The Royal Ranger: The Red Fox Clan by John Flanagan

 

Maddie, a 3rd year Ranger Apprentice of Will Treaty, the most famous and skillful ranger in the entire Ranger Corps, is on her 3rd year test. She has NEVER failed a test. But bad luck strikes her as during her test, she was hiding when a 4th year apprentice stepped on her. She cried out and was caught. She was mad but moved on. After that, Gilan, the Ranger Corps Commandant, went on a mission with Sir Horace, Maddie’s dad, and The Champion to Queen Cassandra, Maddie's mom. Sir Horace was led into a trap and was unable to escape, due to them being pinned on a hill with a small force of the best archers in the kingdom, and 30 cavalry troops. But what they don’t realize is the encounter that was about to unfold at Castle Aruelan, the castle of Queen Cassandra, and only Maddie can stop them from taking the impenetrable castle.

I loved this book. My favorite part was when Maddie infiltrated the Red Fox Clan’s base and managed to escape. Maddie was surrounded by a hundred Red Fox Clan members and managed to take down 5 and escape despite all odds. Not only that but this brings back her 3rd year test because one of the members stepped on her hand. In the book it says: “Maddie wanted to cry out but held it despite the pain in her hand”. One of my favorite quotes was when she was talking to her horse. What a ranger you are, said bumper, a Ranger Horse, specially bred for Rangers. “I was just telling myself that.’. Warning: This book has a “to be continued” at the end. Do NOT throw the book across the room like I did.

If you liked the previous series and the previous books of this series, you will LOVE this book. If you haven't read the previous series, I recommend you read them. Along with that, if you like medieval action, battle, conquests, ship battles, stealth, and ninjas, this is the book for you!! 5/5 stars.

Review by William Y.