Rangers Apprentice is a series written by Australian author John Flanagan. The first novel in the series, The Ruins of Gorlan, was released in Australia on 1 November
2004. The books were initially released in Australia and
New Zealand, though have since been released in
14 other countries. The series follows the adventures of
Will, an orphan who is chosen as an apprentice Ranger, one of the skilled trackers, archers and warriors in the service of the King of Araluen.
Will strives to keep the Kingdom of Araluen safe from invaders, traitors, and threats. He is joined on his adventures by his mentor Halt and his best friend Horace.
The series originally consisted of twelve books, with the eleventh
book being a collection of short stories and the twelfth being a follow-up novel set 16 years later. A prequel series, Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years, has released
two titles, the first in 2015 and the second in
2016. A spin-off series, Brotherband, which is set in the same universe, though with new characters, started in 2011. The eighth
book in the Brotherband series came out in October 2019. In 2018 the twelfth
book of the Ranger's Apprentice series was renamed and made the first
book in a sequel series, Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger.
The series has sold over three million copies. The series was originally twenty short stories Flanagan wrote for his son to get him interested in reading.
