The Brotherband Chronicles Book 3: The Hunters

My second book is titled The Brotherband Chronicles Book 3: The Hunters, by John Flanagan. He is the author of the previous books in the Brotherband series, and ten other books in the Ranger’s Apprentice series. Mr. Flanagan lives in Sydney, Australia where he was a television advertising executive. He began writing stories for his son, Michael, in order to get him to read more. The theme of the book is: If you have a big goal or if you have to make something right, don’t give up, keep trying to right the wrong that you did. Relate to Hal and the Herons and do what you think needs to be done. This book continues the adventures of the Heron Brotherband as they seek to recover the Andomal, a sacred glass ball stolen by the pirate Zavac. In this book, the Brotherband pursues Zavac to the pirate stronghold Raguza.

Having chased Zavac across the ocean, the young warrior, Hal, leads the Herons up the River Dan to retrieve the Andomal and bring it back to Hallasholm.  They face one challenge after another, as they are accused of murder, put in jail, nearly drowned in a whitewater gorge, and attacked by pirates. After the heroes bluff their way into Raguza, the book climaxes with a duel between Zavac’s ship the Raven and the Heron. 

“’I think the party’s starting,’ he said cheerfully.

The red-and-blue flag was sliding down the flagstaff as Hal looked. The duel had begun” (Flanagan 352).

This is an outstanding book for anyone who enjoys reading about pirates and adventures on the high seas, while also learning about sailing. The plot was great and the setting was very interesting and exciting. I loved the setting the most in this book because of how many different places the Herons were sent to in order to reach their goal.Hal is an amazing character with lots of good qualities. I thoroughly enjoyed Book 3 of the The Brotherband Chronicles and look forward to reading Book 4.            

Book Review by Greg E.

The Brotherband Chronicles Book 2: The Invaders

This book is titled The Brotherband Chronicles Book 2: The Invaders, by John Flanagan. He is the author of the previous book in the Brotherband series, and ten other books in the Ranger’s Apprentice series. It is about a group of young Skandians trying to redeem themselves after the Andomal, Skandia’s most prized artifact, gets stolen under their guard. Now they must seek out a pirate by the name of Zavac, kill him, and retrieve the treasured Andomal.

A group of young Skandian warriors, led by their Brotherband leader, Hal, are sent after a ship called the Raven and its pirate leader, Zavac. The Heron Brotherband, made up of Jesper, Edvin, Stefan, Stig, Ingvar, Ulf and Wulf (twins), Hal, and an older, powerful warrior named Thorn, sail Hal’s ship, the Heron, across the ocean. Each member of the brotherband has his strengths, but Thorn must shape them into much better fighters, able to defeat the Raven. When they hear that Zavac has taken over a nearby city, the Herons travel there, seeking to recover the precious Andomal and gain revenge. Accompanied by capable fighters from the city and warriors from the Skandians’ home, they form a plan to take back the city and kill Zavac in the process. Will they succeed? Flanagan writes: “’It’s Wolfwind,’ Thorn said quietly. Hal’s shoulders slumped in despair” (Flanagan 227). This is when the Herons spot the Skandian warriors’ ship, Wolfwind, and think that they are there to return the brotherband back to Hallasholm, the capital of Skandia. The Herons don’t want to return yet, because they know they would do so in shame.

I completely enjoyed this book! I thought it was very interesting, riveting, and even a bit educational. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to read action packed books with great suspenseful moments. It taught me a lot about ships, how they work, and the names of the parts of a ship. I loved the setting and plot of the story and can’t think of any way to make the book better. Full of action on every page this book left me craving the next one in the series. It is an exciting page-turner full of nautical description and high adventure.

Book Review by Greg E.