Ranger's Apprentice Books in Order
The short answer
John Flanagan · 12 books
- How many books?
- There are 12 books in the Ranger's Apprentice series, published 2004–2013.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with The Royal Ranger (2013).
- Where to start
- Start with The Ruins of Gorlan (2004).
About 4,000 pages — roughly 70 hours of reading
A small orphan boy becomes apprentice to the kingdom's legendary rangers, masters of stealth and the longbow.
Here is the complete Ranger's Apprentice reading order — all 12 books by John Flanagan, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- The Ruins of GorlanWill is chosen by the mysterious ranger Halt as his apprentice — and immediately embroiled in defending the kingdom.2004261 pages
- The Burning BridgeWill and Horace uncover a Morgarathian plot behind enemy lines.2005278 pages
- The Icebound LandCaptured by Skandian raiders, Will and Evanlyn face a brutal winter in a hostile land.2005266 pages
- The Battle for SkandiaHalt and the rangers help the Skandians defend against a Temujai invasion.2006336 pages
- The Sorcerer of the NorthWill takes his first solo post — and finds a village convinced a sorcerer stalks the woods.2006
- The Siege of MacindawWill must break a siege of a castle held by traitors.2007
- Erak's RansomA ransom negotiation in the desert turns into a rescue mission.2007304 pages
- The Kings of ClonmelA religious cult threatens to topple a neighboring kingdom, and the rangers are called in.2008358 pages
- Halt's PerilHalt is poisoned.2009416 pages
- The Emperor of Nihon-JaHorace helps an exiled emperor reclaim his throne on a distant eastern island.2010435 pages
- The Lost StoriesShort stories filling the gaps in the Ranger's Apprentice timeline.2011464 pages
- The Royal RangerMaddie, a princess, is secretly trained as Will's apprentice in a new generation's story.2013256 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
On our lists: Completed fantasy series · Completed YA fantasy series
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Ranger's Apprentice books are there?
There are 12 books in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan, from The Ruins of Gorlan (2004) to The Royal Ranger (2013). Together they run to about 4,000 pages.
Is the Ranger's Apprentice series finished?
Yes. John Flanagan completed the series with The Royal Ranger in 2013; all 12 books are out now.
What is the first Ranger's Apprentice book?
The Ruins of Gorlan (2004) is book one, at 261 pages. Will is chosen by the mysterious ranger Halt as his apprentice — and immediately embroiled in defending the kingdom.
Should I read the Ranger's Apprentice series in publication order?
Yes. For the Ranger's Apprentice series, reading order and publication order are the same — The Ruins of Gorlan (2004) through The Royal Ranger (2013).
How long does it take to read all Ranger's Apprentice books?
About 4,000 pages across 12 books — roughly 70 hours at a page a minute. The longest is The Lost Stories (464 pages); the shortest is The Royal Ranger (256 pages).