| | |  | Amazon Kindle | Home » » » Erak's Ransom: Book 7 (Ranger's Apprentice) | | | | | | | Description: | | In the wake of Araluen's uneasy truce with the raiding Skandians comes word that the Skandian leader has been captured by a dangerous desert tribe. The Rangers - and Will - are sent to free him. But the desert is like nothing these warriors have seen before. Strangers in a strange land, they are brutalized by sandstorms, beaten by the unrelenting heat, tricked by one tribe that plays by its own rules, and surprisingly befriended by another. Like a desert mirage, nothing is as it seems. Yet one thing is constant: the bravery of the Rangers.
Bringing together many favorite characters for a grand adventure, this book delivers both excitement and quiet good times." - Booklist
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19 of 19 found the following review helpful:
 We'll fight on. You never know when something's going to turn upJan 01, 2010
By E. A Solinas
"ea_solinas"
The seventh "Ranger's Apprentice" book is kind of confusing chronologically -- it's actually set between the fourth and fifth books of the series, during the last days of Will's apprenticeship.
And oddly enough, the tough young apprentice Will is almost a supporting character in his own story until the second half of the book, with the focus often shifting to Alyss, Halt and Cassandra. That's also the point when John Flanagan revs up the plot of "Ranger's Apprentice 7: Erak's ransom," pouring in plenty of action, bloody battles, politics, bandits and a treacherous conspiracy against the Skandian oberjarl.
After years of being secretly in love with each other, the Ranger Halt and the diplomat Lady Pauline are married in nearly royal style... only for their luxurious reception to be crashed by Svengel. The Skandian warrior reveals that Erak decided to go on one last raid in the Middle-Easty land of Arrida, got captured, and is being ransomed for eight thousand reels. King Duncan is happy to provide the money, but he's not so happy that a member of the royal family must go to Arrida... and his strong-willed daughter Cassandra is volunteering. So the princess (under the guise of "Evanlyn"), three Rangers and a crew of Skandian warriors set off for Arrida, and haggle a bargain with the ruling Wakir, Selethen.
But things go wrong when Will loses his faithful pony Tug in a sandstorm, and goes off searching for him -- only to become lost in the desert. Selethen, Halt, Evanlyn and Svengel soon learn that Erak has been kidnapped from his kidnappers, and they may be after the deadliest, cruelest people in Arrida, the Tualaghi. Even worse, an old enemy is involved. The only hope for his friends may be Will, and the new allies he's gained in Arrida's deserts.
It takes awhile for Will to take center stage in "Erak's Ransom" -- for the first half of the novel, Will is basically a secondary character tagging along with Halt. First Flanagan chronicles the lavish wedding of Pauline and Halt, then the straggly journey to Arridia, and finally Evanlyn's political wrangling with Selethen -- and the titular ranger's apprentice just sort of drifts along with the group, not getting much attention. If anything, it seems like Evanlyn/Cassandra is going to be the star here.
But the plot flowers when the gang sets out into the desert, and the story splits between Will's lonely quest and the rest of the group's search for Erak. Flanagan's prose is both fast-paced and solidly descriptive (example: Will's frantic race against a Bedullin boy), with plenty of desert nomads, bloodstained battles, a stint in the waterless wasteland and a climactic clash in the desert. And no matter how bleak the situation, he weaves in some mild humor to lighten the mood ("Tha's a big nose." "It's the only one I've got").
It's also obvious in this story that both Cassandra/Evanlyn and Will are growing up -- Cassandra is upsetting her dad by immersing herself in politics and training with a sling, while Will is worrying about his graduation into a full-fledged Ranger. And when he isn't guarding the princess or tracking bandits through the desert, Halt also gets extra attention since he's getting married. Or ratgher, reluctantly dragged into an impressive state wedding, complete with dancing, formal clothes and a two-hundred-person guest list.
And Flanagan fleshes out the cast with plenty of solid characters, such as the horse-hating Svengel, the intelligent and honorable Selethen, and the vile Yusal. The only character who doesn't really come alive is Alyss, who seems like a younger clone of Pauline -- she's far less engaging than the feisty Cassandra, and seems to have less of a rapport with Will.
"Erak's Ransom" extends the epic fantasy series into a new land, with new allies, old enemies, and lots of nasty desert animals. Just don't get confused about the chronology.
31 of 34 found the following review helpful:
 My 10 year old's reviewMar 26, 2008
By K. O'Neill
"lost soul"
In Ranger's Apprentice 7, Erak is making a last raid when he is caught and is held for ransom. Will, Halt, Horace, Cassandra, and Gilan must find him and rescue him. There is a fair amount action in this book. This book is only available in the Australian version. Chronologically, this book comes before the 5th and 6th but after the 1-4. He does a good job of putting pressure on characters. I thought it was a good book and that it was worth buying online from an Australian bookseller.
12 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Another great, exciting read - one of the series' bestMar 23, 2009
By E.S. T.-Moylan
"Book worm/writer mom"
The book is one of the most exciting yet in John Flanagan's series. After a relatively calm start that includes a wedding for one of the central characters, the story proceeds from a seafaring journey to desert adventures that combine political intrigue, surprising twists in alliances, sword fighting and the testing of archers' skills, as well as survival under brutal circumstances. Readers will find themselves effortlessly picking up information about sailing techniques, ancient wooden ships, nomadic lifestyles, varying cultural views, and desert topography, climate and endurance skills as the tale, with its themes of loyalty and trust, unfolds. The heroes face their serious challenges, including the threat of impending death, with bravery and maintain a dialogue flecked with humor and word play true to their personalities and relationships. All in all, another can't-put-down book for myself and my 10-year-old son.
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
WonderfulMay 24, 2009
By K. Guggenmos
"zumadog"
We first discovered this series at the library. My twelve year old son and I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of the books. In fact, since this volume is not yet available in the US, there's a line up of boys waiting to read it on my son's baseball team. The series has both strong and admirable male and female characters. There is an old world setting with a modern feel. This story fits in the RA time line between books four and five, before Will is a fully trained Ranger. It was my son's favorite so far!
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Met our AnticipationFeb 22, 2010
By Rick L. Austin
This next book in the series is even better than anticipated. It takes the Rangers on a mission they never expected. Great for both kids and adults alike. Wonderful series that most teens, and their parents, can enjoy. Good clean family reading. Can't wait for the next book.
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