The Siege of Macindaw: Book Six

One of the best Young adult series around. Each book is an escape to another world of intrigue and lessons. Whilst this particularly appeals to boys, I have yet to find a girl who's read the book and didn't enjoy it enough to be impatient for the next in the series. It is extremely frustrating to know the next book is already on sale in Australia but not yet here in the USA. Still, the wait is always worth it. Anytime my 12yr old son favours a book over the computer is a good time. Not quite so great when I find him reading by flashlight under the covers late in the night..... however this also tells you a lot about the series. The Ranger is effectively a spy and sometimes diplomat. The personal relationships in the book are very well crafted, from the childhood friends onwards. A must read.

Will and Horace are reunited in this book. They enlist the help of the Skandians to take the castle Macindaw. Alyss is being held prisoner. Like all the other Rangers Apprentice books this is full of action and keeps the reader hooked. It's very difficult to put the book down. There was also humor in this book. I laughed out loud at the bickering between Will and Horace. I can't find a thing wrong with this series except for having to wait so long between books. I read it in one sitting. This series is great for teens and adults alike, it's on of my favorites.

I started to read this series about 2 yrs ago and have fallen in love with the characters as they have grown. In this particular book we see that Will is fully capable of his Ranger duties and has grown into a quite a strong, brave young man. I really enjoyed the interplay between the returning characters Horace, Will and Alyss. The storyline is believable and at some points leaves you guessing what will happen next. I know some of you are going to roll your eyes, and yes there are some predictable moments. However, this is a book written for young people not adults. Although the kid in me can't deny that I still like happy endings. On a side note, I wonder what will become of Ranger Meralon who is in charge of Norgate Fief? He has some serious questions about is his actions to answer for. But that is all I will say for those of you who have not read the book yet. The tempo of the story is very good. Mr. Flanagan paints great pictures with his words and excites the imagination. I continue to look forward to the next installment in the Ranger's Apprentice series!

After a little letdown in the "Sorcerer of the North," I was glad to see that this title returned to the same level of excitement and unpredictability of many of the earlier books in the series. It continues the story of the aforementioned title in describing how Will uses his intelligence and available resources at hand to capture the castle of Macindaw. With the help of his friends I was pleasantly surprised by the believable and creative plan that Will puts together to accomplish his mission. This title is also noteworthy in that Holt is barely in the story and plays no part in Will's triumph. Though I missed Holt's presence, it really showed how Will has developed into a full and excellent Ranger in every respect. For those who may find these last two titles a bit of a letdown, fear not! The next title after this one, "Erak's Ransom" is as good as any in the entire series. (Note: The books in the series come out much earlier in the author's native Australia than they do in the U.S. for some reason. Down under, Book 9 of the series is due to come out in November.)

This book does justice to the previous books in the series. I did not like interruptions while reading this or any of the series. I recommend this entire series to any one of any age that likes a good story. I wish I had this kind of imagination! Keep up the good work, John Flanagan.