Description:

From John Flanagan, author of the worldwide bestselling Ranger's Apprentice —t he first in a new prequel series featuring one of our favorite Rangers, Halt!

When Halt and Crowley discover that the ambitious Morgarath has been infiltrating the Rangers in order to corrupt the Corps, the young Rangers travel north to find Prince Duncan, seeking a royal warrant to stop Morgarath before it is too late. By weakening the Rangers, the most powerful force in support of the King, Morgarath plans to steal the throne.

Yet when Halt and Crowley arrive in Gorlan, they discover just how close Morgarath’s scheme is to success. Morgarath has a plan to discredit the Prince and alienate him from his father. At the same time, the Baron of Gorlan has been conspiring to win the trust and admiration of the Council of Barons to further his plan. If the young Rangers are to prevent the coup from succeeding, they will have to tread a dangerous path, which leads them to a thrilling climax at the annual tournament at Gorlan, where a series of bitter duels must be fought and won.

This origin story brings readers to a time before Will was an apprentice, and lays the groundwork for the epic battles that will culminate with The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge —Books 1 and 2 of the Ranger’s Apprentice series.

Praise for the New York Times bestselling Tournament at Gorlan

• "Action and intrigue, great characters, and a properly scary villain make this book an absolute necessity for any library. With appeal for both boys and girls, libraries can anticipate a waiting list for this title and great anticipation for the sequel."– School Library Connection , starred review

"Flanagan’s familiar mix of action, humor, and cliff-hanger endings will have fans and newbies hooked."– School Library Journal

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From School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up—Before becoming a full-fledged Ranger, Halt O'Carrick teams up with Crowley, a fellow protégé of master teacher, Pritchard. They hear that a dozen Rangers across Gorlan have been dismissed from their posts on trumped-up charges of disloyalty to King Oswald. It is a ruse by the evil Baron Morgarath to weaken the Rangers' stronghold in the land and overtake the throne. He has locked up the King and his successor Duncan and sent out an obnoxious imposter to raise havoc among the people, in hopes they will beg the Baron to step in as their leader. Halt and Crowley know they must press the 12 former Rangers back into service and free King Oswald and Duncan from their respective prisons before Morgarath declares himself king at the tournament of Gorlan. The mission drives the story, as the team rides covertly from village to village collecting their enlistees and having close calls with Morgarath's henchmen. As each Ranger is added to the mix, they display unique skills and character quirks that help bring energy to the narrative, allowing readers to relish the campfire antics as much as the final action-driven jousting scenes. Challenging vocabulary with context clues broadens the reading interest range. Those who can't get enough of the "Ranger's Apprentice" series (Philomel) will discover more layers to Halt, the steadfast and humble hero, especially the day he meets Pauline for the first time in this prequel. VERDICT Flanagan's familiar mix of action, humor, and cliff-hanger endings will have fans and newbies hooked.—Vicki Reutter, State University of New York at Cortland

Review

Praise for The Tournament at Gorlan

• "Action and intrigue, great characters, and a properly scary villain make this book an absolute necessity for any library. With appeal for both boys and girls, libraries can anticipate a waiting list for this title and great anticipation for the sequel."– School Library Connection , starred review

"Flanagan’s familiar mix of action, humor, and cliff-hanger endings will have fans and newbies hooked."– School Library Journal