THE ROYAL RANGER Ranger's Apprentice, Book 12

John Keating's experience narrating the Ranger's Apprentice series and his familiarity with the characters add richness to his performance. Set 20 years after the last installment, the story focuses on Will Treaty, now the Royal Ranger, who is set on avenging the murder of his wife, Alice. At the same time, his close friends, Cassandra and Horace, fail to control their rebellious daughter, Maddie. To solve both problems, Halt, Will's former mentor, suggests that Will train Maddie as the first female Ranger. Maddie's transformation from the petulant princess to accomplished apprentice is beautifully paced by Keating. He weaves Will's calm patience with Maddie's eager curiosity to showcase their unique relationship. The two different Irish accents of Halt and Gillan, the Corps Commander, pair nicely with the British accents of the other characters. M.F.T. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2014]