The Sorcerer in the North (Ranger's Apprentice #5)

1. Note: do not read the back cover and the title of book 6 - they both contain spoilers which is kind of silly
2. We fast-forward a few years to a time when Will is a qualified ranger, and it takes about 40 pages for real drama to kick in. 
3. Was a bit frustrating not being able to see Seacliff Island on the map..
4. Some of Flanagan's conversations are again showing their age and seem archaic
5. There's a bit more subterfuge, disguises, espionage + cloak and dagger in this book, particularly as the Diplomatic Service get involved - this makes for a nice change. We see Will partnering with his childhood friend (sweetheart?) Alyss who is in the Service
6. Will is also embroiled in a tense and dire situation as he travels to the outskirting fiefs of the land - as he tries to unravel the politics of Macindaw castle and figure out the relevance of that to ghosts and spirits found in a nearby haunted forest 
7. A key theme is things don't always appear as they seem
8. Ending is clearly a set up for book 6 which is unsurprising by now as Flanagan seems to like to do books in pairs
9. I found this quite enjoyable as it featured new surroundings, focused on Alyss and showed Will fending on his own again including in disguise ..but it was not as good as the first two books. 
10. Would probably give it a 4.2-4.3/5