Max: F is for Flanagan

I read Siege of Macindaw, book six of the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan.

Horace, a knight, goes from Areulen to Norgate because Will, the ranger's apprentice, is there.  Along the way, Horace meets John Buttle, the newly recruited second-in-command of Castle Macindaw; the castle had been taken over (in the previous book) and Horace and Will are trying to reconquer it.  Alyss is a courier; she and Will find Malcom the healer to help heal the real Baron of Macindaw and his son.  I liked that with every chapter that had Alyss in it, there was a big element of suspense. The book ends with Alyss prisoner of Sir Keren, the usurper of Castle of Macindaw; Will, Horace and 25 Skandians besiege the castle, reconquering it.  When Will goes to get Alyss, he finds a big surprise!!

What I like about the series is that while it starts off funny, it gets more serious and it has a twist in books 10 and 12.  My favorite character is Princess Cassandra because we are introduced to her really early in the series so it surprises you when she becomes queen in the later books.  In the third book, Cassandra reveals her real identity which I enjoyed because it told us a new fact about the opposing invaders.  I like these stories because they are based on medieval times; I like the way they fight and hunt (medieval weapons are cool!).