Halt's Peril: Book Nine (Ranger's Apprentice)

Out of the entire series, only Halt's Peril is 14.99. The rest are either 7.99 or 10.99, and I am not sure why this one was so expensive. Also, there were a lot of strange spelling errors peppered throughout the book, a bad sign for the Kindle editor since the print edition is not like this. Still, it is a great book.

Will, Halt, and Horace are tracking Tennyson and his followers, but the Genovesans laid a trap to stop them. Will Halt survive? I think this is the best book in the Ranger's Apprentice series, and I think Ranger's Apprentice is the best series on earth! This book is very exciting and nerve-wracking. I'm 10 years old, and my whole family is reading this series because of me. I think you'll love this book, too.

Reader thoughts:
There were no females. Well, there was one, for about a sentence, a farmer's wife who was shot to death.

Will and Halt act too much like bullies in this book. They use force (and their hard eyes) to get their way. Seriously. I think the book referred to the hardness (or seriousness) of their eyes about 6 times. Okay, we get it, they are battle-hardened warriors, despite how short they are.

It was dumb to have Will chase after the Genovesan archer, especially since there was no more plan than that. He knew the archer was going to investigate the camp. Why weren't Will and Horace lying in wait? What about a net? Or have Will wait in ambush somewhere along the Genovesan's track toward Tennyson? Risking several more hours just because tackling someone on horseback is safer (I guess that was his reason?) is dumb.

I originally gave this book 4 stars, but I've dropped it to 3.

Writer thoughts:
JF probably recognized his need to pull in female audiences despite no female character. He used references to Pauline (Halt's wife) more often than normal, and I think this is why. Halt talks about Pauline as he lies dying, and Will uses Pauline in conversation in order to get Halt to cooperate.

The pace of this book seemed a bit slower than its predecessors, but I still really liked it. This book is interesting from the the standpoint of continuing character development. In the last book, we learned a bit more about Halt's past. This book puts Halt's life hanging in the balance. The listener\reader observes as Will and Horace deal with the circumstances both eternally and internally. There are some darker moments in this story as events come to pass. I think this story was well worth listening to overall. I will be continuing with this series; I've already purchased more titles.

Thanks to this series, John Keating is now one of my favorite narrators. I think these stories and Keating's voice talent are the perfect pairing.

Halt has been in countless perilous situations in his life, but he's always come out unscathed. But his winning streak may have come to a permanent end in "Halt's Peril," the ninth book of the Ranger's Apprentice series. John Flanagan's writing drags somewhat in the first half, but the introduction of a deadly threat speeds up the story.

Horace, Halt and Will are still pursuing the evil cult leader Tennyson, who is currently en route to Araluen -- they have to stop him before he gets there, or the Outsider cult might spring up again in their own homeland. Along the way, they have to deal with malevolent pirates, stormy seas, Scotti raiding parties, burned farms, and the Genovesan assassins that Tennyson is traveling with.

But during a battle in a dead forest, Halt is grazed by a crossbow bolt, and within a day he's near-comatose from poison. Now Will must make a desperate journey to fetch an old friend who might be able to save Halt's life -- but the remaining Genovesan is still out hunting for them, and Halt may have only hours to live.

"Halt's Peril" is the darkest Ranger's Apprentice book thus far, mainly because it really does look like Halt is going to die -- and any fantasy fan knows what eventually happens to most mentors once the apprentice has gotten trained. But it's also pretty harrowing to see the young knight and ranger struggling to save him, and doing some pretty desperate stuff along the way.

Biggest problem: the first half of the book goes at a very slow pace. I mean, two whole chapters are devoted to Will hanging around in a tavern and LOOKING for a certain criminal, and it takes another FOUR for the trio to wrangle an answer out of the guy. But Flanagan's prose is still strong enough to compensate, with lots of action, nerve-twisting suspense and bloody fight scenes, as well as some literally haunting scenes tinged with the supernatural (Will sleeping in a haunted barrow-ground).

It's been hinted that Halt is beginning to get a little old for the rough'n'tumble life of a Ranger, but this is the first time we've seen him truly facing death. And though they're a full-fledged knight and ranger, Will and Horace have to take another step forward in their independence -- they not only have to deal with the rotten situation without Halt's help or advice, but they are faced with the possibility of losing him for good.

"Ranger's Apprentice: Halt's Peril" is another solid entry in John Flanagan's action-packed fantasy series -- the first half drags, but things pick up once the assassins come back into the picture.

Bookworm Speaks!

Halt’s Peril

Ranger’s Apprentice Book 9

by John Flanagan

****

The Story: The renegade outlaw group known as the Outsiders has journeyed from kingdom to kingdom, conning the innocent out of their few valuables. Will and Halt, his mentor, are ambushed by the cult's deadly assassins when Halt is pierced by a poisoned arrow. Now Will must travel day and night in search of the one person with the power to cure Halt: Malkallam the Sorcerer.

The Good: This is one of the most perilous books in the entire series. It really does take the most risks.

The Book’s previous were about Will and Horace coming into their own as warriors but this is their real trial. Will is now a full-blown Ranger and Horace is now a full-blown knight, but even then, they have always had Halt with them, providing support. He was always there beside them or behind the scenes. This time though, Halt is not there for them. He is the one who needs saving. This is a step for full independence for them.

This book also deals with the theme of loss quite well. Halt has been pretty much the only father-figure that Will has ever known. He is family. The thought of losing a father is overwhelming to Will and he is forced to think, work, and fight harder than ever before if he is to save Halt.

Horace too, must grow up as well. Like Will, he could always depend on Halt. He too was an orphan and while he perhaps does not view Halt as a father, he undoubtably shares a deep bond with Halt and since he is charged with caring for the stricken Halt, Horace is brought to tears at the thought of losing him. Both characters are well and truly on their own.

The emotional weight of the whole arc feels very tangible and may hit close to home for a lot of readers. It quite literally attacks the heart of the whole series and makes the reader quite eager to finish the story and witness the resolution.

One of the best things about this book though is not the peril of Halt but a sequence that occurs just before that arc begins: The Trial in the Dead Forest.

Minor Spoilers Ahead:

While pursuing the Genovesan assassins, they make their stand in a forest that had been submerged by a lake. The forest is dead, drowned by the water.

The author’s work is know for having a, not simple but accessible, writing style, which makes it so beloved by a wide age-range. So it is very fascinating to see him use such poetic tones when depicting the trial in the dead forest. This is one of the most poetic of the Ranger’s Apprentice books, and demonstrates the writers skill with prose. It is good to see him stretch his poetical muscle. The atmosphere seems to radiate from the pages and it seems like for the first time, we get a real look into the mind of a King’s Ranger.

The Flaws: The main problem with this book is the pacing. It takes a while for the story to reach its nominal arc and the journey to that point is lacking. The first few chapters are spent talking. If we want books about long conversations we would go and read a few political thrillers. Thankfully, this does not last long but as many writers and publishers would say…the first chapter is the most critical of any book.

This pattern continues throughout the rest of the first part of the book, when Will, Horace, and Halt are pursuing Tennyson across the countryside. This passage feels very plodding and tedious. Even the banter between the trio feels forced. Its as if they too are aware of the boredom being experienced by the reader and are making half-hearted attempts to lighten the mood. It gets a little action packed here and there but it only makes the dragging tone of the previous passages stand out more starkly.

Finally: the way the leader of the Outsiders is dealt with in the end feels rather anticlimactic and frankly a bit cliched, and finally…a little ambiguous. Overall…a letdown.

Final Verdict: Halt’s Peril is not to best book and it concludes a rather lackluster story arc, but the sheer emotional weight of the story and the ‘close to home’ crisis makes it much more epic.

Four out Five Stars

thecultureworm.blogspot.com

After defeating the Outsiders, a dangerous cult that robbed people of their gold (and sometimes their lives), the Rangers Will and Halt need to chase the remaining cultists and find them before they could establish a foothold in Araluen. But it's a bit harder than it sounds. Tennyson, the cult's mastermind, hired three Genovesan assassins, armed, poisonous, and dangerous. Emphasis on poisonous. One was killed earlier in The Kings of Clomnel. But in a scuffle against the two remaining Genovesans, the two Rangers managed to take down one of the contract killers, but at what cost? Halt's shoulder was grazed by a poisoned crossbow bolt. One day later, the senior Ranger was feverish and delusional. Two days later, he was practically a furnace. Will has to find a healer. And fast. Meanwhile, Horace has to deal with the remaining Genovesan, send back to kill them. And with Will away in Norgate (hint, hint, 'Siege of Macindaw') looking for a proficient healer and Halt lying down next to him, plagued with pain and hallucinations, Horace has to employ every trick in the book to delay the Genovesan until Will rides back.

The missing star is for the slow storyline at the beginning/middle of the book. It took way too long for Will to successfully approach the smuggler and it took even more for Halt to squeeze the information out of him. But the book steps on the gas after that, leaving countless cliffhangers that will keep you thinking 'what's gonna happen next?'. And because Halt was such a solid, dependable figure in the past books, I think Flanagan needed to show his weak side to make him seem more human, and that was promimently displayed in this book.

VBG

After managing to discredit the filthy cult's leader Tennyson, the Outsider's movement and dominations on the land of Clonmel have suddenly come to an end, and Tennyson is now in full retreat, to live to return another day. However, our heroes have no intention of letting them do so, and Will, Horace, and Halt continues on their journey to catch and uproot the cult once and for all.

On most of the occasions this series have followed through, Halt never was in a dire situation. He was either guiding his apprentice to a perfectly set plan and victory, or playing very much like a leader and keeping himself and the "team" out of danger. As some of you might have guessed already from the title, it is not like such here.
I won't go over how Halt got his "Peril" or why, when, where, but I will tell you that the story is very amazing. More of the "Ranger skill" action going here and there, endless jokes and humors from Horace and finally, desperate action and judgments from Will as he tries to save his mentor, Halt.

It is a really nice round-up for the kings of Clonmel, following the story from exactly where the previous book left off, and finishing it up, leaving no more further questions to be asked. The series could finfish right here and now, and I will be content with that. However, this seems like a continue-on-forever kind of stuff which I like a lot for the endless amounts of actions it can be had, and also the very chances of the series potentially coming back.

This is the ninth book in the Ranger's Apprentice series. The tenth book is the Emperor of Nihon-Ja. There is also one additional book titled The Lost Stories which released late in 2011. This book does a good job of wrapping up the story that started in, The Kings of Clonmel. Like previous books it is a solid middle grade fantasy, but nothing incredibly creative or outstanding.

Halt, Will, and Horace are on the trail of Tennyson and the rest of the Outsider cult. When one of the Genovesan assassins gets a good shot in at Halt things turn dire. Can Will get help on time? Or will this be the end of Halt's adventures? As stated by the title, Halt is in dire peril.

I don't have a ton to say about this book. It you like the series you should read this book. This is basically the second half of the story that was started in Kings of Clonmel. It is a bit darker than previous books and had some slow spots. But like previous books there is some great banter and humor throughout and the fight scenes are exceptionally well done.

These books are pretty formulaic; there's a problem, Halt and crew try to fix it, something horrible happens, Will saves the day, they fix the problem and life goes on. The books are well written and fun to read, but there isn't anything all that interesting or creative here.

I missed that none of the female characters featured, but enjoyed that Malcom was back in the story some. Halt seemed a bit tired throughout, like he was feeling his age. Will didn't really show much growth as a character either.

Overall this was a good addition to the series. I felt like this book was a bit darker and moved a bit slower than previous books. It was good to complete the story started in Kings of Clonmel and I enjoyed the witty banter between the characters. The book is well written, pretty typical fantasy fare...nothing all that creative but solid. Recommended for fans of middle grade fantasy.

Halt has been in countless perilous situations in his life, but he's always come out unscathed. But his winning streak may have come to a permanent end in "Halt's Peril," the ninth book of the Ranger's Apprentice series. John Flanagan's writing drags somewhat in the first half, but the introduction of a deadly threat speeds up the story.

Horace, Halt and Will are still pursuing the evil cult leader Tennyson, who is currently en route to Araluen -- they have to stop him before he gets there, or the Outsider cult might spring up again in their own homeland. Along the way, they have to deal with malevolent pirates, stormy seas, Scotti raiding parties, burned farms, and the Genovesan assassins that Tennyson is traveling with.

But during a battle in a dead forest, Halt is grazed by a crossbow bolt, and within a day he's near-comatose from poison. Now Will must make a desperate journey to fetch an old friend who might be able to save Halt's life -- but the remaining Genovesan is still out hunting for them, and Halt may have only hours to live.

"Halt's Peril" is the darkest Ranger's Apprentice book thus far, mainly because it really does look like Halt is going to die -- and any fantasy fan knows what eventually happens to most mentors once the apprentice has gotten trained. But it's also pretty harrowing to see the young knight and ranger struggling to save him, and doing some pretty desperate stuff along the way.

Biggest problem: the first half of the book goes at a very slow pace. I mean, two whole chapters are devoted to Will hanging around in a tavern and LOOKING for a certain criminal, and it takes another FOUR for the trio to wrangle an answer out of the guy. But Flanagan's prose is still strong enough to compensate, with lots of action, nerve-twisting suspense and bloody fight scenes, as well as some literally haunting scenes tinged with the supernatural (Will sleeping in a haunted barrow-ground).

It's been hinted that Halt is beginning to get a little old for the rough'n'tumble life of a Ranger, but this is the first time we've seen him truly facing death. And though they're a full-fledged knight and ranger, Will and Horace have to take another step forward in their independence -- they not only have to deal with the rotten situation without Halt's help or advice, but they are faced with the possibility of losing him for good.

"Ranger's Apprentice: Halt's Peril" is another solid entry in John Flanagan's action-packed fantasy series -- the first half drags, but things pick up once the assassins come back into the picture.

Will, Halt and Horace have successfully run Tennyson and his religious cult, The Outsiders, out of the southern kingdom of Clonmel --- but that doesn't mean the threat is over. Like all fanatical leaders, Tennyson has simply packed up and moved on to locate a new place to begin his swindling: Will's home kingdom of Araluen. Before they can even dream of catching up with Tennyson, Will, Halt and Horace first have to secure passage across the dangerous waters surrounding Palisade Reef and escape a band of smugglers who are hot on their trail.

Expert shots with a bow and arrow are difficult enough, but imagine shooting on a rocking boat with wind, rain and the impending threat of running into a dangerous reef. For Will and Halt, it's just another day as a Ranger. They have bigger issues to deal with anyway, as Tennyson and the Outsiders have already started rounding up new followers and are slowly starting to infiltrate Araluen. Tennyson also knows that Will, Halt and Horace are right behind him, so he dispatches two deadly Genovesan assassins to rid himself of the Rangers.

Before the Genovesan assassins can fulfill their mission, though, Will and Halt immediately recognize the danger, and a deadly cat-and-mouse game ensues. Deep within a petrified forest, Halt decides on a risky plan that could kill him. With Will lurking in the shadows behind, Halt will be the scapegoat and the live target for the Genovesans. At first, Halt's plan is executed brilliantly. Will manages to sneak up on the assassins while Halt draws their attention. Only after the Rangers fire their arrows do they realize their mistake. Both Will and Halt shoot the same Genovesan, leaving the other assassin the opportunity to fire his weapon --- at Halt.

After the initial scare of being shot, Halt discovers that the Genovesan's arrow barely nicked him, leaving a small flesh wound. Will and Horace are grateful that he is still alive after coming so close to losing their great mentor and leader. Halt is business as usual as the three friends continue their search for Tennyson, but something isn't right. He begins to issue orders that don't make sense, starts calling Will and Horace by different names, and eventually collapses into unconsciousness. To their horror, Will and Horace discover that the arrow was poisoned, and he is slowly dying.

With time running out, Will and Horace are left with few options. Will immediately leaves to find his old friend Malkallam the Sorcerer for a cure. Malkallam is three days away, though, and Halt could be dead by then. Horace is left to care for Halt, but the remaining Genovesan assassin lurks in the distance, and Horace waits for the end to come at any moment.

John Flanagan has always held the Rangers in such high esteem, both in skill and wisdom, it often seems that nothing can ever go wrong. Sure, the Rangers often go to plan B, but they always appear a step ahead of their enemy. Not this time! For the first time, Flanagan really shows the humanity of the Rangers and the brutal reality of the danger they experience on a daily basis. In such instances, you often learn what people are really made of. The strength of the Ranger's Apprentice series is in the strong bond among the characters and their devotion and loyalty to each other. The good news is that there is one final book in the series coming out early next year.

--- Reviewed by Benjamin Boche

Quite a good read, although some inconsistencies in the depth of character nagged at me.

Like all the Ranger's Apprentice books, this one was fairly predictable but didn't suffer too much for it. The ending wrapped up a bit quickly and a bit neatly after a long build up, but overall it was good.

(spoiler) The fact that in the previous book the Genovesan assassins were remarked as being known for their use of poisons, and had in fact poisoned Horace, should have led the usually incredibly watchful and astute Halt and Will to realize early on what was going on. Even overjoyed that they had survived a tough encounter with only a scratch, at the first sign of symptoms it should have at least crossed their minds. I don't think Flanagan had to compromise his characters too pull off the same plot points.

"Halt's Peril" is Book 9 in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. I've read the previous 8 books and absolutely love this series. The characters are believable, the books are well written, and there are a lot of unexpected plot twists. While I enjoyed "Halt's Peril," it just wasn't as good as the previous books. The pace was just slower then the others. I won't ruin the plot, but this continues where Book 8 left off: Halt, Horace and Will are chasing Tennyson, the leader of the cult known as the "Outsiders." As the title suggests, something happens to Halt and the others must see to it that he is saved. A big part of this book involved camping and horse riding scenes. While still a good read, the action is less intense and it takes longer for things to develop. Overall I'd highly recommend the entire series to anyone, just don't expect this one to be as good as the others.

Halt's Peril (2010) is the ninth Fantasy novel in the Ranger's Apprentice series, following The Kings of Clonmel. The initial work in this series is The Ruins of Gorlan.

In the previous volume, Halt impersonated the king and Horace fought in a trial by combat. Tennyson cheated and the Outsider champion almost won. Then Tennyson and his band fled the country.

In this novel, Will Treaty is a full Ranger of Araluen stationed in Redmont fief. He is on an extended mission with Halt and Horace.

Halt is Will's mentor and commander of the Special Task Group. While Will is now a full Ranger, he still considers Halt as his mentor.

Horace is a knight of the court of Araluen and company commander of the Royal Guard. He is also a prodigal with a sword. He has known Will and Halt since early childhood. He is also accompanying Halt in the pursuit of Tennyson.

In this story, Will is asking questions in Port Cael, a smuggling town in Clonmel. He is looking for the ship that took Tennyson and his cadre out of the kingdom. An innkeeper sends him to the Black O'Malley at the Heron tavern by the docks.

The tavern keeper at the Heron is reluctant to give Will information on O'Malley, but half a gold piece and Will's saxe knife persuades him to answer the questions. When O'Malley arrives, the tavern keeper signals the Ranger.

Will offers O'Malley another gold coin for the location where Tennyson and his cadre were offloaded. The smuggler takes the coin, but refuses to divulge the location. Will angrily leaves the tavern and O'Malley sends two men after him for the rest of the gold. Will's arrows convince them to return empty handed.

When Halt and Horace arrive, Will reports this encounter to Halt. The next night, all three wait outside the tavern for O'Malley's arrival. After a minute or so, Halt enters the Heron with Will and Horace behind him and confronts the smuggler.

At first, O'Malley figures Halt is just another source of gold coins, but soon loses patience with the Ranger. He sets his two crewmen on him, but then Halt looses Horace on them. Horace quickly lays out both men on the floor unconscious.

Then Halt grabs O'Malley by his collar and hauls him across the table. He places his razor-sharp saxe knife against the smuggler's throat and asks about the location of Tennyson. This time O'Malley refuses to answer on the grounds that Halt needs him alive.

Halt points out that no one else in the tavern would care if Halt cut his throat. Then he asks the customers if any knows where O'Malley had dropped off Tennyson and one responds in the affirmative. Now O'Malley provides the information and even offers to take him there.

Naturally, Halt is not foolish enough to step on O'Malley's ship. He goes down the coast to the next harbor and hires a more honest captain to take them to Craiskill River. On the way, O'Malley and his crew appear and learn not to tangle with Araluen Rangers.

At Craiskill River, they follow the path inland. At a fork in the path, they head south toward Araluen. They find signs that Tennyson and this cadre have taken the path, including two bodies in a burned farm.

Later, they find the tracks of a Scotti war party coming out of a side path. The war band is between them and Tennyson, but soon turns aside. Halt leads Will and Horace after the war party.

This tale finally takes Halt, Will and Horace to Tennyson. By then, the cadre has brought in many more followers. Tennyson is preaching about the benevolent god Alseiass and turning the followers against their King.

Halt tricks Tennyson and separates him from his followers. The next installment in this series is The Emperor of Nihon-ja.

Highly recommended for Flanagan fans and anyone else who enjoys tales of armed combat, religious scams, and smart rangers. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

Halt has been in countless perilous situations in his life, but he's always come out unscathed. But his winning streak may have come to a permanent end in "Halt's Peril," the ninth book of the Ranger's Apprentice series. John Flanagan's writing drags somewhat in the first half, but the introduction of a deadly threat speeds up the story.

Horace, Halt and Will are still pursuing the evil cult leader Tennyson, who is currently en route to Araluen -- they have to stop him before he gets there, or the Outsider cult might spring up again in their own homeland. Along the way, they have to deal with malevolent pirates, stormy seas, Scotti raiding parties, burned farms, and the Genovesan assassins that Tennyson is traveling with.

But during a battle in a dead forest, Halt is grazed by a crossbow bolt, and within a day he's near-comatose from poison. Now Will must make a desperate journey to fetch an old friend who might be able to save Halt's life -- but the remaining Genovesan is still out hunting for them, and Halt may have only hours to live.

"Halt's Peril" is the darkest Ranger's Apprentice book thus far, mainly because it really does look like Halt is going to die -- and any fantasy fan knows what eventually happens to most mentors once the apprentice has gotten trained. But it's also pretty harrowing to see the young knight and ranger struggling to save him, and doing some pretty desperate stuff along the way.

Biggest problem: the first half of the book goes at a very slow pace. I mean, two whole chapters are devoted to Will hanging around in a tavern and LOOKING for a certain criminal, and it takes another FOUR for the trio to wrangle an answer out of the guy. But Flanagan's prose is still strong enough to compensate, with lots of action, nerve-twisting suspense and bloody fight scenes, as well as some literally haunting scenes tinged with the supernatural (Will sleeping in a haunted barrow-ground).

It's been hinted that Halt is beginning to get a little old for the rough'n'tumble life of a Ranger, but this is the first time we've seen him truly facing death. And though they're a full-fledged knight and ranger, Will and Horace have to take another step forward in their independence -- they not only have to deal with the rotten situation without Halt's help or advice, but they are faced with the possibility of losing him for good.

"Ranger's Apprentice: Halt's Peril" is another solid entry in John Flanagan's action-packed fantasy series -- the first half drags, but things pick up once the assassins come back into the picture.

only flaw with thos wow book is it needs 20 more pages of its wow to acheive even more wow in this book of wowing and wsuch goodness while this guy called halt never seems to know that his name means he should stop because of the arrow that(spoiler) hits him in a much pain spot and that will guy seems to not know what his name means eather so he uses much wow

A 3.5 but I rounded to a 4 because I'm still enjoying the series as a whole. Took awhile for things to get under way. About halfway through the book, in fact. I thought it was going to be another book split in 2 like books 5 and 6. My heart skipped a beat at the beginning of chapter 35. *whew!* Glad Flanagan didn't do anything drastic. Again, love the camaraderie between Will, Horace, and Halt. They're so great together.

As an adult who reads many children and young adult books, I highly recommend this series. Halt, Will, and Horace are all examples of friendship, loyalty, bravery. I would not hesitate to recommend it to reluctant readers in the middle grades.

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.

"Halt's Peril" is Book 9 in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. I've read the previous 8 books and absolutely love this series. The characters are believable, the books are well written, and there are a lot of unexpected plot twists. While I enjoyed "Halt's Peril," it just wasn't as good as the previous books. The pace was just slower then the others. I won't ruin the plot, but this continues where Book 8 left off: Halt, Horace and Will are chasing Tennyson, the leader of the cult known as the "Outsiders." As the title suggests, something happens to Halt and the others must see to it that he is saved. A big part of this book involved camping and horse riding scenes. While still a good read, the action is less intense and it takes longer for things to develop. Overall I'd highly recommend the entire series to anyone, just don't expect this one to be as good as the others.

The series continues with plot twists and character development that place it among the best in any literary category. These are great books for helping kids develop good character traits of loyalty, responsibility, and courage in the face of failure. My ten year old son and I are loving this series.

"Halt's Peril" by John Flanagan, the 9th book in the Ranger's Apprentice series, was a great continuation of the other books in the series. It started off fast and only got faster as you read on - something that I can't say about a lot of books. The book has many interesting characters, including Will and Horace that have, over the course of the series, changed in many ways. They have grown more skilled, stronger, gained better judgment and can better adapt to complex situations. For example, Will was once just an apprentice and new to using the bow, but is now one of the best archers in the kingdom. This book also concludes the hunt for the false prophet Tennyson quite nicely, which should lure those who have read the prior books in the series. A feeling of suspense is maintained throughout the book, leaving readers wanting to keep reading on and on. Many times, I was planning to read only one more chapter but found myself still reading 3 chapters later.

One of the best things about this book and the series in general is that both kids and adults alike will enjoy reading this book. Minor spoiler alert follows: This book is a race against time as Will tries to get help for Halt who is weakening quickly from a deadly poison coursing through his bloodstream. Can Will find the answer in time? Or will he be too late? And if he does manage to get help (from an unlikely source), will it be enough? I know, but the only way you can find out is to read this action packed adventure.

Our whole family is enjoying this series and my husband considers this one his favorite. The writing in all the books is good, especially the banter between the main characters. Of course, start with book 1.

Hard on the heels of the Outsiders, Halt, Will and Horace find that their most lethal foe can not be fought will a blade or a bow.

Halt's Peril ends the adventure begun in The Kings of Clonmel, but is not the end of the Ranger's Apprentice series. Entertaining and at times very funny, this book is one of my favorites in the series. The story contains mildly descriptive injuries, but nothing more graphic than seen in earlier books.

I loved this book! I didn't have complaints abut the pacing, but I tended to read the very detailed parts much quicker. I reread this book countless times. I was really intrigued with Horace and Will's forced need to make tough decisions to save Halt, whle Halt, in turn was in a very perilous state. I also enjoyed the character development and raw emotion that took place. Those who express their displeasure (not constructive criticism, but unjustified complaints) with this book are, in my humble opinion, not sound in their judgement.

Hard on the heels of the Outsiders, Halt, Will and Horace find that their most lethal foe can not be fought will a blade or a bow.

Halt's Peril ends the adventure begun in The Kings of Clonmel, but is not the end of the Ranger's Apprentice series. Entertaining and at times very funny, this book is one of my favorites in the series. The story contains mildly descriptive injuries, but nothing more graphic than seen in earlier books.

Halt's Peril was indeed that. Will and Horace are really showing just how much they've grown in the series now, but this book showes you just how much they care about Halt. I also love that the "Sorcerer of the North" makes a return as well, along with a few other past characters. Action, suspense, humor, and even some tears being shed. I wasn't sure I'd ever say it, but I can't wait for THE FINAL BOOK coming out soon!

In this book Will and Horace face their toughest challenge yet. While hunting down Tennison's assassins Halt is struck down by a poisonous crossbow bolt. When he finally becomes delirious Will is forced to ride north to find Malcolm the healer. Horace watches Halt and both friends are left hoping an antidote can be found in time. Their endurance and patience is stretched to the limit as time runs out.

Every series will have a "least". However, being the least in a good series doesn't always mean that even that book will be "bad". Such is not the case for "Halt's Peril." This is not only my least favorite of this very entertaining young readers fantasy series, this is a book I actually disliked reading. Unlike earlier books in the series, it rambled senselessly at points, featuring a story that in no way justified its extreme length. This is the second longest book in the series, while simultaneously featuring one of the emptiest stories. Hacking 100 pages off of this book may have made it flow much more smoothly. At points I became impatient, and couldn't wait for the next development.

The rest of this review discusses plot details (potential spoilers).

Next to the Kalkara, Morgorath, the Skandians, The Temujai, and the Arridians, Tennyson is an extremely weak villain. To end his story after "The Kings of Clonmel" would have been a very good decision. I would have accepted him as a decent but not great villain, and taken book 8 for what it was (which was already a bit weaker than other books in the series). However, when he becomes the focus of book 9 as well, and we now have over 700 pages of this series dedicated to what is easily its weakest villain (although the Count in book 3 comes close), I ended book 9 very disappointed, feeling as though much of this series had been wasted. Tennyson comes off as a "get your feet wet" villain, not a villain to focus so much attention on, especially at the end of the series.

This is also the first book in the series where the author, Flanagan, seems to overly insert himself into the story. Kids fantasy series do not seem to be the types of books for an author to have an agenda, but judging by the way the novel was written, the author seems hell bent on getting across the idea that he dislikes religion, and that his characters will be forced to dislike it as well. Some may respond to this by saying that the books (8 and 9) focused on "cults" and not religion, but Flanagan blurs the lines enough to the point of condemning both. If this is not his intention, then I question his approach as it seemed obvious to me. I have no problem with having a cult as a villainous presence in the book, but Halt specifically doesn't simply go after this cult, he speaks in ways that seem to condemn any organized belief in the supernatural. This, to me, is a mistake and distracts from the characters and their journey.

The character development was also very poor. Will seemed to regress quite a bit. The entire series he was growing, becoming more mature and trustworthy. In this story we were back to Halt worrying about him, not wanting to put him in harms way, but then telling Horace to trust him when Horace worried. Really this book was about worry, everyone just worrying about everyone else, even in moments when they weren't in any real danger. And then this now expert archer couldn't shoot Tennyson in the end because of some smoke in the cave? Really? I didn't buy it, it just seemed like a cheap way out so that Will could blow everything up. The "joking" also went way to far. The series has been full of funny moments and creative bantering, but in this volume it became irritating. It almost got to the point when no one could even speak out loud without another character ribbing them for what was said. It was all just too much.

And what about Gilan? The "Outsiders" were operating in Norgate for months? According to book 8 that would mean they were there when Gilan was still the Ranger of that fief, before Harrison took over for him and he was transferred to Whitby. This happened without Gilan knowing? That's what we would have to believe.

I was a bit disappointed in how they used Malcolm. One of my favorite characters in the series, other than healing Halt he wasn't really important to the story at all. So much time was wasted sitting around the campsite trying to figure out what to do with Halt, that when Will (accidentally, and very silly I might add) realizes he could go get Malcolm to help, there is no time in the book left for Malcolm to have a solid presence.

And finally, what ever happened to Ranger secrecy and mystery? At the start of the series the Rangers were dark, mysterious, and unknowable. Many people felt protected by them, but also a bit afraid of them and believed they may have even had magic. No one knew what to make of them. By books 8 and 9, with no real discernible culture shift in Araluen to justify it, now Rangers are having public weddings, wearing "ceremony" clothes and standing out in crowds, having "return home" banquets????? What happened to the quite and secret life of the Ranger Corps that made them so fun? I hated this development. It really changes the entire characters.

I love this series, but I couldn't have been more disappointed in this particular volume.

"Halt's Paril" put me to the edge of my seat as Will and Horace races against time to save his life. I loved this book, especially the final battle between our heros and the merderous Outsiders Cult. 5 stars.

This book is excellent. Go ahead and buy it, but for the people who have finished this book...... Book 10 is out! In Australia...... But don't worry, search: Ranger's apprentice book 10 on the store and there you go! Scroll down and there it is but it won't look like america version that will be Number 1# on the list. Don't be fooled!

The book Ranger's Apprentice: Halt's Peril is the best book of the entire series. Though one part is a bit confusing on what's happening, the entire book is amazing. If I were you, I would buy it. The story has a lot of emotional struggle for Will as he faces what he wants to do against his mission to get Tennyson. Horace also gets a bit emotional. He is also a bit of a joker. You also get to see how much Horace hates confined spaces. The group also looks to old friends for help. This book is amazing and you should get it.

This is a awesome book for people who like adventure and action and it's an amazing book I recommend it but that you should start from the beginning of the series because that explains everything. If you started at this book you would be lost and barely know what is going on in the series. So I recommend this book to anyone.

Will, Halt, and Horace face various dangers and adventures while following the Outsiders and their slippery, charismatic, evil leader, Tennyson. This book is filled with tension, coupled with humor and touching moments.

This book is definitely the best or second best book of the series. I really liked it; I read for hour at a time just to finish it! If you enjoyed this series so far, you will really love this book. Read this book!!!

This book is amazing, it is exciting the whole way through, and definitely is the most fearful book. (Yet!)
Overall, great read.
I do recommend reading all the other books first though.

A 10 year old.

I was a little dissapointed by this book. I have read all of the other ranger apprentice books that I could get my hands on (1-9) and i loved most of them (5 & 6 were not my favs but the rest were really good) and i have finished nine. This book is not bad but it does have quite a slow pace. I mean, sometimes it seems like a chapter is like this, THEY RODE ON AND ON AND ON AND THEN THEY MADE CAMP AND THEN THEY HAD RABBIT STEW AND THEN etc etc.... However, there are some enjoyable parts in the book and all in all, it was not a bad book. Just don't expect to see me rereading this book.

My 9 yr old son had difficulty reading and because of this- he had No Desire to Even TRY. I discovered John Flanagan's 1st book to this series by chance! What a WONDERFUL find!! My son fell in Love with this series and because of John Flanagan...he Now has a true Love of reading! My son is now 21 and has read EVERY One in this series AND the following series! WONDERFUL story!

I think halt is the best character in the series because he plays a good roll in being a mentor and being that legendary pdrskn hat everyone knows this is my favorite book cause of these reasons .

by Otto Tucker.

Since you're already thinking about buying this book you might as well just do it. For me I tried just setting this series aside but the story line through the entire thing is just too good. The writing style is just the same as always but there is (like always) some kind of kick in the plot. And that is one of the main reasons I just love these books (and this one was quite well made). It's a fun and quick read overall, so what's my final judgment? Get it.

When reading this book I really got into the story and just when I thought it was over it wasn't. This book is truly amazing book, for all genders. I would suggest it to advanced 9 year olds to 15 year olds. Halt's Peril is an amazing book in an amazing series. Kudos to the author.

I love this book and you will probobly too it is packed with adventure and out of all the people in the book Halt gets hurt This adventure series is a work of art in a book. Dont be fooled if you dont think book 10 is out. because guess what..... IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!

The reason i don't give this book 5 stars is because i have "HIGH standards!" I have loved the first 8 books in this series and this book defiantly holds it own. I have read people's complaints that these books waste time and lack in story telling but i completely disagree. I love the detail and time put into developing the personalities of these characters. This is a must read!!!!!!!!!!!!1

well now this is a problem, I LOVE THIS SERIES right up to page 50 +/- of book 9. i have read and re read the first 8 then book 9 i was excited. the bottom line is this book is 386 pages long BUT the story is only about 200 pages+/- it went on and on and on...but I'm game and waiting for book #10, i mean 8 books excellent i got the stats on my side.

I've read the whole series so far. And the brotherband chronicles as well. And I have to say, they're absolutely the best books I've ever read. Way to go John Flanagan. Please continue to write books. I love them.

This book is AWESOME!! It raps the ongoing plot in the book before it with the Outsider cult. The Ranger's Apprentice series continues to impress me. It is a great book and should be read by everyone.

out of all of the rangers apprentice books i have to say that this one was my favorite. not only is it the most exciteing but also it is some what of a different story line which is a nice and much needed change.

I want to love these books and give them 5 stars. It's a good story. The characters are likable. The author has not included any secular profanity. Every time I read the Lord's name taken in vain I'm crushed.

yes this book is gr8 and yes totally recommended for u to buy it but to me and no offense to anyone book 4 just had a little more action and book 9 just to me had too much "drama". dont get me wrong reely great book just liked book4 a little more. but serioulsy i still highly agree with anyone who says get it.

This book was an expected disappointement. It was impossible to tell how old the characters really were throughout a lot of the series. Suggested timing puts Will and Horace around 20 years old, however their humor and maturirty has not changed at all since they were twelve. No character development to be spoken of or any development of any kind. The grand triumph is a return to the way things were. The series has been going downhill since the second or third book. If you feel obligated to finish a series once you have started it, like I do, go ahead and read the book. The style of writing is not bad. There are still parts where you are kept engaged in what is happening. The characters are the main issue in this series. The story itelf is fine. Not wonderful, but it is okay.

I personally believe that the author wasted time on the book. It was constantly the same thing over and over. They dont know what to do, they have a personal connection with the injured person, stuff like that. I hope the next one is better.

After nine books, the reader will probably get bored with the fact that the main character, who is now a full-fledged Ranger, still behaves like an apprentice.

Other than improved Ranger skills and better reasoning skills, the character doesn't seem to have changed much over the nine books. Very cardboard character. Very predictable and boring too.

And for this book, there're a lot of time-wasting. For instance, there's about a chapter that describes one of the party members in danger, and the rest of the party members trying to help him. They flounder about, and we kept being reminded that the main character doesn't know what to do, and that he has a very close relationship with the person in danger. Page after page of this.

But, in the first place, the moment that party member got into danger, the reader already knew what the probably cause is (because the previous book already had something similar), and that we had previously been told that the party was near to a castle (mentioned in a previous book, with a miraculous healer).

But yet we have to read around a chapter plus' worth of words that tell us Will, the main character, doesn't know what to do, is worried, and that he and the injured member had a close relationship, before he, accidentally, thinks of approaching the castle for help.

Of course, once Will has decided on what to do, we are shown page after page of his journey - how he watered his horses, how they crossed a river, how he swapped horses to make sure they aren't too tired, and how the different saddles feel different, how his horse seems to be able to understand him, how tired he was and decided to take a nap at a haunted place. With nothing consequential happening. For some reason, the Ranger horses seem more talkative than usual in this book.

After this, the viewpoint switches back to the other group where the injured party member was. We again read about nothing important, and then the injured member feverishly mentioned a name from his past, and we get told a side story of this person.

Time-wasting is not too bad if done moderately. And if there are plots where the reader can predict the solution right at the beginning, yet be subjected to many, many pages of time-wasting before the so-called intuitively smart thinker Ranger can think of the solution, it is just plain frustrating.

I hope the next book is better.

THIS IS THE BEST SERIES ON THE PLANET NOTHING EVEN COMPARES TO IT THIS IS REALLY A GREAT BOOK THAT ANYBODY WOULD ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!