The Battle for Skandia
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Following Will and Evanlyn's escape from slavery in The Icebound Land (2007), Halt determines that the Temujai mean to attack Araluen and decides to help the Skandians defend their land. Rejoining Halt, Will and Evanlyn become warriors in the stronghold where they had recently been captives and use their wits and skills to fight the common enemy. The story plunges forward with irresistible narrative drive toward the climactic battle scene. Even readers drawn to the series for its deftly drawn characters and setting may find themselves caught up in the action. A fine entry in the increasingly popular Ranger's Apprentice series.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2008 Booklist

Gr 5-8-Will and Evanlyn have escaped imprisonment in Skandia and are hiding out in a remote cabin, waiting for Will to gain enough strength to begin their journey home. Their peace, however, does not last long, as Evanlyn is kidnapped by a Temujai warrior. Halt, the Ranger to whom Will is apprenticed; Horace, a knight in training; and Will rescue her, but are intercepted by Skandians before they can continue home. The Temujai are advancing behind them, leaving Will and his friends to form an uneasy alliance with the Skandians. The tension builds to the final battle between the Temujai warriors and the Skandians. Fans of the series will eagerly devour this one and wait impatiently for the next. Readers who aren't familiar with the previous books would do best to start with the first one, but those who choose to start here won't be lost. A sure bet for fantasy fans, as well as those who enjoy action and adventure.-Ginny Collier, Dekalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ranger's apprentice Will, his master Halt, apprentice Horace, and princess-in-disguise Evanlyn work together with their former foe to turn back a mutual enemy from an invasion of Skandia. Humor, woodcraft-cunning, and military strategic know-how combine for an exciting build-up to a satisfying climactic battle. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Taking up where the previous episode, Icebound Land (2007), left off, the latest chapter in this unusually well-founded heroic fantasy reunites the four central characters--then sends them back into the hands of the (Viking-like) Skandians to defend these erstwhile enemies against an invading army of (Mongol-like) Temujai. As before, Flanagan expertly juggles the overall plot line, in which the four struggle with confusion because they're not sure how or what they feel about each other, with a logically constructed campaign that culminates in a hard, suspenseful battle. The author wears his influences on his sleeve but he wears them well, and like Tamora Pierce shows a knack for crafting adolescent warriors and mentors that never go stale, however long the haul may be. Readers who hate tales that end in cliffhangers will also appreciate the definite (though probably deceptive) feeling of resolution at the close. (Fantasy. 11-13) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Following Will and Evanlyn's escape from slavery in The Icebound Land (2007), Halt determines that the Temujai mean to attack Araluen and decides to help the Skandians defend their land. Rejoining Halt, Will and Evanlyn become warriors in the stronghold where they had recently been captives and use their wits and skills to fight the common enemy. The story plunges forward with irresistible narrative drive toward the climactic battle scene. Even readers drawn to the series for its deftly drawn characters and setting may find themselves caught up in the action. A fine entry in the increasingly popular Ranger's Apprentice series. Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 5–8— Will and Evanlyn have escaped imprisonment in Skandia and are hiding out in a remote cabin, waiting for Will to gain enough strength to begin their journey home. Their peace, however, does not last long, as Evanlyn is kidnapped by a Temujai warrior. Halt, the Ranger to whom Will is apprenticed; Horace, a knight in training; and Will rescue her, but are intercepted by Skandians before they can continue home. The Temujai are advancing behind them, leaving Will and his friends to form an uneasy alliance with the Skandians. The tension builds to the final battle between the Temujai warriors and the Skandians. Fans of the series will eagerly devour this one and wait impatiently for the next. Readers who aren't familiar with the previous books would do best to start with the first one, but those who choose to start here won't be lost. A sure bet for fantasy fans, as well as those who enjoy action and adventure.—Ginny Collier, Dekalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA