Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years series?"

"There are two books in the Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years series, published between 2015 and 2016."

Q: "What is the first book in the Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years series?"

"The first book in the Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years series is The Tournament at Gorlan, published in 2015."

Q: "Should you read The Early Years before or after the main Ranger's Apprentice series?"

"Read the main Ranger's Apprentice series first. The Early Years prequels, The Tournament at Gorlan (2015) and The Battle of Hackham Heath (2016), are set decades earlier and follow a young Halt. They have more impact when you already know Halt as Will's mentor, and they contain references that reward readers familiar with the original series."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Tournament at Gorlan	2015	Ranger’s Apprentice	Buy
2	The Battle of Hackham Heath	2016	Ranger’s Apprentice	Buy

Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years takes readers back in time to tell the origin story of Halt, the Ranger who would later become Will Treaty’s legendary mentor. The Tournament at Gorlan (2015) introduces a young Halt arriving in Araluen and joining forces with Crowley to rebuild the Ranger Corps, which has been deliberately weakened by a corrupt baron. The Battle of Hackham Heath (2016) concludes the duology with a large-scale military conflict that determines the future of the kingdom.

These two prequels were published after the main series and The Royal Ranger had already begun, giving Flanagan the chance to fill in the backstory that the original books only hinted at. Readers who wondered how Halt became the formidable figure they met in The Ruins of Gorlan will find those answers here. The books work as a self-contained pair, though they are most rewarding for fans who already know the original series.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years series?

There are two books in the Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years series, published between 2015 and 2016.

What is the first book in the Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years series?

The first book in the Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years series is The Tournament at Gorlan, published in 2015.

Should you read The Early Years before or after the main Ranger's Apprentice series?

Read the main Ranger’s Apprentice series first. The Early Years prequels, The Tournament at Gorlan (2015) and The Battle of Hackham Heath (2016), are set decades earlier and follow a young Halt. They have more impact when you already know Halt as Will’s mentor, and they contain references that reward readers familiar with the original series.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order