The Sorcerer in the North Audiobook By John Flanagan cover art

The Sorcerer in the North

Ranger's Apprentice

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The Sorcerer in the North

By: John Flanagan
Narrated by: William Zappa
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Five years have passed since the Skandians and the Araluans made their treaty, and Will has finally become a Ranger, with his own fief to look after. He soon learns that even sleepy little islands have problems to keep him on his toes. Then he and his old friend Alyss are thrown into a terrifying new adventure, investigating the truth behind rumours of sorcery in a remote northern fief. As he stands in Grimsdell Forest, with the horrific, ghostly Night Warrior looming over him, Will must ask himself one question: is there a rational explanation... or does sorcery really exist?

©2008 John Flanagan (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Fantasy

Critic reviews

"Flanagan expertly juggles the overall plot line...with a logically constructed campaign that culminates in a hard, suspenseful battle." ( Kirkus)
"Fans of the series will eagerly devour this one and wait impatiently for the next...A sure bet for fantasy fans." ( School Library Journal)
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While not my favourite in the series I still really enjoyed listening to this book. It's the first of a 2 part story within the series so there is a lot of setting up the story and discovering who the bad guys are. If you are listening to all the books and have just finished book 4 I'd suggest listening to book 7 first as, although published later, that story takes place before this one.

Fun read

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This story ends on a cliff, with the plot wrapping up in Siege of Macindaw. An entertaining, adventurous, and heartwarming two-book tale of treachery versus loyalty, science versus superstition. One obvious moral here is that popular chaps aren't always trustworthy.

I like this narrator (Zappa) better than Keating, because he reads with a natural cadence and rhythm. I find that Keating pauses in places that are best for him to draw a breath, but not necessarily best for me to follow the drift (even though I like his voice and he reads fluently).

I don't like the musical intrusions at each chapter break. Obnoxious! If not for that, a 5-star narration. Zappa gets 5, but the recording studio gets 3.

Part one of two

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Excellant all around! For the audio makers, please note that listeners can be greatly disturbed by the louder musical breaks. This can cause a child to cry out in pain if using earbuds. Please send notes to refrain from musical additions.

Delightful audio!

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the story is great and I love the narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

The narrator. He's an excellent voice actor!

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene is when Will enters Grimsdell Woods for the first time.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Ranger. The sorcerer. The temporary king. All men of myth and legend. What's real? What's fake?

Any additional comments?

Having listened to both William Zappa (the Australian narrator) and John Keating (the US narrator), Zappa is tons better. I like how he reads and some of his pronunciations of names are truer than Keating's (mainly of Evanlyn - Zappa says

Great story, great narrator

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You gotta love the never ending action, the deviousness of the enemy, the humor in the banter and teasing between fighting comrades, the refreshing way the plot uncurls (something hard to do today with the number of proven authors and the deluge of new authors) and the skill of new to us, narrator Zappa. No, I didn't go for door #1 with the advice of two readers reviews on the 2 identical books but different readers. Thanks! It was the winning choice: Frank Zappa. He did an exceptional job and made the transition seamlessly in narrators. Having said this, I will be making a difficult choice in the next book which is a "two-er" again because I really like both narrators. Can we have a hint? Does our choice influence which one stays? Do we have to be between 15 and 22 to vote since as of book 4, this series has become YA and author Flanagan "one of the most influential youth authors" created. This listener is 70 and likes the series very much! Does this mean I'm going thru my second childhood? Spend a credit whatever your age and find out how good The Sorcerer in the North is!

Do you pick book #1 or book #2 for The Sorcerer in the North?

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Enjoyed this book just as much as all the others. Just a note though, this is part one of two.

As good as the previous

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