Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ruins of Gorlan | 2004 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 2 | The Burning Bridge | 2005 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 3 | The Icebound Land | 2005 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 4 | The Battle for Skandia / Oakleaf Bearers | 2006 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 5 | The Sorcerer of the North / The Sorcerer in the North | 2006 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 6 | The Siege of Macindaw | 2006 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 7 | Erak’s Ransom | 2007 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 8 | The Kings of Clonmel | 2008 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 9 | Halt’s Peril | 2009 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 10 | The Lost Stories | 2011 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 11 | The Emperor of Nihon-Ja | 2011 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 12 | Death of a Hero | 2012 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
| 13 | The Beast from Another Time | 2017 | Ranger’s Apprentice | Buy |
Ranger’s Apprentice is the original series in John Flanagan’s fantasy franchise, running for 13 books from The Ruins of Gorlan (2004) to The Beast from Another Time (2017). The story begins when 15-year-old Will Treaty, an orphan raised in Castle Redmont’s ward, is chosen as an apprentice by the Ranger Halt. Rangers are the kingdom of Araluen’s intelligence corps, skilled in stealth, tracking, and archery. The early books follow Will’s training and his first missions, while later entries send him across the known world to face increasingly dangerous enemies.
Key books in the series include The Burning Bridge (2005), where Will faces his first real war, and The Battle for Skandia (2006), which introduces the Skandian seafarers who become important allies. Erak’s Ransom (2007) is a chronological prequel set between earlier books, while Halt’s Peril (2009) puts Will’s mentor in mortal danger. The Lost Stories (2011) collects shorter tales that fill in gaps throughout the timeline. The series is especially popular with readers aged 10 to 14, though its strong plotting and well-drawn characters have earned it fans well beyond that age range.