RANGER’S APPRENTICE, Book 6: THE SIEGE OF MACINDAW
by John Flanagan
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399250330
Ages 10-up
320 pages
In THE SORCERER OF THE NORTH, Will Treaty had finally become a full-fledged member of the Rangers Corps. His first real mission sent him undercover to the northernmost Fife in order to discover the mysterious circumstances behind the alleged sorcerer haunting the woods. What Will ultimately uncovers is a plot to overthrow the castle of Macindaw and outright rebellion against the country of Araluen. Will’s courier friend Alyss is captured, and a desperate and hopeless Will is forced into hiding.
THE SIEGE OF MACINDAW picks up immediately where the action left off in book five with only the slightest hint of a back story. Will spends most of his time racking his brain to come up with any solution to his problems, while Sir Keren, the traitor, continues to hold Alyss hostage and lays the foundation for an even bigger threat to the country of Araluen. Relief, though, shows up in the most unexpected fashion. First, the Skandians who Will befriended in his previous Fife shipwreck just north of Macindaw. Second, a grand champion knight rides into town and is eager to help. Now Will not only has fierce warriors on his side, he also has someone he least expected to come --- his best friend Horace.
The outlook is grim. Alyss is being brainwashed by Keren and is at risk of revealing too much. Will, Horace and the Skandians are greatly outnumbered. Winter has unleashed its fury, making life miserable. Every possible plan is shot down as useless and futile. The first thought is to wait things out, but then an unexpected event strikes panic and fear into the small band of fighters. Sir Keren has formed an alliance with the Scotti to overtake the Castle Macindaw to create a stronghold. Araluen is on the brink of war with the Scotti and time is running out. A siege of the castle seems improbable at this point, and Will must use all of his knowledge as a Ranger to have even the slightest chance of saving all that he holds most dear.
The wildly successful Ranger’s Apprentice series began with THE RUINS OF GORLAN, and the action has never let up. Fans have seen the development of Will from an unsure, clumsy apprentice to a confident, inspiring Ranger. One of the joys of reading these books is that John Flanagan has stayed true to his characters throughout, and it’s not difficult to chuckle as he makes fun of their different personality quirks. By book six, most readers are invested completely and Flanagan doesn’t disappoint.
THE SIEGE OF MACINDAW will make more sense if you’ve read the previous installments, but that doesn’t subtract from the overall storyline or the fast-paced action. As always, there are the usual references to the secrets behind the Rangers Corps that I always find compelling. Relationships are also taken to new depths that were previously unexplored in order to combat the feeling that the series is at an endpoint. Flanagan hints that he has a bit more in store for Will and the world that he has created. I, for one, will be there for whatever may come next.
--- Reviewed by Benjamin Boche (bennyboche@hotmail.com)
Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.com.
Back to top.
