New Release Books by John Flanagan

The exciting next tale in the Brotherband Chronicles—following the Brotherband and their ship, the Heron, in a battle against an Iberian pirate raiding ship—from John Flanagan, author of the internationally bestselling Ranger’s Apprentice series! The Herons are home in Skandia—preparing to celebrate two of their own and working on sea trials in the newly constructed Heron. But during a short excursion, they encounter an Iberian pirate ship raiding the coast of Sonderland, so Hal and his crew take action. Though the Herons quickly triumph, the Iberians voice their fury at the Herons, vowing to take revenge. And soon they do—raiding the harbor and stealing or destroying as many ships as they can. Though there is little proof the Iberians are behind it, the Herons take their ship, the only one that has survived the raid—and race after their enemy in hot pursuit. They will take down these pirates and get justice—no matter what. Climb aboard with the Herons in The Stern Chase, the exciting ninth installment of the Brotherband Chronicles!

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 realises the pirates have a more sinister plan.

Held captive by the dangerous baron Lassigny, Will Treaty and his fearless young apprentice, Maddie, must outwit the baron with the help of their friends from home to escape.

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.

International bestselling author John Flanagan returns to world of Ranger''s Apprentice in the fourth installment of the Royal Ranger series starring Maddie, Will Treaty''s fearless young apprentice. Will Treaty and his apprentice, Maddie have been urgently summoned to Castle Araluen. When they arrive they learn a shocking truth: the Prince of Gallica is missing--and the King of Gallica has asked for help. All reports suggest that the young prince has been taken prisoner by the dangerous and powerful Baron Joubert de Lassigny. King Duncan knows that sending troops to Gallica to rescue the prince could start a war, as could openly helping Gallica resolve internal convict. But there''s another way to save the prince: the Ranger Corps. Soon, Will and Maddie are on the road to rescue the missing prince, disguised as father and daughter jongleurs. Maddie will have to use her knifethrowing skills to keep up her disguise, and her ranger''s apprentice training to complete the mission. But going undercover is dangerous--and the road presents its own hazards. Can she and Will use all their talents to save the prince, or will the arrogant Baron uncover their plans and put their lives, and their kingdom, at risk? Internationally bestselling author of the Ranger''s Apprentice and Brotherband series, John Flanagan returns in the captivating next installment of the Royal Ranger series: The Royal Ranger: The Missing Prince. Perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien, Brian Jacques''s Redwall, and George R.R. Martin''s Game of Thrones! Praise for The Missing Prince: "Flanagan builds suspense with well-practiced skill . . . . Tension increases right up to the last page." --Booklist

People in successful relationships deliberately build and attend to the friendship and connection in their relationship, skillfully manage conflict and physiological arousal and work together to create shared meaning and understanding in their day to day lives together. This book provides daily information, tips and tasks to make small lasting change often. Based on 40 plus years of research by Drs John and Julie Gottman these daily tips provide simple, commonsense, safe handrails to stabilise, strengthen and deepen intimacy and connection through doing small practical things with positive intention. What this book will give you is: * increased knowledge of your partner; * increased expressed appreciation and kindness towards each other; * increased attentiveness and focus; * increased positivity and resilience; * improved conflict management skills and strategies; * access to deeper, more meaningful communication; * tips to eradicate proven destructive negative patterns in conflict; * strategies for understanding and honouring each other''s dreams, goals, wishes and needs; * tools for creating greater shared meaning and rituals of connection that are proven to stabilise and strengthen relationships; * pathways to strengthen trust and commitment. The suggested daily tasks are designed to assist you and your partner to discover a closer, connected, satisfying partnership. 365 Things to Improve your Relationship is the scaffolding to build a successful, lasting life together.

''My father sold me when I was eight.'' An indigent farmer sells his 8-year-old son to a rich woman in the city. Unusually for a slave, the boy is well fed and housed, not beaten, starved or sexually abused. The woman buys him for a specific purpose, to cut with a scissors a large patch of lawn in her substantial walled garden. Twice a month at new moon and full moon the woman and her guests, her disciples, perform certain intimate rituals on the clipped lawn. At full moon there is a dark side to what takes place. The woman''s gardener is the boy''s instructor regarding what''s to be done and how to do it. At first, the gardener is strict but the boy doesn''t fear him, and over the eight years of imprisonment he and the gardener reach a certain level of trust and mutual liking. This liking is key to the boy''s survival. The boy is smart and calm and has a strong imagination. His love of the natural world he observes around him helps him endure years of monotonous, humiliating work. After his escape from the rich woman''s contro, l the boy, now sixteen, makes his way slowly in the world. Eventually, he lands a job with an organization fighting slavery and child trafficking. He finds happiness with a colleague, and they marry and have two sons.

International bestselling author John Flanagan returns to world of Ranger''s Apprentice in this new installment of the Royal Ranger series starring Maddie, Will Treaty''s fearless young apprentice. King Duncan and Princess Cassandra are trapped in the south tower of Castle Araluen and under near-constant attack from the Red Fox Clan. Sir Horace and Ranger Commandant Gilan are holed up in an old hill fort, surrounded by the enemy. And Ranger''s apprentice Maddie is the only one who can save them all. With the help of Hal, Thorn, and the rest of the Heron brotherband, Maddie will have to break her father and his men out of the hill fort, but will they reach Castle Araluen in time? International bestselling author of the Ranger''s Apprentice and Brotherband series, John Flanagan returns in the captivating next installment of the Royal Ranger series: The Royal Ranger: Duel at Araluen. Perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien, Brian Jacques''s Redwall, and George R.R. Martin''s Game of Thrones!

"Companion to the bestselling Ranger''s Apprentice."

Enter the world of Greek tragedy re-visited, the world of fantasies, recurring dreams and nightmares, philosophical and religious musings, the world of current affairs, and a world of conflict in a wealthy, secular London family. Principals: Petra, Sebastian, Isadora and Adam, and an influential Fifth, Adam''s friend, the elusive Tommy. Petra is rich, self-indulgent and mentally fragile. She has a passion for all things Italian, and is unapologetic about her infidelity to her husband. Sebastian is mild-mannered and compassionate. He indulges his wife''s fantasies and tolerates her indiscretions because he''s ever mindful of her fragility, and because he loves her. He loves his children, too, and worries about their welfare, worries especially about his son, Adam. He wants family harmony more than anything. Isadora is balanced, witty and successful. She''s very much her own woman and has a stable relationship with her partner, Mike. Adam is driven, single-minded, and focused on social, economic and political fairness. He loves his father and sister but resents his mother deeply; in fact, he hates her. He sees her indiscretions as humiliation for his father and as an insult to him and his sister. He plans to shake up the status quo by taking action. The world of conflict comes to a bad end. Settings: London, Tuscany, and an emotional visit to Cape Town and Robben Island.

#1 New York Times bestselling author John Flanagan returns to the world of Ranger''s Apprentice, continuing the story arc starring fan favorites, Will and Maddie (The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning). Picking up where The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning left off, this next installment continues the story arc featuring young apprentice, Maddie, and the student-turned-master, Will Treaty. The time has come for the next generation to assume the mantle and become protectors of the kingdom of Araluen. After passing her third-year assessment as a ranger''s apprentice, Maddie is called home to Castle Araluen. Forced to keep her ranger training a secret, Maddie feels trapped by the monotony of castle life and longs to find a way out. But there are whisperings of a new threat to the kingdom. The mysterious Red Fox Clan, a group of anarchists all donning fox masks, have threatened Castle Araluen and question Princess Cassandra and Madelyn''s succession to the throne. Will they succeed in unseating Cassandra and Madelyn and take the throne for themselves? Bestselling author of the Ranger''s Apprentice and Brotherband series, John Flanagan returns in the captivating follow-up to The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning. Perfect for fans of Tolkien, Redwall, and Game of Thrones!

A special relationship between English women and their Thai companions in an idyllic setting. The Seven Women of The Sickle is based on a story told to John Flanagan by Tomcat whom John met by chance one morning in Singapore. Tomcat shared his experiences and according to him the bones of the story are true. The flesh - details, characters, names, activities - John made up. Tomcat and John keep in touch and John has Tomcat''s good wishes for this book. It''s a story of friendship and togetherness, emotional recovery, respect and affection, intercultural sensitivity and tolerance and women''s vulnerabilities and strengths. The setting for the book is a perfectly-chosen location in Phuket, Thailand. It was paradise for a while, all-too-brief a while as the seven women lost their lives in the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004. A novel rich in ambiance and emotion.

The Herons take to the high seas to fend off pirates and rescue the heir to an empire in the newest adventure from John Flanagan, author of the worldwide bestselling Ranger''s Apprentice! Includes BONUS content--a brand-new Ranger''s Apprentice short story featuring fan-favorites Will and Maddie! In Hallasholm, Stig is contesting the annual Maktig competition to decide Skandia’s greatest warrior. But a late-night knock on the door brings someone Stig never expected to see again, along with a request the Herons are hard-pressed to refuse: a rescue mission of epic proportions. Across the ocean, the southern city-state of Byzantos is plagued by a crew of pirates who’ve kidnapped the son of Empress Justina. Slipping out of Hallasholm under the cover of darkness, the brotherband sets sail to recover the boy from his kidnappers, heading south to the island of Santorillos where a near-impenetrable fortress stands atop a cliff, surrounded by a lagoon—a caldera—formed by the crater of a volcano. In this explosive seventh book in the action-packed Brotherband Chronicles, the Herons battle pirates amid stormy seas as the fate of an empire rests on their shoulders.

As Morgarath recruits an army of Wargals, Halt ventures into enemy territory to uncover the extent of Morgarath''s plan of attack.

King Philippe of Gallica appeals to King Duncan for help. His son is being held hostage by a power-hungry baron, and Philippe wants Duncan to send a Ranger to rescue the boy. Will and Maddie are perfect for the task. Travelling as father and daughter to allay suspicion, they will pose as entertainers to infiltrate the Chateau des Falaises, where the prince is being held. But travelling through Gallica has its own risks- armed bandits, wild weather and even a mysterious follower all have to be faced and overcome. Will they ever find the prince? And if they do, how will they rescue him from the evil Baron Lassigny?

From John Flanagan, author of the worldwide bestselling Ranger''s Apprentice, comes a brand-new chapter in the adventures of young Skandians who form a different kind of family--a brotherband. When the Brotherband crew are caught in a massive storm at sea, they’re blown far off course and wash up on the shores of a land so far west that Hal can’t recognize it from any of his maps. Eerily, the locals are nowhere in sight, yet the Herons have a creeping feeling they are being watched. Suddenly the silence is broken when a massive, marauding bear appears, advancing on two children. The crew springs into action and rescues the children from the bear’s clutches, which earns them the gratitude and friendship of the local Mawagansett tribe, who finally reveal themselves. But the peace is short-lived. The Ghostfaces, a ruthless, warlike tribe who shave their heads and paint their faces white, are on the warpath once more. It’s been ten years since they raided the Mawagansett village, but they’re coming back to pillage and reap destruction. As the enemy approaches, the Herons gear up to help their new friends repel an invasion. In this sixth book in the action-packed Brotherband Chronicles, the Herons find themselves in unfamiliar lands and prepare for battle with a ruthless, unknown enemy.

Penniless Irish immigrant Michael Devlin arrives in New York City, USA, in 1864, the third year of the American Civil War. With a group of friends from his home in County Galway, he enlists in a cavalry regiment. After basic training, they are thrown into the Union Civil War against the Confederate South. On a reconnaissance mission, Michael discovers he is unable to fire on Confederate soldiers. To avoid the taking of human life, he volunteers for duty with a special unit of cavalry in Denver, Colorado. Michael’s mission in the Mounted Cavalry in Fort Weld, Denver, Colorado, was to escort a tribe of Cheyenne Indians from a traditional Indian village to a new reservation one hundred miles away. Among the Indian nations, a reservation was a euphemism for a prisoner of war camp. It was the depth of winter; harsh inclement weather would claim many Indian lives. Beaten and whipped, the weakened Cheyenne tribe could travel no further on the forced march. Michael witnessed US soldiers sadistically slaughter defenseless braves, women and children. The killings had a profound effect on Michael and change the course of his life. On learning of a secret government conspiracy to exterminate American Indians by means of genocide, Michael becomes a leader of the persecuted Cheyenne tribe. He initiates several triumphant and bloody skirmishes against the murderous US Cavalry soldiers. He leads the remainder of the Cheyenne tribe to eventual freedom after a long exodus to Mexico.

From John Flanagan, author of the worldwide bestselling Ranger''s Apprentice -- an all-new adventure featuring the Brotherband crew and one of our favorite Rangers! Hal, his Brotherband crew, and the Ranger Gilan have freed the twelve Araluens sold into slavery. Returning to Araluen, Gilan is given a new mission by King Duncan: protect his daughter’s life. Princess Cassandra has survived one attempt on her life already, and now whispers of a second attempt have reached the kingdom. A deadly sect known as the Scorpion Cult is thought to be behind the assassination threat. Not waiting to see if the knife will strike true, the Brotherband again team up with Gilan to track down the would-be killers. In this fifth book in the Brotherband Chronicles, old friends reemerge to take on new enemies as the worlds of Ranger’s Apprentice and Brotherband join forces in battle!

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. The Skandians are concentrating their defences on the one pass through the mountains, and they''re ready for battle - but what if the Temujai can find another way down to the coast? Erak sends Hal and his crew to investigate. And stop the Temujai - whatever it takes.

The fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Brotherband series, for fans of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones 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 his collection of short stories, the author charts the life of Shay Elliott, Ireland''s first professional cyclist, as he struggles to compete against riders in a peloton saturated with performance enhancing drugs. After he returned to Ireland he died in a shotgun accident while making plans to coach amateur cyclists. We are taken to a meeting of Washington politicians, which culminated in the unlawful invasion of Iraq; a tragic, obscene war encouraged by Pentagon hawks and self-serving gentlemen of the right. Commandeered oil, outsourced waterboarding and enhanced torture techniques in defiance of Article One of the Geneva Convention, are imprimatured in cautious Machiavellian dialogue. We witness the insane cluster bombing of the virtually defenceless city of Baghdad; with its medieval clay and plaster dwellings that crumble to dust in air raids. We visit broken, mutilated children in Baghdad''s Al Kindi Hospital. We are taken to a chateau on the outskirts of Paris, the headquarters of the Aryan Brotherhood in France. The Aryans have devised a new strategy, a panacea to erase the simmering tensions of class warfare in French society. The goal is to create a new social order by restoring the privileged bourgeois to power; condemning the general populace to serfdom, through the science of eugenics. In ''Up at the Palace'', Borstal detainees face the darkness of unspoken cruelties; a dignitary of the church faces his demons. We visit Alaska, the last remaining wilderness left on earth. Raging storms in the Bering Sea threaten life and limb aboard the good ship '' Tacoma.'' A super sleuth, Marc Claudel, of the French Surete, becomes involved in terrorism and murder.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author John Flanagan comes the story that brings the Ranger''s Apprentice series full-circle and ushers in a brand new arc starring Maddie, the Royal Ranger! Will Treaty has come a long way from the small boy with dreams of knighthood. Life had other plans for him, and as an apprentice Ranger under Halt, he grew into a legend—the finest Ranger the kingdom has ever known. Yet Will is facing a tragic battle that has left him grim and alone. To add to his problems, the time has come to take on an apprentice of his own, and it’s the last person he ever would have expected: Princess Madelyn, the daughter of Princess Cassandra. Will has to win the trust and respect of his difficult new companion—a task that at times seems almost impossible. John Flanagan returns to conclude the series that has conquered millions of readers worldwide with this pulse-pounding adventure that brings one era to a close, ushers in the next, starting the series anew starring Maddie, the Royal Ranger. For fans of Tolkien, Redwall, Game of Thrones, and T.H. White, Ranger''s Apprentice delivers fantasy-adventure thrills with real-world historical details. Praise for John Flanagan: “The last few years have seen the publication of many fantasies, but few have the appeal of this original story.” —Booklist, starred review, on The Ruins of Gorlan “Fans of the series will eagerly devour this one and wait impatiently for the next . . . A sure bet for fantasy fans.” —School Library Journal “Flanagan''s deft character portrayals and well-paced story will engage readers, and the ending will leave them clamoring for the next volume.” —Booklist, on The Icebound Land

Princess-turned-apprentice Maddie is fast learning all the skills she''ll need to become a Ranger, under the guidance of her mentor, the legendary Will Treaty. When Will has to leave the cabin in the woods for a few weeks, he leaves the fief in Maddie''s hands, confident that she can keep an eye on things in Redmont. Then a farming husband and wife come knocking for help, complaining about a mysterious beast that is stealing their farm animals. They don''t think Maddie is up to the task, but she''s determined to prove them wrong. Maddie starts to investigate - and comes up with a plan that involves putting her own life on the line. This story follows in sequence after The Royal Ranger - the book that introduced the next generation of Ranger''s Apprentice to millions of readers worldwide. It is also available in print and ebook inside Brotherband Book Seven: The Caldera. Now this gripping story written specially by John Flanagan for his fans is available in ebook on its own for the first time. Catch up on Maddie''s time as an apprentice before you read her next full-length adventures as The Royal Ranger in The Red Fox Clan and Duel at Araluen! PRAISE FOR THE ROYAL RANGER: ''Flanagan''s deft world-building and characterisation draw you in, and his ability to write realistic action scenes and create nail-biting suspense keep you hooked.'' Sun Herald ''A rollicking good read'' Literacy Learning ''Action, suspense and light humour, all woven into a marvellous medieval adventure, combined with warm characterisation and colourful, believeable settings . . . Recommended - for the series fans, highly recommended!'' Magpies

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? THE ROYAL RANGER IS BACK AND THE STAKES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER IN THE WORLD OF RANGER''S APPRENTICE. FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING RANGER''S APPRENTICE AND BROTHERBAND SERIES THAT HAVE SOLD A MASSIVE 15 MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE.

From the author of the global phenomenon and New York Times bestselling Ranger''s Apprentice! Hal and his brotherband crew are hot on the trail of the pirate Zavac and they have one thing only on their minds: Stopping the bloodthirsty thief before he can do more damage. Of course, they also know Zavac has the Andomal, the priceless Skandian artifact stolen when the brotherband let down their guard. The chase leads down mighty rivers, terrifying rapids, to the lawless fortress of Ragusa. If Hal is to succeed, he will need to go beyond his brotherband training. He will need to challenge the pirate one-on-one, knowing only one of them will survive. The epic series from Ranger''s Apprentice author John Flanagan continues, delivering pulse-pounding adventure and fun. 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.

From the author of the global phenomenon Ranger''s Apprentice! Hal and the Herons have done the impossible. This group of outsiders has beaten out the strongest, most skilled young warriors in all of Skandia to win the Brotherband competition. But their celebration comes to an abrupt end when the Skandians'' most sacred artifact, the Andomal, is stolen--and the Herons are to blame. To find redemption they must track down the thief Zavac and recover the Andomal. But that means traversing stormy seas, surviving a bitter winter, and battling a group of deadly pirates willing to protect their prize at all costs. Even Brotherband training and the help of Skandia''s greatest warrior may not be enough to ensure that Hal and his friends return home with the Andomal--or their lives. 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.

Ranger Will''s past is revealed in this story from the New York Times bestselling Ranger''s Apprentice. Halt reveals to Will the story behind his parents'' deaths and how he came to live at the Castle Redmont Ward.

From the author of the global phenomenon Ranger''s Apprentice! They are outcasts. Hal, Stig, and the others - they are the boys the others want no part of. Skandians, as any reader of Ranger''s Apprentice could tell you, are known for their size and strength. Not these boys. Yet that doesn''t mean they don''t have skills. And courage - which they will need every ounce of to do battle at sea against the other bands, the Wolves and the Sharks, in the ultimate race. The icy waters make for a treacherous playing field . . . especially when not everyone thinks of it as playing. John Flanagan, author of the international phenomenon Ranger''s Apprentice, creates a new cast of characters to populate his world of Skandians and Araluens, a world millions of young readers around the world have come to know and admire. Full of seafaring adventures and epic battles, Book 1 of The Brotherband Chronicles is sure to thrill readers of Ranger''s Apprentice while enticing a whole new generation just now discovering the books. 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.