The Siege of Macindaw

The Siege of Macindaw is the sixth book in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series. 

"In this desolate northern fief, where can Will find the fighting men he needs to overcome the traitorous Sir Keren and his band of criminals? Across the border, the fierce Scotti tribesmen are waiting for the signal that Castle Macindaw is in friendly hands, and the way is clear to mount a full-scale attack. Time is running out. Will's courage and ingenuity - and the arrival of an old friend - may be the only things that stand in their way."

General Thoughts: It was a good ending to this little story arch. It's always fun to be able to see Horace come in to help Will especially when he isn't unexpected. And the strange cast of characters that end up helping will out for the actual siege is fun. I also liked Alyss throughout the whole event. While she is technically a damsel in distress, she does do a fair bit herself given her circumstances. 

<< Spoilers Ahead>>

Plot: This one, like many of John Flanagan's other books, is simple and straight forward. Take the castle, save Alyss, and watch out for the Scotti. But I like the way Will is able to succeed in taking the castle back over. Fear can be a powerful ally amongst the superstitious and I think he used it well. I like the fact that they also don't have magic in this world. It's all science and what have you which is different to many fantasy books out there now. I do like the nod, whether intentional or not, to Rapunzel with Alyss being in the tower and Will having to climb up to her to save her, though it didn't work the first time. 

Setting: Right now, I could do without the cold, but it works really well for the circumstances that Will finds himself in. I particularly like the change in cloak, obviously that happens in the first book but still. I like how John Flanagan, in general, uses the surrounding and environments in his stories to his advantage. In real life if going up against an imposing army you'd use the terrain to your advantage if you could and he often does that in his books. 

Characters: This book does have a strange range of characters and I think that is the point. We get all the outcasts to band together and made a difference. Is it a little odd that they are all just hanging out in the woods, yes, but he has to get his "mercenaries" from somewhere. I will say, though, that there isn't much in the way of growth from any of the characters in this arch that I can remember. I'm more like an Indiana Jones story where I know all the things already and I'm just going off on an adventure, not so much to learn something about myself. This can be okay at time. 

Spice: 1/5 Spicy Chilis. Alyss and Will like each other and he's working to get her freed, but there wasn't much time for more than a few flirtations. 

Writing Style: Again, Flanagan has a way of over describing the intents of his characters or giving us more of an explanation than we need when it comes to strategy. I know it bothers some, but I've looked over it and have just learned to accept that this is how he does it. I can enjoy the story anyway. 

Overall: It's a fun adventure. I wouldn't mind reading it again. 

Sorcerer In The North

The firth book in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, Sorcerer In The North is a new story arch with Will as a new official Ranger. 

"Several years have passed since the apprentice and his master, Will and Halt, first met, and Will is finally a full-fledged Ranger with his own fief to look after. The fief seems sleepy?boring, even?until Lord Syron, master of a castle far in the north, is struck down by a mysterious illness. Joined by his friend Alyss, Will is suddenly thrown headfirst into an extraordinary adventure, investigating fears of sorcery and trying to determine who is loyal to Lord Syron. As Will battles growing hysteria, traitors, and most of all, time, Alyss is taken hostage, and Will is forced to make a desperate choice between his mission and his friend."

General Thoughts: It was a good story and fun to see will having to do things officially on his own without Halt's all knowing help. It is a slower paced book compared to some of the others, but I still enjoyed it. 

Plot: The plot, like many of the other Ranger's Apprentice books are simple: go figure out what is going on at this fort, but be secret, because that's what Ranger's do. It's kind of cool how he had to be in disguise and be secret. Of course by the end he gets found out and his comrade Alyss gets caught, but that is beside the point. Now things will amp up because he needs to save her too. It had a good cliffhanger that had my son and I wanting to go to the next book quickly. 

Setting: It is kinda weird how each of the countries just happen to be similar to European countries. Almost to the T. The Skandrians are similar to Scandinavians, the Scoti are the Scottish, the country they go to in the third book is totally France. It almost feels like cheating to take a caricature of each country and run with it. 

Characters: The people I remember best are Alyss and Will obviously and how they had to work together. I liked that Will got himself a dog -- a dog very much like my own in fact. I remember the BBEG was being charming in a "I rolled high on my charisma" kind of way and how he hated being around all of his subordinates that he chose as sell swords. A few were somewhat memorable, but not many. 

Spice: 1/5 Spici Chilis. There is some flirtation going on, but that is about it. They are too busy dealing with problems at hand to get too flirty, though flirting does happen. 

Writing Style: This I think is John Flanagan's biggest problem: he over explains. I can often over look it because I enjoy the characters and I get excited as Will goes adventuring, but sometimes it can feel longwinded. And it's been the same thing in all of his books so far. Even still, I enjoy them. 

Overall: I enjoyed this book. The second one is better with more goings on, but it was a good book. Not great maybe, but good. I think the characters are what really pulls it through.