Ranger’s Apprentice Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Ruins of Gorlan |
2004 |
Buy |
| The Burning Bridge |
2005 |
Buy |
| The Icebound Land |
2005 |
Buy |
| The Battle for Skandia / Oakleaf Bearers |
2006 |
Buy |
| The Sorcerer of the North / The Sorcerer in the North |
2006 |
Buy |
| The Siege of Macindaw |
2006 |
Buy |
| Erak’s Ransom |
2007 |
Buy |
| The Kings of Clonmel |
2008 |
Buy |
| Halt’s Peril |
2009 |
Buy |
| The Lost Stories |
2011 |
Buy |
| The Emperor of Nihon-Ja |
2011 |
Buy |
| Death of a Hero |
2012 |
Buy |
| The Beast from Another Time |
2017 |
Buy |
Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Royal Ranger |
2013 |
Buy |
| The Red Fox Clan |
2018 |
Buy |
| Duel at Araluen |
2018 |
Buy |
| The Missing Prince |
2020 |
Buy |
| Escape from Falaise |
2021 |
Buy |
| Arazan Wolves |
2022 |
Buy |
| Ambush at Sorato |
2024 |
Buy |
Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Tournament at Gorlan |
2015 |
Buy |
| The Battle of Hackham Heath |
2016 |
Buy |
Ranger’s Apprentice is a fantasy franchise created by Australian author John Flanagan. The original series launched with The Ruins of Gorlan in 2004 and follows Will Treaty, a young orphan who is chosen as an apprentice to the mysterious Ranger Halt. Set in the medieval kingdom of Araluen, the books follow Will as he trains in the Rangers’ skills of stealth, archery, and intelligence gathering, taking on threats that range from warlords to dark sorcerers. The main series ran for 13 books, ending with short stories and novellas after The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (2011).
Flanagan expanded the world with two additional sub-series. The Early Years (2015-2016) is a two-book prequel set decades before the main series, following a young Halt before he became Will’s mentor. The Royal Ranger series (2013-2024) picks up the story years later, with Will now a senior Ranger training his own apprentice, Maddie, who is the first female Royal Ranger. Across all 22 books, the franchise has sold millions of copies worldwide and remains one of the most popular young adult fantasy series of its generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Ranger’s Apprentice written?
Ranger’s Apprentice has written 22 books across three series.
What was Ranger’s Apprentice's first book?
Ranger’s Apprentice’s first book is The Ruins of Gorlan, published in 2004.
What order should you read the Ranger's Apprentice books in?
Start with the original Ranger’s Apprentice series, beginning with The Ruins of Gorlan (2004) and reading through all 13 books. After that, you can read The Early Years prequel duology (starting with The Tournament at Gorlan, 2015) or move straight to The Royal Ranger series (starting with The Royal Ranger, 2013), which continues the story with a new apprentice.