Erak's Ransom

Book 5 of Ranger's Apprentice (by internal chronology)

I'm reading these books in the order they happen and I have zero complaints. This is my favorite of the series so far. Given the cover I feel that it is not a spoiler to say that Ranger's Apprentice Will is trying to help his old friend Erak who is being held for ransom in a desert land. Epic adventures ensue in which Will does a lot of growing up. The action climax was excellently written and the book's ending was just wonderful.

This series is highly enjoyable for long-time fantasy readers of the somewhat older persuasion (eg. myself), but would serve as an excellent introduction to the genre for younger readers (such as the amazing young individual who recommended the series to me).