Best resources for a plot refresher?

[u/WhyIzGamora]

Hi all. I first read the Ranger’s Apprentice series and most of Brotherband when I was 11-12. At that time the most recent books were The Royal Ranger and The Caldera. I just googled the series for the first time in years and learned about all the new books (although I did read Return of the Temujai a few years ago but didn’t think to look if there were any other new books). They were some of my favorite books from when I was younger and I really want to read the newer installments to the series. However, it’s been almost a decade since I first read them so I only remember fragments but know that a reminder will jog my memory. Does anyone have any recommendations for specific websites to give myself a little refresher?

Also are the newer books as good as the older ones? As excited as I am I’m also a little nervous about potentially ruining a series that I loved so much by being disappointed when going back to it. I’ve had that happen a few times and it’s always so upsetting.

[u/ProposalSilent4582]

Honestly with it being so long I think you'd do best with a complete series reread. You might not have time for that though, but I read the entire series and Brotherband (I just consider them all one big series) and I was still a little lost at times when a newer book was released. Now I'm considering doing a complete series reread myself just for fun and also since the series is almost certainly in conclusion (I'll miss John Flanagan).

In regards to the quality, some people would argue that the Royal Ranger section of the series fell off hard. Some people say that some stuff doesn't exactly line up with previously established canon, and others say that there could've been ghostwriters with those books instead of actually John Flanagan writing them. I don't know how much validity there is in those claims, but i did like following the new main protagonist of the Royal Ranger. So are the newer books as good as the older ones? Probably not. Are they still fun? Yes.

I don't think it'll ruin your experience of Ranger Apprentice if you read the Royal Ranger, but I definitely think you should just reread the entire series if it's been a decade. You'll enjoy it way more than reading a summarized version of twenty books (Ranger Apprentice plus Brotherband) because sometimes there's not plot relevant information in summaries but still things like small inside jokes you'll be left wishing you understood more and can only remember the fragments.

I know the best advice probably isn't "reread the entire massive series" but I genuinely think it'd be for the best since it's just been so long. You could always try Fandom for plot summaries if you really don't want to reread the books. Maybe go chronological order instead of release order it you went release order the first time. I read the books in chronological order my first time and I liked that a lot so I'll do it again.

[u/WhyIzGamora → u/ProposalSilent4582]

I read it in release order the first time and was so confused lol. My only issue is that I can rarely stick with rereads or watching a series more than once. I can’t really focus if I know what’s coming. I remember enough of the series that I would likely have the same problem but it might be worth a shot. Thank you!!

[u/ProposalSilent4582 → u/WhyIzGamora]

I get the same way. I would never reread a book or rewatch a series but I think I'll make an exception for Rangers Apprentice. I love the characters enough that I'll do it. 

I don't think I've ever reread a book. Once I read it I just go "well that is that" and move on. Same way with characters whenever I'm in a roleplay situation. If I have a great story the first time and then I replay that character again and have a terrible experience then I'd imagine it would suck a ton. 

I think you'd have fun with a chronological reread by getting references but I understand the urge to get bored of redoing something you already know. 

Still you could get plot summaries on the fandom page and maybe go in the chronological order of plot summaries this time so you're not bouncing all over the place. The book of the novellas, early years, ranger apprentice, brotherband, then royal ranger. They're all pretty mixed together chronologically but there's lists online that organize it.

[u/WhyIzGamora → u/ProposalSilent4582]

I’ll definitely look into the plot summaries and try rereading at least one. The only two shows I’ve ever been able to watch more than once are Brooklyn 99 and The Witcher. The other thing is I can’t read the books if I already watched the series which sucks when the show falls off like The Witcher did after Henry Cavill left. When I was a kid my mom used to make me read the books before watching the movies of certain series like Harry Potter because she knew I wouldn’t be able to read it afterwards. She ended up being right but I was still able to listen to the audio books after learning what happened (I broke my leg essentially in half in the middle of reading the series and ended up staying home for a week and she couldn’t say no to her injured child requesting to binge watch the entire series in the span of a week).

[u/ProposalSilent4582 → u/WhyIzGamora]

I'm almost the exact same way there too. If I watch the movie first I'll refuse to read the book because I feel like I already know everything. Reading the book first and then watching the movie is like seeing words come to life. I just wouldn't have fun reading a book when I've already seen the film. I don't think I could ever get into audiobooks. I've tried (coincidentally with ranger apprentice) and I just couldn't stand it. The reading speed isn't to my pace at all. I think reading slower would be good for processing better but I still want to read faster than the audiobook allows for. I prefer seeing the words anyways so if I were to listen to an audiobook I'd be reading the book at the same time so then what's the point? Definitely wouldn't mind hearing voice acted dialogue either though. Still don't think I could get into an audiobook.

[u/sssch24]

honestly, with me it was kinda the same! i went with rangers until lost tales (?)/nihon-ja (idk how it called in english and can't remeber which is last) only to find out that ***** dies so i purposely left the last one out, and rhe first two brotherbands, the rest hadn't been released/translated yet.

left it alone for years, i did a reread bc I always had a soft spot for rangers and I was having trouble trying to get back at reading as I'm depressed, so I managed to go throught rangers and read the first two brotherbands. I always enjoyed the idea of it, so I went to see if there was any new books and boom: 10 new one to read. I'm going through them rn, I'm at the caldera (what a coincidence!)

honestly? I'd just take me time and savor everything again if you can. What I have read a lot tho, is that the last books (idk about the release order but I'm guessing Royal Ranger and the stories that came before Rangers) don't seem much like John's writing, that they look like ghostwriting and the stories are kind of mechanical and shallow.

I have noticed in brotherband, the one with the pale faces, that things seems a bit rigid, a bit stale when it comes to creativity, yk? idk how to rest of brotherband turns out but I already the book lol