Scorpion Mountain (The Brotherband Chronicles)

We love Flanagan’s books. I have been reading these to my son for the last couple years. Even the wife listens in and asks, “what happened to so and so” and my son gives a recap. I want to say we started reading the Ranger’s Apprentice 3 years ago and have been going through the Brotherband books for the past year. This 56 year old enjoys the stories and the 12 year old loves them. He’d read them on his own, but they make great pre bed routine reading for the family. We are half way through this one and can’t wait to find out what happens.

In Scorpion Mountain, Hal and crew work to put an end to an assassination contract against princess Cassandra. By now I know to expect any John Flanagan book will be a 5-star book for me (after reading tons of them), and this one is no exception. The writing is top-notch, the characters continue to surprise me, and the plot is always non-stop action. This book has some very interesting developments with Wulf, Ulf, Thorn, and Lydia, not to mention a major life-altering change for Ingvar. And Ranger Gilan is a large part of this book, which is great for people who love the Ranger series. It is so easy to get immersed in this fantasy world and to feel like you are a part of the crew. The humor, comradery, cunning, and teamwork are all well done. It is always fun to see enemies underestimate the Heron crew. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for future ones.

Too many writers try to make their books revolutionary, unlike anything anyone's ever read before. John Flanagan doesn't have this problem he found a style of writing that works, very much like that of Brian Jacques in my opinion, a and he's stuck to it ever since When the Ranger's Apprentice series ended (the first time, after Lost Stories book) I found myself saddened. I didn't think that the Brotherband Chronicles could live up to Ranger's legacy, but it has. Familiar characters from the Ranger's series and constant references to Ranger's events make the Brotherband series seem like it is more of a spin-off than a completely separate series, in a good way. There are lots of great parts of the books, inventions, humor, and action are all abundant in the series so there's something for everyone. The Flanagan's novels are "recommended" for middle school to high school students, but really people of all ages can find something to enjoy in his writing.

/// Edit: Just to note I have now finished the book with an additional section explaining my feelings after its completion Ok, so a thing to keep in mind is I'm not entirely finished with the book, only about half way through, but I had some nigglings that wouldn't go away and I felt the urge to share them, so here are my thoughts so far. The book isn't the best of Flanagan's works, not quite up to the level of previous entries but good and entertaining nonetheless. My major quibble, as was a case with the latest rangers apprentice book, the royal ranger is that character contradictions are beginning to become woefully apparent. The fact that will in the last book was overpowered by lowly brigands ground my gears to say the least, this one however (mild spoiler) compares the characters of horace and stig, claiming they are on equal footings.... This may seem minor to some, but to me, claims like this need to make sense, and to me, this doesn't. Stig is at most a late teen to early twenty something male, and in this series has been described a capable warrior, nothing more. Yet here he is being called equal with Araluen's Best, literally their best soldier.... Why, it simply serves to discredit horace. Even looking at the challenges the two have faced, horace's opponents have usually been professional soldiers or leaders and he has bested them all. Stigs and the brotherbands in comparison have thus far been pirates, brigands and slavers..... The two just aren't on the same level, nothing about them has previously indicated that this is the case. Excuse the rant, but stuff like this really detracts from the overall quality of the narrative, having horace be on equal footing with thorn say makes sense, both being their nations premier warriors, but this..... Gah, please don't go bandying such statements around lightly in future Mr Flanagan. I just personally feel that a certain "ranking" is in order when watching or reading any book or film, you wouldn't have aragorn be overpowered by a single orc, or the hulk bested by a normal human in an arm wrestle.... Stuff like that breaks immersion in a heartbeat. Things like Duncan losing his temper for the first time in my memory and over literally nothing, with thorn losing his temper equally quickly and irrationally.... Please take more care with character continuity. TL;DR The calibre of challenges the herons faced has always been well below that of halt, will and horace etc, thus any comparisons between the two should adequately reflect that. Anyway, enough on that, as for the rest of it, the story is Ok, dialogue is good. Will say a little too much time is spent with characters and their personal thoughts for my taste but to each their own. The gravitas of the herons challenge is pretty standard for brotherband books thus far, not RA level and that's fine, just hope in future comparisons between the two can reflect that with greater accuracy. This review has sounded rather negative, and I don't want it to come across that way, I have thus far except for a few frowns over the nonsensical nature of character continuity enjoyed the book, I personally prefer the RA ones so I'm probably a little biased, but on the whole I think it's a good read and if you've like the previous entries then it would be a safe bet to say you'll like this one. I'll update once I'm don't for a more comprehensive and holistic review. Edit #1 (abundant spoilers, do NOT read unless you have read the book) Ok, so I finished the book, and I'll admit things started to improve, with Gilan being slightly better than Stig but slightly worse than Thorn, this fits in with previous titles and is what it should be, though how on earth this now fits in with Horace, God only knows. I suppose my biggest gripe as perviously stated is the fact that the world that the Herons inhabit has always been a "nicer" one in comparison to the Rangers apprentice one. The price of failure in their case is a lost Skandian treasure, a few slaves etc... In comparison, should the Rangers have fialed, it's the fall of Skandia to the Temujai, or Araluen being overrun by Morgorath/ an invasion from Picta. The qualit of enemies is entirely incomparable as well, expert warriors from Nihon-Ja compared with brigands and bandits. This isnt a criticism for the brotheband books as a whole, they just never seemed as serious which is fine. However, the crew of the Herons suddenly seemed to receive some magical upgrade between Slaves of Soccoro and this title, to have them on even footing with the likes of Gilan say and again, it just doesn't fit. To use some more bad analogies, it would be like having a marine be put in a unit with Navy Seals and have him suddenly perform at or above their level. Or to have St Kilda (think their bad this year?) beat Geelong by 200 points. It just doesn't make sense. Things like Hal not being surprised at all by thorn CATCHING A CROSSBOW BOLT..... I know he's a legendary warrior bla bla bla, but not even raised eyebrows. Who are these superheroes and what did they do with the Herons? Things, as I said, did get better, with Gilan getting his moments, though nothing on his hidden movement, still used the standard cloak, small things but still strange. Though I still felt he, and anyone else from the RA was hobbled in their ability, his tactical prowess never really shone through and he often times differed to Thorn, which once again, nonsensical. Each person has their roles, and tactics have always been a rangers strong point. Even in the last book, Gilan was making mistakes that didn't really add up in my head, he just wasn't on the pedestal that he was in RA books, which if anything should be set even higher given this "easier world" It just felt that Flanagan wanted the the characters from both books on at least the same level, if not having the BB crew slightly above, which, apologies for beating a dead horse, is just ridiculous, they have less experience and faced enemies no way close to the same calibre. This is all fine, but it never shone through in this book which really grated on me as any further collaboration between the two series needs to match the standard set here, which is a surprising and to me, illogical one. Hell even Lydia was practically placed on the same level as Gilan.... Her darts may be effective, but they will never be able to match the range of the longbow and even her skill seemed to match Gilan's years of experience with the longbow.... Furthermore, the Duncan scene comes to mind again and just how much of a change that was. We had a down to earth, intelligent and almost modern man, attempting to waive the law for Halt for commit treason by insulting him, then literally going off his nut because the Heron being smaller in size to regular Wolfships, even after having Gilan tell them how it's a fantastic it etc... Then Thorn, just as irrationally, doing the same thing. To top it off, now Thorn is a "confident" because of it. In every RA book to date, Duncan has always been a reasonable man and never once lost his temper like that. Last gripe, again back to stig and Horace, This was the first in the series where I felt that Stig was closely comparable to Horace. The entire character was identical to me, replace every "Stig" with "Horace" and I wouldn't have questioned it, which is annoying. Then we have stig killing rabbits by throwing stones at them.... Just out of the blue, dropped as a casual thing. Unless 10 years, steroids and bionic upgrades have occurred since the last book, then I don't know what to tell you, the Herons as a whole were just magically "better". Anyway, enough negatives, the book was good, humour was there, but the inconstancies came close to ruining it for me. Second TL;DR, The characters in this book seemed completely different from the characters in all previous works, with the characters from BB receiving a rather major upgrade out of the blue, while the charecters from RA seemed to receive a downgrade If anyone is reading this, knows John Flanagan, the only thing I ask him to do is sit down with his editors and get a "ranking" straight to avoid these ridiculous scenarios in future titles, because at times I found myself having to put the book down in frustration with some of the inconsistencies. The characters from RA should be superior in almost every way, they are older, more experienced, and cracked far tougher nuts than anything the Herons have accomplished. Nothing wrong again, but it's like following the stories of a special forces soldier/member of the security services (pretty much what rangers are) and regular police etc... Just not operating on the same level. Please don't gimp my childhood heroes for the sake of your new ones John, they deserve better. Edit #2: Ok, So I'm not sure if this was directed at me, but another reviewer didn't agree with the differences in the degree of challenge between the RA characters and the BB characters, citing that because they are on a boat, the problems they could face are far more limited in scope. Now whether or not this was directed at me I feel the need to clarify my points as they may have been misunderstood. I have no problem with the BB world being "easier" than the RA world, and realistically, with there being only a dozen or so people on a ship the challenges that they could overcome will have to be smaller in some degree, I have no quarrel here. I begin to take issue, however, when the worlds begin to blend. We have characters from the RA beginning to blend in with the characters from the BB world, which is great. I just didn't feel they added up. I too am fine with the BB characters and enemies and I agree that the latest antagonists was the series best to date. My point is, as you yourself acknowledge, the challenges of the RA ARE more meaningful than that faced by the Herons, which again is fine, except when the characters from this more "difficult" world begin having just as much if not more trouble keeping up in an "easier" world. An analogy if you'll permit me. I compare it to a university/college student studying mathematics, they find it challenging, they may sometimes need help with certain problems, but eventually overcome them and graduate (like a story arc). Then to take this graduate and put them in a high school maths class, where they seeming struggle equally if not more with the high school level maths work and even keeping up with some of the "smarter" kids in the class. It just doesn't make sense. This is how I feel with this latest book, that characters like Gilan and Horace (the uni students in keeping with my terrible analogy) have trouble keeping up with characters from the BB (high school students) which I feel is a sever injustice to the RA series. Excuse any typos and spelling errors, I'm on mobile :) Thanks for reading

I started reading the Ranger's Apprentice series with my kids since they were 10, and enjoy it tremendously. I was a little sad when the series ended, but I picked up the Brotherband series and found myself enjoying it just as much. They are clearly written for younger teens, but the writing, the stories, the settings, the humor make them fascinating for adults as well. The same kind of appeals that draw readers in as Harry Potter, but lighter and more straight forward. This book is as good as any others in the series, but I think it's a little more special because it brings back familiar characters in the Ranger's Apprentice series. It still offers the usual witty humor with plenty of seafaring adventures, which is the element that sets it apart from the Ranger's Apprentice, but it also involves the old elements from the Ranger's Apprentice. The best of both world for fans of Flanagan.

I love John Flanagan. My sons and I read the entire Ranger's Apprentice series and loved it, and I think I love the Brotherband series even more. I love how Hal solves problems by thinking creatively, love the character development, the loyalty of the Brotherband, the sense of humor present in all these books, and the exciting action. As a side note, although I bought the hardcover version, John Flanagan's books make the perfect books on tape for long family car trips. They just eat up the miles, and before you know it, you're there, and you don't want to get out of the car because you want to keep listening to the story!

Hal and the Heron crew are serving a duty ship for Kingdom Araluen. There they met up with the Ranger Gilan to rescue the Araluen slaves then battle to nullify an assassination vow set by Iqubal to kill Princess Cassandra. With the bond and friendship among the brotherhoods, the intelligence of Hal and the bravery and well-trained combat skills, they achieved the mission and returned to Skandia with big welcome and proud. I love the author's books so much. The books show the true value of life and friends with very intelligent and humorous touch. It is always fun to read how the story evolves and how the people (whose characters are so well established that they seem totally alive to me) will face the challenges and adventures. I hope this series continues forever!

So far I think Scorpion Mountain may be my favorite of The Brotherband Chronicles! Absolutely loved it! Lots of adventure, some terrific new inventions created by the amazing Hal, extra attention to all the main characters, wonderful examples of brains and finesse crushing egotistic brute and brawn, and touching shows of the true meaning of brotherband as well as brotherhood/sisterhood (can't forget Lydia!). I sincerely hope John Flanagan has many more adventurous in mind for both the brotherband and the Rangers. The blend is superb! Five stars times two for this fabulous word-crafter!!

My grandson, 14, love the Brotherband books. The stories are exciting and the characters have their own problems that encourage children to accept that even with a disability you can still be a hero.

This entire series is simply impossible to fault. My son loves them and we have read them multiple times. Flanagan understands kids.

Achei a leitura empolgante. A história é cheia de novos e velhos personagens trazendo à memória as aventuras de Will e seus amigos. A leitura é leve e muito divertida. Mais um excelente livro de um renomado autor.

Great book! I can't wait for book 6 to come out at least there was not any Ranger shooting description that was once 5 pages long in Ranger's Apprentice series and that is why I skipped those 5 pages. So great book enough description but not too much great wisdom and characters

"Scorpion Mountain" the fifth book in the Brotherband Chronicles picks up the story after Hal, Gilan and the Herons have freed the twelve Araluens held hostage in Sorocco. After being summoned to Castle Araluen they're given a mission to end the tolfah that threatens Princess Cassandra's life. After foiling one assassination attempt King Duncan has strengthened her guard but has ordered Ranger Gilan and the Brotherband to discover the lair of the Scorpion Cult who will continue to try and kill her. The action is fast-paced and deadly as Hal, the Ranger Gilan and the Herons engage not only the Tualagi tribe lead by Iqbal, a sinister killer who wants to avenge his brother's death, but the Scorpion Cult whose tolfah cannot be terminated until Cassandra's dead. Cleverly John Flanagan weaves a plot where suspense and tension mount as new battles begin and old friends appear in the nick of time to save the heroes. Yet amid all the chaos, suffering and violence the courage and friendship of the Brotherband shines through. Like all the characters with their complex and unforgettable natures Hal Mikkelson, the Heron's youth skirl is smart, resourceful and compassionate, although he sometimes seems distant because of his leadership role. In this tale the genius of Hal, his inventiveness and improvisation reaches new heights with an invention shaped from the ruins of a chariot that will carry him across the desert. Lydia a deadly shot who's also skilled at observation and tracking continues to be socially awkward, only comfortable with her fellow Herons. Yet with Cassandra and other Skandian young women she begins to find like-minded spirits. Thorn the fast, agile and powerful battle leader is a tease and adds much of the humor to the tale, as do Ulf and Wulf with their argumentative spirits and competitiveness. Of all the Herons Ingvar continually grows in personality as he gains in confidence and coordination with his new spectacles. Yet, he still retains his dependability, quiet wisdom and gentle humor. As in all John Flanagan's novels it is the villains who add chilling excitement to the story like Shurmel the vengeful and arrogant high priest of Imrika; Philip Bloodyhand the repugnant, foul-tempered Hellenese corsair; and Iqbal the proud, boastful leader of the Tualaghi. I enjoyed "Scorpion Mountain" and rate it highly. The Brotherband Chronicles are not only a well-developed adventure series, but captivating from the first page to the last and I can't wait for Hal and the Herons to sail from Skandia on a new adventure.