BLOG: Life With The Ranger's Apprentice

I haven't done a book review in two years, and since I'm almost done with my degree, I thought I'd share a story within a story with you.

I have a sinking feeling in my stomach as I realise that I’m at the end of two things in my life: Uni and the #RangersApprenticeSeries.The two seem unrelated, yes, but I have to say, my real-life journey has been aided by the fictional journey written by John Flanagan.

I was 15 when a good friend recommended the series to me, ironically the same age as the protagonist it depicted. Although there had been 4 books published already, it seemed uncanny that I would begin this series at same time Will began his Ranger training in the story.

Buzzing through the four books and purchasing the latest release later that year, I was in love with the story, its setting, its characters and each dangerous mission. In 2007, Mr Flanagan himself entertained us with his presence as he attended our school’s annual Book Day. I was 16 and had manage to find a way to meet one of my favourite authors. I served him coffee and biscuits, along with a curious question of whether or not the rumours were true about the series being turned into a film. Even back then it was still unsure as they had just launched the series in America and the new covers still hadn’t been in the works.

Fast forward three years later - and I was sitting in front of my local Kmart with my lips twisted as my eyes were taking in the new covers. I thought to myself, “Well there goes my collection…I might have to re-buy the ones I have to match these ones…” Working at Hungry Jack’s at the time, that was not going to happen. But my curiosity got the best of me and so I wrote to John, who miraculously remembered me from three years before. I asked him why the covers had changed and he said, “It was time.”

Although the OCD part of me didn’t like it, the more logical part of me knew it was the truth. Getting over the shock, I was just glad that the RA series we’re still there for me when I needed a good book to cheer me up the end of every stressful year. By the time 2011 hit, I was catching up on three books in the series and had no regrets of choosing them over my uni readings - sorry to all my professors, but seriously, choose readings with a little more humour please.

2012 was a big year as I was still catching up on books 10 and 11 in the series. I was sure that book 11 was the last one in the series, but the OCD part of me didn’t want to believe it; truthfully, neither did the logical part of me. 

But as 2013 rolled in and pictures and snippets of the final book were appearing on my Facebook feed I was so excited.

But now, as I’m almost finished and I’m about to say goodbye to Will, Horace, Evelyn (she was - and is - always Evelyn to me) and Halt (characters who were there for the majority of the series), along with my university setting, it’s all becoming too real.

As two paths running unconsciously parallel to each other both come to an end, I can’t help but think that the #RangersApprentice series has taken me through the later part of my education more so than any other series. No, they haven’t been my bible to life, but they have been books that have given me something to look forward in a simple way.

So for that, I’d like to say, “Thank you Mr John Flanagan”.

To buy the series click here.

Click to enter the official Ranger's Apprentice website.