The Rangers Apprentice series is one of the best series I've ever read in my entire life. John Flanagan completely drew me in with his beautiful, eloquent writing style and spectacular characters. I expected the books to be good, but slow. "Sure, there'll be action, but a lot information dumps." I had assumed. 
 Nope. 
 The author's writing is unique, and surprisingly humorous. There is a surplus of witty banter and laugh out loud one-liners from the very beginning. However, these books are in no way comedies. Flanagan tackles complicated relationships and real world problems through out the entire series, which can be difficult to do in a fantasy setting. 
 For me, the thing that really marks a book as a truly good story is whether or not I feel attached to the characters. Guess what? 
 I'm in love with every single one of them. Every single character is complex, and the reader can really see how they grow and change over they years. 
 Will's journey from an orphaned teen without a place in the world to an intelligent, self assured Ranger who became a legend in his own time is amazing. 
 Not only is there spectacular character growth, but the world building is incredible. The series is set in a myriad of different countries. Thanks to colorful, detailed descriptions, I could feel the freezing snow in the Norse inspired Skandia. I could hear the howling winds and feel stinging sand against my face when Will traveled to the scorching deserts of Toscano. Awesome! 
 Over all, I loved every minute of the series, and I think everyone and their uncle should read it.