Cirrus@Austlit

'Pirates have stolen the Skandians' best ship and it's up to Hal and the Heron brotherband to find them in the unputdownable ninth adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.

'Outnumbered but determined, the Herons are ready for action. The scene is set for an epic battle at sea . . .

'For years now, the Skandians have been the guardians of the Stormwhite Sea, stopping piracy wherever they find it. But there are some who don’t like the Skandians' new role.

'When their enemies strike at the heart of Hallasholm, damaging every ship and stealing the pride of the fleet, there is one hope. Hal's ship, the newly rebuilt Heron, was being repaired so the attackers didn't find her.

'Hal and the Heron brotherband - along with the Oberjarl, Erak - set off to find Wolfwind. But when they discover the thieves are using Wolfwind to plunder ships and towns - and blame the Skandians - Hal knows these pirates must be stopped, whatever it takes.' (Publication summary)

'The stakes have never been higher for the Rangers of Araluen in the New York Times bestselling series.

'Will and Maddie are imprisoned at Chateau des Falaises. Baron Lassigny is scheming to recruit them as spies for hire, but Maddie raises the stakes when she challenges Lassigny's garrison commander to a duel on horseback. Will is horrified - especially when he realises the treacherous baron won't fight fair.

'If Maddie can survive the duel, they still need to escape the heavily guarded chateau and rescue the kidnapped prince they were sent to retrieve. It will take all their ingenuity, courage and determination to triumph this time - and to solve the mystery of who betrayed them.'(Publication summary)

'In a battle of Skandians vs Temujai, the brotherband are facing their most formidable enemy yet.

'The Heron brotherband are home in Skandia – but their usually peaceful country is in danger. The Temujai have never given up on their ambition to claim Skandia for their own. The ruthless warriors from the Eastern Steppes waited a number of years after the Skandians thwarted them last time - with the help of the legendary Rangers of Araluen - but now they're on the move.

'King Duncan and Princess Cassandra are trapped high in the south tower of Castle Araluen.

'In the north, Sir Horace and Ranger Commandant Gilan are besieged in an old hill fort, as they wait for the Red Fox Clan's next attack.

'Ranger's apprentice Maddie must find the Heron brotherband and convince them to join her, so she can give her father the help he needs to break out from the hill fort and ride to confront the traitor.

'Will they reach Castle Araluen in time? And when the battles have been fought and the dust has settled, who will rule the Kingdom of Araluen?'  (Publication summary)

'Stig is contesting the annual Maktig competition to decide Skandia’s greatest warrior. But an unexpected visitor arrives with a request Stig, Hal and the brotherband can’t refuse: a rescue mission of epic proportions.

'Pirates have kidnapped the son of the Empress of Byzantos, a city-state far to the south. The brotherband sets sail to recover the boy, only to find that the pirates’ fortress seems impenetrable, sitting atop towering cliffs above the deep lagoon – the caldera – of a volcanic crater.

'Culminating in a battle for survival on the high seas, The Caldera sees the Herons take on one of their most difficult missions yet as the fate of an empire rests on their shoulders.' (Publication Summary)

'When the Herons are caught in a massive storm at sea, they're blown far off course – so far that they wash up on the shores of a land to the west that Hal can't recognise from his maps. They sense they're being watched but don't encounter the locals until they have to rescue two children from a marauding bear.

'This action earns them the gratitude of the Mawagansett tribe and the two groups finally meet. But the peace is short-lived. The ruthless, warmongering Ghostfaces are heading their way, and the Herons will have to help their new friends repel an invasion.

'Among the heart-stopping action and nail-biting battles, one Heron will find love, the twins finally receive payback for their identity swapping, and a homesick Skandian will discover that home is where the heart is.' (Publication summary)

'When you're a Ranger who happens to be royalty, stopping treason isn't just part of the job - it's personal. Most of the time, Maddie is an apprentice Ranger, learning archery, knife throwing, unseen movement and combat skills under the guidance of the legendary Will Treaty. For one month each year, though, she must return home and resume her identity as Princess Madelyn. Forced to keep her Ranger training a secret, Maddie finds castle life dull. But when she discovers clues to a devastating plot against the crown, she realises her family - and the peace they've worked so hard to achieve - could be in terrible danger. To save everyone at Castle Araluen, and her father's forces who are trapped by an enemy army in the north, Maddie must find out the truth. Who is the man in the red fox mask?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When the worlds of Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband cross over, action and adventure are guaranteed!

'King Duncan of Araluen has an urgent mission for Hal and the Heron Brotherband. One assassination attempt on Princess Cassandra was foiled. But the killers won't be satisfied until they have fulfilled their honour-bound duty.

'The Herons, along with Ranger Gilan, set off for Arrida. There they must track the cult of killers across the desert, and infiltrate the cult's mountain lair to find their leader – and stop him.

'But the giant assassin isn't the only threat they will face. There is a seaside battle looming, and the Herons are called upon to help an old friend of Araluen in his fight.

'Trapped in an unfamiliar land, their forces split between searing hot land and treacherous seas, can the Herons complete their mission – before the killers find their royal target?' (Publication summary)

'Hal and his fellow Herons have returned home to Skandia after defeating the pirate captain Zavac and reclaiming Skandia's most prized artifact, the Andomal. With their honor restored, the Herons turn to a new mission: tracking down an old rival turned bitter enemy. Tursgud—leader of the Shark Brotherband and Hal's constant opponent—has turned from a bullying youth into a pirate and slave trader. After Tursgud captures twelve Araluen villagers to sell as slaves, the Heron crew sails into action . . . with the help of one of Araluen's finest Rangers!

'In this fourth book in the Brotherband Chronicles, a new battle unfolds as old rivalries are renewed, peace treaties are put to the test, and the action builds to a pulse-pounding finale. Perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone, Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series, and George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire series.' (Publisher's blurb)

'When the former Baron Morgarath escaped to avoid punishment for treason, an uneasy peace fell on Araluen. But the Rangers know Morgarath will be planning his next move, and there are rumours he has recruited an army of savage, inhuman creatures. Newly crowned King Duncan must prepare for war.

'Halt prepares for a seemingly impossible task – climbing the deadly cliffs of the Mountains of Rain and Night and venturing deep into enemy territory to spy on Morgarath. Meanwhile, Crowley must ensure the Queen's safety as she undertakes her own perilous journey for the sake of her unborn child.

'Morgarath's Wargals seem unstoppable against Duncan's depleted army. The winner of this war could be decided by one wrong move. At the Battle of Hackham Heath, the fate of a Kingdom will be decided.

'The origin story of how Halt came to be Araluen's most famous Ranger – and how war will decide the future of the next generation – will thrill Ranger's Apprentice fans and new readers alike.' (Publication summary)

'Before they became the most famous Ranger in the land and the hard-working Ranger Commandant, Halt and Crowley were young friends determined to change the world.

'The scheming Baron Morgarath is drawing other power-hungry knights and barons to his banner. King Oswald is wasting away and, if gossip can be believed, Prince Duncan is causing havoc in the north.

'Halt and Crowley set out to find the prince, uncover the truth, and re-form the weakened Ranger Corps. Once-loyal Rangers are scattered across the country, and it will take determination, skill, and leadership if they're to come together as one. Can the Rangers regain the trust of the Kingdom, or will the cunning Morgarath outwit them at every turn?' (Publication summary)

'After a senseless tragedy destroys his life, Will is obsessed with punishing those responsible, even if it means leaving the Ranger Corps. His worried friends must find a way to stop him taking such a dark path. It is Halt who suggests the solution: Will must take an apprentice. The candidate Halt has in mind will surprise everyone, and it will be a request that Will cannot refuse. Training a rebellious, unwilling apprentice is hard enough. But when a routine mission uncovers a shocking web of crime, Will must decide where his priorities lie, finishing his quest for revenge, or saving innocent lives?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Hal and the Heron brotherband are on the trail of Zavac and his precious cargo. Will they be able to find the pirates when the weather clears? And when they do, how can they possibly beat the mighty Raven and its crew of vicious cut-throats and killers?

'A chance discovery will lead them to their prey, but the pirates have a well-fortified position. The Herons must drive out the invaders - and to succeed, Hal will need to devise a foolproof plan. In the icy waters of the Stormwhite, the smallest mistake could prove fatal.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Horace is missing. Months have passed since he was sent on a military mission to the court of the Emperor of Nihon-Jin but has failed to return. Evanlyn is worried, and in company with Will and Alyss, she sets out to discover what has become of their old friend.

'They find that Horace has become embroiled in Nihon-Jin politics. The arrogant Senji Sect has rebelled against the rightful Emperor and Horace has chosen to stay and lend support to the deposed ruler. Now he and Will must turn farm and forest workers into a fighting force that can face the highly trained Senji warriors, while Alyss and Evanlyn must overcome their long-standing rivalry to seek aid from a mysterious group of mountain dwellers.' (From the author's website.)