My wife is about ready to start the latest book by John Flanagan, Scorpion Mountain, so it's probably about time that I review it. One thing I like about Flanagan is that his books are clustered in shorter story lines that cover a book or three and then they jump to the next interesting part in the characters' lives. Scorpion Mountain finishes out the Heron's time as duty ship to the Araluen king. It appears that Flanagan is ending these the Heron's story lines with a saga, written by the crew and sung at a feast. I like it as it matches the culture and enhances the world. I will agree with Hal about the quality of the sagas, but Erak is too much fun to watch during them that I hope he continues doing that way.
Plot: Hal and the crew are back from Socorro with the freed slaves in hand when they finally have a chance to present themselves to the king. While there they happen to meet Princess Cassandra and save her life. The adventures of her young earned her some enemies (see Erak's Ransom, Rangers Apprentice book 7). There is a group of assassins that won't rest until they've killed her and that is has got to stop. Gillian is charged with the mission as the usual candidates are managing something else. Hal and the Heron's are to take him to Arridia as well as provide him with any military support he needs. It's a big job but they've got to do it somehow.
My personal favorites: I love how the characters keep evolving. This book gives us a look into Invgar's mind as the nearly blind strong man, as well as let's Jasper have some fun. Sometimes it's easy to forget the other characters with Hal, Stig, Thorn, and Lydia, but Flanagan gives us some good reminders that the rest of the crew is just as cool as our four commanders. The pacing was good and I enjoyed the way they figured everything out.
Considerations: Like Flanagan's other books, this book is a great middle grade/young adult book that I don't have any difficulty in recommending to anyone.
I enjoy Flanagan's books and look forward to reading this one to my kinds when they are just a little older. The total length was 480 pages.
My personal favorites: I love how the characters keep evolving. This book gives us a look into Invgar's mind as the nearly blind strong man, as well as let's Jasper have some fun. Sometimes it's easy to forget the other characters with Hal, Stig, Thorn, and Lydia, but Flanagan gives us some good reminders that the rest of the crew is just as cool as our four commanders. The pacing was good and I enjoyed the way they figured everything out.
Considerations: Like Flanagan's other books, this book is a great middle grade/young adult book that I don't have any difficulty in recommending to anyone.
I enjoy Flanagan's books and look forward to reading this one to my kinds when they are just a little older. The total length was 480 pages.
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