Ranger’s Apprentice (Book 9) Halt’s Peril by John Flanagan

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision (Religious Cults, Ghosts)

Reading Level: High School

Will, Halt, and Horrace continue to hunt a treacherous religious cult. The cult is introduced in Book 8, which needs strong parent supervision. This one does not need the supervision required in the previous book.

SPOILER ALERT! Will and Horrace work to exhaustion trying to keep their mentor, Halt, from dying. They use drugs and poison. Exercise caution if your child has a history of or interest in substance abuse.

Serious Concerns (Spoiler Alert!):

• Ghosts. Right after Will convinces himself it was just in his mind, the author makes the claim that a spiritual being was real. This happens at the end of Chapter 29.
• A Religious Cult. Discussion of a false “Golden God Alsseius”. The danger is less here than in the previous book. Here the cult leader is a clear villain and the discussions are not as confusing.
• Peril. Sword fights, arrows, punches to the jaw, knives, poisoning, prisoners, etc. This one also has the heroes doing a bit of bullying to get information they need.
• Poison. A character is poisoned and they use drugs to try to save him. Exercise caution of your reader has a history of or interest in substance abuse.

Definitely read the books in order. Here are links to my reviews of Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, Book 5, Book 6, Book 7, and Book 8.