Title: The Lost Stories
Author: John Flanagan
Series: The Ranger’s Apprentice #11
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Medieval fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short Story
Publisher: Random House Australia
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Then he nodded, understanding the request.

Everyone knows the legends of the Rangers of Araluen. But no  one has heard the whole story – until now. Has Halt told Will the truth about how Will became an orphan? Did Gilan track down Morgarath’s lieutenant after the battle of Three Step Pass? Is tehre to be a royal wedding – or will tragedy strike first?

Inspired by questions and letters sent by his loyal readers, John Flanagan answers all your burning questions about the world of the Rangers.

If you want to know what’s gone before and what comes next for Will, Halt, Horace, Alyss, Evanlyn and Gilan – not to mention a certain stubborn little pony – The Lost Stories is an unmissable read.

I’m beginning to think that all good series need a collection of short stories to go with them. It helps to round out storylines that don’t actually have a place in the main series, but still hold a place in our hearts. The Lost Stories did exactly this. Not only did it help to answer some of the unanswered questions throughout the series – both the ones I knew to ask, and the ones I had no idea I needed answered until I read the tale.

When I originally read this novel, it was the end of The Ranger’s Apprentice series at the time – at least for the foreseeable future. Now, it isn’t, but it still helps to tie off some of the storylines that have woven throughout the rest of the series. Reading this collection will give any fan of Will Treaty and his friends a feeling of completion and contentment.

Image source: Wikipedia