Completed series · 2015–2016

Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years Books in Order

by John Flanagan · Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adventure

The best way to read Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years is in publication order — but read the main series first for most readers. If you want the in-universe timeline, use the chronological order below.

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What is this?

In publication order — the early years is a two-book prequel set roughly twenty years before the ruins of gorlan — halt and crowley as young rangers, the ranger corps before it was reformed, and the origin of the halt-and-crowley partnership. although set earliest in-world, most fans read these after the main series. they assume you already know the world, and they land harder once you do. for the full araluen universe reading order covering ranger's apprentice, the early years, brotherband, and the royal ranger spinoff together, see the main ranger's apprentice page.

The Early Years is a two-book prequel series set roughly twenty years before The Ruins of Gorlan. It follows Halt and Crowley — younger, angrier, still figuring out who they are — in the days before the Ranger Corps as Will’s generation knows it existed. The Corps has been corrupted under King Duncan’s predecessor; Halt and Crowley are the two Rangers who are going to have to reform it.

Readers coming from the main series will recognize a lot: the tactics are already Flanagan’s tactics, the rhythm of training and ambush and patient intelligence work is the same. What is new is seeing Halt as a Ranger who is still learning to be Halt — and seeing the origin of a friendship that, by the time Will meets it in 2004, has already been running for two decades.

There are only two books: The Tournament at Gorlan (2015) and The Battle of Hackham Heath (2016). Flanagan has not returned to this era since, and the duology is self-contained.

If you’re deciding where to read these in the wider universe, we recommend reading the main Ranger’s Apprentice first and coming back to The Early Years after book 11. See the full Araluen reading order for both the simple and the split-Lost-Stories variants.

Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years in Publication Order

What is this?

The order in which the books were released.

Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years publication order table
Publication #	Title	Released	Buy
1	The Tournament at Gorlan	October 6, 2015	Buy at Amazon
2	The Battle of Hackham Heath	November 29, 2016	Buy at Amazon

Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years Release Dates

When each book in the series was published.

Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years release dates table
Release Date	Title	Buy
October 6, 2015	The Tournament at Gorlan	Buy at Amazon
November 29, 2016	The Battle of Hackham Heath	Buy at Amazon

Where to start

What is this?

If you're new to Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years, this is the simplest on-ramp.

Start here

The Tournament at Gorlan

Twenty years before Will meets Halt — two young Rangers running from a corrupt Corps, trying to prove that the kingdom is about to be handed to a usurper.

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years?

Two: The Tournament at Gorlan (2015) and The Battle of Hackham Heath (2016). The duology is complete and self-contained.

Should I read The Early Years before or after the main Ranger's Apprentice series?

After. The Early Years is technically a prequel — set roughly twenty years before The Ruins of Gorlan — but it assumes you already know the world and the history it's filling in. Most fans find it lands much harder once you've read at least through book 11 of the main series.

Who are the main characters in The Early Years?

Halt and Crowley, both a good twenty years younger than they appear in the main series. Other faces from the main Ranger's Apprentice era appear in their younger forms: King Duncan as a newly crowned king, Baron Arald, Morgarath as a living, active antagonist rather than a memory.

Does The Early Years connect to Brotherband or the Royal Ranger books?

Not directly. The Early Years is strictly a prequel to the main Ranger's Apprentice series. Brotherband and the Royal Ranger spinoff are both set in the same world but take place after the main series, not before it.

Are there more Early Years books coming?

None announced. The duology has sat at two books since 2016 and John Flanagan has spent the intervening years on Brotherband and the Royal Ranger spinoff. A third Early Years book is possible but not confirmed.