The Battle for Skandia: Book Four (Ranger's Apprentice) [Mass Market Paperback]

John Flanagan (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Ranger's Apprentice

Still far from home after escaping slavery in the icebound land of Skandia, young Will and Evanlyn?s plans to return to Araluen are spoiled when Evanlyn is taken captive. Though still weak, Will employs his Ranger training to locate his friend but soon finds himself fatally outnumbered. Will is certain death is close at hand, until Halt and Horace make a daring last-minute rescue. But their reunion is cut short by the horrifying discovery that Skandia?s borders have been breached by the Temujai army?and Araluen is next in their sights. Only an unlikely union can save the two kingdoms, but can it hold long enough to vanquish a ruthless new enemy?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Following Will and Evanlyn’s escape from slavery in The Icebound Land (2007), Halt determines that the Temujai mean to attack Araluen and decides to help the Skandians defend their land. Rejoining Halt, Will and Evanlyn become warriors in the stronghold where they had recently been captives and use their wits and skills to fight the common enemy. The story plunges forward with irresistible narrative drive toward the climactic battle scene. Even readers drawn to the series for its deftly drawn characters and setting may find themselves caught up in the action. A fine entry in the increasingly popular Ranger’s Apprentice series. Grades 4-7. --Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Fans of the series will eagerly devour this one and wait impatiently for the next...A sure bet for fantasy fans. -- School Library Journal

Flanagan expertly juggles the overall plot line...with a logically constructed campaign that culminates in a hard, suspenseful battle. -- Kirkus, starred review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; Reprint edition (January 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142413402
• ISBN-13: 978-0142413401
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,985 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > General
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Thrillers
  • #44 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic

More About the Author

John Flanagan grew up in Sydney, Australia hoping to be a writer. It wasn't until he wrote a highly uncomplimentary poem about a senior executive at the agency he worked, however, that his talent was revealed. It turned out one of the company directors agreed with John's assessment of the executive, and happily agreed to train John in copywriting. After writing advertising copy for the next two decades, John teamed with an old friend to develop a television sitcom, Hey Dad!, which went on to air for eight years. John began writing Ranger's Apprentice for his son, Michael, ten years ago, and is still hard at work on the series. He currently lives in the suburb of Manly, Australia, with his wife. In addition to their son, they have two grown daughters and four grandsons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4th in the Ranger's Apprentice Series, March 18, 2008

By 

SciFiChick "The SciFiChick" (Fishers, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Battle for Skandia: Book 4 (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 4) (Hardcover)

Following the events in book three, Will and Evanlynn have been hiding out in the woods after escaping slavery in Skandia. Finally, reaching Skandia themselves, Halt and Horace discover an outpost of Skandians completely destroyed. Realizing that the Temujai army has begun invading Skandia, Halt must join forces with the Skandians in order to fend off the mighty invaders. For, if the Temujai succeed, they would eventually go after Araluen as well.

Unlike the previous installments, this book focused more on a central theme of the Temujai invasion. A lot of the book was planning, strategy, and practicing for battle. There was still character interaction and growth, but it seemed to take a back seat in this story which centered more on battle. I love the characters and especially the race of Skandians, which was this book's saving grace for me. And also unlike the others, this one didn't end in a cliffhanger. I was glad to have some resolution finally. Some wonderful events happen and friendships are forged.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Adventure Seekers Only, April 30, 2008

By 

Lisa M. McLellan (Duxbury, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Battle for Skandia: Book 4 (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 4) (Hardcover)

My daughter received book 1 of this series a couple of years ago as a gift. I began reading it to my children at bedtime and soon all 3 of us were hooked. John Flanagan is a very talented author and keeps the suspense going all the way through each book. There were very few chapters in any of the first 3 books or this one where we were comfortable stopping for the night. More often than not, I would hope my kids would beg for one more chapter so I could give in and read on to satisfy my own curiousity. At times, after I tucked them in, I would have to go sneak a peak at the next chapter because I couldn't stand the suspense! Then I would be so excited about what was going on that I would read that chapter to my children during breakfast the next morning!

Flanagan has created a world enough like ours to be believeable and comfortable at times, but different enough to pique your curiousity and leave you frequently fearing the unknown. Book 3 was such a cliffhanger that book 4 "The Battle for Skandia" was a welcome relief to hanging at the edge of your seat. Though it is very well written, interesting, full of adventure and excitement, I am able to relax and breath a little more often while reading this one. I give the entire series five stars!

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The primacy of personal relationships over loyalties to one's country or duty, August 11, 2008

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Battle for Skandia: Book 4 (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 4) (Hardcover)

Spring arrives at the cabin high in the Skandian mountains where Evanlyn and Will have wintered. Will has shaken his addiction to the insidious warmweed, and Evanlyn has become comfortable with her new survival skills. One day she goes out to check their traps and does not return. Will, still weakened from the brutal life of a Skandian yard slave, goes looking for her, and their adventures begin --- again.

John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series began four books ago with THE RUINS OF GORLAN, about a young boy who is chosen to train to become a Ranger. Rangers function as their kingdom's intelligence-gathering agency, border patrol and guerrilla fighters. They are skilled in stealth, woodcraft and marksmanship. Their acutely trained reflexes, along with their tracking skills and the ability to go unnoticed in almost any environment, give them a reputation that borders on the uncanny.

Initially, Will is disappointed not to be chosen for his kingdom's Battle School, where the knights of the realm are trained. But his respect and affection for Halt, the ranger to whom he is apprenticed, in addition to the role he plays in fighting the evil warlord Morgorath, soon have him committed to his role as apprentice ranger.

The first book in the series has all the hallmarks of typical sword and sorcery fantasy, with a classic good vs. evil conflict. But after Morgorath is defeated at the end of the second installment, THE BURNING BRIDGE, the adventure becomes more complex. Will and his companion Evanlyn are captured by Skandian raiders and become slaves in Skandia. It is only with the help of their captor Erak, who comes to admire the spirit of his young captives, that they are able to escape.

The changing loyalties that were a central piece of book three, THE ICEBOUND LAND, continue in THE BATTLE FOR SKANDIA. Will is reunited with his friends Halt and Horace, who left Araluen against their king's wishes to search for him and Evanlyn. They also discover the large army of Temujai --- fierce riders from the Asian steppes who seem to be based on the Mongols --- and must convince the Skandians to work with them to prevent the Temujai from overrunning Skandia and mounting an attack on Araluen.

Flanagan's strengths as an author are his action sequences and battle strategies. His battle plans and descriptions of fights are so detailed they could easily be reenacted or plotted on a map. He also writes marvelous relationships between the characters. Horace and Will began as enemies, but their rivalry has evolved into a powerful friendship. Halt's gruff affection for Will is clear, and his clever manipulations of the other characters provide much of the book's plot. Erak, a Skandian raider, has emerged as one of the series' most entertaining characters --- alternately fierce and comedic. Evanlyn, who occupies the unenviable role of princess in disguise, holds her own with the other characters, who have often depended upon her for their survival.

A common theme throughout the book is the primacy of personal relationships over loyalties to one's country or duty. This bears fruit when Erak's friendship with Will and his companions enables them to unite the Skandians and the Araluen slaves to fight against their common enemy --- the Temujai (portrayed as people who put their lives and loyalty to the common cause as secondary behind any personal relationships). With Erak's help and Halt's strategy, along with the skills of each of the companions, they mount a stirring defense against the mounted warriors.

THE BATTLE FOR SKANDIA will be enjoyed most by readers already familiar with the first three books in the series. But catching up should not constitute serious hardship for fans of fast-paced action/adventure.

--- Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood