless wasteland and a climactic clash in the desert. And no matter how bleak the situation, he weaves in some mild humor to lighten the mood ("Tha's a big nose." "It's the only one I've got").

It's also obvious in this story that both Cassandra/Evanlyn and Will are growing up -- Cassandra is upsetting her dad by immersing herself in politics and training with a sling, while Will is worrying about his graduation into a full-fledged Ranger. And when he isn't guarding the princess or tracking bandits through the desert, Halt also gets extra attention since he's getting married. Or ratgher, reluctantly dragged into an impressive state wedding, complete with dancing, formal clothes and a two-hundred-person guest list.

And Flanagan fleshes out the cast with plenty of solid characters, such as the horse-hating Svengel, the intelligent and honorable Selethen, and the vile Yusal. The only character who doesn't really come alive is Alyss, who seems like a younger clone of Pauline -- she's far less engaging than the feisty Cassandra, and seems to have less of a rapport with Will.

"Erak's Ransom" extends the epic fantasy series into a new land, with new allies, old enemies, and lots of nasty desert animals. Just don't get confused about the chronology.

"The Emperor of Nihon-Ja" is the 10th installment is John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. I've loved all of his books, and this one is no different. I won't ruin the plot for you, but Horace, Halt, Will and their friends must protect the emperor from a revolt. The story is based loosely on medieval Japan, and the details of their weapons and fighting styles are accurate and interesting. One of Flanagan's strengths is his ability to paint vivid images with his words. His characters are very real; I find myself thinking about them while I'm on my way to work and wondering what they're up to. This book has a fantastic battle scene at the end and it shows what true leadership really is. If you've read the previous 9 books in this series, you won't be disappointed.

The land of Nihon-ja has been mentioned a few times in the Ranger's Apprentice series -- a sort of fantasy version of Japan. And "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" takes us right into the heart of this distant land, with John Flanagan's usual mix of action, humor, clever plotting and slightly-altered versions of real-world civilizations.

Horace has been a guest of the Emperor of Nihon-ja, Shigeru. But as he's preparing to go back to Araluen, the Senshi warriors under Lord Arisaka suddenly rebel against the Emperor -- and Horace ends up accompanying Shigeru into the mountains. So Halt, Will, Alyss and Evanlyn (who have been overseeing training in Toscana) set out on a Skandian ship, heading straight for Nihon-ja to help their friend.

The journey to Nihon-ja has many dangers -- pirates, desert warriors, and squabbles aboard the Wolfwill. But the biggest danger is Arisaka's army, which is closing in on a remote mountain fortress where the Emperor is hiding -- and if he wins, Nihon-ja will be thrown into an era of brutality. And he's not the only terror lurking in this unfamiliar land...

"The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is apparently the last of the "regular" Ranger's Apprentice novels, and it seems like a fairly logical place for the main storyline to end. The main problem is that it does drag sometimes, especially in the first several chapters, which are bogged down by sodden horseback riding and traveling via Skandian ship.

However, things pick up once Halt, Will and Co. arrive in Nihon-ja. Flanagan's prose is nimble and descriptive, with smoothly realistic dialogue and some humorous moments (a villager accidentally says "bum" to the Emperor). But he also weaves in a load of tactical maneuvers, tricks and the occasional military stunt (the Macedon Phoenix). It makes the military conflict feel more REAL to the reader.

And Flanagan's characters have the warm, well-worn feel of familiarity by now -- it's like visiting old friends, whom you can depend on to always do the noblest, best things that they can. Will, Horace, Halt, Evanlyn and the feisty, boisterous Skandians are all pleasantly familiar, and he introduces some endearing people in Nihon-ja as well, such as the down-to-earth Shigeru.

And Flanagan wraps up the romantic subplots nicely for both young men, although somehow I just can't warm up to Alyss. She still just seems like an add-water-for-instant-love-interest.

While John Flanagan still has a couple more books to go, "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is a thoroughly amusing, satisfying finale for the main storyline. Strong, pleasant and fun.

Please note is is book 7 in the RANGERS APPRENTICE series, but it is written in a way that means it should be read before book five. Onto my review ...

The book opens with Halt settling in nicely to his new found role as devoted husband. The reader soon finds themselves with a smile as wide as their face as they discover - and savour - this part of the tale. Whilst it is not meant to be laugh out loud funny, having read the first four books of this wonderful series, virtually guarantees the reader will have strong emotional ties to the characters, and of course Halt being the star of the show, means that you enjoying his appearances on the literal stage more than you realise.

But when fan favourite Erak is kidnapped by the book’s blaggards, it is up to the Royal Family to fund his release. And this is an easy escape back to freedom for our Halt.

But things don’t go as planned. They never do. Further complications arise on many fronts and each of the characters are about to face totally unexpected challenges, which (in some cases) pose continual threats to their continued existence. As a hint, take a look at the wonderful image on the book’s cover. But these challenges are overcome, new friendships are made, and the story goes on.

This is a classic Ranger’s Apprentice story. The reader may find themselves calling for an ambulance after being attacked by an unexpected plot twist around the half way mark, but this happens so much that you risk being labelled as a public nuisance by calling for help too often. With an immensely satisfying (not to mention incredibly action packed) ending, a high fun factor, plenty of drama and excitement, tension, and battles, it is no wonder that I award this book a high rating.

And i am assured that no animals were harmed in the writing of this fun filled fable.

Four stars for this wonderful addition to the Ranger Family.

Bye for now, yo!

Horace is missing in the land of the Nihon-JA.Evanlyn, calls on Will and Alyssa,accompanied by Halt head off along with thirty of the sea wolves to find him.
We see the hardships and new friendships formed and forged as Evanlyn and Alys, come to terms as they each learn who the other truly loves.

This was a great story and though mine was on disc and I did not care for the reader it was a good ending to the series.
I hope everyone who has enjoyed the series takes time to read the lost stories which brings an ending to many of our questions and story lines.
Flanagan has created a series for young adults that teaches many lessons and is a good read for anyone of any age.

Action-4/4=Had a lot of captivating action, strategy, battle tactics, and even a race between horses.
Ending-3/4=Almost predictable, depending on how well you read and comprehend the story.
Setting-4/4=Completely fits the storyline.
Dialogue-4/4=Just the right amount of dialogue. Not too much, not too little. Said what needed to be said at the right time.
Plot-3/4=You can guess what is going to happen about two sentences before it does on most occasions.

While the target audience is young boys, I have enjoyed the stories tremendously. My two sons and I have read all the books in the series. The Emperor of Nihon-Ja was different from the other books but had all the elements that make the series great. Examples of selflessness, honor, bravery, loyalty and friendship ran through the book along with exciting adventures.

I liked this one but I didn't like the childish rivalry still going on between Alyss and Evanlyn. These ladies are in their early twenties by now, cut it out! Grow the eff up! That was annoying and unnecessary, Mr. Flanagan! And stereotypical. Women aren't nearly as at-your-throat bitchy and jealous as movies and books peg them to be. But overall, I liked this story and the whole gang. It was good!

Nihon-Ja is in turmoil. Rebellion against the rightful emperor, Shigeru, has occurred and Horace finds himself right in the middle of this feud. Badly outnumbered with less than half his army still alive, Shigeru must retreat into the mountains with the help of Horace and his Araluen friends. In The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan, read how Horace and Will work to save a ruler and his country from an evil usurper.

While Horace is on a diplomatic mission in Nihon-Ja, a Senshi clan leader known as Lord Arisaka turns the upper class warriors called Senshi against Shigeru. This causes Shigeru and the remainder of his followers to flee into the mountains to find the legendary fortress, Ran-Koshi. They know that they can’t stay there forever and a final confrontation will occur sometime. With no army Horace and Shigeru recruit the Kikori, meager timber workers who respect Shigeru but don’t know how to fight. While this is happening Will, Halt, Alyss, Evanlyn, and Selethen are making their way to Nihon-Ja in an attempt to find and help Horace. Unfortunately Arisaka’s army catches up to Shigeru on their way to Ran-Koshi and something must be done to slow them down so they can escape. Shigeru’s cousin Shukin makes the hard choice to stay behind from the group to stall Arisaka while the others move on.

Flanagan’s 10th installment in the series is one of the best. The many small twists throughout the book keep you guessing and add a level of excitement. The use of multiple story lines at times also adds a great feel to the book and the many different personalities in the characters gives the reader a chance to really relate to one of them. While it feels like in the earlier chapters of the book that the story drags on, this plot development early on is needed to make the story interesting and understandable later. Other than that I found the book flawless and instantly one of my favorite in the series.

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan is a fantasy novel that depicts an epic adventure filled with action, suspense, risks, and a little bit of romance. It is an entertaining book and can be read by just about anyone.

This next book in the series is even better than anticipated. It takes the Rangers on a mission they never expected. Great for both kids and adults alike. Wonderful series that most teens, and their parents, can enjoy. Good clean family reading. Can't wait for the next book.

This book, along with the others in this series, make up one of the best young adult fantasy series I've ever encountered. John Flanagan creates characters that you ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT! (Hear that Suzanne Collins?) This is one of the few series that has actually made me laugh out loud.

* Believable, interesting characters that you care about.
* Interesting story lines that will have you finish a 500 page book in a weekend.
* Great varied locations that enhance each adventure.
* Amazing long-term history with the characters.
* Clean reading for children and young adults

The stories are set in a medieval European world of Flanagan's design. These books are a must read for any LOTR, GOT or WOT fans. Although much simpler reads, the satisfaction is the same.

This book, along with the others in this series, make up one of the best young adult fantasy series I've ever encountered. John Flanagan creates characters that you ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT! (Hear that Suzanne Collins?) This is one of the few series that has actually made me laugh out loud.

* Believable, interesting characters that you care about.
* Interesting story lines that will have you finish a 500 page book in a weekend.
* Great varied locations that enhance each adventure.
* Amazing long-term history with the characters.
* Clean reading for children and young adults

The stories are set in a medieval European world of Flanagan's design. These books are a must read for any LOTR, GOT or WOT fans. Although much simpler reads, the satisfaction is the same.

I've been reading the Rangers Apprentice series since the first one came out but as I've gotten older it seems like the series has dragged on.i think the very first story arc in the first couple novels was great.with the light fantasy elements.not relying on heavy overused themes and tropes like many other fantasy series.but then again it's not High Fantasy.

One thing that kept bothering me is the series obvious allegories towards real world countries and almost has the exact same geographical layout as there real world counter parts.such as Picta Araluen and Celtica roughly corresponding to Great Britain as well as the countries of "Picta" and "Celtica" obviously being heavily inspired by the real life Pictish and Celtic Peoples.as well as the Country of "Gallica",which lays right across from Araluen. obviously based off of medieval Gaulish France.its the same with all the Countries/Realms depicted in the series.over time the series seems to get dragged on from one place to another.just taking and mashing up places and cultures from different real time periods. lacking the Creativity of the first few books.also 'The Emperor of Nihon-Ja' seemed to take advantage of every single misconception about samurai and Japanese culture there is.i understand this series is meant for younger audiences and I've mainly outgrown it but it just nags at me.

I chose 5 stars because the author keeps surprising me with a vast variety in different cultures and continues to develop the main characters. And not just Halt and Wil; Horace. Cassandra. Kings and other leaders and many others. Great book.

"The Emperor of Nihon-Ja" is the 10th installment is John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. I've loved all of his books, and this one is no different. I won't ruin the plot for you, but Horace, Halt, Will and their friends must protect the emperor from a revolt. The story is based loosely on medieval Japan, and the details of their weapons and fighting styles are accurate and interesting. One of Flanagan's strengths is his ability to paint vivid images with his words. His characters are very real; I find myself thinking about them while I'm on my way to work and wondering what they're up to. This book has a fantastic battle scene at the end and it shows what true leadership really is. If you've read the previous 9 books in this series, you won't be disappointed.

The seventh "Ranger's Apprentice" book is kind of confusing chronologically -- it's actually set between the fourth and fifth books of the series, during the last days of Will's apprenticeship.

And oddly enough, the tough young apprentice Will is almost a supporting character in his own story until the second half of the book, with the focus often shifting to Alyss, Halt and Cassandra. That's also the point when John Flanagan revs up the plot of "Ranger's Apprentice 7: Erak's ransom," pouring in plenty of action, bloody battles, politics, bandits and a treacherous conspiracy against the Skandian oberjarl.

After years of being secretly in love with each other, the Ranger Halt and the diplomat Lady Pauline are married in nearly royal style... only for their luxurious reception to be crashed by Svengel. The Skandian warrior reveals that Erak decided to go on one last raid in the Middle-Easty land of Arrida, got captured, and is being ransomed for eight thousand reels. King Duncan is happy to provide the money, but he's not so happy that a member of the royal family must go to Arrida... and his strong-willed daughter Cassandra is volunteering. So the princess (under the guise of "Evanlyn"), three Rangers and a crew of Skandian warriors set off for Arrida, and haggle a bargain with the ruling Wakir, Selethen.

But things go wrong when Will loses his faithful pony Tug in a sandstorm, and goes off searching for him -- only to become lost in the desert. Selethen, Halt, Evanlyn and Svengel soon learn that Erak has been kidnapped from his kidnappers, and they may be after the deadliest, cruelest people in Arrida, the Tualaghi. Even worse, an old enemy is involved. The only hope for his friends may be Will, and the new allies he's gained in Arrida's deserts.

It takes awhile for Will to take center stage in "Erak's Ransom" -- for the first half of the novel, Will is basically a secondary character tagging along with Halt. First Flanagan chronicles the lavish wedding of Pauline and Halt, then the straggly journey to Arridia, and finally Evanlyn's political wrangling with Selethen -- and the titular ranger's apprentice just sort of drifts along with the group, not getting much attention. If anything, it seems like Evanlyn/Cassandra is going to be the star here.

But the plot flowers when the gang sets out into the desert, and the story splits between Will's lonely quest and the rest of the group's search for Erak. Flanagan's prose is both fast-paced and solidly descriptive (example: Will's frantic race against a Bedullin boy), with plenty of desert nomads, bloodstained battles, a stint in the waterless wasteland and a climactic clash in the desert. And no matter how bleak the situation, he weaves in some mild humor to lighten the mood ("Tha's a big nose." "It's the only one I've got").

It's also obvious in this story that both Cassandra/Evanlyn and Will are growing up -- Cassandra is upsetting her dad by immersing herself in politics and training with a sling, while Will is worrying about his graduation into a full-fledged Ranger. And when he isn't guarding the princess or tracking bandits through the desert, Halt also gets extra attention since he's getting married. Or ratgher, reluctantly dragged into an impressive state wedding, complete with dancing, formal clothes and a two-hundred-person guest list.

And Flanagan fleshes out the cast with plenty of solid characters, such as the horse-hating Svengel, the intelligent and honorable Selethen, and the vile Yusal. The only character who doesn't really come alive is Alyss, who seems like a younger clone of Pauline -- she's far less engaging than the feisty Cassandra, and seems to have less of a rapport with Will.

"Erak's Ransom" extends the epic fantasy series into a new land, with new allies, old enemies, and lots of nasty desert animals. Just don't get confused about the chronology.

"The Emperor of Nihon-Ja" is the 10th installment is John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. I've loved all of his books, and this one is no different. I won't ruin the plot for you, but Horace, Halt, Will and their friends must protect the emperor from a revolt. The story is based loosely on medieval Japan, and the details of their weapons and fighting styles are accurate and interesting. One of Flanagan's strengths is his ability to paint vivid images with his words. His characters are very real; I find myself thinking about them while I'm on my way to work and wondering what they're up to. This book has a fantastic battle scene at the end and it shows what true leadership really is. If you've read the previous 9 books in this series, you won't be disappointed.

The land of Nihon-ja has been mentioned a few times in the Ranger's Apprentice series -- a sort of fantasy version of Japan. And "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" takes us right into the heart of this distant land, with John Flanagan's usual mix of action, humor, clever plotting and slightly-altered versions of real-world civilizations.

Horace has been a guest of the Emperor of Nihon-ja, Shigeru. But as he's preparing to go back to Araluen, the Senshi warriors under Lord Arisaka suddenly rebel against the Emperor -- and Horace ends up accompanying Shigeru into the mountains. So Halt, Will, Alyss and Evanlyn (who have been overseeing training in Toscana) set out on a Skandian ship, heading straight for Nihon-ja to help their friend.

The journey to Nihon-ja has many dangers -- pirates, desert warriors, and squabbles aboard the Wolfwill. But the biggest danger is Arisaka's army, which is closing in on a remote mountain fortress where the Emperor is hiding -- and if he wins, Nihon-ja will be thrown into an era of brutality. And he's not the only terror lurking in this unfamiliar land...

"The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is apparently the last of the "regular" Ranger's Apprentice novels, and it seems like a fairly logical place for the main storyline to end. The main problem is that it does drag sometimes, especially in the first several chapters, which are bogged down by sodden horseback riding and traveling via Skandian ship.

However, things pick up once Halt, Will and Co. arrive in Nihon-ja. Flanagan's prose is nimble and descriptive, with smoothly realistic dialogue and some humorous moments (a villager accidentally says "bum" to the Emperor). But he also weaves in a load of tactical maneuvers, tricks and the occasional military stunt (the Macedon Phoenix). It makes the military conflict feel more REAL to the reader.

And Flanagan's characters have the warm, well-worn feel of familiarity by now -- it's like visiting old friends, whom you can depend on to always do the noblest, best things that they can. Will, Horace, Halt, Evanlyn and the feisty, boisterous Skandians are all pleasantly familiar, and he introduces some endearing people in Nihon-ja as well, such as the down-to-earth Shigeru.

And Flanagan wraps up the romantic subplots nicely for both young men, although somehow I just can't warm up to Alyss. She still just seems like an add-water-for-instant-love-interest.

While John Flanagan still has a couple more books to go, "The Emperor of Nihon-ja" is a thoroughly amusing, satisfying finale for the main storyline. Strong, pleasant and fun.

Please note is is book 7 in the RANGERS APPRENTICE series, but it is written in a way that means it should be read before book five. Onto my review ...

The book opens with Halt settling in nicely to his new found role as devoted husband. The reader soon finds themselves with a smile as wide as their face as they discover - and savour - this part of the tale. Whilst it is not meant to be laugh out loud funny, having read the first four books of this wonderful series, virtually guarantees the reader will have strong emotional ties to the characters, and of course Halt being the star of the show, means that you enjoying his appearances on the literal stage more than you realise.

But when fan favourite Erak is kidnapped by the book’s blaggards, it is up to the Royal Family to fund his release. And this is an easy escape back to freedom for our Halt.

But things don’t go as planned. They never do. Further complications arise on many fronts and each of the characters are about to face totally unexpected challenges, which (in some cases) pose continual threats to their continued existence. As a hint, take a look at the wonderful image on the book’s cover. But these challenges are overcome, new friendships are made, and the story goes on.

This is a classic Ranger’s Apprentice story. The reader may find themselves calling for an ambulance after being attacked by an unexpected plot twist around the half way mark, but this happens so much that you risk being labelled as a public nuisance by calling for help too often. With an immensely satisfying (not to mention incredibly action packed) ending, a high fun factor, plenty of drama and excitement, tension, and battles, it is no wonder that I award this book a high rating.

And i am assured that no animals were harmed in the writing of this fun filled fable.

Four stars for this wonderful addition to the Ranger Family.

Bye for now, yo!

Horace is missing in the land of the Nihon-JA.Evanlyn, calls on Will and Alyssa,accompanied by Halt head off along with thirty of the sea wolves to find him.
We see the hardships and new friendships formed and forged as Evanlyn and Alys, come to terms as they each learn who the other truly loves.

This was a great story and though mine was on disc and I did not care for the reader it was a good ending to the series.
I hope everyone who has enjoyed the series takes time to read the lost stories which brings an ending to many of our questions and story lines.
Flanagan has created a series for young adults that teaches many lessons and is a good read for anyone of any age.

Action-4/4=Had a lot of captivating action, strategy, battle tactics, and even a race between horses.
Ending-3/4=Almost predictable, depending on how well you read and comprehend the story.
Setting-4/4=Completely fits the storyline.
Dialogue-4/4=Just the right amount of dialogue. Not too much, not too little. Said what needed to be said at the right time.
Plot-3/4=You can guess what is going to happen about two sentences before it does on most occasions.

I liked this one but I didn't like the childish rivalry still going on between Alyss and Evanlyn. These ladies are in their early twenties by now, cut it out! Grow the eff up! That was annoying and unnecessary, Mr. Flanagan! And stereotypical. Women aren't nearly as at-your-throat bitchy and jealous as movies and books peg them to be. But overall, I liked this story and the whole gang. It was good!

Nihon-Ja is in turmoil. Rebellion against the rightful emperor, Shigeru, has occurred and Horace finds himself right in the middle of this feud. Badly outnumbered with less than half his army still alive, Shigeru must retreat into the mountains with the help of Horace and his Araluen friends. In The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan, read how Horace and Will work to save a ruler and his country from an evil usurper.

While Horace is on a diplomatic mission in Nihon-Ja, a Senshi clan leader known as Lord Arisaka turns the upper class warriors called Senshi against Shigeru. This causes Shigeru and the remainder of his followers to flee into the mountains to find the legendary fortress, Ran-Koshi. They know that they can’t stay there forever and a final confrontation will occur sometime. With no army Horace and Shigeru recruit the Kikori, meager timber workers who respect Shigeru but don’t know how to fight. While this is happening Will, Halt, Alyss, Evanlyn, and Selethen are making their way to Nihon-Ja in an attempt to find and help Horace. Unfortunately Arisaka’s army catches up to Shigeru on their way to Ran-Koshi and something must be done to slow them down so they can escape. Shigeru’s cousin Shukin makes the hard choice to stay behind from the group to stall Arisaka while the others move on.

Flanagan’s 10th installment in the series is one of the best. The many small twists throughout the book keep you guessing and add a level of excitement. The use of multiple story lines at times also adds a great feel to the book and the many different personalities in the characters gives the reader a chance to really relate to one of them. While it feels like in the earlier chapters of the book that the story drags on, this plot development early on is needed to make the story interesting and understandable later. Other than that I found the book flawless and instantly one of my favorite in the series.

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan is a fantasy novel that depicts an epic adventure filled with action, suspense, risks, and a little bit of romance. It is an entertaining book and can be read by just about anyone.

This book, along with the others in this series, make up one of the best young adult fantasy series I've ever encountered. John Flanagan creates characters that you ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT! (Hear that Suzanne Collins?) This is one of the few series that has actually made me laugh out loud.

* Believable, interesting characters that you care about.
* Interesting story lines that will have you finish a 500 page book in a weekend.
* Great varied locations that enhance each adventure.
* Amazing long-term history with the characters.
* Clean reading for children and young adults

The stories are set in a medieval European world of Flanagan's design. These books are a must read for any LOTR, GOT or WOT fans. Although much simpler reads, the satisfaction is the same.

This book, along with the others in this series, make up one of the best young adult fantasy series I've ever encountered. John Flanagan creates characters that you ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT! (Hear that Suzanne Collins?) This is one of the few series that has actually made me laugh out loud.

* Believable, interesting characters that you care about.
* Interesting story lines that will have you finish a 500 page book in a weekend.
* Great varied locations that enhance each adventure.
* Amazing long-term history with the characters.
* Clean reading for children and young adults

The stories are set in a medieval European world of Flanagan's design. These books are a must read for any LOTR, GOT or WOT fans. Although much simpler reads, the satisfaction is the same.

I've been reading the Rangers Apprentice series since the first one came out but as I've gotten older it seems like the series has dragged on.i think the very first story arc in the first couple novels was great.with the light fantasy elements.not relying on heavy overused themes and tropes like many other fantasy series.but then again it's not High Fantasy.

One thing that kept bothering me is the series obvious allegories towards real world countries and almost has the exact same geographical layout as there real world counter parts.such as Picta Araluen and Celtica roughly corresponding to Great Britain as well as the countries of "Picta" and "Celtica" obviously being heavily inspired by the real life Pictish and Celtic Peoples.as well as the Country of "Gallica",which lays right across from Araluen. obviously based off of medieval Gaulish France.its the same with all the Countries/Realms depicted in the series.over time the series seems to get dragged on from one place to another.just taking and mashing up places and cultures from different real time periods. lacking the Creativity of the first few books.also 'The Emperor of Nihon-Ja' seemed to take advantage of every single misconception about samurai and Japanese culture there is.i understand this series is meant for younger audiences and I've mainly outgrown it but it just nags at me.

I chose 5 stars because the author keeps surprising me with a vast variety in different cultures and continues to develop the main characters. And not just Halt and Wil; Horace. Cassandra. Kings and other leaders and many others. Great book.

Like the other 6 Ranger's Apprentice books I've read in this series, this is just as good. This book fills in some of the gaps around the time Will becomes a full fledged Ranger. To read these in order, even though its book 7, you should read this after book 4. However, if you read them as I did you still will not be disappointed or confused.

Like the other books this one started very strong and stayed that way. The ending battle was great. I laughed at the wit, I shivered with the thrills of characters actions, and I shed a tear for Will's advancement.

This is one of my top favorite series. Even though it's written for the young adult, or as it's located in my local bookstore in the children's intermediate reader section, it doesn't read like a kid's book. The writer is very good and I hope to read many more adventures with Will and the crew.

I would have to rate this book a five because it's exciting, funny, and interesting. Will is trapped in the desert with little water, no horse, and lions, the reason that Will has no horse is because the lions ate it. Erak was captured by a desert nomad tribe called The Riders of the Blue Veil. Halt is going to be executed, but Will saves him at the last minute. Will calls an attack on the town where halt is, to save him. in The beginning of the book they were going to AI Shabah to save Erak.#1 best times seller. I also read the other books like: book 1, book 2, book 3, book 4, book 5, and book 6.

First let me say, I love the Ranger's Apprentice series and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it with my 11 year old son over the past two or three years. We read almost every night together and we have always looked forward to the next chapter of the book, and the next book in the series.

The characters are interesting. There are lots of challenges to overcome, and the hero always manages to win. Ok, it's a little predictable in that sense... but that's not necessarily a bad thing... especially when reading fairly scary books right before bedtime. It's good to know that Will and Halt will always survive and beat the bad guys in the end!

As much as we've enjoyed the series though, this is the first book that we weren't dying to finish. In fact, we put it down a few months ago and haven't been motivated to finish. It just didn't have the same fast pace, the same sense of urgency and adventure that the earlier books had. I'm still interested in finishing it, just to see how it ends, but my son... not so much. I'll be curious to see if the next book(s) in the series can rekindle the spark.

When Erak, the Skandian Oberjarl, gets captured during a raid, it's up to Will and Halt to pay his ransom for his safe return.

This story has put me to the edge of my seat and I absolutely loved every minute of it. Can't go wrong with an imaginative storybase that continues to defy odds with it's striength. 5 stars.

Horace's unexpected disappearance brings together old allies and friends in an adventure that will leave several relationships permanently changed.

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja takes us to new places while incorporating bits of everything we already know about this world. The story is told with the same level of violence, injuries, and romance as the prior books, with no surprising gore or sexuality, and a conclusive ending. The book lagged a bit at times, but it is worth the read.

[...]

"The Emperor of Nihon-Ja" is the 10th installment is John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. I've loved all of his books, and this one is no different. I won't ruin the plot for you, but Horace, Halt, Will and their friends must protect the emperor from a revolt. The story is based loosely on medieval Japan, and the details of their weapons and fighting styles are accurate and interesting. One of Flanagan's strengths is his ability to paint vivid images with his words. His characters are very real; I find myself thinking about them while I'm on my way to work and wondering what they're up to. This book has a fantastic battle scene at the end and it shows what true leadership really is. If you've read the previous 9 books in this series, you won't be disappointed.

A funny thing happened the other day: My shrink gave me a word-association test. Every word he gave me - like adventure, coffee, and deserts - reminded me of at least one of the books in The Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan.

Okay, so I was joking when I said I saw a shrink, but I wasn't joking about the word association. I was trying to come up with as many seemingly unrelated words as I could that reminded me of the books. My list, as already mentioned, included adventure, coffee, and deserts, but I also added stop, raiders, sling, and scribe. If you were just looking at the list, you probably would never guess all of them have something in common: Each word is associated with at least one of John Flanagan's Ranger Apprentice series of books.

How? you might ask. Well, the first one is rather obvious. Every one of the ten books in the series is an "adventure" story. As for "coffee," the two main characters, Will and Halt, are coffee drinkers. In book 7, Erak's Ransom, Halt, Will and Horace have to cross a "desert". You might wonder at the word "stop". There is no direct association with the word and one of the books, but the word stop means "halt" and one of the main characters is named "Halt". The "raiders" were Skandians, who were introduced in book 2, The Burning Bridge, and then are mentioned in most of the following books. Another main character, Princess Cassandra (also known as Evanlyn), has excellent aim with a "sling". And, another character, George, is a "scribe".

For this last book, The Emperor of Nihon-Ja, we could add "mountains" to our list, as most of the story in this book takes place high in the mountains of Nihon-Ja. The author manages to create yet another interesting and engaging tale about Will, Halt, Horace, Alyss, and Cassandra. This time Horace helps the emperor of Nihon-Ja restore peace to his land, with a "little help from his friends," that is.

Alas, this is the last book in the series as the front cover says "Final Battle." I have read every book in the series and enjoyed every one of them. I couldn't wait for this last book to come out, and the wait was worth it.

But, I wish Mr. Flanagan would continue to write books in the series. I want to know: Do Horace and Cassandra actually get married? What about Will and Alyss? Will Halt ever retire? Aren't there any other countries around Araluen that they can explore? Aren't there more adventures and mis-adventures they can go on? Perhaps we should start a petition to persuade both Mr. Flanagan and his publisher to continue the series. I'd be the first one to sign it. Anyone care to join me?

I give this last book five stars. I would like to give it six, though, as five just doesn't seem to be enough. I'll settle for giving this book a five-star rating and awarding the whole series ten stars. That sounds fair, doesn't it?

The book is one of the most exciting yet in John Flanagan's series. After a relatively calm start that includes a wedding for one of the central characters, the story proceeds from a seafaring journey to desert adventures that combine political intrigue, surprising twists in alliances, sword fighting and the testing of archers' skills, as well as survival under brutal circumstances. Readers will find themselves effortlessly picking up information about sailing techniques, ancient wooden ships, nomadic lifestyles, varying cultural views, and desert topography, climate and endurance skills as the tale, with its themes of loyalty and trust, unfolds. The heroes face their serious challenges, including the threat of impending death, with bravery and maintain a dialogue flecked with humor and word play true to their personalities and relationships. All in all, another can't-put-down book for myself and my 10-year-old son.

But I was a little confused on the order of this book. It says it is book 7 but clearly this should have been before book 6. Will is not a full fledged Ranger in this book where as the previous one he was. So confused on order but still love the story.

When I started the last book, I found myself wishing for more information, more story about the transition period when we get to exp pretence with Will that change from youth to adulthood and how the confidence from the start of the last book had found its way into the mind and hearty of Will. I was pleased to see that Halt was also learning and allowing his heart to grow. I enjoyed seeing past characters and meeting new ones. I will recommend this book.

I've read Rangers apprentice books one threw ten and this one was by far my favorite the story was great and i finished it fast because i was so into it. This may even be the best book i have ever read it was just so entertaining i was mad when i finished reading it. All the other books are great thats why i read the Rangers Apprentice books but i wish all the other books I have read before were this great! I am actually sad about book ten i got like 45 pages threw it and got bored and returned it to the library.

It took a little whie for me to figure out that the book actually took place before the 5-6 book. I had to re-read the chapter about the wedding and I relized that this had actually happen befor a lot of other stuff in The Siege of Mincedaw. Then, once I got my mind set to ignore the fact that Will was not a full ranger I enjoyed the book quite well. Though Will took a support role in the begging of the book, he became gradually mor important as the book went on.

This story of Halt and his apprentice, Will, is a terrific series for all who enjoyed Robin Hood, Lord of the Rings and other tales of Knights and quests. It has a little romance but most readers come to expect this and should not be a deterrent to young men. I can't wait until my grandson is old enough to share these with me!

I don't know - I've liked all these books a lot, but this may be the best one so far. I love how the settings keep changing, & I really liked this setting, story, and the characters. I would suggest reading this one before the fifth because that is actually when it takes place.

I might only like this book because I like fantasy books, but I don't know, you might not like fantasy and still like the book. The word choice is great, the book is really creative, and there is lots of action and wits. But read the other books first, or it won't make much sense.

Once again the good guys are beaten up over a period of several days, and I do mean beaten up. They are not given enough food to live on by the bad guys, but when the fighting starts it is like nothing ever happened to them. Even the bad guys, who have had plenty of rest, food, water, who are built up to be these tremendously skilled warriors, can't face a small group who have been beaten, starved, made to walk through a desert for several days, and then beaten some more. The bad guys hate, and I do mean hate the rangers, because their arrows killed so many of their comrades. Yet, in the abuse they give the rangers they never touch their hands (about the most important item on an archer). Now if it's arrows and archers that make me angry, the first thing I do as a bad guy is break the bones in their hands one joint at a time. Or better yet give them the Jaime Lannister (Game of Thrones series) treatment and start cutting off hands. Yet their hands are never touched. I would say stupid bad guys, yet we know from their backstory, they are wise in war. Not very wise. All the build up becomes a big let down at the end.

This book is probably the best book in th e series so far. has great detail and exciting turns in the story. I never knew what was going to happen! This book is a MUST READ in so many ways. It's full of detail,excitement adventure and lots and lots of ACTION. rated five stars. (it deserves it)

This book lives up to all of its predecessors in this series. I absolutely loved it! The action was fantastic and exciting once again, and I loved the new setting and characters as well as the reuniting of many of the old characters that we know and love.

Simply put this last entry in the Rangers Apprentice series is rather...blah.

If you've come this far you probably already know this is a series "intended" for preteens/teens
(Much like Harry Potter)that has consistently managed to balance interested characters, locations and stories and presents it all in a neat package without isolating the younger crowds of readers with archaic and sometimes baffling dialogue.

So, i don't grudge the unoriginal and sometimes laughable names, nor the plot conveniences, or the inconsistencies. I read this for the fun and adventure.

That said, this is indeed the weakest entry in Rangers Apprentice by far.

What makes it so weak? The length, or so I think. This one book...really should have been two books. There is so much going on, and at the end when you look back you will realize that the story has been edited, stripped and hacked down to fit into one book.

Remember how the Skandian arc took what, 2 or 3 entire books to finish? Imagine squeezing all that into 1 book.

That is why (I feel) the Rangers dont get to do any Ranger business (sneaking, etc), some characters dont seem to get enough use (Selethin), others feel very rushed (Evanlyn and Alyss and the Skandians) , and the entire project ends up feeling like that big paper in high school that you had two months to do, but waited until the night before it was due to even start it.

If you've stuck it out this far, you are certainly going to want to know the last story in the Rangers Apprentice series. But if you're cash concerned or are in the mood for a great book you will want to wait for paperback...or the library.

I've read Rangers apprentice books one threw ten and this one was by far my favorite the story was great and i finished it fast because i was so into it. This may even be the best book i have ever read it was just so entertaining i was mad when i finished reading it. All the other books are great thats why i read the Rangers Apprentice books but i wish all the other books I have read before were this great! I am actually sad about book ten i got like 45 pages threw it and got bored and returned it to the library.

It took a little whie for me to figure out that the book actually took place before the 5-6 book. I had to re-read the chapter about the wedding and I relized that this had actually happen befor a lot of other stuff in The Siege of Mincedaw. Then, once I got my mind set to ignore the fact that Will was not a full ranger I enjoyed the book quite well. Though Will took a support role in the begging of the book, he became gradually mor important as the book went on.

This story of Halt and his apprentice, Will, is a terrific series for all who enjoyed Robin Hood, Lord of the Rings and other tales of Knights and quests. It has a little romance but most readers come to expect this and should not be a deterrent to young men. I can't wait until my grandson is old enough to share these with me!

I don't know - I've liked all these books a lot, but this may be the best one so far. I love how the settings keep changing, & I really liked this setting, story, and the characters. I would suggest reading this one before the fifth because that is actually when it takes place.

I might only like this book because I like fantasy books, but I don't know, you might not like fantasy and still like the book. The word choice is great, the book is really creative, and there is lots of action and wits. But read the other books first, or it won't make much sense.

Once again the good guys are beaten up over a period of several days, and I do mean beaten up. They are not given enough food to live on by the bad guys, but when the fighting starts it is like nothing ever happened to them. Even the bad guys, who have had plenty of rest, food, water, who are built up to be these tremendously skilled warriors, can't face a small group who have been beaten, starved, made to walk through a desert for several days, and then beaten some more. The bad guys hate, and I do mean hate the rangers, because their arrows killed so many of their comrades. Yet, in the abuse they give the rangers they never touch their hands (about the most important item on an archer). Now if it's arrows and archers that make me angry, the first thing I do as a bad guy is break the bones in their hands one joint at a time. Or better yet give them the Jaime Lannister (Game of Thrones series) treatment and start cutting off hands. Yet their hands are never touched. I would say stupid bad guys, yet we know from their backstory, they are wise in war. Not very wise. All the build up becomes a big let down at the end.

This book is probably the best book in th e series so far. has great detail and exciting turns in the story. I never knew what was going to happen! This book is a MUST READ in so many ways. It's full of detail,excitement adventure and lots and lots of ACTION. rated five stars. (it deserves it)

This book lives up to all of its predecessors in this series. I absolutely loved it! The action was fantastic and exciting once again, and I loved the new setting and characters as well as the reuniting of many of the old characters that we know and love.

Simply put this last entry in the Rangers Apprentice series is rather...blah.

If you've come this far you probably already know this is a series "intended" for preteens/teens
(Much like Harry Potter)that has consistently managed to balance interested characters, locations and stories and presents it all in a neat package without isolating the younger crowds of readers with archaic and sometimes baffling dialogue.

So, i don't grudge the unoriginal and sometimes laughable names, nor the plot conveniences, or the inconsistencies. I read this for the fun and adventure.

That said, this is indeed the weakest entry in Rangers Apprentice by far.

What makes it so weak? The length, or so I think. This one book...really should have been two books. There is so much going on, and at the end when you look back you will realize that the story has been edited, stripped and hacked down to fit into one book.

Remember how the Skandian arc took what, 2 or 3 entire books to finish? Imagine squeezing all that into 1 book.

That is why (I feel) the Rangers dont get to do any Ranger business (sneaking, etc), some characters dont seem to get enough use (Selethin), others feel very rushed (Evanlyn and Alyss and the Skandians) , and the entire project ends up feeling like that big paper in high school that you had two months to do, but waited until the night before it was due to even start it.

If you've stuck it out this far, you are certainly going to want to know the last story in the Rangers Apprentice series. But if you're cash concerned or are in the mood for a great book you will want to wait for paperback...or the library.

This book goes between 4 & 5 in the series, and is really good. It's great to have another book with Halt as a main character. If you are reading the ranger's apprentice series, you should definitely read this book. I liked it a lot.

In THE EMPORER OF NIIHON-JA, there is a unique storyline where an emporer has been dethroned because a powerful group has said that he is giving the people more powr than them. All in all, this isa great book.

My family and I love the Ranger's Apprentice/Brotherband books. Great stories, well written and brilliant dialogues between characters(including the animals, love that Tug and Abelard are main characters).

John Flanagan is one of my favorite writers. His books are simpley amazing and i cannot stop reading them. He is a spectacular writer and all his books are amazing. I have read all of his books and i think Rangers Apprentice is one of the best. THis book is a must read. Enjoy the book!