Part of Ranger's Apprentice, book 14
First published 2018
Maddie faces her greatest challenge as a Ranger's apprentice when enemies strike at the heart of Araluen. King Duncan and Princess Cassandra find themselves prisoners in Castle Araluen's south tower while hostile forces control the fortress below. Meanwhile, Maddie's father Sir Horace and Ranger Commandant Gilan hold defensive positions at a northern hill fort, surrounded by warriors from the Red Fox Clan who prepare their next assault. With the kingdom's leaders separated and under attack, Maddie must locate the seafaring Heron brotherband and persuade these independent warriors to join her cause. Only with their aid can she mount a rescue mission to free Horace and Gilan from their siege, then race south to liberate the castle before it's too late. As battles rage across Araluen and a traitor's plans unfold, Maddie discovers that saving her family and her kingdom will test every skill she has learned as a Ranger.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, rescue-mission
Setting: Araluen, Castle Araluen, Red Fox Clan
Period: medieval
274 pages · Kindle Edition · Random House Australia